Washington & Oregon

Day 1: Arrived in Seattle and met up with some friends. We went to Honey Hole for sandwiches and Vivace for one of the best cappuccinos ever (besides our beloved Press, of course). Then we went to the massive Public Market and saw dead fish over ice juxtaposed with rows of bright bouquets. Took the Amtrak to Vancouver and saw some neat countryside and old cobblestone downtowns on the way there. When we arrived his cousin helped us fill our atrophied stomachs with yummy veggie burgers and blackberry milkshakes from Burgerville. A healthy fast-food place––who knew? Would love to have some in the Midwest.



Day 2: Brunch in downtown Vancouver, WA at Mon Ami. Had a delicious pear, brie, and Boar’s Head ham crepe along with a homemade chai. Nom, nom, nom. Then we went on the prettiest drive of our little lives on Route 84 to get to Multnomah Falls. This place looked like it belonged in Lord of the Rings: an 800 foot tall waterfall with a bridge arching over the stream. We went hiking the rest of the day and saw even more waterfalls and got to play in the ice-melt-filled creeks.



Day 3: Lunch in downtown Vancouver at Rosemary Cafe. Fantastic sandwiches and cookies! We drove through Astoria, a neat little seaside town (that apparently was where The Goonies was shot––didn’t know that until we returned). Canon Beach was our final destination and, let me tell you, this place was gorgeous. It was a little chillier than inland, but there was something charming about needing a cardigan and leggings on a beach. You could look miles down the beach and not see any people––only rocks jutting up out of the water and the occasional seagull. My favorite part was a hill of wildflowers just off the beach. Dream-like, really. This day ended with us chomping on some fish and crab right from that ocean on the patio of The Wayfarer as the sun set. (Sigh.)



Day 4: Drove up, up, up the side of a mountain to shoot guns with his (licensed) cousins and his (registered) guns. Bullets and things scare me, but I have to admit some of the shooting was slightly therapeutic. We drove back to have dinner with the whole family. His uncle grilled halibut and salmon that he’d caught in Alaska along with sweet corn from the stand up the street. We washed it all down with some local microbrews. Perfection.



Day 5: Ate brunch at BeaterVille Cafe in Portland and then walked along the river and went to the Portland Art Fair. Drove to Seattle, met up with some friends and ate at Thaiku in Ballard. Had some effervescent brews at Two Bit Saloon. Walked down hilly roads to see the yachts at the pier.

Day 6: Watched the sun rise in the plane and flew towards it as we traveled east. When we arrived in Dayton we picked up some brochures of places we’ve always wanted to go––for future explorations.

Wot-a-Dog: Best Coney This Side of Cincy

Wot-a-Dog was my first job (yes as a carhop, but no, not wearing roller-skates) so it holds a dear space in my heart. Not only does it set my precedent for how root beer tastes, but also how a coney tastes. Skyline and Gold Star have nothing on Wot-a-Dog.

Sure, it's about a twenty or thirty minute drive from Dayton. But trust me, it's worth the gas (maybe in both meanings of the word––heyo!). It's a straight shot from 75. Just take 75 north to 4 north and follow it on state route 235. (You'll also pass a great nursery with the most beautiful, healthy flowers around: Meadowview.)

The food is pretty good but what really makes Wot-a-Dog special is the experience. Go on a sunny Monday night for their weekly cruise-in and see all the old classic cars as you sway to 50s music. You'll feel like you were teleported to the musical Grease.

Here are a couple different options for meals or just get all of it and have a smorgasbord with your Wot-a-Companion.

Footlong coney with cheese and onions

Onion Rings with rebel sauce

Root beer float

Bratwurst with sauerkraut and jalapenos

Curly fries

Milkshake

There's a bike trail directly behind Wot-a-Dog so you can even go for a leisurely stroll afterwards to burn some of those tasty calories. Wot-a-Dog is only open seasonally, so make sure you put a rush on it and get there before mid-September. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!

Jeni’s Ice Cream

I have a pretty intense love for Jeni’s ice cream. If you’ve never been, go ahead and just stop reading this post and drive straight there. I give you permission. It’s that good.

This season she rolled out a new flavor that was like a symphony in my mouth: rhubarb & lime cardamom. I tried it as a float with the rhubarb Dry Soda. So there was this wonderful texture extravaganza with bubbly soda, velvety ice-cream, and fluffy homemade whipped cream. The wild berry ice-cream with the lavender Dry Soda is also life-changing as a float.

I know I’m the target demographic, but I just can’t help but be a huge brand fan. They try to use local whenever possible; they favor flavor instead of sugar; they’re very experimental with mixing in uncommon herbs; their ice-cream shops are beautiful and inviting; and their blog, saltycaramel, is wonderfully written with great pictures. It’s no wonder they’ve branched out to include so many stores. They got it right.

