CITY DAILY PHOTO THEME DAY, OCTOBER 1: CHANGE

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

--Margaret Mead

The first of the month is theme day for City Daily Photo bloggers. This month's theme is "Change."

In a little over a month, mid-term elections will be taking place in the US. For many voters, it portends a change in the balance of power in both local, state, and national governments. Voting is one way US citizens can affect change, and as a concerned citizen of Walla Walla and Washington state, I am doing what I can to visibly support the candidates and issues that will bring about change.

 To see what other members around the world have posted, click on this link: http://cdpbthemeday.blogspot.com/

THERE'S A NEW GUY AND GAL IN TOWN

H A T T A W A Y' S On Alder

First of all, let's make it clear upfront that I am neither a foodie nor a restaurant reviewer. But I like good food, comfort food most preferably, and going out to dinner so that I don't have to cook. The way I see it, I cooked enough for a lifetime as a wife, mother, and deli owner. So when I saw the name of a new restaurant pop up on my Facebook timeline, I thought we'd give it a try.

HATTAWAY'S on Alder renovated the space where Saffron used to be. The result is light and airy incorporating clean lines and natural materials. 

As early diners of that certain age, we arrived promptly at 5:00, the hour of opening.

Sunlight poured in the west facing windows giving the crisp, clean lines of the interior a soft, warm welcoming glow. 

The plaid cushions along with plaid shirts worn by the servers also spoke to my own down home plaid persona.

The house-made thick cut chips with sour cream and a salmon egg arrived gratis from the kitchen. Yummm!

Although not listed on the menu above (a photo I borrowed from their FB page), the seafood corn chowder split between the two of us was superb. 

The base was creamy and flavorful and was filled with a seafood melange along with bright yellow kernels of crisp, fresh corn. 

My mustard crusted salmon with a tarragon potato cake satiated my palette

with the crunchy exteriors giving way to perfectly cooked salmon and a soft, smashed potato interior.

At the same time Doug's halibut cheeks on a bed of creamy grits and barbecue butter 

satisfied both the Pacific Northwest man and the Missouri-bred boy in him.

Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of our dessert--bread pudding--which was nothing like the sloppy, mushy stuff of the all-you-can-eat buffets of my childhood. 

You'll simply have to try if for yourself. 

The service all around was friendly and attentive, and we enjoyed meeting the owners Richard and Lindsay Hattaway themselves. As recent transplants from Savannah, Georgia, Richard chuckled when I asked, "Why Walla Walla?"  Besides the usual wine, friends, and reputation answer, he quipped, "Well, it had to be in Washington state in order to use the underline in our logo." Good answer!

CITY DAILY PHOTO: THEME DAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018-TEACH

Like Mother, Like Son

I was a teacher for 24 years. It was a second career that I began when I was 39 years old when I returned to school to earn a second BA in Education. That was about 20 years after I had earned my first BA in Art followed by marriage, two children, and moves from Seattle to the Methow Valley in North Central Washington state and finally to Walla Walla in the SE corner of the state.

For two years I commuted the 45 miles to the near-by TriCities to take evening and Saturday classes to turn this former school bus driver/UPS delivery person/deli owner/and full-time wife and mom into a teacher of middle school students, a career I would cherish until I retired in 2014.

Now, my 37-year-old son is undertaking a similar career change to become an elementary school teacher. Up until now he has worked in the restaurant industry while being the primary caregiver of his two young children from their births to being the 3 and 6 year-olds they are today. And he's doing it all simultaneous to going through a blind-sighted and painful divorce. 

So I dedicate this month's CDP topic, Teach, to my son John who is teaching his children well as a parent, and who will eventually teach other children as a certified teacher. 

This is John playing with his children to his left and right along with the other children on this Frog Jump ride at Silverwood Theme Park. It is clear from this picture and the video below that he enjoys being with kids and engaging with them, all traits of a good teacher.

For photos from other CDP bloggers, follow this link: http://cdpbthemeday.blogspot.com/