Red Tulips

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 26, 2011

Three days ago I spotted these gorgeous red tulips. Color is popping up everywhere, at least in patches. The tall bushes are the stunning salmon-colored azaleas I photograph every year, and they'll be in bloom very soon. It poured rain with scattered buckets of hail yesterday. Today I see blue sky, but for how long? It may reach 54 degrees F today, with a "chance" of rain. Where I grew up, "chance of rain" usually meant "forget it." Here, "chance of rain" usually means "prepare to get soaked."

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Pink Blossoms

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 23, 2011

I found this beautiful array outside the Visitor's Center, across the street from the Mini Mart on Marine Drive. Other trees around town are blooming at slightly different rates. We had a beautiful, clear day that day, maybe the nicest all year. Today we're back to gray skies, rain, and cold. Like many Astorians, I don't mind that much, but the sun is a welcome sight, especially in backward years like this one!

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New Plants and Soup

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 17, 2011

This stand in front of the Astoria Co-op at 1355 Duane Street is one of the places where you can buy baby vegetable plants despite the unseasonably cold weather. They were grown locally by Packy and Teresa at 46 North Farm, and that's one reason I'll probably start here with my annual plant buying if I get around to working my few square feet of ground or buying and fitting out some big pots.

Both doors enter the co-op. If you go in the righthand door, you're immediately treated to yummy fruits and veggies. Inside the lefthand door you will encounter the tastiest homemade soup on the planet. If you do neither, you might want to dream the time away gazing at warped buildings and blue sky in the store's front window. There's even a picnic table with benches provided nearby.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Spring Morning

Warrenton, Oregon ~ April 21, 2011

Everyone remarks on the sun because we've seen it so little this year. By the time I got back across the Youngs Bay Bridge (you can see the car lights in the lower middle of the photo) it was raining in Astoria. Now it's stopped, but for how long? Temperatures are generally about 15 degrees lower than average across the state, and it may stay that way for awhile. Some summer fruit crops may not be out until August or September, or so it was reported.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Oil Cover

Astoria, Oregon ~ March 12, 2011

Can anyone tell me about this metal cover on Commercial Street? I know that many older houses in Astoria were heated by oil, and some probably still are. Is this where oil is delivered for heating for one or more of the buildings on Commercial? And what's with the pipe draining onto the street?

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A Bufflehead's Tail

Astoria, Oregon ~ March 21, 2011

Although I took this photo back in March, the bufflehead ducks are still on the Columbia River. I'm not sure what date they usually fly away, but it's been so cold and rainy, I wonder if they feel that it's still winter, as most of us do?

I only recently noticed that the ducks' tails fan out when they swim. I have one photo, though not a close-up, of a tail fanned in flight. When I find it, I'll post it. I always enjoy seeing these small, pretty ducks each year, even though they are shy and get away from me and my camera as fast as they can.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Flowers in the Lawn

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 14, 2011

I found these colorful blossoms in the lawn in front of the post office in one of those rare moments between spring showers (or downpours).

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Orange and Blue

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 5, 2011

It's unusual to see the pilot boat Columbia working on the part of the river near downtown Astoria. Usually we see the smaller green and white Arrow 2. The Columbia is made for the harsher conditions of the ocean. You can read about the various pilot boats by clicking on the labels below. That beautiful blue color is belongs to one of my favorite shipping lines, Honda, and you can guess what's inside. This particular ship's name is Celestial Wing. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.