# 224: Spring on the North Olympic Coast

Spring brings sun, rain, snow, wind and tulips; a first walk to the falls; an Happiness Calendar for April; and easy recipe for April Fools.

Apr 03, 2024

∙ Paid

An early spring day on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula can bring sun, snow, rain, wind. We never know what gift nature will give us on any given day.

My grass has already been mowed…twice…and borders weed-whacked. There’s always more to do. Planting season is upon us and I am readying the garden for seeds. On a recent walk with GP there are blossoms of red flowering currant and raspberries leafing out.

The tulips in front are putting on quite a show. Every April around this time, it’s as if they know my taxes are done and it’s time to celebrate!

Cartwheels in the Wind

I look out the window and see D & O’s big sun umbrella doing cartwheels across the grass as it flies over to the young apple trees along the fenceline. I hurry outside to capture it and meet O who has seen it from her window, too. We bring it down and decide to half-lower the big 10x10 tent on my back deck, too. That should be enough, we say. I head back inside but minutes later a big gust comes up and I hear the legs of the tent sliding. I turn again to the window and see the tent being lifted by the wind only to land with two legs on the deck and two legs off. It’s too big for me to take down alone with the wind so I run down the field to the workshop to get D’s help. I hear music. It’s band practice night. I open the door and ask for help and four sturdy men head up the field, quickly take one tent-leg each, place it back on to the deck and lower it the rest of the way. I see a small tear in it. Hopefully it can be patched.

A Walk to the Falls

The forest is calling. I yearn for a walk through the big trees. On go my jacket, warm socks, sturdy shoes and rainhat. I fill my water bottle, head out the door and drive west. On my way I see rivulets of water cascade down steep mountainsides covered in ferns, rocks, and trees skirting the banks of the lake. It is mirror calm and the sun sparkles on its surface. A little further on I turn to head up the smaller road. When I can go no further, I park and open the car door.

There are the soft voices of wind in the trees and the fine healing air that surrounds them. As I walk the gentle ups and downs on the trail I greet others with a smile and nod. Less than an hour later I hear the music of the pounding snow melt before I see the falls. Down a bit now and around a bend. There they are. I stand and watch, breathing in their peace and power. A half turn to look behind me I see the sun catch the mist of the rising water making a rainbow. Perfect! I retrace my steps and head back home feeling refreshed and full.

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What I’m Reading

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner

In 2018 I took part in a course on Kindness led by Dacher Keltner of the Greated Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Earlier this year he released Awe, a book I am excited to read. April’s calendar is from The Greater Good Science Center that he heads and if you would like to download it, here is a link to a PDF with links embedded to thoughtful articles for each day of the month. If you would like to learn more about The Greater Good Science Center I’ve linked it here.