Northern State Recreational Area

Abandoned building. Actually had a tree growing out of lower roof

window in abandoned building

Part of the Northern State Recreational Area encompasses some of the former grounds of the Northern State Hospital(mental hospital). The hospital was closed in 1973 and part of the facilities are used for Job Corp and a drug rehab.

Our hike/walk this past week took us on the historical route around the former Northern State Hospital and Grounds. Much of this trail was on paved road. This is the first time me and my family visited. It was about 45 minutes away. The recreation area also includes a large frisbee golf course, covered area, restrooms (closed due to COVID). There are some historical markers.

The buildings of the hospital were designed in a Spanish Revival Style. The actual grounds are quite pretty with big trees and sprawling lawns. The son of the designer of Central Park designed the grounds.

Chapel Stain Glass

Chapel - Didn't realize my youngest had his tongue stuck out

During its early conception the whole hospital was self sufficient with crops, dairy, cattle, and food processing. The original site included 700 acres of farmland. Considered quite progressive at the time sought to give patient vocational skills. The dairy was constructed of concrete by the patients. Most of the farm building have lots of graffiti. I love the cupolas

Dairy

Another local blogger took some pictures in the dairy area - Renee at Little Earthling.

On the creepy scale this is mildly creepy. I wouldn't want to hang around at dark. This was a easy trail. Some spots on trail are crossed by a Frisbee golf course so be on look out. On the Sunday we were there it was quite busy with Frisbee golfers. The course runs somewhat along trail.

More information on Northern State Hospital

Weekly Roll

Samish Overlook - Bellingham WA

Quarantine Thoughts
These are the voices bouncing around my head this week. These are my totally inappropriate thoughts

Mask acne is a thing. OYE. You don't even need make- up below the nose. Think about it. The make up industry might be taking a hit on this.

Don't you think hiking outside would be one of the safest activities you can do. Masked hiking is weird. Yes I know some trails are narrow and busy. Yes, I hike with a face covering I pull up when I pass other hikers.

I took my sons for a walk/hike around a old mental hospital - Northern State (Northern State Recreational Area). That is weird right. This is how I bond with my sons. Ha Ha

My best friend made me this. I am definitely going to sparkle like a unicorn. 2020 can't take me down.

Podcast to Listen To 
Pantsuit Politics - Problems and Priorities in Education - This is excellent especially the summary at the end. I have a lot of anxiety around sending my youngest son back to My school this fall. This will be his senior year. Digital online learning was pretty much a bust in our area. We had the technology but execution was awful.

Bellingham Marina

Linky Love
Why I love these Chaco flip flops - My friends swear by the Chaco sandals

COVID19 - Unpredictably Triggers Challenging Behaviors - Good article on Autism and COVID

10 Powerful Habits That Will Help You Become Your Best Self

My Friend shared this documentary on Facebook. It is showing on some PBS stations. I think I missed the showing in our area. It looks very fascinating. More information about Vertical Harvest

Loaf Report
Took last week off of sourdough. We still had our Sunday Sourdough Waffles. These weeks loaves look and taste pretty good. We missed our fresh sourdough.

What are 3 things that are bringing me Joy at the Moment

Becky Higgins project life creator. Has started a new Instagram account called MyModernStory. The "What are 3 things bringing your Joy" is a writing/journal prompt from there. It was last weeks journal prompt. Project Life App has released new editorial templates for IOS products (apple) but I have an android. I thought I would play along anyways. When the editorial templates come out for android, I will be ready.

Oh non dairy creamer is bringing me immense JOY! I have turned a corner from being a black coffee drinker to a creamer type of gal. Coffee is life.

My flowers make me smile. I have a small cut flower garden and I enjoy making mason jar vase bouquets. I have been spending a lot of time out in my yard due to COVID.

I am still playing my electric keyboard. It is the number one thing that I do that  makes me feel calmer. I don't know what about it that makes me feel calmer. Maybe that I am in total control of how it is going to sound. The world feels a bit out of control.  I think we all can relate to that.  I am so thankful my Mom saved all my piano music.

