Remembering Annie Dog

This is how I'd like to remember Annie Dog.

The ol' gal loved kids, and kids loved her.

We said good bye to Annie Dog yesterday.

It was not easy.

Annie's expressions could make your heart melt any time.

My last look at her was one of those.

I could not look again.

Bill took on the difficult task of taking Annie for her last ride.

He told me yesterday afternoon it was not easy for him.

Annie Dog would have been 16 in June, pretty darned old for a Yellow Lab.

Annie's heart did not give out.  Her hips did.

When she could no longer get up on her own, we reluctantly decided it was time.

All the reasons in the world pointing to why "it's time" do not overshadow the difficulty of saying good bye to a beloved member of the family.

Annie came to us when she was 3.  Terri Farmin Cochran, one of our "outlaws," called my mother several years ago and said she had a dog that needed a home in the country.

Mother called me.  I went into town, saw Annie and brought her home.

I must be honest in saying, that at times Annie drove me nuts.  Shortly after she moved in with us, she chewed all the cords to my computer.

In her later years, she uttered a continuous "demented bark" while standing on her couch facing the wall in the garage.  

We never figured out what she was barking at, but she could do it for hours.

I also called her "Stalker Dog" cuz those last years I was her "person."  She circled the house continuously, it seemed, looking for me.  

The minute I went out the door, there was Annie.

Annie got over those two habits during the past few months.  

Sadly, she had to stay in the barn at night because of her old-age incontinence.

She hated going to the barn every afternoon cuz she never wanted to miss out on anything going on with the rest of the family.

Annie Dog taught me a lot about patience and even more about old age and understanding.

She also led a good life in the cozy barn during the last couple of years.

Her friend Fuzzy Wuzzy, the old kitty,  cuddled up with her every night.  And, her new friend Jonas, the Siamese, came to greet her every day.

Annie loved her horses, and she was the only dog that could get away with going into the pasture.  

The horses respected her, and if they got too frisky around her, she'd just let out a stern bark and they'd back off.

Most of all, Annie loved any kid that came on the place.  I remember a day when my former student Angela brought her 6-year-old son.  After a couple of hours, the young boy and the old dog were best of friends.

Annie Dog also loved to swim, and one of her best buddies, Annie Love, would often load her up and take her out to Trestle Creek on summer afternoons.  Definitely a good memory for our daughter. 

This morning when I went to the barn, Annie's dish was still there, filled with Atta Boy.

I don't know how long the Atta Boy will stay there with those other four hungry dogs, but I'll leave the dish.  It will serve as  a reminder of the moment each day in Annie's morning routine when she'd go outside to do her duty and then return to have her breakfast, always keeping track of me as I cleaned stalls.  

Every morning she waited until I was done with my chores, and then she'd leave the barn with me for the day.  

Most recently, her life involved a lot of sleeping but always a good attitude during her waking hours. 

We will all truly miss Annie Dog who actually returned close to her roots when we moved out here six years ago.  She was born at the Chambers ranch just a few miles away.

I have a feeling Kiwi will really miss her.  

That feeling became clearer this morning when I had a helper at my side throughout chore time.

