CONTENTS 7/14/2020
Elizabeth Park Thursday Concert (Online)
Chalk Video
Racial Justice Forum Link
Raccoon Family On The Hunt
Cougar Sighting In Birchwood
Sweet Peas
Hop Through Produce Stand
Open Air Art Show
Mom Visit Rental?
Short Term Rental?
Radio Free Fl!p: Songs From The French
A Recipe (Long)
ELIZABETH PARK THURSDAY CONCERT (ONLINE)
Thursday, July 16 from 6-8pm.FREE HARMONY
Chuck Dingée and Sharon Mayson’s beautiful vocals are what make Free Harmony unique and a treat to listen to. They formed the duo in 2017 and have been busy entertaining people in the Northwest ever since. A founding member of Bellingham’s popular classic rock band The Walrus, Chuck has been singing and playing in the area for over 40 years. He has an eclectic repertoire of hundreds of songs from Gershwin to Beatles to Pink Floyd. Having sung all her life, Sharon has an incredibly smooth voice and performs in local Northwest bands High Spirits and Pacific Twang. Together they play an entertaining mix of originals and songs ranging from the 60s to present, by artists like Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Indigo Girls, The Police, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, and many others.
Free Harmony, joined by Carr Johnson performs a great night of music. Thanks to the partnership of The Eldridge Society for History and Preservation, Bellingham Parks and Recreation, and our friends at Varvid and KMRE 102.3 FM, these concerts are brought to you weekly, so we can stay safe and enjoy great music. We’ll get through this together.
Here’s the link for the Facebook feed:
https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethParkSummerConcerts/
Here’s the link for YouTube
And of Course, KMRE-FM 102.3
CHALK VIDEO
Neighbor Mark Allyn made a chalk video. He has also submitted the video to Access Bellingham.
https://vimeo.com/435402950
RACIAL JUSTICE FORUM LINK
The Racial Justice Working Group (RJWG) of the Bellingham Friends Meeting is grateful for the robust community participation in the online Whatcom Racial Justice Forum held on July 1. We were honored that over 250 attendees joined us! This event was made possible by the well-informed and articulate panelists who shared their expertise and personal experiences. The link to view the video of the Whatcom Racial Justice event is https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=z1QW5BEEjwk with closed captioning included.
Our RJWG has received much useful and appreciated feedback, and is working toward preparing another event that will tentatively take place in September, with details to be announced. We welcome further suggestions from the community and are open to the participation of others as we plan future events and actions in Whatcom County. Please contact us through our web page: bellinghamfriends.org.
RACCOON FAMILY ON THE HUNT
At 6 pm today, July 13, my neighbor alerted me to a family of 3 raccoons in my yard in the 2300 block of Park St. Normally a raccoon is a nocturnal hunter, but when a mama has babies to feed, she will start to show up in the daytime. I let my chickens range in my yard, but it is very risky this time of year. Last year I witnessed a big raccoon scaling my 6 foot fence with one of my chickens in her jaws. Raccoons will also attack cats, especially if there is pet food outside that the raccoon wants, or as hunting lessons for their young. I won’t share the gory details of the fate of one of my cats, but please be warned that these cute little critters are in fact skilled predators. The cat I mentioned survived, but lost his tail in the battle. It happened when we lived in Seattle, but the same situation of a big tree, a family of raccoons, and my cat left outside while I was out of town. And while I might chase them out of my yard, I keep my distance, because they are not afraid of people, and will defend their babies. Live and learn… ~ Deb Valentine
COUGAR SIGHTING IN BIRCHWOOD
Yesterday, on the trail between Cherrywood & Alderwood. Close enough to Columbia to offer a heads up. During Washington’s nearly 200 years of recorded post European history there have been fewer than a dozen total cougar attacks on humans. Here’s what to do if you encounter it:
- Immediately and forcefully show the animal that you’re a human: Put small children behind you or pick them up. Stop, look big, wave your arms, vocalize. Also, control your dogs, — Do not run away. Running and rapid movements may trigger a chase response. This is all that’s necessary in most encounters and will put the cougar to flight.
- Otherwise, face the cougar. Talk to it firmly while slowly backing away. Always leave the animal an escape route.
• Do not take your eyes off the cougar or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
SWEET PEAS
Sweet Pea flower bunches for sale! $5 each.
Tuesday, 7/14 starting at noon.
The sweet peas are blooming profusely! Come and get a bunch while we’ve got them available.
