In the 18th century, George Berkeley said, "To be is to be perceived." As I drove away from Riverside Park and the Living History Encampment staged for the Battle of Spokane Falls last Saturday, I was left to wonder: If re-enactors had no audience, would they still be playing out these roles?

My guess is yes.

Civil War re-enactors performed five battles at Riverside State Park over Memorial Day weekend.

A young woman watches the Battle of Spokane Falls unfold from afar. Re-enacting involves roles not only for soldiers, but also civilians who set up camp, organize townships, and recreate the daily practices of life in the 1860s.

Soldiers lay dead on the battlefield. One re-enactor notes that while fighting, he becomes so consumed in firing that he forgets to notice the crowd.

At the Mason-Dixon Township, two members of the re-enactment community meet at the water pump to chat about the day's events.

Anna Flores, from Lynnwood, Wash., fans a fire that cooks dinner at their camp in the Mason-Dixon Township. Her husband has always loved history and she became interested in civilian life after attending their first re-enactment over 20 years ago. When their children were grown and moved out of the house, they took to the road for events. They've been re-enacting for five years.

Heather Sturgill, a family-medicine residency coordinator in Oregon, is teased by her fellow re-enactors for revealing her pantaloons. Once a soldier in battle, Heather stopped fighting when she became pregnant with their son, who has been "living history" since he was 4 days old. For her, re-enactments are a family affair. She says it's easier to distance herself from her real personality when her mother (also a re-enactor), whom she refers to as "Mrs. Wolford," is present at events.

Members of the Seventh Tennessee Infantry stand at attention while a Confederate officer makes his rounds.

Captain Rick Montoya, a fifth-year Company Commander of the Seventh Tennessee Infantry, keeps watch over his ranks during an officer inspection. For him, reenactment is about history and shooting guns. He emphasizes that the confederate re-enactors today are "not a bunch of racists and bigots. I'm Hispanic, and we've had black men on our side in battle." He says, "This is a weekend of playing Cowboys and Indians, only now we're adults, we wear uniforms, and ... we're somewhat organized."

A "deserter," an infantry member who defected to the Union side during battle, is hand-tied and taken to a field for death by firing squad. One soldier notes, "This is Tennessee Justice," as screams of "Shoot the Traitor!" and "Let him rot!" are heard from the crowd.

Civil War firing squads were historically comprised of six soldiers — five with guns that contained only gun powder and one which fired a real bullet. All soldiers were ordered to shoot to kill, but no one knew whose weapon contained the bullet. It was a tactic used to prevent guilt amongst the troops.

A young Confederate soldier rides horseback into battle. Cavalry horses are trained specifically to work around gun-fire.

Gun powder, a mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal, lingers on the lips and teeth of David Tipton, a third-year re-enacting veteran. Powder is torn with one hand and the mouth from a packet during battle, then packed into pistols with dry cream of wheat for weight, instead of bullets.

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com.

Surviving spring in Spokane reminds me of skiing fresh powder, down steep and tree-filled terrain. Here are the rules: Always look where you want to go. Keep both eyes on open space. Pick a line and commit. Then proceed to make your way. 

I'm a terrible skier but, suffice it to say, as we finish another week of cloudy weather, my point is this:

Focus on the blue skies, people. Do your best to ignore the gray. 

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com. 

On the heels of Bike to Work Week, I recently made a list of ways to travel that don't involve the use of a personal car. Cycling and walking, of course, topped the urban transportation chart; they are green and clean and keep us healthy to boot. But for busy schedules and people constantly on the move, biking and hiking aren't always a feasible alternative.

Next on the list was public transportation.

I wandered downtown to the Spokane Transit Authority plaza this week to see how and why people are commuting these days -- especially when going by city bus.  

The STA bus system provides Spokane residents approximately 42,000 rides to various destinations within the city each day. 

Devon Boering is a student at Rogers High School. He commutes to class Monday through Friday on public transportation instead of riding the district school bus. He says, "I just like taking the city bus. It's more interesting and takes less time."

Most of the STA's operational budget (66%) comes from local sales taxes, while the remainder is covered by federal dollars, fares and other miscellaneous sources of revenue.

Gene Autrey is a father of four who, after a work-related accident that left him disabled, gave his car to his daughter for her daily commute. He uses public transportation almost exclusively and says the ride-time gives him an opportunity to catch up on news. A sign of the times: He does most of his reading on a mobile device. (And his name really is Gene Autrey.)

