Weekend Wrap

Another Memorial Day weekend is in the books. 

For Bill and me, it was a great weekend. 

For others, not so good. 

My heart goes out to the victims who died and to those who were injured in a head-on vehicle accident south of Sandpoint yesterday afternoon. 

I'm sure most of the community is hurting today, thinking about this loss, which touches many layers. 

So sad for all involved, and hoping for the families associated with both vehicles to feel the love and caring that are such key ingredients to this community. 

As one who experienced just that kind of outpouring when our house burned down more than 40 years ago, I know firsthand how helpful community support is both financially and emotionally. 

I see that a GoFundMe has been established at the following link. Pass it on. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-memory-of-coy-josh-after-tragic-car-crash

On a different topic, Bill brought home some forest-fire protection yesterday. 

He always goes to the North 40 bag sales, but I don't think he was able to put this tank and its accessories in a bag. 

With all of his forestry background, which includes serving on wildland fire teams and as a former Boy Scout, he likes to be prepared. 

~~~~~

 

 I saw the suggestion below this morning and thought, "How true!"  

One time my chivalrous hubby Bill walked my pocket knife back to the car in the parking garage when we were passing through TSA inspection at Spokane Airport. 

 Consider adding a pocketknife or multitool to your everyday carry. It's quite a lifestyle.  

Just don’t forget to leave it home when you go to the airport or a hockey game.

I can tell you from my own experiences that once you carry a pocket knife, you miss it when it's not available in your pocket. 

Yesterday was a "mow the whole lawn and then some" day. 

The "then some" includes a pathway across our hay field. It's already a beaten-down path, but tall grass has been growing, and when I take the dogs out early in the morning, I like to walk across the hay field without getting my shoes wet. 

So, the lawnmower and I went for a pleasant afternoon trip across the field.

We actually do the same most years with the brush hog, but knowing the lawnmower could do the job too made my day.  

This morning, my shoes were relatively dry after that first morning walk. 

We received some rain overnight, so Bill won't have to use his portable water tank today, and I've heard that more is coming. 

Whenever there's a break in having to drag hoses around, I don't complain. 

So, let it rain.  

Wishing the best to all on this Tuesday.

  

A Day for Remembering

 

Ode for Memorial Day

Done are the toils and the wearisome marches,

Done is the summons of bugle and drum.

Softly and sweetly the sky overarches,

Shelt’ring a land where Rebellion is dumb.

Dark were the days of the country’s derangement,

Sad were the hours when the conflict was on,

But through the gloom of fraternal estrangement

God sent his light, and we welcome the dawn.

O’er the expanse of our mighty dominions,

Sweeping away to the uttermost parts,

Peace, the wide-flying, on untiring pinions,

Bringeth her message of joy to our hearts.

Ah, but this joy which our minds cannot measure,

What did it cost for our fathers to gain!

Bought at the price of the heart’s dearest treasure,

Born out of travail and sorrow and pain;

Born in the battle where fleet Death was flying,

Slaying with sabre-stroke bloody and fell;

Born where the heroes and martyrs were dying,

Torn by the fury of bullet and shell.

Ah, but the day is past; silent the rattle,

And the confusion that followed the fight.

Peace to the heroes who died in the battle,

Martyrs to truth and the crowning of Right!

Out of the blood of a conflict fraternal,

Out of the dust and dimness of death,

Burst into blossoms of glory eternal

Flowers that sweeten the world with the breath.

Flowers of charity, peace, and devotion

Bloom in the hearts that are empty of strife;

Love that is boundless and broad as the ocean

Leaps into beauty and fullness of life.

So, with the singing of paeans and chorals,

And with the flag flashing high in the sun,

Place on the graves of our heroes the laurels

Which their unfaltering valor has won!

Paul Lawrence Dunbar -- 1896

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

A few memories from yesterday on our adventure to Hall Mountain.

 

We went looking for a carpet of wildflowers on a vast hillside overlooking the Kootenai Valley, but the dominant lupine have not bloomed yet.

 

Glacial lilies were putting on a show as were other varieties.

 

The big mountain color show will improve when the wild lupine pop out.

 

Though we were a little early for the wildflower show, the valley below, with it's meticulously prepared farm fields,  the meandering Kootenai River and surrounding snow-capped mountains offered a splendid view of Idaho, Montana and Canada. 

The best part:  we had it ALL to ourselves.  We met one car going up when we were coming down. 

It's a spectacular place and definitely one which inspires and reminds us of the magnificence and joy of life, simple gifts and of special memories in a natural world. 

From the monuments we saw, it's obvious someone else feels the same. 

Enjoy the music, the photos and memories of those who have gone before you. 

 

Essence of Memorial Weekend

 

The lawn still looked presentable, a little rough around the edges but not quite ready to be mowed again. 

My sister Laurie and I had enjoyed a nice visit while taking home-picked flowers and placing them at family graves in the two cemeteries.  

Mother and Harold are buried at Pack River Cemetery, while our sister Jeanne Marie, who died at about two months of age in 1950 is buried at Pinecrest.

With this solemn task completed and with more than half the day left, I asked Bill if he wanted to go for a drive. 

"Where do you want to go?" he asked, then suggesting Boulder Meadows. 

Too many mosquitoes, I said.

It took me a while to decide where I wanted to go, but after throwing some hay to the horses an idea came to mind. 

I suggested that we drive a portion of the high drive which goes through the mountains along Lake Pend Oreille south of Clark Fork.

We hadn't taken that road in at least 15 years. There was a time back in the '70s when my friend Chris and I drove the route and other roads all around the lake twice weekly.  

We put out traffic counters for the Forest Service Engineers and conducted two-day traffic surveys at Johnson Creek near Clark Fork and on Bunco Road on the south end of the lake. 

We knew the roads very well, but I must say that a 15-year break has allowed significant tree and vegetation growth.  

Most dramatic for us was driving to the vista, on a side road about four miles up the road,  which overlooks the lake to the west and the south along the Green Monarchs. 

A travel trailer was parked in the official vista itself, and trees have grown tall, blocking some of the wide-open dramatic view of the lake we used to enjoy. 

Some areas still allow an abbreviated view so we enjoyed the moment but not the mosquitoes.  They were pretty thick, and I wasted no time breaking down and showering myself with spray. 

We passed by the ultimate of Memorial Day recreation while on that trip---, busy convenience stores with bags of ice and beverages purchased, boats on the river, 4-wheelers aplenty, travel trailers, motorcycles, pickups with campers and tent camps.

Like us, most folks brought their dogs along for the fun.  In one case, we chuckled as a 4-wheeler passed us.  

In the passenger seat, a little dog sat in a lady's lap while a small trailer behind carried a doggie crate with its canine inhabitant having to tolerate the dust blowing up from the mountain road.

With the delightful weather, overall, it was a perfect day for summer to begin, and peeps took advantage.  

Bill and I called the five-hour our brief staycation, and we enjoyed it so much that we're thinking of using another segment of this Sunday to drive to a spot with a big, wide view and, if we're lucky, a hillside of alive with magnificent wildflowers.  

It should be fun.  

So far, this weekend has offered  both solemnity and a summerlike sense of escape and freedom. 

Hope everyone else is enjoying the weekend also. 

Happy Sunday.