Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness had to be the title of this blog post. It is the famous phrase from the Declaration of Independence, and as I walked around Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, I couldn't stop thinking about delight. 

I love that my idea of "finding delight in everyday life" echos part of our national doctrine. My philosophy and photography could easily be described as the pursuit of happiness. 

I was in the open spaces where our founding fathers walked, talked and made the monumental decisions for our future, thinking about how I would describe this experience to you. 

Remember when I traveled to Washington, D.C. and was able to visit the National Archives? I saw the original Declaration of Independence document in person behind protective glass. Now, a few years later, I stood in the Assembly Room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed.

I absolutely loved this trip. We walked through the Visitor Center and I noticed these antique (1700 and 1800's) china pieces that were recovered during excavation of the site. These items were part of everyday American life in early Philadelphia. Does the pitcher look familiar? Remember my collection of Spode's Blue Room?

Part of my message is sharing two travel tips. 

Tip #1 You don't need to stand in the huge line to see the Liberty Bell.  We saved at least 2 hours of our day trip by skipping the "Liberty Bell indoor museum and viewing" line and walking around the side of the building, where you can see an unobstructed view of the Liberty Bell. I waited behind 4 people (for 5 min?) to get my chance to take that photo of the Liberty Bell (top of page) through the glass. I don't think it could look any better. 

Tip #2 There is a lot of parking in the underground Mall parking lot. You take an elevator up into the Visitor's Center. Get your free tickets to Independence Hall as you pass through.

Tip #3 I hinted at this above. You need to have a "time slot" assigned to you for entrance into Independence Hall. This timed ticket is free and available at the Visitor Center. Get one as you pass through, instead of walking all the way back for a ticket as we did. Expect to go through security check point before entering Independence Hall. No, I did not see Nicholas Cage.

Zigging and Zagging Through Delight

Hello all! The holiday season is approaching and I wanted to explain my plans for "Moments of Delight." In a nutshell, I am going to zig and zag through topics over the next two months. 

Many blogs do daily countdowns or holiday specific posts, but I have SO much to share from my travels these last 3 months that I can't possibly shelve everything until January. So...

I will jump in with holiday content, as needed (like the Cornbread Turkey) but I will also sprinkle in restaurant recommendations, embroidery projects I'm working on, design tips, parks & rec, and a host of other beautiful content. 

My plan is to delight, just know that I may zig when you expect me to zag.  I think it is important to distinguish that this is not "real time" content, like Instagram. The photos or recipes weren't photographed in the last 48 hours. How could I possibly keep up? 

For example, I have a dahlia garden that I want to show you. The blooms have faded in Seattle, but would you really want me to wait until NEXT September to share them with you? Me, either.

Remember, it is all about finding delight in everyday life. Enjoy!

Turkey 101: Corn Bread Turkey, that is

It's time! This is a friendly reminder to order your turkey cake pan by Nordic Ware now, so that you can have it in time for Thanksgiving. You may also be able to find one on the shelf of a cake supply store, just call first. You want the 3-D pan made by Nordic Ware.  

The moment that I saw this pan debut on The Martha Show, I had to have it.  It works incredibly well with not quite 2 pouches of Marie Callender's Corn Bread Mix.  Once it is baked, you level off each side of the turkey (cut off excess cake) with a large bread knife and frost the two sides together so that he'll stand and be 3-D.  

I use a few toothpicks inserted on an angle to stabilize the seam and then I prop my turkey in a pie plate full of whole cranberries to help him stand up. It is a darling addition to any holiday buffet and I just love him every time I make him. Do you like super cute theme food? This pan's for you! 

Seattle: Magnolia Park has a Magnificent View

When I talked to my friends back home, I had a lot of questions about how I handled all the rain in Seattle.  This photo (above) sums up the weather I experienced while in the Pacific Northwest. I was there between April - October and it was magnificent. I've heard that the traditional rainy season is October-March and it definitely rains then, so our timing was lucky. 

We spent a beautiful Sunday exploring Seattle and found Magnolia Park on top of the Magnolia Bluff. A million dollar view that you can enjoy any time you want. The sparkling water is Puget Sound and depending on the direction you looked, you could see sailboats or freighters. We relaxed on a bench and wished we had brought along a picnic.

What a view. You can see why I loved every minute of my time in Seattle.

Seattle: Salmon Days in Issaquah...or rather, Fishaquah

It was a beautiful Friday evening (Oct 3, 2014) at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery in Issaquah, Washington, just West of Seattle. It was the night that "Issaquah Salmon Days" festival begins and many many townspeople had come to the hatchery to see the salmon run.