Big Sis is gone, so little Sis has stepped in to keep track of Mom Love.  

~~~RIP Annie Dog~~~

 

Covering the Candidate

Lights! Candidate! Action!

I had a chance to play roving freelance photographer yesterday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul came to town.
He visited our old neighbors, Quest Aircraft Co. and spoke at a noon rally. 

Along with Rep. Paul came the media.

Some represented Spokane television stations.

The highlight of my day, as a journalist, was shaking hands with Cole Heath from Krem 2 News.  He's the handsome young guy in the white shirt and tie.

I told Cole that I enjoy his reports from North Idaho---always meticulous, informative and professionally presented. 

In addition to various forms of media, an estimated 1,200 spectators, many avid Ron Paul supporters filled the main exhibit hall.  At least a few,  like me,  who like to witness newsworthy local history, regardless of the political party represented added to the crowd.
  Not too many Presidential hopefuls show up in Sandpoint, so the event was significant. 

I enjoyed the people watching and visiting with several friends, some of whom came to see, hear and support their candidate.

The event was well organized and on time.  
Of course, Rep. Paul had to be in Moscow by 3 p.m., so it was important that he start speaking at high noon.

I also enjoyed the media presence, which included four members of the Sandpoint High School Cedar Post staff.  Yay, Willie!

What a great opportunity for these young reporters and photographers to play a part and practice their skills in a major national news story of the day!

It will be interesting to see their take on the political rally. 

I listened to a portion of the speech but must admit, that I've heard it several times before on television coverage.  
I'm sure the same is true for all Presidential candidates who make daily appearances in community after community across the country. 

It was a fun experience, and I enjoyed the freedom to take photos wherever I wished. 

That may not be the case with some candidates who may require tighter security.

Sandpoint was good to Ron Paul, and Ron Paul's appearance added a touch of excitement to an otherwise wet and dreary day.

It will be fun, as usual, to see how today's  primary elections and caucuses play out.

I know that my son and his Cedar Post staff are excited about this evening's caucus at Sandpoint High School.

They get to sell muffins and coffee at the event to raise funds for their trip to the national journalism convention in Seattle next month. 

So, Republicans, eat up down there at the caucus!
Support those young journalists!

Snow dogs and the Upper Pack

This is Adam.  I've had the pleasure of watching him grow up over the past six years.  

His grandpa, also my classmate Gary, lives just up the road from us.  His dad Rex was one of my students at Sandpoint High.

I've known his family forever, it seems, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all my encounters with Adam, whether it be meeting him on his bike while on a horseback ride, watching him buck bales for my sisters or even on one of his family snowmobile jaunts.

That's where Bill and I saw Adam yesterday.  He was the first of several snowmobilers to come down the Upper Pack River Road.  

They had met with others up at Roman Nose for a barbecue.  I understand my old friend Pat Gunter brought the eats.  

Knowing Pat, they had a great time up on the mountain.

We visited with Adam for a few minutes and then with the rest of his family and friends as we walked with the dogs two miles up and two miles down from the snowmobile unloading lot. 

It was nice to see deep snow and even better, knowing we were leaving it to go home.  It was clean, pretty and picturesque.  

The snow also created some fun for the dogs who loved crawling up the high banks and looking at us eye to eye.  That's how deep the snow was.

Believe me, when you've got to go for a potty break, there's planning involved when the snow's that deep.  I got high-centered once, but managed to crawl my way toward a tree well, which served as a good "out" house.

We enjoyed our walk and especially enjoyed the marshmallow-cream boulders in the river.

Then, we came home and made our way through melting snow and ever-increasing mud to the house.

We figure that we hit the Upper Pack River area at a good time cuz with this week's warm temperature, they're gonna see a lot more mud and water than we do.

And, so late winter MARCHES on, as do the basketball players who hope to dance late next week.

GO ZAGS tonight against St. Mary's.  You played a phenomenal game Saturday night.  Let's make it two in a row.

Happy Monday.

Memories and Mud

On this day last year, Annie and I were arriving in Dublin, Ireland, renting a car and driving across the Irish countryside.  

On this day, I kissed the Blarney Stone, toured the Rock of Cashil (home territory for St. Patrick),  and I took the most welcome bath ever in Killarney.

That was at the end of our marathon day which began at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, actually the day before. 

One year later, I still say, "Thanks for the memories, Annie.  It was the trip of a lifetime."

One aspect of the day that I'll never forget is walking in green grass in my crocs.

I'd left home the day before, saying good bye to two feet of snow in the driveway, figuring that when I returned almost two weeks later, most of that snow would be gone.

When I returned two weeks later, we still had two feet of snow in the driveway. 

Lotta good that trip did to help move spring along in North Idaho.

We know better here, just as this last week has proven with snow, snow, snow.

Now, it has warmed up, and we're about to embark on the most hated time of the year for us yearners of an eternal spring, summer and fall.  

Mud season has arrived, thanks to warmer temperatures and a fairly active meltdown overnight. 

