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book rats and straw houses
Jan. 4th, 2004 04:36 pmChristmas had to be one of the most pleasant and unsual in recent memory. Ben (my son) is part owner of a book store in Olympia and he and the other owners decided that wanted to host their own Christmas dinner. I was the only parent invited.
A few days before I called Ben and asked what I could bring. The plans were still up in the air and so I decided to bring a loaf of homemade bread, a bottle of mead and a giant tin of homemade fudge. I didn't know if the meal was going to for vegans, vegetarians or onmivores so I figured those choices were safe. All except the fudge - with the dairy content a vegan would haved to be warned off.
Turned out there was definite meat on the menu, but plenty for the vegan who was also invited. The guys cooked homemade turkey noodle soup, a whopping salad of mixed greens and sprouts, a polenta and eggplant casserole, salmon sushi, challah, dinner rolls and wine from a vineyard owned by frieds of one of the guys. Not a roast beast to be seen but plenty of good fellowship.
One advantage to having a son who owns a bookstore is the sure bet that I'll get gifts that I'll enjoy - namely, books. Ben outdid himself this time and gave me a book I'd meaning to buy anyway, The Straw Bale House Book. I've been fascinated with the concept and wonderful handcrafted look of straw bale houses. This book is great. Makes me think that this is something I can do.
I am seriously looking for land south of Puget Sound. I'm only 50 so that gives me an awful lot of weekends to get this project together before I'm ready to retire. And the idea of having somewhere to go to get out of Seattle on a regular basis is very tantilizing. Although I truly love my job sometimes it is really hard for this small town country girl to be happy living in the city.
A few days before I called Ben and asked what I could bring. The plans were still up in the air and so I decided to bring a loaf of homemade bread, a bottle of mead and a giant tin of homemade fudge. I didn't know if the meal was going to for vegans, vegetarians or onmivores so I figured those choices were safe. All except the fudge - with the dairy content a vegan would haved to be warned off.
Turned out there was definite meat on the menu, but plenty for the vegan who was also invited. The guys cooked homemade turkey noodle soup, a whopping salad of mixed greens and sprouts, a polenta and eggplant casserole, salmon sushi, challah, dinner rolls and wine from a vineyard owned by frieds of one of the guys. Not a roast beast to be seen but plenty of good fellowship.
One advantage to having a son who owns a bookstore is the sure bet that I'll get gifts that I'll enjoy - namely, books. Ben outdid himself this time and gave me a book I'd meaning to buy anyway, The Straw Bale House Book. I've been fascinated with the concept and wonderful handcrafted look of straw bale houses. This book is great. Makes me think that this is something I can do.
I am seriously looking for land south of Puget Sound. I'm only 50 so that gives me an awful lot of weekends to get this project together before I'm ready to retire. And the idea of having somewhere to go to get out of Seattle on a regular basis is very tantilizing. Although I truly love my job sometimes it is really hard for this small town country girl to be happy living in the city.
