diane rice photography

The Old Spiral Highway

2011-12-31T14:55:00.000-08:00

Diane Rice Photography

Believe it or not, after having lived in Moscow for 12 years and in Lewiston for two, I've just now driven the Old Spiral Highway down the grade for the first time. Here it is in the foreground, and it's exactly as described. Beyond is the confluence of the Clearwater (at left) and Snake rivers, with Lewiston, Idaho, on the left and Clarkston, Washington, on the right. The feat yet to be conquered is to capture this shot on a haze-less day.

In a Fog

2011-12-16T16:06:00.000-08:00

Buckskin Quarter Horse in fog frosted pasture

Sun trying to burn through the fog

Sun illuminates this cow on a foggy hillside.

I just liked the ranch flavor of this image with frosty barbed wire on a rustic wooden fence post.

The past few days have been cloudy and foggy here in Lewiston, and I figured it was time I added a post to this blog! Here's a sampling of what I came back with. Hope you enjoy them!

Gold in them thar hills

2011-10-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

Alumni Band member, U of I Homecoming Parade

Although I’ll readily admit I’m a dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool summer devotee, I do love and appreciate the beauty of autumn on the Palouse. Summer’s heat has fled, leaving cool, crisp nights and making way for gentle rains that quench our heat-parched vegetation.

For me, the season’s signature mental image is of Moscow’s Third Street in the High School neighborhood just east of downtown. Huge hardwoods lining the street shout “Gold!” as pedestrians’ shoes scuffle through the fallen ore like Dorothy’s ruby slippers traveling the yellow brick road.

By this time, harvested rural wheat fields are flaxen stubble—like reverse 5 o’clock shadows on the rich, black earth beneath. Fall rains have nudged emerald winter grass upward, coaxing it to emerge through the loam and tease our mind’s eye into picturing the luxurious beauty of thick, verdant spring grass just a few months away.

Before we know it, snow will blanket the countryside. Skiers and sledders will joyfully head out the door, bundled in caps and scarves and mittens, to gleefully glide down crystalline slopes. Skaters will head to the rink or the pond to cut circular tracks in the glistening glass. Children will create snow angels, snow forts and snowmen. And snowballs.

And then, when we’re all worn out from our cold-weather escapades, we’ll gather inside for hot chocolate and cookies, toasty fires and warm conversations. And to dream about summer.

What a difference a month makes

2011-07-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

One thing is gloriously certain about the Palouse: Change is constant.

I shot the photos above on June 17 and July 13, respectively. In that short time, emerald spring wheat drank in the spring rains and soaked up the sun's warmth and energy, maturing into the "amber waves of grain" so aptly described in America the Beautiful.

What a blessing to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, where photographic fodder abounds.

The view from Steptoe Butte

2010-08-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

View to the south from Steptoe Butte

The Palouse frames a Nootka Rose

View from the base of Steptoe Butte

I'm so blessed to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. The Palouse is home to an incredible diversity of landscape and scenery, and I love-love-love to preserve that beauty in my images. I have to schedule a shoot at Steptoe Butte at least once a year. On each visit, I discover something that I didn't notice or that wasn't at its peak the year before. So here are the highlights of 2010. I hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.

The Emerald Time

2010-07-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite times on the Palouse is spring—what I've heard called The Emerald Time, when seas of varied greens blanket the earth. The contrast of green wheat, this red barn and the unusual cloud formations caught my eye back in May. Can't you just feel the wind whipping??

Lincoln Jay

2010-05-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Birth Day. Don't you just love the little drool bubbles?

Day One. Mom and Dad chose this one for his birth announcement.

One month old. I know I'm biased, but isn't he just precious?

OMGosh, I can't believe how long it's taken me to update my blog with my new grandson Lincoln's photos! Life has been hectic, but it's truly wonderful to have a grandchild so close by. Today's his 2-month birthday. Time to get crackin' on an update! But it'll have to wait 'til the family returns from Mother's Day with Grandma Karen later this week.

Red Barn

2010-01-23T13:30:00.001-08:00

I subbed cleaning stalls and feeding horses this morning for a friend who was under the weather, and on my way home, shot this barn scene. It's one of those places whose beauty changes with the seasons, yet remains constant in its eye-pleasing setting. I hope you enjoy it too!

Lincoln at 33 Weeks

2010-01-21T09:15:00.000-08:00

What a special treat to photograph my own children and grandchildren! I updated Lyanne and Loren's belly collection the other day, and these are some of my favorite shots. Lincoln Jay's due date is March 26, 2010.

Snapping friends

2010-01-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of shooting some portraits of my friends Paul and Sue and their family on New Year's Eve. Aren't they a handsome bunch?

