March!

Here comes Spring - it's so good to see the flowers poke through. Though it's been a mild winter for the most part, we get a bit antsy at this time of year - sort of a fever left over from childhood, when we knew a break was coming and the weather was so in-betweeny that it seemed we could just *will* the warmer times to be here already.

Flower boxes coming to life - March 6.

In our wanderings we've seen the signs around town - cleaning taking place, a general tidying up and awakening. On the hotel grounds we have the showings of green leaves, the early birds - and bees, our fuzzy honey-producing friends.

The ubiquitous grape hyacinth, common but welcome.

Of course - there's always stuff to do - as we can see from the picture below - the process is ongoing. Soon we'll be painting and putting up the trellis for hops and sweet peas. The Crow's Nest (room above the lobby) will be getting a snoot full of light scent this summer if all goes well.

Roses are just putting out leaves - the trellis will be going in, the tree-that-ate-Cleveland will be tamed sometime soon.

One thing's for sure - these bright days are teasers. It's still sweater weather, but it's nice not to wear a coat over it all. Layer by layer we get closer to the busy summer season.

Plants to be - poppies, cerinthe, pinks, snapdragons, and a tomato.

January - Mid

It's been pretty sunny here for most of the winter so far - with the exception of a couple of days a week or so ago. Very mild and bright. There is the illusion of warmth, but you will want a sweater.

 Things are starting to come into flower again - just barely, but once it starts, it really takes off. So far, the rosemary's showing the color. It seems to be an early indicator in these parts.

This was tonight's sunset - it looks like a huge fiery fingerprint right over the ocean.

Late December Around Town

It's been unusually clear for a December this year - which means a walk around town to see the lights and sights. Here we have the bandstand (about half a block from Banana Books), which is, in warmer times, the site of many a concert. 

The sea monster - with wagging tail (caught here mid-wag) lives in a pocket park right next to Marsh's Museum. (Jake the Alligator Man is inside, being a warm-weather creature.)

Another pocket park has an orca, a giant razor clam, and a suitably-sized frying pan. 

It's a good place to walk around. Not pictured, because you really  have to see it yourself, is the amazing village set up in the back room of the Hungry Harbor, where they also make a very smooth espresso. 

Thanksgiving Eve at the Coast

Last night we had gusts of close to 80 mph - as recorded at Cape Disappointment. Our mid-week guests reportedly loved it - "very dramatic!" Storm watching is a frequent winter past-time out this way.

There was a casualty - one strawberry plant kaput (here pictured on the low roof, where we put the blue pot to keep the &*%% deer away. That's the Crow's Nest room in the background).

The sky tonight - calm and beautiful.