Nature Doing It's Best

 It was raining on Saturday morning. The mountain was hiding in the clouds. But Karen told a friend that we'd go to the grand re-opening of her store. She has operated an upscale antique store called "Home Expressions for years. She first opened it in Everett. It did well there for years, but the woman she was renting the storefront from decided that she could manage a store like that. She decided to not extend Nicole's lease to open one of her own. So Nicole opened the store in Everett Mall. It just wasn't the right environment for a small antique shop. People who shop in malls want big chain stores. They want World Market, not a mom and pop. And people looking for antiques aren't heading to the mall. Nicole actually had people treating her antiques like it was a garage sale. It's a great store, but the wrong environment.

The first time that I was in there, I found this beautiful carved frame. She sells very trendy hand thrown pottery, upscale antique furniture and decorations. That kind of shop really needs to be in a storefront in an arts and crafts district. She needs customers who know the value of her inventory, not ones who are there to look for a new pair of Toms. Luckily Nicole was able to find a store in Snohomish to lease. It is an artsy area with great dining and nice shops all around. After spending some time and money with Nicole we visited the tea apothecary and the fudge shop. There were several antique and book stores that we went into. I would have liked to stay longer, but Karen wanted to get home. I'm hoping that she will take Nicole's offer to host us for a weekend during the tulip festival. It would be a nice get away.

It had stopped raining while we were there and on the way home I still looked for the mountain. It still wanted to hide under the clouds. It amazes me how this mountain can hide. On a rainy day it is completely covered in clouds. You wouldn't know it's there. But it doesn't need a rainy day to hide. On a sunny day, if the sky is a pale blue the mountain blends in and I will be looking right at it without noticing that it's there. It's not a small mountain. It towers over the Cascades. When it's not hiding or blending into the hues of the sky it can be seen from hundreds of miles away. And when it does blend, I can't see it from the 40 miles that I am from it.

After risking viral death to encourage a friend on Saturday, Sunday was the youngest of the Three Little Kitten's birthday. Her mother didn't mention to her that she was going to have a party. It was a good thing because none of her classmates are allowed to go to parties right now. So Carlie decided that she'd invite the adults that help her care for The Kittens. It was a small gathering, but Kitten 3 was happy to have a cake and presents to open. I wonder how many kids this year will remember this as the year they didn't have a birthday party. It's sad really. And kind of silly. Kids aren't getting sick like adults are. I suppose it is a good idea to not test that limit though.

Last night after we got home we noticed the beautiful full moon. The picture isn't mine. I don't have the kind of camera that will work for that kind of photography. But the sky was so bright. I put the shades in my room down so I could sleep. When I got up this morning, I was sad that I'd done that and not let the pretty light in, even  though it would have kept me from sleeping well. Tonight the moon is supposed to be as pretty. I think I will risk my sleep to see it.