Spring in January!

Having grown up where you long for spring in April, but it doesn't usually arrive until May, I can't get over this astonishing Pacific Northwest climate. There's not just one, but TWO flowering currant bushes on Warbass Way.

Harbor in January

Where did everyone go?

Tree all gone nare?

This is the one-inch-high stump of the boxelder that remains in front of the office supply store. That's my foot in the foreground for scale.

Going, going ...

Today I saw two airport employees taking down the boxelder tree in front of San Juan Office Center. One of them explained to me that it was full of termites and in danger of falling on the building. Always sad to see, though.

Pletna in Slovenia

On my trip to Slovenia and Croatia with Marie in 2006 we were taken by pletna to an island in Lake Bled. The pletna is rowed from the stern by a person standing up. After everyone else got off at the island I asked the man if I could try rowing it, but he said no. It would have been fun, though, wouldn't it?

Patterns in snow

I took this picture yesterday and I like the pattern of tire tracks in our driveway.

Was it ecstasy or bliss?

I took a picture of Shindig in the snow, but then we went skiing on the golf course and I like the picture of John on skis better.

It was 20 degrees with quite a strong north wind so we didn't stay long, but nevertheless it was glorious. Maybe again tomorrow if the snow lasts.

Starting out

I've named this blog after my rowboat Shindig -- which in turn got its name after North Burn, the Democratic county chair from Waldron, referred to "this Democratic shindig we're having Saturday." I was charmed by the word and used it for my boat.

This first post is a picture I took in June when John and I went camping at Turn Island (our first time in quite a few years!). Shindig is on the right and his boat, Bark River, is on the left. In the background -- well, I'm not sure, but maybe it was the Kaleetan.

Maybe you can't see how spiffy Shindig looks, but you will in future shots. John did a lot of work this year to make it beautiful, and it adds to my delight in being out in it. Now he's working on Bark River in the garage and I'll show it here soon.