Friday, September 20, 2013, part one
I was disappointed to be woken at the usual time because I had expected a rainy day off. And then I heard the gurgling of water in the rain barrel outside my window and looked out to an increasing drizzle. So at last, it turned out to be the day to go get new shoes. We were off “overseas” to Astoria.
As often seems to be true, the sky over Astoria and points east was lighter and we were out of the rain as soon as we got through the Chinook tunnel.
Because a 55 mph wind is predicted for Sunday, the workers on the bridge were folding up the enormous tarps that cover the highest part. Last year, they got caught out by the first storm and had to close the bridge because of the dangerous flapping!
Screen shot of news story, in case it eventually goes away as old news:
A shoe shopping expedition is not a treat for me. I find it very hard, and always have done, to acquire comfy shoes. Last year, in the local Reach Out Thrift Store, I happened upon a pair for $2 that felt soft as butter. (I had been looking for a work shirt, not shoes, but checked the shoes in a desperate attempt to avoid actual shoe shopping!) It turned out that they were SAS, an expensive brand, but one that would be worth any amount of money to me. Since the ones I bought that day were already worn and now have holes by the little toe, today we went across the river to the store that carries them: Gimre’s. I had the most pleasant shoe shopping experience of my life there and bought two pair, and that is enough about shoes!
Ok, for my friends who do love shoes, here they are:
I commend SAS for making such great shoes. I will even try to keep the slip on pair out of the dirt…(We’ll see how long that lasts.)
Back to (mostly) garden theme, with this digression for one of the best hotel advertising slogans ever:
I continue to be an ardent admirer of the Astoria planters on Commercial Street and some side streets:
(I hesitate to use Euphorbia in planters because if someone broke off a piece, hurting their eye with the toxic sap would be a high price to pay for finger blight.)
I adore the planters with wire sides and plants spilling out all the way to the ground:
The rain caught up with us in Astoria, so we went to lunch, passing this cute storefront on the way.
We also passed a curbside garden on Marine Drive with a name I recognized:
I met Jessica some years ago and loved the slogan that she used for her gardening business, which I think was called Wyndlesham Gardening: “Hand Tool Gardening”, and am pleased to have found this interview with her on that subject.
We dined on the lunch buffet at the wonderful Himani Indian Cuisine. Guess which plate is mine and which is Allan’s.
I went back for a bowl of raita. I could eat a mixing bowl of the stuff! (Yogurt with cucumber.)
On the way back to the van, we peeked into the interior of a building that I remembered from when a tea shop used to be in its basement.
Our parking spot was very close to the wide Columbia River.
Crossing the bridge again, we found the big tarps completely bundled off to the sides and decided we had better take the coming storm seriously.
Just a few hatches truly needed battening at home. Allan took the blue bottle hanger (from Back Alley Gardens) out of the danger tree.

and the beautiful hanger made by Sheila (New Leaf Plants and Pottery)
Poor spider had to move so we could get Sheila’s pottery down.
The space between the house and shed is a fierce wind tunnel in a storm from the south.
It seems awfully early for a storm to come and batter the garden. Before the storm:
The Solidago ‘Fireworks’ has fizzled out:
But Lemon Queen is going strong.
I took a walk around because the flowers might be bowed and battered soon.
- some Fuchsias for Mr. Tootlepedal
I checked out the bogsy wood because in a high wind it will be too dangerous to go back here. I tucked the Bogsy Wood sign more safely against a tree.
When all the salmonberry leaves fall, we will have our winter view of the port buildings.
Under the danger tree (a big dead alder, died last year) is a shade bed that will disrupted if the tree falls before we have it cut.
Allan wheeled a blue pot from the base of the tree to a safe spot.
We left the lady to fend for herself, and may regret it.
Mary is not a bird hunter so does not have to wear a BirdsBeSafe collar.
Throughout the garden we could hear frogs. We had an appointment to keep, so I only found this one.
For a non working day, this has gone on for much too long and we still had two garden visits to make before dark…
to be continued…
Hope the storm doesn’t do too much damage to your garden. I love those planter boxes in Astoria with the wire sides. And the great wall of china! So funny!
LikeLike
Stole Great Wall of China idea from a garden shop in Elma or Satsop…one of the towns between Olympia and Montesano.
Storm forecasts can be wrong. This one seems awfully early so maybe it won’t amount to much.
LikeLike
Take care and batten down the hatches folks. Loved the lady under the old dead elder.
LikeLike
[…] « a rainy day […]
LikeLike