Here they are in their tree house. It's more like a Tree McMansion—it's huge!

Perpetual change

2009-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

Stubble stripes surround a farm on the Old Pullman Highway.

The thing I love most about the Palouse region is that the scenery changes constantly. Every trip into the countryside brings an entirely new vantage point and—there's that word again—perspective. It's like being reborn every day!

Latah County Fair fun

2009-09-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

Nothing warms my heart like photographing kids and their animals.

Porky poses with his mom close by for security—and a snack.

Don't you just love the county fair? It offers an opportunity for locals everywhere to exhibit what they love, and learn in the process. 4-H and FFA teach our kids—and us as parents and leaders—that hard work and dedication pay off. Although we can't all earn blue ribbons, we can garner knowledge that will help us in our quest to better our skills and face life's challenges.

Farmers Market fun

2009-09-07T17:00:00.001-07:00

My inaugural FM booth

It's been a long time in the planning stages, but finally my farmers market booth became a reality on Saturday. It was a fun day of meeting people and having friends drop by to say hi.

Gotta say, it involved more setup and breakdown time than I bargained for, so I've come up with some time-saving ideas for next time. Thanks to my FM "neighbors" for tips and tricks of the trade! And thanks to all of you who were able to stop by.

I'm hoping for available space for an instant replay this coming Saturday, so if you couldn't make it, put it on your calendar!

Say cheese!

2009-09-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Although I love photographing regional scenery and attractions, I equally love "shooting" portraits—especially of friends. Lori and Kerry lent me their family yesterday, and here's one of the resulting shots. Since they haven't seen them yet, I'll limit my post to just one! Suspense!! :-)

Panoramic beauty

2009-08-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

The sun warmed this scene of ripe wheat fields, creating shadowy quilt-like highlights.

Bright shafts of light broke through the clouds to light up patches of ground below.

Here, the sun shone its spotlight on one solitary patch of wheat field.

Yesterday I drove to Spokane (80 miles north). On the way home, even though it was cloudy and sprinkling, I drove to Steptoe Butte hoping for a cloud break that would produce some good Palouse pics (I'd been unsuccessful finding the plumbing part I needed, so rationalized that good pics would make up for the wasted time!). The Lord never lets me down! There was just enough sunlight to get some nice "angry cloud" shots that still showed the beauty of the patchwork landscape in the Inland Pacific Northwest region I live in: The Palouse. Enjoy—I sure did!

To hell and back

2009-08-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Stone arch carved out of basalt cliffs in Hell's Canyon

Ancient petroglyphs along the Snake River

The Snake River winds through Hell's Canyon near Asotin, Washington.

A lone tree nestles into the Snake River valley.

This past weekend I jet-boated down the Snake River into Hell's Canyon from Lewiston, Idaho. Although I've made the run before, it's always a treat to witness the beauty of rugged ranch country and get a firsthand look at history in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs created by Native Americans many, many, MANY years ago. Thanks to those who accompanied me, and to our awesome guide!

Peacock blue

2009-07-21T21:56:00.001-07:00

When I was in elementary school, the huge deal to me was getting a fountain pen for cursive writing. I think I was in 4th grade. My mom took me downtown Evanston to Chandler's and I chose a green pen; it was a marriage of sage and seafoam. And into that pen, when I wasn't using it at school, I put the most beautiful shade of peacock blue ink. Too bad my handwriting wasn't nearly as pretty! The fine feathered fellow above matches the ink precisely. He let me follow him for several minutes, snapping away. I'm sure he knew just how handsome he was and he wanted everyone on my blog to know, too!

Is it summer where you live?

2009-07-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

Multnomah Falls—cool spot on a hot day

OK, I admit I spent all spring bemoaning the pokey onset of summer heat.

I LOVE summer! I couldn't wait for the days when I could get up and run without a jacket on, yet still enjoy the cool, brisk morning air.

When I left the Pacific Northwest nearly three weeks ago for a publishing seminar in New Orleans and then continued on to Jackson, Mississippi, to cover the Youth World Championship Appaloosa Horse Show, I expectedly fell into steamy, sweltering, breath-sucking heat. So of course, I fell into complaining about the heat and humidity there. Aren't we fickle? (I admit that I am!) I just want to say for the record how much I appreciate the dry heat of the Palouse.

I shot this waterfall when traveling through the Columbia River Gorge to Portland to visit my grandkids (yes, and two of my daughters, too!), where humidity is still low enough to be totally enjoyable.

So enjoy the photo above. The weather and the scenery were absolutely gorgeous!

Mad cow disease

2009-06-07T15:00:00.001-07:00

If you think for one minute that animals don't have feelings, look at this cow. She's clearly annoyed that I interrupted her morning munch.