Just as I have good memories of my escape to our family homeland this time last year, I heard my sister saying last night she'd like to be back in San Francisco where she visited at this same time a year ago.

Fortunately, those memories do help distract us from the reality each time we walk outside and find the mud spreading much like that red blob in the 1950s movie. 

I can vividly recall so many moments spent sitting around the kitchen table at our North Boyer home when my dad would start his annual threat that he was gonna move back to Montana where it was much dryer.

Mud season always brought that on for Harold as the barnyard and the stock pens turned into masses of deep ooze with each wet spring day. 

The cows, horses and the humans faced daily challenges of just how they could get from one important place to another. 

At our place and at our farm on Great Northern Road, we often endured weeks of forging a way to the barns, water troughs, etc. without sinking in so deep that the mud would pour itself into the tops of our boots. 

Our strategy resembled a primitive form of dance.  

I can recall no worse moment than the many times of taking a step only to have my foot,  with sock barely hanging on,  come completely out of my boot.  

The weary boot had just given up.  

No more, it seemed to say as it remained stuck to the surface deep within a thick mass of manure, sand, straw and whatever else got mixed up in the barnyard dirt.

The next challenge was to maintain a stance with the one free foot while pulling the sock top back over my heel, aim for the boot and hope the foot went back inside. 

This was not easy, but the fear of falling face first into the slop kept me focused.

Occasionally, desperation brought on by frustration caused the planted boot to just stay stuck in the mud, as I would bite the bullet and move onward with only a sock to protect me from the yuck. 

Such scenes prevailed during the worst of the mud seasons, along with a litany of unspeakable expletives. 

We all hated mud season for many reasons, but we also had one good reason to reserve a few positive attitudes toward the annual stuck-and-yuck muck days.

Mud vacation!

Our school district at the time was so spread out and so rural and connected by so many dirt roads that mud vacation was inevitable almost every year. 

Oh, we loved mud vacation.  Sometimes these gifts from God and Mother Nature would last as long as a week or two. 

We were in Heaven, as long as we could find someplace besides our barnyard to spend our time during those welcome days away from school.

In our case, we'd often go to high ground on the mountains beneath Schweitzer where we had found some caves. 

Yup, lots of vivid memories associated with mud, including my brain storm several years ago that if you can't beat it, join it.  

A couple of years during my teaching career at the height of mud season, we Love's hosted the Mud Olympics at our farm.

Our conditions were perfect for mud tugs, a mud football game, mud relays and mud flings.

Every time I think back on those events, one image comes to mind:  a student body president named Hoyt Bonar holding onto a future student body president named Willie Love.  
Hoyt held my son up by his feet and dangled him head first into the mud.  

Willie loved it.

Each year, the teacher in me saw to it that all contingencies were considered to save the inside of the house after competitors had ended their games and celebrated with a feast.

Girls changed in the bunkhouse, while boys changed in the barn.  Towels and wash cloths were provided.

And, now many years later, I'm still trying to figure out contingencies for keeping my house relatively clean during the next few weeks.  Doggies, once they go outside, will have to stay outside.  

A towel, for wiping feet will go down next to the entrance to the laundry room.

There's no way to avoid it, and I'm sure there will be a few expletives as the thaw continues and the mud deepens. 

So, on this day when I've already tracked in some morning mud, I just think of good times  in Ireland and in Palm Springs and green grass.

Some day we'll have that here in North Idaho, but we also know that mud cometh before the grass. 

Happy Sunday. 

Saturday Slight

Doug Miller snapped this shot of the Mt. St. Helens ash cloud from a back yard in Ephrata, WA on May 18, 1980.  A few months later, we were all proud to learn that Doug's photo appeared on the cover of National Geographic.

I have the magazine tucked away somewhere among our many collectibles.  It will always stay in the family because of the significance of the event and because of Doug.

As with all of our extended family, I was saddened to learn last Saturday while driving to Las Vegas that Doug had died due to complications from surgery.

Doug was married to my cousin Madalyn.  

He was Ephrata's town photographer who captured the special life moments for families within his town and the surrounding area---Baptisms, graduations, proms, weddings, family reunions.

Yes, I remember a few years ago when Doug organized the Brown family photo which hangs on the wall next to me.  Many of us had attended the family reunion at a recreational area near Ephrata.

And, we had a blast with all the aunts, uncles and cousins.

That was the last time I saw Doug.

Besides being a gifted photographer, he was a family man, father of four wonderful children and devoted husband to Madalyn.

From what I know the two worked as a team when Doug had his photography business.

Doug and Madalyn came to Sandpoint for visits a few times over the years, and I know our local family members all loved him just as much as Madalyn.  He was a laid-back, nice guy.

Madalyn and Doug, along with the rest of the Walthos, experienced a sad family transition just over a month ago when the family patriarch George Waltho passed away.

So, the sting of Doug's passing is all the more painful.

My heart goes out to the wonderful Walthos and to Doug's family at this time.  

Doug Miller was a good man, and a phenomenal photographer who shall be missed.

