Not just eating.....

 If my last post was to be believed, all we've been doing here in Spokane is eating.    That's not entirely true.    We've been out exploring the area as much as the temperature and smoky air allows.  

Some days sighteseeing is absolutely not possible.   When the wind is right (whatever that means) a smoke plume blows in from fires far and wide, obliterating the scenery and making me cough.    Fortunately, it doesn't happen that often, but, on the other hand,  it's is rarely a completly clear day.    Makes for interesting sunsets.

I'm not complaining.    The area around us  is beautiful in all directions -  from towering pine and fir covered mountains, pretty small lakes and the everpresent Spokane River to rolling waves of amber grain that stretch as far as the eye can see.

view from a little hike in Turnbull Wildlife Refuge

musing on Hauser Lake

see her?

these babies were standing by their severely crippled/injured mother....

the tall structure is a very well used train track.....

it's piers are beautifully decorated (at least higher than local graffiti artists can reach)

I was fascinated by these beautiful vistas....by the changing colors, the wind rippling through them, the feeling of being in the middle of a modern art museum.   The more I looked, the more I began to notice subtle differences in what was growing there.   At first, whizing by in the Jeep, they all looked the same.   When I started really paying attention, I noticed different crops in different fields, all shades of the same color.    So....we'd stop when we could and I'd race out into the edge of the field, grab a few stalks and get back into the Jeep.    We spent a while doing this until we had a good sample.   I'd show them to you, but they're in the Jeep and Dave is at Jesse's with it right now.  Maybe I'll remember to photograph the stalks later on.....if you're interested

lunch beside Roosevelt Lake 

see the Osprey nest on the peak of the bridge?

incoming.....

 the entrance to Two Rivers Resort at the confluence of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers

we took what looked like a maintenance road out to the point....

Dave stands at the point where the two huge rivers meet and blend

And, well yes, we have been doing more eating and drinking.   It's been such a long time since we've been able to go out and such a long time since we've been in an area with so many good places to dine that we may be overdueing it a bit.    Sometimes the need for a nap overtakes.....

But, we soldier on.   So many things to try, so little time!

wine tasting at Wanderlust Delicato

sampling the onion/cucumber "salad" take out from The Mango Tree

sweet Erin making Grilled Peach and Burrato Naan for us

brunch at Italia Trattoria

gone too soon.....