No, she doesn't really have mad cow disease -- she's just cranky. Maybe her kids are giving her fits. I'm sure it's universal among species. :-)

Whatever the case, I hope her next day was better for her.

I love a parade

2009-05-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

Tyler and Kelly Motors' entry in Kendrick, Idaho's Pioneer Locust Festival parade

I couldn't resist snapping my favorite subject (the gorgeous buckskin horse!)
and its rider, a Sheriff's Posse member.

This antique tractor had the most unusual wheels.

After the parade, spectators moved to the park for food and socializing.
These boys tried their hand at a "knock the pin down" game.
Looks like he did it!

You just can't go to too many parades. They're what summer's all about (as a matter of fact, parades are the subject of my July editor's column for Appaloosa Journal!).

This was my first time attending the Kendrick Idaho Pioneer Locust Festival, and the parade was surprisingly great, especially for such a small town. The spectacular mountainside backdrop framed the procession of entries, underscoring the rural, hometown atmosphere.

Now it's back home to work on my Farmer's Market booth/display boards. I can hardly wait to get it all completed and head down for my first Saturday as an exhibitor. I attend regularly as a spectator so it'll be a fun—and I'm sure educational—change of perspective. There's that word again! :-)

Horses, horses and more horses

2009-05-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

This friendly bay lives at the University of Idaho.

This gorgeous copper-colored Haflinger is a total camera ham.

The Palouse, of course, is home to LOTS of Appaloosas.
Just FYI, the name Appaloosa is slurred from "A Palouse" horse.

This pair caught my eye even though Paints are the Appaloosas' rivals.
Hey, there's room for coats of all colors. :-)

It'd be fair to say that horses have been my lifelong passion. In elementary school, my friend Kathy and I played horses every chance we got. We were the horses; the boys were the cowboys and Indians. I've devoured everything horses that I could for as long as I remember.

That passion led me to an agricultural journalism major in college with a minor in animal science. And that educational background led me to a position on an award-winning equine magazine. My work has brought me a creative outlet that has given me joy and taught me immeasurably about writing, editing, management, teamwork, people and — last but most definitely not least — photography.

Photography has become my equal passion. So I'll share the fruits of these two passions with you here. I snapped these yesterday southeast of town. I hope to include one or two in my ArtWalk exhibit at Gritman Hospital from June through August. If you live close by, stop in and visit!

Meet me in Saint Louie

2009-04-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Gateway Arch, of course—you can't go to St. Louis and NOT see it!

Eads Bridge on the Mighty Mississippi, built around the time my house was—in 1874. It has a fascinating history!

I just returned from a wonderful trip to St. Louis for my middle daughter Lauren's wedding (welcome to the brood, Mike!). It was a gorgeous week of sightseeing, wedding preparations, meeting and visiting with our old and new family members, and—of course—the wedding. These are a couple of my favorite pics from the week (excluding the wedding!).

Brothers

2009-04-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

I had fun shooting my friend's family today—these are her two boys. Got a few funny shots as well, but I thought this was cute (if it's OK to call such handsome young men "cute"!). Thanks to my daughter Lyanne for being my assistant!

Signs of spring

2009-03-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was a skeptic yesterday when a fellow photographer/blogger said she'd found spring—but here it is in all its sunny glory! These crocus (Is crocus the plural of crocus? Yes—one of three forms: crocus, croci, crocuses) sit right outside my front windows and I'm amazed I hadn't noticed them yet! Just goes to show you how we can get stuck in the grips of inertia. All it took was a closer look, and my day got way brighter! Thanks, Annie!

I love old barns

2009-03-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'll admit I'm far from a snow-lover. But when there's fresh snow and sunshine, I can't resist packing my camera into the car for a photo field trip. I discovered this barn a couple weeks ago. It appeared out of nowhere, in the middle of a field, with Moscow Mountain in the background. I got a lot of nice shots that day, and this is one of my favorites.

Nature's sugar coating

2009-03-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed at the change that a fresh coat of powder can bring to the landscape. I snapped this (and lots of other shots!) a couple weeks ago in the Robinson Park area. Amazingly gorgeous, this from a person who's definitely ready to say goodbye to winter and welcome the fresh buds of spring. :-)

Finley McDougal O'Rice

2009-02-21T19:29:00.002-08:00

Meet Finley, my new best buddy. We went out for a photo shoot today on the Old Pullman Highway just before sunset. Turns out Finley's a bit camera shy. He either wanted to be right at my side -- not conducive to a great photo -- or trying to hop back into the Subaru. I was able to snap a couple shots, though. Here's one -- Isn't he cute??

