Shoulder season

"It was one of those March (April!) days when the sun shines hot and wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade."

Charles Dickens, Great Expectations 

I watched Maya rolling around on the sun heated deck Saturday, toasting herself on all sides.  "Nana, this feels SO GOOD!"

Yes it does feel good to finally be warm outside. But not for long. People on both sides of the state are tired of this wet cold La Nina winter, which hasn't given up yet. There's even a dusting of snow on the deck this morning and the weather in the mountains is terrible. I'm planning to drive back to Seattle tomorrow so hopefully things improve by then.

But other than weather complaints, the shoulder season here in the valley is pretty nice, just a short break between winter recreation and the summer tourist season. Soon the highways will be streaming with heavy traffic. But for now you can pull right up to the gas pump at Hank's and feel like a local as you empty your bank account. Well, guess I am a local now.

The first Saturday market of the year is a special occasion for the Twisp community. There's very little to buy actually, but no one seems to care, greeting unmasked friendly faces for the first time in almost 2 years.

The girls made a beeline to the hearty Kettle Corn man staked out in his usual place. In an another month, the market will be hopping with tourists and locals buying organic plant starts and the first garden edibles.

 

 

Amanda was busy all weekend with finals so the girls and I hung out. The Cinnamon Twisp Bakery for a piece of quiche and loaf of bread. Some sewing, some drawing, some baking. Nothing much but it was relaxing.

Monday is a quiet day in Twisp (you might say dead) and everyone is back at work and school. If I can drag myself out of this warm bed I'll do some spring housecleaning and then weather permitting hit the road early tomorrow.  Enough with the snow, already!