To Market, To Market

At the first of the month I joined the Nisqually Land trust in a Scots (scotch) Broom pull on the Van Eaton property in Eatonville.  We were blessed, yet again, with fair weather for the duration of the three hours duty. 

Most of the short greenery is Scots Broom.  You can see people in and around it.

This property we have visited before and the previous two work parties had largely cleared out the majority of Broom.  The remaining plants on worker referred to as "Old Growth" Scots Broom.  Boy was he right!

The plants were tall and their bases, stout.  It was quickly apparent that we would have to tackle the plants in teams of two and three.  We used root jacks to up-end some of the brush shrubs.  Other plants required saws to pare down the bases so the jacks could get around them.  Many we had to grub into the roots with hands and tackle them below the ground level.

The soil was very soft, a saving grace.  There were several volunteers from the high school and one found this little Salamander during her efforts.

She was careful to place the little one safely out of harms way.  The students were very interested in the conservation work along the river.  Leaders from the Land Trust were very willing to spend extra time answering their questions. 

After the work party I paid a visit to the Olympia Farmers Market.  Along the way I spotted Santa and his hitch of eight RainDeeres

All the usual vendors were busy.  This market has many local food stalls.  The apple vendor had many varieties I have never heard of

The meat looked wonderful, very well marbled and not stuck under plastic

The biggest crowd, understandably, at Wagner's Bakery.

I worked with Mr Wagners sister many years ago.  My first experience with home made sauerkraut was his.  It converted me to always adding caraway seed to my store bought kraut.  For this I thank him.

Last Sunday I went into Seattle early to see the runners for the Jingle Bell Run.  Once again there was a huge crowd

but I was disappointed to not see as many people in really far out costumes this year.  Overall it felt sort of quiet and not quite as jolly.

Pike Place Market was really busy, far more so than it was last year.  The vendors were hard at work and ready to pounce on anyone taking notice.  I found some unique preserved strawberries that I am going to try in my favorite scone recipe. 

The market is such a wonderful, visual place

Who can resist the neon

I could not resist stopping and watching the donut machine

and had to breeze through DeLaurenti http://www.delaurenti.com/

The craft folks were just setting up.  I always find things I would really love to have ( I don't NEED another purse) and little hidden surprises, like this hand painted column,  everywhere.

With the Tick of the Clock, It is Spring!

But Ohhh Burrr is it ever so cold still.  The sun was out strongly Monday morning, but the chill in the air and the random cars with snow on them says it is March, a month like no other

I take heart in reading from Professor Mass Weather blog that La Nina is showing signs of breaking apart and we might nave a better Summer this year.

Winter has been long and dreary and I wish I could say I did many fun and interesting things.

I did join the Nisqually Land Trust in their property planting and invasive weed pulling.  These work parties are always enjoyable.   Once again we were fortunate in the weather and most work parties went off without a hitch.  One was cancelled for snow.  That was the weekend I traveled to the ocean and did beach clean-up.

I returned to the ocean in February and totally had a weekend of doing things I had not done before.  I am venturing into the game of Geocaching.  Using a GPS unit, I find my way to a hidden box planted by another cacher.  It is a fun way to get out into the environment and see new places.  I am eager to discover some of the boxes planted in remote areas of eastern Washington.  I am currently looking at my Desert Hikes book for ideas for April wildflower destinations.

One cache had me on the beach below Cape Disappointment.  While I did not find the tricky find I certainly discovered some other fun things.

A wrecked boat with an old rusty engine.  I had a good chuckle over the engines face.

In the woods this little salamander was out and about.  It must have been very cold as it let me pick it up for a careful looking over.  That is my glove so you can get and idea of its size and unwillingness to move.

It was a clamming weekend and I always love watching people pursue the crafty Razor Clams.

burrrrrr

Sanderlings were everywhere in busy flocks, working the same low tide as the clammers.

I rode a bike for the first time in 40 years.  I stayed once again at Adrift Hotel and Sunday morning I checked out a little bike for a quick trip along the beach Discovery Trail.  The bike was too small for me, but my level of confidence was pretty shaky at first.  I would have been more at home on a horse.

I finally got to the Kite Museum.  There was a master class on kite fabrication going on.  I watched some interesting videos on Kite Fishing and Kite Fighting.  There were extensive collections of kites from Asia and the Middle East. 

My favorite exhibit was the bird kite collection.

But best of all I flew my own kite.  Something I have never done before.  I visited the amazing Gasworks Kite Shop

http://gasworksparkkiteshop.com/

after a visit to the dentist.  I figured a root canal deserves a toy from the toy chest.

The store is amazing and filled with fun.  The wonderful staffer showed me all the beginner kites that could self launch.  I had a hard time choosing and settled on a butterfly kite.  I have my eye on an amazing "long tail" kite as well.

It launched right out of my hand and I could get it quite high in the air.  Made of nylon, I have it in the trunk of my car and have pulled it out a few times since when I found a place with a good clear area to fly in.  It is an amazing, relaxing activity.

I grabbed this photo with on hand while flying my kite.  I saw it setting up and mentally I wished the father and son to climb that hill and set up the shot.  They read my mind and this picture is one of my favorites in a long time

So Spring is here.  Birds are giving their all, I even saw a Pacific Wren building a nest Saturday.

Sunday I visited a raw open area looking for early swamp and marsh residents.  See the frosting on those distant hills?  Wisely it seems the ducks are in more sheltered areas than this open area.  Marsh Wrens were busy nest building and Redwing Blackbirds were just starting to fluster about setting up territory.

Skunk Cabbage are everywhere.

Pussywillows are, to me, the essence of Spring.  This one is spangled with rain or snow, it was certainly cold enough yesterday for it to have been either. 

Spring is Here