Moscow memories

2009-02-03T20:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to University of Idaho, Moscow

University of Idaho water tower

If you've ever been to Moscow—as student, resident or just passer-through—these sights are certain to bring on that warm fuzzy "Ahhhh! I remember that!" feeling. I had the greatest time shooting these photos during winter break. Fresh snow, sunshine and blue skies—gorgeous winter weather for making Moscow memories!

Enjoy. You'll find more, including frats, at my web site, www.DianeRicePhotos.com. Come and see! And if you don't see what you're looking for, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. I'd be happy to add the image to my collection for you.

Welcome to my blog!

2008-12-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

And, welcome to Moscow Idaho and the Palouse region!

Hey there! I'm so excited to launch my new photography business. I've loved the craft for longer than I can remember, and to be setting out on a new venture thrills me beyond belief. I hope to keep up with my progress and discoveries via this blog.

I spent last weekend building the foundation for my "Moscow Memories" library of images. I hope you'll like them! My new web site, DianeRicePhotos.com, will be fully functional VERY soon (I'm hoping within the week!). Visit often, and tell your friends where they can find images that'll keep Palouse surroundings alive in their mind's eye even after they've left the area.

So here I am, new kid on the block -- er, blog. I'm waiting with a softened stick of honest-to-goodness, melt-in-your-mouth butter for my neighborly loaf of welcome-to-the-BLOG bread. You know -- the kind that we're supposed to welcome all our newcomers to the neighborhood with. I'm W-A-I-T-I-N-G --- :-)

Double platinum

2008-12-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

Sam Dial Jewelers offers the best of both worlds: big-town selection with personal small-town service.

When University of Idaho college student Sam Dial saw the Help Wanted sign in a Moscow, Idaho, mall jewelry store 20 years ago, he had no idea that he was about to embark on a career as a jeweler. “Before that,” he says, “I didn’t even know what color a ruby was!”

He got the job and spent the next 15 years learning gemology and the finer points of customer service and minor jewelry repairs. In 2003 he opened Sam Dial Jewelers in Pullman, Washington.

Sam sees his patrons as friends and neighbors. “They get treated very personally,” he says. “We strive to take care of their needs and adapt each sales transaction to that particular customer.”

He’s equally particular about the diamonds he sells, traveling to Antwerp, Belgium, twice each year to personally select stones. His specialty—engagement and anniversary rings—reflect tastes ranging from simple elegance to the elaborate.

In addition to diamonds, Sam sells seven leading brands of quality watches and a fine selection of engravable gifts. He carries such well-known and respected brands as A. Jaffe, ArtCarved, Diana Classic, Trigem Designs and others. He also offers repairs, appraisals and custom design using your existing precious metals and stones, in addition to taking unwanted jewelry in trade or for cash.

Sam Dial Jewelers holds a Master Jeweler rating from the Independent Jewelers Organization. Sit down with one of Sam’s five friendly sales team members and choose from a fine collection of quality jewelry.

Sam Dial Jewelers, 255 E. Main St., Pullman WA 99163. (509) 334-3425. Samdialjewelers.net. Open Monday through Friday 10 am–6 pm; Saturday 10 am–5 pm.

Old Italy—a new way

2008-12-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

Basilio’s Italian Restaurant

Step into Basilio’s and step into Old Italy on the Palouse, with a twist of new-world service. Although Basilios’ décor mimics an Italian village—wall murals that replicate terra cotta tiled roofs and stuccoed walls, shuttered windows and twinkling lights amid vining greenery—its counter-style ordering allows patrons a choice—a leisurely meal or a quick bite. It’s traditional Italian cuisine with nontraditional service. And in good weather, patrons enjoy outdoor café seating.

“I love to see people having a great time here,” says owner Lewis Reed, a former hotel and restaurant program professor at Washington State University. Lewis opened the restaurant, named after his wife’s Italian uncle, in 1996.

Located in Pullman, home to Washington State University, Basilios’ charming atmosphere, great food and affordable prices draw a varied crowd, from students to senior citizens, and families to athletic teams.

Want a light snack? Appetizers such as spinach and artichoke dip, fried zucchini, calamari, beer-battered cheese curds and garlic cheese bread fill the bill. Want more substance? Pasta specialties ala marinara, pomodoro or alfredo pique your palate. Salad lover? Traditional greens pair with options that include smoked salmon, artichoke hearts, cashews and the Palouse region’s specialty—huckleberry vinaigrette. Plus calzones, pizzettas and house specials such as lasagna. And if you’re in the mood for a sandwich instead, a wide variety awaits, in addition to seafood and vegetarian dishes.

All this plus a special menu for children 12 and under, and catering for any size event, make Basilio’s a regional favorite. Squisito!

