January 2017 The Good Life

IMAGINE THE BEST FOR 2017 Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

January 2017

moving on to the

NEXT Right place

plus Skiing Revelstoke with Andy Dappen Alex Saliby picks his favorite wines of 2016 Cary Ordway says cold Winterfest is a hot ticket

Open for fun and adventure

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Contents

Features

23 a second look at a b&B

7 ‘My best day in 2016’ stories

Owners are happy with the decisions they made in opening the Cascade Valley Inn six years ago

Experiences that truly made a year in a day

11 innovative doggie dentistry

Art sketches n Catching up with 5 artists: Painter Robert Wilson, dancer Jen Phillips, photographer Lynette Smith, author Dan Gemeinhart and watercolorist Kerry Siderius, starting on page 31 n Raku potter Terry Porlier, page 36

When Abby wore her front teeth down, a young vet and dentist teamed up to get the border collie back in action

12 WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MIKE

SAGER NOW?

Former downtown postman moves on from Ecuador to his new Right Place at the Right Time

15 worms and smiles

Pat Turner makes little gifts for readers, and gives them away for free for a smile

18 cary ordway: Winterfest is a hot ticket

Chelan’s festival started just for the locals and has grown into a major winter attraction

20 skiing wenatchee north

Andy Dappen hits the slopes in a valley community with big slopes, a mom-and-pop downtown and long runs

page 16

DOING THE PCT WITH A STOP OVER IN WENATCHEE

Columns & Departments 26 June Darling: The power of positive imagination 28 The traveling doctor: Just the right amount of iron 30 Bonnie Orr: Comfort foods with savory aromas 31-38 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 39 Pet Tales: Pound pup helps with PTSD 40 History: The dam that held back the Depression 42 Alex Saliby: Makes his choice for best wines of 2016

Moving?

Al Adan, AAMS®, CRPC®

A financial advisor who keeps in touch

1556 N. Wenatchee Ave. Suite C Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-663-9503

The post office will not automatically forward The Good Life magazine.

® Dan Rodgers, AAMS If the market’s trending down, your financial

advisor’s toward you should trend up.

237 N. Chelanattention Ave. Wenatchee, WA 98801 Experience the consistent, personal attention 509-662-4491 I can provide, no matter what’s going on in theJmarkets.

Darl Bidleman 107 Eastmont Ave. East Wenatchee, WA 98802 509-886-1106

DANGEROU

S WOMEN

Geoff Gatewood Geoff Y EVENTS CALEN

DAR

Financial Advisor .

1556 N. Wenatchee Ave. Suite C 1556 N Wenatchee Ave Suite C Wenatchee, WA 98801 Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-663-9503

WENA TCHE

NUMBEE VALLEY’S R ONE MAGA ZIN March

2016

THE M OF A AKING

Price: $3

COWB OY

A financial advisor who keeps in touch

From to yee-quiet scient ist horse- hawing riding man

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Cary

509-663-9503

Stewart A Craig, AAMS® 304 Grant Road Suite 4 East Wenatchee, WA 98802 509-884-1335

If the market’s trending down, your financial advisor’s attention toward you should trend up.

ordw

they built this city

MKT-9651-A

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ay’s

If you have a subscription to The Good Life, please let us know a month ahead of your new address.

Email your change of address to: donna@ncwgoodife.com

Tom Barrett 111 S. Mission Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-665-9909

Experience the consistent, personal attention I can provide, no matter what’s going on in the markets.

Please include your old address.

Geoff Gatewood January 2017 Financial Advisor .

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OPENING SHOT

®

Year 11, Number 1 January 2017 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Zane Brewer, Connie Morris, Phil Cibicki, Luke Ellington, Mary Gallagher, Thom Lancaster, Mike Sager, Brad Lane, Jaana Hatton, Cary Ordway, Andy Dappen, Travis Knoop, Donna Cassidy, Bonnie Orr, Alex Saliby, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising manager, Terry Smith Advertising sales, Donna Cassidy Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Clint Hollingsworth TO SUBSCRIBE: For $25, ($30 out of state address) you can have 12 issues of The Good Life mailed to you or a friend. Send payment to: The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Walgreens, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Rhubarb Market, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth)

A ‘dynamic’ way to view the sleeping lady

By Zane Brewer

I am a longtime pho-

tographer/printer living in Wenatchee, and working in East Wenatchee since the winter of 2000.

For me, the Leavenworth area

is a winter wonderland, with something for everyone. I am drawn to the scenic landscape beauty of the mountainous terrain.

Sleeping Lady is the iconic rock formation just outside the town of Leavenworth.

On this day, I am in shadows and the sun is setting behind the fog and the Lady. This makes for really bright spots with dark shadows.

Here is where digital HDR photography and a tripod has an advantage over the single

exposure photography we are familiar with through the 35mm film days.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) software takes 3 pictures of different exposures, for example • 1 photo +1 overexposed • 1 photo proper exposure • 1 photo -1 underexposed And allows me to blend them together as one image. The result is more detail in both the sky and the shadows. With all this detail, the photo has the look and feel of a painting.

I have taken my favorite photos and made a 2017 calendar.

Zane’s calendars are available at the S. S. Sub shop in Wenatchee. Zane also has prints for sale at Wild Rivers Sports Bar & Grill in East Wenatchee.

For further info, email him at: Zaner2u@yahoo.com.

ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact advertising at (509) 8886527, or sales@ncwgoodlife.com

WRITE FOR THE GOOD LIFE: We welcome articles about people from Chelan and Douglas counties.

Send your idea to Mike Cassidy at editor@ncwgoodlife.com

On the cover Mike Sager, his son, Alex, and wife, Andrea, go touring Portugal’s back roads on a Ural motorcycle and sidecar.

“That was a first for me,” said Mike. “I’ve been riding for over 50 years, but never on one with three wheels... one word... FUN.”

The Good Life® is a registered trademark of NCW Good Life, LLC. Copyright 2017

by NCW Good Life, LLC.

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January 2017

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editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

What do ‘they’ know? Enjoy 2017 “It’s a bad idea,” they said

when I decided late in November to hold a “My Best Day in 2016” contest.

“It’s too late, no one will enter, besides this year was not all that good,” they continued on.

I knew I was late in deciding on the contest with the idea the stories would appear in the January edition, after all, the deadline for entries was a mere two weeks after the December edition went into the mail.

But the January issue was the perfect issue to review 2016 and revel in the high spots.

Isn’t January when we naturally reflect on the past year and make plans about the new year?

So, I announced the contest, and ... and, well, honestly, I worried a bit. Worrying comes natural to an editor with space to fill.

And while I worried, I thought about my own 2016... if I were to enter the contest, what would I write? Did I do anything worth speaking about?

My wife — who I confided my dilemma — helped by fencing off certain topics: For example, no writing about the birth of a grandson, as I didn’t really do much but hang around a waiting room.

And no, I couldn’t repeat the retort of a friend who I saw on the street one day, and asking how he was, replied: “Still getting three squares a day and sleeping indoors.”

Even though, truthfully, I am reminded on almost a daily basis there are people who can’t say that. So, yes, I know I am lucky, but a best day? No. While I was contemplating my best day, lo and behold, contest entries started populat-

ing my email inbox.

And what good stories they were. We chose four to publish: A couple of eye-opening travel stories, a warm home story and perhaps the most personal story we have ever received at The Good Life.

So, I’m glad I ignored what “they” said. (Only next year, I promise to alert readers earlier about the Best Day in 2017. And readers, get out there and have those Best Days to write about.)

My Mom writes from her home in Nevada: Mike: I was really sorry to read in your Editor’s Notes about the passing of Peter Lind. I enjoyed his column and often read it first.

He brought back many memories of my childhood, when my Dad and I would lie down in the meadow or sit on a huge rock in the evening to watch the stars. My Dad showed me the stars in the big dipper, and how to calculate from there to the small dipper and the North Star. After I remembered it all, it became my job, wherever we went to find the big dipper and the North Star. A habit I have to this day.

After my Dad passed away, my mother told me to look up to the sky and when I see a flickering star it would be my Dad watching over us.

So now I hope that Peter Lind will do the same and be among the stars he so loved and flicker on us all.

Eva Hofeldt Make memories in 2017. Enjoy The Good Life.

— Mike January 2017 | The Good Life

Ready, set, Winter!

Be ready for storms and possible power outages Talk with your family, make a plan and remember, if the lights go out:

O O O O O O

Call Chelan PUD 24/7 at 877-783-8123 Stay away from damaged or downed power lines Treat all downed lines as “live” Turn off or unplug appliances and electronics Leave on one light crews can see from the road If using a portable generator, make sure the devices being powered are plugged directly into the generator

Turning 65 or new to the area?

Come to a FREE Health Alliance Medicare Seminar We’ll walk you through our Medicare Advantage plans in person. Learn how we can save you money and provide one easy-to-use package for your medical, prescription drug, dental and vision care needs.

Confluence Health January 11, 11:00 a.m.

Miller Street Conference Room 1000 N. Miller, Wenatchee

Call us today to reserve your spot. 1-877-561-1463 or TTY 711, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.

A sales person will be present with information and applications.

For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-877-561-1463. Health Alliance Medicare is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract.

Enrollment in Health Alliance Medicare depends on contract renewal. med-ageinsemad-0515 | Y0034_15_28225 www.ncwgoodlife.com

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fun stuff a full LISTING of what to do begins ON PAGE 35

Tread lightly and have some frugal fun this cold month

Bavarian IceFest — Leavenworth loves winter. The village is still dressed in over half a million twinkling lights and the weekend is a flurry of frosty frivolity. Games, snow sculptures and activities. Front Street Park, Leavenworth. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14-15.

Here it is, January, when the

weather is cold outside and — if you are like us — your wallet is a little flat.

You know what that calls for, right? Yep, tankards of hot chocolate and free fun.

There are plenty of listings in the calendar this month for fun local things to do without cost — along with a heavy schedule of events that may require a little more monetary commitment, but still promise to delight the senses.

Below is a smattering of free events, but first, let’s introduce a new idea to Wenatchee called “Tread Lightly Fridays.” Here is a little blurb about it: This concept is simple – as a business or employee, do something environmentally mindful each Friday.

This could mean riding a bike to work, utilizing a selfcontainer for take-outs, selling locally sourced foods, compost-

WWU Acapella Groups —

Looking to learn more about snowshoeing? Check out the demo Sunday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Leavenworth Ski Hill at 10701 Ski Hill Drive.

ing waste, or something else entirely.

It can be as simple or complex as you like.

This project, as part of the Our Valley What’s Next community visioning and development initiative, aims to help reduce the community’s carbon footprint while having fun at the same time.

There also will be classes held to educate businesses on how they can “tread lightly” and save money at the same time.

Contact Tandi Canterbury with The Hunter’s Wife Health Bar at 509 264-7466 or tmcanterbury@gmail.com.

Lake Chelan Winterfest —

This Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce event is two weekends filled with incredible ice sculptures, live music, wine tasting, ale tasting, activities for kids of all ages, a polar bear splash, massive beach bonfire, spectacular fireworks show and much more. Downtown Chelan.

Info: lakechelan.com. Friday through Sunday, Jan . 13 - 22.

Unlock your dream home!

127 Easy St, Wenatchee (509) 662-7722 www.CashmereValleyMortgage.com Division of Cashmere Valley Bank

Bridal Premiere — Door prizes. Fashion show by Katrina’s.

Cost: free. Town Toyota Center.

Info: katrinasweddingboutique. com. Saturday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC

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January 2017

The men and women’s acapella group pride themselves on making music with only their mouths in a myriad of genres such as Barbershop, Rock, Country, Pop and Choral. Main concourse at Pybus Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Saturday, Jan. 14, noon to 1 p.m.

Snowshoe Demo — If you can

walk, you can snowshoe. Enjoy a special snowshoe trail at the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A bonfire will provide a warm welcome at the base. Info: skileavenworth. com. Sunday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley Youth Sports and Activities Fair —

One stop shop for information on all kid-related activities.

Dozens of booths. Wenatchee Convention Center. Cost: free.

Info: Wenatchee.org. Saturday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

We asked readers to tell us about their best day in 2016. Several responded, and here are a few of our favorites.

‘That one day in Africa changed my life’ F

By Connie Morris

or me, 2016 was full of amazing experiences.

I travelled to two continents, celebrated a monumental birthday with girlfriends, saw the world from tops of mountains and served as a delegate representing my community.

However, there is one day that stands out among the many days of extraordinary experiences.

My year of travel began with a long weekend in May in Las Vegas with girlfriends celebrating a 60th birthday. This was my first “girls only” trip and it did not disappoint.

Truly, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

In July I travelled to North Carolina to see family and spent a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The heat and humidity of the day left me drenched in sweat, but in the cool evenings I was serenaded by a cacophony of sounds from the woods. The jungle-like music was enchanting.

In August, I hiked 21 miles through the Enchantments to leave my father in his final resting place.

A native of Leavenworth, my father knew every inch of those woods. It was powerful

African school girls share their smiles.

to walk in his steps and see our world from the heights of Aasgard Pass and Snow Lakes.

Two days later I left for Japan as a member of the Misawa delegation. I learned so much about Japanese culture and our valley’s connection to the people of Misawa. The flight of Miss Veedol was monumental and has bound our communities together forever.

In September I travelled to Africa to go on safari and climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

We left base camp for our final ascent up Kilimanjaro at midnight. It was a cloudless morning and the stars overhead were the brightest I have ever seen. Sometimes it was difficult to differentiate the stars from the headlamps of other climbers.

Our safari guide took us to the Masai Mara

January 2017 | The Good Life

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where he knew all the right places to view and photograph the animals of Kenya. Many times we were within feet of them. It was breathtaking to watch them in their natural habitat.

With all of these experiences, I have yet to come to my best day of 2016.

That day was the day I spent in the villages of the Masai Mara.

The day started with a crystal clear sunrise. We rode by Land Rover to a small village whose inhabitants live in dung huts.

The dwellings have no light except for a small front door. We were here to deliver and install solar light kits to 10 lucky families.

}}} Continued on next page

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}}} Continued from previous page All of my previous community service work did not prepare me for the outpouring of gratitude from these families. They were so happy for the simple gift of light that it left all of us in tears.

We then visited a school in the Mara.

Many of the students lined up to greet us.

