Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
This big old tree caught my eye as I passed it the other day. It leaned a bit, as trees are sometimes wont to do. But a piece of metal sticking out of its crotch caught my eye.
There’s an assortment of chains and at least two padlocks holding the tree together. I wonder what a professional arborist would think of this.
Early last year a controversy erupted between the local Sequim agent who ran our vehicle licensing office and the County Auditor. Long simmering disagreements led, eventually, to the office being shut down. This meant that any business that locals wanted to conduct in person had to be done in Port Angeles. As a former Californian I’ll spare the details, but most things short of a root canal compare favorably to my experiences with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles in that fair state. So driving to Port Angeles to register a trailer last summer wasn’t bad. Dealing with the clerk and the paperwork at the licensing office was fine. Even standing in line for 40 minutes wasn’t terrible. But seeing the new Licensing Depot front and center on Washington Street is a welcome sight. It’s in the same shopping center as J.C. Penney’s and across the street from Safeway.
This eye-catching mailbox lives at the new Black Bear Restaurant in Sequim. Black Bears are locally owned franchises and the ones I’ve been to in California and now here all have large carved bears adorning their landscape. The bears here are fresh, cute, and nicely executed.
Here’s a closeup of the fishing bruin. The knot in his cheek is a nice touch.
Today is Saturday and the bear can expect a mail delivery today. This may change by fall if the Postal Service gets its way. I saw a recent poll and it seems people on the Olympic Peninsula don’t seem to mind losing their Saturday delivery. Parcels will still come. I guess it’s no big disappointment if the bills don’t arrive until Monday.
Sharing with Weekly Top Shot hosted by Madge from The View from Right Here.
One last look at 2012 before I launch into the new year: Sequim’s Yarn Bombing in June. These knitted bits on the streets of Sequim tickled my sense of whimsy. They disappeared in days, but were a bright spot while they were here. Really, guerrilla knitters? Love it!
This is Kristi, the manager of the Safeway floral department in Sequim. She wears a Christmas pinafore and a big smile as people look for Christmas flowers. I’m grateful today for all the kind and pleasant people who help us through the holidays, who support the less privileged among us, and lift our spirits with kind and caring words and deeds.
Be it flowers or Christmas trees, candles, candy, or a holiday toast, I wish you a warm, merry and meaningful Christmas. And joyous, happy celebrations to those who observe other seasonal holidays at this time of year!
Even Sequim’s “Welcome Elk” seems to be getting into the spirit of things these days. And yes, that is a Rudolph style light on its nose.
Hey, Santa! You’ve got backup here in Washington if you need it.
Costco was named Best Vision Center in Peninsula Daily News polling this year.
Full disclosure: I’m looking through a pair of Costco spectacles as I create this post. I picked up my current frames and lenses for about $100 less for the whole pair than I’d have paid for lenses alone at my optometrist’s office. I can’t ignore that kind of value.