Welcome Everyone

                       New paint job  State Street between Fairhaven and Bellingham

    A few months ago I started this second blog series of mine for several reasons.  It is still greatly under construction.  But posts and ideas are slowly making there way into each post.  I have many more exploring posts and new features in the works.  Please check out my new Facebook page at    Wyoming Jack/Bobble Head's Blogs Exploring Bellingham & Whatcom county
    and feel free to leave your own jokes, pictures, comments, coffee pictures, local events and items for sale.  

                                 Just off State Street above Boulevard Park

   When I first moved to Bellingham---I did not know that we lived in Whatcom county.  I say
"Whatcom" on everything and thought it was for the presidential race.  Or part of a web sight address.  I finally broke down and asked my buddy what it stood for, and was very embarrassed to learn it was the county!

    Very soon I hope to add many links to local sights full of events and useful guides to the visitor or anyone moving to this area.  And sights that I use weekly.  This is the fourth time I have moved to Bellingham, and I love the area!  Everything about it.  From the many hikes, to the great pictures I find daily.  There is a ton to do here each and every day of the week.  And much of it is free.  This time around I got married, and am here to stay in the area for a long time.   I will not say for good, because moving is in both my wife and my blood for sure.  At the moment we are more than proud to call Fairhaven our home.  So many of my exploring blogs start in this great town. 

                                                             Dirty Dan Harris

 We are looking into moving a little down the road to Ferndale, but it is not in the cards just yet.  I try to show my love for this area in each post.  And I greatly enjoy taking pictures.  Every non joke picture in each blog, is my own.  I hope you enjoy them even half as much as I enjoy takin' them.   I have several of these displayed on my wall above our laptop.  And used to think some of them were extra nice.  Until I started looking at pages of local professional photographers.   

    

      My 2nd mission with these pages was to encourage my parents to visit this area.  It is a long trip from Wyoming and if they visit it will be a few month trip.  I hope that the pictures and exploring blogs will help them realize how great an area this really is.  Defiantly a whole new world from Wyoming!   This also goes to anyone on the invite list for our 2nd wedding next year.  Encouragement for the far away guests to want to visit.  

   
  This sight almost has 1,000 views and I hope to gain more local readers.  So please share the links if you enjoy what you see here.  My longer running blog series now has 10,000 views.   Feel free to check this sight out also at  www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com  And after I can prove a better reader base, I hope to add very reasonable local advertising to this blog.  VERY reasonable because this is a new sight.    But enough rambling, here are some of my favorite pictures from the area!   Please check out all of my posts for more great pictures!  Or better yet, git out there and explore!

                                                               Saturday Market

Great Falls Park

Old City Hall downtown

Near the Post Office Down town.

"Snow meets bay

Peace Arch

Downtown

Lake Whatcom

                                         

Another Great Weekend Playing In Bellingham

Summer made an appearance in our area, and was out in full glorious force over the weekend.  

Our family took full advantage of this, all weekend long.   

**The above great painting is on Rail Road Avenue by Man Pies**

I am sitting on our front deck--trying to ignore the neighbors and fully enjoying another sunny day, this Wednesday.   As the sun starts to go down, and the temperatures get nicer.  I am recalling the weekend, and digesting.  Because our family just ate at the Home Town Buffet.   

They are featuring steak every night and have an Icee machine now.  And the cliff notes are:  I ate way to much.     

First off----any guesses what my next exploring blog post will be about?  

And now it is time for my picture of the day!  

OK this concept needs a new title.

But it is what it is.   

I show a picture I took--try to keep them newer pictures, and than explain a little bit about the picture.

This is right down town Bellingham.

I have shot many great pictures in this area, just down from the old city hall building. 

This was just a few weeks ago, and is another reminder of how fast all of the area water is flowing. 

Stay out of the faster moving water!

That said---- I start my weekend with our family at the Aquatic Center.  

  Our oldest turned 12 on the 3rd of July, and he wanted to have his party, swimming.  My wife and I had never been to the building, and we took the family there during free swim.  They have family prices and single prices that are very reasonable and offer the whole area for two full hours.  We had a great time in the huge pool, hot tub, and slide that wraps in and out of the building.  A great way to beat the heat for sure!    

     Saturday it was time to give mommy a break, and I took off with all of the kiddos.  Including an extra.   We explored the Saturday market.   Always enjoyable.   The above statue is also praising the sun!   For more on the market  please check out    http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/2012/05/great-saturday.html

This market trip was fueled by Woods Coffee!

   Than we all went to Wally World.   The birthday boy had birthday cash to spend.  And so did all of the kiddos, just in lesser amounts.   I worked with the company for eight long years, so dislike the box store.  But some how like it less every time we visit.   I am still not sure how that is possible.  