With their shy smiles and brilliantly white teeth, they made us feel honored to be in their presence.

I was lucky enough to have one of them hand me a school book written in English and they asked me to read to them. Their giddy response left me with sights and sounds that I will never forget.

Finally, we travelled to a traditional Masai camp and were treated to a tour by the King’s son. He enlightened us to their traditions and way of life. A humbling experience to say the least.

If that wasn’t enough, our day finished with a lion prowling our camp.

My experience on that one day in Africa changed my life.

Among other things, I have a renewed appreciation for the many blessings we have in our beautiful valley.

Connie Field Morris is a community service volunteer and has worked in dentistry for 33 years.

She is a wife, mother and grandmother who enjoys hiking, travelling and designing costumes for local productions.

That leaf... this life M

MY B EST IN 20 DAY 16

WI N

NER

by Phil Cibicki

A leaf found on a cold day gave insight into a new life.

y best day this year suddenly came along only a few weeks ago. It was Oct. 21, 2016.

That day, I chose to take a short walk through downtown Wenatchee. In fact, I had been consistently doing this for the past five days or so.

In any case, the autumn air felt quite crisp, as wisps of wet smoke curled out from under my cracked lips. My hands shivered ever so slightly; my fingertips felt more like gnarled icicles, rather than warm tendrils.

During my frosty walk, I came across this vivid crimson maple-like leaf. Simply put, this is what made my day... and what eventually made my year.

As I studied such intricate beauty with

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such careful fascination, I began to realize that this leaf symbolized where I was currently in my own life.

For one, I noticed the inky mottling that surrounded the edges of that leaf. Its darkness reminded me of the depressive abyss I had been in only weeks before, for nearly the past year.

Because those black spots were just along the perimeter of that leaf, they also reassured me that my depressive episode was finally subsiding.

This dissipating “monochromacy” gave way to what captured most of my attention... and really, my heart: the charming color of full-blown crimson. Wow. As I felt my heart begin beating faster with | The Good Life

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excitement, I knew that the utter scarlet of that leaf represented the life that had been recently breathed back into me. Wow again.

My heart skipped a beat and I almost dropped the leaf in pure elation.

For the next few minutes, I just held that leaf and truly felt this life course throughout me, just like the veins that were embedded within that leaf. What a moment it was.

What a day it was. And what a year it was.

I will never forget any of it... this really is the good life.

Phil Cibicki is 31 years old and has lived with recurrent major depression for the past 17 years of his life. Today, he enjoys his work indoors at American Shoe Shop and his play outdoors by backpacking, mountain biking and skiing.

January 2017

out over the Wenatchee Valley with a cardboard tube. I had hoped to build a custom coop that week, just as my girls had hoped to bring all 12 chickens and both Muscovy ducks to the new house.

But time was short and the new yard smaller. So there we were, my eldest and I, putting the pieces together while we talked

By Luke Ellington about chickens and pirates and the valley we’d never had a view of before. oving to a new house and working to Inside, my younger daughters were playmake it just-as-homey for three kiddos was ing hide-and-seek and discovering all the an exhausting process that unfolded over new hidey-spaces. I found them taking turns much of 2016. crawling into an antique bean pot (I think Many days stand out in my mind as bethat’s what it is, anyway). They had to show ing eventful during that time: those with me how they could both fit inside. It was the highest and lowest moments of selling a one of those ridiculously silly moments that home FSBO (for sale by owner), those particbrought laughter out from deep down. ularly long ones with comical forays into DIY That evening, the big girls spent a long plumbing and roofing, and that first night time playing and reading in their new room. we all slept in the new place.

It was a mess in there. A total piglet-sty.

Along with a 10th anniversary, a trip (with With their bunk bed still being used as a sick children) to Disneyland, and the day staging prop at the old home, they were usKelly finally cut her hair short the way I like the moving process, and it was the best. I ing two twin mattresses shoved together to it, these were among the big days of the year captured three scenes that day. Put together, form a king size on the floor. All the bedding they tell a story that may only be profound for the Ellingtons. was in a ball against the wall. Every kind of But there is another, less-obvious day that to me. toy had been dumped out, and surely there In one, my oldest daughter is sitting on the were apple cores and banana peels drying has stuck with me. box of a pre-fab chicken coop and looking Saturday, April 9, was a midway point in }}} Continued on next page

The day when I knew our house would be a home M

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}}} Continued from previous page out somewhere. It was all too familiar.

My oldest saw me come in but kept reading to her sister, hoping I’d join in. I hope I did.

I can’t remember most of the day. Moving is an exhausting and blurry process. The events run together and never quite end until each knick-knack is placed and each holiday is adjusted to fit the new digs.

But I remember that Saturday for being the day when I knew that house would be a home. That my girls would come to love the new place the way they loved the old one.

And that when the day comes for us to move again, maybe to a place befitting a dozen chickens and who-knows-what-else, we’ll be at home there, too.

Luke Ellington is a Christian, a husband and a father. He occasionally contributes to Wenatchee Mom Blog and The Wenatchee World.

Sandhill Crane passes by. Photos by Tim Gallagher

The Sandhill Crane

the wet, wild roses that warmed up in the short-lived early morning sunshine.

Suddenly a booming, angry and wild call

By Mary Gallagher tossed me back in to the present. My heartbeat seemed audible as fear and excitement y husband, Tim, was chopping wood simultaneously thrust me into action. I outside in a light drizzle. I was totally happy grabbed my binoculars and announced to in the moment, sitting at a table, drinking the now silent swallows, “Tim has found hot tea, writing in my journal with lightsomeone good!” weight snow gloves on.

I leapt out and headed down the narrow Yes, I was writing with gloves on in the path into the sun-dappled woods, forcafternoon of June 12, 2016. I was bundled up ing myself to slow down for the exposed in layers and all I could smell was the DEET roots and moss covered rocks. By the time I coating the only exposed skin I had, my face. reached Tim all I could hear was my breathIt was bound to happen. ing.

Six relatively mosquito-free days started My gaze followed the trajectory of his lens our nine-day adventure kayaking the Bowover the marsh grass. With his focus conron Lakes Canoe Circuit in the Caribou stant he said, “I figured you heard.

Mountains of British Columbia. This 116-ki“I had no idea Sandhill cranes could make lometer circuit is shaped more like a parala sound like that.” lelogram with nine portages and various Frozen, we watched the tall bird walk waterways connecting 13 lakes. determinedly away from us and disappear in When we completed the circuit with a the brush, protecting a nest, a mate. group of friends last August, it was I, who Mary watches the crane.

“Ok, these mosquitoes are draining,” he said, “We need to come back in June.” said as he handed me the bear spray and Three-quarters of the way through our said, “I am going out to explore.” walked away. journey, we were drying our rain cover in an “Don’t forget the bear spray,” I reminded I stayed, soaked in sunshine and the opened-window shelter. That morning, we him. uniqueness of this wildness, a splendid bird had walked three short portages and padI returned to my writing, with a pair of moment, reached by our own physical abilidled from Unna Lake, via the Caribou River, barn swallows squabbling above me trying ties to get here.

Grateful for a husband who Babcock and Skoi Lakes to where we now to find just the right rafter to build their sat at Pat’s Point, a thin peninsula of land mud nest. I added greater yellowlegs, solitary decided to explore while I wrote. between Spectacle and Swan lakes. sandpiper, hooded merganser, cedar waxMary Willard Gallagher is a retired Small Animal In seven days, we had only seen six people wings and mosquitoes to my list of sightings. Veterinarian, who lives near Lake Wenatchee. She but our moose count was up to five.

Closing my eyes I drifted to the dawn is passionate about words, birds, wilderness and all Tim came inside, picked up his camera and chorus of bird songs and the sweet smell of the wonders of this world.

M

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January 2017

Innovative doggie dentistry gets Abby back catching Frisbees M

By Thom Lancaster

y wife, Peggy, and I own a six-and-one-half year old Border Collie named Abby.

When Abby was about six months old, we decided to channel the energy of this highenergy dog by introducing her to Frisbee.

She and her Frisbee became inseparable. Most of the time, it was me out in the field, tossing Frisbee after Frisbee as Abby jumped into the air and caught them.

Once, my daughter visited us and brought her dog with her.

She has a Labradoodle that is bigger than Abby. Abby would get the Frisbee and drop it in front of my daughter’s dog and then look over her shoulder hoping that the dog would throw the Frisbee so Abby could chase it.

But after playing Frisbee for over six years, we started noticing her lower canines had been ground flat and the dark nerve centers were showing.

We had never thought about the abrasiveness of a dirty, spinning Frisbee being caught in her mouth… but it’s really not much different than throwing her a disc with sandpaper on it.

We contacted several local veterinary clinics throughout the state that professed to do doggie dentistry only to find (much to our dismay) that the kind of problem Abby had could only be fixed by giving the tooth a root canal or extracting the tooth.

Neither choice was acceptable remedies for a dog in the prime of her life.

One day, going in for my own dental appointment, I talked with our family dentist, a remarkable, innovative young

man. He said, “Bring her on in.”

He examined her and assessed the damage and formulated a repair plan.

Prior to her exam by our dentist (who for insurance reasons wishes to remain unnamed), we had Abby’s teeth cleaned at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic.

A young veterinarian named Dr. Alyson Mitchel performed the cleaning and examined her tooth damage.

I approached Dr. Mitchel about an idea of a veterinarian and a dentist teaming up to reconstruct Abby’s lower canine teeth.

She was enthused. “We do not routinely do tooth restoration in veterinary medicine based on the lifestyle of many dogs (chewing hard things),” said Dr. Mitchel. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it has been done somewhere else but it is very uncommon and has not been done at this clinic before.”

Thom Lancaster and Abby at the park.

On Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, our dentist did a composite rebuild on Abby’s lower canines while Dr. Mitchel sedated and stabilized Abby during the procedure — I like to think that advanced doggie dentistry was born in the Wenatchee Valley and history was made, thanks to the coop-

Before and after photos of Abby’s canine teeth: From worn off to restored.

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eration from two separate fields of medicine.

They have provided our Abby with a lovely smile once again.

And, she still enjoys running down a Frisbee — only now we use a softer canvas disk to protect her teeth.

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UPDATE

Where in the world is Mike Sager now?

The backstory: Mike Sager wrote in the September 2012 issue how after years of living as a postman in Wenatchee, he made the move to live fulltime in Ecuador where he founded a real estate business just as North Americans began moving to that Central America country.

Quote: It seems I finally ended up in the Right Place at the Right Time.

C

By Mike Sager

all me a gypsy, vagabond, wanderer, nomad... any of those monikers would fit like a glove.

My recent transplant has some wondering what’s going on... and I don’t mean liver or kidney.

I recently made a major move from Ecuador to Portugal this past June.

I still love Ecuador, but it has, unfortunately, lost some of its luster in the last couple of years.

It is still a great place, but for some unknown reason Portugal popped up on our radar early the previous year and now it is “home” for the foreseeable future.

I liken it to Ecuador, but a bit more refined, well maintained and the cost of living is incredibly low for the most part (well, except for the 5 euro a gallon gas). It also has a ton of things to do compared to our last home.

We made the leap/move with “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” attitude. We are living in Portimao in the Algarve prov-

ince. This is the southernmost costal area and is extremely popular with all of Europe as a vacation spot.

For me the big draws were a major music scene with tons of places to perform live music and a world-class motor speedway just 20 minutes photos away. I The top shot is am still from my veranda and addicted my view while sipping my morning cup o’ joe. to speed The shot below it (the is of my wife Andrea velocfrom Argentina, our ity kind) little boy Alex (now 8 and with years old) and Andrea’s a place sister Maria (Alex’s you can aunt) just before we legally go depart earth in a hot 180 mph air balloon wandering it held the friendly skies of huge apPortugal at the wind’s peal since mercy.

The arch is just one I seldom did more of 40 or 50 along our part of the southern than 65 coast. mph in Ecuador and no world class-race track to “get my fix.”

The cool thing about race tracks are there’s always an ambulance nearby, everyone is going the same direction as you and no police hiding behind the Beer Marquis with a radar gun.

What more could you ask for?

The music scene here is much like Americas was back in the ’70s and ’80s, lots of live music and great bands playing that

}}} Continued on page 14 12

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Mike answers 3 questions about life in Portugal

What about language: Can you get by without knowing how to speak Portuguese?

You can get by with just English, especially in the tourist areas, no problem. I would say about 50 percent of the people you would come in contact speak excellent or some English.

Portuguese is somewhat like Spanish, so if you can speak Spanish that helps with learning Portuguese.

You can get by here with no Portuguese other than “abrigado”... “thank you.”

Lots of English speakers here, much more than in Ecuador.

What about personal safety: Are you afraid for your wife and son?

This is one of the reasons we came to Portugal. Ecuador is an awesome place, but does have its share of robberies and petty crime.

Portugal seems to be exempt (for the most part) from such happenings. It rates very high in safety and security for your home and personal being. Plus the penalties here are severe for such action whereas in Ecuador the thief gets a “slap on the hand” and put back on the street in a few days... not good.

You see kids playing by themselves in parks, you see people leave something unattended on the beach and no one slips by and then off with their stuff. There is a higher level of respect for other’s belongings here and for each other in general.

Overall, Portugal has a lot to offer the person/family looking for a place that is stable, very affordable, pleasant year round weather and a fun place to explore.

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to Europe if you like to travel.

Flights here are cheap between all of the countries in the European Union. You can find specials all the time to any country here for 19 to 39 euros on the European based airlines.

You want to go to Paris, Venice, Stockholm, Rome, Amsterdam... pick a place and get on board.

And for the more adventurous or romantic, train travel is still big here in Europe and at times faster than air. There are many high-speed railways here and those babies cruise at around 300 mph.

Fun ride and amazing to watch the scenery just out the window whiz by at that speed.

What about money: How much does it cost to live there?

I would say if you have $1,500 to $2,000 coming in a month you can live very comfortably here and enjoy life, not just sit in front of the tube all day.

Prices are still very good for moderate sized 1 or 2 bedroom condos on the front line to the beach, especially if you go out and beat the bushes.

An example is the condo we bought in Portimao (tourist beach town) for 105,000 euros (a euro is worth about $1.10 U.S.) on the front line with an incredible view. We then put another 15,000 euros into remodeling/updates and have been offered 190,000 euros for it in less than six months of ownership.

