I seem to be in a Northwest frame of mind these past few days.

One of my favorite GUR classes in college was Geology, so, when I saw Cascadia: the Geologic Evolution of the Pacific Northwest by Bates McKee on the shelf of the bookstore I didn't think twice, I bought it! Filled with pictures, maps, graphs as well as interesting text, if it wasn't used as a text book, it should have been.

Even though I'm pretty sure you can no longer find glass floats on a beach, I still read (and enjoyed) Beachcombing for Japanese Glass Floats by Amos L. Wood. There's the history of glass floats (there are many styles), how they ended up on Washington beaches, where they were found and the best times and ways to search for them. Sort of a 'blast from the past' read. :-)

I've always enjoyed learning how something is named (person, dog, town) so Washington State Place Names by James W. Phillips is one of my most favorite and oft used books. An excellent book just to browse, look up where you live, the names you see as you drive down the freeway .... and be sure to look up Pysht.

Art of the State: Washington: the Spirit of America is one of a series of books about art that is unique to a specific state. At some point there should be one for each state. (I'm sure glad they didn't publish them in alphabetical order!) I like that 'art' is given a very broad definition here so everything from folk art, to photography, gardens, totem poles, dance and literature are included.

This is the sort of book that just might need to go to my Ohio relatives. It's a quirky, silly (and some times serious) journey that will entertain even a non-resident. You Know You're in Washington When ... 101 Quintessential Places, People, Events, Customs, Lingo, and Eats of the Evergreen State by Sharon Wootton and Maggie Savage is also part of a series about various states.

And, for some fun on some in-state road trips, try Washington Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff by Harriet Baskas or Turning Down the Sound: Travel Escapes in Washington's Small Towns by Foster Church. Curiosities features many of the strange and yes, quirky things found within the borders of the Evergreen State. There's the giant ginseng root, a nutcracker museum, cranberry bogs, and the second largest Frisbee collection.

Turning Down the Sound is an enjoyable travel book highlighting many of the small towns that are usually passed by, or through, on the way to somewhere else. There's a history and points of interest for each of the towns as well as where to stay and the best place to eat. I would have enjoyed more pictures, but this was a fun read.

Reading Hermit With Dog