~~~~~

The big Sandpoint news this morning is that Presidential candidate Ron Paul will be coming to town Monday for a townhall meeting at the fairgrounds. 

I do not share his politics, but I know that a lot of folks around here do.  It should be quite a turn-out for the consummate but optimistic underdog in the Republican primary.

Plus, not too many Presidential candidates show up in Sandpoint, so there's a little history to be told too.

I may go take pictures.

Two big-time Republican names in less than a week, i.e., Dan Quayle and Ron Paul.  That's pretty significant.

I still maintain that strong desire on my bucket list to some day actually see a real live President.  I've seen some wax models, but that's just not the same.

~~~~~

The weather forecast says we're gonna have a nice week ahead---high 40s and no rain after today.  Maybe all this snow will be gone by the time we turn our clocks forward next Saturday.  

It's actually kinda neat each morning before 6 to come up for air during my first-cup-of-coffee computer sessions and see daylight out the window.  

We'll lose some of that early daylight next week but we'll be happy to enjoy late afternoons and early evenings outside. 

~~~~~

I'm reading three books at different intervals right now---still Steve Jobs (it's a fat one), The Help, which my friend Mow loaned me, and another which I discovered at Palm Springs Airport Tuesday. 

I told Bill it would be difficult to get anything done now that I've started reading Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne.  It's an historical narrative of Quanah Parker, a powerful Comanche warrier. 

