JulieLeung.com: a life told in tidepools

Last year I described our annual journey to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. On our first visit, we happened to enjoy the Who Eats Whom? program and this is now the third time and the third year we’ve traveled to Port Townsend for it. Michaela is now the age Abigail was, and Elisabeth is older than Michaela was then.

Once again, yesterday, we enjoyed participating in the feeding frenzy. First we listened to the little lecture explaining the differences between predators, filter feeders, scavengers, grazers and detritus eaters. Elisabeth participated – shaking her head and saying “uh-uh” loudly when the instructor asked “Does anyone know what this is…?” I was amazed at the boldness of our baby of the family. People laughed. Michaela twice stepped in to explain her younger sister’s babbles.

Then we fed mussels to sea stars (see photo above) and bits of fish to crabs, fish and sea anemones. This aquarium, although small, gets my award for best design and easiest accessibility for young children. Kids can climb up the concrete rock-like sides surrounding the tide pool fingers. With the help of a stool and the clever built-in steps, even toddler Elisabeth could explore the sea creatures, feed animals and splash in the water by herself.

Speaking of eating, I confess I’ve felt bored with cooking. Watching the sea creatures eagerly devour their food only reminded me of my own repetition and lack of excitement in the kitchen. Perhaps it is that other activities are taking time and energy from me this summer. I need some motivation for innovation, a new cookbook or ingredient or even a utensil might suffice. Somehow the thought of peanut butter and mayo sandwiches or raw horse flesh ice cream failed to inspire my skills. Neither did this all-you-can-eat buffet.

But maybe these pictures on Marc’s site will help me to start experimenting in the kitchen again. Through Evan Williams I found this cool vegan blog. How about a blog for what-the-heck does a lactose-intolerant person eat anyway?

Scott Koon listed some great Seattle restaurants…and snippy has one too…as well as Seattle Bon Vivant…hmmm…eating out might help me out, but then I’d need a babysitter in addition to everything else… NPR’s Hidden Kitchens solicitation intrigues me (thanks K!), but I’ll have to wait until the fall to hear the stories.

Ah, Shimon Rura’s Sweet Chili Chicken Salad recipe might motivate me yet…

Does anyone know any food blogs that aren’t too intimidating, exotic or time-consuming but have fun flavorful recipes? Or a cookbook suggestion would do. I’m not often this bored but something needs to inspire me soon.

Sea stars might not tire of mussels, and the crabs seemed content with the bits of mushy white fish we fed them, but one of these days Ted and the girls are going to tire of our repetitive spaghetti, sushi and fried-rice diet…