Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
It was a flat, grey day but I liked the branches of this tree so into Photoshop it went. Here’s how it emerged.
Not content to leave well enough alone, I played with the colors, too. It’s not to my liking but it helped me get through a brief tantrum: “NOOOO!!!! I don’t want grey days again!” That’s the sort of thing that helps when there’s no chocolate in the house.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church has crisp, clean lines that have long tantalized me. The other day I had a clear shot of its steeple in the late afternoon.
I was in the neighborhood behind it one morning last week and caught this shot. I love the roof lines.
There’s a new branch of the North Olympic Library System (“NOLS”) on West Washington Street. There’s not much to it but it’s a fine addition to Sequim. If you can’t read the sign on the side of the, uhm, “building,” NOLS says about its books to enjoy them, share them, return them, or keep them forever.
Imagine that! No fines for late books! This tiny branch is next door to Doodlebugs.
Here’s Alder Wood Bistro, one of my favorite places to eat in Sequim. The menu is heavy with locally sourced ingredients. It’s pricey enough for us that it’s not an impulse dinner out but our meals there have been memorable. And their Chocolate Bliss is aptly named.
I think soup is underrated, especially to start out dinner on a grey autumn evening. I try to make this soup, tom kha gai, but haven’t nailed it. It’s a chicken coconut soup that has a few ingredients I generally don’t have in my pantry: galangal root, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass. Oh, drat! We’ll just have to keep going out to dinner.
Here’s where I like to go for a good bowl of tom kha gai.
Sequim’s local deli Pacific Pantry opened last year and has gained a loyal following. And now it’s even ranked as one of Washington state’s top places to get a best sandwich ever. I learned this last month after I’d ordered a very nice salad for lunch.
Saturday I tried the recommended pastrami sandwich. This is an awesome sandwich, pastrami on steroids. If you like pastrami, go for it. It was a tad spicy for me. Next time I think I’ll try the French onion soup which looks delicious. Or one of their other sandwiches. They even have pizza.
Pacific Pantry uses locally sourced foods. I’ll definitely go back.
Sequim’s Saturday Farmer’s Market has a selection of many of the sorts of things you’d expect. Local purveyor Nash’s Farm has a front and center presence with fresh produce. And there’s honey, interesting condiments, and, of course, lavender.
Crafts people are well represented. This person makes interesting variations on bird houses: gnome dwellings. Apparently the designer has enough experience with these creatures that s/he issues warnings.
And there are things at the market I can’t say I’ve seen before, such as chainmaille. Is this yet another fashion trend I’ve missed?
These are dog leashes. They are knit and then felted. In addition to being soft they are very strong. They’re on the wish lists of all the stylin’ dogs.