Definitely a compelling and informative historical read so far.

~~~~~

Well, it's hard not to conclude with a little ZAGS talk this morning.  As expected, the ZAGS will take on BYU tonight at 8 at the WCC tournament in Las Vegas.

Word is they'll make it to the dance regardless, but there's pride at stake, and all of us ZAGS fans are hoping they'll make it to the dance via the WCC tournament championship.

Should be some great basketball tonight.  GO ZAGS!!

Happy Saturday to all. 
 

Zap Day with Zavala

I'm hoping I wrote the check correctly this time.  

My newest hairdresser, Sally, commented on my last visit that the bank HAS BEEN cashing all my checks written to her in spite of the fact that I had assigned her a new last name when she started doing my hair last summer. 

Funny thing is I know Sally too.  Just had her last name wrong.

It's probably a Freudian thing since she's the third in a line of zappers.  

Joyce started me out several years ago at the Hair Hut that summer day when my sister Laurie looked at my graying head and  said, "Marianne, it's time." 

When Joyce died a couple of years ago, Kelly, her partner, took over.

Then, Kelly up and retired on me last May.

She assured me that the new lady who would be taking her place did a nice weave (whatever that is, I thought).   

Turns out I had known Sally at Sandpoint High School as Sally McLaughlin.

Since those days in the '80s, though, Sally had met Joey and married him.

I never really cued in to her married name cuz she was just Sally to me.  

The checks, up until today's,  have been assigned to Sally ZAPata.

Surely a lady who zaps your hair could be named ZAPata, right?

Well, not.

I think it's Zavala, and I'll find out for sure today after my latest ZAP. 

Sally's been trying to get me to do one of her spray-on tans which involves taking far too many clothes off IN FRONT OF SOMEONE ELSE. 

I don't do that.

Sally says if I don't take a bath for a while the tan can last two weeks.

I may be a klutzy farm girl who plays in the dirt, but I do take a bath every single day---with nobody looking, of course.

My cousins still haven't forgiven me for adamantly refusing their kind offer to purchase a massage session as a gift for my 60th birthday.

No way, I said.  I'm just too modest.

I'm one of those hyper modest souls who went skinny dipping once at midnight with a bunch of friends and blushed the whole time, knowing someone was surely looking at me.

Never went skinny dipping again.

So, when Sally asks me again today if she can give me a spray-on tan, she knows the answer in advance.  No harm in trying, I guess.

Anyway, today is Zap Day, and on this first Friday in March, there are hints that we may be past the worst of this week's winter blast.

CHEEEEEEEEZEburger birds were serenading from all corners of the Lovestead this morning.  I told Bill that was a sure sign that spring, at least, wants to come.

No new snow overnight, just a crispy-looking landscape with frost on all the trees and shrubs and a slight crunch to the snow as I walked briskly to the barn.

The lane made for nice walking after being cleaned out from yesterday's plowing (I even got the tractor stuck after amassing too big a pile of thick, gluey snow with the blade).  

After turning around to head back to the barn this morning, I wished that I had brought the camera.

Old Annie Dog limping along side by side with Jonas cat---it cut quite a scene of a couple of unlikely pals coming to join in on the morning stroll.  

Annie was enjoying herself so much, I turned around and walked the lane again.  On the next turnaround point, the herd had grown.  

Half the Lovestead menagerie was coming my way, with Kea focusing on Jonas and Kiwi just joining the crowd.   

For Lovestead patrol dog Kea, Jonas simply added a new task to her herding chores.

Great scene, to say the least.

As I type, Bill is sitting downstairs calling up commentary on the two doves that landed on  bird feeder post.

"Both are eating at the feeder now," he just told me.

Looks like my camera has missed out on some good stuff this morning.  

Darn.

The day is young, though,  and I'm sure many great images will unfold with every hour.  That's just how it is here on this place.  So, I don't think I'll run short of opportunities to snap some photos. 

I'll leave you with a couple of shots taken Wednesday when a brilliant sun came out after our morning blizzard. 

Happy Friday to all.

PHaD

When I made the comment that the overnight snow pack this morning was the deepest of the winter, Bill said, "Yeah, while you've been here." 

Then I remembered his report of 16 inches on Saturday night.

"That means we've had about two feet in the past few days," I said.

"Yup," he said.

Welcome to March when the snow in North Idaho is "Piled Higher and Deeper" than it's been all winter.  Hence, PHaD.

