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Crumbling headstones at Bayview Cemetary

Skywatch Friday: Tuesday Memories

Funny how a month ago can feel like a dream.

Click here to expand your horizons.

Voting Still Life No.2: 1894 Edition

Ah, the difference between voting today and voting 115 years ago. This is my great-great grandfather's poll book from 1894-- he was an election official, and had the tedious task of tallying up the votes. I imagine he used a fountain pen, but hey, I had to work with what I had available! Among the changes since my great-great grandfather's day: we've broadened the spectrum of eligible voters. Here is an interesting paragraph in the poll book titled "Qualification of Electors."

"State Constitution. Article VI., Section I. All male persons of the age of twenty-one years or over, possessing the following qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at all election: They shall be citizens of the United States; they shall have lived in the state one year, and in the county ninety days, and in the city, town, ward or precinct thirty days immediately preceding the election at which they offer to vote. Provided, that Indians, not taxed, shall never be allowed the elective franchise. Provided, further, that all male persons who, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, are qualified electors of the Territory, shall be electors."

I am happy to say that the state of Washington allows 18-year-olds, Indians, and--gasp!--even women to vote these days.

Besides allowable voters, another interesting historical change is that this poll book is from New Whatcom. New Whatcom is one of the four towns (Fairhaven, Bellingham, New Whatcom, and Sehome) that eventually merged and together took the name of Bellingham.

Click here for a more complete history of Bellingham.

Voting Still Life No.1

All the necessary ingredients for making important decisions.

Railroad Avenue

Saturday morning on Railroad Avenue, with bustling little shops and restaurants. This was taken earlier this month, when a walk outside actually sounded pleasant. If I'd taken this picture more recently, the only people on the street would be wearing rain gear and be in heads-down survival mode.

Click here to read some history and see old pictures from Railroad Avenue.

A quick comment from my October 22 post-- my sister has decided she has to keep the infamous kitchen wallpaper. Once the image circulated through her workplace, there were so many in favor of it she feared a mutiny if she tore it down. Viva la revolution!

Friends Will Never Want to Eat at My House Again

He found the perfect spot
curled gold and soft and purring
next to the warm stove.
Blissful.
I didn't have the heart to move him.

Alpine Evening

The sun's last rays make room for dusk.

The Hurdy Gurdy Man

"Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity

'Tis then when the hurdy gurdy man
Comes singing songs of love
Then when the hurdy gurdy man
Comes singing songs of love."

-Donovan

Skywatch Friday: Pink and Blue Over the Sound

The clouds look like an oil painting,
Dips and swirls and brushstrokes.
My one criticism:
The colors the artist used
are too glowing
too effervescent
too beautiful
to possibly be believed.

Click here for other gorgeous skies.

Old Wallpaper

This wallpaper is in the kitchen of my sister's recently purchased house. I think it's awesome. She thinks it's tacky. So is it awesome or tacky? Or maybe just awesomely tacky?

Bellingham Bus Station

The Whatcom Transportation Authority's Bellingham Station. It was recently renovated, and ridership is up more than ever. Whether it's because of the economy or environmental awareness, it's been a good thing for our roads, air, and community.

Hovander Sunflower

Clearly, I didn't take this picture recently... but it's been pretty gloomy around here lately, so I thought we could all use a little sunshine from early September! This sunflower is in one of Hovander Park's abundant flower gardens.

Cavallini Garden

No one sits, today
on a bench
in the hospital garden.
Still
they carry the weight
of impossible decisions
made yesterday.

Sunday Leaves

Slender trunks
tender and white as a girl
flash their sequin leaves,
bright with chlorophyll

Skywatch Friday: Seagulls and Cell Phones

The sun sets beyond the Olympic Peninsula, while a girl watches the seagulls and chats on the phone on the pier in Seattle.

Want to see new horizons? Click here for the Skywatch site.

Dirty Dan Harris

The legendary Dirty Dan Harris waits for a friend to share his bench with him outside the Colophon Cafe in Fairhaven.

Faire Flags

These pearlescent flags at the Okanogan Family Faire caught my eye. Just outside Tonasket, this old-fashioned barter faire has turned into a huge annual event. It was much colder and windier than anyone was expecting, but everyone layered on the scarves and crazy hats, and had a great time anyway.

House on a Hill

This was taken just outside Winthrop, Washington, while we were passing through on our mini-vacation. This picture is a good illustration of the enormous difference between western and eastern Washington. Our Cascade Range of mountains are cloud-trappers, keeping most of the moisture on the western side of the state, and leaving the eastern side quite arid. That dramatic difference is something I love about Washington-- there aren't many states where you can drive for a few hours and feel like you're on a different planet!

Diablo Lake

A snow-dusted peak towers over Diablo Lake.

These Are Not My Flowers, But I Wish They Were

Walking by this front garden on F Street always makes me smile with its abundance of flowers.

We are taking a little trip the next few days to Eastern Washington, and we're camping back-woods style, so I won't be posting again until Monday. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Sunset in the San Juan Islands

We took a little day trip with the kids and the bikes to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island yesterday. It was fun, but especially worth it for the sun setting during the ferry ride back home.

The Mount Baker Theatre Tower

The Mount Baker Theatre was built in 1927, one of West Coast Theatres majestic "movie palaces" of the 1920's. The elaborate Spanish-Moorish architecture was designed by architect R.C. Reamer. The Theatre is still a great place to catch a Broadway show, dance troupe, or creepy silent movie accompanied by the antique Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Rainy Play

splash

slip
whoosh
puddle
play
puddle
whoosh
slip
splash

For Gourdness' Sake

A pile of pumpkins at the Farmer's Market.

Days of Future Passed

“The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be.”

-Paul Valery

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise in Fairhaven

Metamorphosis.
The cinnamon sky
transforms a rainy parking lot
into a sea of gold.

I took this picture outside the train station in Fairhaven last December. It's always reminded me of this gorgeous song by Alexi Murdoch.

Other Skies.

The Temple Bar

The Temple Bar is one of my favorite places to go when I need a good glass of wine and interesting conversation in a cool environment. Locals will recognize the man at the table inside as "that guy who always has a parrot on his shoulder". Can't quite tell in this picture if he has his parrot... perhaps he is sitting at another table, enjoying his own glass of birdie brew.