Framed by a Fork

Sun shines through the trees on the Interurban trail

Conference Table

This piece of art, called "Conference Table," is by Tom McLelland. It's on the waterfront off State Street. Personally, I like the way this picture has some extra Pacific Northwest flavor: the raindrop on the lens and the seagull poop on the sculpture. Ah, home.

I'm leaving this rain-soaked picture as the latest post for an indefinite period of time. We're throwing the kids and the dog in our little vintage trailer and hitting the road for a couple weeks. Our ultimate destination is Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon. I'm saving some Bellingham pictures that we'll try to post on the go, but since service might be spotty, I'm not making any promises!

Hope everyone has a great couple of weeks!

Watching the sky in her eyes

I took this picture of my eldest at the top of the ferris wheel at the Ski to Sea carnival. It was a perfect moment-- hovering in the sky, looking at the sky, reflecting the sky... sounds like a Skywatch Friday picture!

Floating Over Lake Padden

Some fisherman left a decoration hanging from a branch over Lake Padden, making an ideal foreground for the fishermen in the boat.

Ski to Sea Carnival

Every year in Bellingham, the last week of May is all about Ski to Sea. I took this picture at the Ski to Sea carnival. There is also the Junior Ski to Sea Parade, the Junior Ski to Sea Race, the Ski to Sea Grand Parade, and many other festivals and events. The main event-- the reason for all this skiing and seaing nonsense-- is Bellingham's biggest sports event of the year, the Ski to Sea Race. Alas, I will be missing it this year since we'll be starting our vacation this weekend, so I won't be able to post any pictures. I'll outline it for you anyway, and whet your appetite for next year's Ski to Sea Race, which I'm determined to attend and post pictures of! There are seven legs of the race, beginning high on Mount Baker with a cross-country skier. He or she hands off to a downhill skier or snowboarder, who hands off to a runner, and then the road bike, canoe, mountain bike, and lastly the kayak leg of the race which goes across Bellingham Bay to Fairhaven, where there's a big party called "It All Ends in Fairhaven". Sigh. I'll be there next year, beer garden!

Pink Mountain

Mount Baker hovers over the Bellingham marina, its face tinged rose by the setting sun.

Charlie Hunter Trio at the Green Frog

This is the Charlie Hunter Trio, groovily jamming right before I made the major photographer faux pas of using my flash. Charlie Hunter half-joked "What are you trying to do, blind me?" And I muttered "Sorry" and fled home, where my frequent debacles are a little more private. If you find this post in a random Google search of your name, Charlie Hunter, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Anyway, other than that moment, it was an awesome night at the Green Frog Cafe. The cozy bar was jam-packed with people in awe of Charlie Hunter, and in shock that he would deign to visit our little 'Hamlet. He has a new album out, which I haven't heard yet but you can hear him talk about it on NPR here. My favorite of his albums (so far) is "Songs from the Analog Playground".

Why I Live Where I Do

A fifteen minute drive...

A fifteen minute hike...

And I'm rewarded with a view like this.

It's pretty hard to beat.

Red Rider

A young daredevil hitches a ride during Bellingham's Junior Ski to Sea Parade.

Skywatch Friday: Craters of the Moon

Moon!

(a funny looking word when you think about it)

Skywatch Friday images click HERE.

Whatcom Falls: Through the Looking-Gate

Whatcom Falls, seen through one of the decorative bridge arches.

Iris

Purple iris--

rain drenched,

sun kissed.

Perfect day.

Does your work define you?

Car dealership owner Dewey Griffin took his passion to the grave. What will your headstone look like?

Fern Spiral

I love this picture ejvig took on the trail to Fragrance Lake yesterday. I've never seen a fern exhibit this kind of shape, but it seems to be spiraling up to reach the sun. A quick google image search didn't come up with any fern varieties that look anything like this, so I'm at a loss... but it sure is pretty!

Chuckanut Sandstone

Many of the sandstone cliffs at Larrabee State Park have been carved into cool formations like this one.

Skywatch Friday: All Steamed Up

Steam from the Encogen Generating Station's cooling towers rises into the evening sky.

I've driven by this facility many times, but never had any idea what it actually does until I looked it up for this post (Only the technically curious need read beyond this point):

From their website: "The Encogen facility came online in 1993, and was acquired by PSE in 1999. The plant employs modern, “combustion-turbine, combined-cycle” technology that allows it to generate electricity using both a natural gas cycle and, from the exhaust heat of its power-generating turbines, a steam cycle. The two-stage process boosts operating efficiency, lowers fuel costs, and cuts air emissions. Combined-cycle plants like Encogen operate much more efficiently than single-cycle gas-fired plants. The latter typically run only to help meet daily or seasonal peaks in customers’ power usage, while combined-cycle plants often operate to help meet utility customers’ base power requirements."

For more Skywatch Friday images click HERE.

Georgia-Pacific Plant

The sun sets on the old Georgia-Pacific Plant, both figuratively and literally. Occupying much of Bellingham's waterfront for over fifty years, soon it will be torn down and eventually replaced with tourist-friendly parks and boardwalk. For more information on the waterfront development plan, click here.

Do They Know They're in a Painting?

swirly sky by Van Gogh

dappled water by Monet

photo by me

Hairy Woodpecker

This hairy woodpecker joined us for brunch on Mother's Day at my aunt's house. Hmmm, I think our meal was a little tastier. Does anyone know why they were named "hairy" woodpeckers? He doesn't seem any hairier than the average bird...

Elizabeth George

On Friday I went to Village Books to see one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth George, talk about her latest novel. Elizabeth George writes the bestselling Inspector Lynley series. My tastes generally run more literary than mystery, but that's what is so brilliant about her books-- they are intricate literary pieces with deep social subtexts, which also happen to be page-turning mysteries.

The Eagles Rock

A pair of bald eagles claimed this rock as their own at Larrabee State Park. Not surprisingly, none of the seagulls were willing to question the eagles' claim.

and...

Happy Mother's Day

Bound

Probably a relic from the days of logging around the lake, chain links wrap this cedar tree on the path to North Lake Whatcom.

SkyWatch Friday: The Bay

Sunset at Boulevard Park

For more Skywatch Friday images click HERE.

Flower Girl

This woman-- consisting of plants, soil, wire, and some eclectic fashion choices-- greet the cars at the intersection of Cornwall and F Street.

Blue Skies-- Real vs. Artificial

It's a beautiful day, with blue skies and white fluffy clouds. Where do my kids want to play? McDonald's. Sigh.

Heap O' Starfish

A pile of purple stars cozily wait for the concealment of high tide.

Gold and Grey

The old barn basks in the evening sun,

kissed and shining as if young again.