Shoot the Moon, Et. Al.

I used to love to shoot the moon in pinochle.  

It was the ultimate, and whenever it worked seamlessly, twas just like hitting the sweet spot in tennis. 

BTW: I seldom did that during my dismal tennis career but managed to experience the feeling a few times. 

I haven't played pinochle for years, but last night and this morning when I could literally "shoot" the moon with my two cameras, some of those same exhilarating emotions came back. 

How lucky to be outside at the right time and maybe in the best place!  Of course, I always wish for a better camera in such times, but my phone and Canon did their best.

I think there was a lot of worldwide shooting the moon worldwide because it was such a spectacular phenomenon. 

Twas amazing last night in the east sky and equally inspiring in the west while I was pushing a cart filled with hay for the horses to the second pasture. 

I also felt like I'd figuratively shot the moon yesterday afternoon when the fun started off with our class reunion committee meeting.  

We paid bills, and we all told our great stories of the reunion, and there many, some very heart-warming. 

While we were meeting, Amy, who has faithfully served us through many meetings at DiLuna's Restaurant, told me that the people who owned a house in Ireland were in the restaurant. 

She has mentioned them before and she was anxious for me to meet them. 

"Where's the house?" I asked.  Later, when she came back to the table, she said County Kerry. 

That got our reunion committee member Kathy excited cuz County Kerry is where she knows of some of her Irish heritage. 

After the meeting, I sat down at what I guessed to be the table of the Irish homeowners.  Turns out it was, and it turned out to be a lively and fun conversation and mutual introduction.  

I finally learned all three names with their clues:  Dan the Man, Hannah Montana and Steve, the (I don't remember the clue but finally remembered "Steve"). 

During our visit, I learned about and saw photos of the house in County Kerry, which they have renovated over the past 30 years. "Before" and "after" were remarkable. 

After saying good bye to them, I ran some errands and then came home where I saw a text message from my classmate Dennis James.  

Since I'd been visiting for most of the afternoon, I thought, why not keep it up, so I called him. 

Dennis told me some fascinating and inspiring stories, and I told him some of my own from our time as kids in Sandpoint. 

There was a commonality of the stories:  both of us remembered George, the Milkman who wore striped bib overalls and delivered bottles of milk to people's doorsteps. 

Dennis and I may not have known each other when we were little, but we both had fond memories of George. 

Twas then that I, for about the one-millionth time, give or take a few, reflected on the thrill of growing up in a small and beautiful town called Sandpoint AND that we can still as oldtimers enjoy many aspects of what has been a lifetime love affair with our hometown. 

It's the stories, and it's the people, and I sure shot the moon yesterday with both of the aforementioned. 

No need for a good pinochle game when you've got Sandpoint. 

 

There's a big event coming up this Saturday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, and we, of course, are supporting our daughter-in-law and Bonner Community Food Bank executive director Debbie Love in the celebration. 

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from Sandpoint Living Magazine

Celebrate a milestone with the Bonner Community Food Bank at their 45th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser, happening Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 5-8 pm at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

This special evening will feature small plates from local restaurants, a silent and live auction, and a sample of beer or wine, along with access to a no-host bar—all included with your $45 ticket. Tables for 8 are available for $360. Seating is limited, so early reservations are encouraged.

For 45 years, the Bonner Community Food Bank has proudly served families across Bonner County, fueled by donations, volunteers, and community support. Open five days a week, the food bank serves nearly 3,000 people each month, providing vital resources to those in need.

Local donors, businesses, and organizations are invited to be part of this celebration by contributing monetary support or auction items to help continue the food bank’s mission. Vendors interested in participating can contact Debbie Love or Ana Kampe at 208.263.3663 or via email at debbie@bonnercommunityfoodbank.org or ana@bonnercommunityfoodbank.org.

Join in honoring this remarkable legacy and supporting the work that strengthens our community. For details, visit BonnerFoodBank.org.

Since I spent the afternoon gabbing yesterday, I'll be working overtime today to tackle fall and winterizing projects:  lots of cutting back on shrubs and weed eating and maybe some leaf pickup. 

Plenty to do, so will get at it. 

Have a great Tuesday. 

Monday Miscellany

 

A new chapter of fall opened this morning. 

Pretty amazing that we have not had a hard freeze until Oct. 6.  

We've had a few bites but nothing as dramatic as this morning's blast of coldness. 

I wore five layers outside on both of my trips. 

I also told Bill that Croc season may be ending. 

No need for open air opportunities for our tootsies.

Timing was pretty good too.  

Yesterday I pulled everything but carrots and a couple of purple cabbage from the garden areas. 

So, it can freeze all it wants.  I'm totally ready to haul off the dead stuff and put the gardens and flowers to bed for the winter. 

Speaking of which, my flowers on the deck side of the house usually enjoy protection from the cold until well into fall.

And, I'll probably still have to water them. 

With the freeze comes the need to feed hay both morning and night to the horses.  