Basilio’s Italian Restaurant, 337 E. Main St., Pullman WA 99163. (509) 334-ROME (7663). Online menus at Basilios.net/. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 am–9 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am–10 pm.

A work in progress

2008-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

The Bank Left Gallery and Tea Room continually broadens its own and visitors’ horizons.

Palouse, Washington—population a mere 1,000 located 65 miles south of its nearest big-city neighbor, Spokane—seems an unlikely home for an art gallery. Yet it’s in Palouse that The Bank Left Gallery and Tea Room resides and thrives.

And fittingly so. Owner/artist Nelson Duran’s vision is to kill the stereotypes of “big city” and “small town” art. “The gallery is about art, not location,” he says. “I believe good art is here.”

Testament to that belief are the many collectors and artisans who come from distant cities to view, exhibit and buy quality art at The Bank Left.

And Nelson strives to make good art available to everyone. Amazing exhibits include a monthly featured artist and a collection of works that offers samples of many styles, media and prices.

Pathway of preparation
Nelson’s past has shaped his present. Born in Honduras, he came to the United States right after high school in 1987 on a scholarship to study architecture. He first studied English at Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, where he met his wife, Pamela—his teacher. “It was love at first sight,” he says with an adoring smile. They’ve been married for 20 years.

He worked for eight years as a budget assistant at Washington State University, where Pamela works as the director of the Intensive American Language Center. He also spent seven years with Marriott as custodian and staff supervisor.

So he’d developed artistic, financial and management skills when the gallery’s previous owners invited him to show his work there in 2005. His paintings sold out. The owners admired Nelson’s talent and enthusiasm and, ready to retire, they approached the Durans about assuming ownership. Three months later, Nelson and Pamela bought the 1880s former bank building—origin of the name The Bank Left.

Art as an experience
The Durans have decorated the 6,000-square-foot space themselves. They left the upstairs as they found it—bare lath and peeling paint atop a creaky wooden stairway—a backdrop in stark contrast to the beauty of the artwork displayed throughout.

“Lots of artists apply to show their work,” he says. “They’ve been very enthusiastic.”

The gallery’s exhibits range from sculpture to jewelry, photography to paintings, woodturning to lamp work, fiber, paper, books and furniture.

Next on the menu
The gallery served as a stepping stone for the tea room, of which they’d dreamed and planned throughout their married life. “My wife lived in Provence, France, years ago,” Nelson says. “She went to coffeehouses and bistros there, and we knew what we didn’t want.”

Their fare and décor exude a French flavor rather than the formal English high tea. “We wanted a ‘real’ menu,” Nelson says. “—lunch and dinner.”

And for the Durans, food—like art—is to be experienced. “Our food has to be very beautiful and is more casual,” Nelson says. “Our servings are bigger and our food is organic. There’s more of a home-cooked, farming feeling.”

Although the Durans employ a chef and a tea room manager, Nelson does his own baking. “I think about art constantly,” Nelson says. “And, I think about baking a lot!”

This writer’s sampling—the French picnic—included baguette slices topped with broiled Havarti cheese, sage and red pepper, accompanied by mango slices and a mixed field green salad with the secret-recipe house vinaigrette hinting of homegrown herbs, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. The meal’s crowning glory: huckleberries—a regional treat—doused with chocolate sauce. Heavenly. And beautiful. A true experience.

The entrée menu also offers curried chicken with cashews served on sourdough bread, and French croissants served warm with Havarti cheese. In addition a variety of teas with exotic names such as Angels Dream and Jasmine Dragon Tears join with fruit juices, smoothies, dark Honduran-blend coffee and drinking chocolates. Desserts include lavender crème brulee, French white chocolate cake, chocolate truffle cake, Provencal dark chocolate cake and homemade chocolate truffle.

The tea room is open for guests to enjoy in conjunction with the gallery, or may be reserved for special events.

Engaging all senses
The Bank Left’s art engages the observer’s sight; the tea room engages the diner’s senses of smell, taste and touch. And to engage the ears, the Durans present concerts, for which they transport the tea room upstairs for candlelight dinner while musicians play. Their first, “Under the Skylight” held September 20, 2008, featured Ferenc Cseszko, professor of violin and viola and orchestra director at the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton School of Music.

A day in the life
Along with baking and overseeing the tea room and gallery, Nelson handles the Bank Left’s bookwork, and paints full time. He also reviews applicant artists’ work, seeking expert advice for media he’s less familiar with.

The first Saturday of each month, the Durans hold a reception for their featured artists, who may be consigners or artists new to the area. And each month they rearrange and redecorate the gallery to provide a totally new experience for visitors.

Pamela joins in the operation when not at the university. “We work seven days,” Nelson says, “—no days off.”

