WE WENT EXPLORING - PART 2

After our time at Riverfront Park we sent looking for some of the historical sights in Spokane.  First up was the Garland Theatre.  When the Garland Theatre opened in November of 1945, it was the premier movie house in the west.  According to the local newspaper, "there is noting like it on the Pacific coast, even in Los Angeles."

On opening night, the lobby was filled with baskets of flowers from studio well wishers along with congratulatory telegrams from Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Ginger Rogers and Eddie Cantor. The large auditorium featured stadium-style seating and an original capacity near 1,000.

Next up was one of the two "milk bottle" buildings that remain of the once booming Benewah Diary Company in Spokane.  This particular one is home to Mary Lou's Milk Bottle, a cafe famous for their huckleberry and lemon custard milkshakes.  Sadly, we didn't partake in a milkshake, but I wouldn't mind going back to try one sometime soon.  Dairy owner Paul Newport hoped the uniquely shaped storefronts, built in the 1930s, would help draw customers into the retail outlets and for you trivia lovers out there, one bottle had a role in the 1993 Johnny Depp movie Benny and Joon.

The Patsy Clark Mansion was a sight to see.  It was designed by Kirtland Cutter in 1897 for mining millionaire Patsy Clark.  It is located in the city's historic Brown's Addition and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The mansion's second and third floors house law offices. and the main floor is available for private catered events including receptions, small luncheons, dinner parties, and weddings.

My favorite place of the day was Felts Field.  This was the original airport for Spokane until the 1940's, and the history is evident everywhere you look.  I especially loved the old buildings and cafe, designed in the Art Deco style of the day, but what really got my heart racing was the old vintage neon sign hidden behind a tree.

This sign, is from 1943 and features a saluting gas station attendant. The letters below originally spelled out "Chevron" instead of "Welcome".   Another sign that got my attention was the Northwest Airways Inc. posted on a hanger.  I loved the look of it and would have loved to have had a smaller version of it to hang in our home.  Maybe I can make a photo copy of the photograph I took and do something with it.

We really had a lot of fun going exploring, and will be looking forward to doing it again in the future.

WE WENT EXPLORING - PART 1

Saturday morning, we hopped into the pickup, and drove to the local diner and split a breakfast omelet.  With bellies full, we decided to head into Spokane, and finally explore the city after almost 5 years of living in Washington.  Funny, how our first stop was actually in Idaho at the Cabella's in Post Falls.  Craig had been wanting to go there for quite some time, and I have to admit, I enjoyed it as well.  If the UTV's they were selling, (which are street legal in Idaho and Montana) were legal for Washington State, I would have been hard pressed not to seriously think about buying one!

After our Cabella's experience, we headed to Riverfront Park in Spokane, which is a 100 acre park that was the home of the 1974 World's Fair.  It is located by the Spokane River and  near the Spokane Falls.  This particular Saturday, it was host to the annual Northwest Indian Encampment & Pow Wow. 

Several of the attractions build for the World's Fair are still in use, including the Pavilion, a 145 foot metal frame which was the foundation for the main tent during the fair.  Now it is the center of the amusement rides that were in full operation on Saturday.

Another landmark within the park is the Clocktower, that was originally part of the Great Northern Railroad Depot. Construction began in 1901 and finished in 1902. The depot was an impressive brick building 3 stories tall, with the monumental Clocktower standing in at 155 feet.  During 1972 and 1973, long after the “glory days” of train travel, the Great Northern Railroad Depot was demolished as Spokane made preparations for Expo’ 74. The Clocktower was able to be preserved and serves as a reminder of Spokane’s railroad history.

One of the interesting things we did see were the parking meters for street parking around the park.  I know it's been awhile since we have ventured into any big cities and parked, but we were both surprised to see that the parking meters took credit cards.  Sure makes it a lot easier than trying to dig into the crevices of the car seats for any loose change!

My next entry I'll share with you some of the historical locations around town that we checked out during our day of exploring.



HAVING A GREAT WEEK!

Last Thursday, I drove into Spokane to pick up my Niece and Grand Niece who had flown in from California for a visit.  I got to spend 5 days with this little cutie and her Mom, just hanging out, going for walks, checking out the scenery, and just enjoying the one on one time together.  All too soon it was time to drive them back to the airport.  The only thing that kept me from being really sad, was the fact that Craig was waiting for me, just a few miles away at the Company yard, to pick him up for some long overdue home time.

