In the 4th of July mood

The Chinook Coffee Co. is getting in the spirit of July 4th!

Natalie & friends

On the deck at The Shelburne Inn.

Happy Red Boots

What cute Red Boots at the Yankee Trader in Gearhart.

First Salmon Ceremony

Photo credit to Damian Mulinix (again). (can I help it that his photos are better than mine? He is an award winning photojournalist!)

Last Friday- how time flies. Just one year ago I was at the First Salmon Ceremony. This year I didn't bring my camera- having grown weary of the other non-natives chastising me for taking photos. (hey, I had permission)

The weather was perfect. I was warmly greeted by the Chinook Nation and enjoyed the afternoon of drumming, songs, ceremony and conversation. AND I sure am glad Damian was there to capture the memories. You MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO of the event. Thanks Damian.

Photographer shadow

The end of May- I attended the State Republican Convention. The local Photojournalist, Damian Mulinix, followed our young delegation around.

I had forgotten that I snapped this photo on my blackberry during the convention floor business.

Damian has a nice blog showcasing some of his work. Here is his backstory on the convention. He was a good sport. I know he is very different politically from the Republicans- but he was very professional during the 2 days that he tagged around.

Damian is doing some really nice multi-media for The Chinook Observer. This link is the show he did on the young delegates we had from Pacific County.

Veronica, mushrooms, fancy rubber boots and a new mini-cooper

Earlier this week- I was dashing into Brett's office- and who is there- digging out of the back of a new little black/white Mini Cooper? Veronica Williams... the mushroom expert!

She looked so pretty dressed up in her bridge playing finest. She had already been tromping around in the woods in those swirly rubber boots.

Check out the back end of that car- she has baskets of mushrooms, boots and rain gear. (I have boxes of tarps, ropes, water bottles and other less fancy/interesting gear.

We laughed, checked out her new car- she invited me to bridge. I was sorry to rain check (I don't play!) and we agreed to get together soon.

It was a fun way to start my day. Quite unexpected. (she was delivering mushrooms to The Depot)

{since I didnt have my camera- the blackberry had to do}

Coast Guard Cutter- The Eagle is in town

The only tall ship to be in military service arrived in Astoria this week.

Cougar sighting reported in Seaview!

SEAVIEW - At about 8 a.m., on Tuesday, June 17, at the back side of Aloha Court on Sandridge Road, a resident of the park saw a cougar trotting away with her 14-year-old cat in its mouth.

According to this woman, "It looked like a full-grown adult, was tawny gold in color and was a lean (not thin) animal."

Every observation should be called into the Washington State Department of Fish and Game, Dangerous Cougar/Bear Hotline at 800-477-6224 or to District Wildlife Biologist Max Zahn at 360-249-4628 ext. 247.

As a side note, some nearby residents have been feeding raccoons, which may be drawing the hungry cougar in. It is never a good idea to feed any wild animal, no matter how cute they may seem. {from the Chinook Observer alerts}

What are you doing Dec. 15?

{The Press Release ran in a number of newspapers and radio. Here is the story from the local Chinook Observer} June 17, 2008

Nan Malin will be presidential elector

SPOKANE - At the Washington State GOP Convention held on May 29 through 31 in Spokane, Pacific County Republican Party Chair Nan Malin was chosen to serve as a presidential elector.

Republicans from around the state gathered at the state convention to elect delegates to the national convention, chose presidential electors, interact with candidates, and adopt a statewide platform.

On Dec. 15, presidential electors representing the winning presidential and vice presidential candidates will gather in the state capital to cast their vote in the Electoral College. Washington state has a total of 11 electoral votes, one for each Congressional District and U.S. Senate seat.

"Nan Malin has been working hard to support our outstanding Republican candidates, and I'm thrilled that her incredible efforts have been rewarded with an opportunity to serve as a Presidential Elector," said Washington State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser.

For more information on the Washington State Republican Party visit (www.wsrp.org).

For more information on the Electoral College, visit (www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/index.html).

For a list of commonly asked questions and answers about Presidential Electors, visit (www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html).

Father's Day

Brett spent some time fixing his rock wall, making Rossi signs and then we went up to Ocean Park for some Teriyaki- drove out to the beach and enjoyed watching waves, dogs and the birds.

Last Burger Night of the Season

A sure sign that summer season has arrived- is the last burger night at The Depot. Charlie and Cheri Diehl were there- as usual. They had fresh relaxed faces- having just arrived back from a cruise to Alaska.







My Portabello Mushroom (Burger) is on the grill. Chef Michael is breaking in a new intern for the summer....

The summer season also means the deck is open for dining. So we can enjoy a glass of wine (and great food) in the fresh sea air.

Port of Ilwaco

LIFESTYLE: Close to Home: Taking a break for the soul

By DAVID CAMPICHE - Photos by LAURIE ANDERSON
For Coast Weekend



The Port Bistro at the Port of Ilwaco is fast becoming a favorite spot for lunch or dinner, and offers a great view of the port as well.



