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| Columbines showing their faces |
This is the first time in ages I can remember us having three nice weekends in a row! This hardly ever happens this early in the season, and I'm hoping it's a sign of things to come. Last Wednesday, Cliff Mass, when he realized that it was going to be nice again, wrote a post he called "
We Win the Spring Trifecta!" and compares this spring with our last one. Nice difference.
After a splendid six-mile walk this morning, I headed over to the Farmers' Market. All the vendors are a bit in shock themselves: ever since opening day (it's only on Saturdays), the weather has been wonderful. This young man is bicycling his way to a smoothie, and you notice that his mother is NOT wearing a jacket and has bare arms. (It wasn't that warm, if you ask me, but we tend to overdo it when the sun is shining.) The young lady in the picture below and her mother are prepared with sunglasses. I asked for permission to take her picture, she's just so cute!
By the time I took this picture, high clouds were beginning to form overhead, but it wasn't making any of the myriad smiles go away. Any time we have such beautiful weather, nobody is complaining. Once I headed home, I thought about writing a post and pondered making another photo safari, but the only thing I've been taking pictures of (other than those two at the market) are the amazing flowers that are abundant everywhere. Those columbines are under the steps to my apartment. My front porch flowers are coming along nicely, too.
The salvia are obviously happy as they spread their roots through the basket, and the fuschia is also blooming. I got two different kinds and look forward to seeing what comes up. The basket on the chair has pansies and sweet pea growing fast enough to see a difference from one day to the next. This time of year, when everything is anxious to make an appearance, the riot of color and birds singing their mating songs, fills my heart and eyes with abundance. And I must leave you with another picture from last week's trip to the Tulip Festival. There were so many wonderful ones, but I have to give Linda Letters a shout-out for
her pictures of the same gardens, which are simply spectacular. She lives in Seattle and traveled north to the gardens, while I traveled south to visit them from Bellingham. Please take a moment to look at her pictures. You won't be sorry.
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| Cascading tulips and hyacinth |
It's hard to remember the long gray days of clouds and rain right now. If I tried I could probably do it, but what's the point? Life is pretty darn good in the present moment. As one sage said, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, and today is a gift."
:-)
Isn't it amazing in the Pacific Northwest how quickly we forget the long dreary days of winter once we spy the first blossom of spring. Spring in the PNW is well worth enduring the dreary winter. I'm always amazed how many spaghetti strap tops appear on sunny days no matter the temperature.
ReplyDeleteOh DJan - The weather here has been perfect as well. Cannot remember a spring like this ever and the warmest one that came only a tad to this one was over 40 years ago. Lovely colours growing right outside your apartment and I love the flower baskets on your railing and porch. Aren't we so fortunate. I was in shorts yesterday out walking aboot with Jack and today it was long pants n jacket, as we are preparing for thunder storms tonight. Pretty good and I am not complaining. My tulips are up about 6 inches and believe it or not out in the countryside, there is still some ice in the wooded areas. We noticed it on a drive last weekend. Should be gone soon though. I love your market trips, we never know what we are going to see.
ReplyDeleteHave a great night, eh
I wish I could grow tulips in Hawaii, but it's too warm. In April, the temperature ranges from 69/72 at night to 79-82 at mid-day - too warm for tulips, but just right for me.
ReplyDeleteoh wow those cascading tulips are so cool....glad you had another good weekend...was nice this AM and rained all afternoon so we got the best of both worlds...no farmers market here today...we went to the flea market...great place to people watch too...smiles.
ReplyDeleteIt is just so lush where you live!! Lush! Lush! Lush! Rain or shine, to be honest. Love your market, too. Great sage quote!! Very true and very wise.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday, too!! :):)
very, very sweet! enjoy your wonderful spring days!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am enjoying the 'gift' of good weather. And flowers everywhere! We went to a plant sale this morning, helped set up for another this afternoon, and then worked in the yard. I planted all of the new purchases.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow we'll finish the edging of the lawn, and maybe take some time to sit on the patio with some wine and cheese.
I think I have to leave the rest of the blog reading until later. It's a lovely evening and I am going for a walk.
Everybody has their own good weather! We get mostly sunshine winter and summer because we have a dry climate. Many times we look t the clouds and hope for moisture. things look really fresh on the coast.
ReplyDeleteThat last shot is awesome..look at the color! I am off to see Lindas:)
ReplyDeleteIt's all so beautiful. I do love columbines. Thank you so much for visiting me while I was gone. I'm still so up-to-my-ears, but I just had to stop by to thank you. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe've had two gorgeous weekends in a row (if the thunderstorms predicted for Sunday don't show up) and I am enjoying every minute. We've had lots of rain in between but I shouldn't complain, in another month we will wish the rain would come back.
ReplyDeleteAll of the flowers are gorgeous. They do look even brighter after all those gray days don't they?
Thank you for this gift of a post. Just beautiful. Spring is such a magical time.
ReplyDeleteGranddaughter lives in Tacoma and seems to be having great weather too. They are visiting the Hoh Rain Forest next week...hope the weather remains nice for them. I often speak of your blog to her, DJan! Have missed a few posts, the recent passing of a sister-in-law/good friend and the out of state moves of 2 granddaughters had me in a 'blue' frame of mind. Better now...sunny skies do that for you!
ReplyDeleteSpring is just the best. Once that sun begins to shine and you feel the warmth on your back it makes you want to smile. The sun is shining here in London but we are waiting for the April showers to descend later today!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it lovely when you can enjoy the weather and it all makes for such a wonderful weekend !
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are so pretty, they are enjoying the mild weather too :)
A six-mile walk....girl you amaze me !
It's cooled done here in the Southern states, but that's just fine with me, I have Viking blood running through my veins, so cool is a good thing :)
What a sweet little girl...aahh I so miss my grandchildren, all grown up now.
Lovely post my dear friend,
Hugs,~Jo
The weather looks perfect and everyone looks happy, lighter. Gorgeous pics, as always.
ReplyDeleteI love these sunny days we are having. I can imagine you are enjoying them in the northwest. I'd love to stroll in that great farmer's market.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat--flowers and farmers markets and happy people !!
ReplyDeleteI wanna come visit your farmers market!
Today, and every day in my opinion, is a gift!!! Do you sit in your chair that is on the porch, and read?!! Or just enjoy the day with a cup of coffee while watching the world go by?
ReplyDeleteThat little gal with the white rimmed sunglasses is too adorable for words.
And the tulips? Beautiful.
I think all that sunshine is making you extra happy. Spring is such a beautiful time. Even here!
ReplyDeleteNice springtime post. I especially like the swirl of tulips...taken from a wonderful angle.
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