Spring Favorites 2020
This edition of my seasonal favorites comes to you from quarantine. Worldwide “Stay At Home” orders have kept us physically and socially distance but we have all found slivers of resilience through this stressful time.
Springtime looks good on Seattle. The famous cherry blossoms, with their pink and white flowers have bloomed, their petals drifting on the light breeze. The days have been sunny and warm, allowing us to enjoy a few meals from our outdoor dining area on our patio.
This season’s favorite things celebrate the earth coming to life and being able to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures at home.
1 Mountain Hunting
We first arrived in Seattle in the grey days of late February. I don’t mind the overcast weather, but the cloud cover hides the views of the many splendid mountain ranges that surround the city. There is nothing like a sunny day to see if “the Mountain is out”. The Mountain in question, is Mount Rainier to the southeast of Seattle. Due to cloud cover, I had yet to see the peak of Rainier, so when we had our first cloudless, blue sky days, we took drives around the city to try to get the best view.
2. Planta
Before moving to Seattle, I was living in a garden unit (fancy name for basement apartment) that did not get much sunlight. Most of my house plants didn’t survive the shade. When we moved, we tried our best to transport the plants in the car with us, but the nightly temperatures dropping to below zero killed or severely damaged our remaining greens. We are now in a space with bright, south facing windows and it was time to reinvest in some plants.
In order to find the best possible spot for each plant, and follow the proper recommendations for watering given our new damp climate. For those fellow plant lovers out there, I highly recommend the Planta app. Each of the plants has a recommended watering schedule. If you pay for the premium app, you also get recommendations of feeding along with other tips to help your plants grow lush and healthy. Our fiddle head, Frasier is thriving.
3. Baking
I would not say I am a terrible baker, but it isn’t my strong suit. I attribute these shortcomings to my lack of patience and attention to detail when it comes to the science of baking. I have partially dedicated my extra free time to practicing different recipes. I’ve had varying results of success, but each has been an edible learning experience.
4. Wine
Wine is a year round favorite thing, but lately I have gotten back into my wine education and exploring new varietals and regions. I want to give a particular shout out to Seattle wine shop, Champion Wine Cellars for providing curbside pick up during the pandemic and for recommending some of the most perfect wines for my preferred wine style, red, light and fruity. To learn more about the wines I’m trying, check out the Vinumflaut tab of my blog.
5. Letter Writing
I have always adored sending and receiving handwritten letters and cards. What better time to send written correspondence than during a global pandemic. I find that I am exhausted from video conferencing and it has become more difficult for me to connect virtually as the quarantine orders go on. I usually write my letters every other Wednesday and send them to different friends and family, giving them updates on what we have been doing around the house and expressing general thoughts or feelings. Not only is it a great way to connect with those who may not be as digital savvy, the letters can also become your own personal archive of the historic experience (my history nerd is showing). I’ve also been sending surprised gifts in the mail to unsuspecting recipients, so be sure to check your mailboxes!