Seattle, August 8, 2013

The next to last day of the fourth and final trip of the summer! Slept in late this morning, and when we got going, it was a cloudy day, but eventually the clouds broke and we were in for a sunny day. Alexandra and I had some more challah bread with red currant jelly and coffee, and then she went to Mud Bay, a pet supply store, to see if she could find a more amenable cat food for Major Tom, since he seems to be given to vomiting two or three times a day after what he is eating right now. While she was gone, I straightened up the place a bit, then took a shower and got ready for the day. She returned with a new cat food to try on Major Tom, and he seems to be responding well to it so far. We soon left for a museum in Ballard, a suburb of Seattle and a major Scandinavian settlement in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum was called the Nordic Heritage Museum, and we had the place to ourselves for quite a bit of the time we were there, and that was for about 2 hours. The first, second, and third floors feature the following exhibits: 1st: The Dream of America is the story of immigration told in an exhibit of life-size dioramas. It goes back to the 19th c. Scandinavian countryside to begin the journey to America, starting with a move to the city. The voyage continues as you board a ship for the Atlantic crossing and land at Ellis Island. The experience of NY, the expansion into the Midwest, Great Plains, the Pacific Northwest, and ending in Ballard, Washington tell the saga of Scandinavian immigration. Here, with a concentration on Ballard, Washington, the development of a small northwestern town is displayed, complete with post office, church, drugstore, blacksmith shop, and family home. 2nd floor: Promise of the Northwest--logging and fishing are focused on. Folk art galleries display treasured and useful things which immigrants brought with them. 3rd floor: illustrates the differences and common bonds among the Scandinavian peoples, featuring one gallery for each of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finnland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Also of interest were current exhibits: 1. Ornulf Opdahl's wonderfully evocative paintings; 2. Miniature Ships, Grand Stories; 3. Fishing for the Russians: Marine Resources Company, 1978-1989; and 4. Sailing the Seas of Our Heritage. Afterwards, we were off to a well-deserved lunch in Ballard, in a restaurant called Big Bowl Pho, a recommendation of Alrxandra's, where we had a magnificent lunch of a large bowl of Pho (a Vietnamese soup), which consisted of a clear broth with noodles, bean sprouts, scallions, basil, brisket, green onions, and jalapeños, as well as some vegetarian spring rolls--for my taste, one of the most delectable and reasonably priced lunches I have had while here. Then we went home and checked on Major Tom, who was doing well. Alexandra made reservations for us to tour the Theo chocolate factory at 4:00 p.m. We walked and arrived in plenty of time. A very ebullient employee took us on a tour of one hour duration, and told us the story of cocoa, including the transformation of the cocoa fruit into chocolate, as well as the social and environmental issues relating to cocoa farmers. At the end of the tour we emerged in the gift shop, where I bought cocoa nibs (a wonderful antioxidant which, according to the guide, is superb mixed with yogurt. I also bought a bar of 70% dark chocolate with a pinch of sea salt. The proceeds will help provide the students, health care workers, and entrepreneurs in rural Africa with specially designed, locally assembled World Bicycle Relief bicycles. I also bought Alexandra a bar of Milk Salted Almonds. What a treat! On the way home, Alexandra stopped by the same store we patronized the night before, and bought chicken, red peppers, cilantro, and some sour cream. As I am writing this, she is making chicken fajitas with a black bean spread, and Spanish rice. What an incredible chef she has become! The mellow light is creating a gorgeous afternoon, and I am sorry to call all this to a halt in a few hours, as tomorrow I leave for Dallas in mid-afternoon, arriving in the evening. What a treat, and, as things wind to an end, I rejoice at the new places, things, and people I have encountered this summer. What a glorious summer it has been! One more short entry tomorrow, and tons of memories!