The Tuscany Cafe at the Port of Ilwaco serves up an Italian lunch with a view of the port.

Americans are an industrious lot. Most of us rise early and feed our beloved animals, that 10-year old cat or faithful dog. If we are in our 20s or 30s, we plate up something nutritional for the kids and send them off to school, offering instructions that they be diligent. We clean up the dishes, organize our bodies and thoughts and head for the job.

If we're self-employed, we add a couple more hours to a workday that extends beyond our counterparts in Europe and many other parts of the world. Lunch can be a quick affair. We squeeze it out between the myriad of details and obligations we call an 8-to-5. The day plows along and before we can declare that state of siege defined as mild exhaustion, it's late afternoon - many nations call a time-out and steal a siesta - and nearly time to prepare for the evening meal. By the time the dishes are cleaned and stowed, it's 8 p.m. Does this sound familiar?

This writer has been on a working binge and thought that he should steal a morning for himself, one of the few perks of running one's own business. But what to do? I confess to being an inveterate innkeeper and generally rise before 6 in the morning. Coffee is important, very important. Long Beach Coffee Roasters is a favorite. So is Astoria Coffee Company. Each business roasts their beverage to perfection, and roasts frequently. Morning starts with one of these coffees processed in a glass press-pot. It's fun to watch the coffee brew. It's natural to enjoy that rich dark color, the wafting aroma. The press-pot is one of the less expensive brewing options and offers superb taste.

With two cups down - sandwiched between the morning paper or a new book - I take a walk with my dog. The strolling opportunities on both sides of the river are unlimited, but why not try your own neighborhood? Maybe that consists of a stroll along the Long Beach Boardwalk or the Astoria Riverwalk - make your own call, but please do it. Early morning is conducive to contemplation. Just this morning - a gray spring day with bluebird promise - the songbirds are active, and that profound music offers a particular solace. If one can find a quiet dry spot to sit and meditate, much of the stress of our fast-paced agendas can gracefully slip away. Trees are great friends, and our two corners of the Pacific Northwest offer straight-backed opportunity to huddle against a stately Sitka spruce and peacefully while away a few minutes with relative calm.

At the Port of Ilwaco, Time Enough Books is an inviting place both to browse and to linger over a good read.

Living on the north side of the Columbia River, one might choose to ride a mountain bike along the paved trail that now extends (with a gravel interlude) several miles north from Beard's Hollow to the Breakers at the north end of Long Beach. But a fast walk through the neighborhoods of Seaview or Uniontown in Astoria is quite invigorating. Inevitably, you bump into a favorite neighbor. The dialogue can extend into a rich carpet of ideas, be they political or of an aesthetic nature. How often do you lean over the fence and shoot the breeze? Wasn't this a common practice in the last century? Along the way, the gardens are blooming. Late spring is abundant with rich floral colors and all those wonderful smells. All you must do is slow down.

The Port of Ilwaco is a picturesque spot for a stroll at any time of year. In springtime, the port begins to bustle with activity, including visits from tall ships and the Ilwaco Saturday Market.
On a recent spring morning, I arrived early at the Long Beach Coffee Roasters for cappuccino and paper. An hour later, I traded bike for auto and headed south to Time Enough Books at the Port of Ilwaco. Karla and Peter Nelson run a fun shop (Lucy's Books in Astoria is another superb option), chock-full of new and used books, each carefully selected to engage mind and imagination. You can linger in the cozy bookstore for hours. A copy of Michael Pollan's newest food manifesto, "In Defense of Food," struck a strong chord, and subsequently went home in the shopping basket. His last book, "The Omnivore's Dilemma," should become a modern classic. Pollan takes us to the source of our grazing ritual. He is a sensitive man who examines what he - and we - eat, and the consciousness behind raising and killing animals for the kitchen table. If you eat red meat, you should consider this engrossing and thoughtful book. If you don't, read it anyway. His chapter on collecting wild mushrooms is a coup de grace.

A good place to begin your new book is The Port Bistro, about 200 yards east of Time Enough Books. This small bistro is a favorite. Whether it is the amicability of owners Larry Piakowsky and Jennifer Williams or the superb cuisine, the setting is perfect for a quiet lunch and the luxury of man's second-best friend, the book.

By the way, a new handsome restaurant, The Pelicano, lies between the two above-mentioned businesses. The food is Mediterranean in style and Northwest in product. You can be sure that Michael Pollan himself would approve. As of yet, The Pelicano does not offer lunch. The Tuscany Café does, and the pleasant Italian menu comes with a colorful maritime view. The Port of Ilwaco is a lovely destination, but more on that in another issue.

Well, that was a happy and well-deserved morning. And who better to spoil than yourself?