That sure beats renting and kissing say 6,000 euros goodbye in six months (our place would rent for about 1,000 euros a month, that’s what I am referring to if we were renting). Of course, you do what you can do and enjoy life with either approach.

where in the world is Mike Sager now? }}} Continued from page 12 music. I have made numerous friends in the circle and have the honor of singing and performing with a number of bands here already. Hard to believe people still get excited when they hear the opening riff to Smoke On the Water.

But wait... there’s more.

I have seen five major music concerts since getting here in June, gone up in a hot air balloon (see photo of my wife, son and Alex’s Aunt Maria), boogie boarded some incredible beaches, toured on a motorcycle/sidecar with my wife and little boy.

Oh that might be a surprise to some that don’t know... while in Ecuador we were blessed with a little boy (surprised, but blessed) who is now 8 years old. He, too, has the music bug, but is a bit more cautious when it comes to motorcycles.

A cute side note to his presence here on earth is he was an uncle the moment he was born to my four grandchildren who are way older than he is. His nieces and nephews are all older and range up to 20 years old. My grandson Drake (20 years old) looks down and says “Hi Uncle Alex... I love you man!”

Once again I find myself in the right place at the right time since I am having trouble “growing up.”

The people here are wonderful and have no problem with my “rock until you drop” and crazed motorcycle needs... there’s no one accusing me of going through a mid life crisis... they just jump on and enjoy the ride with me.

Cultures are incredible when you are lucky enough to experience something outside the States.

Hey the States are great, but when you go to someone’s house

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Mike Sager has found local bands to perform with: “The people here are wonderful and have no problem with my ‘rock until you drop’ and crazed motorcycle needs.”

It is never too late to let that “gypsy” hidden in your being loose. and they don’t eat dinner until midnight... you know you are in for quite a different experience.

Life has been full of surprises and I am thankful for each road being more than expected.

When I see a “Detour” sign ahead I know it will most likely lead to a better destination than was planned.

It is never too late to let that “gypsy” hidden in your being loose.

Just as I extended the invitation to Ecuador years ago, I extend the same invitation to those curious about Portugal.

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January 2017

And I have more time since I am not working in real estate here, I might do motorcycle tours — though as was my original plan for Ecuador 12 years ago.

Crazy how things come about in their time, not yours.

Oh, and Portugal loves Americans — they think we are a bit “out of touch,” especially with the current affairs/events, but they love us just the same.

Life... better than the game itself.

You can contact Mike Sager at redwulf3@gmail.com, or find him on Facebook. He welcomes visitors, and adds, “They will only need to bring me a six pack of Dr. Pepper if they come to visit. Just like Ecuador, there is no Dr. Pepper in Portugal... nor Taco Bell (where I could drown my sorrows with a 32 oz. Dr. Pepper and three or four crunchy tacos). Oh well ... paradise can’t have everything your heart (or taste buds) desires.”

>>

VOLUNTEERS

Worms for smiles: Unexpected gifts of delight I

By Jaana HAtton

f you have browsed through the books on the little library cart at Pybus Public Market, you may have noticed the line of crocheted little creatures hanging off the side of it.

They are bookworms Pat Turner makes and sets there as free gifts for readers.

Pat fell in love with bookworms decades ago, when she was going to college in Ellensburg to earn her teaching degree. Her professor handed them out as prizes in a competition — everybody got one. She kept hers, but didn’t think about it for a long time.

Some 25 years ago Pat started introducing the bookworms in the classroom. She was making them herself by then. While the children were out during the last recess of the day, Pat lined up the little wiggly friends on a desk and let everybody choose one when they came in.

“Anything to promote literacy,” Pat said.

Having worked as a teacher all her life, Pat knows every trick there is to take boredom out of learning. The little book marks always seemed to create enthusiasm. But, they do come with rules of care: Feed your bookworm by reading at least five pages a day (they get skinny and cranky if you don’t).

Tuck securely into a book; they need a safe home.

Keep away from pets and small children, especially if they are in the chewing stage, as the

eyes are glued on and may come off.

Don’t swing them around by the tail as they could come unraveled, OR lose and eye. Remember they are not a toy.

Enjoy your new friend. Reading opens a world of possibilities.

Mind you, grown-ups like the little stringy things, too.

“I always keep a stash in the car,” Pat said. “And some in my purse. I especially like to put a smile on a grumpy face — maybe at the gas station or at the grocery store.”

They never seem to fail at their mission as unexpected gifts of delight. Likewise, it makes Pat happy to make a positive difference in someone else’s day.

“In all these years, I’ve only had one person say they didn’t care for one. The reason was they were downsizing — ah, well,” Pat says with a grin.

According to Pat, the bookworms are easy to make. She can produce 10 in an hour.

During the Olympics this past summer Pat had the crochet hook in hand constantly, keeping pace with the sprinters on TV as she was filling an order of 600 worms for the Chelan Elementary school. By the time the Olympics were finished, so was Pat with her task.

We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com January 2017 | The Good Life

Pat Turner displaying her works of art, and love: the bookworms. The book cart at Pybus Public Market is one of the places she leaves them as surprises.

She is particular about the yarn and the outcome: no loose ends.

And she always makes a wide range of colors, as well; brilliant brights, calm camouflage and sherbet shades.

“My grandmother used to say that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing well. I go by that,” Pat said.

What started out as a single classroom project has evolved into an international mis-

sion. Pat’s friends take broods of worms with them on trips and give them out as tokens of friendship. So far the smileevoking critters have migrated to Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Finland, Iraq, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

Pat’s mission statement is: “To educate, encourage and inhabit the world with Worms and Smiles.” It seems she manages to live up to it just about every day.

Join us for an evening like no other!

Night at the Museum includes four experiences in one: A fun brewery/ cider house, a relaxing coffeehouse, a speakeasy and a wine bar. Each features its own music, food and drinks.

Saturday, January 21, 2017, 6 – 9 p.m.

Sample a variety of wines, beers, ciders and spirits along with tasty morsels by the best Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, Wenatchee chefs in the area. Benefits the programs and Call 888-6240 or go to our website services of the Wenatchee Valley Museum at WenatcheeValleyMuseum.org & Cultural Center. Tastings included in the to reserve tickets or ticket price of $50 for Museum members or purchase at the Museum. groups of 10 or more, $55 for non-members. www.ncwgoodlife.com

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Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail With a stopover in Wenatchee

Just Passing Through an area he had once fallen in love with

T

By Brad Lane

he mud-soaked trail sloshed beneath my feet and the prevailing rain was putting my pack cover to the test.

The past 100 miles of foot travel in four days seemed to be catching up to me in a bad way, adding unnecessary attention to the weight in my backpack and the achiness in my knees.

Regardless of the imminent weather though, and forgetting about the total 2,000-plus miles of Pacific Crest Trail behind me, I was happy, coasting through the mud, because the ski-lifts of Snoqualmie Pass were in sight, which meant I was soon to be reunited with an area and surrounding valley I’d already once fallen in love with before.

I was first introduced to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the surrounding area back in 2013 when I moved to Wenatchee in pursuit of building a freelance writing portfolio.

Thanks to areas like the Frenchmen Coulee, Stevens Pass and Alpine Lakes Wilderness, as

well as local publications like The Good Life and Foothills Magazine, I accomplished what I set out for and produced some of my first magazine articles, which I still show off today.

More importantly, through TOP: A sunset view of Mount Rainier from the Knife’s Edge the exploin the Goat Rocks Wilderness greets hikers while in Washrations in ington. ABOVE: Brad Lane in full PCT mode. and around Chelan and Douglas friends and family, but I knew counties, I developed a love for that the Midwestern landscape the area that still inspires me would never stand as tall as the today, a love that made leaving Pacific Northwest scenery I had Wenatchee in 2015, and moving grown to love. On the long drive back to my hometown in Iowa back home, I knew I would rebittersweet to say the least.

Being back home meant being turn to north central Washingback closer to my community of ton one day, and I began formu-

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lating a way to do just that.

When I first began traveling the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on May 2, 2016, it was hard to know exactly what lay ahead of me.

I had done my planning for the past year, researching the different resupply stops and reading about the different areas I’d be passing through, but it wasn’t until I took those first few steps heading north from the Mexico border did I begin to understand the world I was walking into.

Waking up day in and day out, always outside and exposed to the elements, sometimes the best way to describe the thru-hiking life is to recognize what you don’t have, or better yet, what you can’t carry with you. Water spouts, a roof over your head and even the often overlooked luxury of cell phone service, these once common facets of my life were left behind as I made my way on a five-anda-half month journey to the Canadian border.

There were many moments along the trail that will forever be a part of my memories, and new ones come to the surface each day.

From seeing the first granite

behemoths of the Sierra Nevada Mountains after 700 miles of walking through the desert, to arriving at the sparkling shores of Crater Lake after a difficult 90 miles of hiking in three days, one thing is for sure, none of these amazing moments would have been the same without the difficulties that preceded them.

No better example of that can be illustrated than my reemergence into the Alpine Lake Wilderness after many miles of doubting if I could even make it there.

The reunion didn’t come with a welcome mat however, more like a leaky faucet, and the moment I walked back onto the trail from the Summit Inn at Snoqualmie Pass, rain followed me the entire way.

The real weather didn’t begin until my second day traveling back into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the sideways slanted, coming-from-every-direction, non-stop rain that I was familiar with from exploring the region in the past.

And just how I remembered it, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness still contained a certain beauty even shrouded under low-hanging clouds, and maybe it was just the homecoming feeling of it all, but it had a charm that was unique to itself compared to the rest of the trail.

High Cascade peaks lending to rushing waters, lush forest canopies that climbed down the abundance of trees and those brief moments where the sun broke through the thickening fog, even with the 150 days of travel behind me, even with the previous adventures in the area under my belt, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness makes you feel like it’s the first time, every time.

I exited the Alpine Lakes Wilderness at Stevens Pass, cutting under the same ski lifts I had ridden just a few winters before, and I was wet, cold and surely offensive to the nostrils of the kind barista at the T-Bar Market inside the lodge.

It was there though, or more

The Pacific Crest Trail winds its way through the craggy peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

specifically further down Highway 2, where an aspect of the good life on the trail would speak loud compared to the solitary nature of my adventure thus far.

After arriving at Stevens Pass, despite my relatively close reach of the Canadian border, I had to take the moment to visit with the community I had moved away from. I visited with some old friends, walked the familiar streets and even partook in some fresh apple cider thanks to a local Wenatchee resident and his enthusiastic apple pressing abilities.

It was within these moments,

in the time taken away from the trail, where the most concrete illustration of what makes the thru-hiking life good, and what makes any life worth celebrating.

It was the comforts of home, the long-lasting hugs and the warmth surrounding good company. These things you can’t carry with you on trail, and I realized that no matter how scenic the scenery, no matter how insightful the sights, all of it would remain out in the woods if you don’t have people to share it with.

It took me nearly my entire hike to figure that out, and I’m

Keep Moving

Physical Therapy for All Ages and Abilities

• Physical Therapy • Sports Biomechanics • Video Gait Analysis • Orthotics • Functional Testing • Pool Therapy • Massage Therapy • Work Related Injuries January 2017 | The Good Life

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still fleshing out the value now that I’m back home in Iowa again.

A question I’m confronted with a lot and in overabundance is: “How’d it go?”

And as my mind flashes past the sand in my face, the mountains climbed and conquered and that overwhelming notion of day in and day out in the elements, always exposed, my time spent just passing through the Wenatchee Valley also comes to mind.

It was good, I say, I found exactly what I was looking for.

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Experience

Cheers!

Chelan’s cool WinterFest is new hot ticket

by Cary Ordway

S

everal years ago, the business owners and community boosters of Lake Chelan began to realize that the winter “off” season for this summer vacation paradise could be turned back “on” if people only knew that there were many exciting activities available during the winter.

It was a classic example of “build it and they will come” because this year’s Winterfest celebration -- running January 13-27 -- will attract as many as 15,000 visitors who will be spending $9 million in the Lake Chelan communities. The event is held over two weekends -one focused more on Chelan, one on Manson -- and boasts amazing ice sculptures, live music, wine and ale tasting, and many other activities.

Winterfest was actually born nearly 30 years ago with an emphasis on local outdoor sports and other fun things to do in the snow. Like many small town events, it started out modestly and was meant to be more of a local get-together.

By 2010, the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce enlisted an independent event director to take over Winterfest.

The event still featured fireworks, a polar bear splash, a bonfire and other activities but live music was added.

Then a few years ago the second

Whether it’s ale or fine wine -- or a piping hot drink -- visitors attending the Lake Chelan WinterFest will come away refreshed

weekend in Manson was added.

Then came the Alefest and wish lanterns and, today, the event just continues to grow.

“Winterfest has actually become the best weekend of the entire year for many businesses,’ said Erin McCardle, the Winterfest event director.

bit of a challenge,” McCardle said.

“Two years ago it snowed during Winterfest weekend -- we’d never had to get rid of three inches of snow when all the tents were already up.”

That is really saying something when you consider that Lake Chelan enjoys one of the best tourist seasons in North Central Washington each and every summer. It’s an even bigger feat when you factor in the winter weather.

The answer was to enlist the City of Chelan, which used its trucks to plow and salt the streets. There was no easy solution to the other problem the event experienced for a few years between 2010 and 2014 when Winterfest seemed more like Springfest with unseasonably warm weather -- as high as 63 degrees at 9:30 in the evening. That’s really not great weather for ice sculptures.

“Each year, the weather poses a

“We’ve battled all types of weather

Cary Ordway is publisher of NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com and host of Exploring the Northwest, heard at 6:27 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. weekdays on KPQ 560 AM, Wenatchee. Central Washington Experience is made possible by the sponsors appearing in these articles. Email: getawaymediacorp@gmail.com; Twitter: @ getawayguy WINTER 2017 | THE GOOD LIFE | Central Washington Experience |

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issues,” McCardle said. “You just adjust.”

Local sponsors have stepped up to help fund various aspects of Winterfest and McCardle points out that many locals get involved by volunteering to take one or more of the four-hour shifts for Winterfest helpers. Altogether Winterfest requires 500 event shifts and a total of 300 to 350 volunteers to make it all come together. This is a huge improvement, McCardle says, from the first few years she managed the event when it was tough to come up with 100 volunteers.

