Before Edmonds Part 2: Monday Mural

I am calling this post “Before Edmonds Part 2.” I previously posted about another mural located in this same alleyway in downtown Edmonds, Washington.

Before Edmonds Part 2

These murals include amazing details, and they took 18 months to paint. The murals feature depictions of Indigenous people who lived here long before the city of Edmonds was created. For more details on these murals, read this article.

Monday Mural

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Yearning to… : LAPC

Yearning to visit places that warmed the body and soul

hot springs of the west
Crane Hot Springs, Burns, Oregon

Wishing to smell the scent of purple, blown by the breeze

purple flower border
Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle, Washington

Pining for the sound of bugling calls, heralding the arrival of spring

yearning to see sandhills
Sandhill Cranes, Summer Lake, Oregon

Craving the taste of a special summer treat

tasty treat at East Lake
Mixed Berry Cobbler, East Lake, Oregon

Longing to catch glimpses of beloved companions from the past

Keyah
My dog, Keyah, in 1997

A picture helps us remember when we are yearning to feel, smell, hear, taste, and see our memories.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Longing

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Seattle waterfront mural: MM & WWE

Here are two photos of a Seattle waterfront mural that I took last May. The mural Three Animals was painted in 2024 by Victor Ash. It adorns a wall right next to light rail line.

The murals were painted in celebration of World Environment Day in a partnership with UNEP, United Nations.

Seattle waterfront mural

In the first image, you can see iconic landmarks in the background. Close to the mural, you can spot the Seattle Great Wheel Ferris wheel. In the background, you’ll see Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park sports stadiums.

Seattle waterfront mural

In the second photo, you get a great view of the Norwegian Bliss, a cruise ship that is part of Norwegian Cruise Lines.

I like the close up perspective of the animal’s heads in this Seattle waterfront mural. They must look amazing from the light rail!

Monday Mural (MM)

Water Water Everywhere (WWE)

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Octopus art: Wordless Wednesday

Octopus art

Octopus art in Edmonds, Washington

Wordless Wednesday

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Aosagi mural: Monday Mural

This Aosagi mural is located in downtown Edmonds, Washington. It was created by Shoga Ota and installed in September 2021. The mural’s style is similar to Japanese woodblocks. In the mural, a large blue heron (Aosagi) flies over a series of waves.

Aosagi mural

Japanese immigrants were an important part of the history of the Pacific Northwest. In the 19th century, they were instrumental in the railroad, mining, timber, and fishing industries. During World War II, there was a rise in anti-Japanese sentiments and they were forcibly relocated to internment camps. Reparations for that action did not occur until 1988, under the Civil Liberties Act.

In April of 1988, Edmonds developed a sister city relationship with Hekinan, Japan. This mural was created partly to acknowledge Edmond’s relationship with Hekinan. The goal of this relationship is to foster “exchanges that reflect our intercultural focus between business, education and nonprofit organizations in the local area.”

This mural was funded by a grant from the City of Edmonds Arts Commission and a generous donation from the McMurray family.

Monday Mural

An Edmonds ferry: Water Water Everywhere

Beyond the boulders, an Edmonds ferry patiently awaits the next crossing of Puget Sound in Washington state.

An Edmonds ferry

Water Water Everywhere

Columbia Gorge Museum: RDP

When I travel along the Columbia River, I usually drive on the Oregon side because it’s faster. Last spring I drove on the Washington side and made a stop at the Columbia Gorge Museum near the small town of Stevenson, Washington. This hidden gem of a museum opened in 1995 and it houses a wide variety of art, historical artifacts, and immersive exhibitions.

Collections at the museum include artifacts from centuries ago to the present. The displays include traditional Indigenous tools, pioneer-era artifacts, and contemporary works of art.

Native American artifacts at the Columbia Gorge Museum

Several styles of baskets used for different purposes are featured in the displays.

baskets

The design of this part of the museum really impressed me. Big pieces of columnar basalt framed the display cases.

Columbia Gorge Museum

Nearby, a sculpture of a Native American fishing from a platform towers over visitors. This traditional fishing method is still in use today at places like Cascade Locks, Oregon.

Columbia Gorge Museum

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Dancing skeletons: Pull up a seat

Here’s a scene you don’t see everyday… dancing skeletons with a beautiful mural displayed behind them. Visitors can take a seat in a couple of black Adirondack chairs to watch the dancers perform.

dancing skeletons

Though I’m sharing this picture on Halloween, the skeletons were seen in an Edmonds, Washington yard in September. Some people enjoy displaying their favorite decorations throughout the year.

Happy Halloween!

Pull Up a Seat

Octopus Recycler mural: Monday Mural

Though this mural is untitled, I thought it looked like a giant octopus recycler. The octopus appeared to be busy sorting through treasures it had found. It’s not far from the shoreline of Puget Sound in Edmonds, Washington. This mural was painted by Andy Eccleshall and it’s on the back of the Salish Crossing building.

Octopus recycler

It was hard to capture the entire painting with my camera. The mural also included this colorful crab. The business right next to the crab is appropriately named “Stranded by the Sea.”

crab mural

Monday Mural

Baskets at Columbia Gorge Museum: WW

Baskets at Columbia Gorge

Baskets at Columbia Gorge Museum, Washington

Wordless Wednesday (WW)

Fiddler crab, La Conner, WA: Sculpture Saturday

Fiddler crab sculpture

Fiddler crab sculpture in La Conner, Washington

Sculpture Saturday

Sea of swans at Stratford: Wordless Wednesday

swans of Sea

Sea of swans at Stratford, Washington

Wordless Wednesday

Find special surprises: LAPC & TTC

Find treasures on walks

When out and about taking pictures, you never know when you might find special surprises. This delightful dragon sculpture was at The Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. It brought a little cheer into a cloudy day.

