September in the Barn = YOGA

YOGA BRUNCH – with Karen Percelle

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 11:00 -12:30

$30 includes a morning practice of yoga for all levels, followed by a light brunch prepared by Katie and Amy to be enjoyed in the garden.

Please contact Karen directly with questions and to reserve your space (25 ppl.): karenpercelle@comcast.net

A DAY OF YOGA – with Kit Muehlman

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH, 10:30-4:30

$63 includes a full day of Anusara-style yoga practices (physical yoga), guided breathing exercises,  guided mantra meditation, and  deep, restorative relaxation. Lunch will be prepared by Katie and Amy, a healthy accompaniment to the day.

Please contact Kit directly to reserve space –  http://blissdogyoga.com/adayofyogabittersbarn/

Questions regarding location directions and details feel free to contact us at 360-466-3550

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6th Annual Bitters Co. Harvest Dinner

Harvest Dinner 2010-photo by Bernie Alonzo

With an overwhelming response to the announcement of this year’s Dinner on October 5th, the event quickly sold out.

Renee Erickson and staff will be preparing the meal this year. Twenty years of enjoying the foods and environments of Renee’s exquisite taste and eye, and loving the staff and culture she creates, we are honored to have her a part of our annual dinner.

Nicole and Maggie Holbert will not be preparing the meal as they have for the past 5. With the purchase of the Corner Tavern in Edison , a new baby, and  frequent trips to SF (as a family member is involved with the Oracle in this years Americas Cup) their lives are  full.

The Dovetails will be a part of the new, a duo from the valley who will play throughout the evening.

All else remains the same: the bounty of the Skagit Valley will be the fare, wines available as selected by John of Slough Foods, fresh cider – all served in and around our barn. As guests, will be the farmers whose produce we will be enjoying.

Here is to the fall.

Katie and Amy

A little taste of Portugal from our April 2013 trip.

We woke in Estremoz. Finished business then took to the road. Stayed on the white and green roads, must say I thought of dad as I drove those roads (Amy navigates) and got to shift/downshift as we made our way, perfect driving and no one on the road.
Lunched in Castelo Branco, finished the day at our northern favorite, Belmonte. We are now away from the land of cork and terracotta. Tomorrow we go to a factory for Burel, boiled and carded wool – the new addition to our line – up on the Estrella Dosa, the “mountains” of Portugal and the land of the tastiest sheep cheese one can have.
Boa noite.We have left the mountains and are now in the central part of Portugal. Stone buildings, rivers, small clustered villages, pastoral beauty. Not to say high speed freeways and modern times are not visible as well. That just wouldn’t be Portugal, too small a country for both not to be side by side.

Yesterday we met with the two Louroso brothers who make the Barro Negro. Had lunch at another favored restaurant that serves their dishes from the Barro negro – broad beans, small pieces of pork with rice, and a type of bitter green fresh at this time, like collard.
Large mushrooms and asparagus, both found in the fields, not cultivated, were a part of the menu further south. Here spring is a little slower coming, though we did see lilacs yesterday.

Our night brought us back to Quinta de tres rios, a large stone manor home, turned “English b&b” by Hugh and Jane. We hear the rivers and birds from our high ceiling room with tall French doors wide open overlooking their fields. We were asked to share their dinner with them and other guests. This is the couple I want Chuck and I to learn how to smoke meats from, that has always been their line of business. We drank their own wine as well (rose and red). They have created quite the life. Politics, ooh, stay away from that area of conversation though, a bit conspiracy theorists.
Today, Wednesday, we head further north to the city where the cotton and linen factories are, embroidery is done, and where Portugal began, Guimaraes.

