Birch Bay Living - June 3, 2011

ECLECTIC (AT BEST) NEWS FROM BIRCH BAY, WA

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

After two reasonably nice weekend days over the holiday, including some afternoon sun, BB emptied on Monday as cold and rainy weather returned.  The weekend crowds were large, producing Manhattan-like traffic and revelry, but on Monday the Dorf returned to its winter status of calm and eerie quiet. 

It was a chilly weekend, even with some dollops of sun, and the poor folks coming from the South in their shorts and tee-shirts crowded the C Shop to keep warm and eat some additive chocolate.  Folks who fired up their BBQ machines crowded around them to keep warm.

This week: No Sunset Like this in Birch Bay 

SUNSET-LESS IN BIRCH BAY

Birch Bay, famous for fabulous sunsets, did not have a photo-worthy sunset this week.  Skies were overcast and gray. The sun was hidden.

CONDO ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

I am sure that some condominium associations in BB had their annual meetings during the holiday weekend.  We had ours and little blood was shed.  Only a few feeble punches were thrown, and most hit above the belt.  We all lived to fight another day.  Hope your meeting was as successful.

BIRCH BAY IS NOT FOR SISSIES

I am reminded of the brutal violence that surrounds us every day in BB when I see the eagles swooping and the hawks perched for action.  Have you ever seen an eagle take away a baby sea gull?  Me neither, but they do.  Last year, two of three baby seagulls being raised on the roof of condos across the street disappeared over a couple of days.  I can image what happened and that is probably just as bad as seeing it.  Yikes!

WHAT'S UP WITH MARINER'S COVE?

The nice sidewalk in front of Mariner's Cove has been totally removed for the length of the complex and sod is being up down.  I guess that is an invitation for other folks to go walk in the street.  Or maybe the association just had lots of excess money they needed to spend.  My worst nightmare: be a member of a large condo association.

Mariners Cove Rips Out Sidewalks

WHAT'S WITH THE STRAWBERRIES?

The newspapers report that strawberries are at least two weeks late due to the lack of sunshine in May.  My report is that the pale-green berries are refusing to budge until they get some solar cooperation.  Reports say that angel food cake futures are down 22 percent.

COSTCO THE CROWDED

The Bellingham Costco gets more crowded every week as our Canadian friends flock south for cheap goodies.  Since Bellingham will not let Costco expand their store in the city, I modestly suggest they build a new one at the I-5 and Grandview intersections. It will be more convenient for the Canadian sales-tax payers and still the closest one to Bellingham.

By the way, how do Canadians who fill up their gas tanks and ten huge gasoline containers at Costco get across the border without paying duties? 

And, what do Indian-Canadians do with all the basket loads of milk they buy?  I'm sure it is put to good use, but I can't figure it out.

VISIT OF THE RV BLOGGER

The Ramblin' Man, an RV blogger, made his way to Birch Bay on Wednesday. I hope he and his co-pilot enjoy their stay here. I hear it will be a nice week-end. http://blog.seattlepi.com/ramblinman/2011/06/02/birch-bay-washington/