Our main purpose in going to Mukilteo last week was to help our Parisian friends, Shirley & Jim, sort through their storage unit. Like we did when we moved to France, they got rid of most everything but also kept a lot in a storage unit in Mukilteo. Since they plan to stay in France they needed to clear that out so came back to Mukilteo for a few days. We joined two other friends to help sort, claim some items, and make many trips to the give-away place. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. We even were able to visit Cabernets & IPAs, a favorite place in Mukilteo, a couple of times.

Back in the hotel on Friday I was thinking of sunsets and of Provence.

Shirley and Jim released us from our indenture with gratitude, lunch at Cabs & IPAs, and a car full of treasures. So on Saturday we went up to Chuckanut Drive and the Oyster Bar, our first choice for birthdays and anniversaries for many years. With my birthday coming up next week we took advantage of being up north to have lunch there, and they did not disappoint.

We started with oysters and bubbles. The special entree was scallops sliced in half with a shitake mushroom slice in between, then wrapped in philo and fried – so amazing. We both had the special main of the day – ling cod on French potatoes and haricot verts.

For dessert our server turned a custard into a creative crème brûlée, I topped it of with un café.

Last December we heard a guitarist at Cabernets & IPAs that we so enjoyed, discovering that he was playing last Saturday evening we went back to hear him. It was a warm evening, the sun was slowly approaching the mountains on the other side of the water, and ferries were coming and going. A perfect evening, and just right for some quick sketching to capture the moment.

Naturally we are already planning more travel, checking out travel videos on YouTube, and still watching Somebody Feed Phil.

How was your week? I hope you are enjoying food and friends, and of course capturing the moments on paper.

Tricia is writing today about the Cézanne walk in Aix en Provence that we took just a few weeks ago, check it out.