Find special surprises Silverton

Though not as much is in bloom at this time of year, I was happy to see these fall-blooming crocus at the The Oregon Garden last week.

Fall crocus

Find special surprises in the skies

Here’s the last glimpse of the sun going down on a nearly cloudless day near Waldport, Oregon.

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Begonia framed in blue : Macro Monday

A red begonia framed in blue in Alger, Washington.

Begonia framed in blue

Macro Monday

Moos & mountains, Chuckanut Dr: WW

Moos & mountains

Moos & mountains on Chuckanut Drive in Washington state.

Wordless Wednesday (WW)

Contrasts in places: LAPC & WPWC

These places show contrasts in voice, feeling, and appearance.

A place’s voice can be quiet or loud.

The quietness of a vast sandy desert

Contrasts of deserts
Alvord Desert, Oregon

And the pounding presence of a waterfall.

Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls, Oregon

A place can feel ethereal or slightly evil.

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Bison at Rest: Monochrome Monday

I processed this photo of a bison at rest in sepia tone. This process highlights the details of this bull’s fur. The thick, rough fur on his head, shoulders, and front legs stands out in contrast to the short, smooth fur covering the rest of him. In this view, you can see every wrinkle on his hide on his hindquarters.

Bison at rest

Monochrome Monday

The Meadow – A peaceful retreat: LAPC

For more than 25 years our family camped in a place we called “The Meadow” in northeastern Washington state. Though this site didn’t have luxuries like running water or restrooms, it was a peaceful retreat.

The first three pictures show different views of The Meadow. Stands of aspen and mixed conifers border the large grass meadow. This site is at an elevation of around 4,500 feet and hosts a wide variety of wildlife including three kinds of grouse, moose, deer, bear, cougar, and probably wolves. I had a memorable experience one day when a great gray owl drifted over me on its whisper quiet wings.

The next three photos show a couple of our pets from the past and a pest. Can you see the chipmunk silhouetted on the pine tree trunk? The chipmunks and camp robber birds would steal food right off your plate if you weren’t watching. In another picture you can see our dog, Keyah, walking in front of a place we called “Big Rock.” The kids loved climbing on top of this massive boulder. The other picture shows our dog, Leto, resting in front of the campfire. This boulder was a perfect backdrop for our fires.

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Mt Pilchuck & Eagle table: First Friday Art

This Mt Pilchuck & Eagle table was made to raffle off for a fundraiser. I painted the tabletop with acrylic paint and lightly carved around the edges of some of the components. My husband, Gary, designed and custom built the table.

Mt Pilchuck & Eagle table

Here’s a closer view of the top.

Handmade coffee table

This Mt Pilchuck & Eagle piece is a one-of- a-kind creation since we learned making something like this takes a lot of work. We previously made another table for ourselves with a different design that I may share in the future.

Do you have artwork you would like to share? If so, include a First Friday Art tag on your post.

Diablo Dam in black & white: Monochrome Monday

At one time, the Diablo Dam in Washington state was the world’s tallest dam. This 389-foot tall dam is located on the Skagit River. Construction began in Diablo Canyon in 1927. Though completed in 1930, the Great Depression delayed generation of electricity until 1936. The 1920s architecture stands out in this black and white photograph.

Diablo Lake Dam

Monochrome Monday

The Mountain from above: Cellpic Sunday

In Washington State, locals call Mt Rainier The Mountain. When clouds fill the skies and you catch a glimpse of her, people say, “The Mountain is out!” I took a quick trip up to Seattle this weekend and had a picture perfect view of Mt Rainier from above. What a gorgeous sight!

The Mountain - Mt Rainier

Cellpic Sunday

Bunchberry in full bloom: SMM

Bunchberry dogwood in bloom, Washington July 2011
Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis

This small groundcover plant is actually a type of dogwood. These striking plants range in height from eight inches, as in the bunchberry, to the 60-foot tall Pacific dogwood tree. Beautiful in any size!

Sunshine’s Macro Monday (SMM)

Mellow fellow, Calypso Blue: LAPC

I dug through my archives to find pictures of this mellow fellow we once had as a pet. Calypso Blue was a miniature horse and he measured 32 inches at his withers. He was one of the mellowest horses I ever met. His companion, Scooby, pictured here, was a lot more feisty.

Mellow fellow miniature horse 9January2019

I’m posting these because I noticed that one of the Icelandic horses in Leya’s post on the Precious Pets photo challenge looked a lot like Calypso Blue.

Mellow fellow is a photograph of a miniature horse

I think I took these photos on the day we bought him. It took a LONG time to brush out that mane and tail.

Photograph of a miniature horse

It’s hard to tell in these photos, but underneath all that mane he had piercing blue eyes. We sold him when we moved. This mellow fellow went to a home with a little girl who showered him with affection.

Scooby Doo & Calypso Too: TWI – Dwarf mini

A dwarf mini with big attitude

We used to have two miniature horses. One, Scooby Doo pictured on the left, was a dwarf mini. He stood at only 27″ at the withers. His pedigreed companion, Calypso Blue pictured on the right, stood at 32″.  Calypso was calm and even-tempered. Scooby had a lot of personality and let you know it.

Scooby Doo & Calypso too Dwarf Mini and Mini horse 9January2002

When it was time to move, the farrier who trimmed our horse’s hooves took Scooby. He had worked with a lot of horses in his days and could see that Scooby was a big personality in a small package.

Travel with Intent – Dwarf

Maryhill’s Stonehenge: Silent Sunday