Detour Surprise

Sweet Pea Farm

First it was just a little chalk board, balance against a stone at the junction of the main road and our rural road. After a few days, I followed the signs and arrived at a dirt road that I remember from my old real estate days, and thought, "There isn't anything down there," turned around and went home.

A few weeks later, the Sweet Pea Farm sign was bigger, with more offerings and I thought, "I really should go and check this out."

Yesterday I finally made the minor detour, and what a little treasure we have, withing walking distance of my house.

This time, I continued beyond where I had originally turned around and found a little country store, complete with goats and chickens, tucked up near the trees. A pumpkin patch snuggled up to an old windmill and pretty produce and craft displays bordered the store.

As I walked up to the what-looked-deserted building, the goats bleated and I gave their heads a rub before entering the building. Opening the door, and following the direction to turn on the light which was on the left, I was surprised to see a wide assortment of goodies, all displayed in country store fashion. Crates of onions and tomatoes; coolers of fresh lettuce and fresh-picked chantrelle mushrooms; fresh eggs from the resident chooks and so much more.

Every horizontal surface displayed local goodies - preserves, jams, chutneys. One area even offered freshly baked cakes.

And it wasn't just food. An old wood bookshelf held used books which overflowed onto old chairs alongside it. Artsy-craftsy items were incorporated throughout the store, with a lovely metal rooster, keeping watch over the honor-system payment box. Yes, all this and not a soul in sight!

I bought some fresh lettuce and zucchini (time for a loaf of zucchini bread) and a jar of chutney to go with my curry, paid and took my change from the jar sitting beside the cash box, turned off the light and went back outside.

The goats came running to the fence and I heard someone call out for them to stop! That's when I met Laurie, whose enterprise this is. And as we got chatting I heard about her future plans and envied her her enthusiasm for the project! Next year, she plans to have a farmers market in the field with small local growers. A local baker is going to be supplying fresh bread. Even through the winter, she plans to stay open, providing eggs and other non-seasonal goodies.

My little excursion is such a reminder that often detours, even small ones, can yield great surprises.

I promised Laurie that I would help spread the word about her Sweet Pea Farm.

Sweet Pea Farm 153 Seattle Dr Port Ludlow, Washington (360) 437-0645

Port Townsend Steampunk

This was the summer of all summers here in the Pacific Northwest. We had sun for literally months, a very unusual occurrence here, but this has added to the drought which has crept up on us.

Port Townsend, host to numerous festivals and events that range from the Jazz Festival to the Kinetic Skulpture Race, made the the most of the gorgeous weather, and so did I.

One of the events particularly piqued my fancy,  The Brass Screw Confederacy, Port Townsend’s Steampunk festival. Somehow the steampunk movement had escaped me but Wikipedia clued me in.

"Steampunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrialsteam-poweredmachinery.[1][2] Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. It may, therefore, be described as neo-Victorian."

And then to make it even more intriguing, my TV-Producer son Ryan told me he would be working on the new reality TV show called Steampunk'd!

That clinched it. I was going.

The event program stated that it the festivities started at 10 am so I was up bright and early. Driving through downtown along Water Street, the place looked deserted and I wondered if I had come in on the wrong day. (I learned later, that there had been a hootenanny the night before, so people were slow to get going.)

But then slowly, oddly attired (to some) people started to appear, strolling along, bowing to friends and bystanders, peering through goggles, which appeared to be de rigeuer! The clothes seemed to be a mixture of Victorian and outlandish! Hats on everyone!

Top hats, cloche, helmets, you name it, it was on show. Men wore tails, or leather jerkins - just as long as there was metal, leather and wood incorporated, it was in style.

Women's styles ranged from prim and proper to wild, with bustiers and corsets worn on the outside. Very odd. All with the requisite wood, metal and leather trim.

I had initially assumed that this was a "young" bunch of hipsters but ages were across the board, from youngsters of 4 or 5 to oldsters in their 70's.

