The forecast right on target, but it is March

This afternoon we had no sooner suited up and headed for the door, when a torrent of showers started up and claimed the rest of the afternoon.

 Sorry Case, there's no let up in sight any time soon, but July is just around the corner.

Photo jinx

This photo was taken on a spectacularly sunny day, in fact a day or two after the start of spring. Shortly after this pose, after a dozen or more Frisbee tosses, I mowed the lawn for the first time since last fall. And later that evening it started raining, and it's been windy and rainy ever since...and the forecast doesn't look good for another week or so.

The jinxed photo - March 23

Just have to share

We know this clip doesn't have a thing to do we Bellingham, the great outdoors or the Great Northwest, it is just a smile and a half worth sharing.

One more for the cause

Another top quilt for the Whatcom Hospice House, another one of many crafted and donated by Victoria and her group of dedicated artisans.   

Marked distraction

Near the Harris Street entrance to the interurban trail is a commemorative marker that's caught our eye and probably many an afternoon hiker's imagination for years. A concrete plaque, like many found in Fairhaven, announces simply "Spanish Chalice dated 1640 Found Here."

What a find, if it was the genuine article. With all of the English, Russian, and Spanish exploration that occurred in Puget Sound through the Queen Charlottes, from the late 17th century until the voyages of Captain Vancouver, one can’t help but wonder how a relic like a chalice from the early 1600s – too late for Juan de Fuca and way too early for Juan Perez - arrived on the shores of south Bellingham Bay.    

Bordie slog uphill to Vista Point

View of San Juan Islands from Vista Point

A little over twenty minutes into a half hour hike to the 1,100 foot elevation of Vista Point you can expect to get an occasional over-the-shoulder gaze from Casey that says, "Is there an end to this slog uphill?...Did I sign up for all these switchbacks?" Can't blame him actually. Our guy is more of an out-of-control, off trail, high-twitch runner of a climber. Conserve energy? Forget about it.

But at least it's all downhill from here.

Unbridled joy

Take a look at this clip and tell me, how can anyone not be one of those
dog-persons?!

Guerilla pose on the bay

It seems like every one had the same idea today - a walk on the bay via Taylor Dock. Warmer and sunnier, this was a precursor to the balmy climes we hang around for every year.

And it looks like one of Fairhaven's new landmarks, Pose on the Bay...Standing Bow...Yoga Puller, you name it, is all set for its first spring and summer. A local artist cut a lot of red tape last October - opting for forgiveness rather than getting permission - and affixed his work to its new pedestal, a 14-foot high vestige of the Bellingham's canning industry. 

Standing bow pulling on on the Bay

Our famous mound of rusting tin scraps from the Pacific American Fisheries era has been gawked at all by itself for over 80 years, and now, it's an integral part of an exhibit. How about that for a step up. 

Vic and Casey waiting on the photographer

The kids are alright

We got a phone call this afternoon from Carolyn, a good friend of ours, to drop whatever we were doing and head downtown to Holh's feed and seed store to check out a couple of newborn goats, just a couple of hours old. How could we not - newby Nigerian Dwarf goats are a happening thing. Just had to take a hang around long enough to take a few photos, and no way was Casey going to be part of the shoot.

He'd have been all over that kennel like a cheap suit. They just didn't need his schnoz in their faces during their big debut. Oddly enough though, the new mama and babes were not the least bit camera shy.

Aww...How cute was that? Now don't you want to go out and take one home?

As if on an equinox cue

Regular early morning visitor

Geez, as if on cue...fat robins and sunshine swinging by the front yard each morning since spring debuted.

And Casey just cannot leave well enough alone. If the yard is full of robins, jays, or starlings, he'll be in their faces or beaks or whatever, and break up every photo op.

It means the rabbits will be showing up soon...and just two weeks ago we were covered with snow and ice.

The robin's had it with the collie oversight.

Vernal blooms

A haunting display along the interurban, and at the same time promising, with blooms bursting out everywhere on the first day of spring.

