Hay!

This is a common sight around the Walla Walla Valley in the warmer months. Semi trucks loaded with 2,000-pound bales of hay make their way from Highway 11 (where this truck is currently waiting at a red light) to Highway 12 (on the north side of town). I'm not sure where they come from or where they go; a lot of them probably originate in La Grande, which is approximately 90 minutes away from the WW Valley. But where they go...I'm not sure! The clouds are also a common scene these days. We're definitely getting our spring weather here!

Something Personal

I've tried to keep this blog pretty anonymous, but this is one of my absolute favourite photos of my Little Miss, who has not made an appearance on this blog since September. So here she is in all her 8-month adorableness. I hope this picture makes your day as much as it does mine.

The Fairgrounds

Taken while driving one evening, this shot would have been tons better had I pulled over and not taken it through the windshield. Oh well, what's done is done. This is another iconic building in the valley: The Walla Walla Fairgrounds main building. During the fair, many different booths would be housed inside here, including the photography, sewing, and produce contest entrants.

Springtime Silhouette

This shot was taken while on a walk to the top of the hill at Yantis Park in Milton-Freewater. Yesterday's post shows the view down into the valley from the top of the hill. This was looking up at the very top; I liked the way the clouds and sunlight looked.

View from Yantis

Things are just starting to turn green (this was taken at the end of March) and the trees don't quite have their leaves yet. This picture was taken from the top of the hill in Yantis Park in Milton-Freewater. At the bottom of the photo you can see the Aquatic Center, otherwise known as the only outdoor public pool in the valley (that I'm aware of!). It has a couple of slides and I've heard kids have a lot of fun at this pool during the summer. At about 11 o'clock to the pool is another noticeable building; I believe it is an elementary school, but I'd have to go back over there to refresh my memory.

The Olive 5

As we were leaving the Olive Marketplace & Cafe I just had to get a picture of the window. I like the artwork, which you can't see very well in this poor photo, but it's an olive tree with its branches stretching from the corner of the window out and up. Through the window you can see the nice leather seats, perfect for meeting some friends for a glass of wine (if you do that sort of thing; I actually don't) or perhaps a cup of coffee. This time of year is perfect for outdoor seating, too, which most downtown restaurants offer. It's great for getting some fresh air as well as people watching (both of which I love to do).

The Olive 4

I was sad to have missed a shot of the girls tossing the crusts and running them through the flattener (not sure what it's actually called), so all you're going to get is a picture of them adding toppings to the already flattened and tossed crusts. I must say, the Margharita Pizza we had at the Olive Marketplace & Cafe (we were eating as I shot this) was absolutely delicious; and we got to watch them make it, which added to the fun.

The Olive 3

While eating upstairs at the Olive Marketplace & Cafe, I liked this part of our view the best. I could see people coming in and placing orders, and I could watch the employees mark the orders down and get the kitchen people going on them. The glasses on wire racks made me a little nervous, but none fell while I was there. That big silver thing hanging from the ceiling is the back side of the chalkboard menu hanging above the ordering counter.

The Olive 2

This is one of the display cases near the ordering counter in the Olive Marketplace and Cafe. I really liked the budding branches in a glass jar of water, and the bowl of lemons. This was part of our view while eating in the upstairs section.

The Olive Marketplace & Cafe

What used to be Merchants French Bakery and Cafe in downtown Walla Walla is now known as The Olive Marketplace and Cafe. Purchased by a local restaurateur, the resulting restaurant is actually an improvement over what was, for over 30 years, a Walla Walla icon. My husband and I celebrated his birthday there in March and this is what we got to watch while we ate. (That pizza there on the granite slab is our dinner.)

Die Brucke

The evening light casts a cozy glow on the corner of 2nd and Main in downtown Walla Walla. Through that arch and inside those doors is one of my favourite stores downtown: The Book & Game Co. It's hard to go in there and leave without spending anything, so I rarely go in these days in an effort to save some money! The trees outside are simply beautiful; I'm not really sure what they are, however.

Flopsy, Mopsy, and...

My husband and I were having lunch in the park the other day and this little bunny hopped out of the bushes and let me get within two feet of him. I'm pretty convinced he was a domestic rabbit. But he was still very cute and I had fun getting close enough to snap this picture.

A Portrait

On Easter Sunday my family and I spent time with some friends and had Easter dinner and an Easter egg hunt (for the kids). Their beautiful dog, Zoe, watched as the kids ran around the yard hunting for brightly coloured eggs. I just had to snap a photo. She is (I believe) a Welsh Corgi Cockapoo.

Blues & White

This was my view of the Blue Mountains one morning last week while on my way to work. This is one of those instances when a photograph just doesn't do justice to the beauty of a scene.

Little Lady

These are about the only kind of bugs I don't mind. Here in the Pacific Northwest we call them Ladybugs. What do you call them where you live?

More Tulips

Yesterday I showed you a full bank of beautiful tulips. These are my two favourites: the blushing yellows and sharp deep purples. Spring is such a lovely time of year in the Pacific Northwest.

April Showers

Spring blooms are in all their glory in the WW valley right now. I love the vibrant colours around houses, banks, libraries, schools, and everywhere else. I can't wait for the Dogwood trees to bloom, but for right now, these tulips make me smile every time I see them. Aren't they gorgeous?