One of the highlights of the entire event starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 14. It’s called the Winterfest Grand Procession and visitors will take a short .3 mile walk from the intersection of Johnson and Columbia Avenues to Don Morse Park for the Polar Bear Splash, Beach Bonfire and a spectacular fireworks show.

WinterFest is new hot ticket (from page 18)

Among the other big attractions are the ice sculptures which are done by Creative Ice, a Seattle area company owned by Steve Cox. He and other sculptors from various parts of the state come to Chelan a few days before the event to create an ice bar and various ice carvings that are on display throughout downtown Chelan. They also do live carvings during the weekend so you can watch the various masters at work.

Another favorite is the Wine Walk which this year features 20 local wineries, the most ever offered for

the event. In past years the eventgoers have walked from store to store downtown where each winery was featured at a particular store.

But the event proved so popular that the stores weren’t able to handle all the foot traffic, so this year there will be two large tents where the 20 wineries will each offer tastings of two of their wines. There is also a one-afternoon VIP Wine Walk where the winemakers will be on hand to pour and talk about their wines.

Visitors can buy a $5 button that gets them into most activities, although there are separate admission prices for Wine Walk, Alefest and certain other events. For complete information on the Lake Chelan Winterfest events this year, please visit www.lakechelan.com/ winterfest or phone 509-6823503.

WinterFest events:

H

ere are several other events that will be offered at the 2017 Lake Chelan Winterfest.

Visit www.lakechelan.com/winterfest for exact times and admission prices: Alefest -- Sample from a selection of over 40 unique craft beers and hard ciders while enjoying live music and the beautiful Lake Chelan scenery.

Bubble Bar -- A great way to end your incredible Winterfest weekend.

Come enjoy unlimited sparkling wine tastings, a scrumptious brunch and learn a little about the sparkling wine produced here in the Lake Chelan Valley.

Battle of the Bloody Mary -- A raving success in year 1, this year’s event promises to be even better!

The Battle of the Bloody Mary will take place in the barrel room of Lake Chelan Winery during the second weekend of festivities. Sip through some of the best Bloody Mary’s in

Horse carriage rides are fun for young and old alike

Dress warmly and bring the entire family

the Lake Chelan Valley and vote for your favorite.

Find Tsilly -- Tsilly is the elusive Lake Chelan “monster” and he’s visiting lots of different local businesses throughout the Lake Chelan community this Winterfest. Those who spot him can win prizes, including buttons and enter to win a grand-prize weekend of fun in Lake Chelan. Stop

by Spirals in downtown Chelan or the Entry Tents to grab your “passport” and get started.

magic of Winterfest is watching the artistic work of several incredible ice sculptors. Watch as they turn 45,000 pounds of ice into pieces of art.

Ice Tower Lighting -- A team of ice carvers will be carving the Ice Tower all day down in the Manson Bay Marina. Make sure you check out their progress and then head back down at 6:30pm to watch the ice lit on fire.

The Winterfest Ice Slide is great fun. Show your Winterfest Button,

Horse Carriage Rides -- Show us your Winterfest Button and hop on the beautiful horse drawn sleigh for a beautiful ride along the Chelan River.

Ice Bar presented by North Cascades Bank -- The Ice Lounge is THE place to be. Serving wines from the Lake Chelan Wine Valley, ciders and craft beers plus live music on tap Friday and Saturday – you won’t want to leave.

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grab a sled and take a ride on the slide made from 12,000 pounds of ice.

Recess Monkey presented by Numerica Performing Arts Center -- This trio of teachers has become a force to be reckoned with in kid’s music, according to AOL ParentDish.

Soupfest -- Taste the soups of the Valley during Soupfest on Friday, January 13th from 6-8 p.m. Located at he Eagles in downtown Chelan.

Skiing Wenatchee North Great quality snow, great big mountain terrain and the greatest vertical relief of any ski hill in North America with thigh-destroying top-to-bottom runs of 5,600 vertical feet.

I

Story and photos

by Andy Dappen

f you leave Wenatchee and head into Canada, roughly following the course of the big river, after seven hours of driving you enter a town that might be called “Wenatchee North.”

Like Wenatchee, the town sits on the Columbia River and is cradled by mountains. And like Wenatchee it has a ski hill that is little more than a stone’s throw from downtown.

Beyond this, however, the similarities begin to falter.

Wenatchee North is much smaller, with a population of about 7,000 residents, and it is bordered by bigger, more muscular mountains rising to over 8,000 feet.

And unlike Wenatchee the town sees enough precipitation that moisture-loving trees like red-cedar and spruce grow in the surrounding forests.

In fact, this combination of big mountains and big precipitation has allowed one of the premier destination ski resorts to sprout, along with the red-cedar, on the slopes a mere five miles from downtown.

Besides great quality snow and great big mountain terrain, Wenatchee North boasts the greatest vertical relief of any

ski hill in North America with thigh-destroying top-to-bottom runs of 5,600 vertical feet.

Once sampled, a ski hill like this draws you back.

This year it’s my daughter, Heather, who gets the ball rolling. She remembers the powder skiing we enjoyed five years ago, the lack of crowds, and the runs that seemed to last forever. She suggests we return for a repeat visit.

When push comes to shove, however, Heather’s priorities are all askew and she can’t leave work for a several day road trip to a hallowed hill.

“Get your priorities straight, will you?” I tell her, giving her sound fatherly advice. “Quit work.”

Unfortunately she has inherited an inconvenient sense of responsibility from her mother and puts livelihood above lifestyle and decides to sit this visit out.

I recruit Matt Dahlgreen to join me instead.

Matt is an ideal ski partner because where you’re willing to lead he’s willing to follow.

The thing about Matt, however, is that he also comes with a set of peculiarities.

First he grew up in Idaho and learned to ski there so the guy has a serious case of McCallitis.

Secondly he spent his career

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Matt Dahlgreen skis Wenatchee North (Revelstoke Mountain) with the Columbia River flowing by far, far below.

working for the Forest Service as a forester/ecologist so he’s a hopeless Treeophile.

On any trip with Matt you’re going to get an earful about his all-time favorite place to ski and his all-time favorite plant.

When we arrive at Wenatchee North, Matt is immediately pleased. The town’s restaurants, motels, lodges, and shops are pleasingly devoid of strip malls, franchised shops, and billboards touting name-brand labels and businesses.

“What a quaint town, “Matt says. “It reminds me of McCall back in the day.”

Matt uses “back in the day” frequently because the gentrified, resort town of McCall today is a world removed from the far more diverse, resource-and-rec-

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January 2017

reation town of his youth.

The next morning as two gondolas and one high-speed chair move us uphill faster than a mass transit train, Matt’s eyes are outgrowing his goggles.

“Holy Schmidt, we’re a long way up,” he says, looking back on the black thread of the Columbia River snaking through the valley more than a vertical mile below us.

We reach the high point of the lift assist and spend a few minutes viewing the nearby 8,000foot peaks and the background 10,000-foot peaks composing the Selkirk Range.

These peaks are not only big, but some are ridiculously steep.

You feel like if you spit off some of them, your contribution could freefall right into the

“This place almost makes McCall look flat.”

Columbia. “This place almost makes McCall look flat,” Matt says seriously awed by the surrounding.

We warm up on Devils Club a black cruising run that would make any person who knows anything about this thorny plant a little wary.

The run is steep and just keeps plunging down the fall line. It goes on and on … and on. By the time we bottom out, our thighs are stinging from the exertion — just like someone scraped Devils Club across them.

“That was amazing,” Matt says as we take an appreciated rest in the gondola on the ride back up.

Matt is impressed by how beautifully designed the run was and how it refused to deviate from the fall line as it poured

downhill over all manners of rolls and folds in the terrain.

“That’s the way they cut runs in McCall,” Matt says. Almost sheepishly he adds, “Except this run was three times longer.”

We move from the gondola to the Stoke Express chair and Matt pulls out the trail map to better familiarize himself with the lay of the land.

Suddenly he’s chuckling and sometimes even laughing over the names. The double-blackdiamond glades of Conifers of Gnarnia and Kill the Banker are clever. Even as a tree lover he finds Stihl Life Glades a comical name. And the lewd Big Woody glades also give him a laugh.

“How can you not appreciate a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously?”

Looking at all the glading depicted on the trail maps has the tree-loving Matt curious and the next several runs take us through massive glades where close to a thousand acres of terrain have been thinned of enough trees to open up the canopy to allow more snow to reach the ground and to allow skiers to slither through.

From a skiing standpoint Matt is impressed with artistry of the cutting, “They took out just enough trees to open up the terrain but not so many that it makes the skiing easy. You always gotta be looking out for the next tree.”

From an economic standpoint, Matt is also impressed with the apparent investment the ski resort committed to the glading that took place all around the mountain.

The trees that were removed were conifers ranging from 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter — probably not valuable enough

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January 2017 | The Good Life

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R A D I O

SKIING WENATCHEE NORTH }}} Continued from previous page to make their removal commercially viable.

“I doubt the resort made money cutting and selling these trees, they cut all this specifically to make the skiing great.

McCall did the same thing — but we’re talking a few hundred acres there versus over a thousand here.”

We particularly enjoy one top-to-bottom run that starts in Iron Glaiden, cuts into the Stihl Life Glades, and finishes in the Aspen Glades.

The snow is soft, the spacing between the trees is nearly perfect throughout, and those trees just keep coming at us like the targets of a video game that just won’t end.

We can nearly stand when we glide to the lift at the bottom of the mountain.

“Wow! Wasn’t that the most fun ski treeing ever,” Matt says when we collapse onto the seat of the gondola. We both rub our thighs as the lift rockets us back uphill.

The morning gets spent on the front of the mountain but in the early afternoon it’s time to introduce Matt to the North Bowl.

From the top of the Stoke Express, the resort’s highest chair, we remove skis and hike a little higher along Lemming Line.

After five minutes of walking we find ourselves on the sheer eastern ridge of the bowl.

Some of the entrances into the bowl are cliff jumps or narrow chutes that braver skiers will commit to straight lining down.

For chickens who don’t like to fly, there is one weakness in the ridge providing an easy traverse into the heart of the bowl.

It has been a week since it snowed and while hundreds of skiers have visited the bowl in the interlude, the partially

Matt Dahlgreen descends a natural halfpipe in Revelstoke’s North Bowl.

By late afternoon we’re exhausted.

We need the ski day to end; yet we’re unwilling to call it quits while the lifts are still running. carved powder is still soft. “I liked that!” Matt says when we stop on a bench where the wide bowl starts to funnel skiers into a draw.

Next we head down steep, powdery bumps that lead into a little draw lightly salted with the slalom poles of 10-foot spruce saplings.

When we stop for the next breather Matt starts off, “Something about that really reminds me of…”

I cut him off. “Wait. Something about that really reminds you of McCall… except it’s steeper and waaay longer, right?”

“Exactly! How did you know

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that?”

Our route channels into a 30-foot-deep canyon carved by a creek.

In winter, the region’s heavy snowfall partially fills-in the canyon, turning it into a half pipe that is nearly a quartermile long.

Skiers and snowboarders can sashay their way down the pipe cutting turns on alternating sides of the tube.

“Heather loved this run,” I tell Matt, “Last time we were here we lapped this run three or four times.”

We’re still a long way from the lift and we ski a variety of bumped clearings, bumped glades, and bumped creek drainages before we finally intersect the cat track that makes a long, fast traverse to the bottom of the Ripper Chair.

The Ripper Chair gives us a whole new pod of skiing to explore.

Much of the terrain here is of moderate angle, which is a good thing considering the lactic acid

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January 2017

and fatigue now affecting our legs.

We ski the Glades of Glory and Powder Monkey Glades and the trees are so well spaced and the snow such a pleasant state of packed powder that Matt comments, “Every run we’ve made today has been more fun than the one before.”

By late afternoon we’re exhausted. We need the ski day to end; yet we’re unwilling to call it quits while the lifts are still running.

It’s a time sensible skiers would stop to stave off the possibility of exhaustion-induced injury.

But we are not sensible and are determined to bop until the lifts stop.

We’re both disappointed and elated when the liftee finally tells us, “Last chair, guys.”

We slump in the chair and summon the strength for the final endless run down.

Just before exiting the lift I ask Matt, “So what do you think of Wenatchee North?”

He smiles, “Revelstoke is my new favorite ski hill.”

Expansion efforts in 2007 launched Revelstoke Mountain Resort into the Who’s Who of North American skiing.

The resort boasts 3,121 acres of skiable terrain, a 5,620-foot vertical drop, and an average of 375 inches of cold snow per year.

The drive from the Wenatchee Valley environs takes 7 driving hours, almost the same as reaching Mount Bachelor in Oregon and 2 hours less than accessing Sun Valley in Idaho.

For information about skiing, lift tickets, and on-mountain lodging, see www.revelstokemountainresort.com. To research the many other dining and lodging options 10 minutes away in the town of Revelstoke, see www. tripadvisor.com.

Operating a B&B still sits well with owners

Rick and Laurie Shorett chose a spot for their inn that sits against the foothills and offers a view of Cashmere orchards.

Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Travis Knoop

W

hen Rick and Laurie Shorett made a huge life change from their fast-paced city jobs to running a bed and breakfast in Cashmere, they did it very

deliberately, with a foundation of on-the-ground research.

Now, six years into their lives as country innkeepers (see their 2010 The Good Life story), they reflect on what they love about the 5,000-square foot structure that houses both their livelihood and their home.

January 2017 | The Good Life

Before their own Cascade Valley Inn was in its design stages with architect Rich Congdon, they had over the years spent the night in about 40 B&B’s evaluating what works and what doesn’t, picking and choosing amenities. They took a hospitality industry class. www.ncwgoodlife.com

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Even the name of their brandnew place was deliberate. Laurie said, “The reason we called it an ‘inn’ instead of a ‘bed and breakfast’ is that generally speaking men don’t like B&B’s. The name puts them off.”

Many older guest houses are

}}} Continued on next page

Owning a B&B still enjoyable }}} Continued from previous page pieced-together renovations.

What makes a difference here, said Rick, is the new construction.

“A lot of times you’ve got a B&B that’s a total remodel, where they’ve squeezed bathrooms into closets, and the owners end up in the basement.”

