I love how the days creep forward, gathering daylight, and how the gray skies, gray clouds and gray sidewalks get a pinch in the cheek from the all the red and pink for Heart Day. And here in the Northwest, I love that spring (yes, spring!) begins to make its first move.
During the month of February, I was astounded to see vibrant green shoots of galanthus (those nodding white snowdrops), daffodils, tulips pop up. Over this past weekend, all those brave bulbs made flowers.
But, can I step back for just a moment to make mention of February 14? Peter and I went to Cannon Beach, Oregon for an amazing weekend trip. What made our stay so strikingly unique were our accommodations (was our accommodations? Mom, help, grammar troubles). In a wind-blown 1920s corner store and inn, with an undeniably shabby exterior, a man named Hank runs an incredible business. His inn, a nine room guest house, is a hold-out from a different era. And Hank is a remarkable host! He's a James Beard recipe award-winner (bread, I believe), was the lead rose gardener in Portland (the City of Roses, no less) before retiring and purchasing the Wave Crest several years ago. He first discovered it as a guest in the 1970s, and he became friends with the elderly owners. Before he knew it, he was spending nearly every weekend in Cannon Beach.
Hank, and this view out our window, made me want to follow in his shoes... making the trek to the coast each weekend. At the very least, I hope we'll visit him again. I note the following for myself, as much as for you, dear reader: for our next stay, we'll rent one of the rooms with a private bathroom, not just the shared one down the hall. And I won't bring my own reading material, because Hank has the most wonderfully plump bookshelves and loves to share.
Here's a little video from the beach. That giant rock is called Haystack Rock.
