Back in action

Today marks the end of a six-week recuperation for our dog. He sustained a back injury in the pursuit of a tennis ball. In addition to being restricted to no walks, the vet put him on a diet. After bleary eyed days on pain killers and muscle relaxants he recovered enough to passionately lobby to hit the trail again. Dogs may not speak, but they can definitely convey demands. The vet relented and allowed him out on gentle one-mile walks. It was a relief for all of us. Until then my husband and I hid our boots, hats and jackets in the garage so we could guiltily sneak out without him. We can now resume our three mile route. And in the meantime we’re beginning to see his puppyish waist again.

(This is a Labrador action shot. His tail was caught in motion here and looks shorter than normal. And the white spot on his snout? Happy slobber.)

Happy face

Marigolds seem like workhorse flowers. Nothing exotic, but bold and reliably pretty shocks of color wherever they’re nestled in. I read somewhere that they discourage cutworms in a garden, so I’ve put them in among other plantings. I’m not convinced that they work for that, but they’re plenty cheerful. That’s good enough for me.

Sand sculpture resurrection

Last summer I posted a version of this sand sculpture here. The sculpture, entitled “Violet Picking Lavender,” was a volunteer effort by Kali Bradford who spent over 200 hours on the work to celebrate Sequim’s annual Lavender Faire and Festival. I posted a photo of the work on July 7th. A week later vandals destroyed the top of the castle and smashed “Violet’s” head off.

Bradford returned to work on the sculpture last month, adding the lion to protect Violet. And she rebuilt Violet’s head.

I don’t think this dragon was part of the earlier sculpture when I saw it; it’s not in any of the photos I took.

Although there is rain erosion, you can see some of the human-caused damage in this shot. To call it senseless is an understatement.

Bradford admitted she didn’t have the heart to rebuild the sculpture after the vandalism but said in the newspaper last Friday getting back to the sculpture was a way for her to heal from the vandalism. “That’s the great thing about sand: I can always rebuilt it.”

The esplanade, 2 of 2

Yesterday I showed you a view of the new esplanade in Port Angeles. This is one of the benches now installed along the street level above the esplanade. I like clean, contemporary design and like the look of these new benches. (The day’s rain discouraged me from trying it on for comfort.)

The benches face out toward the Coast Guard station on Ediz Hook, and, beyond that, Victoria and Vancouver Island, B.C. Some people have pointed out that the enclosures around the benches block the view. I think wind protection was part of the design consideration though I’m not really sure what drove the decisions.

The esplanade, 1 of 2

Port Angeles, Sequim’s western next door neighbor, recently completed a new esplanade at its downtown waterfront. This is the area where the Black Ball Ferry comes and goes from Victoria, B.C. and is a gateway for ferry visitors as well as occasional cruise ship passengers.

This previously was a pretty ordinary sidewalk along a street that edges the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The upgrade definitely kicks it up a notch. Now, if we could only get some blue skies again to brighten it up a bit. . .