This is a "maker" world, where these creatives produce amazing devices, contraptions, jewelry and clothing. The American Legion Hall was filled with vendors, selling everything Steampunk. Amazing works of art, wrought from - you guessed it - metal, wood and leather. Repurposed odds and ends, cell phone cases disguised as metal purses, imaginative jewelry and hats galore! I discovered too, that there are Steampunk novels!

Troupes of dancers performed intricate steps and routines that involved fighting sticks and scarves, the bells on their high leather boots adding to the music.

All the while, the parading continued, young and old, creating a spectacle, hearkening back to Port Townsend's Victorian past - but with an eclectic twist.

It was a glimpse into another world. There was far more going on than I saw and I highly recommend that if there is a local steampunk event in your area, go, enjoy and join in.

I can see how it would be a fun group to be involved in, forever playing "dress-up" with no excuses!

The Brass Screw Confederacy

Email: info@brass-screw.org Phone: 360-301-5884 Mailing Address: Brass Screw Confederacy, PO Box 1050, Port Townsend WA 98368

Granny Susu has been lagging

The last few months have taken me away from this blog. Sometimes life gets in the way of what I would prefer to be doing and that's what happened. But I'm back and will post more frequently, bringing in some of my trips and getaways from the last few months.

I just needed a little kick in the pants to get me going again - and the possibility of a family reunion in Australia next year was just the motivation I need to get me posting again. The family - my two brothers and spouses from South Africa, my sister from New Zealand and myself from the U.S are hoping to meet up in Brisbane, where I have three nieces and a nephew, plus their numerous offspring! So you can look forward to some international postings in the future.

Plus there is the possibility of a Belize trip in the not too distant future. It's been 15 years since I was there; so taken with the place, I rented a tiny shack and was ready to move there but once again, life here in the U.S got in the way and I didn't take the leap. It was the early days of blogging and Go Left at the Mango Tree was one of my first.

I haven't been totally lagging, though as I have been having fun with my iPhone 6+ and all the associated apps, one in particular called Steller which I love! Plus writing a couple of articles for our local rag has kept me busy.

Artsy Craftsy Outings

This area is known for its artists and there are numerous opportunities to check out their work. Recently, I had a very artsy weekend,  going to Gallery Walk in Poulsbo on Saturday evening then followed the Art in the Woods Trail around Kitsap County. I had company, two other grannies; Pam on Saturday and Susan on Sunday. Gallery Walk in Poulsbo is every second Saturday of the month and as is the case with most of these walks, the galleries are open late and often have entertainment and serve wine and goodies! It's a lot of fun and amazing to see the talent in the area. From art photography to sculpture and blow glass and everything in between. Some I wouldn't consider art but as they say, art is in the eye of the beholder so there is definitely something for everyone.

After an arduous hour or so of wandering the galleries, Pam and I ended up at the delightful Burrata Bistro for a glass of wine.

The following day, Susan joined me for the Art in the Woods Studio Tour. We did it last year too, so this year chose a route that took us to new galleries. Our favorite was the Bob Kimball Design Studio. He creates amazing metal sculptures - some huge, some just the right size to hang on a wall. Check out my Steller story below. (You might need to refresh the page if Steller does't load.)

Burrata Bistro 19006 Front Street Suite 100 Poulsbo, WA 98370 (360) 930-8446

More-Than-7-Best-Things-to-See-or-Do-in-Port-Townsend List

Port Townsend has become a very popular destination spot as there is so much to do. Just recently Port Townsend made the “Best List” in  Fodors, USA Today,AARP and the Seattle Times  for a variety of topics, including best retirement town,  most quirky town and best Farmers Market. 

