A Small Adventure

A couple of Saturdays ago Ben and I felt the draw of Port Townsend, so we headed over to the peninsula for the day.

Baby seagulls.

 After hitting Edensaw for some yellow cedar (and a gorgeous piece of madrona which I regrettably don't have a picture of) for the boat, we drove over to Marrowstone and Indian Islands.  Marrowstone is a sweet little place.  Perhaps it remains so pleasant and quiet because you have to drive past the massive Naval Reserve on Indian Island to get there.

 Walking through the general store in Nordland on Marrowstone started me wondering what it would be like to live in the area.  For a long time, all I could think about was moving back to Seattle.  It's the city that birthed and raised me.  There was a community there that I've missed so greatly.  But the longer I'm away, the lesser the heartache, and I feel so much the braver.

Ben looking at M/V Pacific Pioneer.

Back in town, we walked around the Port Townsend shipyard looking for inspiration.  We came across our boat's big sister,  Pacific Pioneer, looking quite nice after a shave and a haircut.  It's always nice to meet new relatives.

This is the s/v Toadstool.  She looks like she popped out of a children's book, as are many of the boats Bill Garden designed, and this was his personal sailboat.  All I can think of is that door!  She looks like she's captained by a hobbit.  I would love something whimsical like this on ours.

We walked the PT waterfront together the rest of the afternoon, sharing dreams and perusing used bookstores.  It was nice to step outside the grind of everyday work and find such a happy place.

This morning we went to the Anacortes Farmer's Market.  I was thinking that I'd missed out on strawberry season, but there was a farmer there who had a half flat of the "everbearing" variety, that grow throughout the season.  She said they weren't as sweet as the ones available in June, but they looked pretty good to me, so I brought them home.
I'd had the idea for a while to make strawberry-basil jam. They're the flavors I most associate with summer.  But last month was crazy busy with Ben and I buying and working on the boat, and me getting extra hours at work, so there was no time for canning.  I still can't believe I lucked into local berries this late!

The process of making jam is surprisingly simple.  You take fruit and you do stuff to it.

Adding fresh Basil.

Then you pour it in jars and you do stuff to the jars.  And if you did it right they all seal.

I can't believe 3.5 pounds of strawberries fit into just 4 half pint jars!  But I didn't use any pectin and the flavor is very concentrated.  It is definitely the best jam I've ever made.  The basil is a nice touch.  My favorite thing to do when cooking is take traditionally savory flavors and make them sweet and vice versa.  

Ben's mom Linda, taught me how to can last fall, and it's become something I really enjoy.  Useful too, considering I can't imagine ever having that big a freezer on the boat.  Come this winter, when we're living aboard finally, when it's raining for the thirtieth day in a row, I'm going to have one of these summery jars for that occasion.  

Thank you Linda, for letting me use your kitchen.  I wonder what canning on a diesel stove will be like.

Pretty isn't she?  This is going to be our new home.

Living aboard an old wooden boat has been a dream of mine and Ben's for several years.  Now that we've finally found our girl, the relief is palpable.  Our hope is to move aboard before Ben's birthday in October.