Okay folks, I’ve been trying not to mention it. It feels mean-spirited and ill-timed and rude. Three things that I do not like to be. But IT is always there and I think about IT every day. And it’s really a big part of my Portland experience so far and I think I finally just need to get it out in the open.

I’m sorry to do this, but…

THE WEATHER HERE IS FREAKING AMAZING!

Ahem.

You’ve seen glimpses of it in tales of state park hikes and farmers’ markets and house pictures that have all kinds of green grass peeking through the windows. But that’s only scratching the surface. It is SO green here.

Check out these bad boys poking through and gearing up for spring!

Other than that weird snow day, it’s been all green grass all the time here. And I’m gobsmacked by the variety – so many types of bushes and trees. All still green!

And it’s warm. It’s usually somewhere between 5-10 degrees (uh, forties in Fahrenheit?). Our parkas and snowboots are in storage and we’ve all removed the warm lining from our jackets – all you need is something to keep the rain off and you’re good to go.

Yeah, it rains. But only about half the time is it real rain. Otherwise it’s that spitty, misty kind. And yeah, it’s cloudy. But not ALWAYS. And even though I’ve only been here a few weeks, I already LOVE the sun and as soon as it comes peeking out, I make a break for it outside.

It’s very true what they say – if you stay inside when it’s raining in Portland, you’ll never go outside. BUT if you tell yourself, PM, you’re not made of sugar, get out there! and you don’t mind a little mud on your hiking shoes, then you can get out into misty green warmth (well, “warmth” if you’re a Minnesotan Canuck) pretty much every day. I am absolutely loving it.

And that’s all Imma say about that.