Submitted by Don Doman I grew up in a mom and pop motel. I did everything from washing linen to renting rooms. Making repairs, moving appliances, painting, and mowing was all just part of my chores. I began renting rooms when I was in the seventh grade. As an adult, my wife and I owned […]
A Celebration of Yard Art
Submitted by Don Doman Yard Art is generally a term for “any man-made aesthetic experience occurring in a private yard or garden.” However, I like to go a little broader and add murals and almost any artistic display you can see while driving by a yard, a building, or other structures including commissioned pieces of […]
Davy Crockett and Me
Submitted by Don Doman Most people today don’t know about the big craze of the mid-fifties, Davy Crockett. There were five one-hour episodes shown on the Disneyland television series. They ran on ABC from 1954-1955. The series stared Fess Parker as Davy Crockett, who later also starred as Daniel Boone; and Buddy Ebsen, who later […]
Madrona Deer Park – Sculpture
Submitted by Don Doman It all started with a Deodar cedar, which is native to the Himalayan Mountains of northern India. Unfortunately, it was growing in our front yard at the southwest corner of our home. It pollinated twice a year and covered the deck, the driveway and the cars with golden pollen. On the […]
It’s the Little Things That Count
Submitted by Don Doman For our twenty-fifth anniversary someone gave us a little silver set. It was really nice, but it didn’t mean anything to us. I don’t think we ever used it. While an earlier gift (wedding or anniversary) from my uncle who operated a gas station gave us a set of serrated steak […]
Working with People
Submitted by Don Doman Back when I was young and stupid . . . sorry. Let me rephrase that. Back when I was unaware of how human relationships worked and president of a community organization, I told one of my vice presidents that he was doing a bad job. This did not result in the […]
Location, Location, Location, Ivar’s and Lots of Clams
Submitted by Don Doman An almost killing blow was dealt to Seattle icon Ivar’s Fish Bar in early June, when it was announced that their lease would not be renewed by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. If you don’t know the name Ivar, then you don’t know much about Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and seafood. Here’s […]
Family Pets – Wild or Tame
Submitted by Don Doman As a boy I had a cocker spaniel, Cindy (she was as black as cinders), and a collie mix, Pal (had him since he was a few weeks old and he was my pal, my friend, my companion). They would wait by the front gate for me to return from school […]
Tough Times for Talent
Submitted by Don Doman Once upon a time people with talent were sought out and paid fees based on how good they were. This was before the proliferation of computer programs and a blurring of between good and bad. Dorothy Wilhelm, writer and professional speaker once said, “There is only one thing worse than not […]