While zipping along State Route 3 between Belfair and Shelton, the speed limit slows through the little hamlet of Allyn. Smack-dab in the middle of town, on the water side of the street, sits “Lennard K’s Boat House.” Part of the building that houses this bustling cafe and watering hole was built in Allyn about […]
Barb Bourscheidt
A Gig Harbor artist potter and community activist, Barb Bourscheidt is a freelance writer who writes on subjects of personal interest, usually the arts, gardening, cooking and the environment. A working artist, she creates pottery that reflects her love of nature, incorporating leaf motifs on surfaces of functional kitchen, garden and decorative ware. Although posts are infrequent, Barb has a personal blog at clayladybarb.blogspot.com.
Posted inAt Home
Beets, Cabbage and (Dried) Cherries! Oh MY!
Visiting a health minded friend in Arizona recently, we were served a most delicious, crunchy and satisfying salad that utilized market-fresh ingredients. My friend, Linda, lives in a community where everything is trucked in, and seasonal items are not the focus of her supermarket produce sections. Even so, Linda served us a salad that was […]
Posted inAt Home
Storage Potatoes and Fresh-Dug leeks
Leeks are the vegetable auntie of the family allium. They are easy to grow from seed or to transplant in the late-spring garden from sprouts, Leeks are long growing and don’t mind being in the ground for a long time. They are often best in late winter and early spring. Leeks are readily available now, […]
Posted inGarden
Garden Capers
Some homes nestle quietly into their surroundings and appear as if they have been there for centuries. Tudor-style architecture is neither particularly rare nor common in the Northwest, and occasionally one stumbles upon a home that simply speaks to the heart. Such is the case with the stone-fronted, half-timber-style Fox Island home owned by Jerome […]
Posted inAt Home
Northwest Grown Produce
Wet, blustery days in February do not usually bring to mind fields of fresh root vegetables or greenhouses filled with herbs and greens. But in the Northwest, farmers work year round to bring these foods to our tables. Although you cannot usually source these delectable, nutritious and flavorful foods at farmers markets in the winter, […]
Posted inHome
Home at Last — A Colvos Passage Home Set Apart
Driving through the sculptural gate and down the winding drive through the verdant green lawn dotted with carefully chosen trees and shrubs, there is a noticeable transition from the noise of the street to the sanctuary of private space. A pair of Chinese foo dogs flanking the offset, floating-block concrete walk hints at the Asian […]
Posted inAt Home
Brussels Sprouts
Little, green mini cabbages that are frequently offered on long, straight stems intrigue the eye and confound the mind. A staple winter vegetable, Brussels sprouts suffer a love/hate relationship with most consumers. Those with a more sophisticated palate usually enjoy them and prepare them in a large variety of ways, and those who generally shy […]
Posted inAt Home
Mincemeat Fixin’s
It’s cold and wet; snow covers the deck and the sidewalks. Nothing warms the home and heart more than turning on the oven and baking something fragrant, spicy and tasty. The holidays are coming and a traditional delight for me is mincemeat. No, not that horrible stuff you buy in the little box and reconstitute, […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Party-Planning Pizzazz
When friends of Katie and Glenn Eberling open their mailboxes and find a personal, creative, original invitation to a Christmas party, the holiday season officially begins. The couple have been holding Christmas gala parties for several years to kick off the Christmas season, always early in December and with a hand-addressed, mailed invitation. “Our party […]