Wordy Wednesday

I am on a hiking team with my son and I have decided this is our motto. Our actual team name is Yo Ho Pirates.  We are doing Trek for the Treasure.

Trail Notes - Samish Overlook to Oyster Dome

These are my notes. I am not a great hiker. I am a plus size gal and a slow hiker.

We arrived at the overlook before 12 pm on a Monday. The road up is gravel and pretty rough. The parking lot has 20 spaces or so. We were able to snag one of the last parking spaces. We ate our lunch at one of the picnic tables . This is place they launch hang gliders. There were no hang gliders on that day.  The view was awesome. We were on the trail by 12. The first part was not bad. Then begins the upward climb with long switch backs. These are not like the switch backs to fragrance lake. The switch backs are much longer. We encountered lots of people on the trail. People were wearing masks when they passed people. I had a bandanna and my son had a mask. In some spots trail was quite narrow. We saw a Dad with 2 kids - (2 years old and 4 years old) They made it to the dome but it would make me nervous to take the youngest as he was running and not listening. The dome is basically a cliff.

I stopped numerous times to catch my breath. It was a steady up.

crossing over some water

When we came to the turnoff for the dome it still was 20 more minutes or so for us.

We crossed a stream on rocks. The last was a scramble over some roots. It took us 2 hours to hike to the dome.

On the way back we went Lily lake to Max's Shortcut to the Larry Reed Trail. Max's Shortcut starts out easy with gentle slope.

However the last part is punishing to the calves. I think this way is longer than just returning the way you got up to the Oyster Dome. It was also quite muddy and buggy. I didn't fare so well the last 20 minutes. I lost my lunch. It took us another 2 hours to get back to our car. Even though we stopped much less. This trail was virtually empty. We did meet a mountain biker who said he saw a cougar near the top of the mountain. That was unsettling. I ended up with 25,300 steps for the day.

My son and I thought the view from the parking lot was as good as the view from Oyster Dome. Don't tell those die hard hikers. I think we can cross this off our bucket list.

Made Scrapbook Page in Project Life App

What I Read July

I managed to read 3 books from Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer Reading Guide. All of them were great summer reads and bit on the quirky side. I think I got my reading mojo back! I am linking up Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone is reading.

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

I didn't move during High School and I wish someone would have anonymously offered to be my guide though it wouldn't of been through text or email.  I liked this book. There is a lot of relatable stuff teenage and otherwise. This book was on Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer Reading Guide

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

This book will have you looking at all the signs. This quirky romance was an interesting read. This book was on Modern Mrs Darcy's Summer Guide. I kept looking at signs everywhere and noticing the lettering. I follow several lettering people on Instagram. I found it fascinating. I follow Stefan Kunz on Instagram who is amazing at lettering. I have done quite a bit of chalkboard lettering

The Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler

This one was a quickie which was good as my e-book was about to expire. How can you not love a character whose business is called the "Tech Hermit".

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
This has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while. Nonna passed it on to me. In some ways it is a hard read. The setting is based on a real reform school that operated for 111 years and it deals with how blacks are treated differently. This book unfortunately is closer to truth than fiction.  I didn't see the last twist at the end coming. Despite the atrocities written about the story is so compelling I kept reading. It was just announced the Colson Whitehead is to be  awarded the Library of Congress Award.

I read Dreamland Burning back in 2018(my review). I guess I am revisiting this book because it was pointed out that this was written by a white writer.  I have always read a book because it was a good story. I have given zero consideration in the past of the author's race.  Tulsa is a story that needs to be told and it is going to take all of us to tell it. Before I read this book I was really unaware of the Tulsa Race Massacre. I think I called it a race riot in m review but it truly was a race massacre. I know if I had read this in 2020 I would have probably had some different insights. I might of even considered the own author's bias(privilege?).

