THE LAST MEAL

This year's Last Meal shifted a bit due to us spending an extra day at the ocean due to inclement weather and the wish to avoid driving in it. Plus there was still a bunch of snow and ice on the roads when we arrived back home, so we were economical with our driving and going out.

One of the shifts was not grilling outdoors this year. First, because we had food ready for our meal. Second, I wasn't looking forward to grilling in subfreezing temperatures in the snow.

The Last Meal for The Child was Carrots and Peas, Pasta and Cheese Casserole.

The Last Meal for The Wife was Dungeness Crab.

The Last Meal for TWT was leftover Roast Beast (Prime Rib) and au jus, accompanied by Deschutes Cherries Jubelale.

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Without the need to grill, however, the Last Flame still needed to make an appearance. So, instead of grilling in the snow and cold, we sat around the flame. In the snow. In the cold. Laughing. Reminiscing. Looking forward. Ready to bid farewell to one year and welcome another.

PACIFIC in BLUE

Pacific Beach meets Pacific Ocean. Sky meets sea. 

Blue is expressed and reflected.

Sunset approaches.

PACIFIC

It was slow driving on 90 miles of compact snow and ice to get here (also known as "white-knuckle bullshit") but ultimately worth it. That was two days ago.

Relaxation. Refreshement. Rejuvenation. 

Pacific Beach. Pacific Ocean.

Dunes and snow and sand and waves and wind.

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The fourth six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

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I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Zwönitzer Rauchbier. It pours dark brown with a tan head. Smoked and cured meats. Campfire. Charred bark. Roasted malts. Dark chocolate. Cream. Long finish that starts a bit sweet but then goes dry and smoky. Oh, my God, this is fantastic. One of my favorites of the 2019 box.
   
2. Graminger Kirta Dunkles Weissbier. Copper-tinged brown body and an ivory head. Dark fruits. Fig. Caramel. Hint of cloves. Earthiness. Leaves. Hint of red wine. Moves from sweet to dry. It's okay.
   
3. Wittman Urhell. Clear yellow body with a white head. Lemon. Citrus. Grains. Crisp and clean. Good, with a lightly lemony finish.
   
4. Fürst Carl. Hazy golden yellow with a white head. Cloves, butterscotch, leaves, caramel malts. This is very good. Split the can with my dad.
   
5. Schloßbräu Kheder. Super-clear light yellow body with a thin with head. The nose is crisp and clean. The tongue is likewise, with hints of a few flavors—butterscotch, lettuce, a welcomed flavor of which I can't quite place. It's okay, but a bit too vegetal. Split the can with my dad.
6. Kartäuser Doppelbock Dunkel. Coppery dark brown body and a tan head. Broth. Cocoa. Dark fruits. Hints of white pepper and nutmeg. This is very good and a nice finish to the box.
   

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The third six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Landgang Pils. Clear light yellow body with a finger-thick white head. Biscuit. Cream. Flower petals. Mustard seed. Tarragon. Pleasant. I like the creaminess.
   
2. Flötzinger Hell auf Rosenheim. Pale yellow body with a thin white head. Hay. Minor leaves. Mostly "meh." There just isn't much here due to lack of flavors.
   
3. Perlenzauber IPA. Clear yellow body with a half-finger-thick white head. Oranges. Candied sugar. Caramel. Some light leafiness. As it warms, there is a bit more leafy bitterness and orange bitterness. This is very different from the other offerings in the box.
   
4. Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei Blau Weisse. Hazy butter yellow  with two-inch thick white head. Cloves. Hay. Banana bread. Sage. Lemon. Lemon zest. Other spices. Very good and enjoyable. A duplicate of the 2019 box.
   
5. Turbo Prop Imperial Pils. Clear golden-yellow body and creamy white head. Fruity. Caramel. Buttered bread. Light cloves. Candy orange slices. Excellent and complex. As it warms, caramel, orange, and boozy notes increase. Another duplicate of the 2019 box. This is very welcome.
   
6. Bayerisches Vollbier Erl Hell. Clear pale yellow body and a white head. Hay. Faint apples. Leaves. Light coriander. Faint cloves. Good and solid.
   

BONSAI SOLSTICE

Tonight was the annual Bonsai Solstice, the only evening of the year that the Pacific Bonsai Museum is open to the general public. The trails leading from the parking lot to the Museum grounds were lined with luminaries. A few full-size trees and one larger bonsai were adorned in white Christmas lights. A few select bonsai were lit with spotlights. Otherwise, attendees viewed bonsai by flashlight.

It's a magical night during a season of gloomy daylight and long evenings, and an event I look forward to each year. It's also an opportunity to view the bonsai during their winter hibernation, many sans leaves.

REPORT from PLAGUELAND

It was a day of walking and wandering. Across downtown Puyallup, from northeast corner to southwest corner, then catching a portion of the Puyallup Loop Trail, and returning to the beginning. Later, it was a trip down the Riverwalk Trail with the dogs and a stop at my favorite corkscrew willow. By the time evening arrived, I had walked more than eight miles.