Not so here, where every room’s placement was planned for flow and comfort.

Guest bedroom/bath suites on the first floor and upstairs all face the big views and offer either a patio or balcony. The builder, Timberwood Construction, added a foot of depth to the balconies after Laurie noted that they needed to fit two chairs and a table — an expectation for high up view bedrooms.

Named Comice, Anjou, Bartlett and Bosc, the rooms are individually color-coordinated and have all the comforts of home and a few more.

Two have tubs facing the bedroom wall’s TV, and the sightlines were important; Laurie needed the builder to switch the tubs’ faucet paraphernalia to the other end for maximum comfort.

Following the maxim of “guest space is horizontal; owner’s space is vertical,” (meaning: have plenty of floor space, save decor busy-ness for the walls) Rick and Laurie have minimized furnishings for plenty of moving-around room but have also shown restraint on the artwork.

One lush painting of pears highlights each room. “We’re kind of ‘anti-doily’ here; no antique teddy bears,” Laurie said.

She admits that older homes can bear the weight of Victoriabelia, but this contemporary inn looks best unadorned.

Rooms at the Inn offer a range of amenities, and they all come with a patio or balcony that opens to the views of the Cashmere Valley.

But it is busy. The house is sometimes fully booked with family reunions, girlfriend getaways or wedding parties.

Two couples annually meet mid-state at Cascade Valley Inn to refresh a longtime friendship, and local people run away from home for an anniversary or a quiet retreat.

“We’ve been the ‘first’ for some young parents — the first time they’ve left the youngsters at home with Grandma and had a getaway weekend,” said Rick.

The home has grandeur

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without pretension, an enviable combination.

The first dominant feature that greets guests is the large living/dining room. Plenty of soft chairs and a focal point fireplace immediately read rest here, and south facing windows offer a knockout view of Cashmere’s fruited plains and a prominent hillside the locals call Flowery Divide.

A back door (which most guests use after the initial formality of the front entry) is adjacent to the car parking area

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January 2017

and opens to a mudroom for sports gear and outerwear.

The great outdoors, especially great in the Wenatchee River area, plays a prominent role in the inn’s success. For the more restful guests, Adirondack chairs on a promontory face the south slopes, and a walking trail is carved into the 19 woody acres that remained undeveloped after the building lot was excavated and leveled.

But sporting people love the place too. Laurie said, “We have so many people who come here to ski, hike or bicycle — it’s kept us busy exploring places so we can keep giving them good advice.” (One of the benefits of being conscientious concierges.)

The Shoretts also indirectly are good stewards of the fruitgrowing neighborhood spread out way below the inn — they explain the visible signs of industry: pipes and sprinklers, wind machines, spraying,

“We’ve been the ‘first’ for some young parents — the first time they’ve left the youngsters at home with Grandma and had a getaway weekend.” sometimes helicopters. “A lot of people have no idea that growing fruit is so complex — they seem to have a new respect for their apples and pears after they see the orchards close-up.”

What prompts people to open their homes most of the year to strangers, albeit nice strangers?

Basically, Rick and Laurie love meeting people.

In their six years, they’ve had visitors from Japan, Scotland, the Far East. They recalled a lovely moment when a couple from southern India, who had arrived at midnight, woke to new and unfamiliar snow — in the early morning they were outside playing and giggling with delight.

Some couples have returned over the years and become close friends, like the ones in San Diego who hosted the Shoretts on their own vacation. The inn is full as many days of the year as they like, and they strategically plan bookings so they can visit their family in the Seattle area

We invite you to visit our showroom for all of your pool and spa needs.

Rick and Laurie have put up seasonal decorations around the main room fireplace, but say basically they like a clean look: “We’re kind of ‘anti-doily’ here; no antique teddy bears,” Laurie said. Photo by Donna Cassidy

during low-traffic weeks, and they block out November for repairs, rejuvenation and deep cleaning.

separate 1,000 square foot demiapartment for themselves on the second story. (And though they congenially meet guests on the wide, carpeted main staircase, after six years of hosting they realize a back utility staircase would give optimum convenience for quick in-and-out.)

Their big suite’s sitting room with fireplace, a master bedroom and a family/media room offer privacy, and the big downstairs kitchen, perfect for company’s breakfast preparation, closes off from guest areas later so they can also make their own meals.

They left very little to chance — besides the instant friendships inherent in the B&B business — when they developed the property and built the house.

Laurie told the story of the very last week before they were ready to open. They invited four sets of close friends to stay the night. “’Pretend you are strangers’, we told them,” Laurie said, “’And let us know anything that’s missing or doesn’t feel perfect.’ We all sat around the next day and debriefed — it was a great way to fix some little details!”

Placing a bathrobe hook near the shower was one. Knowing the Shorett’s careful planning, there probably weren’t many more.

Laurie and Rick are accustomed and happy to have visitors, and they are also pleased with their decision to make a

Travis Knoop is a local real estate photographer working in Central Washington. More of his work can be found at www.TravisKnoopPhotography.com.

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column moving up to the good life

Imagine the best that could happen to you

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Imagination is everything; it is the preview of life’s coming attractions.

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www.colonialcaregroup.com 26

| The Good Life

june darling

y the time you read this, it will be all over. A nice trip to Bogota, Columbia; to the Amazon, and to the Galapagos Islands will be a pleasant memory.

Or it could be that I will get kidnapped or shot by a drug lord; contract yellow fever, typhoid or hepatitis; get bitten by a shark — possibly eaten by an anaconda. Maybe I’ll never make it to South America anyway.

Planes do crash. Hijackers do blow them up.

Which of those visions seems more vivid to you: The “nice trip” or the list of specific disasters?

If you want to live the good life, you want to ratchet up your senses to imagine not only the worst possible scenarios, but also the best. You may want to become a more realistic optimist.

The opening quote is attributed to Einstein though some have questioned it. Einstein did say a lot of things about imagination — that it beat knowledge, that it was power, that it would take you places logic couldn’t. Clearly he was a fan of imagination.

Imagination, employed well, can be a very useful skill. Athletes routinely use visualization to help them achieve success.

Motivation experts urge anyone who wants to accomplish their goals to tap into the power of their imagination.

But here’s the bad news, well

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January 2017

not exactly “news” to many of us. Imagination can also be used badly.

Some of us constantly visualize all sorts of scary scenarios like the ones I mentioned about my trip to South America.

Researchers like Dr. Martin Seligman have suggested that depression and anxiety are largely related to how we think about the future — what we “see” out there. People who are depressed and anxious often look ahead and see a lot of bad stuff out there.

The people who look ahead and imagine themselves in the middle of some good times — not fantasy, just a very possible good life — are the ones we call “realistic optimists.”

These realistic optimists, according to researchers, are the ones who are more successful, healthier and more resilient.

They have better social connections and are happier.

A few weeks ago researchers released a study suggesting that optimism even plays an important role in maintaining cognitive function as we age.

Looking pretty rosy for optimists. Bully for them.

But how about the rest of us?

What about those of us who look out at 2017 and see lots of yuk?

Our professional prospects appear dim. The world looks like it is falling apart. We have no great loves, no adventures, no hobbies, not even a good book.

Is there any hope for us?

Well, let’s suppose we come to

Never underestimate the power of imagination (used well) to raise spirits, massage wellbeing and fire up life outcomes. realize our sour brains seems a bit haywire, overly pessimistic, in the way we are looking at the future. What can we do?

The number one most recommended and researched exercise that I know about is called the Best Possible Future Self (BPS) exercise. It’s easy to understand, different versions can be found on the internet.

The most basic version is simply to imagine one’s best possible (realistic, not fantasy) future self for five minute sessions.

Various aspects like profession, relationships, and the larger world are envisioned positively.

How can you use this research to have the best possible 2017?

Some people have done the BPS exercise one time for five minutes and improved their optimism and feelings of wellbeing. Generally researchers recommend doing the BPS for at least two weeks however.

What to imagine, you ask?

People can have all sorts of realistic, energizing visions, like a little 10-by-10 cabin by a stream.

People see themselves fishing for trout and reading detective stories.

Others envision themselves renting a camper and taking their entire family to the Olympic Peninsula — playing fun games and singing along the way. A person might envision learning to skate or ski with friends or taking interesting classes at the community college.

Children, as well as adults, can draw pictures or create collages

of their best possible future self in order to raise their optimism, well-being and chances for living the good life.

Let’s face it. You are going to be imagining stuff for the new year. Maybe you’ll see some upcoming disasters. Ok, fine.

Take whatever steps you can to mitigate worst outcomes. Then…

NEXT. Practice imagining, with just as much intensity, good things that could very well happen to you.

But enough about you.

Did I mention that by the time you read this, I will have had quite a trip?

It’s very possible that I will have seen 100-year-old tortoises, nodded to spider monkeys, spoken to indigenous people, rowed the Amazon, learned incredible facts, eaten sumptuous food, met fascinating travelers, and fallen in love with my husband all over again.

Never underestimate the power of imagination (used well) to raise spirits, massage well-being and fire up life outcomes. This quote, actually a vision, adapted from Brian Andreas, reminds us.

In my dream, the angel shrugged and said, if we succeed this time, it will be a victory of imagination… imagination used well and then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand.

How might you use your imagination well and move up to The Good Life during 2017?

For a year of weekly imagination support during the coming year, buy or read for free at Amazon Becoming Artists of Life by June Darling.

June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail. com; website: www.summitgroupresources.com. Her books, including 7 Giant Steps To The Good Life, can be bought or read for free at Amazon.com.

Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com

January 2017 | The Good Life

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>>

column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

Iron: Just right, not too little or too much Not long ago a good golfing

friend asked me if I knew much about hemochromatosis.

I said yes since that is a relatively rare liver condition I had dealt with over the years which is caused by an excessive storage of iron in the liver.

This made me think that reviewing iron metabolism, a critical component of our health, might be of interest to some of our readers.

Iron is a metal necessary for our life and health. It is “ironic” that a metal that is essential for our health can also cause lifethreatening problems if we have either too much of it or too little of it.

Iron is an essential element for most forms of life from bacteria to mammals. It plays a role in enzymatic reactions, energy, and oxygen transport throughout our bodies. Our cells cannot live without it.

Well-nourished people have

In our culture iron deficiency can be a rather insidious condition. about 5 grams of iron in their bodies. One half of that is contained in the hemoglobin in our red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout our bodies.

The rest is primarily stored in our liver, spleen and bone marrow.

Iron deficiency results from several causes including chronic blood loss, inadequate iron intake (rare in industrial countries), and diseases of the upper gut that interfere with the absorption of ingested iron such as celiac disease and crohns disease.

Women lose iron through menstruation and childbirth, necessitating the intake of addi-

tional oral iron in some cases.

Our iron levels are regulated by the absorption of iron from our upper gut. Iron deficiency anemia and low oxygen levels change our body’s ability to absorb more of the ingested iron.

Most of our iron comes from the recycling of our dying red blood cells. The average life recycle of a red blood cell is 120 days, allowing red blood cells to be constantly replaced by healthy bone marrow, reusing the iron from the dying ones.

The rest of our iron comes from dietary sources including particularly red meat (beef is best), dried beans, lentils, peas, egg yolks, iron fortified cereals, dark meat of poultry, salmon, tuna, whole grains and many green vegetables like broccoli, kale, asparagus and spinach.

In our culture iron deficiency can be a rather insidious condition. It is often a result of slow blood loss from the intestinal tract over a long period of time.

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| The Good Life

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January 2017

I recall a time when my attending physician during my internal medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic was getting increasingly slower and more fatigued while we were making our daily hospital rounds. Finally someone insisted he have some blood tests to see what might be wrong.

Like many of us physicians, he had a strong sense of denial but finally had the tests, which showed his red cells and hemoglobin were one-half the level they should be. This led to a diagnosis of an asymptomatic but slowly bleeding colon cancer that was cured surgically.

Several years ago when at the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, one of my colleagues likewise was looking extremely pale and fatigued. His blood tests showed a similar decrease to one-half of normal and he, too, had an asymptomatic colon

In this condition, the iron stored in the body can reach 10 times the normal body iron. Rarely, it can lead to cirrhosis of the liver... cancer, also successfully cured surgically.

Slow chronic loss of blood via the intestinal tract in itself can occur without any obvious symptoms other than those of chronic anemia.

My golfing friend, who had been diagnosed with too much iron affecting his liver, was being treated with phlebotomy, the periodic removal of a pint of blood to decrease his iron overload. His condition is considered an iron storage disease called hemochromatosis.

Most commonly this is a hereditary genetic condition with an abnormal increase in the absorption of iron in the gut leading to an accumulation of iron in the body, particularly in the liver, heart and bone marrow where it can be toxic.

In this condition, the iron stored in the body can reach 10 times the normal body iron.

Rarely, it can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, and even more rarely, a hepatoma, which is a form of liver cancer as well as heart damage (a form of cardiomyopathy) or pancreatic damage.

Hemochromatosis was once thought to be the most common genetic disease condition of Europeans. I suspect that is no longer the case as Europeans are no longer such a homogeneous group as they once were.

Not everyone with a diagnosis of hemochromatosis needs treatment, but when it is determined that treatment is needed due to organ damage, it is by phlebotomy, the removal of a

January 2017 | The Good Life

pint of blood periodically as needed. In order to maintain the iron at an acceptable level, a blood test called the serum ferritin level is used.

Ever since I started my career in medicine, I have been fascinated at how miraculously complex is our physiology, biochemistry, and anatomy that we all have been given. My amazement never ceases.

The writer of Psalms 139:14 got it right: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

And so we are.

Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

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William Cowper

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column GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

bonnie orr

Comfort food with savory aromas It is January. We have been

eating lushly for six weeks. It is time for some basic comfort food.

I think that means it is time to slow cook dinners in the oven or on the stovetop in a Dutch oven and roasted vegetables that slump in their own juices.

The obvious advantages are the dishes do not have to be tended, and the house is redolent with delicious aromas for hours and hours. Who could ask for more to chase away the gray days?

My garden is hidden under a thick layer of mulch, and nestled in the ground are the beets, carrots and potatoes, turnips and parsnips. There is nothing sweeter than winter vegetables slow roasted until they are almost caramelized.

