Crab, Seafood, and Wine Festival

Larry and I decided to take off Saturday, sans kids, for a day in Astoria for their annual Crab, Seafood, and Wine Festival.

We decided we wanted a relaxing day, so rather than wake at the crack of dawn, we got up at a leisurely pace, and left mid-morning, intending to make some stops along the way. We checked out Stub Stewart State Park, a new-ish state park within an easy drive from Portland. We mostly saw trailers, but there is limited space for tents. It's so new that the trees haven't had time to fill in yet, so it's pretty open. Nice cabin area, though, ideal for a GS troop outing or family reunion.

From there, we headed to Gearhart, did some shopping en route, checked out a cranberry farm, and had lunch at the McMenamin's on the golf course there. Glad we decided on indoor seating; it was showery the whole time.

On to the main attraction! OMG, what fun! We parked at the designated parking lot at the Port of Astoria and boarded a shuttle bus to take us to the fairgrounds, where the festival was being held. The first thing we noticed was that almost everyone who boarded the bus had a wine glass - empty for now - in hand. Some were even wearing them in "holsters" around their necks. Hmmm... The bus' atmosphere was quite festive, with people laughing and carrying on from the start. The shuttle driver had clearly done this gig before; she was very peppy, and kept telling us repeatedly to remember that we were on the Crab Bus, not the Halibut, Salmon, Shrimp, or any other seafood route. She must have reminded us a dozen times during our short ride, and joked that we needed reminding because we might not be as coherent on the way home. Hmmm...

We arrived at the festival, and entered the huge tents where the event was being held. There were booths featuring wineries, hand-painted wine glasses, art, jewelry, fudge, artisan cheeses, gourmet foods, and much more. The big thing was tasting wines from the many wineries represented, and the preferred approach was to have your own wine glass that was refilled - repeatedly - throughout the day/evening. (Ah, thus the wine glasses on the bus!)

First order of business: buy glasses. We could've just drunk from the plastic cups provided for those who were glass-less, but what's the fun in that?! The festival offers an annual commemorative glass, but the hand-painted glasses were much more interesting, so, we proceeded to visit the various booths offering them. After much research, we decided on generously-sized glasses with big, bold, red crabs and starfish on them.



Next on the agenda; have some wine. So many wineries were represented, we chose to seek out some with whom we were unfamiliar, and try something new. Larry started with a big, assertive, peppery red, while I went for a smoother blend. These booths offered, for a fee, tastes, glasses, bottles, and cases. I started with a glass, but soon learned to get a taste first, then a glass of what I really enjoyed. Don't ask me what we drank; I can't remember, after tasting so many!

Throughout the event, we would occasionally hear the crowd let out a big, resounding whoop that spread throughout the tent's expanse. After a few instances, I asked someone what it was all about. "Oh, that means someone dropped their glass." Sure enough, we started paying attention, and realized that each "whoop" was preceded by the sound of crashing glass. It seemed to become more frequent as the hour got later.

While we held securely onto our glasses, we did a bit of shopping. We brought the kids back some caramel Cosmic Corn. Though it tasted like it, this is not popped corn, but it's ground and extruded, then baked with its flavorings. Crunchy, flavorful, and very tasty! And, we discovered, it didn't get stale. We snacked on it for several days, and it still tasted fresh. I do love "gourmet foods", so I also bought a soup mix, dip and seasoning mixes, and several flavored oils and marinades, and can't wait to try them out - or give them as gifts. My favorite purchase, though, was the crab hat I wore in the spirit of the day. Sold by the Astoria High School Booster Club, it's a crazy, red, eyes-on-stalks rendition of a crab that will be perfect for future festivals - and Crazy Hat Day at school!



In the interest of checking everything out, we wandered into the adjoining tent where there was a stage with ongoing live music, and more food and drink. There, the Kiwanis Club offered a crab dinner plate featuring steamed crab, cole slaw, baked beans, and french bread. Our intent was to wander a bit, and then have the crab dinner , but there were so many other fun foods offered, we ended up noshing on a variety of yummy morsels. We sampled the requisite Dungeness crab cocktail, smoked razor clams on a stick, to die for crab melt on Garlic french bread, and fried Willapa Bay oysters. All of which we ate while listening to the band and watching people dance.