All of the descriptions are fantastic, but here’s one I particularly like:

“Rockmill Golden Ale & Apricots, Rhubarb & Lime Cardamom Yogurt, Strawberry Buttermilk--when I taste these intensely flavorful new ice creams, they remind me of growing up in the summer in the Midwest, of flying down gravel roads in a fearless, handsome boy’s car, the cassette deck blaring as cornfields whizzed by and all cares flew out the windows into the hot and heavy humid air.

All right now dig in. Summer is to be shared.”

Go ahead and read all the descriptions. It's worth the cravings you'll have afterwards. Here's what you should look for at stores (you can find some flavors at The Winds Cafe and Dorothy Lane Market):

Butter Cafe

Not only does this place have delightful food, but their cheery yellow walls and bright white furniture is bound to make your lunchtime a happy time. Don’t let the name fool you, there’s plenty of healthy options.

Here are some of my favorite things to get there:

• Mushroom burger: portabella, eggplant, mozzarella, pesto sandwich, on a kaiser roll.


• Veggie sandwich: peppers, eggplant, tomato, onion on your choice of bread.


• Their soups. For example I had some yummy bean soup (with beans I didn’t even know existed) that was heavily spiced with some very complimentary herbs.

I’m planning on trying the vegan burger next. If it follows the current trend, it’s bound to be tasty. Their sandwiches are served with diced potatoes (with skin on––my favorite) that are sprinkled with sea salt and rosemary. Delish!

Butter Cafe is on Brown Street right by the University of Dayton campus. Give it a whirl.

When Openers Are Awesome

I love going to good shows. Even better, I love going to shows where the openers are fantastic, and I haven't heard their music before, and it's this wonderful, pleasant surprise.

Thought I'd share the wealth of some of my favorite bands that have been openers at other shows:

Headlights
Blind Pilot
Deep Sea Diver
All Get Out
Celebration
Princeton
Maps and Atlases

Sunday in Springfield

Until the weather improves, here's something to do on a Sunday afternoon. I would suggest getting a reservation for both.

Start off by getting brunch at Seasons Bistro and Grille. The restaurant is located in downtown Springfield on Limestone Street. With exposed brick and ductwork they make excellent use of their space, and make even better use of recipes that are both healthy and delicious. I highly recommend the frittata and my husband loved the french toast.

Then, head over to the Wescott House, a stunning Frank Lloyd Wright House built in 1908. Part of the tour is outside, so dress accordingly. Make sure you watch the video at the beginning of the tour––seeing the efforts the renovators made for historical accuracy was remarkable.

Trust me on this one. Plan this day trip soon.

Crafty Christmas

Here's how Christmas looks at the Norman household.

This is my favorite part. It's the tree my mam-maw and pap-paw used for years––since the 1930s, I'd guess. It even has all the original ornaments.

The other tree has some ornaments I've found at garage sales, auctions, antique stores, and my beloved Anthropologie.

Can't forget the stockings. I made these a few years back. I stitched on some buttons from the sewing kit I inherited from my mam-maw and embroidered our names at the top. Our furry children, Persephone and Demeter, also have the privilege of homemade stockings.

It's just not Christmas until you see a cat in a Santa hat. As you can see, Persephone loves hers.

Demeter is as thrilled with this hat as Ralphie was with his pink bunny suit.

Thankfulness for the Health of It

Cliché or not, taking time out to express our gratitude is good for our health.

Need proof? I pulled this finding from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness:

"In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)."

So here are a few on my list:

• I am thankful that my family all lives close and stays close.


• I am thankful for a job that allows me to be creative and eat lots of good food.


• I am thankful for a husband that never loses his patience with me.


• I am thankful for friends that are insightful, quirky, and compassionate.


• I am thankful that my windowsills are wide enough for my plants to enjoy the sunshine.


• I am thankful for my mother's cooking on Thanksgiving Day.

Now, please share your own. (Remember: It's good for you!)

Beer Label Table

No, I'm not a bro. Nope, never been in a fraternity. But my collection of beer labels needed a home, and we had a hand-me-down table that we had spilled paint on during renovations. So, it became the logical resting place.

Here's the final product of several dozen happily-consumed brewskies.

Teacup Candles

In honor of the beginning of garage sale season, here's an easy trash-to-treasure idea: if you find a pretty teacup that is flawed, just use it as a candle holder.

The same can hold true for tins or containers that are too pretty
to toss out.

All This Beauty

One of my favorite quotes is by George Santayana: "Interest in the changing seasons is a much happier state of mind than being hopelessly in love with spring." But let's be honest. Spring kind of steals the show when it comes to seasons.

All the flowers blooming and trees budding in our yard has made me one chipper gal, so I thought I'd share the eye candy.

