This September

I’m usually not one to comment on how quickly or slowly the months go by. It varies for me from year to year. It all depends on what I have going on.

Lately though, I’ve been thinking a lot about this September. Mostly about how it came along quickly, after what felt like a long August, and now suddenly it’s almost gone. 

There are 3 very good reasons for this.

The first — we are gearing up for another move. I have loved every minute of the our time in the Bay Area, but it’s time for new adventure.

We aren’t going far. About 3 hours southeast of the Bay, to the land of agriculture. What we will lose in water views, we will gain in hiking in the Sierra Nevadas, the smell of citrus blossoms, walnut and almond groves, a house we own, and a potential studio space for my photography work.

Not a bad trade. We’re ready for it. 

The second reason for a speedy month was a Labor Day trip to Washington with two visits to the Gorge Amphitheater to see DMB shows. 

It included a stay in Ellensburg with a stop at Cornerstone Pie for a spinach salad with pickled red onions, bacon, feta and Dijon champagne vinaigrette. Then the Pesto Pacifica pizza with cedar plank salmon, prawns, scallops, prosciutto ham, peppers, tomatoes, olives and pesto. Yes, every bit as good as they look!

We followed that up with a visit to Iron Horse Brewery. I also brought back some beautiful pottery from Johnson’s Pottery in Ellensburg. It went pretty well with the handful of black cherry tomatoes I was finally able to harvest from our patio plant!

Then we spent the night in a tent at La Wis Wis campground outside Mt. Rainier National Park. 

We included a hike on the Tipsoo Lake-Naches Loop Trail. Then we closed out the trip by hiking Glacier Basin. 

As if that wasn’t enough, the third reason for a fast September was a second trip to Washington this past weekend. This time? A farm to table photography course with Clare Barboza.

I spent a weekend visiting  Jubilee Biodynamic Farm, a CSA and work share farm that had everything from grapes and cabbages to peppers and pumpkins. 

Oh, the pumpkins. Variety after variety of winter squash and I think I photographed them all. 
 

Then I had the pleasure of visiting a small pork farm doing honorable work with an inspiring philosophy. I met Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson. (It took me a while for those names to click, too.)

Another highlight there, the farm dogs. 

Redfeather Farm is named for 12 year old Emmy. Equally vying for attention were Fiona and guard dog, Floyd. 

Another day of the workshop was spent in studio, shooting in beautiful light with a prop board selection that dreams are made of. 

Finally, a visit to Ballard Farmers Market. It was like a book about fall opened its cover and I walked inside. Late summer tomatoes sat beside stone fruits, winter squash and hot apple cider. All this was set among historic buildings now holding restaurants and cafes along a ground that was speckled with yellow leaves falling from the trees. 

So, no. I have not been in the kitchen. I’m doing all I can to keep up a meal plan that can still be classified as healthy while I squeeze in my marathon training runs and squeeze myself around piles of boxes. 

Soon I’ll be settled and back in a kitchen with plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time during this pumpkin-loving, apple cider-crazy, sweater-cozy time of year. 

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