We were intrigued, too, by the crab-cracking technique employed. Raised as crab-crackers, this was a new approach to us. No wimpy stainless-steel hand-held crackers were in evidence here. No, instead, they distributed 8" long pieces of 1"x1" wood. Diners placed the crab leg/claw on one piece and gave it an unceremonious whack with another. Very effective! At the end of the evening, the wood was collected in 5 gallon buckets for use the next day.

We stayed until the band played its final note, gathered our purchases, and headed for the Crab Bus shuttle stop. It was a wild ride back, with a rowdier bunch than we started out with, for sure. One of the last things we heard before the bus stopped at our parking lot was the sound of breaking glass, after which we all let out a big "whoop"!

Next year (because this needs to be an annual event) we'll be ready. I'll wear my crab hat, and we'll have wine glasses in hand.

The Sub Job that wouldn't end

It was the job that wouldn't end...

I got a call on Valentine's Day to work the afternoon for a third grade teacher (and friend) whose sister had just started hospice. She'd been ill for only a brief while, but the cancer progressed quickly, and it didn't look like she had much time left. My friend, Maryrose, wanted to spend time with her while she could, so she asked if I could stay on for a few days more. Ten days later, I was still there, when word came that her sister died, and she needed more time off for bereavement. Understandable. I was starting to bond with the kids, and was really enjoying my return to third grade.

I stayed on for a full month until Spring Break started, and let the students know their teacher would be back when they returned after a week off. Still, in the back of my mind, I suspected I'd hear from her while on vacation. Sure enough, on the way home, I checked messages while laid over at the airport, and had a message asking me to come back after Break. Maryrose wasn't feeling well herself, what with the stress of her sister's illness and death, being executress of the will, and caring for her now-orphaned nephew. In addition, allergy season had started, and she was having difficulty breathing. I went back on Monday, and the students were crushed to see me - they wanted their real teacher back!

A week later, I got a call, and learned that Maryrose had a heart attack! She'd had angioplasty and two stents and would be out another couple of weeks. I was in the groove by then, and was looking at this class as my temporary own. We had our routines and they'd gotten used to the way I did things. It was report card time, so I took care of that, and conferenced with parents. The classroom was feeling like my own.

I'd now been there for seven weeks. Maryrose decided to come back, sooner than I expected, but was anxious to be back at work. Again, I told the students it would be my last day, and they were sad to see me go, but thrilled that their "real" teacher would be returning on Monday.

You guessed it; I got a call on Sunday night asking me to return. She'd had a relapse and had been back in the hospital. I returned the next day, dreading the looks on the students' faces when they saw I was there - again- instead of Maryrose. A brainstorm! I printed Maryrose's face - life-size - and made a mask. When the students walked in, I held it up in front of my face. "See, I told you I'd be back today!" Their looks of disappointment turned into laughter and we returned to our routine.

Two more weeks passed. I decided not to make any more promises about her return. It was too hard on all of us. My life had been on hold for weeks now, and the students had been jerked around too much, too. We'd just play it by ear.

Finally, her doctor released her to come back half-days, so I started working afternoons only. The kids were happy because they got Maryrose back and got to keep me, too. We were well-bonded after nine weeks together. It was gonna be hard to let go.

Three weeks of half-time, and a field trip later, my last day truly arrived. The kids had gifts, cards, and good-bye letters for me, lots of hugs, and a few tears. After twelve weeks, they'd come to think of me not as a sub, but as their "other teacher" - and so had I. I'll miss them, but I'm glad to be moving on, and to have my life back. I start performing with my choir soon, so it's time to re-prioritize. Perfect timing!