Antiquing as Sport

I've always said antiquing and thrifting are the equivalent of hunting for me. I'd really rather not shoot furry, doe-eyed creatures, but I do enjoy the challenge and thrill of seeking out a game of sorts.

The chase is addicting: eyes dashing around the store, finding mostly junk but then––oh, the moment is so glorious––there it is.

That's the feeling I got when this wreath caught my eye. I found it in an antique store in Tipp City. It's handmade and has a variety of vintage fabric yo-yos with vintage buttons in the center, and it even had a nest with a couple of faux eggs. The nest was missing a bird but I quickly filled that void with one from the craft store.

After a recent conversation with a friend, it occured to me that the antiquing/thrifting habit might also derive from a desire to salvage. I always think about how that knick-knack might have been a favorite in its past life. When buying second hand, you're giving that knick-knack another chance. It's beautiful, isn't it?

Recycled Art

Our bedroom needed a bit more color, so I decided to make a vibrant collage painting to brighten it up. I started with a base of my favorite color, turquoise. Next, I painted and stamped with different layers of yellow and gold.

Then came hodgepodge time! A couple years back, I had bought an old dictionary at a garage sale that was falling apart to assist me in craft projects. A couple carefully torn excerpts provided a black and white contrast to the color. There are also closely cut pictures of yellow and red roses from an old gardening book I had found in a give away pile. I had a calendar of vintage bird illustrations that I couldn't bear to throw away, so they nested on my painting. Lastly, I had dried some peach poppy petals from my garden and they also found their place amongst the fodder.

I love how every piece of the collage has a story.

Ephemera becomes eternized!

Highly evolved

I wonder if the next generation will develop special muscles or bones in their hands to accomodate texting. And perhaps several hundred years from now anthropolgists will dig them up and wonder what brought about the adaptation.

Dayton is delicious!

So Dayton isn't a bustling Metropolitan city, but it does have its fair share of fine cuisine. I think some are reluctant to try independent restaurants because they are unfamiliar; people know what to expect with chains. However, the majority of the time it's worth the risk to discover a great new place. Here are some of my tried-and-true favorites. Please share some of your favorite independent restaurants and coffee shops around the area, as well!

• Figlio (on Stroop Road in Kettering) Italian


• Thai 9 (on Fifth Street in the Oregon District) Thai


• Tanks (on Wayne Avenue in Dayton) Bar food


• El Meson (East Dixie Drive in West Carrollton)


• Press (on Wayne in the Oregon District) By far the best coffee shop in Dayton––try the home-brewed chai

These are little gems located somewhat outside of the Gem City. Nonetheless, they're worth the drive.

La Piazza (Market Street in downtown Troy) Great calamari
Greenfire Bistro (Main Street past downtown Tipp City)
Tavernette Inn (Main Street in Medway)

Heartless Bastards

Heartless Bastards: the name is very deceiving. Though their music isn't easy-listening, it also isn't hardcore. Their lead singer, Erica Wennerstrom, has a rare combination of a powerful voice and evocative lyrics.

Even better, they are proof that good things come from Dayton! After seeing them at Canal Street about a year ago, I became an even more devoted listener. Good news! They are coming back to Canal Street this December 27th.

Here is a link to their website:
www.theheartlessbastards.com

Here are the album covers so you know what to look for next time you're at the record store:

Handmade owl doorstop

What's better than a plaid doorstop? You got it- a plaid doorstop with owl features. I found the base (see first picture) at a local antique store. I thought it was the perfect shape for an owl body. Add some felt and buttons that were begging to be used, and ::hoot!hoot!:: I had a charming little owl.

I realize owls are kind of trendy now, but I have always had a fondness for the feathery creatures. Perhaps it is due to the wisdom they symbolize or their iconic features.

Please post your own owl adaptations and keep crafting alive!

Vintage Tablecloths

I love our kitchen. So much so that I don't particularly mind washing the dishes or cooking because it's that cheery. We painted the walls light yellow and the windows let in a pretty light that makes the kitchen glow.

Our table is a perfect complement too, as it belongs in the same 40s/50s era as the house. I collect tablecloths that were also made in that same time period. Stay tuned for more pictures of quirky tablecloths and tea towels from my collection.

As seen on the table, I share Claude Monet's sentiment: "What I need most are flowers, always, always."

Chopping off my cold feet

I have always loved the quote, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." (Leave it to the Chinese Philosophers like Lao-tzu to say it best, hunh?) The quote is rather fitting for the first posting on this blog because I have been wanting to start for quite some time now. Unfortunately, that "overplan" feature of my brain has been holding me back. Often, I think we procrastinate because we want our end product to be flawless and that is such an undertaking that it's more tempting never to start. Well boo to that- here's to just going with it and accepting imperfections!

Speaking of Chinese quotations, here are some of my favorite Chinese proverbs:

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.

To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

One generation plants the trees, and another gets the shade.