Ocean & Butter

A study of deep ocean blue and butter yellow, ideas for a joyful week, and more favorite spots in New York.

The airport had a taxidermied bear, deer heads, mounted fish, and one baggage claim belt. We stood, waiting for the camera cases to turn up on the conveyor. I was trying not to make eye contact with the bear.

We rolled the camera equipment and suitcases through the one-room airport. Clad in flannel, fishermen and tourists with boxes of frozen salmon were in the baggage line waiting to get their fish checked. The automatic doors opened to the smell of fresh earth, drizzling rain, and dense green woods surrounding us. Connor had identified the rental SUV parked in the small parking lot, the key was simply left on the tire for us. The air smelled fresh in the way that you keep taking really deep breaths and question what is wrong with the air you are familiar with. We loaded up the car, waiting for the producer to meet us in the lot, who was on another flight landing shortly after.

When you love someone, you feel joy in their joy. My eyes sparkle as I watch Connor in his element, his favorite space to be — on a set. He is a documentary filmmaker. Putting a production crew together, location scouting, traveling, even charging cameras and loading SD cards — he is energized, and there is a fire burning in him with purposeful work and art. I like to watch it, and I am not sure whether to watch him or focus on breathing this delicious mountain air as it sinks in that we’ve landed in Sitka, Alaska, for the week.

The whole team arrived and concluded we were famished. I can’t recall how we actually found it — I think the restaurant had come up in Connor’s extensive research of the town. I remember a local mentioning it as a “structure ol’ Scotty built.” I was curious why they referenced it as a structure, not a restaurant.

Calling it a “hole in the wall” spot is an injustice.

Its was called Sea Daddy.

Crafted out of old ship scraps and whatever material he could find, Sea Daddy sat by the water with two parking spots.

We entered the structure and found just one table sitting amongst hanging fishing nets, historic archives glued to the walls, and loose ship parts. NPR was at the loudest possible volume, oil was crackling on the stove, and you could completely see into the narrow kitchen. That’s where we saw him, the Sea Daddy. Scotty. He quickly told us he only accepted cash, and he only made fried yellow tail on a stick. A little apprehensive, but hungry, we agreed to the terms and sat down.

Naturally, a crew of people making documentaries started asking him questions. Scotty was wearing a cupcake apron, sailors cap, and had a grovely deep voice that would make him the ideal candidate for reading a Moby Dick audiobook.

Scotty was happy to chat, he told us all about yellow tail, how he caught it himself in the boat around back. Then he detailed his frustration with the government permitting that made it so difficult to start his restaurant, and why he was never able to really finish building it. He explained he was running for local office now and gestured toward the clip art poster on the wall with his campaign slogan. He explains the archives he has modge-podged on the walls, shows us his old diving photos from when he was a diver, and then explains the area’s rich native history and the dangers of tourism. Somehow, it came up that he lives here too. “Where?” one of us asks in between fish-on-a-stick bites.

“In the deep freezer.”

We all laugh.

Scotty doesn’t. Scotty is serious.

“Can I see?” I ask, knowing I had nothing to lose.

“Sure.” He begins walking to the back hallway, if you could call it a hallway. I glance at my husband as a final goodbye in case I’m about to be a true crime victim, but he is already getting up to see, too.

Sure enough, one of the deep freezers had broken, and he turned it into his home. A bed, a stovetop, some t-shirts, and pantry items. He explained it had great insulation, and we nodded along, in disbelief.

We visited Scotty a few more times during our time in Alaska. He was a walking history book with strong opinions and was willing to be featured in the documentary.

Outside of Sea Daddy’s, just behind it, there was the ocean. The deepest, darkest blue. It took my breath away. How something so deep and vast could be so casually nestled behind this odd little restaurant (and home?)

Today, as a color study, I’m inspired by that Alaskan experience. I am pairing a deep blue with a butter yellow. The beautiful ocean fading into the mountains, and the butter frying in the stainless steel pan.

A color combination worthy of a fisherman. Maybe even Scotty.

Think: Battered wooden boats, deep sea fishing, faded sun hats, sails in the sky, cottage front doors.

Find image sources here

Here are some ideas for making your week more joyful:

• Make a menu: Turn your grocery shopping into a creative project by designing a week.

• Call someone: Set aside 15 minutes to call someone you love and ask them about their life, how they are feeling, etc. No agenda except to relaly listen to them.

• Go to the movie theater: Bring some snacks, recline that chair, and just immerse in movie magic. When is the last time you smelled that buttery popcorn smell?

• Press go on that idea you have, product you want to make, wall you want to paint, meal you want to try, etc. Just go for it.

• Host a dinner party: Invite 3-4 people over for an intimate dinner at your place. Challenge yourself to cook something new, and maybe meet someone new!

Here are 3 Williamsburg spots to add to your visit list:

📍 Cornershop Hightide: 77 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

• An incredible stationery store and plant shop. The have a wide selection of specialty Japanese pens and notebooks. A journaler’s dream!

📍 Designers Collab: 96 N 5th St. Brooklyn, NY 11249

• Lifestyle shop with incrediblely unique furniture and home decor AND a coffee/tea bar!

📍 Gertie: 357 Grand St. Brooklyn, NY 11211

• Bacon, bagels, babka, brunch!

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MORE INBOX CANDY:

✸ How to Host a Home Café, complete with a task list, printable invites, and menu designs!

✸ Printable Spring Bucket List designs, and a heartfelt update on this digital publication

✸ Mind Gardening: Thoughts, things, art, challenges, and feelings to be curious about, dwell on, discover, and explore.

✸ A Color Study of cherry red and seafoam blue/green (and a lobster phone wallpaper)

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