A Barn is A Barn but...A Round Barn....

 One of our favorite things to do is explore the Palouse farm country through the back roads of Eastern Washington where we live.

On Memorial Day we took a drive on State Highway 23 a 66 mile stretch through high desert country and the rolling hills of the Palouse.

I was so excited to see this round barn  on a neat farm not too far From St. John Washington.

This barn was built in another era but is in relatively good condition. From our vantage point we could not see its flaws, just the charm one experiences dreaming of simpler times.

Many barns along these country roads have not fared so well. The paint is gone and the roofs are falling from the center of the structure. It is a sad sight no matter the story. I think of the young families who built their homes and farmed the land. What was their story? How did they get to this land and what happened that has left no trace of their dreams other than the broken boards of a dilapidated frame.  Our area is rich with history. The beauty is such that I appreciate it so much more than when I was a child in the back of a station wagon wondering when we would get wherever we were going because I was getting car sick on those old two lane roads before the Freeways of today.

My father-in-law was a lineman for Pacific Northwest Bell after WWII and worked throughout the area adding poles and lines for our precious land lines. He has told of other round barns, he thought there were about three. I am on the lookout for the other two from this day forward! What stories these rounded walls could tell!

A great day for a long drive.....

Yesterday, we took a long drive down through the Palouse, a farming region south of our home. We drove to Uniontown WA, where the Dahmen Barn holds court for artists of many mediums. The talent ranges from stunning watercolors, photography, jewelry and fiber arts, pottery and other forms of delightful art. I love this barn, lovingly restored to its beauty from days gone by. These frosty wheels are just a couple of many sizes and types that make up the fence along the barn.  the inside of the barn has three floors. You can visit a visiting artist in residence, take a class or simply spend your time enjoying the art as my husband and I like to do. There are tourists visiting with cameras, photography clubs taking advantage of many views to capture and art students who enjoy being able to express their view of this Palouse treasure.  I bought a lovely pair of handcrafted earrings, made by a local artist. I also purchased a bag of Joseph's Grainery Multigrain Pancake Mix at the barn. This is a family business spanning five generations over 70 years near Colfax WA. in the heart of the region. This is a close to the farmer as you can get for whole grain goodness. My family loves these pancakes, especially gathered around the big table at the cabin. Whether with huckleberry or pure maple syrup, these have become a tradition!  What a lovely trip it was and we were back for dinner and the comfort of our own home.  I love our area, so close to nature, so close to traditions that are a big part of the western part of the country.