westerner

Our rural high school had an exchange student from Sweden during the 2008 crash. She said her time in the U.S. taught her about the realities of poverty she had never seen at home.

I expect many of the colonists would have welcomed an elected unitary executive who couldn't pass it on to his kids, plus some checks and balances. Trusting an entire new system is scary. GW did a big thing when he didn't run for reelection. (Me: not a Constitutional scholar)

An illustrated recipe for "candle salad" involving a pineapple ring, a lettuce leaf, an erect banana, a dab of mayonnaise and a cherry on top. A prim little 1950s girl in an apron is placing the cherry.

This is from my childhood cookbook, published in 1955. I remember wanting to make it, but I don't think it ever happened. Maybe my folks were as creeped out by the illustration as I am now? I think the dab of mayo is an unfortunate look.

Hooligans. Around here that's a river-spawning smelt that used to be so abundant you could stand on the shore and collect bucketfuls with a garden rake.

I remember our neighbor in Sumas barreling across a field on a winter morning to announce "the hooligans are running!"

Not true though. A large percentage of foster parents are pro-life evangelicals. Also, a substantial percentage of foster parents aren't good at this very difficult job.

Nooksack River flood watch for this week...

Thinking of you. Losing a parent who has demetia adds some layers of emotional complication. At least it did for me.

Educational warning poster from OHSU about deadly Oregon mushrooms. The top section shows several photos of Amanita phalloides (death cap) with greenish caps and white gills. The middle section shows Amanita ocreata (destroying angel) with white caps and stems, and Amanita smithiana with a pale brown cap and tall white stalk. A red skull and crossbones graphic is centered over the images. The bottom row shows Amanita pantherina mushrooms with brown caps covered in white spots. Text at the bottom reads: Oregon Poison Center 1-800-222-1222. Sponsored by Oregon Mycological Society, wildmushrooms.org

Sharing this OHSU poster because of the recent mushroom poisoning news. These deadly Amanita species grow in Oregon, and misidentification can be fatal. If mushroom ingestion is suspected, call the Oregon Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. #fungifriends #mushrooms
www.ohsu.edu/sites/defaul...

Behind closed doors: How the Port conducts public business in private Two consultant contracts triggered a year-long investigation into Port of Bellingham practices.

What happens when public contracts, millions in amendments, and key decisions all move behind closed doors? This investigation found out.

Read the full story by Pat Grubb at the link below.

This article was first published in The Northern Light on Nov. 26, 2025, and is reposted with permission.

Ragfinery sets opening date for early 2026 | Cascadia Daily News Textile reuse nonprofit's Forest Street location closed after a 2024 fire

Almost exactly a year after its unplanned closure, textile reuse nonprofit Ragfinery will debut its new location in January 2026.

Off-roading in the watershed? Building a rogue trail? Bellingham has eyes on you Since 2000, the city of Bellingham has bought more than 3,500 acres of land around Lake Whatcom to protect it from development.

Good to know. How effective is it?

www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politic...

6:47 a.m. -- Heading to the Anacortes ferry for a pop-up newsroom in Friday Harbor today. It's a treat to meet readers in person.

More to the point, you probably don’t remember the name of either man because they received far less coverage in the national media and relatively little attention from the Trump regime.

Cities and counties in Northwest Washington are preparing for tight 2026 budgets as inflation outpaces the state’s 1% property tax limit. 📉

Read the full story by Sam Fletcher.

Correction: we jumped; the piano boogie woogied.

I raised my '80s kids on a Little Richard CD of children's music. I wish I still had it. Try "I've got the peace that passeth understanding down in my heart" three times, loud and fast, with jump piano. It perks you right up.

Mexico also has the coolest regional word for turkey -- guajalote-- because it sounds like a gobble.

...Also tzin-tzun-tzan for hummingbird

I need this for my trip to Friday Harbor next week. Are they on sale at the terminal?

When I was in my early 60s my little granddaughter mentioned that I was old. I said -- ok, yes, but how can you tell?

"You have old cheeks, old hair, and old slowness." Nailed it!

I still have all those things and then some,but at 18 she is now too polite to say so.

Of interest to Bellingham readers

Lawsuit Alleges Deed Restriction Gave Albertsons a Local Monopoly Historic downtown Denison, TX.

One I had in mind is near the north end of the Salish Sea, but here’s one that’s current and publicly referenced in TX. foodandpower.substack.com/p/lawsuit-al...

The book is terrific, and author Tobias Wilson came up to Whatcom County and mesmerized my equally rural high school students

This is all illuminating and probably answers the puzzle of why up until my 70s I could enjoy the last of my many cups of coffee right before bed.

MacKenzie Scott Expands Giving Spree to Tribal Colleges The billionaire philanthropist is steering millions of dollars toward tribal schools, after the Trump administration proposed a significant federal funding cut.

The billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is funneling tens of millions of dollars into tribal higher education, months after the Trump administration sought to cut one of the system’s most essential funding sources.

Bonnie Raitt's first album, titled Bonnie Raitt, from 1971.
Still my favorite.

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Feds tell county to cease naturalization ceremonies - The Ithaca Voice ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County officials received a directive from federal immigration officials to cease all local naturalization ceremonies. Naturalization ceremonies are typically held throughout t...

Leaning in to “Let’s just be assholes” ithacavoice.org/2025/11/feds...

Now that my children are grown, with university degrees and responsible jobs, I no longer follow the studies obsessively. But when I did, the strongest single predictor of adult trouble for people with ADHD was lack of access to meds as children.