Back to Seattle in a moment ...

We have many happy memories of days spent at Pescadero. Just off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz is this little town, blink and you'll be past it. I hesitate to write this because I don't want it to get crowded spoiled but wait. Nobody reads my blog but you, gentle readers. We're safe.

I've learned not shop on empty stomach get artichoke bread and pasta sauce at the store across the street. You could build a picnic, they have everything you need.

Or sit down for Italian food at Duarte's and then go shop here:

http://www.madeinpescadero.com/

You'll find furniture, weavings, pottery, sculptures and most by local coastal artisans. One quiet day they showed us the furniture workshop with repurposed wood being cured for custom beds and furniture. Wonderful to see the craftsmanship behind the scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC8AEORuFlQ&feature=youtu.be

Just in time for Valentines day

We found these just in time for the holidays. The design was whitty, well drawn and our friends loved the cards.  In a world where we keep in touch by Facebook, blogs and text sometimes a card is just what you need. A collective of Portland artists designs each card. They are printed in the good ol' USA on sustainably sourced paper on soy and vegetable based ink.

www.allport.com

One day in the LBS (Local Bike Shop)

One day I was moseying around a shop absorbing that "new bike smell" a new rider asked the LBS employee questions about getting a new bike. After answering them and lining up bikes in her size and price range to test ride she asked "Are any of these made in the USA?".

He paused, then said "There are bikes made here. They tend to be expensive". There's a long list of hand-made, mostly full custom bikes made in the USA. I'll get to some of them. I hope you'll see from this blog there are tons of options for parts, clothes, lights, racks and the stuff you either need to ride or would be nice to have to ride.

Much of that is very affordable.

Bikes made in the USA tend to be pricey. By "pricey" I mean starting at $2,000 to $3,000. When we talk about an "American made bicycle" we mean the frame. Many parts go into a bicycle and they are from all around. It's just about impossible to get an entirely US made bicycle.

What started this post is that our friend Donald Boothby has passed away. He was a truly wonderful man whom K had the honor and pleasure of meeting a few times. Don had a wonderful sense of humor, a great family, he loved to cook and of course ride bikes. He bought a touring bike made by a small local builder: Davidson Bicycles. 

He rode tens of thousands of miles on that bike often with family and friends. Sadly we never got to ride together. I'd hope to do so when I moved here.

We see Davidson bikes a lot while riding in Seattle. Not that there are a lot of them. They are few so they really stand out. They stand because not only are they rare and beautifully made but the obvious ease and comfort to the rider.

Davidson fits you right to the bike. You sense it's a Davidson approaching from afar away because bike and rider move as one.

Sadly as Don lay at home, just days from dying of cancer a thief broke into their home and stole his bike.

This is a friendly blog with a kind purpose. I'm a peaceful person. There's few if any people and even things I dislike. I like cats, liver and lima beans. I'm pretty zen.

But I hate bike thieves.

Perhaps the only thing worse than bike thieves is cancer. Cancer just took our friend and not before thieves took his bike. So I'm a little upset.

So I'm just saying; rare, unique, custom built, custom painted bike which the entire cycling community recognizes is out there. If you have the bike and ride it skilled riders can tell from a mile away "That's not yours. It is not fit for you, is not your bike."

If you're looking for a fine custom bike to buy new or legitimately and reliably used from the owner or a good bike shop you can do no better than a Davidson:

http://davidsonbicycles.com/

But to the ditwad who stole or the unsuspecting or unscrupulous buyer riding Don's bike, karma will find you. For your sake let's hope karma finds you before the Seattle cycling community does.

We are looking for a: 56 cm Davidson frame, black with red trim and a lot of chrome. Steel front forks with chrome tips, chrome on the rear triangle and on the head tube. If you see the bike or know about it contact Davidson Bicycles and they will contact Don's family and/or police.

I believe I can safely say all the family wants is Don's bike back. So if you read this and know about the stolen bike please just get it back no questions asked. They'd just like it back as a memento of a beloved husband and father. It's of no use to you.

If you've seen or know anything you can contact Davidson Bicycles at the website above and/or Seattle Randonneur Cycling club. Contact information and pictures of the bike on:

http://www.seattlerandonneur.org/

We met a super model!

The boy-dog and I were on our morning walk when he introduced himself to Isaac the super model.

Isaac, his dog walker explained is the dog in the upper left hand corner of this website modeling the Wonder Walker Body Halter model named for him.

http://www.wonderwalkerbodyhalter.com/

Our boy dog has many fine qualities; he's patient, kind, easy going, friendly to anyone and everyone on two or four legs, he's a certified Canine Good Citizen! His one and only fault is he pulls on his leash.  Walking this fine dog is like water skiing.

Locally made, craftsmanship looks neat and tidy and just may solve our issue. Then the boy-dog will be perfect!

Clean, calm and serene.

That's our motto around here. You can't see our home so I can get away with that at least till I learn how to post pictures to the blog. We like to envision the bath as a mini day spa; lotions and soaps attractively out for use, the laundry basket eeks, where did all that come from!? But anyway we try.

One of my earliest posts was about Swan Haven soap. Just in time for Mother's day they are having a sale. Her soaps are practically art, they both smell and look wonderful. Create a gift basket for Mom and the Moms in your life;

http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/cleaning-up-my-list-of-good-things-to.html

It takes a village ....

... to rebuild the economy it takes a downtown.

There are several communities which have stores featuring products made nearby. Made in Pescadero is a favorite shop of ours, Petaluma now has at least one store for local artisans which I'm hearing great things about but have not been to yet. And downtown Oakland has businesses springing up that make and sell local products. Most feature local design, crafts, artisans.

While desperately seeking last minute local holiday gifts I explored this area right by my commute.

I'll be writing about them all in the next few weeks, stay tuned gentle readers.

For now, off to walk the dog.

Sounds good enough to eat, but you'll want it on your skin.

Shea butter is the secret to happiness.

It smells and feels wonderful, protects your skin against climate and UV aggressions, prevent wrinkles (except smile lines of course), soothes moisturizes irritated and chapped skin. The list of benefits goes on.

Shea butter products from Alaffia create jobs in Washington state where it's made while simultaneously advancing gender equality, education, preventing poverty, improving the enviornment in Africa where the ingredients are from. I was told that the founder had the idea to start the company so shea butter and other natural ingredients produced in his home town in Africa could be brought to market and raise the standard of living back home.

Since it's produced here in Washington we get jobs too. Everything and anything we've tried is sensual, feels and smells great using enticing imaginative combinations of organic products. The aromas are light, you will want to try everything they make. 

http://www.alaffia.com/