Easter on Bainbridge Island

Mount Rainier, yesterday on the ferry en route to Bainbridge.  I would love to take credit but the Sweetie took this one.  For scale, there is a tiny, tiny sailboat in the foreground.

It was a stunning day today.  Warm.  For the first time this year I didn't need a jacket to go outside.  And sunny.

Looking over to Seattle.

Low tide

See the bee?  No rest for him today.

Not everything is in bloom

Flowering Quince

I love the lacy effect of lichen in the Northwest

 This is why we put up with months of rain.  Happy Easter everyone!

Snow

It snowed this weekend in Seattle.  I was running errands on Saturday and literally turned the corner and snow began coming down.  Hard.  I think we have a couple of inches, which is no big deal in much of the country, but it can be a bit snarky here.

I am not snow's biggest fan.  I figure that I can drive a couple of hours and visit it in the mountains if I really want to see it.  Which I do - every 5 years or so.  But if it is going to coming visit me then I should make the best of it.  My new banner, celebrates the snow and the witch hazel in bloom in the front yard.  A little bit of hope for spring peaking out from under the snow.

I had planned a different post, but let's go with the snow theme.  Since the beginning of the year I've been working on (wait for it...) another stranded knitted hat.  I used Mountain Top Vail for the cream which is 70% alpaca and 30% bamboo.  The green is  Malabrigo Lace, which is I doubled.  It is 100% merino wool, which feels heavenly.  I used a US 1 (2.5mm) circular needle.

The entire project took about  2 weeks, including commute time on the bus.

When finished I washed and felted it lightly which helped even out a few wonky stitches.  It is soft and light weight.  Perfect for a snowy Seattle day.

Summer - at last

While the rest of the country has been wallowing in extreme heat and high humidity it has been cool and cloudy in Seattle.  Overcast most days with highs only in the upper-60's or low-70's. 

According to a local weatherperson, up until yesterday we had only had 78 minutes of summer.  Summer was described as a temperature of 80 degreees or higher.  So, an hour and 18  minutes of summer.  

Friday afternoon and Saturday were gorgeous.  Not summer by the definition above, but the sun was out.  Not a cloud in the sky and it was in the mid-70's.  I think the sun helps make it feel like summer even if it's not 80 degrees.

View from the front door.

Sunbathing.

Snoozing in an un-made bed.  I'll get right on that... not.

Abortetum

The Sweetie and I played hookie yesterday afternoon and went to the Arboretum.  I didn't really play hookie.  I have this week off work.

It was a glorious afternoon.  It was still in the 50's but there was a hint of warmth in the air that led me to believe we might not be wearing a winter coat and scarf in July.  The sun was out, there was more blue sky than clouds.  The clouds were white and fluffy, not grey and heavy with rain.  The sky was soo blue.  It seems such a long time since we have seen so much blue.

Here are some pics from our afternoon.

The Sweetie took this one.  Even the weeds are charming.