Approximately 17,000 travelers pass through the downtown STA plaza each day en route to their destinations. 

Most city buses are equipped with bike racks, giving cyclists the option to pad their passage with pedaling.

Sabrina Ryan is a single mom who lives in the Valley, works in north Spokane, and takes classes at SFCC. She wakes at 4:30 each morning to get her and her daughter on the bus by 6:30 am, and while the commute is tricky — she says she's finding ways to make it work. Every month she purchases a $29 bus pass with her student discount, and has learned to use the commute time efficiently by multi-tasking.

Morning commuters consist of riders en route to work, school, health care appointments and a variety of different engagements. For others yet, travel by bus is essential simply for the business of running daily errands.  

Suzanne Davis has three children with medical needs and has never had a driver's license. She says she's a tree-hugger at heart and likes the fact that public transportation helps the environment while getting her and her family to the appointments they need to keep. She also likes that it keeps her on a routine of daily exercise. She walks 2 1/2 miles from her house in Airway Heights to the nearest place where she can catch a bus.

Buses are a family and budget-friendly way to get about town. Up to three children under the age of 5 are able to ride for free when accompanied by a responsible guardian paying full fare.

Adult passes allow working professionals to travel and conduct business anywhere throughout the entire STA system for only $45 a month.

Cyclists and buses share the road, a sign that alternative transportation has become an important consideration in the sustainable development of Spokane.

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com.

Every year, I have the best intentions of getting a garden started. Visions of fresh produce dance through my head. I dream of sunny days, a basket full of herbs, sweat on my brow and dirt under my nails. I start seeds inside and wait for spring. I get giddy when they start to sprout.  

But something happens to the seedlings between my kitchen sill and the world outside. They rarely make the transition. Each May, I'm painfully reminded that my thumbs are as green as mud.

If you're like me, you might want to consider handing the task to local experts. 

This weekend marked the 13th seasonal opening of the Spokane Farmers Market. Located downtown on Fifth Avenue between Division and Browne, the market is a veritable haven for urban foodies and farm-fresh food fans. It boasts hand-crafted breads, organic fruits, free-range eggs, vegetables and grass-fed meats. Add live music, hot coffee and artisan pastries on a Saturday morning, and the experience becomes heavenly. 

Darla Eaton has maintained a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with Tolstoy Farms for nearly 12 years. To pick up her weekly delivery of produce, she opts for a ride on her bike. "Not only is it a green way to get around," she says, it's also good exercise and "brings me joy."  

Sarah Mann recently moved to Spokane from Coeur d'Alene and anxiously awaited the opening of the farmers market this weekend.  She's no stranger to buying local. "I like giving my money directly to farmers. Markets are a fun atmosphere. Everyone's so nice, and they love to tell you about their products. It feels like community." 

The farmers market offers more than fruits and vegetables. Summer Harvest is a small, family-owned company that mills two varieties of wheat  from Esvelt Farms in Rice, Wash., for sale as flour or blended into baking mixes.

Circle B Farms offers free-range goose, turkey, duck and chicken eggs that are hand-gathered for the market each week. Larger varieties of eggs (like the goose egg  above) are used primarily for baking. They become rich and chewy when fried. Fifty to 60 dozen chicken eggs are sold by Circle B each week. Generally, well before noon.

Tolstoy Farms is in its 15th season of offering CSA shares to residents of Spokane. Joe Piver is a member of the intentional living community that resides on the farm. He's also one of many farmers who work to keep nearly four acres of land in cultivation each year.

Antonio Macías sells bundles of fresh asparagus from Pacific Produce in Wapato, Wash.

Wild morel mushrooms are harvested and brought to market, then sold at competitive prices. 

Olsen Farms, one of the market's first and oldest vendors, is situated just 20 miles northeast of Colville, Wash. They offer marketgoers pesticide-free, barley-fed pork, and grass-fed, grass-finished beef. 

Colorful hand-cut bunches of chives are sold straight from the farm.  

Barry Graning (left) and Kevin Tunison (right) met when they worked together as roofers over 25 years ago. Today, Tunison owns Many Rock Farm — "Home of the Happy Pig" — and sells pork at the market each week. Graning isn't a market vendor but also raises rabbits and chickens, then sells them to private customers from his farm on the outskirts of town.  

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com.

