Smooth operators
If your garden hose has been wreaking as much havoc in your garden as your pruning shears, then these hose guides might be just the thing. Topped with sweet little animals, the guides serve as garden stakes, and keep your hose out of garden beds while you’re watering. The guides have a sturdy steel stake and an all-weather roller topped by a figurine.

Animal hose guides
$8.99
Hardware Sales
2012 King St., Bellingham
360-734-6722, hardwaresales.net

Puddle splashers
When you live in the Northwest you learn to accept the rain, especially in the blustery, gray months of fall. With rain come puddles and wet sidewalks, and that means you need shoes that can stand up to a little — or a lot — of water. These Western Chief rain boots come in a variety of fun patterns and colors, and they’ll keep your feet dry and cozy throughout the wet season.

Western Chief rain boots
$31.99 Whatcom Farmers Co-op
Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, Nooksack
360-354-2108, wfcoop.com

Hangin’ out
No matter where you go, you can keep your friends guessing with this traveling magnetic hangman game. Keep your mind sharp with a little wordplay, and keep it stashed away in a convenient metal tin between rounds. Game on!

Magnetic hangman travel game (Tic Tac Toe, Sudoku, Checkers also available)
$7.96
Mayberry Sporting Goods and Fountain
1826 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham
360-778-1588, mayberrysportinggoods.com

Paper play
Folding may be frustrating when it’s in poker, but in paper it can be beautiful. These origami packages, with two-sided paper in solid colors, will provide hours of folding fun. Aside from being relaxing, creating all of the minute folds required in origami can be good for strengthening muscles and hands. So go ahead, create a paper zoo and watch your hands reap the benefits.

Origami Fold ’Em by Yasutomo
$9
Dakota Art Store
1415 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham
360-676-8918, dakotaartstore.com

Step by step
Fitness experts say taking 10,000 steps a day is great for your health, but keeping a running total can be a little tricky. This handy pocket pedometer will keep track of every step you take, and it stores up to a week of information to compare walking habits day to day, as well as calories and the time spent doing aerobic walking. So walk on.

Pocket Pedometer from Omron
$28
REI
400 36th St. in Sehome Village, Bellingham
360-647-8955, rei.com