We hung over the railing and took photos as fish after fish flung himself up barrier trying to get back home.

This is a map at the hatchery showing the lifespan and route of the salmon.

You can see the tank full of salmon (above). There is a wonderful video somewhere on the site that shows the purpose and practices of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. It is really well done and explains the life cycle of the salmon and how they aid in fertilizing the salmon eggs and raising the baby salmon (all the correct terms are escaping me) and releasing them into the wild to help protect and propagate the species.

You can see that the river is full of salmon, waiting for a chance to fling themselves up the river.

The entire town of Issaquah celebrates the return of the salmon with a 3-day festival (parade, fair, art show) and during the festival each year, the area is affectionately known as "Fish-aquah," which I think is adorable. That is town spirit.

Leavenworth: Washington Apples at Prey's Fruit Barn

This time of year, Prey's Fruit Barn looks ready for a magazine shoot for Washington apples. Aren't they gorgeous? On our drive back toward Seattle from the Leavenworth Oktoberfest, we saw Prey's Fruit Barn.

Cezanne would swoon. Look at this basket of "Brooks Plums." This farm stand remind me of the paintings by Cezanne!

We bought two apples from several varieties and I baked them in my little convection toaster oven. The secret to easy baked apples is wash them and run a sharp knife around the equator, about a half inch deep.  Place them in a baking dish and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. The apples will bake and relax, but maintain their shape. No coring necessary! Place each apple on your guest's dinner plate and they can just slide the skin up and eat the flesh, avoiding the core.

Seattle: Date Night at Salty's on Alki Beach

Salty's on Alki Beach is my favorite date night restaurant in Seattle. The food is delicious and the staff seems genuinely happy for customers who are "visiting Seattle" and get to experience dinner with this spectacular view. 

Dan and I drove over to Alki Beach to find a casual restaurant that I had read a lot about. When we arrived, it was a little too casual, primarily take out and we decided that we'd rather have more of a Sunday Dinner.  A long quiet meal with a chance to soak up the view from Alki Beach.

We were able to get right in (it was 6 o'clock) and were seated at a table with a view. I ordered the True Cod and Prawn Picatta, which is finished with caper berries, artichoke hearts, baby heirloom tomatoes and italian parsley. It was delicious. The cod took on the bright flavors of the sauce and I ate every bite.

This view is a wider shot of the city - the buildings aren't as clear, but you can see the distinct skyline that Dr. Fraser Crane made so famous. If you are planning a visit to Seattle, you must include one lovely meal at Salty's on Alki Beach. During warm weather, you can request a table out on the deck.

Seattle Day Trip: Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington

Oktoberfest awaits! And this is the last weekend to celebrate in 2014! Get thee to Leavenworth, Washington.

I had heard that Leavenworth was a "charming Alpine-inspired" town and since it is located about 2 hours East of Seattle, I thought that it could be a fun day trip for us.

Then I read an article by Fodor's Travel choosing Leavenworth's Oktoberfest as one of America's best Oktoberfests. Some of my ancestors are from Germany and the thought of real potato pancakes sealed the deal. Oktoberfest is celebrated the first 3 weekends in October and we were able to visit on opening weekend.

So cute! You can ride in a horse drawn carriage around town. Or...

Have a carb-laden German meal at The Tumwater Restaurant. This is chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes, vegetables and a side potato pancake. It was satisfying and delicious.

The town itself is beautiful. I read that the town reinvented itself in the 1960's as a way to bring tourists to a struggling town surrounded by mountains. The goal was to rebrand itself into a "bavarian village." What I imagined a pre-planned town to look like is far from the charming area I visited.

From the design of the buildings to the colors of the paint, the town looks like a real alpine village. There are hand-painted murals on the buildings as well as "picture frame" paint around the windows and the flower boxes are brimming with color and texture. Leavenworth, Washington would make any bavarian village proud.

This was one of the large gathering places, a biergarten with long outdoor tables and ping pong. Many of the visitors come to Oktoberfest dressed in German clothing and  I saw at least 75 men (of all ages), proudly wearing Tyrolean hats, complete with pins and feathers. Some of the hats looked as if they had been passed down from their grandfathers.

I didn't go shopping while I was in Leavenworth. The fresh air and beautiful mountains, live music and happy citizens made me want to stay outside.

A final note is this: visit Leavenworth no matter the season. It is a lovely town in a beautiful setting. I only wish I would be in the area a Christmastime. I would like nothing better than to walk around town with a mug of hot cranberry Gluhwein, admiring the lights and decorations. Think of the advent calendars, ornaments and wooden Christmas pyramids...then I would shop! 