If you've done any sort of research on this little town, you'll know a lot of the activities center on boats and boating, with the wonderful boat yard and world famous Wooden Boat Festival.  And you've most likely heard about the Victorian houses and Centrum concerts and other sites that are popular. Having lived in the Port Townsend area for more years than I care to think about, friends and I have come up with our "more than 7 list" of different things to see and do while visiting. And of course, it's for locals, too as we all know how when we live somewhere for a while, we tend not to do the "touristy" things.

These are not in any particular order or preference.

The Rose Theatre and Starlight Room

When I first lived in Port Townsend, the house was right up on top of Morgan Hill. At the bottom, was a small local market, called Aldrich's where more often than not, we were served by a young man with an enormous mop of dark curls. Young Rocky Friedman went on to fulfill his dream, restoring the old Rose theatre, bringing first run movies to the little town. Since then he has gone on to create the Rosebud (a tiny, intimate theatre) and more recently, the Starlight Room. From the Seattle Times: "The Starlight Room itself is gorgeous — high ceilings, big windows (curtained, of course, when movies are playing), a graceful assortment of soft-colored vintage couches and chairs, chandeliers, the whisper of history. There’s an elegant little bar outside the main room, where you can get a cocktail or a Silverwater snack, and the whole experience just feels first-class." The Rose also sponsors the Port Townsend Film Festival that draws visitors from all over the world.

Centrum Blues, Jazz and more

Centrum is central to Port Townsend's cultural identity. It all about the arts and so much of it is shared during the amazing workshops that are held mostly during the summer. A couple of weeks ago, during Jazz Week, I was lucky enough to attend one of the free concerts which was held out at the Fort, in the open air. The music was amazing - and I am not a jazz fan! The musicians were all youngsters attending the workshops.

Art Walk 1st Saturday of every month

Living in this little artsy town, it's easy to forget about the talent that thrives here and to forget about Gallery Walk. (I did, last month.) Water Street, our main road through the middle of town is filled with wonderful art galleries and each month they stay open late that 1st Saturday with many providing wine and hors d'oeuvre to their wandering guests. This is a monthly event and is held year-round.

The Port Townsend Boat Haven

The Boat haven is a great place to visit. Spend the whole day around the boats. Besides seeing a huge variety of boats in and out of the water and see the great work the shipwrights do, you can have some of the best coffee you might ever have had Sunrise Coffee. My favorite is the Heavy Haulout. All the blends are roasted right there and all the labels are works of art themselves, created by local artist, Max Grover.  Then have lunch at the Blue Moose in the boatyard where the boat workers go for good food and  then go for a beer at Port Townsend Brewery, where they have excellent local brews and music in the beer garden on Friday afternoons in the summer.

Music on the Dock on Thursdays during the summer

This is is a Port Townsend Main Street Program sponsored by local merchants, bringing a wide range of family-friendly music to the town. Port Townsend Main Street Program 360-385-7911, director@ptmainstreet.org

The Great Port Townsend Bay Kinetic Skulpture Race

This is one of the whackier events in a town known for the unusual! Way back, I was a Kinetic Kop, handing out ridiculous tickets for a variety of infractions! Now in it's 32nd year, the krazy contraptions recently took to the water, the streets, sand and mud! As the third oldest race on the ever growing Kinetic Racing circuit, it is one of the few still run by volunteers. "These kineticnauts and their wacky Kontraptions have won the hearts, and imaginations of all who witness this eccentric, eclectic pageantry of human powered machinery."

Northwest Maritime Center and Point Hudson

The Maritime Center is a relative newcomer to Port Townsend, many years in the planning and built at the site of an old oil tank storage facility overlooking Point Hudson. The LEED-certified building houses the Chandlery, a boat shop, the Velocity Cafe and is home to the Wooden Boat Foundation. Best known, perhaps is the Wooden Boat Festival, now considered the largest in the country, held every year in September. For wooden boat fans, it is definitely the place to be. Point Hudson itself, is a small marina surrounded by some great old buildings that accommodate a sail loft, boat shops, an RV area right on the water and one of the oldest continuously-operating restaurant in Port Townsend - the Shanghai Chinese Restaurant! A newer addition is the Point Hudson Cafe. (Try the Scotch Salmon dish that is topped with caviar!)