He acknowledges the need to love and believe in food and art in order to make the business successful. “It’s exhausting but we love it!” he says.

“I love what people do to art, and how art moves people,” Nelson adds. “I’ve learned beautiful stories through art and the people who collect it.”

The Bank Left Gallery and Tea Room, 100 South Bridge St., Palouse WA 99161. (509) 878-1800 or (509) 878-8425. Bankleftgallery.com. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 10 am–6 pm; Sunday noon–4 pm; or by appointment.

Their roots are in soils

2008-12-19T19:35:00.000-08:00

Decagon’s family business produces devices that measure water in soil—as far away as Mars.

One of the main draws of the Palouse is the region’s marriage of small-town-America and the cultural and intellectual strengths of its two major universities: University of Idaho in Moscow, and Washington State University just eight miles across the state line.

Decagon Devices sprang from the marriage of these qualities. And though the family-run business resides in Pullman, Washington, its ties reach more than 36 million miles—its engineering prowess and reputation brought NASA to its door for equipment that could measure soil properties on the Phoenix Mission to Mars in 2008.

Started by schoolgirls
While an undergraduate soil physics student at WSU in 1963, Gaylon Campbell, Ph.D., devised an instrument to cut the laborious, time-consuming and frustrating process of calibrating thermocouples to measure water activity in soil samples. He refined his SC-10 thermocouple psychrometer sample changer, and by 1979, had several built.

Gaylon and his wife, Judy’s, high-school-aged daughters sold the devices from the family’s basement to earn money for college. That 120-square-foot bootstrap business has grown to occupy its current 33,000-square-foot building complete with irrigated soccer field and in-house slot car track.

Decagon, still managed by one of the founding daughters, Decagon President Tamsin Campbell Jolley, now employs 74 people—an extended family, real and “adoptive.” The company’s close-knit, nurturing atmosphere has not only grown a cadre of loyal, dedicated workers, but has also brought it finalist status in the Wall Street Journal’s 2008 list of top workplaces.

In addition to diversions such as soccer, slot cars and ping-pong, the company provides lunch for employees each Wednesday followed by discussion of a weekly topic. Workers are embraced by higher-ups as equals and colleagues, regardless of station within the company’s organizational framework.

Excellence and input are encouraged company-wide. “New employees often say that Decagon isn’t like any place they’ve worked before, and they like it,” says Decagon’s president in a Decagon brochure. “As stewards of this unique culture, it’s our goal as management to make sure Decagon is always a place where startling ways of thinking and unconventional solutions are welcome.”

Indeed, the company’s philosophy is succinctly stated in words that adorn its two-story foyer: “Think like scientists; work like farmers; dream like children.”

The Mars mission
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has worked on four Mars missions: Mariner in the mid- to late-1960s; Viking in 1976; Pathfinder in 1997; and Phoenix. The Phoenix spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 4, 2007, and landed on the northern polar region of Mars on May 25, 2008.

In the ensuing months, Decagon’s Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) measured the thermal and electrical properties of Martian soil, and the Red Planet’s air temperature, wind speed and atmospheric water vapor. These findings will allow scientists to judge how heat penetrates the Martian surface during seasonal and night-to-day changes.

Data is gathered by the TECP’s four-pronged sensor, which Decagon affectionately calls the “Swiss Army Knife of sensors,” and “the little instrument that could.” It sits on the end of a robotic arm, and is fed soil samples by a scoop that drags the surface of the planet and then curls over the probe.

What moisture means to you
Decagon devices touch the lives of virtually every United State resident, and many outside of U.S. borders as well. Moisture affects the shelf life of food and the optimum harvest point for crops such as corn, wheat and other grains.

Harvest combines carry Decagon sensors whose electrodes measure grain moisture and density right in the field. The instruments’ proximity to the ripening crops allows farmers on-the-spot knowledge of when ripe grains contain the most moisture. Since grain shrinks as it dries, it takes fewer wet kernels to fill a bushel. That translates into farmers getting the highest dollar return for the smallest acreage possible.

After grains are harvested, food companies use Decagon’s AquaLab water activity meters to measure water activity which, as opposed to water content, determines the shelf life of products you buy every day. Consider this Decagon example: You bite into your bowl of raisin bran. The flakes aren’t quite as crunchy as you expected they’d be, and the raisins are so hard that one breaks your tooth. If the raisin bran manufacturer had matched the water activity of the flakes and the raisins, the flakes would’ve stayed crunchy and the raisins soft and chewy.

Not only are food palatability and shelf life improved by regulating water activity, but so is food safety. Another Decagon example: You eat a piece of beef jerky from a freshly opened package. A few hours later you’re violently ill and need to be hospitalized. Doctors tell you the jerky was tainted with salmonella. If the jerky had been tested for water activity, your jerky would’ve been safe, and you would’ve avoided a costly and unpleasant experience.

