Month: November 2022

It has been claimed that there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. I see the stars beyond my view and wonder how long they have been in that position so perfectly placed to encourage me to wax poetic upon this vision.  Tiny beads of white light that capture my senses gives me a sense of how big the universe is.

As I look out to the view through our picture windows I see a landscape of broccoli tips that are trees. They dot the horizon as far as the eye can see.  If I were a giant I would see them as leaves of grass beneath my feet to be stepped upon altering their tragectory to the sky.

My eyes follow the line of sight to the very top of the mountain as the trees are like tall withered snowmen standing silently. I love the snow because it seems to illuminate the bright stars and the tips and base of the trees creating a snowglobe affect. Both stars and trees are affected by the dusting of white powder that provides an envelope of mystery we experience but one season a year. I always wonder what I can’t see… the forest through the trees… the distant town and what transpires beyond my imagination… the future which is already written but which no one can predict.

All of this settles my mind into a thought of conversation. I usually have this conversation within the confines and parameters of the days of future passed. Predicting what might be by looking backwards to determine what moves the hands of time forwards. This excercise enables me to move the chess pieces. I protect certain pieces while sacraficing others for the betterment of pursuing the ever elusive engage or disengage tete-a-tete.

I appreciate the sysmetry of the stars that form designs having guided traverlers for as long as forever is. The map changes depending where we stand to view. However, the script remains the same as astonomers study celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.

Astronomy has helped us learn of evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, as well as the formation and development of the universe. One of the most important aspects of astronomy is its ability to help us understand our place in the universe.

While stars are beautiful and can provide guidance and knowledge, it is the tree that’s most important to our lives. Trees contribute to the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quaility, water conservation, preservation of the soil, and supports wildlife. During the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe.

Dendrology is the scientific study of trees. The trees reduce air pollution as mentioned above but they also minimise erosion, maintain healthy soil, provide a canapy for wildlife, increase rainfall, and absorb sunlight as energy.

All three of the above mentioned stars, trees, and snow are integral parts of our existence woven into the fabric of our lives. Guidance, air, and water blend into this kaleidoscope of energy which enhances our journey through the shear beauty and force of nature. Blessed are those that can take a moment to gaze to the stars, live in the forest, and feel the snow beneath their feet. It is within these sensory experiences that we become a part of that which is beyond our comprehension but at the same time a force that has the ability to touch our souls.

I witness the trees lit by the stars and framed by snow, as if I knew their disposition was a circus act evolving into natures show. The light of ten thousand suns illuminates the dark black hole below. Snow covered wooden arms reach for that which can not be touched, the ivory white sphere of a bright beacon lunch. I feast on this as if it were food and bare testimony to its ever changing mood.

It takes an observer to appreciate the vastness of nature all around, from the sky to the ground its a movie theatre in the round. We are but a speck in the overall outlook of the day which are put to lyrics everyday. We behold the origin of man or the end of mankind depending on the strike of life’s baton, the flip of a coin, or a simple wave of decline.

So fragile are these moments in time that all we can do is gaze beyond our mind and feel the tick tok of the precious seconds as our lives unwind.

This is my first holiday season I haven’t been in the restaurant business in the last 20 years. Typically there is the holiday guantlet which starts with Thanksgiving then morphs into Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the grand daddy of them all, New Years Eve.

When I was a manager I would have to create menus and staff properly to adjust for excess business and demand. Having these special occassions proceed without incident was an art unto itself. Each holiday brought a different challenge that revolved around first and foremost providing the guest with an unparalleled dining experience.

It takes just one guest to complain and the day is lost. However over the course of my career (which began in the early 70’s) and was put on hold because of college and my overture into the world of radio. I realized I had a gift for attention to detail and a love for the restaurant business which you can’t manufacture but is inbred into your soul.

The art of the business is constant eduction and the ability to determine your market. Besides the afor mentioned items it is the love of creating “the experience” that sets the restaurateur apart from the rest. Beginning but not limited to the atmosphere, the quality of the product, the chef to execute the menu, and the knowledgeable and trained staff to engage and deliver in a timely fashion. The combination of all of the above helps create a very special moment in time.

People will drive to the middle of nowhere to have an exceptional meal delivered by a trained staff in an atmosphere that enhances the environment around it.

One great example of this is “Candle in the Woods.” Located in a very small town in Athol Idaho near Coeur d’Alene, the Candle in the Woods chef (Dave Adlard) and his wonderful staff continue to create and amaze with a 12 course meal and wine pairing. Each meal is a statement of profound creativity with a running storybook about the creations and the pairings verbalized by Chef Adlard and the sommelier.

