"Hope" is the thing with feathers

Emily Dickenson sure had it right when she wrote of her backyard robin -  "A small but sturdy Residence, A self denying Household" - that is, if our thrush family is typical. 

But for a nest of fledglings discovered in a sad, dying little Sitka spruce, our recyle bin would have been full of branches, twigs and needles by now.
 

Instead, we'll just have to keep an eye on the offspring and wornout parents, until they take wing.

   

Sun Break

Downtown stately

While it was overcast and very un-summer-like, a walk with Casey found us hanging around a park at the base of Whatcom Museum of History and Art (the Old City Hall), probably the most familiar landmark in town.

The building has been around since 1892 - bell tower, mansard roof, Victoria cupolas and all. If you've been to Bellingham, if you remember anything at all, you remember that stately, red brick building downtown.

It must be Saturday

Every Saturday - rain or shine - Bellingham's Farmers Market is a magnet for the sustainability-inclined.

Local/naturally grown food and crafts, cafe fare for a late lunch, espresso, street musicians - it's all there, though possibly just a tad too energetic for Casey.

 

Does it show?

Opium, elephant's breath, and President Who?

One of Casey's routine walkabouts in Fairhaven takes us down Harris Avenue toward the Ferry Terminal and eventually to Marine Park. More than a few times  we soak up a little historical context designated by granite plaques that tell the story of Fairhaven's past, sordid and otherwise.

While maybe not on a par with Boston's Freedom Trail, these markers point to another time and place of speculation far beyond nostalgia.

I'm with Casey though on this 1901 marker (below).
 

Who could say President McKinley only buggied past here?   

And who would really care anyway?

Under Stella's watchful eye

A late afternoon snack by a kit from a new litter goes unnoticed, except by Stella. 

  

When looking out the window at the neighborhood is like an E-ticket, you don't miss much, if you're an alert DSH*. 

You know, it's a living...and the perks are great.

 *domestic short hair

Dusk at Lake Padden

                    View across Padden from the southeast at sunset 

One of our favorite scenic stops.  Years ago, in what seems like a hundred years ago now, this captivating lake, nestled 3 miles south of home, was a 2.6 mile loop on a 9-mile training run. 

Now it's a leasurely jog, amid pines and firs and an occasional deer sighting, with Casey, who puts in twice the mileage with off-trail explorations. 

With any luck he'll learn to conserve some energy before our knees give out.

Front yard water diversion

In spite of an aversion to most water sports, an irresistable pasttime for Casey is chasing a water hose. And with the temperatures comfortably in the 70s, who can blame him.    

Hel-lo Summer, and red sky at night...

Are there any more beautiful sunsets (when the clouds break, that is) than right here in the Pacific NW?

So long solstice. Bring it on summer.

God, I love my life!

Bookstore Rest Stop

After an hour of hoofing it before the last day of spring is history, an R and R at Village Books is a perfect way to take a load off. 

And besides, it's 20% off everything today.

 

Showers Likely

Springtime in Bellingham usually doesn't go out with a whimper, and showers are likely tonight...

...so ushering in solstice on the bay seemed like a respectful tribute.

 

Alleyway Flower Power

Add to the list of things regularly taken for granted - wildflowers blooming with abandon in a neighborhood alley.

And outside of a few dandelions, this asphalt flourish - fireweed maybe? paintbrush? - will have to stay unclassified.

  And Casey couldn't care less.

Afternoon Trek in the Woods

An interurban trail is not exactly the middle of nowhere,

but you can see it from here.

It's about time!

Mr. Patience has been waiting all morning for a walk.

Casey...let's go to the park!

(Maybe, just maybe?)

Anyone See Summer?

With “Mostly cloudy”

showing up in most local weather forecasts, it makes us wonder what’s happened to spring.

And why Stella keeps looking for more favorable conditions is beyond us.
She wouldn't go outside on a bet.

Couch Potato

There's no shame in doing a little couch potato time after breakfast.

High twitch activity junkies like Casey know when and where to conserve.

It's a sustainability issue.

Besides...Vic's not up yet.

Surviving Another of Ezra's Birthday Parties

With several months off before another Marx offspring celebrates a birthday, Casey should recover from this festive overload.

Dog-Friendliest Indie

Tonight was kind of special to generational Bellinghamsters like us, as well as to recent

arrivals  like Casey. 

Celebrating over 30 years as a Bellingham fixture this week, Village Books has not only been our favorite Indie-Books hangout, but it was once an integral part of Casey Mac's socialization.

When it seemed like our Minnesota transplant puppy was never going to feel comfortable around people, a therapeutic stopover in this dog-friendly environment, surrounded by a continual flow two-legged and four-legged book browsers, seemed to work wonders.

And tonight was special - even if Casey had to wait in the car - because VB proprietors Chuck and Dee Robinson had an SRO crowd at Chuck's book reading of It Takes a Village Books: 30 Years of Building Community One Book at a Time.

  

But Casey'll be back tomorrow - it's been one of his regular haunts for some time now.

It Takes a Village Books from ENW with Deb Slater on Vimeo.