You can use grocery store veggies, but perhaps you will be inspired to plant veggies to overwinter. They can be grown as a border for your flowerbeds if you do not have a designated vegetable garden.

Winter vegetables So it only takes a little butter or olive oil, heat and time to transform those root vegetables into sweet, intense morsels.

You can use onions, beets, carrots, potatoes or parsnips. Leave them whole or at the most only cut them in half into a baking dish or a Dutch oven.

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for about an hour and a half. Cook over medium to low heat on the stovetop in the Dutch oven until the veggies are sagging and caramelized on the bottom.

Hungry yet? Garnish with fresh herbs. My favorite choices

A warm, inviting dinner of chicken thighs and thyme will guarantee a fragrant house and a happy set of eaters.

are sweet marjoram, parsley or savory. Just use one so the flavor of the vegetable is chanting, “Savor me.”

My friend Lydia Folden, the proprietress of the Steel Magnolia in Peshastin, loves to cook.

She enticed me with this winterwarm dish cooked in the Dutch oven.

I baked my dish in the oven because I baked a batch of buttermilk biscuits just before I served dinner. This is low calorie and satisfying. The chicken thighs provide more flavor than a chicken breast. I chose to thicken this dish with a rue.

Currently in fine restaurants, browned butter is chef ’s chi chi menu item. It is a superb compliment to the flavor of many dishes.

When I lived in Louisiana, I learned to make the rue to add to Cajun dishes. A rue is well

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| The Good Life

worth the time and effort and can be stored in the refrigerator to be added as a thickener to a variety of dishes at a moment’s notice.

Rue In a thick frying pan, melt 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter.

Stir in 8 tablespoons flour.

Turn down the heat very low.

Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, when it separates, for 25-30 minutes until the mixture is deep golden brown — dark brown means burned; pale yellow means unfinished. Don’t be in a hurry.

Add this rue by the tablespoon to thicken and flavor sauces.

Lydia’s winter chicken Serves 4; 20 minutes prep

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January 2017

2 tablespoons oil 1 cup smoked ham/pork chopped 8 chicken thighs skinned Salt/pepper 1/2 cup flour 1 onion chopped finely 2 garlic cloves chopped 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms 1 cup dry white wine 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (best is homemade) 2 large carrots peeled/sliced 2 stalks celery

stringed/chopped 2 teaspoons fresh thyme

Heat the oil and fry the ham for 3 minutes. Remove ham.

Salt and pepper the chicken, and roll in flour. Brown on both sides in the same pan. Remove from pan.

Add onions, garlic and mushrooms and lightly brown in the same pan.

Put the meat back in the pan and add the rest of the ingredients.

Cover and cook at bare simmer for one hour. Remove the lid, stir in two tablespoons of rue to thicken the sauce. Cook for 10 minutes. If you have no rue, just boil lightly until the sauce is reduced to as thick as you would like it.

Serve it with biscuits if you like. If there is any left over, it is a yummy, more intensely flavored lunch.

You can make this a day ahead of time to enhance the flavors, but you would miss out on the ambiance.

Bonnie Orr — the dirt diva — cooks and gardens in East Wenatchee.

New

year,

new projects As the old year rolls away and a new one looks us straight in the eye, these five local artists, who you’ve met before in past issues, are all ready to enter 2017 with new vigor, new projects, new hope.

Robert Wilson: No longer known for just “black blobs.”

ROBERT WILSON: More chaotic but more colorful, too T

he best and biggest move this artist made in the last two years was to his roomy studio on South Columbia Street, where he works every day.

He’d been making do with a tidy corner of his East Wenatchee condo, but no more.

This new space has made him much more productive, he said, allowing him to experiment with new media and to finally paint on five and six-foot canvases.

Here’s part of the November 2014 conversation with the artist.

Robert still consciously resists making representational art. In his new hometown, he’s met artists whose recognizable landscapes and still life paintings delight him, but he has never tried to match their realism.

His latest works are studies in pure nonrepresentational form, mostly variations on

Revelation, by Robert Wilson.

black. They may be untypical for this area, but he knows the art community is flexible.

“We grow our sense of appreciating art by

January 2017 | The Good Life

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valuing what we know but also reaching out a little more.”

He admits, “Right now I guess I’m known for my ‘black blobs.’”

New colors and new shapes are finding their way onto the canvas, and the current works on his walls are especially vibrant, with new accoutrements like thick gloss and even found objects.

As always, they are deliberately composed but wide-open to interpretation.

Robert believes that troubling situations in one’s life or in the world can be expressed through art as an active declaration, a positive force, and that these days particularly he “wrestles with unknown and unforeseen possibilities.”

His stance is a positive one: “My paintings have become larger and visually more chaotic. In one sense the chaos expresses a world falling apart, but it also foresees a world coming together in a new way.”

When you last read about him, his first show at the Graves Gallery was about to open; now he’s on its board of directors (as

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beauty originates in the fire you’re forged in.

It’s a grace that is timeless. What drives me to paint is to express my sense of beauty in a sincere and unselfconscious way.”

Look once, look twice and keep looking at Robert’s bold (and now much bigger) expressionistic paintings and you’ll perceive his timeless grace.

See and learn more at www.rrwilsonart.com/ or robert@rrwilson.com.

JEN PHILLIPS: Pain in her heart vanishes on the dance floor J

en Phillips didn’t have “dancer” or “dance instructor” on her career must-do list as a kid, or even as a young adult.

But serendipitously she fell in love with dancing — good old-fashioned couple dancing, and now several evenings a week she devotes herself to introducing others to its joys.

She keeps people hopping (and swirling, jiving and swaying) at the Wenatchee Senior Center and at the Gibson center, a community space with a great dance floor in her hometown of Chelan.

In March of 2014, The Good Life interJen Phillips: “Dancing has taught me how to move. viewed her, and her love for the art was obvious: }}} Continued from previous page Perhaps because of her sideways entry into well as on the board of Two Rivers Gallery). the profession, Jen’s become an intent and He’s also become a member of the Pybus inventive learner. She works hard at her skills, Fine Arts Committee, and he envisions next internalizing techniques from YouTube clips hosting casual “art talks” in his Wenatchee or master classes with equal ease. She said, studio with local painters and students.

“Piano has taught me how to hear. Drawing Beyond our local borders, he’s active on a has taught me how to see. Dancing has taught German arts website and has 2,000 followers me how to move.” on Twitter, where he posts paintings and faAnd dancing (differentiated from perforcilitates commentary. He admits that “writmance modes of “dance:” ballet, jazz, tap, and ing about art is like dancing about architec- the like) is what Jen absolutely adores. She ture,” but is willing to share his well-honed explains, “Dancing is like a marriage. It’s contheories. stant communication — it taught me, and it And those theories are never apart from teaches others, how to experience harmonious the art. Every nuanced observation, every connection with another human being.” firmly held precept is on the canvas someAll kinds of people, fearful and frivolous, where. come to her classes. Some couples want just When asked about the pleasure he finds in a few lessons to brush up; one worked on a making art, he replied in part: “An apprecia- routine for six months for the sheer joy of tion of beauty… can be forged, sharpened, fo- it. Recently, she’s had a great time teachcused and nudged, but it’s an internal sense ing wedding dances for father/daughter and of balance a person is born with… A sense of bride/groom combos.

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Lynette Smith with the camera that started it all — her dad’s old Argus Film camera.

Jen’s not entirely focused on the implied romance of couple dancing. She’s discovered “flash mobs” (see YouTube videos for super visuals) and has lead West Coast swing routines at Pybus Public Market and on the bridge at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan. She’ll sneak several more in, and intends to keep dancing and teaching dance for as long as she can.

But her momentum slipped badly last winter. Jen was devastated by the death of her father and the events surrounding it, and even buoyed by husband, family and her mother, she said she found it an agonizing period of introspection, of questioning life values. Depression threatened, and even her accustomed piano playing went by the wayside. Making music didn’t seem right.

Ah! But the dancing — the dancing was life-giving. Jen explained, “I knew I had to keep teaching dance classes… whenever I would step out on to the floor, suddenly the pain in my heart would vanish. The only thing that existed was the present, and the beautiful souls all around me loving and learning and laughing with me.”

Jen likens this fun, feel-good art form to life: “You never know what is going to happen or exactly how you are going to get there, but you just keep smiling and dancing…

January 2017

will still focus on the things she loves to look at (including wild horses) but she’s also gradually adding some fun new projects — check online in the next few months to see her new directions.

It’s not all business. Remembering the recent loss of a beloved pet who’d often been her subject, Lynette has advice for everyone, whether amateurs or those who purchase think most photographers learn to look professional portraits: “It’s important that we at the world in a special way. There might be a don’t keep our treasured images on digital media (or in an album) where they aren’t dead tree that looks ugly to other people, but when I look at it I see beauty — line, contrast, shared. Print your photos, hang them on the walls, and you can smile each day rememcomposition…” bering the special moments that happen Lynette Smith brings that same optimistic throughout your life.” perspective to subjects that are inherently beautiful, and makes them even more so.

Keep up with Lynette on Facebook.com/LynetteAs a commercial photographer, she says, smithphotography or instagram.com/lynette“You start out doing everything — you never smithphotography. say no. But you have to learn what you love — and hopefully you can spend your time taking pictures of just those things.”

Two years ago, The Good Life found Lynette Smith productively doing what she loved to do, with every project aimed toward growing her 15-year commercial photography business: graduation portraits and, happily for romantic couples all over the valley, engagement and wedding pictures.

On another note entirely, she’d also gathered a reputation for dramatic Western little over two years ago, in February landscapes focused on cowboys and the wild 2015, The Good Life interviewed Cashhorses of Oregon and Nevada. mere teacher-author Dan Gemeinhart, who Now, she’s moving on and up. was still recovering from the excitement of She’s becoming certified in professional having his first YA (young adult) novel, The organizations, does continuing education, Honest Truth, published by Scribner. and is enrolled in a Master’s degree program It wasn’t a short or easy path from wanting in photography. Lynette said, “I think evto be a writer to the considerable hubbub of erything we do to learn more, improve our first novel acceptance and a measure of first skills and stay on top of current technolonovel fame in the publishing world. Here’s gies keeps moving us forward and sharpens part of what you read in that earlier interskills.” view: What do those new skills and directions The book deal was a wild ride (“Still absomean for her? lutely surreal…” said Dan) . . . but that came Take heart, young lovers — she still relafter eight years of hard labor. . . Dan is canishes the thought of capturing that season did about the impetus, years ago, to write his and that day with her camera, so wedding very first novel. Basically he was embarrassed; photography remains a central theme. “I love he got tired of hearing himself say “I want to the un-posed moments throughout the day be a writer” all the way through high school of a wedding. The getting ready, the first and college while he dabbled halfheartedly at look, the laughter, the tears, the love, and short stories and poetry. So, once he gained a the raw emotion…” she said. “And I’ve been little wisdom (and settled into a marriage and blessed to work with many amazing clients a teaching job) he actually disciplined himself who have become my friends through my to sit down and start writing a novel. work.”

That self-discipline and focus were couShe has newly-rebranded her photo busipled with a classroom-honed ear for the ness — expect a new look all around for all sound of a young voice and a gift for writing her marketing materials this month — and strong, immediate imagery.

LYNETTE SMITH: Sharpening skills, finding fun projects “I

DAN GEMEINHART: Bit scary, his passion is now his profession A

January 2017 | The Good Life

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Dan Gemeinhart has given up his Cashmere teaching position to concentrate on his writing career.

The winning combination has helped him create two more books in the last two years — both compelling stories aimed at youth but also acclaimed by adult readers. At the time of the earlier interview, Some Kind Of Courage had just been accepted and is now in bookstores, and possibly as you’re reading this article (by Jan. 3, 2017) his third novel, Scar Island, will have hit the shelves.

For Dan, that’s meant a huge transition, and one he’s handling well, staying sensitive to the fact that sometimes high productivity can adversely affect creativity.

He said, “This last September I very reluctantly stepped away from my career as a teacher and became a full-time writer. It’s been really interesting — and sometimes kind of terrifying — to see my passion become my profession, and I’m still kind of figuring it all out.”

Writing full time was lonely in the early days with no real audience, and Dan can tangibly feel the difference.

“Now that I’m published, I don’t feel like I’m writing alone anymore... I can hear the voice of my editor, I can imagine the readers there with me. My stories aren’t just for me anymore.”

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The usually quick working Kerry Siderius took a year to complete her loop trail view of the Wenatchee Valley.

KERRY SIDERIUS: Fun and casual painting classes at the winery W

hen The Good Life interviewed Kerry Siderius in June of 2014, she was happily roving the high- and by- ways of north central Washington seeking perfect painting subjects.

Her gallery was close to home, and a few Artist in Residence gigs with elementary school kids satisfied her urge to share her skills with budding artists. A few excerpts show a glimpse of her art life then: Her largest permanent exhibit space is at Rio Vista, her parents’ winery on the tree shaded banks of the Columbia near Chelan Falls. The tasting room is brightened up by a gallery of her large-scale wall pieces, smaller limited edition prints, wine labels and baskets of note cards.

Kerry is both an old fashioned and new century artist. She initially paints 18x20-inch scenes with her watercolor palette at her easel, and then orders a larger, canvas-wrapped digitalized version, which she sometimes embellishes with acrylic paint, ink, or gouache (an opaque pigment with a binding agent) in her home studio.

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Kerry Siderius: Painting and teaching painting at her parents’ winery.

She prefers a day outside to any of the production and business side of the art life, happily painting plein air in the surrounding hillsides. And she’s instilled that creative exuberance in her sons. On a typical good day the three will pile in the car with picnic and paints and travel the dusty back roads of north cen| The Good Life

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tral Washington seeking beauty.

The biggest change since then has energized her and hopefully will grow into an established tradition: her “Sip and Paint” classes for adults, both of which filled up fast.

She provided the materials, and artists enjoyed the Rio Vista landscape and the delights of her parents’ winery (in a souvenir glass) plus a wine and cheese plate.

Kerry said, “The students were mostly ladies, but I had a grandpa in the first one and a whole family in the second.” She hopes to expand that to four classes a year and adds, “Nobody should be intimidated — it’s very casual and fun. People at all levels of expertise can get as much or as little help from me as they like.”

She is growing and changing in other ways as an artist.

