Late Spring Snow

Here's a little proof that if you are patient you can still get in some good days even in a lousy snow year.  Our neighbor took this over the weekend up on Silver Peak .  Pretty good looking snow with decent coverage!

In other mountain news….the same neighbor spotted what he believed to be a wolf on the side of the highway, I 90, on his way down to town Sunday morning.  He contacted fish and wildlife and unfortunately, the wolf was hit a bit later .  Fish and Wildlife confirmed (well, it’s been sent for DNA testing) that it was a female wolf, weighing in at 185 lbs, all black and most likely from a known pack to the Northeast of us.  The wildlife officers on approach thought it was a young bear because of it’s size and dark color.    This spot on the highway is a regular “road kill” area as Elk like to feed on the side of the road there.  Last year a cougar was hit in the same area.  Anyway, I wish I had seen the wolf!  It’s interesting to know that they are around us….Though I’m not sure I’d want to see one while out running or hiking.  Would you?  Have you run into any large wildlife while out in the forests?

Tree Hugger?

Happy Earth Day!

One More Silver Dollar

Well, the folks on Sirius radio keep telling me that it's International Guitar Player month.  So I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you how much I LOVE Gregg Allman and share this absolutely fabulous video that I stumbled across while spending too much time on YouTube.  It's one of those performances that gave me goosebumps.  And Vince Gill?  damn.  of course ZB is no slouch either.  Give it a listen, and tell me, do you have a favorite guitar player? Yes, I know, who can pick just one.

Monday Things, "Happiness Weighed"

My well-thumbed copy of Moby Dick

There's a passage in Moby Dick, my favorite book, work of art, titled The Doubloon.   A gold piece, a doubloon, has been affixed to the mast.  It is from Ecuador, inscribed with various images including what appear to be the signs of the zodiac. Several different ship's men stand before it one by one and relate their thoughts. Flask sees it as nothing more than a piece of gold.  He says, " I see nothing here, but a round thing made of gold, and whoever raises a certain whale, this round thing belongs to him."  He goes on to equate it's worth to how many cigars he can buy with it, 960.  Stubb, the first mate, stands in front of it and says this:

"Look you, doubloon, your zodiac here is the life of man in one round chapter; and now I'll read it off , straight out of the book!  Come, Almanack!  To begin: there's Aries, or the Ram-lecherous dog, he begets us; then Taurus, or the Bull- he bumps us first thing; then Gemini, or the Twins- that is, Virtue and Vice; we try to reach Virtue, when lo! comes Cancer the Crab and drags us back; and here, going from Virtue, Leo, a roaring lion, lies in the path- he gives a few fierce bites, and surly dabs with his paw; we escape, and hail Virgo, the Virgin! that's our first love; we marry and think to be happy for aye, when pop comes Libra, or the Scales- happiness weighed and found wanting; and while we are very sad about that, Lord! how we suddenly jump, as Scorpio, or the Scorpion, stings us in rear; we are curing the wound, when whang come the arrows all round; Sagittarius, or the Archer, is amusing himself. As we pluck out the shafts, stand aside! here's the battering-ram, Capricornus, or the Goat; full tilt, he comes rushing, and headlong we are tossed; when Aquarius, or the Water-bearer, pours out his whole deluge and drowns us; and, to wind up, with Pisces, or the Fishes, we sleep.  There's a sermon now, writ in high heaven, and  the sun goes through it every year, and yet comes out of it all alive and hearty..."

Ahhhh.  That really sums it up, doesn't it?  I'm not sure what stage I am in, but so often it feels like I am dodging that ram, trying to out run the scorpion.  Perhaps it is just a Monday sentiment.  A rainy Monday, books and coffee, emails from a friend: I need to lace up my shoes and go hike up the mountain.  I will weigh happiness as I take in the view. I do not think I will find it wanting.

Monday Things, Rain and Chickens

Yes, I know it's Tuesday.  I'm a bit behind.  Maybe it will cycle around and I'll be ahead?

We've been getting some rain in the mountains and it's a good thing.  If we go too long without rain in The Northwest we all get a bit anxious. It's refreshing and relaxing.  Good coffee drinking weather.

(image from Garden Of Words)

Have you noticed that it's becoming more popular to keep chickens?  We have always known a few friends who have had chickens, usually in rural areas. But chickens are showing up in urban settings, the suburbs and yes, even in the mountains.  A neighbor up the road has a pretty nice coop set up, complete with metal roof for snow that matches and is attached to his home.  I ran into another neighbor yesterday who told me they have chickens "in the bathtub".  Their coop is decidedly more basic, $20 worth of materials attached to the porch gives the chickens shelter and keeps them close.  There are a lot of options for your chicken home.  I saw This Place on a recent trip through Ballard.  While I don't think I could keep chickens myself I certainly admire those who are taking it on, especially in the mountains where there's an extra challenge to it.   

Have you noticed chickens in your neighborhood?  Do you have chickens?  I do like the thought of fresh eggs....Happy Spring!

Awhile Ago We Went Surfing

My husband surfs.  He's been surfing for decades.  Me, well, I'm trying to learn but several things put me off....the other surfers, the cold water, the thought of sharks, the cold water.  Possibly, I won't learn because you can't learn if you don't get in the water.  But learning in say, Washington state, is quite a bit different than learning in California or Hawaii.  Possibly it's just an "old dog, new tricks" thing for me.  I'm going to keep working on it but in the mean time, I really enjoy our trips out to the coast.  On this particular day there were at least 75 surfers out in the water off Westport, but a quick drive around the corner yielded solitary surfing and some decent waves if you were patient.  

When I showed my husband this photo, he was struck by how small he looked out there.  Um....yeah.. The next day there was a story in the news about an 18' Great White shark being spotted off of Ocean Shores, right across the way. They estimated it's size by examining the bite mark on a seal that had been bitten in half. I'm sure the shark wouldn't look very big either if I took it's photo.

While we were there, I hung out with my best dog friend Scout and we spotted these boxes built along the jetty.

We had seen several cats that darted quickly into the rocks when we approached.  There was a fish processing plant of some sort across the street. It seems like there's a great animated cat movie here?  This guy could be the star I think.

The beach, ocean waves, sunshine , being with my beloved man and pup, and cats....a very complete day. Right?

SNOW TODAY

A LITTLE LATE TO THE PARTY, DON'T YOU THINK??