Renton = Rain, yet again

Walkways on the Cedar River from the Renton Public Library on over to the Renton Memorial Stadium are under water and impassable. Little bit of river over the pavers some days, a bit more on others. The weather man says we've got more of the wet stuff on the way. Oh bully for us.

Won't see to many people out these days, except for the diehard walkers. When the rain lets up, they stream out of their houses, eager for a moment of respite from the grey, wet skies. No one lingers in any one spot for long. Nothing looks dry enough.

Yet, the flowers bloom and Spring shines through in bright little corners if you care to look. Color shines forth in the most unlikely of places.

I wanna tan this year sometime. My rust lines are doing just fine.
 

Plant a Pancake

84 years later, and McLendon's is still a family owned and run local hardware store serving an annual free pancake breakfast to kick off another year of business and the beginning of planting season. Up and adam early and you'll get a tummy full of carbs and protein to help fuel your day out in the garden.

The lines are long, but the pancake grill is fast and before you know it, you are feasting on a couple of flapjacks, 2 links of sausage, oj and hot coffee. Did I happen to mention that it was free?

Just in case you get the hungries before you make it to the head of the line, there is a cookie stop where you can seek sugar nourishment.

The smell that wafts over from the huge serving dishes full of breakfast goodies is wonderful. Everything is just hot off the grill and fresh, fresh, fresh.
That is a full head of steam rising from what was to become my plate. It was good, in case you were wondering.


This little guy just camped out in the cart, scarfing down as many sausage as were available.

This is probably the biggest store day for McLendon's the whole year, except for Mother's Day weekend when those fuschia hanging baskets just fly out the doors.

The Picaroon had a cart full of flowers and plants to plant, and all save one made it into the ground or pot this afternoon.

Happy 84th McLendon's!

McLendon's Hardware
440 Rainier Ave S
Renton, WA 98057-2401
(425) 235-3555

South Renton Spring

Two-toned Spring wonder right on Williams. This lovely Dogwood tree sports two colors of blooms, and some of the biggest that I have seen on any similar tree around. Just too pretty not to sit up and take notice of, don't you think?

Ah come, come quickly, spring!
come and lift us towards our culmination, we myriads;
we who have never flowered, like patient cactuses.
Come and lift us to our end, to blossom, bring us to our summer
we who are winter-weary in the winter of the of the world.
from Craving for Spring by DH Lawrence

Spring Festival and a run at Poker

Renton is blooming.

Spring has sprung and this Saturday we celebrate it at the Piazza with a festival and some low key poker playing. The Renton Poker Run is a great way to see the sights in Downtown Renton, acquaint yourself with some of the newer additions to the neighborhood and maybe win a prize. There are 34 businesses participating this year - visit them all, get your best poker hand together and maybe you'll get lucky.

Tulips at Liberty Park.

Rather just slowly sip your coffee and shop? Spring Festival also means Farmers Market, arts n' crafts vendors, music, kids activities, just general fun. This is when the Piazza is the way it ought to be more often- full of people and in use.

The look of spring in North Renton.

Personally, I am on the prowl for flower bouquets at the festival and hoping that my favorite snack vendors make an appearance. Mad money well spent, I say.

Veteran's War Memorial in the DTR

Spring Festival and Poker Run
Renton Downtown Piazza
S. Third St. and Burnett Ave.S.
Saturday, April 17th 12noon - 5pm

Poker Run
Sign up at booth in the Piazza - $1 donation or canned food to benefit Renton Salvation Army
Visit all participating businesses, get a poker card from each and try to get the best hand.
12noon - 4pm

Frosting and Petals

Springs blue skies and bright pink petals are popping up on the Renton radar - even in the cupcake realm. Crystal Roberts, Cupcake Queen at our local haunt, Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes, has put her latest creation together and christened it Raspberry Antoinette. This raspberry swirl cake with vanilla buttercream frosting is a concoction that deserves a party. Frilly dresses and a few demitasse cups of bitter brew to counter balance the lovely sweetness of the cake.

The local rhodies are also fully decked out this week with our on again, off again warm weather hastening them into bloom. Amazing how similar the color palette is between these two Renton lovelies.

Crystal holding on of her charming creations.

Life and art have so much in common.

I couldn't help but put these two sets of photos together, they are strikingly complimentary.




Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Blue skied and beautiful - Renton today

Blue skied Spring wonderment - that is what greeted me today on my ride out to the edge of Lake Washington on this fine, Renton day. Lake Washington, known in the native Duwamish tongue as Lake Xacuabs, means basically a whole lot of water. Yep, that would describe it.

Few places afford you such great views and within a stone's throw of our historic downtown.

That's not a speck on your screen, that's a plane having just taken off from the Renton Municipal Airport (or Clayton Scott Field now) just to the left of where this photo was taken.
Renton - it's a great place to be.

The color of Spring and a '48 Chevy

The color and hue of Spring in a '48 Chevy - that is what turned my head today and put a smile on my face. This baby has been in the hands of owner, Lou Gulman, for nearly a year and she is looking oh so purple and oh so good.

This '48 Chevy Fleetline Arrow was the same model that Lou drove back in his younger days. He rescued it for a 4 year stint where the old chevy was deteriorating fast and put a lot of elbow grease and time into this beauty to have her sparkling and cruisin' the streets of Downtown Renton.

Love is in the details. Just look at the purple dice on the tire rims and the top of the door locks. The hood of the car has a subtle array of flames that you can only admire from close up. Lovin' it.

Lou Gulman is not a trophy queen - he drives his beautiful purple car whenever he can, even making long road trips over the mountain pass to see family. But the seats aren't as comfy as he would like, so that will be one of the next improvements he makes on his baby (heads up to you Kenny's Upholstery). Not unlike The Picaroon's friend Ron Hughes, seen here and here, Lou believes that vintage is best - and not meant to be left at home under a tarp till the car show comes to town.

Thanks, Lou. You and the "old chevy" made my day!

Pink is the popping out all over

Spring - the earth rebirths itself once again, wearing a filmy layer of pink petals laced with sky blues.

Renton welcomes Spring

o

Where would we be without these

I haven't had as many floral features in the ole blog as of late - tada! back in action - all of these photos shot within the last 24 hours, all lovely to behold, flower power at it's ultimate. Happy Sunday, y'all.