This past October she joined several other regional painters, videographers and photographers for three days exploring the fall color extravaganza at Stehekin, led by knowledgeable native Malcolm Keithley. Their work will be featured in an online store called All Things Stehekin.

Her biggest project ever?

Trained and temperamentally suited to paint quickly (two weeks max, she says) she surprised herself by taking a full year to complete her panoramic view of Wenatchee’s waterfront from Saddle Rock to the Odabashian Bridge.

“It’s the proudest I’ve ever been of one of my paintings,” Kerry said.

More of Kerry’s work can be seen at kerrysiderius. com.

January 2017

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WHAT TO DO

We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com

NCW Blues Jam, every second and fourth Tuesday, 7 p.m. Riverside Pub at Columbia Valley Brewing, 538 Riverside Dr. Info: facebook. com/NCWBluesJam. Weekly Club Runs, every Thursday check in between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Saddle Rock Pub and Brewery. Either a 5k or 10k walk or run on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Complete 10 weekly runs and receive a free shirt. Cost: free (other than a smile). Info: Joel Rhyner 387-0051.

2 Left Feet, every Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. 2 Left Feet is a loose organization of local dance enthusiasts who would like to see more dancing in the Wenatchee Valley. Beginner lesson at the top of the hour followed by carefree social dancing. No partner necessary to join in the fun.

Dance style will be 1940s swing with a bit of salsa, blues, waltz or tango thrown in. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Tread Lightly Fridays, noon. This concept is simple – as a business or employee, do something environmentally mindful each Friday. This could mean riding a bike to work, utilizing a self-container for takeouts, selling locally sourced foods, composting waste, or something else entirely. It can be as simple or complex as you like. This project, as part of the Our Valley What’s Next community visioning and development initiative, aims to help reduce the community’s carbon footprint while having fun at the same time.

Participating businesses and individuals will receive attention on the Tread Lightly Friday Facebook page.

There also will be classes held to educate businesses on how they can “tread lightly” and save money at the same time. Contact Tandi Canterbury with The Hunter’s Wife Health Bar at 509 264-7466 or tmcanterbury@gmail.com.

or subject), each with 1,000 word limit. Info: writeontheriver.org.

First Friday events include: *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 1/6, 5 – 8 p.m. Featuring Sheri Trepina, nationally recognized collage artist.

Music by Jazz duo Patric Thompson and Glenn Isaacson. Local wines.

Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free.

Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Merriment Party Goods, 1/6, 5 – 8 p.m. Kierstin of 23rd St. Threads specializes in quality handmade bags and accessories. She loves making items that are functional and practical. Sips and snacks available. 23, S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. Info: facebook.com/merrimentpartygoods. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 1/6, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com.

Robert Graves Gallery, 1/6, 5 - 7 p.m. Opening reception of members’ exhibition. Exhibition through 2//3. Sexton Hall, Wenatchee Valley College. Cost: free.

Bridal Premiere, 1/7, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Door prizes. Fashion show by Katrina’s. Cost: free. Town Toyota Center. Info: katrinasweddingboutique.com.

Lake Chelan Loppet, 1/7, 10 a.m.

– 3 p.m. Three loops will be available to choose from: Novice 4K, Best Echo Skate 13K and Best Echo Classic 10K or complete all three loops for 30K Echoathon. Soup and snacks. Echo Ridge, Chelan. Info: Wenatchee.org.

Nabucco – The Met: Live in HD, 1/7, 9:55 a.m. James Levine conducts Verdi’s early drama of Ancient Babylon, Nabucco, with Plácido Domingo adding a new role to his repertory as the title character.

Liudmyla Monastyrska sings the tour-de-force role of Abigaille, Nabucco’s willful daughter, with Jamie Barton as Fenena, Russell Thomas as Ismaele, and Dmitri Belosselskiy as the prophet Zaccaria, the role of his 2011 Met debut. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $12-$22. Info: icicle. org.

Ski for Health Day, 1/8. January is learn to ski month. Icicle River Trail offers free Nordic rentals, lessons and trail passes for 30 minutes of ski time. Info: skileavenworth.com.

Seattle Mariners, 1/10, 4 – 5:15 p.m. Mariners players and team officials make a stop at Pybus Market for a question and answer session and to sign autographs. Prize give away and the Mariner Moose and broadcast team will be available for picture taking. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Relay for Life Kickoff, 1/10, 5 p.m. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Chelan and Douglas County will hold a free kickoff for the annual event at Bonaventure of East Wenatchee, 50 29th St, East Wenatchee. Everyone is invited to the kickoff to learn about how to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer. Info: relayforlife.org or Callie Klein 509 670-4161.

Full moon ski and dinner, 1/12, 5 – 8 p.m. Dinner at O’Grady’s Pantry and ski Icicle River Trails. Cost: $15 adults, $7.50 kids. Info: skileavenworth.com.

Lake Chelan Winterfest, 1/1322. Winterfest is a barrel of fun for everyone; a true event for the whole family. This Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce event is two weekends filled with incredible ice sculptures, live music, wine tasting, ale tasting, activities for kids of all ages, a polar bear splash, massive beach bonfire, spectacular

Jam at the Crow, 7 – 10 p.m.

Every first Sunday. Special guests Lake City Blues (a tasty blues band from Moses Lake). The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free.

Writer’s competition, all submissions must be postmarked by 2/17. Cash prizes. Categories are nonfiction (essay, article, or memoir on any theme or subject) and fiction (short story on any theme January 2017 | The Good Life

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fireworks show and much more.

Downtown Chelan. Info: lakechelan. com.

Dancing with the Stars, 1/13, 7:30 p.m. Back by popular demand.

Cheri Dudek, Kyle Eberth, Ruth Esparza, Linda Evans Parlette, Dan Langager and Rufus Woods will be paired with a professional to learn a ballroom dance routine over one week. They are then costumed, video highlights and a judges panel are added and the contestants are put into a show where the audience will vote for who will win the mirror ball trophy. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $19 - $30. Info: numeriapac.org.

Bavarian IceFest, 1/14-15. Leavenworth loves winter. The village is still dressed in over half a million twinkling lights and the weekend is a flurry of frosty frivolity. Games, snow sculptures and activities.

Front Street Park, Leavenworth.

Multicultural and Martin Luther King Festival, 1/14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrating diversity.

The 13th annual Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards will be given.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: free. Info: wvmcc.org.

WWU Acapella Groups, 1/14, noon to 1 p.m. The men and women’s acapella group pride themselves on making music with only their mouths in a myriad of genres such as Barbershop, Rock, Country, Pop and Choral. Main concourse at Pybus Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Winter Piano Festival Faculty Concert, 1/14, 7 p.m. 1/15, 3 p.m.

Xak Bjerken, Christina Dahl, Oksana Ezhokina and Gilbert Kalish perform. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $12- $22. Info: icicle.org.

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The Art Life

WHAT TO DO

We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com

}}} Continued from previous page Snowshoe Demo, 1/15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Enjoy a special snowshoe trail at the Leavenworth Ski Hill. A bonfire will provide a warm welcome at the base. Info: skileavenworth.com.

Winter Piano Festival Young Artist concert, 1/15, 3 p.m.

Icicle Creek Center for The Arts.

Cost: $8. Info: icicle.org.

Environmental Film Series: A River Between Us, 1/17, 7 – 8 p.m. A River Between Us documents the largest river restoration project in American history. Nearly 300 miles in length, flowing from southern Oregon to northern California, the vast communities of the Klamath River have been feuding over its water for generations, and as a result, bad blood has polluted their river and their relationships equally. The film focuses on the personal stories of a group of individuals who finally chose to put the past behind them and came together to create a historic water rights compromise for the good of all. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 suggested donation. Info: wvmcc.org.

Film series: Life, Animated, 1/19, 7 p.m. From Academy Award winning director Roger Ross Williams, Life, Animated is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $7 - $12. Info: icicle.org.

Rumors, 1/19-21, 26-28, 2/2, 3, 4, 7:30 p.m. Matinee 1/28 at 2 p.m.

The Music Theatre of Wenatchee perform Neil Simon’s Rumors. Directed by John Mausser. Riverside Playhouse. Tickets: numericapac. org.

Hampton Cup Ski Races, 1/20, 21, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Super G and Giant Slalom for U14 and older.

Mission Ridge. Info: mrst.us/2015town-toyota-hampton-cup/ Leavenworth Empty Bowls Festival, 1/20, noon – 8 p.m.

2/21-24, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Experience the fun of painting your own picture or design on a blank bowl.

When friends come to visit, enjoy telling the story of the bowl. This

// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS

festival works together to end hunger, strengthen community and celebrate the arts. Sleeping Lady Resort. Cost: $15 per bowl; includes Soup Supper in late March. Your finished bowl will be at the Soup Supper. Info: uvmend.org.

Romeo et Juliette – The Met: Live in HD, 1/21, 9:55 a.m. The team of Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau reunites for a new production of Gounod’s opera based on the Shakespeare play. Damrau makes her role debut as Juliette in Bartlett Sher’s new production, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda.

Elliot Madore sings Mercutio and Mikhail Petrenko sings Frère Laurent. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $12 - $24. Info: icicle.org.

Writers’ Workshop, 1/21, 9 a.m. – noon. Maureen McQuerry presents The Stakes Must Always Be Death: How to Start Your Story and Keep the Pages Turning. It includes: what makes a story work, questions to get you started, a bit about tension and story structure and a first pages checklist. It includes a first pages exercise. Participants are encouraged to bring something they are working on, but it’s not required. WVC Wenatchi Hall. $15/ members $50/nonmembers. Info: writeontheriver.org.

Wenatchee Valley Youth Sports and Activities Fair, 1/21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. One stop shop for information on all kidrelated activities. Dozens of booths.

Wenatchee Convention Center.

Cost: free. Info: Wenatchee.org.

Community Bowl Painting, 1/21, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Empty Bowls Wenatchee simultaneously builds community and calls attention to the hunger still existent in our own valley. With a $10 dollar donation to the North Central Washington Food Distribution Center, anyone can receive a blank bowl that they will be given all the materials and instruction needed to personalize it with paint. Bowls then will be glazed and fired and be ready for a dinner in March. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

A Night at the museum, 1/21, 6 p.m. Food, wine, beer, spirits and live music. Tasty morsels by the best chefs in the area. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center.

Cost: $50 - $55. Info: wvmcc.org.

Nissebakken Tele Race, 1/22, 3 – 7 p.m. Giant slalom race with two runs. Theme is superhero costume

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Different variations of raku pottery. The light colored one in the front is an untouched piece waiting for a glaze and firing. The other three are finished.

Discovering the fun of raku Take a risk, let things happen and keep on trying

By Jaana Hatton

Do you like surprises? Are

you the daring kind who takes chances?

Here is something that may be of interest to such a carefree soul: raku pottery. You never know what you get as an end result.

It is a form of pottery that started in Japan in the 16th Century during the construction of the Jurakudai palace.

The tile maker also produced tea bowls that caught the eye of the tea master, Sen Rikyu. The vessels became a tradition and have been carried on as a family enterprise for 450 years until the present day.

The difference with raku and traditional pottery is in the firing process.

Traditional pottery requires a pre-heated kiln and a firing period of eight to 24 hours, and the temperature is controlled by pyrometric cones.

In contrast, raku items can be preheated and placed into a siz-

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January 2017

zling kiln for 15 to 20 minutes.

They are removed when the artist decides they look right, not by using any devices.

After firing, in the traditional manner the wares are allowed to cool down adequately to be handled manually, while in raku they are removed from the red-hot kiln with tongs and fireproof gloves.

Raku pots then receive a post-firing treatment called reduction, which creates various surface finishes.

One thing with raku is a constant: there is no constant. Each piece will turn out different.

In the western part of the globe, American potter Paul Soldner introduced the craft in the 1960s. The style boasted strong colors and variable forms, a strong contrast to the unassuming Japanese tradition.

Some of the methods were adapted, as well, maybe to suit the impatient western mentality: instead of the Japanese, and time-consuming, air-cooling technique, the fired pieces were

LEFT: A finished raku pot. The crackled surface is one of the many ways they can turn out.

FAR LEFT: Terry Porlier ready to work on his raku kiln.

The intense heat of the kiln, 1750 F, requires special equipment and care.

placed in a container with combustible material (for a textured surface) or in water. Those with a more zen-like attitude let the pieces air dry.

Leavenworth potter Terry Porlier took an interest in raku in 2013.

“A friend of mine called me up and invited me to his place to play with the kiln,” Terry recalled. ”Why not, I thought, I had time to kill. So, we spent the afternoon making clay pieces and I discovered the fun of raku.”

While Terry still preferred the old-fashioned way of making pottery by throwing, glazing a specific design, and slow-baking (16 hours) with his pieces, he couldn’t get raku off his mind.

He felt it had recreational possibilities. A raku piece can be finished, from beginning to end, in two hours and no previous training is required. The name “raku” means “enjoyment”

or “ease,” and Terry was instinctively on the right track.

“I started inviting friends over for evenings of clay and culinary enjoyment,” Terry explained.

“My first group was the Icicle Fund Board of 22 people, with a catered dinner. It was a bit intimidating, but I showed them how to do the art, let them loose, and everybody was happy.”

He remembers one participant especially who spent a laborious half an hour just to get the glaze on the little vase. Terry doubted the outcome would be satisfying.

“So, I put his creation in the kiln, and when it came out, it was perfect! You never know with raku,” he said with a chuckle.

From that evening onwards, it has been word-of-mouth advertising and it has worked out well for Terry. He has hosted the Leavenworth Red Hat LaJanuary 2017 | The Good Life

dies, who enjoyed tea and pie while their works were in the kiln. Families have come for a fun outing, and so have school groups.

“One time, when we had kids in the studio, I told them that if the brush was too tricky, just use your hands. It is okay to finger paint; there is no right or wrong. You can imagine how it went from there…” Terry said.

He also pointed out that raku pottery is not food-grade. While there is no lead in the glazes, other metals are used and they may react with food in an undesirable way.

“One occasion that stands out in my mind is the WiSe (Washington Initiative for Supported Employment) event we took part in last year at Pybus Public Market,” Terry reminisced. “We had 45 participants, with different types of disabilities and from all age groups. I had the pots and the kiln set up for them to create their own piece of raku art.” A big smile lit Terry’s face. “Their happiness, when leaving with their personally crafted piece, made it all worthwhile.”

