One day left.

One day to make your voice heard in the way that we’ve always done it in this country. One day to assert our right to choose our leaders in the face of attempts by the extremist wing of the Republican party to take that right away from us.

As U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California wrote in a decision against the administration’s attempts to interfere in an election in Alaska:

“In the lead-up to the election, high-ranking DOJ [Department of Justice] and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] officials have engaged in a campaign to intimidate, threaten, and coerce state and local officials and employees who are engaged in administering the ongoing midterm 2026 election.

“One of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation,” the judge wrote. “Free exercise of the right to vote is a core tenet of our democracy. It requires safeguarding to ensure full participation and public trust in our elections.”

I urge you to fill out your ballot and take it to an official ballot drop box site (list of sites here), since it’s too late to mail it in time for it to count.

That said, let’s turn to a brief summary of what you’ll find at Good Stuff NW:

• A Camping Trip for the Record Books. We celebrate 20 years of tent camping, and I share some new hacks for a successful (and thus more relaxing) trip.

• I Meet a Personal Hero, Hani Almadhoun of the Gaza Soup Kitchen. It’s humbling to meet someone whom I’ve admired online and find them to be as approachable and amazing as I’d hoped.

• Celebrating Cherry Tomato Season with an Easy Dinner Recipe. This one was inspired by a Mark Bittman recipe from his New York Times days.

• A New Adventure Begins, Part One. At 71 years old I’m embarking on a long-delayed passion for spending time on the water in my new-to-me kayak!

• Passion for Pickling: Fermented Corn! Preserving the best of summer with a new zingy condiment.

• Road Tripping to Baker City. The best sights and spots to eat local in this surprising, lively town.

• Supporting Local Producers in Far-Flung Communities. Kristy Athens of Good Groceries gets ethically sourced, good food to her neighbors in Eastern Oregon.

• Paddling Lacamas Lake. Discovering local waterways along with local efforts to improve them.

• Holiday Party Time! Tips and tricks for great holiday gatherings from my friend, author Mary Bartlett, with links to recipes.

• A New Way with Squash. This stew is an easy solution to dinner that’ll get raves from your family.

Thanks for reading, and if you find this source of news from the Pacific Northwest helpful, I’d love it if you would consider a nominal Patreon subscription to help make this labor of love possible. Otherwise, enjoy reading all the delicious and informative content—it’s always free and always will be!

Best,

Kathleen Bauer