I can't even imagine what the PHaD report is up at Schweitzer.  All I know is that their ear-to-ear grins must be extending clear around the staff's necks.

More snow and the revelation yesterday that Schweitzer Mountain Resort was listed by CNN as one of the most underrated ski resorts IN THE WORLD.  Not the West, not the United States, not North America . . . but the WORLD.

So this morning's overnight deposit of white, fluffy flakes just adds more frosting to the cake. 

As I continue to research my article about Sam Wormington, Schweitzer's first manager back in 1963, all I've got to say is "Who da thunk it way back when?"  

Congratulations to all the people along the way who have developed one of our local jewels into what it is today. 

Sam must be smiling.

A good night's sleep.  Now, that was needed and that was nice.  I think I'd drifted into Never Neverland by 8:05 last night, and I slept straight through the night.

With several nights in the last week averaging 3-4 hours of sleep, I think my body had said, "Enough."

So, this new day in this new month looks just fine.  I can deal with the snow because several indoor projects will get attention----one of them: planting tomato seed. 

Bill did a nice job keeping my baby geraniums flourishing in my absence.  The plants have a mini geranium look now, and they seem to be well on their way to maturing enough by May to transplant around the place---all 26 of them.

I have a few more seeds left and will plant them today also. 

With a clearer brain this morning, I've been thinking of the fun moments on our action-packed trip. 

Probably the highlight was the chance meeting with Samantha who bought our breakfast at Panera.  I have promised her a set of my books and am hoping she will check back with me somehow.

Sunday morning I found her address in my backpack.  Then, I think I left it in the hotel.  So, I'm on a mission to reconnect with this young lady.  I hope my blog readers have had a chance to read the comments posted by Samantha's mother.

She seems to truly be an angel on earth, of which, thankfully,  there are many. 

My meeting with Chris Fellers on the plane from Phoenix to Palm Springs was a great experience too.  

His association with folks I know in the neighborhood was pretty cool, but what impressed me the most was his general attitude of deep appreciation for the opportunities he's had in life and for his parents.

Chris told me he feels honored to be following their footsteps in the show jumping world.  His admiration for them was clearly tangible. 

I hope I see him again some day when he passes through Sandpoint.

Another moment I won't forget amidst the seediness along the Las Vegas strip was the magnificent fountain show in front of the Bellagio resort. 

During our time there, the fountain jets sprayed in synch with "Simple Gifts."  It was truly magical. 

I also loved riding with Annie through the desert.  Granted trips through that area on a weekly basis could get a bit boring.  Nonetheless, one's first-ever view of wide expanses of open space with roads going on seemingly forever is definitely an awesome experience.

As always, it was fun traveling with Annie.  It was also a button-popping experience as Joe and Mow got re-acquainted with the 30-something young lady whom they hadn't seen since she was a teen.

Joe is still proud to have played a part in her golfing evolution.  Joe took Bill golfing for his very first time.  Then, the family got into golfing.  Then, Annie joined the high school golf team and went to state every year.

One night after Annie left, we watched home movies (put into video) from Joe Tobin's  family back in the early 1930s.  

I loved watching the scenes of Joe as a young boy opening all those presents and Joe as a young boy, dressed like Tom Mix, riding his pretty pinto pony and doing quite well. 

Someone in the family rode five-gaited horses. Several scenes of these beautiful horses performing exquisitely at the rack were as impressive as any I'd ever seen.  

Visiting with Mow's friends at the country club, having lunch with Mow's friends, listening as Mow showed me the sights of Palm Springs and Palm Desert . . . so many good memories, too many to note but wonderful enough to keep my mind going for some time.

It was a great trip, and I'm glad I went.

I'm always happy to come home, though, and very thankful that my husband took good care of all the critters and the house while I was gone.

I'm a pretty lucky soul, to say the least. 

Happy Thursday.  Happy March. Let the Madness begin as the NCAA teams vie for positions in the BIG DANCE.  GO ZAGS!

Leaping back to Winter

Short night.  Short posting.

This is hardly "out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Maybe it's out of the frying pan and into the walk-in freezer for me.

And, that's not quite a stretch.

When I arrived at Spokane Airport around 11 last night, all went well on gathering the suitcase and walking to the car.