Atalago, until later.Today was the weekly market in Barcelos. We found what we came for, a bolt – 25 meters – of linen for our future bag project (shoes, bread, toiletries …). My sewing machine given to me years ago for my birthday will finally be put to work. We also decided to pursue two other options for the Bitters Co. line: a basket style (size to be determined) and a style if glazed pottery that is fresh and utilitarian. All to be tested.
It is Thursday night. Carol is with her family, Michelle holds down the fort in Fremont. Tomorrow Meaghan brings fresh air into the barn studio. Thank you all.
Family, we love you.
We head into Porto tomorrow, a new city for us.
Boa Noite.We are here in the other city, already missing the country. A tighter city, more tourists, well we can say we favor Lisbon, but maybe too soon. Arrived at 6 p.m., wandered down to the Douro.
Dinner in one of the older cafes of the city. Then entertained serendipitously in the street with fireworks and a symphony set in open windows of an apartment building.
Now to sleep with the songs of college students in the streets. We think we might go back to the country tomorrow night, our last here this trip.
K and A

BARN SALE – JUNE 22

BITTERS CO. BARN SALE
SATURDAY JUNE 22, 10-5

ITEMS FROM OUR NOW CLOSED STORE
20% OFF OUR THE BITTERS CO. WHOLESALE LINE
ONE OF A KIND ITEMS
SPECIAL DEALS

ENJOY THE SKAGIT VALLEY

14034 CALHOUN RD.
S/E CORNER BEST & CALHOUN:
take exit 221 off of I5 – before the said bridge – and
follow signs to La Conner (a beautiful 10 mile drive)

360-466-3550

THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT FINALE

WE HAD A WONDERFUL TURN OUT ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR A GREAT 20 YEARS. NOW WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING COME SEE US IN LA CONNER. FIRST DATE, JUNE 22 FOR OUR BARN SALE.

KATIE AND AMY

SALE & CELEBRATION – MAY 18TH, 2013

PLEASE JOIN US SATURDAY MAY 18TH

TO CELEBRATE BITTERS CO. IN FREMONT

ON JUNE 1ST THE STORE WILL CLOSE.

WE WILL BE HAVING A SALE ON THE 18TH:

11:00-2:00 p.m. – 10% off

2:00-3:00 – 20%

3:00-4:00 – 30%

4:00-5:00 – 40%

5:00-6:00 – 50%

6:00- auction of selected items

WE HAVE HAD A FANTASTIC 20 YEARS  IN SEATTLE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO RAISE A TOAST IN YOUR HONOR.

KATIE AND AMY

FREMONT STORE CLOSING JUNE 1, 2013

At the 20th year mark of Bitters Co., we have decided to consolidate our business to one place, the Skagit Valley. With both of our households located in the Valley, our wholesale and online businesses thriving, and special events taking place in the Bitters Co. barn – all signs point to staying closer to home.

On June 1, 2013, we will close the doors at 513 N. 36th St. in Fremont. Much of the store’s merchandise will continue to be available online at bittersco.com.

We will celebrate our 20th anniversary with an sale at the store on Saturday, May 18th.

Future events to look forward to at the Bitters Co. Farm in the Skagit: June our barn sale and the yoga brunch, and in the Fall our 6th Annual Harvest Dinner.
Plans for more events (music, readings, film, workshops…) are in the making.

We are excited for this next chapter in the life of Bitters Co., and look forward to your continued participation. Our website will show our calendar, and we will be posting a quarterly newsletter to keep you well informed of our exploits and activities.

Thank you for the years of support and encouragement.

Spring is here!

The daffodils are in full bloom, tulips just beginning to show their heads. April will see the Skagit Valley alive with brilliant color.

Amy and I will be on our annual product development trip to Portugal the 6th of April through the 21st. We will be in the Alentejo working with our suppliers of cork, wool rugs, and ceramic table ware. We will head north from there towards  the Douro region where we will meet with suppliers of our cotton textiles and barro negro, the black flameware ideal for roasting.

We will be looking all the time for new items to add to our Bitters Co. line, and for those wonderful one of a kind pieces.

Happy Easter.

Katie

Bitters Co.’s Portuguese Dish Towels in use – Singapore.

Proud Sponsors of the 2nd Annual Edison Bird Festival

Scouting for Snowy Owls

It was a soft grey weekend in the Skagit. On Sunday the fog lifted to clear skies. Short eared owls and 4 snowy owls were seen near Stanwood. Many harriers, plenty of snow geese and trumpeter swans on Fir Island, not to mention eagles.. Honorable mention goes to the dunlin, their flight above Skagit Bay was spectacular. A perfect birding weekend – Feb. 9th and 10th. http://www.edisonbirdfestival.com