Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
This time of year the goldenchain trees (laburnum) look glorious, like a yellow wisteria. These two set off an equally beautiful ceanothus, another shrub/tree that does well here.
This is a closer look at the goldenchain blossoms. They leave behind seedpods after blossoming. I was surprised to learn that these are toxic.
Mushrooms grow well around here. In fact, our local paper reported that a guy in Chimacum (on the Kitsap Peninsula, about an hour from here) found one while mowing a field. I know that’s not usually front page news but it made the front page here. And it isn’t totally silly. The mushroom was 20 lbs. (.45 kilos) and 20 inches long by 14 inches wide (almost 60 cm. by 35 cm.). The front page picture showed it taking up the fellow’s entire lap, like a monster watermelon.
He researched and determined it was edible. I don’t think I’d be so confident. The one above, for instance, may be a pigskin poison puffball or a spotted amanita. I’d rather not guess when it comes to eating fungus.
Three painted pipe sculptures have been standing alongside the road for several months now.
All three are behind a cyclone fence that I didn’t want to include in a photo.
The fence wasn’t about to go away. And the pipe creatures weren’t about to come out from behind the fence.
So you get to see them as I have.
I called a starling a loudmouth last week but truth be told I love all the bird song this time of year. Unlike a lot of good birders, I can’t always find where the song is coming from. This time I did.
I think this guy is a little marsh wren. I trust that I’ll be corrected if anyone knows better.
Sequim has a taste of the Middle East with a new restaurant, Sequim Kabob House. It has taken over a space that previously housed two successive fish and chips venues, Kiwi and Fudd’s, on West Washington. The Kabob House offers traditional foods “made with imported spices from Jerusalem.,” including kabobs, falafel, gyros, and tabouli. A lamb shawarma wrap is above.
There are a few decorative nods to the Middle East.
I want to go back and try both the kabobs and baba ghanoush (roasted seasoned eggplant). It’s probably too much to hope that they serve Persian rice, an unforgettable delicacy a friend’s grandmother used to make.
This mural is on the west wall of a downtown building that houses Doodlebugs and an auto parts store. I didn’t see any artist information but admit that I didn’t search, either. Doesn’t it feel as if you’re peering through a window in time?
Today is the official grand opening of our new local Michaels store. But the doors were thrown open for a “soft” opening starting last Thursday night.
What’s appealing about a bigger store like this is a broad array of the many things a crafter might use. From minding ones Ps and Qs to yarn and art supplies there’s lots to choose from, a bigger selection than we’re used to locally.
And there’s a lot of stuff for home decor.
Michaels has a lot of everything and the employees seem like genuinely nice people. But I do hope that locals will remember to also support our own locally owned businesses like Doodlebugs, Karen’s Quilts, A Dropped Stitch, Local Yarn Shop, and Over the Fence. They are vital to the health of our community.