Food

Before the town was "discovered," restaurant choices were very limited. There was (and still is) Ku Larb Thai which remains excellent. There was The Lido which served the best fresh salmon. And Waterfront Pizza. Which is still here and, in my mind, is still the best around. But the choices now are vast and exceptional and include just about everything from basic hot dogs at Dogs Afoot to great pasta at Lanza's, to Almond Chicken at the Fountain Cafe and fresh wild caught salmon and scallops at Alchemy. (This will have to be a whole new post as there are just too many eateries to mention here.)

Elevated Ice Cream

No trip to Port Townsend is complete without a trip to Elevated! Home made, seasonal and local! When my mother visited years ago, she discovered the Swiss Orange Chocolate Chip ice cream, so every time we went downtown, we had to stop for a scoop. A few years ago, they added the candy store, which is dangerous! You can buy the world-famous chocolate slugs on a stick here.

So that's just a sample of what you can do and see in Port Townsend, Washington.

Below is a partial list of some of the PT "happenings" during the year. You can see a lot more at the PTGuide.

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Annual Festivals & Events

January	July
Strange Brewfest	Jazz Port Townsend
February	Festival of American Fiddle Tunes
Shipwright’s Regatta	PT Writers’ Conference
March	Concerts on the Dock
PT PlayFest	August
Victorian Heritage Festival	Acoustic Blues Festival
Chamber Music Festival	Summer Cider Day
April	Jefferson County Fair
Marine Science Center Opens	Uptown Street Fair
Farmers Market Opens	Classic Car Show
Kitchen Tour	Shakespeare in the Park
JeffCo Expo	Art Port Townsend
May	Kayak Rendezvous
Opening Boating Day	September
Rotary Auction	Wooden Boat Festival
Rhody Festival	Crafts By the Dock
Rhody Run	Arts Fair
Hood Canal Shrimpfest	Jefferson County Farm Tour
June	PT Film Festival
Chili Cook-Off	October
Classic Mariner’s Regatta	Kinetic Skulpture Race
Steampunk	Downtown Trick or Treat
Taste of Port Townsend	November
Rat Island Regatta	Arts & Craft Fair
Rakers Car Show	Woodworker’s Show
Fiddle Tunes Festival	December
	Victorian Holidays

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City Boy Goes Country

 

Last weekend was the annual Jefferson County Farm Tour and Ryan, my Hollywood son, was here to take the tour!

Everybody needs to go and see where their food comes from. Here in Jefferson County we are very fortunate to have so many wonderful farms providing for us. I went on the tour, which is self-guided, last year too, but it was much more fun to go with Ryan.

Our first stop was at Midori Farm, which for me showed an amazing accomplishment as just last year, the farm was right in Port Townsend, but needing more space they moved 30+ miles south to a new farm in Quilcene. It looked like they had been there for ages; never skipped a beat (beet?) with the growing season. Vast fields of organic veges; greenhouses filled with drying beans and curing onions; a farm stand loaded with fresh stuff, while almost-shoulder high brussels sprout plants showed tiny, developing sprout buds. This farm is sustainability in action. Goats were busy clearing blackberry patches and top-bar beehives (with warnings to stay away from the approach zone) are close by the chicken coop which provides manure, while the compost pile is located just beyond the goats!

Piles of fresh garlic caught Ryan's eye and he happily took some back to SoCal.

Up the road from Midori, right on Hwy 101, Dharma Ridge is an all-organic certified farm on the old Boulton Farm.  Along with all the veges and humanely-raised pigs, the farm is working with WSU (Washington State University) on a quinoa experiment and currently have numerous varieties being tested. It's the first time I have seen quinoa growing and if it hadn't been pointed out to me, would have thought it was a weed!

