The Big City

We recently headed to Spokane for a day of civilized entertainment including shopping and, of course, eating out.  We love to eat at PF Chang's...our favorite restaurant, but Spokane only has one and it is downtown.  Downtown Spokane is quite beautiful with the Riverside Park, mall, renovated buildings turned bars, restaurants, coffee houses, eclectic shops, and more.  However, with our big truck, it is a bit difficult to find parking downtown due to the small spaces and one-way streets.  Plus, all the parking garages were designed for mini coopers. :)  So, we took a left turn where we normally take a right, a block or so from PF Chang's and stumbled upon some nice roomy parking still only leaving us with a short walk to the restaurant.  We ended up parking next to The Spokane Club, which I learned, has been in existence in the same building since 1890.  The building caught my eye because of its beautiful architecture.  I researched the Club and discovered it is basically, an upscale social/athletic/business club for "community and civic leaders of Spokane".  The doors were plastered with signs stating, " Members Only".  Not very welcoming, but lovely just the same.  In taking a quick snapshot of the building, I noticed the other buildings on the street.  They were all just as distinct in their architecture and historic nature.  Below are some photos of the Spokane Club and other buildings in the vicinity that I managed to take while we were driving away...I hope to go back soon to get some better photos that will actually do these gorgeous buildings justice.  Anyhow, it ended up being a spectacular sunny day for an outing....a much needed one that included a stop at our new favorite places REI, Mountain Sports, and mine...Michael's!  David is never so thrilled about the last stop, but I could spend hours in there.  It is the total supply store/respite for all my winter hobby, keep myself from going cabin fever crazy, needs.  More to come on that subject later.

The Spokane Club...the entrance was quite grand and even displayed some Native American busts in the architecture over the main doorway

The Masonic Temple...very dignified and grand.  It was spectacular in the late morning light.

Other buildings adjacent to the Masonic Temple

Next door to The Spokane Club.  Another example of the interesting use of Native American inspiration in the architecture

A lovely old church across from The Spokane Club

Downtown Spokane

Yep, not a Golden Eagle or an Osprey...

I researched the bird from the last blog entry and think I have figured out what it is.  I believe it to be a Rough-Legged Hawk.  The photo and description in the following link matches quite well and it is a type of bird that migrates to our area from Alaska for the winter.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/id

It is so true that you learn something new every day, or at least I do.

Snowshoeing to the Sunshine

Last week was cloudy and gloomy. We were even under a flood watch with all the rain and unseasonably warm weather (40 degrees) we had been having. We have little more than a couple of inches of snow left on the ground in the lower elevations. It has been pretty incredible. Not that I am complaining. This mild winter has been a great one for breaking ourselves in to real winters far from the southern border.

We were growing tired of the gloom and fog so, one morning we grabbed our snowshoes and headed for higher ground. We hiked up to some property we have been eyeing and once there, though the view was nil thanks to the fog, we got to take in some brilliant sunshine and blue sky. The temps were also nice and mild that day and I did most of the hike without my jacket. It was certainly a nice break from the hum-drum gray sky and rain that had been hanging around. We also got to see a gorgeous bird that I have yet to identify.  Any takers?  At first I guessed golden eagle, but it is not brown enough, too much white.  Maybe an Osprey?  I think not.  I will keep researching and post if I find an answer.

 

Hope to go adventuring again soon since we are having some gorgeous weather. It'll probably snow now. :)

Texas Bound

I have been MIA in the blogging world for while, but finally have more than 5 seconds to sit down and type up a little about what's been going on. After Christmas I headed to Texas for a nice, but too short, visit with friends and family. I have decided 10 days is not at all enough time for an adequate visit, as many of you who I did not get to see know all too well. It was good to be back home for a little while, and especially to see my niece and nephews. I think I have missed them the most, by far.

