
Migrating Canada Goose flock over Long Beach, WA – USA ~ Easter 2019
“…the seasons they go round and round…” Joni Mitchell


Migrating Canada Goose flock over Long Beach, WA – USA ~ Easter 2019
“…the seasons they go round and round…” Joni Mitchell

Creighton and I love fresh, crusty, classic breads; baguette, ciabatta, rustic all are favorites. We had been disappointed with what we found in local bakeries on the Long Beach peninsula – until yesterday!

We went in for scones and here was all this lovely bread!
We stayed for a quiche brunch and brought scones and bread home for later.

What a delightful little cafe, with delectable food!

This gallery contains 2 photos.
As April arrives, birds continue to call for mates and pairing-up is in full swing. Building or re-furbishing nests is in process, and every once in a while I hear what may be the cheeps of chicks.
While Jello and I were on our daily walk, a Song Sparrow, perched upon a blackberry vine, belted-out a melodious invitation.
Twining along the rail to my front door is an Evergreen Clematis, it makes a pretty welcome.

Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom‘
Spring invites us back outside, and since I like messing around with dirt and plants, this is my favorite time of year.
There’s much cleaning out and planning to do – I call it playing outside!

March winds linger, scattering Flowering Plum (Prunus cerasifera) petals into pink drifts. Here they are floating in a birdbath while April showers patter.

Prunus cerasifera
My neighbor has an admirable copse of Forsythia (seen in the background above) with a lovely Flowering Quince anchoring each end of the border. Such a wonderful shrub!

Primula “Blue Zebra”
A few years ago I learned that Primroses, sold locally as annuals, actually are perennial evergreens in my zone. They are thriving in a rock garden I can see from the kitchen window – my “Primrose Lane” cheers me all winter.
“Flowers are beautiful hieroglyphics of nature, with which she indicates how much she loves us.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This week Leya invites us to feature photos of things weathered and worn. Since I enjoy taking pictures of old dilapidated structures and manmade things that are being ravaged and reclaimed by the forces of nature, this was another fun challenge! Here are some gems from my exploration of the Long Beach peninsula.


Boats of many kinds are moored on water and land throughout the area. This little old craft caught my eye as I drove by, and beckoned me back to take some shots!


Earlier this month, in response to Amy’s challenge #35: Architecture, I featured three churches. At the one most in need of restoration, The Sanctuary in Chinook, the chapel bell rests on the ground. If my interpretation of the maker’s mark is correct it was created at The C.S. Bell foundry in Hillsboro, Oregon in 1938.

Heaps of old crab pots, mountains of oyster shells, and coils of rope are another feature in this coastal community.

At Fort Columbia State Park, this storage building is slowly being consumed by blackberry brambles and the hillside.

A hand-crafted memorial marker in Lone Fir Cemetery.
https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2019/03/23/lens-artists-photo-challenge-38-weathered-or-worn/

Recently I enjoyed a couple afternoon hours with Al Young at the Portland Roadster Show. Al has been a friend since our undergraduate years at the University of Washington. When Creighton and I met, both he and Al resided in The French House of McMahon Hall. Creighton was Al’s tutor for French. I remember one time hearing Al appealing to Creighton: “Man, I need your help here – please!!! I just have to pass this one class and I’ll be done with foreign language!” What a fun, thoughtful and insightful person he was then and continues to be. His story is compelling and one I encourage you to read (see link below).

Al with his 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner
Since the first 8,000 mile cross-country USA road-trip with his wife Vicki in 2011, they have toured Europe three times, attending the Power Big Meet, where he was awarded first-place trophy for longest distance traveled at The Power Big Meet in Vasteras, Sweden, 2014.
“Over decades of competition, Al raced his Challenger at speeds over 150 miles per hour, winning everything from state championships to thousands of dollars as a three-time world champion of Hot Rod Racing. His titles include the American Hot Rod Association World Champion, the National Hot Rod Association Division Champion, and American Hot Rod Association World Finals Champion.”

“Al Young retired from competitive racing in 2003 and donated his racecar to the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle. The lime-green car presides over the museum lobby and displays the decals of Al’s many supporters, a dense pattern of stickers reminiscent of the colorful patchwork of paint on Al’s first Mercury. Al paid $1,100 for his Challenger, in 1975. Today, it is worth $600,000.”
https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-challenger-the-al-young-story/book_segments/chapter-1-68