Hovander House

 

Built in 1903, this Scandinavian inspired house was built and furnished for the Hovander family.  The barn seen here was finished eight years later.  The grand home has large windows for light and exterior gingerbread.  The family resided here until 1969.  It is now part of the Whatcom County Park system and I have to take a tour of the interior someday.

Children's Garden

 

The kid's garden at Hovander Park is a fun place to learn about plants and gardening.  It is happy and whimsical and my kids love exploring it.  Always a must stop when we visit this park.

Big Red

 

The big red barn at Hovander Park (or as my oldest daughter calls it, "the farmer park")  as seen from the new playground.  

Old and New

On our latest visit to Hovander Park we were excited to discover a brand new playground.  The kids loved it, as it had a nature theme, and I loved the way it was situated amongst the old farm buildings.

Flower Power

The dahlia patch at Hovander Homestead Park is one of my favorite reasons to visit this time of year.  It was so hard to choose my favorite, but I think this is it.

 



A Little Prairie and a Big Mountain

A view of Mt Baker from Ferndale's Hovander Park.

Highland Games

The Calling of the Clans marks the kick off of the Scottish Highland Games last weekend.   People converge on Hovander Park in Ferndale to celebrate all things Scottish. Saturday's highlight was Scottish dancing followed by an athletic competition on Sunday. My brother-in-law competed at the amateur level and took second place.  Go Andy! 

Scarecrow

This gentle giant keeps watch over the farmyard at Hovander Park.

Skywatch Friday: Something's Brewing

When she's done with the swings we head for our car. The trail is long and her hands are cold so we stop several times while I convince her to keep moving before the rain comes.  During one of these stops a ray of light falls across the field before the clouds settle in.

Swinging

Wheeeeee!!!

Relic

Inside a shed at the Hovander Homestead, an old wagon and several large pulleys wait to be put to use. I wonder how long it's been since they've seen a days work? Perhaps the wagon comes out in the summer for old fashioned hay rides.

Skywatch Friday: A Seussian Sense of Perspective

Something about the red barn at Hovander Park toys with my sense of perspective.  It could be the two tiny windows placed at the top of the four story barn. Or it could be the very slight pitch change in the roof just below the windows that contrasts with the more pronounced angle on traditional barn roofs.

Or it may be those windows are two sizes too small!

Who You Lookin' at Turkey?

Happy Thanksgiving!

from Bellingham Daily Photo

Descent

The spiraling stairway down the Hovander Water Tower begins with eight precipitous steps. Deserted now, this stairway is packed with kids in the summer, making the descent a bit trickier.

Who needs a tissue?

Orange Dahlia

The grasses whisper of summer

and stretch toward the sun.

A Cruisin' Tom...

...passed us by at Hovander Park.

Skywatch Friday: Hovander Tower

Weekend Reflections: Playground Mirror

she watches her reflection

under the slide

the way it undulates

as someone slides down

and pretends she's a mermaid

under silver water