Terry’s philosophy in life seems to be much like raku: take a risk, let things happen, and keep on trying.

He has certainly let life come as it may: Terry went from being an engineering student to an art major and back, he was a serviceman in Vietnam, an employee at the Pentagon and later www.ncwgoodlife.com

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with Boeing. He has moved from Seattle to Arizona and back.

He is still not sure if he is done and settled in Leavenworth. But for now, he and his wife, Linda, enjoy being part of the community. Terry has left a noteworthy reminder of himself in town: the wall-sized art work at the Snowy Owl Theater, made of tiles and boasting local scenery and a snowy owl, is his creation.

“I teach raku because it’s fun.

It’s great to watch people walk away with something they made themselves, and within two hours. I think it makes them feel empowered,” Terry mused.

Who knows, maybe Terry’s can-do attitude rubs off into the pottery he makes. And while encouraging people to go for the uncertain, as is the nature of raku, he may be lighting the fire for a whole new attitude.

“If I chose three attributes to describe raku, I would say: artistic fun, no training needed, and self-accomplishment,” Terry concluded.

Terry will organize raku sessions to groups small and large at his studio.

He can also come with all the supplies.

To contact Terry, email: Terry@leavenworthpottery.com or call (509)860-0350.

Jaana Hatton is a freelance writer, born in Finland and settled in Wenatchee, and always looking for stories that inspire. She is tempted to try raku, but fears it may be addictive.

At Last!

We Have Our Own TV Station!

Bringing you the News, Events, and People of North Central Washington LocalTel TV: Ch 12 in HD | Charter: Ch 19 in SD Streaming Live on: www.NCWLIFE.com

508-888-2020

with prizes. Bring a dish for the potluck. Leavenworth Ski Hill. Info: skileavenworth.com.

Happy New Year!

From Sunny FM

This year SUNNY FM, “The Greatest Hits of all Time” is Celebrating our BIG 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY! and Dave In the Morning’s 40TH Anniversary in Broadcasting here in the Valley.

93.9 FM Wenatchee Valley 95.3 FM Lake Chelan Valley 106.3 FM MethowValley 101.3 FM Brewster/Pateros 101.9 FM Okanogan Valley 38

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}}} Continued from page 36

Bundle Up Fest, 1/23, 10 a.m.

– 1:30 p.m. S’mores, L-Bow the Clown, kids 1K run, hayrides. Downtown Wenatchee. Cost: free.

Film Series: Ronaldo, 1/26, 7 p.m.

For the first time ever, the world gets vividly candid and un-paralleled, behind-closed-doors access to the footballer, father, familyman and friend in this moving and fascinating documentary. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $7 - $12. Info: icicle.org.

Apple Cup Ski Races, 1/28, 29, 9:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. This U8, U10, U12 and U14 event features Giant Slalom racing. Mission Ridge. Info: Wenatchee.org.

Bakke Cup, 1/28, all day. Three way kids race, Alpine GS, Ski Jumping, and Nordic. Leavenworth Ski Hill.

Info: skileavenworth.com.

Guided Family Snowshoe Hike, 1/28, 10 a.m. – noon. Familiarize yourself with the basics of snowshoeing, while exploring established trails and discussing winter ecology. Hillary Schwirtlich, membership and education coordinator will guide the group along family-friendly trails while sharing fun and interesting information and answering questions along the way. Squilchuck State Park. Cost:

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January 2017

$8 adults, $2.50 kids 13 and under.

Register: cdlandtrust.org.

Book Signing, 1/28, 1 - 3 p.m. Newbery winning author Margi Preus will be at a Book For All Seasons with her book Bamboo Sword. Cost: free.

Film Series: Figures of Speech, 2/2, 7 p.m. This documentary follows a group of high school students from all over the country as they vie in the little-known world of competitive acting, otherwise known as Speech or Forensics.

Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $7 - $10.

Info: icicle.org.

Jazz Nights with the Pros, 2/2, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Six professional musicians from L.A. and New York will perform. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $10 - $24. Info: numericapac.org Jazz Night with the Students, 2/3, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Six professional musician from L. A. and New York spent the week teaching and mentoring high school and middle school jazz band students. The students perform after this workshop.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $10. Info: numericapac.org.

Koho Radio Chili cook-off, 2/4, noon – 1 p.m. This is the public’s chance to taste and vote on the region’s tastiest chili from some of the top restaurants and chefs in north central Washington. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

PET tales

Tells us a story about your pet. Submit pet & owner pictures to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Katt Wallin of Wenatchee

G

ail Wentworth of East Wenatchee takes Nina with her everywhere. (This picture is at Fred Meyer.)

Nina, 12, is a West Highland Terrier and has been with Gail since a puppy.

“Nina is the most loyal dog I’ve ever been around. She is my child. I am in love with her. I give her a shot every month and medicine everyday. (Nina has Addison’s disease). She is very friendly and loves people.”

WENATCHEE Cascade Veterinary Clinic 509-663-0793

cascadevetclinic.com

saved Ella from going to the pound.

She has had Ella for seven months, “Ella helps me with my PTSD and is very spoiled and has a snaggled tooth.”

Katt said she is out every day with Ella.

LEAVENWORTH Bavarian Village Veterinarian 509-548-5896 bavarianvillagevet.com

January 2017 | The Good Life

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39

Construction of the Rock Island Dam was a labor-intensive — and job creating — project. Photo from the Chelan County PUD

>>

column those were the days

rod molzahn

The dam that held back the Depression On Oct. 16, 1929 a federal

license was granted to Puget Sound Power and Light Company, of Seattle, to build a hydroelectric dam at the Rock Island Rapids on the Columbia River, 12 miles below Wenatchee.

It would be the first dam anywhere on the Columbia.

Thirteen days later, on Oct. 29 – “Black Thursday” – Wall Street collapsed.

On Jan. 14, 1930, just three months later, construction began on Rock Island Dam. It would take three years to complete the reinforced concrete dam and anchor it to the 15 million year old solid basalt that was the bedrock stretching under the Columbia at the Rock Island Rapids.

By mid 1930, one quarter of Seattle’s workers were unemployed and breadlines were forming.

Throughout the state the Great Depression was taking hold.

Chelan County, however, was spared and recorded the highest per capita income in the state.

The Wenatchee Daily World claimed the valley was immune to the economic sufferings of the rest of the country and pointed to a local building boom that continued through much of 1932 including the construction of the city’s new $70,000 police station that year.

The only problem, the World editorialized, was the habit of “other communities all over the Northwest to tell their beggars, their vagrants and their unemployed to ‘Go to Wenatchee, there is plenty of work there.’”

Much of that work was at the dam where, depending on schedule and weather, between 1,000 and 3,000 people were employed. The payroll of these

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workers was a constant and significant infusion of capital into the community supporting other businesses from restaurants to barbershops.

The World proclaimed that “The Rock Island project has prevented our feeling the depression which has prevailed generally throughout the country.”

Puget Sound Power and Light Company had quietly begun making plans for the dam in 1927. The plans were made public in November of 1928 and were immediately embraced by the public and business communities of the valley.

The company had been the electricity provider for the city of Wenatchee for many years, building a reputation for reliability, fair prices and good service.

Rufus Woods, in the World,

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January 2017

predicted the dam would bring “numerous, extensive industries,” including pulp, paper and lumber mills.

The Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce went to work enthusiastically in support of the dam in spite of some predictions that “there would never be any demand for such an output of power” — an argument also made in opposition to Grand Coulee Dam. Members of the Chamber volunteered their time and services appraising potential damages and negotiating settlements with landowners who would be affected by the dam and its backwater.

From January of 1930 for nearly three years the privately funded Rock Island Dam construction worked like a public

works project and, along with the apple industry, supported the local economy while the rest of the state and nation sank deeper into the Depression.

Then, in 1932, that all began to change.

At the beginning of the Depression, falling apple prices had been offset by increasing production and industry income stayed about the same.

A successful effort to promote sidewalk sales of apples by unemployed people in eastern cities resulted in 1,500 carloads of Wenatchee Valley fruit being shipped out and also helped keep orchard income at normal

levels.

Then, as the 1932 crop ripened, the price of apples plummeted. Railroad shipping costs remained high, even increasing in some instances. Throughout the valley, orchardists fell into economic distress, often leaving their banks holding worthless mortgages.

Construction at the dam began to slow as completion came nearer.

Feb. 1, 1933 marked the end of work on the dam, the powerhouse and the first four operating units. Employment at the dam dropped to 500, the lowest since the beginning of the proj-

ect three years earlier.

Just as Rock Island Dam began to hold back the waters of the Columbia River it opened other floodgates that let the Depression pour into the valley bringing economic devastation and paranoia with it.

The World cautioned readers to ignore panhandlers and send itinerant families back home. The local Carpenters Union demanded the Chelan County Commissioners turn back outside job seekers at the county line. (The commissioners rejected the idea.)

The Chamber of Commerce received complaints that work-

ers from California were taking orchard jobs that local people needed and several area Chambers of Commerce issued “Identity Cards” to local unemployed residents to give them the advantage in hiring.

After being held at bay for three years the Great Depression had arrived in the Wenatchee Valley.

Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@verizon.net. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area.

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>>

column ALEX ON WINE

ALEX SALIBY

Alex’s top choice of regional wines of 2016 Y

ep, it’s that time of year again. All the other magazines are listing their choices for the best of the best, so I’m here to give you my views on what are the best of the best that I’ve sampled this past year from our local wineries.

White Wines

Albarino: locally, there is only one choice: Crayelle Cellars 2014 Albariño. Light, lively and decidedly lovely, it pairs well with crab, lobster or shrimp.

Chardonnay: I have two killing great samples of what a Chardonnay ought to be, and my score sheet brings them both in with equal score. I suggest you buy both and be your own judge. Lost River 2014 Chardonnay and Wedge Mountain’s 2014 Chardonnay both rock the boat beautifully.

Chenin Blanc: Malaga Springs 2015 Chenin Blanc. This is an interesting choice for me, for I’m not a huge fan of Chenin Blanc, but this one changed my mind.

Gewurztraminer: Eagle Creek 2014 Gewurztraminer.

I’ve been fans of the Eagle Creek wines for some time now, but I’ve never singled out their Gewurz before this. Perhaps I should have been paying closer attention. This wine reminds

me of driving down the highway along the Mosel River in midsummer, and stopping off to taste the local wines.

Riesling: Difficult choices here, but my palate zeroed in on the Jones of Washington 2015 Riesling. The aromatics, and the balance of flavors and aromas and textures, won me.

Roussanne: 2015 Cave B Roussanne. In my December column, I recommended Roussanne to complement some holiday meals. It should age gracefully, and will complement far more foods than most other white wines.

Sauvignon Blanc: In truth, I keep searching for a Sancerrestyle Sauvignon Blanc here in Washington, and I’ve yet to find one, but the 2015 Crayelle Cellars Neve’s Blanc comes closer than anything else I’ve tasted.

Viognier: Again this year, the 2015 Rio Vista Viognier and the 2015 Wedge Mountain Viognier take the medals from me.

And, again, while these are two distinctly different treatments of the same grape, the end results are delightfully different.

I’m a huge fan of the Viognier of the Northern Rhone such as this Wedge Mountain bottling, but I delight in the fresh, fruit balanced aspects of the Rio Vista.

My advice, again: buy one of each and compare for your

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selves. Do you have a preference? Does what you are dining on matter which you’d opt to open?

Rosé: Again, I’ve two winners, but both are of different styles in a composition sense. Esther Bricques Syrah Rosé 2015 sips beautifully and because it is dry, pairs well with many foods.

Ryan Patrick Rosé 2015: a true Southern Rhone red wine blend, this one is bone dry and delightful. It, too, will please your palate at the dinner table with a variety of menus.

Red Wines

Cabernet Franc: I tasted a great many marvelous Cab Francs this past year, and none were bad or even mediocre. All were Loire Valley styled wines.

I have three favorites, in alphabetical order: Ginko Forest’s 2013 Cabernet Franc, Leony’s Cellars 2014 Ascendance Cab Franc, and Wedge Mountain’s 2014 Cabernet Franc.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Chateau Faire le Pont 2012 Elerding Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

But I can’t leave this category without shining a light on what in my opinion is the best blended red wine in the state, not just in our area: C.R. Sandidge red blend: Tri*Umph 2014. Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator was accurate when he labeled this one Best Red Wine of the New World. It still is.

Grenache/Garnacha: Two examples, again in alphabetical order: Baroness Cellars 2012 Grenache, and Tildio 2011 Garnacha — interesting examples of the winemakers’ style differences.

Malbec: Two giants here, also: ’37 Cellars 2014 Malbec (very limited supply available), a powerhouse of a wine, and

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2014 Silvara Vineyards Malbec that in August, walked away with Gold Medal for Best Red Wine and Best of Show in the Wenatchee Wine and Food Festival.

Merlot: For me, this was a unique wine: the 2012 Brender Canyon Merlot. It’s only available locally at the Warm Springs Inn and Winery.

Mourvedre: For me, Best of Class to Snowgrass Winery for their 2011 Rapscallion Mourvedre.

This wine shouted out with the flavors of the terrific Mourvedre wines of France’s Bandol region.

Well done, Alan Moen and Susan Kidd.

Sangiovese: Several great examples of wines from this grape have shown up in many of our local NCW wineries. I’ve narrowed the field to one wine: Errant Cellars 2014 Sangiovese.

Syrah: Two giants here for me this past year: Milbrandt 2013 The Estates Northridge Syrah, and Tsillan Cellars 2013 Estate Reserve Syrah. Both are big, bold and luscious as a great Syrah should be.

Tempranillo: A new winery in Manson, MVP, made its entry into the local market winning several awards this past August.

It was there I got a sneak taste of the MVP Tempranillo and immediately entered it into the winner’s category. This one spoke to me of a wine from the past, the Ron Ventimiglia Tempranillo.

Turns out, Ron also made this winner.

Alex Saliby is a wine lover who spends far too much time reading about the grapes, the process of making wine and the wines themselves.

He can be contacted at alex39@msn. com.

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ICONIC WENATCHEE TRAIL SYSTEM OPENS FOR EXPLORING

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Skydiving Back to the Old Sod in search of roots

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