My first full day in TX was a little scary, to say the least. I awoke at 6am to my sister yelling for one of us (mom, me, the brother-in-law) to call 9-1-1 as my nephew was having trouble breathing. (If you aren't aware of my nephew's history, check out his blog at www.littlejwtaylor.blogspot.com). I was the one to call and by the time I had the operator on the phone he couldn't breathe at all and was turning blue. It all happened so quickly, but only moments later, his heart rate monitor showed 0 and he went unconscious. Thankfully the EMT's arrived seconds later, right after my sister and brother-in-law began CPR. The baby was successfully resuscitated and was taken on to San Antonio via helicopter. It was the scariest moment of my life, thus far, and I am amazed at the way my sister and her husband handled the whole situation, jumping right in and doing CPR. If you have never seen someone trying to save their child's life in that way, it is simply indescribable. I definitely pray that none of you ever have the experience and that that was my sister and brother-in-law's last experience with it. They truly are the most amazing parents to their children, deserving an award of the same caliber as the Nobel Peace Prize or , in my opinion, something far greater...maybe sainthood. God bless them and their sweet babies as I type this and always. Anyhow, JW was found to have some type of systemic infection and was home from the hospital before I left to come back to WA. His respiratory issues stem from complications due to his scoliosis and the fact that he can't cough or swallow. So, it is possible for secretions to get caught deep in his throat and block his airway. He is pretty much over the infection, still home and doing much better now...Praise God!

While I was home I got to do a few things that bring immense joy to my heart:
-ate some greasy, cheese enchiladas smothered in hot sauce and ranch dressing from the infamous Krazy Chicken
-had dinner with some of my favorite ladies at Chili's in DR...like the good ol' days
-had coffee with my best-ie and made a couple of drags through the hometown
-celebrated my birthday in Fredericksburg with a little shopping and dinner at my favorite restaurant (Bejas Grill...check it out) with two of my favorite gals in the whole world...who I also got to talk horse with :)
-visited my YMCA CFA camp family, saw my kids (camp horses) and met the new Equestrian Director, who I am totally excited about

At CFA...me and the sweet "Romeo"

-saw my two Texas ponies, Blackjack and Festus...who are fat and happy thanks to mom and dad

Blackjack and the old man Festus

Festus peeking at me from behind Blackjack

-met Max, mom and dad's new Jack Russell puppy, who I threatened to put in my purse and smuggle back to WA

Me and Max...wouldn't you want to puppy-nab this cute fella too?

-saw my two favorite people in the whole world (T & M), next to the hubby of course

T after we made brownies...nothing better than a kid with brownie batter all over her face. :)

M...only the cutest boy on the face of the earth. How could anyone resist that face?!? We had so much fun playing in the piles of leaves in their front yard.

-ate some yummy TX BBQ

Chopped brisket sandwich from Oasis...mmmmmmm good!

I think the most surprising thing about going home was that I was freezing the whole time I was there. I don't know if it was because of the difference in the humidity and how it made the weather feel colder or if I was getting sick. I felt yucky part of the time I was there, but it never amounted to anything. When I got back to WA, I felt as toasty as ever...warmer than when I was in TX. Weird.

A few other things....I got to spend New Year's Eve at my home church, where I was baptized. I got to meet a bunch of new faces and was excited to see the church still growing and changing. What a blessing it was. That along with other little things made me realize how thankful I am that I grew up in a small town where, literally, everyone knows your name. For instance, when we went to eat lunch in town one day, the restaurant proprietor came up to our table and asked my mom how my sister and JW were doing...but the difference was in the fact that she asked about my sister by name. People, you can't buy that kind of genuine care and compassion. I will admit that I do miss that...the small town friendliness of TX. I at least feel better here when I go to the feed store and the owner knows me by name and is super nice...it is as close to TX friendliness as I have come.

I , of course, thoroughly enjoyed the time I got to spend with all of my family. I am truly grateful that God blessed me with such amazing loved ones.

Me and my one and only Nana, the sweetest lady ever, on my birthday...that kiss was real. We could not stop laughing!

All in all, my trip was great and to top it all off...I didn't get stuck in Denver! Now I am ready for some of you Texans to come up here for a visit!