Colville Under Smoke

Main Street in Colville.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


The corner of Main and Astor.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I left work this afternoon and found Colville under a cloud of smoke from forest fires in other parts of the state. The smell of smoke filled the air and the sun cast an eerie, orange glow over the city. Unfortunately, these photographs do not capture the experience with any degree of realism.

Sunset on the Mountain

Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

As the sun began to set this evening, I stood on the mountain and pondered my own place in the world. Every time I visit that land, I feel something stirring within me, as though some deeper power were about to awaken. I also feel sadness, but I'm not entirely sure why. The spirits of that land are speaking to me in very subtle, but powerful ways. I hope I will be able to receive the message with a good heart.

The Garvey Family

Francesca's family invited me for dinner on the Mountain after the Wellpinit youth event. They basically took me in and counted me as one of their own. We talked about the power of dreams, spirituality, and Abe's adventures in Costa Rica. Many thanks to the Garvey Family for their love and hospitality.

Wellpinit Youth Explosion

Visitors from Korea sang at the drum.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


My Auntie Darlene sang at the drum.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

The Christian community on the Spokane Reservation pulled together an event for young people called the "Youth Explosion." The kids gathered on the Wellpinit Fairgrounds and heard Bible messages, drumming, singing, and other traditional arts. Francesca invited me. It was a lot of fun. I think the highlight for me was singing at the drum with Francis and Connie. Other people joined in the singing, including my Auntie Darlene. At one point, it was like the Holy Ghost fell on us, Indian style, and people started dancing and hollering. It was a wonderful experience.

The other highlight for me was when a group of people from Korea sang traditional songs from their country on our drum. It was beautiful and haunting all at the same time. Except for the words, the songs sounded just like they came from Indian country.

Abe and the Drums

Abe teaching the drums.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


Francesca (right) sitting with other learners.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Francesca's son Abe came back from Costa Rica and taught a group of folks to play the African drums. That guy has a lot of talent and energy. It was a lot of fun to both watch and hear.

Neon Sign

Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

On our way back home from the mountain, we stopped to eat at a little roadside cafe in Usk, Washington. Nothing really unusual happened, except I saw the back of this neon sign and I thought it made a cool photograph.

Ancestral Lands

Flowers on Monumental Mountain.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


The Pend Oreille River near Usk, Washington.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Yesterday my family picked huckleberries on Monumental Mountain, north of the Kalispel Indian Reservation. We met up with our extended family and picked together. The berried seemed a little more scarce than other years, but we still managed to get enough for our needs. We had a wonderful time together as a family.

We got to talking and realized our family has gone to that site every year since before anyone can remember. For all we know, our ancestors picked berries on that mountain for 10,000 years or more. It's a wonderful feeling to have a small part in that kind of tradition.

My recent ancestors were Kalispel. I feel such a close feeling to the land in that area, the mountains, the rivers; I love the way I feel when I go there.

Manressa Grotto

Dakota at Manressa Grotto.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


My family inside the grotto.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

My family stopped at Manressa Grotto on the Kalispel Indian Reservation on our way to pick huckleberries in the mountains. I heard they used to hold religious services inside the cave, but I don't know for certain. Regardless of the history, we love to stop there whenever we get the chance.

The Sisters

The Sister Missionaries.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

The sister missionaries visited our home the other day for dinner and a spiritual thought; Sister Edwards from Rexburg, Idaho and Sister Holmgren from Tremonton, Utah. We've had elders in this area for many years, but it's nice to meet new people. These missionaries are wonderful!

Coyote the Mischief Maker

I almost killed Coyote as I passed over the Chewelah plain this afternoon. He bolted out from the tall grass, sprinted across the highway, and quite nearly perished under the wheels of my Ford Ranger pickup. He made a narrow and heroic escape, but I was unimpressed. I pulled over to the side of the road and threw offerings to the wind, hoping to break whatever spells he might cast in my direction. "Spilye!" I called out in my Native language, "I don't want your mischief!"

In all the old stories, Coyote helped create the world and ran errands for the One Who Sits on Top, and yet for all his grandeur, he never seemed to rise above his own petty arrogance, jealousy, and deceit. Oh, he sometimes gave wonderful blessings to the people, but not before inviting humiliation, disrespect, and ruin.

His gifts always come with a price. I'm not sure I'm ready to accept those kind of blessings again.