KARATE FOOT

Karate kicked my ass this week, in a good way. Good warm-up exercises. Pushed myself on stretches. Was able to do about ten pushups on my knuckles! Broke a couple of boards. Learned the first half of my weapons kata, Tonfa Sho. Was pushed to tighten up my kumite (sparring) by one of the instructors. Came away both nights at the dojo drenched in sweat, muscles burning, body and mind engaged. Practiced on the days I wasn't at the dojo. Somewhere along the way, earned a badge for the week: a tender bruise on the sole of my foot that may turn into a blood blister. And I had a blast the entire time.

ASIAN FUSION

One of my favorite lunches when I work a longer day in the office. "Asian fusion" "charcuterie." Vegetable egg rolls, BBQ pork, baby carrots, and white sticky rice. But what makes it all work are the sauces—hot mustard (Chinese), gochujang (Korean), and mae ploy (Thai). Plus the flavor of lime from the Jarritos soda (Mexico).

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The second six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Kurpfalz Bräu Helles. Clear golden body with a thin white skin on top. Hay. Fruitiness. Apples. Faint metallic note. Almost no finish. The first "meh" beer of the box. There just isn't much here.
   
2. Wiener Lager. Exceptionally clear, light yellow body with a thin white skin and bubbles! Hay. Leaves. Herbs. Bit of graham cracker in the back. Faintest hint of leather jacket.Yes! More, please.
   
3. Teisnacher 1543 Festmärzen. Semi-hazy coppery-yellow body with a thick white head. Caramel. Leaves. "Ghost" orange. Sage. Beef broth. Hint of bay leaf. This is complex, shifting, subtle, and welcoming. I imagine it served with beef stew. One of my favorites so far.
   
4. Käuzle German Pilsner. The body is a clear buttery yellow, topped with a thick and creamy white head. Floral. Spicy. Hay. Hints of butterscotch beneath. Cream. There is an attractive creaminess (both in flavor and texture) primarily due to the head.
   
5. Marie Hausbrendel Hell. Clear and bubbly yellow body with a finger-thick white lacy head. Hay. Apples. Some spiciness. Faint yeast. Bit of biscuit. Very sessionable.
   
6. Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell. Hazy yellow-orange body with a white head. Cloves. Orange. Ripe banana. Sage. Thyme. Light raspberries. A bit like banana bread fruitcake. Interesting, intriguing, and inviting. The first duplicate of the 2019 box.
   

2021 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

The first six beers of the 2021 Advent Beer Calendar.

—

I enjoyed the 2019 version of this beer calendar, so when I had an opportunity to purchase the 2021 version I didn't hesitate. It's filled with German beer goodness—water, hops, barley, and yeast—and a fun way to celebrate Advent, especially with the continuing cultural complications of COVID. (It's something I can enjoy in the comfort of my own home!) Here are my tasting notes.

1. Herrngiersdorf Grantler Hell. Clear, golden, bubbly body with a thin white head. Light fruitiness. Hay. Faint yeast. Refreshing. Clean. Light mouthfeel. Medium finish. An excellent start to the box!
2. Wieninger Hoamat Weissbier. Hazy, melted butter yellow, moderately bubbly body with finger-thick white head. Wheat. Caramel. Light berries. Faint yeast. Good. It's nothing to write home about, but it's nothing to complain about either. I'd drink it again.
3. Egerer Alms Hell. Clear, bubbly, yellow body with a thin white head. Hay. Hint of butterscotch. Fruitiness. Faint yeast. Leafy herbs (especially as it warms). Rather enjoyable.
   
4. Rheder Husaren Trunk. The pour is like a pint of apple juice. Prominent caramel malt notes. Pretzel dough. Herbal leafiness. Prost!
5. Kraftbierwerkstatt Der Schwarze Bock Doppelbock. Clear dark brown body with a thin white head. Dark fruits. Raisins. Figs. Cocoa. Wood bark. Bit of beef broth (as it warms). Good balance of sweet and dry. Like fruitcake in a can.
6. Herrnbrau Zwickl Kellerbier. Hazy, melted butter yellow, body with a finger-thick white head. Lemon. Citrus. Hay. Herbs. Crisp, clean, and refreshing. Mellow and simple. A great selection for the box.

HONEST ADVENT

Today, I start reading Honest Advent by Scott Erickson. It is a collection of twenty-five devotions for Advent, accompanied by original art illustrations. I'm excited for these devotions, as they feel fresh and inviting, focusing upon Mary and some of the feminine aspects of the biblical stories surrounding the birth of Christ—the Annunciation, Mary's pregnancy, the physicality of birth. The art and devotions are very engaging and I'm looking forward to hearing these familiar texts with a new perspective.