How to dig clams for those that don't know any better

It started one February

 A friend of mine took me to the ocean up here in the great NorthWet in the middle of February one weekend.  We went on an adventure to dig for Razor Clams which are indigenous to the area.  I am smiling in the picture because I have several (as in many) layers of clothing on under the raincoat.  (Side note: the person that figured out neoprene waders has a special place in my heart.) 
 Actually, I'm smiling because this is all so new to me.  I'm smiling because I love adventure.  I'm smiling while I wait for the surf to recede so I can see if the clam is still there under my gun.  I'm smiling because my friend was laughing with me while we waited for the water to flow back out to the ocean.

I don't eat clams.  I don't like them.  One is allowed to dig 15 clams per person per day.  We dug clams for two days and came home with 60 cleaned, washed clams ready to clook up.  While I don't eat these things I sure had a great time digging.  This makes no sense to me now, in retrospect.  It was cold.  It was cold and windy.  It was cold and windy and usually dark.  It was cold and windy and dark and I didn't know any better that I can wait for summer when it is warm and windy and light.  Oh, it was cold and windy and dark and raining SIDEWAYS.  You can't see that in the picture, but I wasn't sure if I was being sand blasted or power washed.

It was just such a thrill to actually pull one of these clams up out of the sand, and it was so relatively easy and often, that both days when we reached limit I was willing to help out fellow clammers. (Like they needed it, doh)

Of course after a healthy morning outside in the surf digging clams one does well to find a cheap breakfast at the local casino and a couple Bloody Mary's to ward off any colds from being power washed by the sideways rain.  It wasn't until later that we started cleaning the clams.

 It takes several steps to get razor clams ready to eat.

 Ya gotta open 'em up and cut them along the outer edge.  And then cut again along the inner edge.  Then you get to cut away the gills.  Then rinse.  Cut out the digger and rinse that in another bucket while you cut away the gungula.  (I think that's how you spell that highly technical term referring to the intestines(?) of the clam.)  Rinse again.

And rinse and rinse and rinse.  And when you get home it is imperative that you make baked clams for the girl you take to the ocean to dig clams, even if she doesn't like clams.  And it's kind of interesting that she eats 'em because you made them.  Even more interesting is she says she'd eat 'em again too if you wanted.  They weren't so bad.

Reprise:  Several weekends later (months?) she is stealing the manila clams the two of you dug up on a north shore out of your bowl to eat them before you do.

Family Challenges

My little brother has e-mailed me the challenge. He made it clear that this is serious business. Actually, he posted it to me as a "Dare" (as in double-dog-dare me.). This was a little daunting when I first read it. (Little Brother - hahaha, damn that's funny. He's a full foot taller at least.)


The challenge, the dare, the project - should I decide to accept...gain entrance to the Suzzalo Library on the University of Washington campus. Pshaw! Easy-Peasy...I'm in, dude! Will send photos, so there!

Picasso is Coming

Picasso exhibit is opening the weekend at Seattle Art Museum. I was downtown playing tourist with the gang and as we walked past the SAM. On the front walkway is Danny. He is doing chalk art on the sidewalk.

Much like sand castles the work will only last a couple footsteps (waves). I won't be here to see the finished project. I hope Danny got the contract to keep up his images through the exhibit's end in December. When I get back to Seattle I will have to walk down to the SAM again and see if it is still there. What a way to make a living.

Tradition

I know it's supposed to be Monday with all the requisite whining about work and traffic and such. Sorry to disappoint you. I'm feeling pretty refreshed these days, today included. I am still internet access-less at home. I will have this rectified by Thursday or Friday at the latest. At that point I can again add photos to my posting. These "No photo" entries drive me a little nuts. I love the visuals.

This may be slowing me down...or (almost better) it is giving me time to read. I've been reading things like books and newspapers and I've even been doing these amazing feats sitting in a living room comfy chair in the afternoon; as opposed to propped up in bed half an hour before lights out. I got a batch of cookies made yesterday morning - and promptly left them all with my friends and family up in the mountains. They are very very lucky, and now I have to bake a whole new batch for me. (oh yeah, oh darn)

It's a good thing I'm running these days. I say that for all the cookies I've been ingesting. Running has been good. We ran as a team on Saturday - as scheduled. The slow team (over twelve minutes for a mile - that's me) is scheduled to run 160 minutes. I admit it. I cheated. I ran (or walked really really fast, by my standards) for 120 minutes. I'll get the other 40 minutes on there soon.

