Sunday's postcard, A week away to beat the heat, and a Rhubarb sampler

July 14, 2024

Wahclella Falls, Columbia River Gorge near Bonneville, OR

After the stars come out this evening, I’ll head to a train station and be off to see my beloved daughter, Audrey, and my soulmate sister, Nancy, for most of a week. Nancy lives on the Washington coast where the forecast highs are in the sixties next week. That sounds merciful, given that Spokane is one of several cities in the west with record-setting heat this month, for days on end. Audrey is quite busy this year with a night shift job and her class work toward a Master’s degree in art therapy. Despite that, she filled in for me, here, while I had Covid in January. That was quite a gift, and you can link to her 3-pack of essays at the bottom of the page.

The upshot, for this space, is I’ll be away for a week. The timing is beneficent, at least for me. I don’t have a/c so it’s a struggle when it gets near 100 degrees. (I actually enjoy writing with a wool cap on my head, and lately that’s been replaced by a wet towel.) I’m so grateful to live in a city with a wild, cold river that I can still launch my sweaty body into during summer and early autumn. That said, I’m among those who miss the comfortable summers we used to take for granted here. But don’t get me started on that.

As I’m gathering my things, I’ve put together links to some favorite pieces dating back to early last year. They’re weighted toward pieces so that those who’ve subscribed more recently may have missed. I’ve added links to a couple of my cover stories for The Inlander, as well as a link to my widely-read interview (from 2009) with Spokane’s legendary environmental reporter, Karen Dorn Steele. Just a reminder, the entire inventory of the Rhubarb posts is available at the Rhubarb Skies home page.

p.s. If you find postings you really like, please share the with those who may also enjoy them, or otherwise find them useful. Thanks, again, to all of you for supporting this project and extra thanks to those of you who’ve shared and recommended it to others. It always brightens my day to hear from new readers. —tjc

Favorite Features

March 30, 2022, The Unheeded Warnings of the Fox News “Brain Room”

April 13, 2022, Linda Greenhouse and the Search for America

Spokane’s dauntless investigative reporter, Karen Dorn Steele

July 4, 2009, An interview with Spokane’s legendary journalist, Karen Dorn Steele

February 22, 2023, Praise for Anna King’s “Ghost Herd” journalism

November 27, 2023, Why Central Washington University’s Nick Zentner is a national treasure

January 28, 2024, A 17-ton Erratic from the Cosmos

Science

2/12/23, The Geology of Us

2/19/23, Peter Higgs and the God Particle that Isn’t

2/23/23, A Look Back at some of Hanford’s Bravest Scientists

2/26/23, A Universal Glow

3/5/23, How Washington’s Landscape took Shape

West Plains ‘forever chemicals’ investigation

Spokane County Commissioner Al French answering pointed questions from an audience in Airway Heights, June 3, 2024

7/09/23, Rough Landing

9/13/23, The word bomb from Spokane International Airport

12/13/23, Al French and the forever chemicals coverup

5/10/24, SIA Hands its shoes to Ecology

6/4/24, Al French in the Lion’s Den

Inlander Cover Stories

9/14/23, Swimming with the Spokane River’s signature fish

April 6, 2023, A Guide to the Deep History of the Pacific Northwest (Geology)

Photo Features

4/23/23, An Earth Day Photo Gallery

5/21/23, Dreams of the Blue Dragonflies

May 2, 2023, One of the Great Shows on Earth (Palouse Falls)

The Rhubarb Skies photography store

June 2023, The Violet Green Acrobats

Audrey’s Turn

January 11-14, 2024, Close Encounters with the Mirror World, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

—tjc