Lindsey and Family
West & Jefferson
HOP THROUGH PRODUCE STAND
Saturdays 9-1 at 2526 Kulshan street. Skagit Valley organic produce, already bagged. Prices range from $5.00-30.00 Or pre-order online: https://rabbitfields.com/
Heather Fitstrawn
OPEN AIR ART SHOW
Saturday July 18 10-2, W. North at Peabody Street
Open Air Pop Up Market in the yard.
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/open-air-pop-up-art-show/293864341667408/
MOM VISIT RENTAL?
I’m looking for an air bnb or simple rental situation for my mother who plans to visit sometime between Aug 6-13. A private bedroom and bathroom feels like enough, but also open to a fuller situation. She is in her 60’s, mobile and familiar with the neighborhood. Any possibilities please reach out to me at jessicaradovich@gmail.com. Thanks! ~ Jess Radovich
SHORT TERM RENTAL?
I am looking to rent a room or air bnb from someone before the dorms open (September 18th-23rd) and possibly longer. I really need a place close to a bus line or very close to Western University campus. I’ll be studying environmental science. I am great with animals and small children, very easy going, calm, and careful about protecting myself and others against covid. I have a little bitty dog that visits sometimes. I don’t smoke.
I am available to talk or text when and if you have time. I would appreciate any information or help you have time to provide. I absolutely love Bellingham and I am looking forward to living there. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please contact me at elliejustinep@gmail.com. ~ Ellie Peterson
RADIO FREE FL!P: FRENCH SONGS
It’s Bastille Day! Or at least it still was when I was writing this. My Dad trained to be a French interpreter in WWII, though he never made it overseas. We celebrated July 14 when I was a kid, including the year my big brother and his best buddy built a genuine, functioning guillotine. Threatened dolls and smaller children till the grownups confiscated and dismantled it. My memory says they may have burned it in a bonfire. Anyway, my mood is not the bloodthirsty La Marseillaise today. Wait! Maybe the version from Casa Blanca. OK. You get three songs!
La Marseillaise
Sequence from Casa Blanca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeFhSzoTuc
Plaisir d’Amour
Classical French love song written in 1784 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTuTt_v5aWs
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You
Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger doing the version Elvis made famous here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSF89swJ9IU
RECIPE
An old friend requested a recipe. I had as much fun writing it as I did making it. You might too. But it’s long…
Fl!p’s Stroganoff Recipe
2 very large cast iron skillets
(or cut your amounts in half, but why?)
1# bacon ends and pieces, chopped
5# jumbo yellow onions, chopped
Fresh minced garlic if you want.
2# pre-sliced mushrooms (because I’m lazy)
(I get my onions and mushrooms at SmartFoods because they are way cheaper in bulk. I just got 25# onions and split them with Bea across the street, and cooked them immediately. Now I have a freezer full of goodies.)
Egg noodles if you’re me. Bowknots if you’re Zeke.
Really cheap white wine
Really good quality pre-sliced rare roast beef from the deli – 1 or 2 slices for each serving, cut into inch-wide strips. Return beef to the fridge till the last minute.
Large quality sour cream
Fresh chives and parsley from garden, minced.
Fry the bacon most of the way
Add the onion and keep frying till the onion is deep brown and gooey.
Add garlic.
Add the mushrooms and keep frying till mushrooms are done and gooey as well.
Add white wine (or some broth or some water) as you go along to keep anything from burning.
All this is going to take a long time but it’s worth it. I do about 10# per month of just onions, with olive oil or with sesame oil, garlic and ginger so I’ve got some waiting for stir fry.
When you’re done, shovel most of it into ziplock bags, seal, spread out no more than 1/2” thick. 5# onions & 2# of mushrooms should cook down to two 1/2 thick 1-gallon Ziplocks. Easy to break off chunks for future use. Freeze. Now you have amazing gravy or sauce or soup base at a moment’s notice.
Later, after a nice rest for your feet:
Boil a big pot of water and start the noodles.
Take the part of the glorious goo you want for this batch of stroganoff (still in fry pan). Dilute with wine, broth or water. Stir and scrape pan to get all the crunchy goodies. Maybe add some salt. Depends on your bacon. Thicken with corn starch or flour or tapioca.
When the noodles are ready, put in shallow bowl or deep plate. Arrange cold roast beef slices on top. Dump gravy goo over everything. Add big shplop of sour cream on top. Garnish with chives and parsley. Eat till you burst.
Repeat that last part on future days till your mushroom goo is gone and you’ve gained 10#. Go get more ingredients.
Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511 flip@columbianeighborhood.org
If you want to ask me to post something, just email me. If it’s urgent, phone. If it’s a real emergency, call 911.