For some reason frozen grass doesn't have much nutritional value, and I'm betting that it doesn't taste good either. 

They'll be heading to their winter boarding stables soon. 

                                          --Photo courtesy of Brendan Short. 

In other news, I learned this morning that my mother's cousin Bill Short from Chicago turned 101 today.  

He's a sweet man who is a proud WWII veteran and always a wealth of family knowledge.  

He still votes, and he even has participated in a protest this past year. 

Happy Birthday, Bill. You are an inspiration. 

 

We have our class reunion wrap-up meeting today.  

We'll be paying some bills and making some refunds for those who couldn't make it.

More than anything, though, it's going to be fun to hear everyone's observations and share stories about everyone's individual experiences at what was the most fun reunion we've had yet.  

And, of course, we'll try to plan a date for our next meeting, which won't be four years away and will be more for a fun get-together than anything. 

It's been a great group, and we want to keep the fun going as long as possible. 

Unlike the regular season, I have found it easy to settle into watching MLB baseball now that the post-season playoffs have started. 

It's even easier after the Seattle Mariners redeemed themselves last night by defeating the Detroit Tigers 3-2. 

It's neat to get to know the names of the players, even at this late date.  

I know I'm not a true fan, but I always loved playing baseball and tend to start paying attention when my teams are doing well at the end of the season or the end of a game. 

Sadly, the Seahawks lost yesterday in a thriller, but Seattle still has reason for pride as the Mariners continue through the play-offs and the Sounders won on Saturday. 

I bet folks in Seattle are stoked. 

Another gorgeous fall day to embrace, especially after it warms up a bit. 

Happy Monday. 

My friend and former teaching colleague Edna posted this on her Facebook feed. 

I don't know if it's being both a teacher and a mother, but as I watch the childlike behavior of our supposed leaders who are supposed to be positive role models for the younger generation, I worry. 

In fact, I worry more and more each day what kind of influence their behavior will have on our most precious and impressionable commodity, our youth. 

It would be nice if these "leaders" would stop and think for a moment about how all of the traits above are much more important in life than who wins.

Fortunately, at the lower echelons of the power structure are good, decent adults who still model good character and who lead by example for our kids.

Sunday Musings

 

"No one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need!

 

Human dignity must always come first!"

                                                                    

                                                                                   ---Pope Leo XIV

A nice Sunday-morning reminder . . . thank you, Pope Leo. 

Luke Mayville and Sue Self Scully, both positive Idaho forces.  

Two pretty cool people got together yesterday at a gathering to support Idaho public education and sent me a photo. 

Both are Sandpoint High graduates. 

Luke Mayville in 2003 and Susan Self Scully in 1976.

I've have admired both since their high school days and couldn't be more thrilled that they had a chance to meet each other. 

Sue is and always has been a dynamo.  

She served as Sandpoint High Ponderettes drill team captain and later went into education where she rose to the ranks of assistant principal.  She also received a statewide honor for her work in high school administration. 

Luke is pretty well known throughout the state as the co-founder of Reclaim Idaho. 

These days he's doing everything possible to generate more support for public education funding, including seeing that "not a dollar more" of public education funds goes to private school vouchers. 

Reclaim Idaho’s mission is to build an Idaho where government works for all Idahoans and not just those with the most money and political influence. This means building an Idaho where all have access to affordable healthcare, protected public lands, and strong public schools.

Anyway, I enjoyed seeing the photo pop up on my phone.  

Keep up the good work, Sue and Luke. 

Seattle is pretty, and Seattle is a big-time sports town this weekend. 

Soccer, football and baseball, i.e., Sounders, Seahawks, Mariners---they all have or will play at home this weekend. 

Annie's Sounders won last night, defeating the Portland Timbers. (Sorry, Kathy and Chad). 

Twasn't so good for the Mariners in their first play-off game against Detroit. The Tigers took the win in the 11th inning by a score of 3-2.  

Maybe their luck will be better today after the Seahawks play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1:05 PDT. 

The Mariners-Tigers game is scheduled for 5:03.  

So, lots of sports action in Seattle and the Northwest.  Let's hope for some wins today. 

Soon, we can add ZAGS to the area sports fun. 

After spending the morning taking a senior portrait, I did some farming yesterday afternoon with our Kubota.  

The horses have eaten down a side pasture which we have had sectioned off with portable electric fence. 

Since the grazing value is gone, the fence came down and the brush hog moved down the tall strands of grass. 

Now, little Foster has a big area alongside the lane where he can roam around sniffing for horse apples. 

Besides that advantage, the area looks nice and neat again. 

Lots of fall stuff to do to get ready for winter, but I must say that brush hogging is always one of my favorite projects. 

Fall on the farm with a tractor is A-OK. 

On these fall days, we not only have color exploding on the earth, but often we can look up toward the Heavens and behold it in the clouds. 

Love it.  

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Happy Sunday.