An Ode to Scott

Great Scott.

August 2009-May 2013

Scott. His name began as a joke. A cat named Scott. Quickly, he fully embodied that name in physical stature and spirit.
He went by lots of other names: Scoot. Scooterdoot. Scottsdale. Senor Fluffypants. Scotty. Pud Pud. Scott Jenkins. Big boy. Scotty Bumpo. Scotts. He responded to most of them. He also came when we whistled, when we drummed on the lid of his catnip jar, when he heard you turn on water, when he sensed kale was being chopped...
He greeted us when we returned home by trotting up the sidewalk and meowing loudly. He would quickly melt into a puddle of purring fur and demand a belly rub. He was a dog-cat--no, he was just Scott.
Even when he was demanding something, you couldn't help but smile or laugh at his pose, his giant yellow eyes, or the sounds that he could make. So much personality. So much love- pure love. He never bit or scratched. He let you carry him around like a sack of potatoes - a 16 lb. sack of potatoes. This 16 lb sack of potatoes could jump higher than any cat I've ever met.

Scott joined us in Port Angeles in October 2009. He joined us about a month after our wedding. We quickly became a little family unit out here on the Olympic Peninsula. It sounds silly to say out loud,  but  that's what we were. Ask any of our friends, family, or co-workers and you will discover that we were a little nutty about this guy. But, besides one another, we spent more time with Scott that anyone else. When Justin was away in the woods for 8-day tours, Scott kept me company and even took Justin's spot in the bed. I have no doubt he did the same when I was away. We took care of each other.

He wasn't just a cat, he was Great Scott. We're still learning from you, buddy.

Holidaze

After traveling many thousands of miles and back for our tropical adventures, Justin and I decided to celebrate Christmas and New Years at home in Port Angeles. While we missed the many traditions that we've built over the years with our families: cutting down the tree; Chinese dinner on Christmas Eve; Sauerkraut Soup on Christmas night; an early morning run before a day of festivities; rounds of present opening....we had the opportunity to translate some of those traditions into our own versions and to create some new ones. We also had company from Pittsburgh to help us celebrate; Justin's brother, Dan.

Before Dan arrived, Justin and I ventured into Forest Service land for our second annual hunt for a charlie brown Christmas Tree. To our luck, we found a fuller taller tree for the 9ft. ceilings in our "new' house. Later that evening, we pulled out the collection of ornaments donated by our moms, poured ourselves some rummed cider, turned on a holiday mix (including willie nelson's pretty paper album), strung popcorn and holly berries, and festivized our tree. A lit Christmas tree does so much for the holiday spirit!

We picked Dan up in Seattle on a Friday afternoon and spent some time touristing Pike Place Market, which we haven't done in a long time. We left with a giant pumpkin cookie, some prosciutto, and a brother. We spent most of the week checking out some our favorite North Olympic Peninsula gems--including a bluebird day on Hurricane Ridge, happy hour at our local brewery, and some windy days on beaches along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was great to get to spend some real time with Dan and to share our home with family.

Below, you will find a recipe for our Christmas morning snack!

 

 

Blueberry and Leftover Oatmeal Muffins
makes a dozen
preheat oven to 400 degrees

Combine the following:
1 c. cooked oats
1 egg
1 TBS melted butter
1/2 c. milk
4 TBS. honey/maple syrup/ or sugar
2 TBS. baking powder
1.5 c. flour
1/2 c. blueberries
1/4 c. walnuts or pecans

Scoop into oiled muffin tins -- about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy.

aloha

Another season has come and gone. We are a week from winter solstice, which - in the Pacific Northwest - is the best solstice. Our sun that now sets around 4:30pm will begin to spend a few extra moments with us each day!
Justin and I spent the beginning on December in search of the sun. In fact, we ventured towards to equator to one of Hawaii's oldest island: Kauai. We had no itinerary, no responsibilities...just ten days with a "rustic cabin" to call home, a hyundai elantra to get us around, and a modest list of goals: swim in warm water, eat fresh food, hike to some beautiful places, nap on the beach, and enjoy this life.

A brief summary. Salty skin and hair. Street food. Fire dancers. Wild chickens - everywhere. Feral cats. Coconut juice. Pointed Peaks. Red earth. Chirping geckos. Underwater universe.  Sand on everything. Snorkel masks. Ancient turtles. Poke (raw fish). Open map and dog-eared guide book. Secret waterfalls. Giant bamboo. Lilikoi. Humid air. Beach runs. Outdoor shower. Glowing canyons. Adventure. Taro fields. Island radio. Love.

First juice - Kapaa artwalk.

apple bananas, island granola, passion fruit, and mapping out the day's adventure.

queen's pond - at the end of a red clay road.

Beach feast - cucumber kimchi, ahi poke, seaweed salad, cold beer.

Rambutan - lychee.

Na pali coast.

Caryns and feral cats on the Na Pali.

Taro.

Ice cream bananas.

Farmers' Market bounty.

Honopu Ridge to Na Pali.

Eye high fern.

Our alarm clock.

Breakfast.

Hibiscus.

Noni - the magical fruit.

owls and coffee.

Roadside BBQ.

Waimea Canyon.

Hanalei Bay.

Tunnels.

Anini.

Sleeping Giant.

Aromatherapy - eucalyptus.

Burl.

my love.

East side.

bamboo!

Secret falls.

Cocktail hour: lychee martini & lilikoi mojito.

Missing our feral cat.