BaltimOregon to Maine

Our new fig tree

Hard to believe all that has happened just one year since our wedding day, 04.05.08. Get married, leave a job, buy a house, move cross-country, Obama is elected, the economy tanks, all within the course of this year.

We celebrated the day by planting an Oregon Prolific fig tree, and a white Asian pear one, in our unkempt yard. Ah, the sweet allure of a fig tree. I’ve longed for fruit trees here, though we’ll have to wait for them to bear fruit, and hopefully we won’t read too much into the symbolism if these fragile trees don’t survive. Still, I think planting something for every anniversary is a nice way to mark your relationship through the years.

It was also a glorious day here, with a high of about 72 degrees, warm enough to quickly dry clothes outside and lure a novice gardener to dig around in the dirt. I’ve now planted sweet peas, lots of herbs and some lettuce starts from our neighbor. I dug up one of our old-lady flower beds to make way for the vegetables. If it isn’t edible, I’m not that interested in learning to grow it. I also had the fortune this weekend to discover the gem that is our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Where else can you get a $5 albeit rusted Weber grill, 50-cent tomato cages and irrigation tubing for making hula hoops. And all the money you spend goes directly to support the charity.

As for our anniversary dinner, we far more enjoyed the turkey picadillo I cooked at home tonight than the overpriced meal we had at Corvallis’ yuppiest restaurant last night. Big River boasts high-ceilings and shabby-chic elegant ambiance, but the food was rather unremarkable, basically the menu descriptions sounded better than the reality.

We tried a Dungeness Crab Salad appetizer unusually paired with cara cara oranges, shaved fennel, green olives and Green Goddess dressing. The oniony, achiovy-laced dressing was the best part. But spring is here, so no complaints. Just a nice reminder that the cooking is often better at home. Here’s to another lovely year of cooking for and with you, my dear.