The Jimmy had been sitting in the outside parking lot since Thursday.  Evidence of the weekend snowstorm surrounded the car and covered the wind shield.

I turned the heat up to high and scraped off the ice deposits.

Then I paid my $45 and headed home, wearing my buttoned up fleece and figuring that winter coat in the back seat would not be needed once the car heated up.

Well, about 45 miles later, I pulled over on the Rathdrum Prairie and put the winter coat on over the fleece.  The wind was blowing pretty fiercely out of the north.

The car heater NEVER did heat up.  Good time for it to go bad.

Nonetheless, I made it home on dry roads with a slightly frozen body.

This morning we're encountering a Leap Year winter storm.  

I'm figuring that Mother Nature planned to do this cuz she was busy at other things all winter and knew there would be an extra day to make up for what she did not inflict upon us earlier.

So, the big contrast from lunch in downtown Palm Desert to shivering at the Lovestead.

One more item:  former vice president Dan Quayle rode with us on our Dash-8 jet to Phoenix.

He was probably headed to a Romney celebration party.

I wanted to go up and thank him for the inspiration to my book entitled "Postcards from Potato (e) Land," but things were pretty tight on that full flight.

So, I just looked at him and noted that he is pretty cute and well-groomed. 

This morning, it's nice to be home near the warm fire.  I'll probably kick back today after chores and just enjoy this extra day, thinking about the wonderful memories of the past few days.

Happy Leap Year to All!

A Visit to Indian Canyon

Before Annie left to go back to Seattle yesterday, we took a quick trip to Indian Canyon near Palm Springs.  Our hike included some fun watching hummingbirds and other local species.
Like Joshua Tree National Park, this beautiful place begs for a return trip when more time for hiking is available.

Annie is now back in the snowy Northwest, and I'll be driving home from Spokane Airport at oh-so-late-dark-thirty tonight, probably arriving back at the Lovestead on Leap Year Day.

We've had a wonderful time here, meeting so many nice people, sitting back and visiting, eating too much and enjoying a wine on the side.

This morning we go to the country club for Mow's tennis date, then to a birthday dessert lunch with one of her friends.  Afterward, she'll drop me off at the airport, and, finally, her hubby Joe's question will be answered:  we'll quit talking.

This has been a good getaway, and, God willing, spring will eventually get its start back home.

Life will go on with animals, early garden projects and the day-to-day life of living on the farm.  And, along with it, the memories of these past few days will bring many moments of fun reflection.

Happy Tuesday to all.  Enjoy the photos.  And, thanks so much, Mow and Joe, for your wonderful hospitality.  See you in Idaho!

A Very Special Wedding Visit et. al.

Annie and I went through the "drive-through" at the Very Special Wedding Chapel in old Las Vegas yesterday. 

Do they allow same-sex, same-family wedddings in Nevada?

I'm sure the nice lady at the window had some similar questions as she opened the window and greeted us.

I'm also sure she was a bit relieved when we asked for the geocache.

Her face lit up with a big smile. 

She reached down and handed over the prettiest geocache I've ever seen.

Annie dug through the box, picked out an item and signed the log as I chatted with the lady.

"We get people from all over the world asking for the box," she told me with total delight.  The geocache has been at the wedding chapel for a number of years. I got the impression it creates just as much fun as the couples who show up to get hitched.

It goes to show there's something for everyone who wants to geocache.

Annie and I also went to the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign and found another couple of geocaches before leaving town.

We spent most of the day driving, but it was still fun heading off across endless expanses and knowing the next potty stop might be 50-60 miles away.

We spent a little time walking around and taking photos in Joshua Tree National Park. . . definitely a spot to which I'd love to return some day.

I have loved our trips through the desert to and from Las Vegas and have especially loved knowing that if I were home, there might be some complaining about all that snow.  Last I heard from Bill, he had measured up to 16 inches and more was falling.

He told me the next "big storm" is due tomorrow night when I come home.  

So now, it looks as if the "wonderful winter" without much snow was just a little late in coming.

Today we'll probably drive around and do some more sight seeing before Annie heads back to the airport and flies home to Seattle.

It's been a wonderful trip, filled with good food, much fun and a whole lot of good visiting.

