Out and About in Shoreline

Earlier today, while I was out doing some errands, I happened to be driving west on N. 175th Street in Shoreline, just a few miles from my house. There is a park there called Ronald Bog Park. It's not very big, but it's a pleasant enough place.

The first thing I noticed that was  different was the trees along both the north and south sides of the street. They appeared to have undergone a version of yarn bombing.

Then I saw the horse statues.

It seems that in the past, these have occasionally been decorated in one manner or another, similar to what happens to "Waiting for the Interurban" down in Fremont. What I observed today, however, went beyond the usual, more casual additions.

If I had had my camera with me, I would have turned around then and there. As it was, I finished my errands, went home, dropped off my purchases, grabbed my camera, and got back in the car.

On closer investigation, the trees had not been yarn bombed. What I had at first thought were little knitted tubes turned out to be pieces of fleece wrapped around the tree trunks and tied with crocheted cord. The ornaments in the trees consisted mostly of CDs wrapped with yarn, but there were some crocheted disks, as well as more elaborate pieces.

Next, I went to take a closer look at the horse statues. In addition to their costumes, the rocket was a new addition. It wasn't until later that I spotted the sign with the title "Reluctant Horse Nebula Visitors."

 

From seeing a banner on a fence nearby, as well as a conversation with another person taking photos, I confirmed that this art installations were connected to a community event last weekend.

As I was taking my photos of the trees and the horses, I spotted something else in the park that piqued my curiosity. I walked over to investigate. The sign reads "Bog Nest for Humans . . . come in and hatch your dreams."

As I walked into the park away from the street, I started seeing other art installations. After the Bog Nest, I saw a turtle on the roof of a shelter on the other side of the park.

A short distance from the turtle was a low wall made of real rocks and oblong felted balls — "It felt like home — fuzzy memories of a New England childhood."

Next, I headed over to check out some balloons I had seen earlier on the little lake, while driving by. But I got sidetracked by this —

— called "Cottonwood in Yellow-Orange." I like how I could arrange different compositions, depending on where I stood and how close I zoomed in.

Over at the lake, three groups of green Mylar balloons held down by weights floated this way and that in the breeze.

I thought I had seen everything there was to see, but I was wrong. On my way back to my car, I passed the "Metro Shelter Upgrade."

The world is full of pleasant surprises when you're not expecting it.