Sunday, November 30, 2008

Railroad train without any cars

In the early 80s, the trains had long since quit coming through one line in Grandview, and the lovely old station was destined to be removed. An orthopedist purchased it and moved it to Sunnyside for his office. You can just barely notice a mock train track in the sidewalk around the building. *
The tracks of that particular line have been removed and part of the right of way is now a section of the Lower Valley Pathway.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

One last view of the cattle chute

I was going to use this one for Skywatch, but the helicopters just called out to me.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Black Helicopters

My husband came in and said, "get your camera, there are black helicopters flying over the house." So I did.
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Sometimes--even after 41 years--I wonder about that man.
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Here the helicopters look like black spots in the sky. If you want to see them look a little more like helicopters, click on the photo and it will enlarge.
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You can find other Skywatch photos if you click to find the Skywatch site.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Cattle Chute

On our way back from Fort Simcoe, we found this old abandoned cattle loading chute. Cattle are still a big industry in the Valley, but apparently not on this spot.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Fort Simcoe #9

Looking back at Officer's Row on our way back to our car.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Fort Simcoe #8

The Commandant even had a rose garden. You can click this one to get a better look at the drawings of the landscape plan. (And a bigger glimpse of the blogger.)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Fort Simcoe #7

Things were a bit more elegant in the Officers' Row residences.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Fort Simcoe #6

Looking back to Officers' Row from the barracks.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Fort Simcoe #5--Canon looking up

Looking up into the sky from the canon wheel at Fort Simcoe.

Other Skywatch photos can be found by checking the links here.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Fort Simcoe #4

Up to 70 soldiers would sleep in bunks stacked two to three high int he barracks. The last of the original barraks burned in 1949. This replica was constructed by the Job Corps.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Fort Simcoe #3

This view across to the enlisted men's barracks was taken from the porch of one of the officers quarters.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Ft. Simcoe #2

The Blockhouse. Blockhouses were built at strategic spots for defense of the fort. This one is a reconstruction.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Fort Simcoe #1

We decided on an excursion to Fort Simcoe one day last month. Fort Simcoe was established in 1856 as a presence to keep control of the Indians in the area. Things had been tense since the treaty in 1855. A history can be found here.
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A suggestion: If you travel some 40 miles to visit a place, check ahead to make sure it is open. We visited about a week after the Fr. Simcoe State Park went into off-season hours. The gate was locked, but no one challenged us as we parked at the gate, ate our picnic lunch, and wandered the grounds on foot. There is a small visitor center with information which would have been open on the weekend.
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Ah, well. It just leaves reason to go again in the spring or summer.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

headed Away from the Valley

We are heading out today with our tiny teardrop trailer for an adventure on our way to Arizona to spend Thanksgiving with our kids there.
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While we are gone, I have scheduled a series of pictures from our visit last month to Fort Simcoe to start tomorrow. I was going to post them earlier when the computer crashed. Fortunately, the hard drive was not compromised, but the pictures were unavailable until the other issues were dealt with.
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If I get any chances to get online during our adventure, you will find the travel posts at Katney's Kaboodle in coming days. If not, they will be there on our return. If you would like to see a bit more of our tiny trailer--look here where we were stopped at a rest area this summer, or here for a tour of the Little Guy.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Autumn Patchwork

Just over two months ago I posted the Valley's summer patchwork here.
Now you can have a glimpse of the fall (autumn) patchwork of fields near me.

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Sky has landed!

Isolated fog is fairly common in the Valley in October and November. You can click this one to enlarge.
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For other Skywatch photos, look here.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Heritage University

The Heritage University Library. Clicking on the photo will give you a better view of the statue. I should go back some time to focus just on it. There were only remnants of a library when we attended.
Research was difficult--and it was before computer resources were available.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Heritage

When my husband and I both took classes at Heritage in the late 80s--he for his Masters and my for my Teaching Certification--it was a College, and this old elementary school building (It didn't have a spiffy new green roof then.) and a couple of portables was all there was to the campus. It is now Heritage University, and serves the diverse Yakima Valley population well, as well as programs extended throughout the state.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

On the route home #2

On the way home we also pass this collection that I call the "Graveyard of Rusted Automobiles." What classic might emerge if someone chose one to restore? I always want to get a chance to wander
through for a closer look.

Monday, November 10, 2008

The route home #1

On the way back to the Valley from Maryhill, we could have stopped at the Toppenish Wildlife Refuge, where on one visit we saw this Long-Eared Owl. (This will enlarge if you click it.)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Maryhill Museum #8

Just a hint of how isolated Maryhill is--my husband ponders one of the sculptures in the exhibit as a semi passes by on State Route 14. We will head up that road and find something closer to home in tomorrow's post.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Maryhill Museum #7

There is a new outdoor sculpture exhibit each year on the grounds of Maryhill Museum.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Maryhill Museum #6--Théâtre de la Mode

The fascinating display of the Théâtre de la Mode features doll like figures clothed in the fashions of the post WWII couturiers. In the aftermath of the war, the French fashion industry wanted to regain its position and help to spur the nation's economy. Shortages, however, made it impossible to create the life sized models of the fashion designs. They creatively resorted to a custom of the middle ages--dolls.
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This is just a sampling of the Théâtre de la Mode displays. I must admit that, in previous visits to the museum, we had not paid much attention to them. This time, apparently, we paid a bit too much attention. I inadvertently reached through the alarm beam to take this and other pictures. We soon had a security guard following us, though she did say that no, she wasn't following us--just going the same direction.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Maryhill Museum #5

Peacocks roam the grounds of Maryhill Museum. This is one who was hanging around outside the cafe--possibly hoping for a handout.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Maryhill Museum #4


from the exhibit "Faces"

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Maryhill Museum 3

An interesting addition to the collection of sculptures by Rodin is this exhibit illustrating the steps in castin a bronze by the lost wax method.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Maryhill Museum 2

The current special exhibit is "Faces" including many images from Andy Warhol.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Maryhill Museum of Art

Maryhill Museum is a short excursion from the Yakima Valley, and worth a visit. This view is from the outdoor sculpture exhibit.

The museum was built by Sam Hill, originally as a home for his wife Mary. It sits on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River--miles from anywhere. What a special treat to have a first class museum in such a place!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

November Theme Day--Books


I've finally got it--the Theme Day thing. At least I think I have it right.
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This is a view up from the floor in the stacks at the school library from which I retired recently. I retired when my position was cut from the budget. Library services are very important in your cities and in your schools. I would happily unretire if they called me back.
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Support your local libraries!
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Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Arradon, France by Alice, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, napa (CA), USA by katester, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stephanie Craig, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer,