Weeee’rrre Back!
Weeee’rrre Back! Actually, I was pleasantly surprised yesterday
at how busy we were at the market! I heard the words ‘cabin fever’
several times. I tried to drive to work, but my car is now buried in a
snowdrift in our driveway. It’s a valiant little car, but a snowplough
it isn’t. Score one for the car, zip for me.
Nancy is taking a day from her January vacation to bake Little Wild Blackberry Pies today! If there are any left at the end of the day, I’ll put them in the freezer so that you can still satisfy that LWB craving. Deidra is ready and waiting to serve you lunch or dinner at the Deli. If you want to order ahead and then swing by to whisk her scrumptious food home for the family, just give her a call- 538-5880. The Deli is now open every day of the week- except for unexpected snow days. Geez, let’s hope that there aren’t any more of those! There’s a good reason that January is National Oatmeal Month. My morning oatmeal fix is made tantalizing by my special fruit mix. It changes with whatever fruit I have available, but this week it is; 1 can of Cranberry sauce 2 oranges ( NOT peeled- scrubbed and quartered) 2 pears, peeled and quartered. Just toss them in your food processor and munch them all together. Spoon it over your oatmeal and enjoy! You can use apples instead of pears, toss a few chopped pecans or walnuts in too. Even canned fruit, like peaches, work well, as long as you stick with the cranberry sauce and oranges. Trust me, it the best! Meanwhile, if you’re still stuck at home consider this; Every so often the urge to purge the excess stuff from the house strikes me. My husband has observed that it happens with the same spontaneity as a cat crossing the road. One minute I’m peacefully watching the clouds drift past, the next minute I’m a hailstorm of frantic sorting and tossing. The only time I diverted from this course was the day that a tremendous thud was heard. Joe swears that the entire house shook, but he exaggerates. We rushed upstairs, expecting the worst. One closet ( we have very, very small closets, in my opinion) the one devoted to summer frocks, had imploded. The shelf brackets, having manfully withstood the addition of one wispy feminine dress after another, had collapsed. As I stood surveying the carnage with total dismay, Joe turned to give me, once again, The Look. Silent reproach written across his face. I wasn’t ready to give up a single one of those odes to summer, but I was informed that the time had come. Worse yet, he helped me drag them out from the closet and subjected me, his doting wife, to the humiliation of counting how many hangers I’d managed to squeeze onto that over-stressed closet rod. Most of the time, however, I will suddenly, with zero premeditation, decide that it’s time to clear out a shelf or closet. When that happens, I’m in the right mood and mode, ready to simplify and clear. The process is extremely humbling, good for the soul. It also has given me great compassion for the times when I helped clear belongings for someone else. My dear adopted mom, Peggy, had eleven curling irons squirreled away in one bathroom cupboard. Amazing! Especially since her hair was cropped very short. But I so understood. After all, my dad had stashed several dozen nail clippers around the house. Joe’s father had a thing for scissors. My weakness is summer dresses. It isn’t as if we have extended months of sultry summer days- in point of fact, many of my pretty dresses haven’t seen daylight in several years. But- this is the key point- they bring summer into my heart every time I look at them! On a dreary winter day, I can pull out a flowery sheer voile sleeveless dress and be instantaneously happier. Isn’t that cheaper than a plane ticket to Hawaii? Which is the reasoning that brought me to the epic closet rod collapse. I doubt if Joe will ever let me live it down. The old dictum holds true- if it isn’t beautiful or useful, throw it out! I always keep boxes designated for the Mission, Friendship House, and the Salvation Army ready and waiting. That way I don’t need to stifle the impulse when I decide that something has outworn it’s welcome in our house. Once it’s in the box, it’s off limits. One day I walked past the Salvation Army and saw a really cute dress in the window. I was ready to dash inside and buy it when I realized that it was a dress I had given away! Thank goodness I realized it before bringing it back home. Lest you think that I am a careless shopper, I hasten to add that my passion for pretty summer dresses is supported by thrift store shopping. Anyone can find a great dress by shopping in name brand stores. It takes dogged determination and perseverance to find hidden beauties on the racks of thrift stores. The excitement of seeking this buried treasure is akin to an Indiana Jones adventure for me. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. Defeat is finding a gorgeous dress, but in the wrong size. Tears have been shed over this. Should you hear the high wailing howl of a woman in a thrift store, this is probably the reason. Be kind to her, give comfort and support- it may be you in need the next time. Gosh, I think I feel a closet clean-out coming on! That one holding evening dresses? Yeah, bike riding gear or gardening clothes are more my style now, time to release some of those lovely gowns back into the thrift store universe for someone else to enjoy! Barbara Bennett Parsons, content to wait for summer. Stop by the Grays Harbor (Hoquiam) Farmers Market for tips on stalking the wily thrift store dress. 538-9747 1958 Riverside Open Wed.-Sunday. Deli is open 7 days a week! 538-5880 Barbara Bennett Parsons (360) 532-3235 home (360) 591-2664 cell 
| Jerusalem Artichokes and Green Beans are in!