Seattle: Volunteer Park Cafe and Cold Brew Coffee by Slate Coffee Roasters

I was looking for any port in a storm. Not really, but I had been at Volunteer Park looking at the dahlia garden for ages and I was desperate for a coffee and a snack.

It was later I realized that I was at the Volunteer Park Cafe - a little restaurant in Capitol Hill that several people had recommended I visit. Win-win. I was checking things off my list and I didn't even know it.  

The Volunteer Park Cafe was closing to regroup between their lunch and dinner hours but I arrived just in time to order a fresh pear cake and a bottle of cold brew coffee (who knew you could buy bottled unsweetened cold brew coffee?) by Slate Coffee Roasters at a table out front. I am the latest big fan of cold brew coffee. It is strong, but not bitter and has even more kick than a regular iced coffee. Where do I sign?

I would love to go back to the Volunteer Park Cafe and have a meal and really get to know the place. I'm putting it on the running list I have called "Seattle."

Seattle: Fans can Boat Gate at the University of Washington Huskies' football games

Seattle, Washington has more spectacular views than I can count. I've been telling people that the area is like a national park with a city inside, but even that description pales in comparison. The photo above is a view of Lake Washington from one of the hilltops near Capitol Hill.

This photo is from the same vista, just focusing a little to a left so that you can see the University of Washington ("U-Dub" - "u" for university and "dub" for the sound of the letter "w") Huskies' football stadium.  It is one of the few stadiums in the country where you can boat gate. Picnic on your boat and then ride a shuttle boat over to the campus to watch the game in person. So neat! You can read an article about the stadiums where this is possible here.

I was driving around town exploring on this particular Saturday and was listening to the Huskies' football game on the radio. When I stopped to take this picture, it was fun to see the boats on Lake Washington near the stadium and realize that they were boatgating! 

Seattle: A La Mode Pies Need No Ice Cream

Oh me, oh my, look at all this gorgeous pie. I ordered two slices and asked the nice man behind the counter to cut them in half, so that I could try a little of each on site with a latte and take the other two halves home to Dan.  

These a two halves are: Bourbon Butterscotch pie and Chocolate Caramel Pecan Tart from A la Mode Pies in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle. First let me say that the Chocolate Caramel Pecan tart was delicious - exceptional pecans, perfect crust, sticky sweet base - high marks all around. 

The only problem was that I tried the Bourbon Butterscotch pie first and I wanted nothing else from then on. Maybe ever. It was cold and sweet with bourbon undertones and creamy overtones. It is the kind of pie I want to rub on my face. I didn't, of course. It's just my mind trying to think of something dramatic to do to make the magic last. This is how A la Mode describes my new favorite pie:

"This New Orleans-inspired delight starts with a delicate crust of vanilla wafers, brown sugar and toasted pecans. We then pour in sweet, smooth homemade pudding infused with caramelized sugar, vanilla, butter and a splash of bourbon whiskey - all topped with freshly whipped cream and toasted pecan pieces" - www.alamodeseattle.com 

You'd dive right in too, right? This sweet little pie shop was a great place to take a break on a rainy afternoon. Want to hear a coincidence? The nice man behind the counter was from Michigan and grew up spending his summers in Glen Arbor, the little town next to my little town up north! We both go back every year and joked that we might run into each other next August "in town." Small world indeed. 

If you get a chance, stop into A la Mode Pies and indulge in something wonderful. These pies are fantastic. A la mode or not.

Seattle: The Dahlia Barn has Every Dahlia Tuber I Want

I absolutely adore dahlias and was so excited when I found out there was a dahlia farm "within reach" of where I was staying in Seattle. Dahlias start blooming in August and are prolific through October. I love them because so many of the petal styles look as if they are carved from wax.

I was able to meet the owners of The Dahlia Barn, Aimee and Jerry and see for myself how passionate they are about these magnificent plants. In my opinion, The Dahlia Barn is THE source for dahlia tubers and I encourage you to order some for your garden. I am impressed with their entire operation, including the detailed care and planting instructions they offer online. 

As someone who grows and cares for roses (which has its challenges), I am comfortable with the "plant in Spring; dig up in Fall" instructions that will keep my dahlia plants performing at their best. I can't wait to order a bevy of beauties this Winter, anticipating their shipment in the Spring. If you are in the Seattle (North Bend, Washington area) you can visit The Dahlia Barn beginning in May to shop for and buy your tubers in person.

It is wonderful to see a family farm thriving.