Shoulder Injury

Getting old (and out of shape, if I'm honest about it) is the pits. I woke up one morning a few weeks ago, and my right shoulder hurt. I figured I'd slept on it wrong, and that it would eventually work itself out. A few days went by, then a week, and, eventually, I was feeling better, but not as quickly or decisively as I wanted. One day, I was taking my students out to recess, and, as I shoved on the bar of the door to open it, a searing pain shot up into my shoulder; it was excruciating. I fought tears all through recess, and called the doctor as soon as school was out. I was in his office the next morning, where he diagnosed tendonitis, and sent me to physical therapy. I started the next day (pain will hurry you along!), and have been going to PT for a month now. I still hurt, but usually after doing my exercises! :-) It's better, but I still find myself limiting my movements and protecting that arm. Getting comfortable at night is the hardest. Wish I knew how long this was going to take - I just want to feel normal again. (And I'm hoping this isn't my new normal...)

New Orleans fun!

Since we had to fly out of New Orleans to come back home, we planned a day there to do some fun stuff. The idea was to leave Mobile Friday morning, and take advantage of activities going on that weekend. Tom and Susan were going to join us. We had tickets to several events and reservations at a hotel. We'd fly out Saturday afternoon. It was going to be a blast!

Uh-oh! Tom and Susan weren't feeling well all week, and, although they tried to ignore it, the inevitable happened, and they were too sick to accompany us. We were all really disappointed; we'd really been looking forward to spending some one-on-one time with them, but, alas, it was not to be. :-( We tried to find someone else to go with us and take advantage of our prepaid tickets and non-refundable room, but no one was able to go. In the end, the event tickets were no issue, and the girls stayed in one room, giving Larry and I a room to ourselves. Not such a bad deal!

We arrived in New Orleans in time to have a quick lunch, then Emily and I went on a tour of French Quarter homes. Larry and Sarah opted to take a tour of St. Louis Cemetery #1. We soon discovered that the girls were a bit embarrassed to be walking around in the French Quarter, especially the fleeting blocks of Bourbon Street we traversed. Larry and I hadn't really paid much attention. We'd been there so many times before, and we were really just intent on getting where we were going. Sarah and Emily, however, were in the Land of the Unknown! They were getting an eyeful - and it was day time! (Imagine if we'd been there at night!)

En route to our respective destinations, I couldn't resist getting some shots of the distinctive French Quarter balconies, brackets, and other architectural features that make the French Quarter so unique.



I've always wanted to take a sneak peek at some of those hidden homes behind the walls in the French Quarter - places the tourists don't even realize exist. The French Quarter is thought of as a tourist destination, and New Orleans Party Central - and it is! - but people live there, too. I've long been aware of all the hidden-away courtyards and gardens, and have relished any stolen glimpses I got of them. Emily and I got to visit and tour, inside and out, four of those hidden dwellings.

Much to my disappointment, we were not allowed to take pictures of the interiors of any of the homes we toured. The first was rather ornate and elaborate, two stories, high ceilings, crown moldings, and full of antiques. The docent there was more intent on giving us the early history of New Orleans and the settling of the French Quarter than she was in telling us about the house, but it was fun to wander around, and imagine living the good life. The courtyard featured some lovely statues, a fountain, and beautiful flowers. I especially appreciated the shot (below) with the juxtaposition of old world and new - the neighbor kid's bicycle!



The second home was a shotgun house, not elaborate at all, and definitely lived-in. Too cramped for my comfort, but cozy. Highlights for us were framed letters from Albert Einstein and Mark Twain. There, in the courtyard, I was able to show Emily a shrimp plant - one of my favorites!



I want to hire the decorator who did the third house - the homeowner herself! It was 1/2 block off Bourbon St., and owned by a couple with ties to Mobile. They have two or three homes they rotate among, and this one was a mere three rooms deep, but cozy, efficient, and sheer fun! It had a Mardi Gras decorating theme, and was full of color and whimsy. Their courtyard held, among other things, a kumquat tree, and Emily accepted the invitation to taste one. She liked it; I declined, as I've had that dubious pleasure before...



