Found it

Here it is - the Peace Arch between Canada and The United States of America.  

Why doesn't Dr. Killdeer find a safer and softer place to lay her eggs? 

 But they certainly to blend in with the driveway.  So does the mama as she patiently sits

 there doing nothing.  Not even reading a book or knitting little hats for her babies.  The book says 24-28 days.  She only gets up to flap her wings and squawk very loudly if we get near.

Some of what happened in the yard this week.

Vancouver

 What fun we had in Vancouver with Pat and Rhett.  Yes, most of the activity revolved around when to eat, where to eat, what to eat.  Quite successfully, at least according to the scale. 

 That can't possibly be correct!  It just can't.

 Granville Island Public Market is pretty much overwhelming with food, food, food.  And too many people all wanting to be in the same spot I want to stand in.  Don't they know who I am?  Maybe next time I'll wear a name tag.

Cute. 

 On the gondola up Whistler Mountain.

 No matter where we go or how much fun we have, it's always wonderful to see our heart-warming flag welcoming us back.  In spite of the two-hour wait at the Peace Arch border crossing.   Sorry to tell you that my picture of the actual Arch is crap isn't nice enough to show.

Kind of hard to see, but the flag flowerbed has been newly planted and will probably be lush and gorgeous in a couple more weeks.  

   

My new favorite artwork, which just happens to be at that very border crossing. 

ps  Don't bring citrus from Canada to the U S, even if you purchased it at Costco in Sequim.  

Foreign Travel

On the ferry from Port Townsend to Coupeville, heading to Vancouver.  British Columbia, not Washington.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have this everywhere?

June is Bustin' Again

On May 31 we celebrated the fourth anniversary of signing papers in Sequim.  

Here we are in Paradise with no regrets.

  

Well, maybe there are regrets that we didn't pull this dandelion weeks ago.

It's almost pretty.  Almost,  And who decides what is a weed?  

  The Rock River is growing.  Alas, there still is no water.  Hmmm. 

Now just some garden glory for your viewing pleasure.

 The very first throes of lavender blossoms.  

That's it for today.   See you soon.  

May in Sequim

I forgot to show you the Irrigation Parade.  Yes, we celebrate Irrigation because 

Sequim gets less than 20 inches of rain a year so irrigation is very important to the farmers.  

It's the longest running festival in Washington.  I love a parade!

Al got this shot yesterday morning.  It's like a nursery in the neighborhood.  Without the crying.

 This is just part of the peony patch but I'm very sad to tell you that these beauties were only glorious for a couple days because a gigantic windstorm (gusts around 50 mph) knocked some of them right over, broke their little necks, or sent their gorgeous petals next door.  Bummer.

Another Petal Puddle.

 Just another day in Paradise.  

Lots of Lookin'

Life has been rather quiet, but there some nifty things happening.

 That Peony and her sisters are putting on their show with more to come.  They are right outside the Patch window so it's hard to concentrate on the sewing machine when they distract me with the glory.

 A petal puddle in downtown Sequim.  Almost as wonderful as when all the 

blooms were clinging tenaciously to the trees.

 A couple months ago Al trimmed the hardy kiwi bush/shrub/vine and I finally wired some of them together for a rustic wreath.  It was a challenge sort of like untangling a snarl of yarn but in the opposite direction.  The plant is now sprouting new leaves and soon will go through the cycle again.  Next year I might just let him burn those darn branches.

 More blooms on Rhodie Island.

Okay, this might be the ultimate example of a Woman With Too Much Time on Her Hands.

  Or maybe it should be Never Throw Anything Away.

This is my favorite picture of Al from many many years ago at my 50th birthday party.  (Let's not say just how many, okay?)  Lo and behold, I came across the very tie he is wearing at the celebration.  Too bad that his napkin bib is covering most of it.  A few hours of swearing creativity and a dollar store frame later and the memory will last forever.  How to take a picture of a picture without glare?  Not something I know how to do, but you get the idea.

 The 25-year old lavender plant is gearing up for productivity.

 And blue star creeper.

 And the new version of the bucket garden.  Maybe Al will 'splain it to you next time.

A Bloomin' Post

Remember that peony we've been watching?  They are slow coming, but look like they
will be worth the wait.  This is the very same blossom a few days apart popping out of the confinement.  Doesn't it look like a flamenco dancer eager to twirl her skirts?  

 The Olympic Mountains to the South.

 The Dungeness Spit to the North on a rare calm day.

 If only Lily of the Valley lasted for weeks and weeks.  They are so tiny and special.

 We don't know who left this on the steps of the orphanage but it's the only lonely one on the property, but a little too showy to hide among the peonies

 I'll start churning the butter for all this corn come harvest time. 

Rhode Island will be stunning when more of these open and show off their glory.