Whimsy and Wonder: Carousels

I decided I should try and ride all the carousels in Oregon. So, of course, I wanted to start documenting them.

Jantzen Beach Carousel (formally the Historic 1921 CW Parker Carousel)
July 17, 2011

Before one of our Library Hopping adventures, a friend and I stopped by the Jantzen Beach Center and rode the carousel. I'm glad we got to do so since this has since closed on April 22, 2012.

Oregon Historical Society Museum The Odyssey of the Historic Jantzen Beach Carousel
December 20, 2022

I was able to see some pieces and learn about the Jantzen Beach Carousel in an exhibit put on by the Oregon Historical Society.

Enchanted Forest Carousel
June 19, 2026

A friend and I recently visited Enchanted Forest and it was a truly magical experience full of whimsy and wonder. The fact we were able to ride the carousel helped me decide to do this new challenge!

Whimsy and Wonder: Trolls (and Other Things)

(Updated May 10, 2026)

Thomas Dambo

Northwest Troll: Way of the Bird King

Ole Bolle
Nordic Northwest Campus
Portland, OR
September 6, 2023

Frankie Feetsplinters
National Nordic Museum
Seattle, WA
October 23, 2025

Bruun Idun
Lincoln Park
Seattle, WA
October 24, 2025

Jakob Two Trees
Rainier Trail
Issaquah, WA

May 6, 2026

 

 

I can't wait to have seen all six of them!

Speaking of trolls- and Seattle-, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Fremont Troll. Despite having visited Seattle many times prior, I finally only saw it a few years ago- October 2019! The artists for this sculpture are Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.

Not trolls at all anymore but there was a temporary installation at Orenco Woods Nature Park in Hillsboro, OR that I visited back in December 2019 that gave me the same vibes- especially of Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic novels, to be exact. Head Over Hills by Patrick Dougherty

Whimsy and Wonder: Halloween 2023

Here are some festive frights I've seen and eaten this month!

Cheese and Crack brought back their "Eye Scream" Sundae which has raspberry sauce, ube pudding, chocolate cookie crumbs, vanilla soft serve, and a candy eyeball on top.

Haunted House Decorations

Salt & Straw always has interesting flavors for October, part of their Scoops & Skulls series. I tried the different flavors before settling for "Don Bugito's Creepy Crawly Critters" which has chocolate covered crickets and toffee-brittle mealworms mixed in their match ice cream.

Haunted House Decorations- It was also Banned Books Week so I really enjoyed this display. People who are for censorship are scarier than all the things that go bump in the night!

Morrison Street Mini Gallery- Haunted House Diorama

Scarecrows and Tombstones in Milwaukie- I was in the neighborhood to visit a new bookstore that had just opened and had to stop by to see this display!

Mt. Tabor Creations- Impressive as usual!

Lucky Dog Library- All decked out for fall and even has dog costume ideas!

Haunted House Decorations

Mini Pumpkin Patches

Halloween Cultural Preservation Museum- Pop-Up at Lloyd Center- This randomly showed up on my social media feeds and, luckily, one of my friends was curious enough to join me to check it out. They actually have a fundraiser going on to expand this.

I was pleasantly surprised to find they had books by my favorite (living) author in their shop! I even talked a little bit to the employee there how disappointed we were Netflix cancelled The Midnight Club.