Raincharm’s Weblog

I have not lost January 1st in several years, at least that I remember.
And I suppose for all that we did I really only lost the late afternoon.
And I only had one glass of champagne on New Year’s Eve, so it was not lost for the reason many lose January 1st.

I put it down to disrupted or different sleep patterns, coupled with high carbohydrate intake.

See the previous post for our start to the new year.
We did follow with second breakfast, that lasted until about 3 PM. A fun time visiting and noshing.
When we got home a nap soon followed, and basically consumed the rest of the day.

I am not a good napper, and this nap lasted about 5 hours I think.
I tried to eat something to resemble dinner, and watched a movie with Ashlan (Away We Go).
Then it was back to bed.

Despite sleeping a lot during the day, I managed to sleep in until 9 in the morning.

It just feels like I lost a day.
In retrospect, we got to eat some good food and do a lot of visiting with friends.
So a good day after all.

Other reports:
Rey got back to Tennessee with a pat down, but no other additional overt security measures.
There was one piece of sod turned up this morning by critters. But only one, and in one of the small areas not covered by bird netting. One of today’s chores has been to finish covering the bits left uncovered during the previous net adventure. Hopefully this will be all we have to do until the grass gets rooted in. Of course mowing is impossible at this time, so we will have to be judicious about fertilizing. It is all a guessing game for me. I did start looking for plastic wood planters to put at one side of the yard. If I work at it I should be able to plant some vegetables this spring.

Happy New Year.

A & A sparkle brightly and fiercely (it's a tiger)

Always the opportunity to start new traditions.

We had the unusual pleasure of opening a restaurant this morning.
And I don’t just mean being the first customers of the morning, which we were.
But the first customers that the restaurant has had since it burned down 5 years ago.
[Technically the first BREAKFAST customers. They have been open for at least a few nighttime music shows, including a New Year’s Eve bash.]

For those familiar with Seattle, and particularly the Roosevelt neighborhood, the Scarlet Tree is back!

Our plans for this morning had involved a family breakfast, followed by taking Rey to the airport. So we needed a venue that was open early enough to have a leisurely eat, and still get off in time for unknown security lines. Just a few days ago it became clear that the Scarlet Tree was opening, and a search of the internet indicated their first breakfast would be served on New Year’s Day. Called and the opening time of 7 AM was a perfect fit.

The day started early. All of us in the house needed to be awakened by something other than our eyes deciding it was time to open. But all up and ready by 7 AM. Since nobody went to bed before midnight, and 4 of the 7 in the house were up until at least 2 AM, this was no small feat. Out the door, and we actually drove the 6 blocks, due to the need to be time conscious. It was also raining rather steadily. Parked in the Park & Ride lot, and tried to figure if the restaurant was indeed open as promised. There were some red lights through the window, and as we approached a person on the interior waved at us. Still unsure, we opened the door and they said they were open. We could choose our seats, including the upstairs loft area. We ascended. A good choice, because it looked as though they were still finishing the residual cleaning from the night before. Of course there were no place settings upstairs, but we sat anyway.

One of the first things to be noticed just after 7 AM on New Year’s Day in the Pacific Northwest is that it is dark. As it turns out it was not only dark out, it was dark in. This was part of the reason that it was not really clear whether they were open when we looked from the outside. The lighting was probably good as a nighttime music and dance venue, but it was going to be really difficult to read a menu. So, as any good mother would do, I totally embarrassed my daughter by pulling out my headlamp. The waitress said she had daughters, and understood. [And really, I could not have read the menu without additional light.]

Soon enough they brought up silverware and coffee mugs. And then an entire pot of coffee, which they just left at our table. Water followed. Then the morning took on a, “We really are just opening, and still trying to find where they stashed everything,” feel.

Our waitress was obviously seasoned, but not at this venue. Turned out that she had served the last hamburger at the Atlas restaurant in University Village the previous evening, as they were closing their doors. The next morning she is opening up a new/old restaurant with at least a few others from the Atlas crew. She was very happy to have been able to move right into a new gig, especially in these times.

Creamer was the first item to be located, then sugars. They took our order and we sat, drank coffee and chatted. The food was delivered, well 5 of the 6, but they got mine in after a bit. (Issue with reading the order apparently.) Food, lots of it  And even though we were the only patrons in the loft (at least two other parties had arrived after our initial entrance), we were well attended. I could not come close to finishing my potatoes, and asked for a to-go box. This initiated yet another search, which was eventually successful.

We had some nice chats with the waitress, and then one of the owners came up and sat with us for a bit. We talked of the old restaurant, and their hopes for the newer version. Dennis, our friend on sabbatical from his writing spouse (she needed writing focus for a few days), got contact information for a friend of his  that plays 20’s jazz. He used to perform at the old venue, and is always looking for new gigs.

A really fine time, and the first time I have ever been the first customer to a brand new establishment. It was fun.

It was really fun for the time to sit and chat as a family one more time before we are again distanced from each other. Unfortunately our time at the Scarlet Tree had to end, and we took Rey to the airport.

Post New Year's Breakfast Bunch

We are now going to head off for second breakfast at a friends’ house. I believe Ashlan has an invitation to a third breakfast as well. The next thing you know we will all have hair growing on our feet.