So what determines water activity? Most commonly, sugar and salt, which bind the water in foods. Certainly not new knowledge—the pioneers salted meat and vegetables and sweetened fruit by canning and making jams and jellies. But quantifying and regulating water activity are tasks that can only be performed by exact measurements. And when it comes to exact measurements, Decagon leads the field.

Decagon Devices, 2365 NE Hopkins Court, Pullman WA 99163. (509) 332-2756. Decagon.com.
For more on the Mars mission, see http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ and www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html.

How does Decagon’s Mars probe work?

The robot arm can’t be precisely controlled, but it’s imperative that the sensors—the four short, stubby needles on the right—have adequate contact with the Martian soil so they can take accurate readings.

The TECP is lowered into the measurement-taking position and the bucket is raised. The bucket will scoop soil from the planet’s surface, then curl over the TECP. The robot arm’s camera is further up the arm on the left.

The slow-food restaurant

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Moscow’s Red Door Restaurant invites you to settle in for your meal.

Although an actual slow-food movement originated in Europe in the 1980s, the Red Door came by its nickname on its own. “We cook everything to order and can’t make the process go any faster, says co-owner Jeanne Clothiaux, who launched the restaurant with her college friend, Tracy Wright, in 1998.

“Tracy and I are both from Alabama, and I’m Cajun,” Jeanne says. “My family loves to eat, sit around for hours afterward and talk and talk and talk.” The Red Door reflects this tradition.

“We run out of a tiny kitchen with eight burners, a broiler, a fryer and two cooks,” Jeanne adds. “We know our limits, and we do a lot of really creative work with really limited resources.”

Indeed, they chop all their ingredients by hand and spend all day chafing vegetables and perfecting sauces. “We start from scratch,” Jeanne says passionately. “We work hard on our sauces and experiment extensively before a food ever goes onto the menu.”

The result is a diverse carte du jour that has evolved from sampling the cuisine of Europe, Korea and Indonesia, among others. “We’re open to a lot of different ethnic influences,” Jeanne says. “We’ve taken ingredients available here to bring those flavors to the Palouse.”

The Red Door’s delectable entrees, each served with locally baked bread and a salad of mixed field greens, conjure up the exotic. An example: pistachio-crusted pork tenderloin with marsala-shallot sauce, ginger-cranberry chutney, garlic-mashed potatoes, and frizzled leeks.

The Red Door’s beverage list consists of beer and a selection of excellent local wines in addition to a Washington craft-brewed soda collection that includes root beer and ginger ale.

“Red Door is a relaxing place you can really sink into—dim lighting, lots of candles, jazz—I don’t want to say romantic because that would imply that it’s mostly for couples,” she says.

The restaurant’s clientele is decidedly diverse. On this particular night, the dining room fills by 6:30 with multigenerational groups including a few couples.

“If customers aren’t ready to settle in, they might feel time ticking,” Jeanne says. But when dining at the Red Door, you’ll find no need for a clock.

Red Door Restaurant
215 S. Main St.
Moscow, Idaho
(208) 882-7830
www.red-door-restaurant.com
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
Dinner served 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Entrees $13.95-$33.95
Allow 1 ½ - 2 hours for your meal

garden party

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Visit Farmer’s Market—Moscow’s permanent floating Saturday-morning party.

When Greg and Melanie Johnson travel to Moscow from their home in southwestern Washington to give Melanie’s mom a dose of grandma time with one-year-old Jeffrey, the Farmer’s Market tops their to-do list. “Greg and I met while attending the University of Idaho here in Moscow,” explains Melanie. “Farmer’s Market was a favorite Saturday-morning routine for us while we lived here, and it’s still a favorite when we come to visit.”

It’s at Farmer’s Market that they run into friends from high school and college days. It’s there that they catch up on life events, careers and goals, brothers and sisters, parents and kids. It’s there that they reminisce. And it’s there that they feel that sense of community that so many metro downtowns seek to re-create. It’s a slice of hometown pie that draws past and present Moscow residents and visitors to its May-through-October fun-fest on Friendship Square.

Farm-fresh fare
The Market’s main draw, of course, is baskets, boxes and bins of fresh-in-season fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamentals. Some patrons buy produce for the coming week; others buy by the case to can, freeze or share. Some buy to add to their own yards’ flora, and some to bedeck their homes with dazzling floral bouquets.

Marvin Durfee has hawked homegrown produce there for 18 years. His Saturday morning cargo has mushroomed from filling a one-ton pickup to a 20-foot refrigerated truck bursting with produce grown at his family business, Durfee Farms in Prosser, Washington.

