Life's a Stitch

Living in the Pacific Northwest for over half my life, and well familiar with terms for rain, last night's weather report introduced me to a new concept, one that is due to hit within 12 hours. Meet the atmospheric river. National Geographic describes them as rivers in the sky, except that all that water, sometimes 20 times +/- the water contained in the Mississippi River, falls to the ground. 

Why was I unfamiliar with this term? Turns out it's a rebranding of our familiar pineapple expresses as they carry moisture from tropical areas toward the earth's poles. Tis the season to hunker down with soup.

We started with a treat: Bouillabaisse. I asked B if he wanted to head to the dock for some crabbing. Given the heavy weather we decided it was worth spending $16 on a large crab rather than buy bait to hang out in the cold wet with no guarantees. It lasted for two dinners and a lunch.

The instant pot was put to work for ham broth and lentil soup. Half the broth went into our favorite from Spain: Caldo Gallego, which is ham, leeks, white beans, potatoes and a mixture of greens – collards, mustard and turnip greens. 

Twelve minute Instant Pot beluga lentil soup was third in the line up of comfort food.

Combine soup with the great room fireplace located in the middle of everything, kitchen, living and dining areas and we're all set up for a weekend of storm watching. C says, along the coast people pay for this experience. I remind him that we did when we moved here. So worth it, I'm very thankful.