When time stands still in anticipation of the next course so perfectly prepared and served, it speaks volumes about the love those that produce the meal have for what they do. If a meal is constructed that constitutes a memory then you have a very special experience. Once in that environment you are captivated by the attention to detail and the nuance of design that transports you to places you’ve never been.

I speak of this restaurant as I have been a part of many holiday menus in many different restaurants. Typically restaurants are in full regalia exhibiting the best they have to offer.  Decorated to the nines with an eager staff in anticipation of serving a wonderful meal to delighted guests becomes the end game for these dedicated chefs and servers.

The Candle in the Woods prepares and executes their product as if it were their last, with the energy and focus as though it was their first. If you have a chance to engage in these amazing culinary delights that turns every meal into a holiday, then I would highly encourage you to make a reservation.

Over the holidays we are blessed to have friends and family to dinner with conversations that we may never forget. This kind of love and embracing family and friends is the wonderful culmination of a year in which most focus on all but what’s truly important… the connection we have with each other.

Anticipate in most high-end restaurants a departure from their typical fare. Most restaurants will serve a prefix menu offering add ons or other upgrades to the discerning guest. Beyond this realization is the fact that this menu (for the most part) has not been tasted by the staff and has not been seen by the servers but a short time before serving.

Most guests that go out for holiday meals are amateurs. They don’t know what to order and they don’t know how to tip.  They are there because of being  either too lazy to cook or are faced to comply by preasures from the family. They all come at the same time, somewhere between 6:30pm and 8pm. This is why I highly recommend preparing your own meal at home in your own time frame. Then you don’t have to deal with holiday traffic or a meal that is designed for fast delivery by a staff that really doesn’t know what they’re serving.

The exception to this rule is if you choose a place that is an amazing destination. Then, no matter what they serve, you will be awed by the environment and the fact that you just ponied up a vast amount of money for that one seflie that may or may not end up on the front of your next Christmas card. This type of memory may be worth it as you will not forget that meal at the Fairmont on top of nob hill decorated like no where else in that magical city… San Francisco.

No matter what the holiday is enjoy the fleeting time we have with each other and honor the people that are working. They miss their families and friends because they chose a business that revolves around special occassions for others. The moment they serve you, nothing could be better than the warmth of a smile to let them know they’re in the right place, providing holiday cheer, in a decorated environment that exudes the holiday spirit.

We are nestled in our new digs experiencing something we’ve not witnessed in twenty years… four seasons. The fall colors are emblazoned with orange, red, yellow and the mercurial colors that become purple, brown, and finally baron stems. This change occurs when the heat turns to warmth which becomes cold and quietly morphs to freezing. The blink of an eye within natures window of time turns sunshine to clouds and rain to snow.

Two days ago a blanket of cotton balls covered the ground. At least that’s what the earth looked like. The trees held the snow in their bows against the verticle trunk that shot up to the sky. This wooden sentry I viewed as elegant, stoic, and determined in its will to carry the weight from percipitation froze in mid-air.

WIld life hide and hibernate realizing that the tides of winter now beckon them to sleep. Empty caves now became the residence for the bears exhausted and full-bellied. Other creatures foraged for food while keeping a keen eye for preditors including man.

Hunters and fisherman dot the landscape looking for food, a trophy, or both. Without a gun or a fishing pole in this area is like going to the beach without a chest full of beer. Most of the Orofino hunters have lived here their whole life. They consider the opportunity to hunt as a way to provide sustenance for their families. The Orofino men and women honor the animals by following the rules of the hunt and using every part of the animal for both clothing or feasting.

Living in an area that provides this much natural beauty along with the  resources of crystal clean water, plant and herbal remedies, and game, is a gift. However, to much that is given much is required. Learning the ways of nature in any area is a full time education.

There are many wonderful teachers in Orofino. None better than the people that have lived in this area their whole lives. This is an Indian area that respects the many customs of the local tribe, the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce Indians have lived in this area for over 11,500 years.

The Nex Perce Indians were partly responsible for the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition ordered by Thomas Jefferson. The guidance and protection (which began in Orofino) afforded these explorers by the Nez Perce Indians traveling in northern Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, ensured the successful discovery of a waterway that led to the Pacific ocean.

The locals are very adept at adapting to the upcoming winter months. They take the weather conversation in stride. Put the snow tires on, wear the coats which will protect you down to well below freezing, and look out for anyone in distress that may need your help. Why? Because these Orofino residents are about community and the beauty that is born from the understanding that when it all comes down to it… all we have is each other.