Next stop was the Bishop Farm. This is a dairy farm I drive by every time I head into Port Townsend. Located on Egg & I Road, it is the only organic dairy farm on the Northern Olympic Peninsula and is part of the Organic Valley group, so I can feel good buying "local" milk at the store. The cows were all out to pasture but were very curious, lining up to watch us! Then I looked at their udders and realized they probably thought we were going to take them into the milking shed to be milked! Sorry girls! Not my job!

With Ryan as the navigator, we headed over to Marrowstone Island, past beaches I used to take him and his brother Cody to when they were tiny boys. This visit was more grown up - a winery first where we tasted a flight of the local wines, produced from imported (from eastern Washington and Oregon) grapes. Last year, Betsy and I visited and everything was very young. This year, Marrowstone Vineyards will harvest their first crop. With the exceptionally warm weather this summer, they are hoping for a great harvest. I particularly enjoyed the Yellow Truck 2013 Apple Wine and Ryan bought a bottle of the Riesling which I am now enjoying as he couldn't take it home with him. Sorry, Ryan! I owe you one.

Another farm I have been meaning to go to is Mystery Bay Farm, where they raise goats and produce wonderful cheeses. It's tucked behind the historic Nordland store and we wandered the little farm, admiring all the goats who took pretty much no notice of us. Up in the vegetable garden, the ducks, which eat all the slugs and snails, were raucous and not happy to have all the visitors. And tucked far away from all the "girls," the two farm stud rams were sequestered! They appeared rather agitated but we found out that it was almost breeding season so the boys were very horny! On our way out, we had a quick taste of the cheeses which have garnered numerous write-ups and prizes.

Our final stop on the tour was at Westbrook Angus, which is mainly a breeding farm but they also sell grass fed beef at very reasonable prices. We didn't buy any, but next time Ryan visits, I will make sure I am well stocked! This stop was a highlight, I think as we went on a hayride! Julie, the owner, fired up the old tractor and off we went down into the valley to see all the cattle. She knows all the girls' names, their histories and personalities. Fascinating! The herd followed the tractor and trailer with us on it. When we stopped we were surrounded by the girls who immediately started pulling the hay bales off the trailer!  Knowing basically nothing about cattle, to me they looked so healthy, with shiny coats and they all seemed so placid. As we drove back to the farmstead, the cows followed as far as the open gate, stopped and watched as their snacks left!

It was a wonderful adventure and such fun sharing it with my city boy son, who also loved seeing first-hand how animals and crops should be grown.

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Midori Farm

10 Old State Hwy Quilcene, WA 98376  360.385.5579

Dharma Ridge Farm

780 Boulton Farm Road Quilcene,Wa 98376 360.765.0178

Bishop Farm

Egg & I Road Chimacum, WA 360.732.4863

Marrowstone Vineyards

423 Meade Road, Nordland 360.385.5239

Mystery Bay Farm

P.O. Box 285 Nordland 360.385.3309

Westbrook Angus

1311 West Valley Rd Chimacum 360.732.4335

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Where in the World is Port Townsend?

 This is a question I get asked a lot when I am away from the Pacific Northwest. The short answer is Port Townsend is northwest of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula. In the past, that answer has generally satisfied people, but with all the attention the little Victorian town is getting in the press these days, I thought it would be good to go deeper. Just recently Port Townsend made the "Best List" in Fodors, USA Today, AARP and the Seattle Times.