What are the first things that come to mind when you think about rollerskating? Maybe disco lights and those brown leather boots with the orange stoppers. Feathered hair and Fleetwood Mac. The way your palms used to sweat in middle school at the mere prospect of a couples skate.

Rollerskating might seem like it has passed its '70s prime. But the surprising truth is that the sport is enjoying a new surge in popularity. Roller derby has brought hipsters to the scene in droves, baby-boomers are returning to rinks as a low-impact way to stay in shape (especially during colder, winter months), and young people are doing tricks as if that oval wooden floor were a terrain park.

Perhaps we had just forgotten what Californians on boardwalks have known for years — that skating is the best thing for your buns since the ThighMaster was all the rage. It's fun, easy on your body, and relatively cheap. Combine all these factors and you've got a recipe for getting in shape before the summer season.

Last week, I visited the Roller Valley Skate Center, which has been in business since 1975, to see what skating looks like in 2011.

The walls at the roller rink serve as a helping hand to beginners just learning and provide the perfect vantage point for taking in the action on the floor.

While inline skate rentals are now an option, traditional brown leather skates are far from obsolete.

Morgan is a skating enthusiast and mother of one. Although she has a membership to her local gym, she says "treadmills suck" and makes a point to get to the rink at least once a week to exercise.

Birthday parties and roller skating are a timeless tradition. Families bring a cake and kids, and the rink takes care of the rest.

Whether you're looking for a workout or just a leisurely cruise with a friend, rinks offer something for everyone, regardless of which way you roll — with blades or skates.

Rink activities like roller skating limbo test skaters' skills and agility.

Martin, left, has been skating since he was 4 years old. Last month, he joined a speed skating team in Coeur D'Alene, but he still comes to his local rink just "to hang out and practice."

Waiting to exchange one pair of skates for another size can be a practice in patience, especially when fine-tuning the fit of one's rentals is often a process of trial and error.

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com.

Every year, the Spokane Police Department invites members of the media to their Police Training Academy in east Spokane for a half-day crash course in law enforcement. The purpose? To educate the press on Spokane's police practices. 

But this weekend's press day wasn't only about hands-on defensive tactic demonstrations. Or shooting guns at the firing range. Or having your carotid artery collapsed until you pass out. (They swear that this is perfectly safe.)

There was also a philosophical discussion that ran throughout the day, as we were asked to consider a number of challenging questions. How do you define an "acceptable use of force"? What do you know about the reasons that police use force? Who should determine the boundary between personal liberty and the government's right to justify an intrusion? 

I, of course, don't have the answers to these questions, but I left the training with a greater appreciation for the ambiguities and uncertainties that modern-day policing presents. As Officer Terry Preuninger pointed out, it's wise to "ask hard questions," because when it comes to certain matters in law enforcement, "it's an art, not a science."

Officer Terry Preuninger begins the day with a presentation on the Myths of Modern Policing. He lays the ground rules by saying, "There are no stupid questions," then adds, "OK, there ARE stupid questions, but at the Academy, we check our egos at the door. That's how we learn". 

Stephanie Golson of KREM listens attentively as Officer Preuninger describes one of many possible police encounters with danger, then challenges his audience to consider what they feel is an "acceptable" response. 

Hands-on (and hands-cuffed) exercises began the "Use of Force" demonstration on Saturday. 

Defensive Tactics Instructor Shawn Kendall shows members of the media one of the dart-like electrodes fired from a taser. The delivery of electrical currents is used to disrupt voluntary control of muscles, helping police officers subdue fleeing or potentially dangerous suspects.

Sally Showman of KXLY wears a taser electrode while locking hands with members of the media class as they prepare to be tased. In training, all officers experience a tasing at least once so that they understand the effects of using tasers as a law enforcement tool.

Police canines are primarily used to track and apprehend suspects but are also trained to attack on command, if necessary.

Mayor Mary Verner looks on as Officer Shawn Kendall demonstrates the proper use of leg restraints on Stephanie Golson of KREM.

Corporal Mike Carr discusses the challenges and decisions that officers face daily in the field, while KYRS intern Denise Jennings and KHQ reporter Anthony Gomes wait to shoot targets on the range. 

Carolyn Lamberson of the Spokeman-Review takes aim at her target and fires, leaving nothing but smoke behind.

Officer Mike Russo gives Sally Showman, of KXLY, a quick tutorial on target shooting at the range. Even when not officially on duty, many officers still carry their firearms with them in public. 