Working the crowd

Do you know what happens if the Frisbee isn't put away after airing it out the day before? Casey hauls it out of hiding and he starts working the crowd. You get the constant stares, the Border Collie eye contact "conversation", and then the laying on of the guilt if nothing else is working. This kid knows full well that the rain has stopped...and there really is nothing you'd rather be doing.

Reverie

Trail eats and tweets

Taylor Dock trailside fauna was alive today with flocks of Black-capped Chickadees, paying little or no attention to joggers, hikers, and gawkers. They were combing the branches for leftover winter caches of seed. This tiny guy was really on a hunt.

Black-capped Chickadee checking us out on trail to Taylor Dock

The vocalizations he exchanged with other seed foragers were the real draw during this sighting, always a pair of distinct whistles, and everyone singing from the same sheet of music.

Pub grub

After a walk around Fairhaven today we decided to duck into Skylark for a St Patrick's Day Guinness, and a Mac and Jack for Vic when we noticed the special - pub style corned Beef and cabbage. Well, what could we do?

We were kind of surprised actually because this popular southside restaurant is not known for venturing outside the standard Pacific NW cuisine box.

Tonight we have to give them props though for not playing it safe, but serving up instead memorable servings of this American favorite. The Guinness could have been served at room temperature, but the pub grub more than made up for it. 

Life in the Ol' Girl

It's nice to see there's life in the Ol' Girl yet. Our ageless alder, still serving as the neighborhood guardian, seems no worse for winter's wear and tear, with new buds and non-stop crow drop-bys. 

  

I'd rather be dancing

Could it possibly be 9 years ago that the world lost the promise of Rachel Corrie? A simple remembrance by a favorite troubadore, Jim Page, seemed so right tonight.

Working without a ball curfew

There are nights Casey thinks we’ve got absolutely nothing better to do than toss him his squeaky ball. I mean why would we want to possibly kick back, relax and do a little reading or watching a movie when we could be helping the kid hone his eye-mouth coordination instead?

Since the weather really sucked today – cold, windy, and rainy on the Ides of March -Vic and I kind of let him have his way tonight. And in the interest of full disclosure Casey is one of the most talented Frisbee dogs ever, but catching a ball is always an adventure for our guy, indoors or out, rain or shine.

Patience plus

If roasted garlic chicken is on the menu you can bet that Case will stake out the kitchen cleanup crew for a handout. That's part of his job and he takes it seriously.

And you've got to hand it to him, literally. His trademark persistence usually pays off with at least a token scrap – even Vic occasionally giving in to those big browns.

A time out from cold and rainy

Looking north toward Bellingham from the ferry terminal in Fairhaven during a break in the weather

Midmorning snooze

Somebody is just way too secure in his surroundings this morning.

Early bloomers

Pacific Madrona or Madrone, Arbutus menziesii  

When one thinks of spring in the northwest, the orange-red, peeling bark of the Madrona tree usually isn’t the first visual that comes to mind. But before we discount this windswept native of even our urban streets and rocky shores, take a look at these bloomers on the Southside and give some credit where credit’s due. They blow the dogwoods and chestnuts away for promptness - their blossoms are weeks away yet. 

An enthusiastic Casey pose during a stroll through windy Fairhaven.

Where's the kitty??

Just a mention of "Where's Stella?...Go get the kitty" can make Casey's day. It doesn't mean he'll find her though, curled up behind a bookshelf, in her favorite cardboard box.

Won't be long now, mates.

One very distant cousin of Casey working a herd, for a good cause.

A new extra special toy, like no other

Just another extra, extra special stuffed zebra, soon to be missing both ears, like no other made-in-China plush animal, to have ever been dragged around the house and yard - like all the others.

                                                                                                   

  

Fun while it lasted

Just had to post this. The snow is just about history today, and the rain, along with moderate temperatures, will be ushering in spring. But, come on, how many

Border Collies have you seen that are this hooked on snow Frisbee?

So much for winter

Kudos to Petco Foundation and Unknown

We can only wonder what would have happened to Casey had we not rescued him. That's why the sentiment below hits so close to home.