In Your Neighborhood: Cherries are an Olympic Event

Showing posts with label Cherries are an Olympic Event. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Cherries are an Olympic Event. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Ooh-la...Cherries!

I was in Heaven, our first summer in the Aerie. If I wasn't on the back deck watching bald eagle antics, you could find me under the cherry tree popping dark and sweet fuit into my open mouth like an impatient baby bird. I loved the light filtering through the leaves and the feel of its bark under my hand.

Last summer after the cool, wet spring the cherries didn't make it. Well, let me amend that...any cherries that did make it were snarfled by our nesting ravens before I could get there. I soothed my hurt feelings by paying the extra for the mouth-watering Mt. Rainier cherries. I was leery of their look, so pale and all, until the first time my taste buds made merry over them.

Cherries (the way Mama Gaia gives them) are such a favourite, though EVERYTHING either cherry-flavoured or EVERYTHING folks do to cherries do not "amuse bouche" at all...yuck. I'm sorry, the only thing that tastes like an enjoyable cherry to me...is a cherry!

So, this year worried me. That little flash of heat and then the Mama turned time backwards and our skies lowered with the temperatures. Oh no, not another year sans cherries after getting totally hooked...*whimper.*

Oh joy of joys! It's a little later than usual (well, so is the arrival of this year's fawns) but...WE HAVE CHERRIES! *Lorraine does happy dance we call the Edith Bunker Shuffle.* Oh yes, oh yes!

Now...we wait...we watch...we listen for the hard-edged whispers of ravens in the fir trees. I ready myself for this year's Olympic race for the cherries. Excuse me while I go do a little weight-training for my picking arm, keeping my eyes hungrily on the prize!

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Stephanie Frieze

Stephanie Frieze
…has always liked to write. Her experience includes three years at the University Washington School of Communications studying journalism. She had a stint at the Chinook Observer in Long Beach. Raised in Bellevue, she’s lived in Gig Harbor for nearly 18 years. She and her husband have a home in Ilwaco, where they spend as much time as possible. This mother of four loves books, spending time with family and the color purple. Contact her at dbandstefery@comcast.net.

Lorraine Hart
…was born a nomadic mutt. She spent her life observing, writing and making music. She’s an unabashed carrier of the titles “hippie,” “feminist” and “liberal.” She’s resided in the South Sound since 1996 and is currently living above Joe’s Bay in Home. She juggles her time between being a caregiver, a writer, an artist, a musician, a minister, a wife, a mother, an advocate, a friend and a pilgrim – not necessarily in that order. Contact her at matlox@cablespeed.com.

Jaynie Jones
…is a Tacoma resident with diverse career tracks in broadcasting, journalism, teaching, health care, desktop publishing, floral design, special event planning and photography. She’s best known as long-time KOMO radio personality Jaynie Dillon and was once a familiar voice on Tacoma stations KTAC, KBRD-FM, KTNT and KNBQ-FM. Formerly a resident of Tacoma’s East Side, she’s volunteered in the Eastside Substation and with Safe Streets. Contact her at jaynie.jones@gmail.com .

Tracy Lebenzon
...is a blog contributor from Greenwater. Greenwater is the last stop before Crystal Mountain, Mount Rainier and the surrounding wilderness areas. When not exploring the next mountain peak or forest trail, Tracy also contributes to the Greenwater Community Council and the Explore-Greenwater.com web site. He writes about topics ranging from favorite foot, bike, and snow trails to community events, local merchants and politics. Contact him at dmountains@explore-greenwater.com.

Joseph McGowan
…is a chaplain who supports patients, families, friends, nurses and doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Being 67, he’s learned this about living: Meet people on their own ground and you will discover that this Earth is our special place to meet and support each other. His motto: Live now. Share yourself now. Every living thing you experience is a pure gift. Love all life unconditionally. Contact him at mcg9940@yahoo.com.

Mizu Sugimura
…is a third-generation Japanese American living in Federal Way. She’s married and a parent of one adult child. A lifelong resident of the Puget Sound area, she graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Washington School of Communications. and served on Federal Way’s Diversity and Art Commissions. Her interests are politics, art, the history of minorities in Washington and family history. She’s written a self-published family history about her paternal grandfather. Contact her at mizusugi@yahoo.com.

Kim Thompson
…is a Grit City native who was born and raised in Tacoma’s Old Town neighborhood by the gulch. She boasts that she’s a former Lowell Leopard, Mason Mustang and Wilson Ram, a short-time PLU Lute and a longtime UW Husky. This former corporate businesswoman is a wife, a mom, a school volunteer, a substitute teaching assistant, a writer and a born-again distance runner. She has convinced friends from Bellevue that Tacoma is worth the drive. Contact her at kimricksy@comcast.net. ugi@yahoo.com.