The Dude Provides

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you already know that my husband and I had a great weekend at the dinner table. Others of you who are out of the loop may remember that my husband has had a few attempted fishing trips that didn't pan out so well lately: well he finally came through for me. And with more than just fish!

Isn't the fur-baby cute, being all interested? No mushrooms for her, but plenty for us! Porcini and Chanterelle mushrooms straight out of the Oregon coastal forest. I've always liked mushrooms, but i've also always thought them rather bland, nice to add to chicken dishes but not overly full of their own flavor. Man was i ever wrong! These babies were sweet, firmly textured, magical bites of yum both when raw and cooked! I'll be treating you with the dinners i whipped together from this bounty for the next few days. I'm pretty sure (if you like mushrooms or salmon at all) that you'll be salivating with jealousy. ;)

The hubs didn't go without his fish fix, though. He was fishing with a buddy, so only brought home half his catch, but it was definitely more than enough! He was fishing in the tidewater, and a local seal eyed his catch as he pulled it in, but he was victorious and finally provided fresh salmon flesh to this family, woo hoo!   Did i mention how fresh mushrooms tasted way more delicious than 'other' mushrooms? Well, I can tell you that freshly caught salmon, right out of the briney sea is just about the most delicious thing a person can ever eat. I'm not even overly in love with salmon, generally - and only like it when it's been prepared by myself or my step dad (as a general rule). This fish was amazing. A. MAZE. ING. And it's still feeding us 3 days later.

Let's hear it for the fisherman! Finally!

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, everyone. This holiday doesn't stand out a ton for me, as i try to live sustainably and sensitive to the planet's finite resources every day - but it's a good opportunity to educate those who aren't as active in conservation or aware of the simple steps everyone can take to make this planet we all share a better place.

My childhood front yard.

I grew up in rural southern Oregon, where "environmentalist" was a dirty word and i was treated with some disdain by students and teachers alike. My passion for the environment and its inhabitants was seen as a threat to their livelihoods. The bumper sticker "save a logger, eat an owl" (in reference to the endangered Spotted Owl) was not uncommon and many an argument was ended with me sniffling in frustration at the hard hardheadedness of my fellow Merrillites. Since then, i have become very hesitant to debate about my passions. I have a hard time verbalizing my thoughts quickly and concisely and thus avoid heated conversations. I try to teach by example, though and i hope that this blog can touch a few lives and encourage more people to take the little steps, as well as some big ones to live in a manner that is sustainable.

Our little planet has finite resources and is habitat to many, not just us human animals. Please respect all life. Please allow all life to have the same access to essential resources. Please use only what you need. Please leave the spaces you pass through cleaner and more full of life than when you first entered them. Please observe Earth Day every day, because despite my love of Star Trek: this is the only planet we have and when we use it up it's not just 'the other guys' who will be out of a home. We're all in this together, across country lines, religious boundaries, continents, and across all species from algea to elephant seals. We need each other, we all fill roles in our niches, and it's important to fill those rolls positively and allow others to do the same.

Fungi in Davy Crockett National Forest

Will you be taking any extra steps towards environmental nurturing on this Earth Day?