The final home was actually a series of apartments. Cozy, quaint, and pricey to rent, I am sure! The docent there regaled us with tales of post-Katrina life - not pretty in the least.

After our tour, we headed down to Jackson Square and waited for Larry and Sarah to return from their cemetery tour. (That's on my list for our next visit.) We checked out the sights and the street artists and musicians and rested our tired feet.



Only in New Orleans can you find "drinks to go"...



On our way back to the room, we sought out the memorial to Hurricane Katrina, sculpted by a local artist.



That night, we headed into Chalmette for their annual Crawfish Festival. It was a family-oriented fair-type event. We were astounded that we were able to walk right in; there was no admission charged. The girls did not ride any rides, and we passed right by the arcade games. We were there for one thing and one thing only - the food. Admittedly, we just ate the whole time! The locals seemed to be purists and preferred the old stand-by - boiled crawfish. We, however, were more adventurous. We had crawfish prepared every way you can imagine, but the tastiest was a crawfish bread - a pocket of yeasty bread stuffed with chopped crawfish meat, tasty sauce, and cheese. Dee-ee-lish! We also had it stir-fried, in mashed potatoes, soft-shelled... Yummy!

We drove through the Ninth Ward en route to and from the night's festivities, and, I must say, it's still pretty grim. You can still see X's painted on fronts of obviously-uninhabited homes. There are blocks with no homes at all, and houses with lights on inside were a rarity. Businesses were closed, and streets were deserted. It will be a long time before this area comes back - I suspect in a different capacity than before.

The next morning, we headed back down to the French Quarter for The World's Largest Oyster Po-boy Sandwich and contest. It was a popular event!



I've never seen po-boys prepared so creatively! Tables were set up in a line for two blocks. Every two tables were relegated to a different restaurant. Fried oysters were provided, and the restaurant could choose to dress the sandwich any way they wanted. We scoped out the different offerings and positioned ourselves for a taste of the one we thought looked the most interesting. The one I sampled featured the oysters tossed in a sherry and oyster butter sauce before placing them on the sandwich with celery root slaw and a creole mustard sauce.



Next to us, the oysters were tossed in a sweet and hot sauce, with blue cheese crumbles topping the concoction.



Others were equally as creative, interesting, and mouthwatering...




Entries were sampled by judges, and prizes were awarded to the top three po-boys. After much pontification on the part of the event sponsors and select politicians, the countdown began, and all the sandwiches were cut at once. It was a hoot!



We grabbed our samples and headed for the airport. It was a great way to end our visit. While waiting for our plane, I checked voice mail and found that the sub job I thought I had just finished was actually going to continue. Back to work...

Canoeing, tea, and dinner with friends

The Wednesday of Spring Break, Larry decided to take Sarah and Emily canoeing. Did they go 20 minutes away, to the Escatawpa River? No. Oh, across the causeway to Three Rivers, a 45 minute drive? No. They decided to drive three hours each way to canoe on the Blackwater River in Florida. It was an early morning... I was glad I slept in!

Daddy was working, so that left "the girls" at loose ends. Mama, Laura, Ruth Ann and I made arrangements to have high tea at a cute little tea room in Spring Hill, called the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle. It was decorated with just the right touch. Lovely and "tea room-like", but not stuffy or overdone. Very sweet, and comfortable, but like we'd stepped into another era... We tasted two distinctly different teas, one hot and one iced, and had a tiered platter of finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts. All very British and very la-di-dah!

There was a cute gift shop, too, so naturally, I had to buy some things. I am always a sucker for "gourmet foods", so picked up some jams and such for future gifts. (Shhh!)

That evening, the rest of the clan came back late, tired and sunburned. They thought we were the ones who missed out on a good time, but we know the real story...

That evening, we were treated to dinner at the home of our friends, Susan and Tom Thomas. They are always ready to entertain at a moment's notice, and are great cooks - and they're willing to fill their house up with my family! Those are real friends!