Getting Painted

Our house exterior was looking shabby. It had been painted once early on, but hadn't been touched since. We got a recommendation for a paint company from our trusted contractor, and went with it. Sunset Painting did a fabulous job. They took good care of our plants, and also painted the oldest iron railings and the pergola. It feels like a new house!

Choosing the new color. Whole Wheat and Casa Blanca.

Preparing the siding for paint.

The first coat.

The new color is lighter, creamier, and more golden.

The brick color limits what paint color we can choose.

All finished, except for the trim.

 

We've also been working in the yard and I've taken care of a few more things for the pantry. I got a few garden plants started in the window. Squash and cucumbers. They got going so fast that they were out in the yard within a week! I also ground seeded the carrots and planted some cherry tomato plants purchased from the farmer's market. I dehydrated some of last year's storage apples; usually we have enough from our apple tree to last the year out, but last year was a poor crop. This year should be a good one, since the apple tree has bloomed beautifully.

Seedling tray. I removed the heat mat after the first few days.

Ready for the garden.

Apple blossoms.

A very full dehydrator. I use the dried fruit to make granola.

My apple peeler, corer, slicer. A great kitchen tool.

I also got my second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Russ and I celebrated by getting a free Krispy Kreme donut after our second doses. That got me into the mood for more donuts, so I picked some up with Russ' repaired boots. The shoe repair business we like is across the street from The Original House of Donuts. Other than donuts, our diet has been improving with the reopening of the Farmer's Markets in Tacoma. I've been making a lot of asparagus and mushroom dishes.

Free donut.

Dose number dos.

Creamy spinach pasta with a green salad and wine.

Spring frittata (asparagus and snap peas) with a blue pear salad.

Pasta with asparagus, leeks and goat cheese.

More frittata with a lemon drop cocktail.

Red velvet donut from OHOD.

Digging Clams

We took a spontaneous trip to the Olympic Peninsula to meet some friends and dig clams. We stayed at a county park campground on Oak Bay, just south of Port Townsend. I really loved this quiet, no frills campground. We chose a spot with an electric hook up that backed up to the view at the Upper Oak Bay Campground.

Amazing spot. Lower campground is on the sand bar.

The Cascade range in the distance. Mt. Rainer is out of frame to the right.

Russ picked up our shellfish licenses the day before we left, and we arrived Monday afternoon and stayed through Wednesday. This was enough for two rounds of clam digging at low tide. The first time we got mostly butter clams, and the second round (Russ only) was primarily varnish clams. Our friend Z cooked up the butter clams on Tuesday night on her grill, so delicious!

Russ digs for the butter clams.

Butter poached in shell.

Z dishes the delish.

Like bacon, but clam

Fireside chat.

We got to watch the full moon rise over the bay. Exceptional. We also drove into town to visit the Port Townsend Vineyard tasting "room" which was an outside patio. We enjoyed a bottle of white and then drove further into town to the Port Townsend Brewery and enjoyed a pint. I limited my consumption and took over the driving for our trip home. Tuesday night's fire included s'mores to give us a sweet finish to the trip.

Full moon rising.

Shoes in the beer garden.

Hot sugar with chocolate. Goals.

Russ and I also enjoyed an early morning walk to the Lower Oak Bay Campground. The entire trip felt relaxing. We both slept so well. I'll be glad to take a few more of these quick and spontaneous getaways.

Lower Oak Bay Campground check in.

R-Pod across the pond.

Early morning Oak Bay.

Happy, relaxed people.