Depending where you are coming from, ferry travel is likely to be involved, and nothing says Pacific Northwest more than a wonderful ferry ride. As part of the state highway system, it links numerous islands by waterways that zigzag the Puget Sound and up to the San Juan Islands. You can check out the ferry map here and you can see how many paths there are to Port Townsend, or PT as we locals call the town. I love the ferries and generally make the choice to get from here to there that way, but sometimes it's just easier to "drive around"  from Seattle. But if you are visiting, make the boat trip a part of the outing. Once on board, it's relaxing, you can get a cup of good Seattle coffee or a bowl of clam chowder, watch the water traffic from the deck, take a stroll around and stretch your legs. If you are coming from Seattle you can take either the Seattle to Bainbridge ferry or the Edmonds to Kingston boat. Either way, it's about an hour from the ferry terminal, and then head north. Coming from north east, you'll come across Whidbey Island and land slap dab in downtown Port Townsend, with a great view of the city waterfront as you slip into the dock. Coming from Vancouver Island, hop on the Coho, the car ferry from Victoria. You'll go through Customs and Immigration in Port Angeles and then head east for a beautiful drive to Port Townsend.

Changes

When I first moved to Port Townsend in the late 80s, it was a sleepy, rather rundown little town with not much going on. Life revolved around the maritime activities and the boat yard was the hub. Hippies lived in lovely, albeit shabby, Victorian mansions and incognito millionaires drove around in ancient Volvos. The Town Tavern, a classic old bar was the hot spot in town with just a few other restaurants with unmemorable food. The hardware store, an absolute treasure trove, was right downtown on Water Street. Back in the mid-1800's, the town was dubbed the City of Dreams when there were high expectations that it would become the largest harbor on the west coast when the railroad arrived. Sadly, at least for the dreamers, the railroad opted for the eastern side of the Sound and Port Townsend, along with the beautiful Victorian buildings built to house the Consulate and other mucky mucks, became a ghost city. But then, in the early 1990s, the town was re-discovered. It was inexpensive and within easy striking distance of Seattle and Tacoma. Houses and rent were cheap. A couple of new developments were promoted and built - to paraphrase the old Field of Dreams movie quote - "if they build it, they will come". And come  they did, in droves, raising the town's profile to the chic and avant garde center it is today. The hippies are still around, but now they drive Prius' cars and shop at the Co-op for organic lentils and beans! (The Port Townsend Co-op is an absolute gem.)

Downtown is upscale now, with elegant art galleries and gift stores lining Water Street. Small bistros and cafes are tucked into alleyways and specialty stores, like the Spice and Tea Exchange, with its vast selection of teas and spices and Lively Olive that sells unique olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Port Townsend has turned into a real foodie town, with numerous restaurants that serve everything from fresh Dungeness crab to Thai and Indian cuisine, and everything in between. But despite the growing urban-chic feel, PT still keeps its own vibe going. Just wander through the boat yard. Journeymen (and women) clamber over big fishing boats propped up on scaffolding, undergoing restoration and repairs. Carhartt jeans and bib overalls are well-represented; old pickup trucks and yes, old Volvos, hold heavy tool boxes filled with traditional woodworker tools. Long hair, beards and dreads are the norm and the Blue Moose Cafe, right in the boat yard, caters to hungry workers. And even in downtown Port Townsend, there are a few places that still feel like "old Port Townsend." Ku Larb Thai is still right across from the Port Townsend Leader office,  serving up great Thai food. On Tyler Street, even though it changed its name from Tyler Street Cafe to Hillbottom Pie, and their bill of fare is different, the ambiance is still "old" Port Townsend. SeaJ's Cafe, one of the old "dives" is still going strong down on the docks, where you can get an excellent fish and chips and coffee for a buck! Because it has grown up so much, there is a lot to do now, so watch for my More Than 7 Things to do in Port Townsend post. [box type="info"]

Spice and Tea Exchange

929 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Lively Olive Tasting Bar

929 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Sea J's Cafe

2501 Washington St, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Blue Moose Cafe

311B Haines Place Port Townsend WA 98365[/box]

Eaton Days 2014

Everyone needs to experience small town living at some time in their lives. (Some people experience it all their lives!) And the annual celebration, whether a parade, a barbecue or festival is the epitome of what it's really like. During my stay in Colorado I was lucky enough to enjoy the entire weekend of small town fun and games during Eaton Days 2014. Although I haven't really experienced small town living anywhere else, my guess is that this could have been Anytown, USA. With so much happening, I couldn't do it all, but what I did fit in was huge fun.