Both certified organic, of course.
I am so appreciative of the customer feedback as to what produce you guys are craving. I’m still trying for the Kale. Was supposed to have it today, but I guess some other farmers market swooped in and purloined the entire crop. Not to worry, I’ll keep trying. I also discovered in my quest, that Jerusalem Artichokes are also known as Sunchokes. There is quite a fan club for this vegetable- they tell me that it tasted just like the heart of an artichoke, which we all know is sublime. Since I am shamefully ignorant of the joys of the Jerusalem Artichoke, I’ll be trying them out for dinner tonight. My research indicates that they are a welcome crispy addition to a salad when served uncooked, thinly sliced. They require steaming, roasting, or saute rather than boiling, as that will turn them mushy. After studying a bunch of recipes, I’m going to scrub them, peel only the bumpy parts, slice ½ inch thick, toss with some vinegar or lemon juice, then add olive oil, salt & pepper, and pan saute them for about 5 minutes. The other big news at the Hoquiam Farmers Market is that Deidra’s Deli is now open until 7pm Monday thru Friday, and from 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday! Which made me start thinking about great places to hang out during the winter doldrums........................... Everybody needs a place to hang out. Remember the theme song to the tv show Cheers? Hum along-‘ Sometimes you wanta go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came’. If you walk into The Oriole in Hoquiam on any morning, you’ll find a crowd gathered around the big center table, non-stop cups of coffee being sipped, and plenty of opinions being shared. If we voted this group of guys into office, every problem would be solved overnight. If I lived anywhere near Pacific Beach, I’d become a regular at The Wacky Warehouse. I kick myself for not having discovered this treasure of a place sooner. The outward appearance is a tad bit on the shabby side and I wasn’t really sure what kind of business was inside. Was it a radio station? A second hand store? Yes, to both questions, and more! On my first visit the, rain was pouring sideways and the winds were propelling me along the sidewalk, shelter from the storm was all that mattered. Inside was another world. It seemed that I had stepped across a time portal. Transported into a different dimension; the air was warm and scented with beach wood burning in the stove, piles of books and magazines were cascading from the shelves, old sofas beckoned invitingly, and someone was playing the piano. I spent the rest of the day exploring the place. Mr .Wacky is the owner, piano player( a darned good one!) and radio host of station KXPB 89.1. Mr. Wacky is always ready to offer an open microphone to visitors and welcomes groups and spontaneous jam sessions. You may have noticed that Grays Harbor has more ‘characters’ than most places. I consider this a point of special pride, and can only hope that I, too, can be considered a ‘character’. Mr. Wacky, for instance, celebrates Formal Friday by sprucing himself up with suit and tie, occasionally a tuxedo. The rest of the world owns Casual Friday, at Pacific Beach you can march to a different drummer. The Farmers Market is chock full of characters, both vendors and customers. Our Deidra is certainly a character , and a more delightful one you will never find. Deidra positively sparkles, inside and out. I love hearing the waves of laughter and banter coming from the Deli as Deidra serves up her special brand of conversation along with great food. It’s one of the reasons that I was first drawn to the market- feeling welcome and recognized, encouraged to stay and join in- it’s a rare gift. Deidra’s Deli has always been a middle of the day hang out , and might just be the happiest place in town. For a long time I’ve been hoping that Deidra would extend her hours, and I’m thrilled to announce that great changes are happening in the Deli! Deidra’s Deli will now be open every single day of the week, plus- get this- she’s staying open until 7pm on week nights! Saturday and Sunday hours will be 11am until 4pm. Many’s the time I’ve wanted to take the Barbara’s Special home with me for dinner, or add some Chicken Curry Soup to my menu. Life is about to get a little bit better. Give her a call at 538-5880 to place an order. Barbara Bennett Parsons, who hangs out at the Hoquiam Farmers Market, 1958 Riverside ph. 538-9747 good hang out spots; Welcome Inn- Hoquiam Duffy’s- Aberdeen 8th Street Ale House- Hoquiam The Cellar Club- Montesano Oriole Café- Hoquiam Bee Hive- Montesano Blue Heron Inn- Bay Center Lana’s Hangar Café- Hoquiam Airport Swanson’s Coffee Shops- Aberdeen Green Lantern Pub- Copalis Beach Anne Marie’s Café- Aberdeen The Wacky Warehouse- Pacific Beach Barbara Bennett Parsons (360) 532-3235 home (360) 591-2664 cell |