Every year, roughly 50,000 participants gather on the streets of Spokane for Bloomsday. There are many reasons to love this event. It's fast-paced and energizing, and it's awe-inspiring to see so many runners making the trek, volunteers giving their time and spectators gathering in the early hours to freeze their keisters off and cheer.

"Bloomsday isn't just a race," an onlooker on the course told me on Sunday. "It's the hallmark of spring after a long, long winter. A time when our community comes out of hiding and gets ready for the change of seasons."  

And one hallmark of this beloved race? The aftermath.   

As the crowds began to disperse yesterday, I wandered back to my car from the Monroe Street Bridge and caught work crews collecting truckfuls of the clothes left strewn in the trees downtown.

While it's not officially posted on the Bloomsday website, seasoned participants know to wear a warm layer of clothes they plan to shed before the race, leaving them behind as a donation. The collected clothing goes to the local chapter of ARC, and members of the Sheriff's Labor Program are brought on-site to help pick everything up. I can't think of a better win-win situation.

Hats (and clothes) off to another successful year of Bloomsday. 

Work crews from the Spokane County Sheriff's labor program troll downtown Spokane after Bloomsday filling trailers with donated clothing for the local chapter of ARC.

Clothing shed on downtown streets by runners is tossed into a trailer by an inmate, serving duty with the sheriff's labor program.

Literally tons of clothes make the Bloomsday event one of ARC's largest donation drives of the year.

Collecting used clothing isn't always as easy as it sounds. Inmate crew members find teamwork is often needed to get the job done.

Runners aren't the only ones who get their exercise on Bloomsday. One inmate loads clothing and takes a rehydrating break.

A crew member stationed on the roof of the sheriff's truck uses a makeshift hook to retrieve articles of clothing hanging beyond reach in downtown trees. 

Heading toward the trailer with an armful of Bloomsday clothes, this inmate is all smiles. "It feels good to do good," he says.

ABOUT WANDERLUST: The photo series is a 60-day visual story-telling project that explores the seemingly ordinary places, people and things we experience everyday. It's about being curious and asking questions. It's about wanting to know more about the world around you and seeing it from fresh perspectives. If you have ideas on where I should wander, drop me a line: amyh@inlander.com. 

Generally my wanderings actively involve people; talking, listening, asking questions, and hearing stories.

There's another kind of wandering, however, that requires very few words or direct interaction, but is equally engaging and, at times, provides a much-needed change of pace. It's the kind that allows us to step back from the world and to view it from a distance. It highlights the importance of making time to observe.   

Parks are an amazing place to practice this skill, and lucky for us, Spokane is chock-full of them. They are for people and pets, playing, pondering, family and fun. They are a place where community gathers, and when watched carefully, they tell us a little something -- about who we are as a city and what it is that we seem to value.

 Who says family fitness isn't fun?  A father and son run their dog through Manito Park.

The sun casts shadows through the pines, providing a quiet retreat from the bustle of the city.

Although spring temperatures remain chilly, one family still bundles up for a picnic in the park.  

Mullan, Idaho, made national news last week when a section of the Lucky Friday silver mine caved in, stranding a miner and member of the Mullan community, Larry Marek. While signs of Marek have yet to be found, community and mining company efforts still continue vigorously.

I ventured through the Silver Valley to Mullan yesterday not in search of hard-hitting news but to search for signs of hope.

Signs posted at Mullan city limits report a population of only 840, and like many small towns, the people here are private and self-reliant. While the town's mining history runs deep, that's not the only thing that makes the place special. Residents of Mullan, it seems, have invested their mining dollars in a community center, bowling alley, indoor swimming pool and gymnasium, and made it their own. It's a source of pride and a place for community.

Like most small towns (and big cities for that matter too), there are favorite bars, daily routines, sign of progress, and also signs of despair. Residents of Mullan seem to love their town. It's not a place where people end up but a place where many have chosen to be.

I tried to tread lightly with my camera this week. When people have something they cherish, the instinct to protect it is fierce. My heart truly goes out to the family of Mr. Marek and to the entire community of Mullan.

Situated just a quarter-mile off 1-90, which runs through the panhandle of North Idaho, Mullan sees its fair share of travelers passing through each year. While most keep going, a few stay.

A signature M stands watch from the hillside over Mullan.

The Coyote Cafe is famous for serving guests good food, and more than they can eat. Despite the Grinch picture hanging above the line, Head Chef Michael (a Gonzaga alum and transplant to Mullan) is anything but grouchy.
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