1. Zach Mandeville is the reason why I read Olympia (or Tumwater) blogs:

Tumwater is not kind to you when you’re feeling down.  It’s at a low
point these days with a lot of empty houses, empty buildings, and
snobby, eye contact avoiding state workers walking their lunch break
rounds.  But it’s also bright May.  The Japanese maple on the corner of
Hazelhurst has burnished to a beautiful red.  All the enterprising
businesses and retired neighbors cut their grass this morning, so
there’s these outpost colonies of summer every few blocks.  On the
corner of Lee street a man had cut his grass and was now throwing a ball
for his adorable lab puppy.  A few paces down was the disheveled,
cinderblock house where, every day that I pass by it, I see a man
sitting in the middle of the living room with his head in his hands. 
Then I passed the insurance company, with grass freshly cut and again
the deep full scent of summer.    I felt like I was in a Sci Fi
setpiece, adrift in a busted ship moving from oxygen tank to oxygen
tank, or maybe a deep ocean fish moving from sea vent to sea vent.

 2. Eastside Urban Farm blog has their own signs of spring.

3. Mathias at Everyday Olympia has something nice to say, apparently new shops are springing forth downtown. We may save Olympia yet.

4. The Sky Like A Scallop Shell is a blog I’ve only recently followed. Prepare yourself to be spooked.