Wild Spokane

Early in the week (6:30am!) we were picked up by our friends Jeffrey and Brooke, and we headed out to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. A nice morning to go birding, and Jeffrey is a master birder. He will deny it, but he knows so much about the local birds it’s awesome. So we hope some will rub off on us!

We were able to add 4 species to our list – Pied-billed Grebe, Willow Flycatcher, Marsh Wren and a Red Crossbill. Those last two have eluded us for quite a while. The Red Crossbill is not easy to find, and Brooke spotted this one impossibly high in a tree. Good eye!

Such a gorgeous morning, made all the better for sharing with good friends!

OK, this next picture takes some explaining. For the last few weeks, WordPress (the program I use to create this blog) keeps asking if I want to create something with AI. Artificial Intelligence is all the rage now, with everything except maybe cereal boxes claiming they use AI for something. So just now, I figured I’d try it. You describe what you want to see, and AI delivers an amazing picture. Sometimes they are amazing, sometimes comical. I asked for a 747 landing on a desert island beach:

This 747 has apparently been specially modified for beach landing, with two engines close together on the starboard side, and only one on the port. Weight saving? Who knows? I put it in this blog because it makes me laugh, and maybe it will convince you not to believe all pictures you are shown. (All the other pictures are taken by me, and not photoshopped into something else!)

Saturday night we were invited to Jeffrey and Brooke’s for another great sundown music session. Loren, Karen, Ashlyn, Bryan, Jeffrey, Brooke, Zion, Wyatt, and Cherryl and I. What Fun!! Our music making was followed by a nice dinner and games.

We moved for a few days into a nice RV park in the northwest area of Spokane. It’s nice to have full hookups and a pool! It’s a quite pretty park, even if the area around looks a bit like a desert.

We ventured downtown one evening to have dinner out with Loren and Karen… a great evening with only these two pictures!

Friday morning I was privileged to take a walk with Karen through the James T. Slavin conservation area… only about 5 minutes from their home. We’ve been here a few times before, and every time I’m impressed how beautiful this area is, and close by too! It was fun to just walk and chat in a wonderful wild area.