Weekly Roll

Abandoned Snowmobile by Son's Work

Quarantine Thoughts
( You know the voices in your head you aren't suppose to say out loud)

Who abandon's a snowmobile?  This snowmobile has been abandoned by my son's work.  It was just so random On Friday there was also a old motorhome. Maybe there is a theme developing here. Unsolved Mysteries on Reddit

We weren't able to solve who killed Carolyn Baskins husband (she so did it) what makes us think we are going to solve any of the "Unsolved Mysteries" on Netflix. Unsolved Mysteries on Reddit

Secondly, you can make people wear mask but you can't make them wear them correctly. There I said it.

Lastly, I got my haircut and it really improved my mood. Maybe it was the weight of the hair. I know totally vain. It was a morale boost.

Loaf Report

It was loaves of excitement on Friday night for me. I made a total of 4 loaves. These loaves were great.

Creative Spark - Collage

I recently discovered the work of Dolan Geiman. I was influenced by Instagram. He does collage and mixed media work and is based out of Denver. It is amazing. This is what somewhat inspired the collage about Miranda Lambert's song Bluebird which mentioned in a previous post. It was a good way to spend the evening creating.

Weekly Roll

It was a moody week. There was quite of rain. We had some awesome sunsets

Bouquet from my Garden

Linky Love
Netflix to Terrorizer a New Generation with Unsolved Mysteries Reboot I couldn't stop watching this. Okay, I binged this - true confession.

Good Podcast Listen - Candidate One - Reply All    This one is all about voter fraud in a High School election. It was a good listen

The Hikers who Lied and Broke the Law to Finish The AT this Year  This is kinda upsetting.

Loaf Report

Made 4 loaves. They were so so. I wasn't as precise and maybe a bit heavy handed on the water I added. Large holes in the loaf make it hard to hold jam. It is totally edible. Guess what I get to try again next week. So there you go.

Oasis Dreams

I have written about my oasis before - Here. It is my hideout from my children. Well with a new deck I think I really need to up my game. Picture above is of my current situation. I would really like some rocking chairs but this will do for now.

My requirements for an Oasis

Comfortable seating

I use folding camp chairs. My patio has no cover except for a slight roof overhang so the ease of picking these up outweighs the comfort. Check out the post The Outdoor Chair that Saved My Quarantine

Place to set drink or book

I have a small glass patio table. These are pretty affordable. I got mine at a garage sale so it was super affordable

Shade 

There is a slight overhang which keeps this area somewhat dry. No one should fry in their oasis. 

Budget friendly

Our summer season is rather short. We can get a lot of rain. So most items are clearance or thrift. The table in my oasis I got a garage sale. The outdoor mat was from Micheal's I think I paid $12. I have used for several seasons. The flowers (geraniums) were on the distressed plant rack at Walmart. The pillows are the $5 outdoor ones at Walmart. I have had them for several seasons. I do put them away during the winter.

Outdoor Outlet is a plus. You know you are going to want to plug in your phone. You might want to stream Netflix on your laptop etc. 

Some inspiration links

Rental Friendly Patio Makeover

Deb and Danelle's Porch Makeover with QVC - These gals are awesome. I love love their style.

Sara's Budget Backyard Makeover on $350 budget

Creative Spark- Sea Glass

Lately I have felt the need to create . However most of my creative spark has come later in the day.  So the projects need to be low mess or easy. I found some abandoned by my children sea glass . My first creation I made is the photo above. I just sorted the sea glass and laid the glass on a paper towel.

I got a piece of foam board to do the art above. This was totally temporary art.  It was fun to stretch the creative muscle. I did it totally for my own enjoyment. It just was play.

I was inspired by the Sea Glass Window Panels (Etsy) I also like to watch the YouTube videos Sea Glass by Jackie

Does anyone else get a creative spark late at night?

Wordy Wednesday

This letter board was inspired by Miranda Lambert's Bluebird. They have been playing this on the radio station a lot.