And then there was Raji

 

Seeing as how I am getting to know this new and beautiful place, I try to turn down a new road every time I am out running errands. One of the biggest surprises to me is how this south end of the island is still so heavily forested. Every road seems to take me through lush green stands of trees with soft ferny undergrowth. Houses are tucked back in pockets. Sometimes all I see is a friendly mailbox or a gravel driveway.  

I have learned that Whidbey Island is 12 miles wide at its widest. That means that my roaming often lands me at a beach or neighborhood of waterfront cottages or a lovely water vista. 

Today, my roaming led down a rutted dirt road to a “Pick Your Own Dahlia” garden.

There was a friendly little table with an assortment of clippers, a box of glass jars to fill with your selections, and a money canister. Don’t they call those Honesty Boxes?

Oh, the dahlias. There were all colors and types, with poppies and pods poking up among them. The only sound was of bees buzzing. 

I could not have asked for a better Saturday discovery.

Except, maybe, for this surprise outside of the local market. 

This is Raji. He lives in the pet store next to the market and keeps an eye on the parking lot. You can’t really tell from this picture but his shell is about 20 inches long. 

We will be enjoying my selection of dahlias all week. 

When I got home, I’d planned to empty a few more boxes.  But Caroline had a better suggestion. We headed out to visit a nearby, cats-only branch of WAIF, Whidbey’s animal shelter system, so she could sign up to volunteer. She’s been missing that volunteering. It was literally a cottage full of cats and kittens. How could THAT not be fun?  

And from there, it was a hop to Langley, where we decided an early dinner was in order.

I had the shrimp roll. It was just as delicious as it looks.

I am really loving these Saturday adventures.