I found it synchronistic that last year on Easter Saturday (my first year in Seattle) I visited West Seattle and Alki Beach for the first time. It was during that visit that I found rosemary and sage are used as ornamental bushes - and how cool is that! This year on East Saturday, as scheduled, I ran from Lincoln Park north to Alki Beach, and the rosemary and sage are just every where. Without trying it appears Alki has become my personal Easter Saturday tradition. I can live with this. I'd be happy to live with this. Traditions.

Seattle Tourist - Ferry Rides

The sun was shining, actually shining this morning. I understand this is a strange and rare occassion this time of year here in the great north wet. I took my coffee and croissant down to Edmonds Beach. I love Edmonds Beach, and Richmond Beach and Gateway Beach...okay I love the beaches. While I watched the single gull on the beach lurking for a piece of my croissant the ferry came in. Oh, this ferry is one I've wanted to ride from the first time I watched them going in and out this last summer.
I am feeling this morning a bit defeated (read disposal issues) and just unsettled which I won't share here. I drove the three minutes back home, bundled up, grabbed a notebook for writing (okay, so that part didn't work) and headed back to Edmonds. Three hour parking is all I needed.

The view from inside the walkway. All I'm thinking is that it is about time I took this trip.

From the deck the view of the Puget Sound is spectacular, but the pilings are in focus.

206 cars fit on the ferry. At Edmonds/Kingston ferry there are two boats that crisscross the sound - the Spokane and the Puyallup

Coming into Kingston. Is this a sunny, wonderful, perfect day or what?!

Both Edmonds and Kingston have a lovely marina. I love dark hulled sailboats.

In the shadows - long tall sally.

The Puyallup is a nicer boat. Maybe it's newer. The breeze had picked up by the time I was on the return trip. The wind was whipping by so strong around the bow I could feel my glasses move on my face. I walked the decks on the sunny side both coming and going. Soaking it in.

Kingston is a lovely, small, sedate town. Just what I needed today. The view of the houses on the slopes nearby was provincial and inviting. There is a quilt shop on the Kingston side that garnered most of my time, though none of my money. Maybe next time. But, next time I want to bring my bike over to the island and bike through the neighborhoods and wooded areas I could see from the ferry. Best thing, pay one way, the way home is free. A bike is only a $1 premium. An excellent three hours for all of $7. Tourism on a shoestring.

Nightmares in the Museum

Thought provoking, stunning, and monsterous creations of the tricks ones mind can play.

Mann und Maus

Katharina Fritsch

Some/One

Do-Ho Suh

This "coat of arms" is made up entirely of dog tags. Each tag individually stamped. I thank the universe this in not made of "expired" dog tags. It's was startling enough as it was.

All in all, (and of course in my humble opinion) Milwaukee Art Museum has more and more variety. Even Milwaukee knows to have amazing Chihuly; and not just a couple of pieces. SAM displays One Monet and one Manet...no Degas, no Gauguin (Okay, so I like my Impressionists). I had expected a larger or more comprehensive oriental arts installation. Nope - pretty sparse. Imogen Cunningham was much too small an exhibit, merely a hallway (albeit a long one...I may change my mind once I return - some excellent pieces are on display from her). Amazing things she did with silver process and photography - hell, she did amazing things.

I will go back. There is a Calder Exhibit and a Michelangelo Exhibit coming in October through April. Somehow I had expected so much more. I'll change my thought process and return, pleased to return. I am pleased this trip was a freebie. I'll be ready to put my money down and know what I'm getting into next time. I think I was just surprised.

Museum of Glass - Tacoma (and other sights)

Museum of Glass - Tacoma, Washington

Martin Blank - Fluent Steps - photo from August 2009

I've been wanting to get down to the Museum of Glass for many, many months. With my daughter in town the excursion made top of the list. Quite frankly, I had no idea how far south the adventure is. We drove for an hour south to get from our house to the museum. I've been getting spoiled with everything else I've seen being so much closer. The Museum features an Hot Shop Amphitheater. This alone is worth the trip. www.museumofglass.org

The Hot Shop enlists several glass artists to heat, form, blow and otherwise shape amazing pieces of glass art. In the photo below I hope you can see the bright light in the center is the oven (one of four). The gentleman sitting with his back to us is forming the glass. I thought I caught his name as Ben. I'm sorry now that I didn't go ask. The gentleman sitting to the left is ready to blow in the blow tube or pipe. At one point or another each person on the floor was helping with the process.

For the afternoon show "Ben" used black glass, according to the the woman with the microphone. While it was being heated it became every color under the rainbow. Fireworks and fluid glass - I was absorbed in the exhibit. Once formed everything goes into the annealing ovens for a slow cool down process to reduce stress to the glass. It'll be days before the finished product is ready.

