Monroe Street Bridge Spokane
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: #Bridges to Everywhere

Welcome back to Sunday Stills! This week we are exploring bridges.

Bridges Near Home

As someone who enjoys exploring and being around water, I’m pleasantly surprised to find such an abundance of picturesque bridges in the Spokane area and closer to home.

In downtown Spokane’s Riverfront Park, there are quite a few bridges that connect the downtown and span the Spokane River that winds through the entire downtown area.

Monroe Street Bridge Spokane
Monroe Street Bridge Spokane
Concrete Span over Spokane's Riverfront Park
Concrete Span over Spokane’s Riverfront Park

“A picture is nothing but a bridge between the soul of the artist and that of the spectator.”
~ Eugene Delacroix.

The Spokane River runs Westward then turns north and winds its way toward our area. Riverside State Park hosts a variety of sights to explore, but you have to cross a bridge or two. To appreciate this state park, we enjoy bringing visitors to the Bowl and Pitcher area…

… A view from the Charles Road Bridge…

Danger Sign at Charles Road Bridge

…yields this view of Nine Mile Falls at the height of spring snowmelt.

Nine Mile Falls in Jade

Views along the Centennial Trail that originate in Nine Mile Falls, include the Deep Creek Steel Bridge and a surprise beach area below…

Deep Creek Steel Bridge
Deep Creek Steel Bridge Centennial Trail

…and another surprise!

eyes painted under bridge
Who’s Watching You Under the Bridge?
Bowl and Pitcher Suspension bridge
Marsha walking the Bowl and Pitcher Bridge in Sept 2022

Bridging the Gap with Family

“Bridges symbolize change and flexibility! They show us this simple philosophy: When you are on one side, you can easily move to the other side!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Due to some unexpected circumstances surrounding my dad and stepmom, who (used to) live in the Northern California foothills, my brothers and I spent countless hours during the month of September preparing my father and stepmom to move out of state.

You might remember that last September, the Mosquito Fire engulfed most of their town near Foresthill, California in the fire-prone Sierra Nevada foothills. Their home was spared, but it was time to move them to safer living conditions and a more economical area.

For 17 years, my step-mom never wanted to move away from their home in the mountains. 2023 was too much for her with the fire burning most of the neighborhood in 2022, her feelings of isolation and overwhelm, 10 feet of snow last winter… and the list went on. She is the primary caregiver for my 87-year-old Dad who is suffering from changing levels of dementia. My family and I could not persuade her to move despite her inability to keep up the home.

But sometime this past summer, the lightbulb went on and she was ready to relocate.

“Until you cross the bridge of your insecurities, you can’t begin to explore your possibilities.”
~ Tim Fargo

Dad with New Bag
Dad is ready to pack!

My brothers and their families have all helped with this process as we list my Dad’s house and get them moved to Arizona.

Auburn, California’s Trestle Bridge officially welcomes visitors to the Gold Country. This was our last view of the gateway to the area where my Dad lived for 17 years.

Trestle Bridge Gateway to Auburn
Trestle Bridge Gateway to Auburn

During the third week of September, we moved them into a new rental home in Payson, Arizona, not far from family members living in the Scottsdale area. It’s a charming town completely set up to assist retirees and their special needs. The town of Payson sits at the base of the Mogollon Rim of central Arizona at 5,000 feet in elevation, surrounded by mountains, pine trees, and cooler temperatures. It even snows there. My parents feel quite at home.

“The view along the bridge is just as beautiful as the other side. Surrender to its beauty.”
― Jennifer Stannard

Lake in Payson Arizona

We drove two days from our home near Spokane, Washington, packed and loaded our parents’ belongings, and then caravaned with a car, a rental cargo van, and a truck pulling a cargo trailer. Who knows how many bridges we crossed? I drove the cargo van so I was unable to snap photos.

Maroon house with car
Parents’ Home in Payson

A native welcoming committee bridged the gap the second day we arrived at my parent’s new home. Two bull elk meandered down the street in front of the house. One stopped to graze on a twig across the street.

Bull Elk

Locals tell us there are huge herds of elk that roam the rural areas of Payson and they walk up the neighborhood streets without a care. The average male elk stands 5-6 feet at the shoulders with head and antlers reaching up to 9 feet tall! My parents were thrilled to see the elk. They had been used to seeing wildlife every day at their former home.

I think they might like it here.