    And than we ventured to Boulevard Park.   Always a great place to soak in the rays and the sights.    I have posted about this park several times already.  So I will not say much here.  But simply post some new pictures I got while there. 

Happy day!   

The view just past the coffee shop.

Me fully enjoying the sun as the kiddos played.  

Just above the park.  

I call this one

"coffee with friends!"

    On Sunday we ventured to Lake Padden for the day.   And enjoyed the water and some BBQ steaks!   The only good thing we have gotten at Wally World for awhile.   Yes, they came from Wal  Mart.    I was surprised how good they were.  

Can you smell the steak??

Another trail to explore!

Again I have talked about the lake before --so will just post some new pictures.   

Did I mention I love pictures?

Our dog Max  drying off. 

Next I will tell about Ski to Sea---yes finally!

Here I am waiting for the parade to start, while in the middle of the street. 

I also have many other posts in the works!

Including the 4th of July, our trip out of the area to Lake Sylvia, free & cheap local entertainment,  

More Chuckanut exploring, walking and viewing all of the statues on WWU campus, Pioneer Park, The bay, And many many more!

And as always

**Happy Trails!!**

Downtown Bellingham Full Of Art

A lot can be said about the natural beauty of the Bellingham area.  I try to show this daily in my pictures.  But it is something one must witness for themselves.  

The Big Rock Garden Park is full of art.  Both natural and artist renderings. 

Western College campus has great old buildings to enjoy and 27 sculptures spread around campus. 

I just found a book and map of all the sculptures--  so will be posting about both locations very soon.

Water trickles through this entire sculpture on WWU campus.

And of course the nearby mountains and ocean lead to some natural beauty!

                                                                 From sun up to sunset.

                                                                Art is on local cars

                                                            This car is winking at you.


                                                 Art can even be found on the city bus 

Art is even on walls.

"Reading is sexy!"

I recently wrote a blog on my other sight about tagging and it's fine line between art and 

vandalism.  Please check it out 

http://wyomingjack.blogspot.com/2012/05/mini-rant-15-first-hint-of-tagging-sell.html

                                      Above Boulevard Park--just off State Street.

         "Are you not entertained?"   This was found on WWU campus.  And can also apply to my readers at the moment!


     Speaking of tagging, I have been spotting the below tag, all around Fairhaven--does anyone know what it stands for??   I tried looking up "angry gerbil" and spray painted hamster on Google, but got nothing helpful.  I did learn that it is a bad idea to spray paint your hamster if you wish to keep it alive. 

                                                       Art can be found in a classic old car.

                                           Or the many classic buildings all around town. 

                                                          Beauty can be found every were!

    All of that said, today's post is all about exploring downtown Bellingham.   This is 90% of the murals in the down town area.   I just found two more great ones, past The Mission, while driving our family home yesterday.   Finding as many of these as you can is a great way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon after going to the Saturday Market.  It also works well for wearing out your kiddos.  Right now, local kids art is displayed all around downtown ---an extra bonus!   I do not know street names ---so to some extent you will have to roam to find some of these pictures.  Find them all and win a great workout~!

Always on the look out for more pictures!

         Today's exploring started out with coffee of course!   The first statue awaited my buddy and I just across the street from the Flat Iron Building.

                                              And than across the street behind us this great mural.

                        Down the hill ---the city park offers great views and more art. 

                                       Enjoy some more murals on the walk to the park.

                                Follow the many stairs back up by the old city hall.   And look for the mural pictured at the top of this blog.   Half a block down you can see a full mural featuring salmon. 

 And near the post office....

            This giraffe guards the public library.    And the nearby museum has some great art both inside and out.  

   Marvel over "the last supper" near Interfaith Medical.

              This boulder blocking most of an alley-way connects to someones deck.  

       Find both of the above murals in the heart of Bellingham's downtown.  

                      Even the parking garage houses some great paintings.  

   One of my personal favorites on Commercial Street.   Although it does not lead to a coffee shop anymore.  :(

       At the Saturday Market....

    Down Railroad Avenue just before the large pet shop.    Well worth a stop inside to see the many animals.  And almost never ending fish tanks!

    Also watch the alleys near here for more abandoned rail road tracks.  

                                  In front of the bus station, watch this sculpture spin. 

                                             And lastly for today-----up State Street.  

                                                                    My kind of coffee mug!!

   Yet another coffee shop that is no longer in business.  Support your local coffee house!   I have noticed for a town that is so into mom & pop stores, and supporting local shopping, the big coffee places are quickly taking over.  

   In support of bike to work day--I am sure this is why this was painted way above the city.  


  I apologize for the next picture----it is on top of the Up & Up building.  

     And of course the newishly painted greeting along the bay heading back to our home in Fairhaven.