“It’s one day a week that I have lots of fun,” Marvin says. “I get a lot of enjoyment from the people. They’re all so nice to work with.”

Over the years, Marvin has adjusted his offerings to accommodate his customers. “The Oriental people asked for vegetables they cook with, so we started growing them,” Marvin says. “Some even brought me seeds.”

A fabulous food fest
Along with fresh-picked garden fare, baked goods abound at Farmer’s Market. Wheatberries, whose brick-and-mortar store stands just yards from its Farmer’s Market booth, displays baskets overflowing with fresh, whole loaves of fragrant breads such as whole wheat, basil-and-tomato and pumpernickel. And for patrons looking to satisfy their sweet tooths, the bakery’s tables stand stacked with Danish pastries, scones, cinnamon rolls and single-serving pumpkin and fruit pies.

Those with ethnic cravings flock to food vendors such as Patty’s Mexican Kitchen for empanadas, tacos and pink lemonade; Peri’s Garden for Mediterranean-style dolmas, pitas and hummus; and Hawg’s Grill for savory, melt-in-your-mouth tri-tip beef. Top that off with a steaming cup of your favorite flavored java … delicious!

An arts venue
Although Farmer’s Market started out as an appendage to the Moscow Food Co-op, it was later taken over by the Moscow Arts Commission, who used its profits to expand, providing a venue where local artisans could show and sell their crafts. Early-on, Moscow attorney and longtime city councilwoman Linda Pall served as its volunteer organizer and coordinator. She remains among the market’s most vocal and enthusiastic cheerleaders.

“I loved it from the very first minute,” she says. “When it started, it was clear that it needed a ‘mama’—someone to help out, keep it going and coordinate supporters—someone to keep vendors happy.

“We knew it was important for the market to be a good neighbor to downtown merchants,” she adds. “It was—it’s been a real plus.”

Now, more than 30 years later, the market remains a plus to nature and landscape photographers, clay workers, glass blowers, tie-die artists, clothing creators, furniture builders and jewelry makers, among others.

Maggi Fuhriman of Arrow Clayworks in nearby Juliaetta, Idaho, has sold decorative plates, trays and other pottery at the market for the past six years. Her work is distinctly nature-themed, carved with leaf and dragonfly outlines and painted mainly in outdoorsy greens, golds and browns.

“I love the place,” she says of the market. “I love the atmosphere. I get to meet people, be entertained, enjoy good food—and shop!”

Fellow artists Robin and Sean Stratton started their business based on their Farmer’s Market success. At their market booth, their venture, Ra Glass, sells jewelry and trinkets made of hand-worked glass; at its Pullman, Washington, gallery just across the state line, the business also offers instruction and supplies. “Sean is the lamp worker—commonly called glass blower—and I work with stained glass,” Robin explains.

Not only does Farmers Market provide livelihood for locals; its reach extends overseas, providing jobs and income for extended family as well. Basket vendor Nii Ankrah has lived in the United States for 14 years and has sold his wares at the market for 10 of those. His baskets are made by family members in Ghana, West Africa. Each basket takes about six hours to complete.

Nii says that at the market, he often reconnects with acquaintances that he hasn’t seen for a while. “The people here are nice people,” he says. “They are easy to get along with and we have a lot of laughs.”

The social aspect
Some people come to Farmer’s Market to socialize with each other. Some, on the other hand, come to socialize their pets.

A dog-friendly venue, the market draws furry, four-legged tail-waggers and their owners. “I come for dog training,” says Tanna Ragan, a fish and game agent from neighboring Deary, Idaho. Her German shepherd, Xuko, sits obediently at her side as she talks with a fellow dog owner with like goals. “The other dogs, the people, the kids, the sights and sounds are good tools for getting dogs used to being out in public.”

It’s hard to separate dogs and kids, and plenty of both attend the market. Over the years, Friendship Square acquired improvements including a fountain, benches and landscaping. It recently underwent additional renovations that added a new play structure surrounded by soft-surface paving.

Adjacent to the play structure, parents and other market patrons tap their toes and sway to the beat of big-band music emanating from the square. This particular day, the Hog Heaven Big Band plays multigenerational favorites such as “Fever” and “Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand” while marketers visit with friends and family or simply listen. Other days, other genres share their musical styles.

Farmer’s Market’s lively music provides a happy backdrop for laughter and conversation. Talented artists happily chat with customers and friends, describing the processes that culminate in their intricate handicrafts. And salt-of-the-earth green grocers sell mouthwatering fare that patrons come back to enjoy week after week. It’s the kind of destination that makes your Saturday morning an experience you’ll want to revisit—often.