Previously, I had mentioned about painting Craig's "Man Cave", but still wanting to do some finishing touches.  Well I decided to make those changes before he came home and did a quick window treatment with some old burlap coffee sacks.  I also went ahead and painted out the goldish yellow wall for the tan that was on the other three walls.  I couldn't stop there, as I replaced the dreaded mini blinds with some roller shades that help keep out the light much better for when Craig is playing his PlayStation3 games

In appreciation for his newly decorated cave, Craig assisted me making a project that I have had on the back burner for awhile.  After getting permission to haul away some old pallets that have been lying around the trash bin area for the past few years, Craig helped me by taking them all apart so that I could have some nice, rustic wood slats to work with.  This is what the headboards looked like before:

After some sanding, measuring, cutting, and then liquid nailing them onto a piece of plywood, this is what the new headboards look like:

Craig is really never sure of what I have in mind whenever I start on a design idea, but thankfully, he always loves the outcome.  I have a couple more smaller projects I will need his help on before he leaves again on Tuesday.  Hopefully, they will turn out as great as these headboards!

CRAIG'S MAN CAVE

For all intents and purposes, the decorating is done in Craig's Man Cave.  Oh sure, I can hear you now, "When are you ever done decorating?", and you are correct.  For as much as I would like to say it is done, I still have a few more things I want to do, such as paint the gold wall tan to match the other, oh and paint the ceiling, and just one more thing, figure out some window treatments.  But hey, I still have four more months here to accomplish that and more.  So with out further ado, here are some photos:

As you can see, I kept the decorating to keep in line with what Craig enjoys and activities he was involved with, but mostly all things transportation, and let's fact it, his life is the road, so it all fits.  I loved making the license plate wall art, and finding the Route 66 poster was a great starting off point when I first started.

We repurposed a hutch, that came off of a desk we no longer needed, and put it to use as a little bench under the window.  As you can see, there is still a few cubbies that could use a decorator item or two. 

Of course, the most important item in the "man cave" is the television, which is also set up to display on the screen our laptop, and also his Playstation 3.  Craig loves it up in his man cave, and it is the one place that he can spend hours and hours enjoying all of his electronics.  If you can keep a secret, I have been using it quite a bit while he has been out on the road, but don't let him in on that bit of information.



OUT WITH THE OLD - IN WITH THE NEW

I know it's been awhile since I last posted.  I'm still waiting for the tomatoes to turn red, have eaten a few zucchinis, and have yet to know what to do with my peppers, but the garden isn't all that has kept me occupied over the last three weeks.

Yes, I got the decorating bug, and I don't think there is a cure for it, much to Craig's dismay.  But, paint is relatively cheap, and can transform a space like nothing else.  Besides, I'm not one for living in a house with white walls, as I need color.

With that said, I have been painting and will eventually post the finish photos after a few more projects are completed.  My goal is to have our little, tiny house done by the time I get back on the truck around the first week of December.  Yes, you read that correctly, I'll be back on the truck in 4 short months, so I need to kick it in high gear to accomplish as much as I can at home before then.

It all started with wanting to do something other than a paper shade in the bathroom.  I can tell you that my first attempt was an epic fail in my eyes.  I just didn't care for it, so went onto Plan B, but hated it so much I didn't even take a picture of it.  Then I went back to the original idea, but tweaked it a bit and liked it, but then I needed to paint.

I never really liked the green in the bathroom, so I found a wonderful neutral mocha color and went to town.  Then looking around, I continued with the entry area, up the stairs, into Craig's "man cave", (which is almost done except for hanging a couple of pictures), into the spare room upstairs, and now finally down into our bedroom. Don't tell Craig, but I just may buy another gallon and repaint the kitchen and living room too. We'll have to see how much energy I have left after the last gallon of paint is used up.

On an even more exciting note than redecorating, my Niece Stephanie and her daughter Gwen, who is 15 months old, will be flying up to visit with me for a few days starting this Thursday.  We are both very excited and I know I'll have lots of photos to share with you about their visit.  The day after they fly back home, Craig will be coming home and the big question will be, if he will even notice all the changes.