I've been living in smaller subset of Seattle for a while now, It's a place called "Ballard". It's an industrial section of Seattle founded by fisherman and tradesmen that has a booming maritime industry. Not long ago most all of the residents lived off the heartbeat of the maritime industry (stevedores, welders, engineers, painters, heavy equipment operators), even the local shops and eateries were aimed at the gruff patrons that resided in the affordable housing just blocks away, the food was fried and having a beard wasn't an ironic statement.
A lot has changed in the last 5 or so years, it was wrong to think that there could be a place close to the city and to the work that helped keep so many business afloat. A place that the people and employees of many of these establishments could afford. The small the greasy spoons and pubs are slowly dying away to make way for "chic" new shops with 20$ hamburgers and 5$ pbr's. The scandinavian houses that lined the suburbs, houses built for families in the 1900's with architecture purveying character and spirit true to the history of the town are being torn down by the hand full to make room for "econo houses" and condominiums that seat four families in the place of one, that sell for close to a million dollars a piece. The single lane roads are congested with no additional parking being installed. The locals are being priced out by the steadily increasing prices on everyday essentials.
I've always enjoyed whittling and woodcarving, and in a area where there are more construction zones then street corners on each block, I'm finding no shortage of leftover building supplies to carve into. I hate the "progress" that forces me to tighten my purse strings further every day. Taking bits and pieces of the lumber from the "progressive" homes isn't making a difference, but it makes me feel better. I hope you enjoy this little carving I did (about the size of a dollar bill) and don't waste your money on one of the 10$ avocado tacos you can buy down the street.