“Decisions are like making a choice between which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.” ~ Frank Matobo

Sharing for Cee’s CWWC–bridges and Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes–Native

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

Due to family time and travel as we continue our road trip, I won’t be able to add your links to the round-up in this post while on the road, but I will read and comment on your posts from my phone (thank you, Jetpack App). Please visit your fellow bloggers’ links in the comments section.

Themes for October are ready to view on my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Page. This page is updated monthly. See you on October 1 as we explore FENCES!

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107 comments

  4. Wonderful post Terri! It’s not easy moving parents. At least they were willing participants. I’m sure you are now more at ease knowing they are in an environment suited for their needs. Great pictures also. Too bad we are stuck with wild turkeys; elk would be nice! Take care.

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  5. Fabulous news about your Dad and step-mom, Terri. We lived in Prescott Valley, AZ for a few years. Ron didn’t like the house (I did) but we ended up moving. It’s a great area. Where we were there was limited medical and you had to drive long distances for care. It wasn’t a smart move for us. Anyway, have a safe trip. Get everyone moved in and comfortable. 🧡 Happy Autumn. I love all the bridge photos.

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    • It seems to be a thing with our aging parents refusing to leave even when they know deep down its for the best. My stepmom couldn’t keep up with the payments and they were getting deeper in debt. We may not sell their house for much and they won’t get much $ due to several refinances. They are settling in. I think about you and your hubby moving while you were young enough to do it, like we did. I couldn’t imagine doing this at 70 or 80!

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      • His parents were very frugal, inherited some $$ and paid off their house very early. After his dad passed away, she continued to save all the money in all the accounts set up by her husband. We didn’t know until she passed away that she tugged away so much money and each of the six children got a handsome amount.
        In her last few years, she got confused. She needed help to maintain her medication. The siblings tricked her into moving into a memory care facility. She cried for a long time but finally settled in.
        I’m glad we moved when we still had the energy to do it and make the house our home. We have a half bath downstairs and are thinking of converting it into a 3/4 bath… so on and so forth to prepare for years down the road. Hopefully, none of us need to go to an assisted living. My daughter said she would take care of us. That’s comforting.

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      • Your family is blessed to have money to work with. All of us siblings have some $ and I have time to help. Dad and stepmom can barely speak by financially and we all helped. Sounds like you are wisely planning ahead. We also can age in place in our home. Hope to get to visit you one of these days. Have a fab week!

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      • I grew up poor. I was blessed with skills and got good jobs. As hard as it was, I worked one more year after cancer to get the most retirement benefits. We had a birthday party for my granddaughter who turns 6 in a few days.

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  8. That whole ordeal must have aged you Terri.
    Glad to hear you helped your father and step mother to cross the “bridge” to a safer place to live!
    Your step mother will have to get used to cooking times being different because of the elevation.

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  13. What a great post, Terri. Your bridges are lovely, and the story you have told to go with it brings them all to life. You definitely have a talent for weaving stories around the challenges. They are always compelling, but this one may be the best because of all the people involved in it. Everyone has to answer how to help their parents best. Eventually, everyone has to trust that someone will help them when they need it. I love the native elk. Good tapestry, my friend. You are amazing. 🙂

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  15. No doubt the sight of that bull elk meandering down the street helped ease them into their new home. I’m sure it has been an exhausting whirlwind of a trip for you and Hans. Hope you enjoy a beautiful fall with lots of photo snapping.

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  17. Wow, Spokane does have wonderful bridges to admire. I’m so happy to read that the move went well and they are enjoying their new place. It must be a relief to you knowing that is the case. Safe travels to you as you head home. Thanks for taking time to host a challenge for us while you’re traveling!! 🤗😊🥰

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    • Aww thank you, Donna. That means a lot considering what we’ve been through. They seem very happy in their new home and are actually excited about life again, especially my dad. I appreciate your kind words and hope Richard is recovering nicely.

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  20. That was one BIG Bridge update…I so hope your parents feel settled. It takes time and they are fortunate to have family caring so much for and about them. Not realising last week wasn’t the challenge, I posted on my blog, and here it is. Take care, T, you too are managing quite the load there! https://www.denysewhelan.com.au/denyse-blogs/memories-of-bridges-sundaystills-70-2023/

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    • Thank you, Debbie! Glad to back in the blogosphere this week. Seeing wildlife walking around is always a treat. It was my first elk sighting so I was thrilled! I’m sure you’ve seeing the kangaroos and other amazing Australian wildlife in your area too. Have a great week!

