Whimsy and Wonder #58: Halloween Book Giving

 

I was able to help the Halloween Book Lady hand out books again. I've been doing it every year since 2012 and, of course, skipping last year. If I remember correctly, she's been doing this for thirty years!

 

After an extremely busy day at work, I didn't think I'd be up to this but I'm always glad to have done so. Admittedly, things were a bit off in the sense that some of the kids (mostly teens) didn't want a free book at all. But I really loved it when people appreciated the novelty of the situation. A customer even recognized me and she had nice things to say which I'm grateful for.

 

People might be surprised to learn I don't even like Halloween but I look forward to this every year.

 

 

Whimsy and Wonder #57- Just Walking Around (Sixteen)

I'm grateful that despite all the rain we've been getting here in Portland that I got to take a walk this morning and i ran across this (Toy) Car Library that definitely brought some whimsy and wonder.

 

Whimsy and Wonder #56: Cute Food

I couldn't resist how cute these "Bunny Halo Halo Buns" were. From the restaurant's menu, "These are gluten free giant sweet potato bunny dumplings filled with traditional Filipino halo-halo mix, sweet beans, ube halaya, macapuno, kaong palm fruit, sweet jackfruit and coconut jelly!"

 

Whimsy and Wonder #55: Columbia Children's Arboretum

I checked out the Columbia Children's Arboretum. You can do a lollipop loop (is that a term?) and experience the splashes of color. There was even a bridge. I hadn't even known about this place until a week or so ago.

Anytime I see a "Children's [Anything]", I always think there's going to be an extra element of whimsy like they'll have something to do with kid's books.

 

 

Whimsy and Wonder #54: Crypto-Zoo: Museum of Mystery

As a somewhat Halloween treat, I checked out Mike Bennett's Crypto-Zoo: Museum of Mystery!

Once again, I was impressed by what Mike Bennett and his team have created to bring Whimsy and Wonder into people's lives. I definitely wished I had more time to explore and read everything at a more leisurely pace. I loved hearing other people's amazement. I even bought something at the Cabin of Curiosities gift shop which I might share later since it seemed like it might be a fun Artist Date activity

 

Whimsy and Wonder #53: Salish Ponds City Trail

Went to another part of Portland (and I just realized I've been interchanging Portland for Multnomah County so people can have a better reference to where these places are located if that makes sense) that I haven't really taken time to explore aside from if it has a library. In this case, I went to Fairview.

I walked the Salish Ponds City Trail. One of the reasons I wanted to go here was that there was a covered bridge- Alex Brown's Bridge- and you know I love bridges.

 

 

The trail leads to two ponds. East Salish Pond is where the ducks hang out. West Salish Pond is a popular for fishing. 

There's also the Inatay Bridge. It's weird what shows up and doesn't show up on Google Maps.

Whimsy and Wonder #52- Just Walking Around (Fifteen)

Someone recently set up this cool Free Tiny Toy Shop!

 

Whimsy and Wonder #51- Pumpkins, Ghosts, and Dreamcatchers (Halloween, Two)

I enjoyed walking past this Halloween decorated house with its own pumpkin patch. I loved the dreamcatchers on the trees. 

 

Whimsy and Wonder #50- Tsuru Island- and a Labyrinth Garden

It's been kind of cool what I've discovered strolling through Google Maps. I didn't even know there was a Japanese Garden out in Gresham. 

Tsuru Island was like a secret garden of sorts. Part of Main City Park, it was a nice little place to explore.

 

 And, nearby, was a labyrinth garden!

Oddly enough, I didn't consider (probably) the first labyrinth garden I encountered as part of my whimsy and wonder posts which would have been a week or so prior out in Hazel Dell, Washington. But here are pics from there.