Bob, the parrot, would like his sheet to be removed cuz he keeps telling me "hello" as I type.  I think he's jealous that he doesn't get to write this morning's post.

Happy Monday to all.   

Sunday Morning at the Excalibur

Somebody please tell Jack O'Brien and family that their huckleberry chocolates are a hit in the desert. My friends, Puz aka Janis Puzuhanich and Mow aka Jean Tobin have been enjoying them this past few days.

So much happened during our fun-filled day yesterday that I don't know if I can remember it ALL this morning.  

We met for breakfast over quiches, paninis and coffee.  The aforementioned did get attention, but the visiting and laughing were the highlights----almost! 

Enter Samantha.

She was ahead of us in line.  She came over and wondered if anyone wanted a free latte.  She had an extra and wanted to give it away---just cuz.  NOTE:  to Samantha.  Can you send me your email address again.  Use my address listed on this blog.  I seem to have misplaced yours.

We thought that was very nice of her, so we jumped into a lively conversation.  Not wanting to cause too much commotion, we finally decided it would be a good idea to order our four breakfasts and help move the line along.

When I went to pay, the cashier said our tab had already been paid----by Samantha.

Samantha said she just wanted to do something nice yesterday morninand she had found her beneficiaries.  We were stunned and beyond appreciative, and we've all vowed that Samantha will be hearing from us and definitely never forgotten. 

Thank you so much, Samantha.  Your gesture made our day and will receive a grand billing in all future stories to tell.  And, yes, we'll pass on the goodwill you extended toward us yesterday.

I got to thinking about giving up things for Lent and have decided that "giving of oneself" could leave a much more positive impact on this earth.

So, I'll do my best through Lent to follow Samantha's example.  I'm sure the rest of her recipients feel the same way.

Hate to even talk about spending the night in Sin City after that wonderful moment yesterday.

We did, however, and I can now say that I've seen the beauty and the "beast" of Las Vegas. The architectural creativity is beyond description.  Seeing is believing, for sure.

We had a good buffet dinner at the Mirage, and we had fun taking pictures and geocaching.  Annie had the camera and the geocaching information.  I acted as assistant and subject for both.

I also set a new record with my pedometer.  I think it hit almost 23,000 steps yesterday.  It will be hard to beat that today, but we'll be doing some more geocaching on the way back to Palm Springs and the Academy Awards. 

Should be another fun-filled day, and we're hoping that introducing Janis to geocaching has started a new adventure for her.
She found her first cache yesterday with Annie's help after breakfast.  When we checked in on Facebook late last night, she had gone off and found a second.  Yay, Janis.

I have heard about and seen some nice photos of the ongoing snowstorm, which has dumped nearly a foot of white stuff at home.

The desert looks beautiful this time of year, and I'm glad that my experience with snow this time has just been on Facebook.  Hope a warm wind blows it away before Tuesday.

Happy Sunday!

We met these nice folks just beyond Amboy, Calif. They were Canadians hot on a geocaching power trail, which involves teamwork and a lot of caches found and logged in a short amount of time.  Annie and I cached a short stretch of the trail, picking up about half a dozen new caches.  When we caught up with them, they were talking caches in the hundreds.  They were pretty thrilled to meet someone from Groundspeak, which runs the geocaching website.

Saturday Slightly Nice

Good Morning from the California desert sunshine. The rock-faced mountain to my right outside Jean and Joe's window is lit up for the day as are all those palm trees.

The top scene is from the country club where Mow (Jean) played tennis yesterday morning. Absolute perfection for beauty and lovely weather.

I hear from Bill that six inches of snow fell at the Lovestead overnight and that the power went out briefly. He says there's a lot of dripping off the eaves and that may the snow will turn to rain.

This morning we're going to a "quiche" place with a view for breakfast with my classmate and friend Janis Puz.

Annie arrived safely around midnight after driving from Santa Ana airport. So, she's snoozing away as is everyone else in the house, even Bob, the parrot. He even snores, I've discovered.

He thought he might have to write the blog again this morning, but since I'm up, I'll just let him sleep.

All is well, especially the hospitality.

I'll simply post a few photos, and then it will be time to get on with the day.

After breakfast, Annie and I are taking off on our overnighter road trip to Las Vegas. Geocaching followed by bright lights. Should be a fun day.

Happy Saturday.

Mow (left) with her tennis partners, Carol and Gay.