Waldron interlude: Sandy Point


photo by Ballard Avenue

We went away for a weekend to Waldron Island in Puget Sound. The state ferries don't stop there, making it hard to get to and keeping it a pretty quiet place. That suits its few hundred residents just fine. Here we see some madrona trees overlooking Cowlitz Bay with Sandy Point in the distance.

Sunday church: Northminster Presbyterian


photo by Ballard Avenue

There's a little flash and dash in the trim, but being Presbyterian, they're not going to go to far with that. But next week we'll see what happens when the church building committee has a collective brain lock-up.

Friday cat: Watching the fool with the camera


photo by Ballard Avenue

That about sums it up.

Aerialistas


photo by Ballard Avenue

This year's Seafood Fest featured the Aerialistas, a local troupe of aerialists performing death-defying feats high above the brick cobblestones of Ballard Avenue while accompanied by three guys on guitars. A splendid time was had by all.

Sunday church: Now and then


photo by Ballard Avenue

Today, it's Grace Community Chapel, but it was the Swedish Bethel Church back in the day. Over the years it lost its steeple and gained some trees, and it appears someone found the fancy trim just a little too worldly. A shame.

Friday cat: Pickles stretches


photo by Ballard Avenue

Being of a certain age, Pickles enjoys a long stretch to work out the kinks before heading down the stairs.

Urban Prairie


photo by Ballard Avenue

The sun sets over a small patch of amber waves of grain because there's a lawn mower over on 70th St that hasn't left the garage all summer.

Bellyache on the hoof


photo by Ballard Avenue

They look ripe, but it would be wise to honor the owner's sign. There's no bellyache like a not-quite-ripe apple bellyache.

Sunday church: Interdenominational


photo by Ballard Avenue

Many congregations have used this tidy little building over the years, so it's perhaps fitting that it now houses an "interdenominational" church.

Friday cat: Orbiting Saturn


photo by Ballard Avenue

We found this black cat orbiting the Saturn in the background.

Another topless accordionist

This time it's a guy going wild at a concert in Switzerland. It's the accordion version of the heavy metal guitar solo. Rock on, dude!

Sunday church: First Slavic Full Gospel Church


photo by Ballard Avenue

We have a side project of photographing Ballard's churches for a friend in Wisconsin. Might as well use the photos here, too. The FIrst Slavic Full Gospel Church has a pretty good choir. That Slavic tradition of rock-bottom bass can't be beat.

Saturday cat: 59th St cat turns his back to us


photo by Ballard Avenue

Perhaps feelin' less than groovy, the 59th St cat turns his back on us and walks away. Faithful readers might have felt we had turned our backs on them these past couple weeks. Sorry. We fell off the posting wagon and found it awfully easy to not get back on. Call it a timeout. Now we have new photos in the files and new cats to introduce to you so it looks like we'll carry on for awhile longer.