The festivities began on Friday with a sidewalk art competition in front of the library. It started early as the temps were expected to reach high 90s by mid-day. Tiny tots were making their marks with wonderful attempts at "art," while down the sidewalk a little way, older kids and adults were creating elaborate, colorful designs. Parents and grandparents set up camp along the sidewalk, offering encouragement. Of course, the kids were excited about winning - gift certificates to MacDonalds! The parents not so much!

That evening, we got gussied up for the street dance! This was definitely a first for me and was happy to hear the music was to be country! and performed  by Austin Wahlert, a native son made good in Nashville! And he was surprisingly good. Not having a partner along was no hindrance at all, to me or anyone else! We rocked and boogied to the music until late in the evening. Everyone danced; infants in parents arms, tweens and teens and to old-timers, many who made me feel quite young! (Note to self: dance more often!)  It just felt so good!  Shit-kickers were the preferred footwear and cowboy hats in all shapes and sizes dotted the dance area. And the beer stand, manned by Rotary members, did a booming business, even though everyone got carded! and had to wear a wrist band to prove it! Hmmm, did anyone even notice that I might just be a tad over drinking age? Ha!

Saturday dawned clear as a bell, perfect for the Big Parade! Eaton is a tiny town, (population 4,500 encompassing 1.9 square miles of mostly agricultural land) so when the parade happens, it's as if the whole town is either in the parade or lining the roads. Old folks had chairs set up and young kids sat on the sidewalk, keep their feet well clear of the traffic.

The police cars headed the parade, lights flashing and sirens whoop whooping. Then it was horses and old cars, veterans and kids, girl scouts and square dancers, and bringing up the rear, the whole Eaton fire department, sirens blaring! Quite a commotion! Here's a video I did to give you an idea of what fun it was!

We had worked up quite an appetite by lunchtime so headed back to the park for a $5 barbecue lunch!  To put this in perspective: I try to eat organic and eat as few processed foods as possible. I recycle and use as few plastics and throwaway stuff as I can. So this whole setup was so far from my norm I felt like I was in another world when we went through the line for food. First came Styrofoam plates, a white bun with slabs of meat (which had cooked overnight in a special pit) cold baked beans, carrots and what could have been Gatorade. On the table were plastic bottles of barbecue sauce. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking this but I haven't eaten like that for eons! But looking around me at the wide assortment of people, this style of eating is apparently the norm. Different strokes...

A highlight of the weekend came after lunch. The Classic Car show! Such gorgeous old vehicles and so many proud owners. Of course there were the muscle cars, as well, which don't do much for me but oh, the oldies. I don't claim to know much about cars, but there are some designs and makes that live on and on. There was even a Studebaker Lark that was so similar to the one my Mum had when I was just little kid. We drooled over the cars (not literally) and wandered home to take a nap.

Then came fireworks! They were spectacular and we didn't have to go far to see them as they were set off from the high school grounds, just a couple of minutes from the house where I was staying. So we simply walk across the street and had front row seats.

And as if that wasn't enough fun, Dan and I (Susan [the other Susan] slept in) went to the Pancake Breakfast hosted by American Legion Post #26 in the Eaton Park, apparently a real tradition. Once again I was blown away, not so much by the food (also $5) but utensils and condiments. But I kept my mouth shut and enjoyed the sausage, eggs and pancakes and the copious coffee, repeatedly filled by the American Legion guys!

So this is really all about accepting where you are and enjoying it for all it's worth. Often places we travel to and events we experience don't fit with our lifestyles or beliefs. And I have to remind myself that variety is the spice of life and imagine how boring things would be if everywhere, everything and everybody was the same.

That was my Big Adventure in Anytown, USA.