Madrone

A few bits of bark still cling to this Madrone tree. 

Most of these trees grow within a mile of the coastline here in Washington and B.C, and only in certain soils, so they are quite a treat to see.  Their reddish bark peels off, leaving the smooth trunk exposed.

Waiting

This wrought iron table sits and waits for use outside of Daphnes in Fairhaven. Sadly, I think it has a long wait ahead of itself.

The Falls

In case you were wondering yesterday what my family was looking at from that beautiful bridge, here it is.  Whatcom Falls.in all its beauty.  This park is situated in the middle of Bellingham, though once you are in the park it feels like you are whisked away somewhere up in the Cascades.

Green

My husband lifts my older daughter up to look over the bridge to see Whatcom Falls.  

Weekend Reflections: Woodstock Farm

Whatever was in there wasn't nearly as interesting as what was behind her, which she soon figured out. After about five seconds she turned her face to the sun and ran squealing down the grassy hill toward the water. 

This was at Woodstock Farm on Chuckanut Drive. See more photos on my other blog here!

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.

Back Lane Gardens Again

This row of license plate birdhouses adorns the back of the booth at Bellingham Farmers Market. In case you are wondering what is on the other side of the folded over plates, it reads: Evergreen State.  I'm sure that I'm a bit biased being that I know the owner, but everything that is crafted at Back Lane Gardens is truly unique and beautiful.  I will surely share more soon.

Brrrr

A very frosty morning on Lake Padden.

Occupy Bellingham

A permanent encampment in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street set up camp in Maritime Heritage Park on October 28th.  The camp asks for volunteers to come join the movement and bring basic camping supplies and food.  Good attitudes are welcome; while they ask for "bad attitudes, weapons, drugs and alcohol to stay away".

Weekend Reflections: Tennant Lake

Our gray, winter skies broke just long enough to give me a shot of blue sky on a pond near Tennant Lake.

Skywatch Friday: Lummi Snow

Temperatures are dropping and so is the snow level. Lummi Island got a dusting last night and we're supposed to get our first snow here in the lowlands today.  Winter is on it's way!

Flopsy

My dad recently moved to a cabin on a gravel road with a few other cabins, but there are no signs that they are regularly occupied.  There may be no human neighbors, but Flopsy seems to have made a home of his yard.  She was skittish at first, but took food out of our hands after a couple of days and would even let us pet her a little. A flock of sheep also wanders through every couple of days and keeps the grass mowed.

Caught!

Last month I posted this photo of teasel heads in a field:

In order to tell this story properly, I have to give credit to Lizzi for taking this picture while our youngest daughter was in gymnastics class. While  browsing through last week's pictures for something to post, I stumbled across a folder of pictures our oldest daughter had taken with her new "grown-up" camera.  I had to laugh when I saw this picture of her holding a dried flower with Mom in the background snapping the teasel photo:

Meal Time

The ducks come racing as my daughter approaches. They know it means a yummy lunch of stale bread at Whatcom Falls Park.

Casino

The slots jingled,

the drinks flowed,

the cheers rang out at the craps table;

the night was long and fun with wonderful friends at Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa.

Warmth

Well the first snow of the year has hit the Cascade Mountain lowlands and Bellingham's high elevations.  It didn't last long, but it is only a sign of things yet to come.  This neatly stacked wood pile is ready to keep a family warm all winter long.

Weekend Reflections: Heads Up

Overcome by the weight of the morning frost, leaves fell gently around me into the yard and pond. The serenity was interspersed with horse chestnuts breaking loose and crashing down through the branches.

Thank a Veteran Today

Harvey Gooding, my wife's grand dad, served in Europe during WWII.  He stands front and center here with his communications platoon in England. The photo is dated October, 1944. 

Thank you to all who have served.

First Frost

Traced by morning frost, maple leaves littere the lawn of my dad's cabin near Mount Rainier.  

Frolick!

They'll be gone in a flash...

Enjoy them while they're here!

Vote!

I can proudly say that I have voted and turned in my ballot for today's election.  The major races on this year's ballot include Bellingham Mayor, Whatcom County Sheriff and County Executive.  Plus, there are several state initiatives. I-1183 is probably the most debated with its plan to close state liquor stores and privatize liquor sales.

Backyard Buck

I had to act very fast to capture a picture of this buck in my neighbor's backyard because he apparently did not care for my daughter's screams of delight in seeing him.  Deer are not a rare sight in my neighborhood, in fact I imagine I probably see one or two every day and they are very comfortable around people and cars.  Though what I usually see are does and their fawns, rarely ever a buck, but I was lucky this day.

Dawn

I do not know that I have ever woken early with the expressed intent of rising to watch the sunrise.  Considering dawn was at 7.29a.m. and sunrise at 8:03a.m. this morning, it was no small feat to take a nice walk down to the lake for some pictures.  I only wish that I had thought to bring a hot cup of coffee with me, as my fingers were freezing. Watching the sky go from black to purple to blue was amazing and a fantastic way to start my day.

The Garden of Eatin'...

...but not till next summer.  This is the side garden at Back Lane Gardens where we carved our pumpkins.

Skywatch Friday: Fall! Ooooh! The Rainbow!

Every year, a group of our friends and their kids gather at Back Lane Gardens to carve our Halloween pumpkins.  After an evening shower chased us into the greenhouse, we were rewarded with this stunning rainbow. 

 

Little Drops of Rain...

...gather themselves before taking the final plunge.

Spidey House

Forgive me for posting one last Halloween photo, but this kind of dedication can't go unrecognized...every black dot on this house is a spider:

I'm not sure if they are hand glued or stickers, but either way, this is truly dedication! I don't envy whoever has to take them all off.

Story Time

This fanciful and entertaining stained glass window invites you to pick up a book and find an adventure in the Children's Department of the Bellingham Public Library.  I recently visited with my youngest daughter for her first library visit.  We joined Story Time, a half hour of sing alongs, stories, and dancing for children under three.