As far as the galleries...there is more interesting glass art available at the local shops in downtown Seattle than displayed at the museum. Go for the Hot Shop Exhibit.

Speaking of downtown Seattle, after the museum Daughter and I headed into downtown to visit Pike's Market and meet her brother. I love this sign for Sister's Sandwich Shop.

Of course, music is everywhere. This man, Jonny Hahn, brings his piano down to the street and plays some incredible tunes. He's been there for years as far as I can tell. Amazing to have a piano on the streets.

Of course, the fish at the market is always fun. We stood around and watched fish being expertly flung. Well caught every time. Fish twice caught.

This may be one of the last times this year for being a tourist with guest for quite some months. I do have a friend coming up to visit - this week even. But, this isn't the typical tourist guest. I'm looking forward to relaxing with someone near. Being a tourist is one thing. Getting out of the house is another. I'm looking forward to some company.

Fast Lane

Lee Oskar

Clubbing on a Friday night and then running up 5 flights of stairs from the waterfront to the city, up 5 dark city blocks downtown at 1 am to catch the last bus of the night- don't tell me I don't live in the fast lane. Thank you for running with me. And Lee Oskar, among others, are worth it.

There is nothing like live music - Lee is a must see!

http://www.leeoskar.com/netradio_music.html

Touristy Times

Hanging out at Edmonds Beach in northern King County this last Friday I watched the ferry going in and out of the area. The dock was out of site from where I was. Today I drove back over, made a concerted effort to see the dock. This is the ferry returning from Kingston on the other side of Puget Sound. Far more interesting in person, I assure you.

Edmonds is a bike ride away from where I live. It's the next suburb over. I've been driving around lately checking out my neighborhood and then going a little further each time. I've driven through downtown Edmonds now three times in the last several weeks. It was time to get out of the car and check it out. Today I played tourist. (I still have nine months of my "Year of the Tourist" left) Basically, Edmonds is in bloom. I just wish it photographed as beautiful as it looked.
Now that I think on it Lavender Festivals are going on all over the area. Between the rosemary shrubs and the lavender baking in the sun all day, this place smells great.

As I walked through a kitchen gadgets shop (always worth going into) I found myself laughing out loud. I may have a terrible sarcastic streak in me, because I am still laughing. The kitchen towel had the cutest circa 1960's Woman's Day woman on it and it read, "Why do I have to get married? I didn't do anything wrong."

I still think it's funny.

Friday Night Downtown

It's tourist season in Seattle AND it's Friday night as the "ducks" roll through downtown.  These folks DO get to sit up really high.  They get a great view up there.  I wouldn't have even noticed this particular duck rolls up to my stop light except for the blaring music.  Specifically, "I'm going nowhere.  Somebody help me, yeah."  I look up from the corner where embossed in the cement is the street name (it really is pretty) and I see these captive tourist...going nowhere.  Hey, what can I say...I waved.
Seattle is more full of people at close of business on Fridays than any other day of the week.  The weather has been wonderfully warm lately and sunny for the last two weeks, at least.  People watching has been excellent.  I would have spent some time and found a spot to sit and watch as I have before.  Unfortunately, my new bus schedule is a little more restrictive about when I leave the city.

I love the new buses.  These are commuter buses.  These are comfortable.  I get on the bus in the morning at a Park and Ride.  We make three more stops and get on the freeway.  I really do have a chauffeur.  "To work, James." or sometimes it's "To work, Jane."  Three stops after we get off the freeway and downtown I get off the bus and go find the intercity buses.  This is almost luxury.

My new route has taken me on different streets; past different stores.  I have been taking photos through the bus windows on occasion.  I've about given up on that tact.  On Friday night I walked from the post office (the one on 3rd Street)(and yes, I finally changed my address, yet again) up the street to 4th Street turned the corner heading south to find the first bus stop kiosk that had my numbers. (Do I sound like I have a gambling problem?  Gotta get my numbers, man.)  The store with the windows that make me drool is on that second block.  

I don't know the name.  I never get past looking at the dresses.  This is eye candy.  This is couture that I don't think I'll ever wear, and that's not the point.  The point is, it is really cool.  This dress is my favorite.  It's just like the hat store...this comes from some movie I'd love to see.

Edit:  I found the name of the dress store:  Luly Yang - This woman is incredible - worth a visit to her site - www.lulyyang.com.

Two things to leave you with:

I promise to take down the BeeGee's tune at end of day here Saturday.

And if this Duck thing is interesting - here's the linkwww.ridetheducksofseattle.com