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  24. Moving is such a task and well done for you and the family doing the job. I am glad your stepmother decided that moving was best. I am yet to have the discussion with my daughters about what to do with me 🙄 and all of my stuff. I am gradually sorting and throwing things away. As a recycler, reuser and repurposer I find it difficult to throw things into landfill. I don’t have a garbage service so it takes some thought. I should get another mini skip and have a family “let’s toss stuff in the skip” party.
    I have a pile of stuff to take to the Op-shops as well so someone else can enjoy some of my “treasures”
    Sorry for rabbiting on 😁

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    • It was a lot of work, Brian, but it was critical to move Dad and L to a better location. Payson is a small town with stores and amenities within a mile rather than 20-50 miles away. They’re closer to the rest of the family which is much better.
      At least you repurpose and recycle. My stepmom just doesn’t throw anything away. Hoarders believe everything has a future purpose or worth $. Serious OCD condition. At least you have intention and purpose with your stuff. Toss stuff in the skiff sounds fun 🤣

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      • I guess your paddle boarding snuck in with a skiff Terri 😁 Yes, I had a bit of a task to cear a bit of space here as my ex was a bit of a hoarder. Trying to have a second hand furniture and bric-a-brak shop, I was always cleaning and clearing as she was always going and finding stuff. I banned on anything coming home unless I was going to try and fix it.
        I hoard a little with a few things “that will come in handy one day” and 95% of the time it has come in handy as you can’t get a lot of parts and quality now-a-days 🙂

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  27. I’m glad the move went well, Terri. I always think of Arizona as HOT and with desert landscapes exclusively, forgetting that there are pockets where it is cooler and lush. It sounds like this move is the perfect decision for your father and stepmom. I know that you’ll be happier knowing that they are close to family.

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    • Thank you, Janis! The move went well, we as a family spent quite a bit of $ of our own helping them. It was worth it. We finally got to have a bit of a vacation in the Scottsdale area and it’s pretty warm. Back to cooler weather as we head home Monday.

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    • Thank you, Suzanne! There was a lot of stress before and during the move, but we’re relieved this part is over. We were glad to have the time and resources to help them even if it meant 5 days of travel to and from our own home. Hopefully you didn’t have to deal with a hoarder 🙄

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      • Hi Terri, when we went through my MIL’s house to choose a few things for the new place I remember saying to Malcolm how glad I was she wasn’t a hoarder. It was stressful, nevertheless considering we had to make two moves within a week. Maybe I’ll find the words to write about that soon. We are still processing. Get the rest you deserve and know that you have done your best.

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      • Thank you, Suzanne. Your words mean a lot. Deep down we know all is well for now. I’m glad we had the time to be able to do this. That helped a lot with the stress. To give you a sneak peek…my stepmom was so insistent, she sat for two days in her front seat with a canary and its cage on her lap while my brother drove her car. 3 cats in crates in the backseat. 🤣

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  41. I’m delighted to hear the move went well and that your dad and stepmum are now in their new home, Terri. It sounds like a beautiful place to live for retirees. You said it snows there, too, and made me instantly like it. And what a great site to see with the wildlife while looking out the window.

    The water running under all those bridges in the Spokane area looks so refreshing, especially after the snow melt. I loved the artwork, although those eyes seem to follow you everywhere you go. The cable car ride over the river must be fantastic to do.

    Glad it all went well. My entry will be in tomorrow’s Wordless Wednesday post.

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    • Thank you, Hugh! I don’t mind road trips but this was a whole new level in planning logistics for the move. We met the goal, got Dad moved and closer to family. Payson is in such a beautiful area of north central Arizona. If we weren’t so exhausted from dealing with details, we would have stopped over for another day to the north rim of the Grand Canyon or tour Antelope Canyon near Page. Next time! Look forward to seeing tomorrow’s post. We arrive home late afternoon Wednesday.

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  43. Terri, I’m glad your folks survived the move and it sounds like they are in good hands in the neighborhood and with family close by. The elk meandering down the street would be fun to see. You’d always want to be carrying a camera around with you. The bridges are beautiful in this post as well.

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  49. I love your photos of bridges, and more. They’re always so wonderful, and I enjoy your unique perspectives. Also since I’ve been rather dormant in the blogosphere for a while now, I wasn’t away of the situation with your dad and step-mom or their fires in the foothills. That’s always difficult dealing with parental aging, but it sounds like they are settled now. My sister-in-law and husband finally moved out of Truckee earlier this year to Chickamauga, Georgia; it’s near where her daughters also moved from Walnut Creek and San Rafael. Lots of changes…

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  50. How often, O, how often,
    In the days that had gone by,
    I had stood on that bridge at midnight
    And gazed on that wave and sky!

    -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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