Miracle Worker

My brother-in-law Paul, the computer miracle worker, put his considerable knowledge to work and helped me figure out a way to retrieve my photographs from the computer crash. I wouldn't pretend to understand it all, but he helped me load a Linux operating system onto the computer and thus bypass the Windows XP error screens. Yes, I am helpless, but he saved the day.

Crash Update

I called my brother-in-law Paul, as I do in all computer emergencies, and he suggested several interventions I may wish to try before throwing my computer over a cliff. For starters, I will try loading a different operating system onto the computer and see if that helps. If not, he thinks I can plug the hard drive into another computer and possibly retrieve the data. I hope he's right. I can do all kinds of wonderful things with photographs and other software programs, but I'm lost when it comes to deciphering the mysterious inner workings of a computer. Meanwhile, I'll continue to post from an undisclosed, remote location.

Crash

My computer crashed late this afternoon, leaving me with no way to retrieve or post more than 10,000 photographs I've taken over the last few years. Sadly, only a fraction of the pictures have been backed up onto compact disk. The computer error screen assures me none of the data was lost, so I guess it chose to simply holding my images hostage until I can afford to fork out the cash for repairs.

So what now? I suppose I'll have to focus on my writing until I figure out a way to retrieve pictures from my other hard drive or the camera itself.

First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church in downtown Spokane.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

First Presbyterian Church in downtown Spokane holds an elusive appeal for me. Sometimes when I drive by, I feel compelled to stop for a photograph, but then the building refuses to reveal its beauty and charm for the camera. The angles never seem to work right, or powerlines obstruct the view, or shadows fall in all the wrong places.

Today was different.

As I passed the church, the late afternoon sun cast a fiery haze over its beautiful gothic towers. Once again, I had to attempt the perfect shot. I'm not sure I succeeded, but perhaps I got a little closer than before.

Milk Bottle

One of several "Milk Bottles" in Spokane.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

This little building shaped like a milk bottle stands unobtrusively across the street from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Spokane. At least one other building of similar shape exists on West Garland Avenue, and is a diner with the name "Milk Bottle." These little milk-shaped buildings are charming in their own way, and remind me of a happy, bygone age.

The Sphinx

The Sphinx at the Masonic Temple.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I drove a friend downtown late in the evening, and then spent some time wandering around, feeling depressed, and half-heartedly looking for something to photograph. I had my tripod, and usually I enjoy taking time lapse photographs at night. But something about the night had me feeling down. Then, wouldn't you know it, the only place that catches my eye to photograph is the Sphinx by the Masonic Temple. The picture turned out nice, but it wasn't until I got home that I realized my father died at that very location a little more than 12 years ago. It was like that Sphinx watched over my father's passing, and then called me back all these years later.

Why did I end up there? What unresolved issue brought me back to that place, and does it have anything to do with how I've been feeling lately? Just when I think I'm done grieving, and have nothing left to give and no more tears to shed, some new layer of feeling reveals itself. What will I do now? What lessons will I learn that I didn't know before?

Innocence and Wonder

Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

After we left Long Lake, we paid a visit to Edward and Christine on Vision Mountain. As always, we had a wonderful conversation. I really love those guys.

I took a series of pictures of my daughters blowing the umbrellas from the giant dandelions on Edward's property. It was Whitney's idea. I really like these pictures, because they show movement, rather than just one still shot. I think the photographs capture something of the innocence and wonder of my children.

Self-Portrait in Sunglasses

Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

I took this photograph when I was just fooling around with the camera at Long Lake. I thought it turned out kind of cool.

Swimming at Long Lake

Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

With temperatures topping 100 degrees this afternoon, we sought relief in the cool waters of Long Lake, near Corkscrew Canyon Road. Yes, it was very refreshing and the kids loved it.

Touring Heart Song

Dakota by the pond at Heart Song.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.


Whitney playing drums in the Barn.
Copyright © 2006 Barry G. Moses.

Ever since I first visited Heart Song, I knew Rhonda needed to see it. She sponsors two or three women's retreats every year, and I just thought Heart Song would make the perfect setting for the work she does. Well, she and I finally got to see it together with our children and Rhonda's mom. We had a wonderful time with the owners, touring all the various facilities. By the end, Rhonda's wheels were spinning with all the possibilities. She's already making plans...

The kids loved it too. I think the best part for them came when we went up to the meeting room in the upstairs of the old barn and found a whole trove of musical instruments and drums. It was like a musical paradise. The girls were so excited with the instruments, they didn't want to leave.

We had a great time!