When dahlias are in season (mid August - mid October), The Dahlia Barn offers the heart-stopping choice of bulk cut flowers for weddings or events. I insist that you click here and see what a car full of dahlia bouquets looks like (scroll down the page). Dahlias are reason enough to plan a Fall wedding. Take a look at this 5-minute bouquet of red dahlias.

Seattle: Bellevue's Crab Pot Serves Up Fresh Seafood

It was a seafood spectacle! We went to The Crab Pot in Bellevue with mallets in mind. We were in the mood for the best of the Pacific Northwest. It was a calm 70 degree night - perfect for dinner by the lake.

We donned our bibs and dug into "The Westport" Seafest (King crab, Dungeness crab, Snow crab, shrimp in the shell, steamed clams, Pacific mussels, andouille sausage, corn on the cob & red potatoes in their jackets).

Everything tastes better outside and we really enjoyed The Crab Pots take on fresh seafood. Word to the wise, "shrimp in the shell" means that the head is on and all the legs too. Dan had to intercept the shrimp and take care of a few things for me, but once he did, they were delicious.

Have you ever taken a mallet to a crab leg? It had been a while for me but it was like riding a bike. I had that gorgeous meat freed in no time. Messy but fun, I highly recommend an outdoor table at The Crab Pot.

Seattle: Fancy Starbucks and Bacon Wrapped Dates

I must say that I love the living-room inspired Starbucks that I have seen out in Washington. This particular location is on NW Gilman Blvd in Issaquah and I call it the fancy Starbucks.

In addition to the drinks you love, they serve wine and small plates appetizers. They have live music on the weekends and an overall family room feel, like having coffee or drinks at Pottery Barn. The floorplan is spacious and I really enjoy stopping in.

Their bacon-wrapped dates are all you will ever need. Yum yum yum. Starbuck's can roll this menu out nationwide any time they want - I'm ready.

Seattle:Drygood Designs: Lunchtime Embroidery Class

This is exactly how I should be spending my time in Seattle. I signed up for a 2-session class to learn the basics of hand embroidery at a darling shop called Drygoods Design, in downtown Seattle.

The shop is gorgeous - a light filled dream sewing studio in a brand new location across from The London Plane, a cafe/specialty food store/floral workshop, that has been receiving a lot of press lately. The increased foot traffic for them can only bring new customers to Drygoods Design. Hip hip hooray!

Another plus? They brought in bread, cheese and spreads for our class to snack on during our Lunchtime Lesson. Isn't that so nice? We were grateful for the sustenance and it was nice to be spoiled with some fresh and healthy choices.

Margaret was the instructor for our 4-person beginning embroidery class as she was as kind and patient as can be. We learned enough for beginners and all felt good about our progress. Drygoods Designs offers far more than embroidery too. They have fabric and notions for sale, and classes on a myriad of sewing subjects. There selection of goods felt like a personal collection of treasures.

We practiced and experimented and were encourage all the while. It was a nice way to spend an hour and I highly recommend it. We were trying the Needle Arts.  Thread. Color. Pattern. Purely creative and very nice. We were discussing whether or not we thought we'd use a hoop and Margaret said her years of needlework were done without a form.  I chimed in that I loved to embroider when the fabric was stretched taut and my seatmate happily agreed. She said that stitching on hooped fabric was satisfying. I was with kindred spirits, there was no doubt about it. I told you that this was exactly what I should be doing on my stay in Seattle.

 

If you live in Seattle, you're lucky. You have a little piece of maker-heaven right on Occidental Street. Take a class. Make some friends. It's all here for the making.

Heather Bailey Dishtowels

I was so very fortunate to run across some Heather Bailey dishtowels at Homegoods. I had no idea that she had expanded from fabric design into housewares, but I am so glad that she did! The colors of these dishtowels were so beautiful and bright (same pattern in a different colorway) that they fairly leapt off the shelves and into my cart. Can you see that each one has a ruffle trim? I intend to use them as large napkins in my aqua and white kitchen. Can't wait!

Heather is a fabric and embroidery designer, as well as a blogger with an enormous following at HelloMyNameIsHeather. I met her back in 2008 at the Country Living magazine Women Entrepreneur conference in Chicago. She is a delight. Warm, interesting and wholly supportive of women expressing their creativity. I found her blog tips and tricks to be very helpful and thought that she was a great addition to the panel.

I was returning as a Country Living Pitch Your Product winner for my subscription gift service and Heather was on the Women Entrepreneur panel discussing her tips and philosophy for writing a successful blog. You can see Heather on the Country Living stage (below), she is second from the left.

This must be Heather Bailey week. I came across some of her embroidery patterns at another shop here in Seattle. I bought them on the spot - I can't wait to show you.