Getting out and about

Things have been a little crazy with my job.  I work for a public University in Idaho.  Idaho is not exactly well know for funding its educational institutions.  (That being said, since we were never very well funded to begin with they haven't been able to cut as much as other public universities are cutting.)  Unfortunately, we've had to the work with quite a few less people, and as the manager this makes my job pretty stressful.  So a we or so ago, I just had to get out.  Needed to get away from computers, desks, people, emails, etc.  We went for a few little hikes.

First we drove just a few miles away to Klemgard Park.  I've seen the signs for it on the highway, but didn't know anything about it.  Off we went.  The park sits partly in a little valley, with a play area, a large picnic area and a creek running through.  Then the back part of it goes up the side of the hill towards the wheat fields.  Its a nice little hike up the hill, kind of a wooded hillside, then when you get to the top you are greeted by a wheat field.  

This is me at the top of the hike in the wheat field.  

Not the best picture, but I like the contrast of the pine trees and the wheat field.  

Saturday morning I was still pretty restless, so we headed out again, but this time to Kamiak Butte. Between Pullman and Palouse, WA Kamiak Butte rises up off the rolling hills of the Palouse and offers AMAZING views.  After a nice 1/2 mile of switch backs we came to the top of the ridge, and then sat there for a good half hour taking it all in.  

 I think this is looking towards Moscow, ID (its kind of hard to tell)

 Looking Southwest out into the fields of the Palouse.

 

My brother, Ryan, and I with the Palouse in the background.

This is also Ryan and I but with the rest of Kamiak Butte in the back ground, and just off to the left of the picture you can see the fields of the Palouse to the south west of the butte. 

And a not so lovely picture of me sitting up on a rock taking it all in.  

I love the fact that both of these little hikes are less than 15 minutes from my house.  I sure miss the rivers back in the Auburn area, but there are things I love about living here!  

Rural Washington

Mike and I had to be in Spokane on Monday and on the way home we took some back roads.   Got somegreat pictures:

Grain Elevators in Fairfield, WA using the 'retro camera' app on Mike's phone.  There are grain elevators dotted all over the Palouse. 

Cool old Public School building in Latah, WA.  I got out and started taking some pictures, then noticed that there were drapes in the windows and a piano in the window.  Then I saw a cat on the front stoop... I think its someone's home now!  Oops. 

Ah Idaho

Last night we had a going away party at one of my co-worker's houses. It's outside of town in the farmland of the Palouse. What is the Palouse? Well, it's these amazing rolling hills that are planted with wheat, peas, canola, garbanzo beans, and I'm sure many other crops. Right now they are beautifully green!

In a month or two they will be rolling fields of brown. Which, until they harvest is really pretty too.



It was so nice sitting out in her back yard looking out over the rolling hills with Moscow Mountain in the back ground. Moscow Mountain has always been kind of a funny thing to me. It's more like a ridge, I guess there is a specific peak that is Moscow Mountain, but I couldn't tell you which one. And doesn't sound like something out of a scary Teen movie "up on (insert town name) mountain" ...

But anyway, after leaving the get together, I decided to go for a drive and drove up the mountain. Looking back, maybe not the best idea since no one knew where I was going or even that I wasn't home, but luckily it turned out fine. Thank goodness because I love to explore. Below are a couple of pictures I took with my phone from the top, I would have liked to get out and explore... but I was in a dress and heels, so I thought the better option would be to stay in my truck.

It really is very pretty here.