Tetons

 This is the boat that used to be the only way to get across the river.  Not very convenient, but effective.

 Nothing to say about all the beauty in the Teton National Park.  

Jenny Lake in the background is still frozen.  It was named for a Shoshone woman who married

 Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh.  She and their six children died of smallpox in 1876.

  He was bereft but eventually married again and had three more kids. 

Signs everywhere warning us to be cautious of wildlife and for hours all we saw were a couple birds.  Not even flocks of birds, just one here or there, probably the scouts. Finally a herd of bison, not even appreciating their view, just eating, eating, eating.  Apparently they are thrilled to find something green after a long winter.  No wonder they look so raggedy.  

Yours til Idaho Falls

 On the Snake River, Idaho Falls is low but very powerful and huge.

  It was a blustery morning so we didn't spend much time gazing at the beauty.  Next time.  

 Balsamic reduction on fries.  Bring another load, please. 

Alas, the sluts sold all the brownies before we arrived.  

 Sagebrush, not to be confused with the sage plant used in cooking.  If Idaho didn't already have the potato, they might have to adopt this as the state plant because it's everywhere. 

Can you see the name?  The company that makes this bright potato harvesting equipment is called Spudnik.

Now we're going to load up and go to Jackson.

She'd look good in a potato sack

It was a busy day, enjoying the beauty of Idaho.  Really.  It's a gorgeous state and the highlight has been a visit to the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot.  See?

1948 was a good year for tractors and babies.

 Somebody said of Marilyn that she was so pretty she would look good in a potato sack

 so her agent took some pictures of that very thing.  Al is smitten. 

A Little Alventure

 We said goodbye to Al's bucket garden and set off on a little vacation.

First stop was Pendleton, OR, which is mostly about cowboys and cowboy boots, but they also still have the famous woolen mill.  We were too late for one tour and too early for another, but did get to peek in the windows to see where they spin the yarn and weave the fabric.  From sheep to shirt very quickly.

 This seems to be a very creative way to tell us that the sidewalk is broken and we don't want to fix it. 

My new motto. 

 On to Boise, where we once again happened upon an afternoon organ recital.  This time the organist explained all about how a pipe organ works, which was very interesting. 

 Amazing what some hollow tubes and air can do.

 Yes, Albertson's was begun in Boise.  

 Nothing but cute.

Boise is the captial so we couldn't resist the capitol.  Nice dome.

It has been brought to my attention -

Well, I've been told that you saw so much of the project construction,

 but not enough of the completed product, so here are a couple results. 

 This is the dining room/kitchen side of what used to be the big brick fireplace. 

 Here is the living room side, with the granite we were lucky enough to find in the leftover pile. 

 There will be a mantle someday but we haven't happened upon just the right thing yet.  

Sometimes the search is half the fun.  

 Digger found an edging tool at the second-hand shop for $2 and seems to think it's fun.  

Remember those thousands of  cheerful yellow dandelions last week?

  Lawn mowers all over the neighborhood seem to be going night and day this time of the year,

trying to keep ahead of them.  Not so pretty now, are they?

Give Me Another Shot

 Al and Marco on the ferry to Bainbridge. 

Didn't this turn our good?  Maybe because it was taken by a stranger.

Will I ever finish planting Blue Star Creeper in those thousands of little holes?

Maybe if I do one six-pack before breakfast I'll be rewarded with french toast.

Maybe. Is 7:30 too early for chocolate?

Snow Bunny

 Easter Sunday was special because Marco came from San Francisco to play with us for the weekend.  We drove the 30 miles up to Hurricane Ridge, where apparently they haven't gotten the word that it's spring.

 I can see our house from here.  

 Really.  That is the Dungeness Spit and we are just 1/3 mile inland from there.  

Looks like those dust spots have returned on the camera and I'll be sending it back again.  Wah.

 Not good photography, but we stopped at Hama Hama oysters for just a little taste of fresh goodness.

 Creative use of garbage, isn't it?

Al's job is finished with the turf stone on the new patio, but my job is just beginning. 

 Will it ever grow full and pretty?  Stay tuned. 

If I Only Had a Roar

 Sequim's claim to fame is the Lavender Capital of the World, 

but I'm convinced it should be changed to the Dandelion Capital.

 Just look at this: 

Our house from the front.

From our dining room window.

 To the West from our front yard.

 Amazing what just one plant can do!

They say that each dandelion is a wish - imagine the potential in our neighborhood. 

 What will happen when these little devils go to seed?  Beware!

Boing!

It's spring in Sequim!  Well, it's Spring everywhere, just not exhibited in the same way in all parts of the country.  If you haven't put your snow shovel away yet, I'm very sorry.  It appears that they have changed drastically since I was living in winter country (1974, Chicago) but I'm not quite inspired enough to return.  Just keep sending me pictures of the pretty days.  No slush, please.    

We've had a pleasant but relatively quiet week.  Just normal life.  Sorry there isn't anything exciting to report.  Al has been working on his garden project and the little fellas germinating in the greenhouse are adorable.  I'll like them even better when they produce tomatoes that taste like tomatoes.  Imagine!

 Raspberries

 Strawberries

 Blueberries

 Peonies

Rhodies

A Weekend Away From Digging

Look at this!  Al put down his shovel long enough to pick up Pat and Rhett at the airport and have a weekend of fun.  We started with the Naval Undersea Museum, which was full of information about subs and diving and sailors.  Rhett is a former submariner and Pat is the daughter of one and the sister of another, so they were great sources of additional stories to go with what the Navy already knew. 

Friday we took the ferry to Victoria for a tour of the BC Parliament Building and a really good lunch. 

On the return trip we saw the biggest, brightest, longest lasting rainbow of all time.  Okay,, of my time, but isn't it all about me?   Well, isn't it?  It appeared that the pot of gold would be right in our front yard, but apparently a passing vagabond must have discovered it before we got home.  

Sunday we drove to the edge of the continent to see Cape Flattery and were knocked over (I'm bottom heavy, so kind of tough to knock over, like those inflatable clowns when we were kids, but you know what I mean) with the surprise of seeing a herd of the Olympic Peninsula Roosevelt Elk.  Named for Teddy Roosevelt, they only live in and near the Olympic Rainforest. 

 You'll just have to do some research for more info.  

Seattle from the very back of the ferry (we were the very last vehicle to be loaded,

 just by the seat of Tom Dually's pants) as we ventured back home. 

 Monday was a stunning day with all the magnificent mountains popping out from the 

clouds, just for our viewing pleasure.   

We have been astonished every day as new plants come peeking up to announce Spring and welcome us to our new house.  This little patch has daffodils, jonquils (does anybody know just what the difference is?  I googled but it seems like everything is just a cousin in the same overpopulated family), hyacinth, some other pretty little blue things I don't know the name of, and now red tulips are joining the party.