Saturday Slight

There's snow on Schweitzer this morning. They promised that it would start raining and turn cold. It's a promise kept, and at the tops of mountains where it's even colder, the rain turned white. Though we need the liquid, I hope the rain doesn't hang around forever because fall is the most wonderful of seasons for spending time outside.

I've done a lot of garden clean-up this week and still have much to go. When we moved here, one of the eyesores on the place was out north of the north garden. A bread-loaf-style compost pile held together by orange hazard fence, woven wire and metal fence stakes did not cut a pretty scene. Every time I'd drive by, even before moving in, I'd say that pile had to go.

Last fall, I tried to get started removing it, determined that even if I had to do it one wheelbarrow full at a time, it was going. That effort stopped short when I found that the double fencing around the pile was put there to stay. My fingers, with the help of pliers, were virtually ineffective at loosening the woven wire from the stakes. So, the pile sat untouched until this summer when Mark Johnson brought his mini excavator and worked loose the fence. Mark was of the same mind as I; every time he drove by on South Center Valley Road, he thought the pile was pretty ugly too.

"At least it won't be quite as ugly when that fencing's gone," he said when asking if he could remove it while working on a water line for us. I was more than happy to give him permission, and he was right. The fence removal did erase part of the north yard blight, and the pile continued to stand on its own.

Since then, I've been digging from the pile. It's ripe stuff for sure with egg shells, sand, decayed alfalfa, even a slab of particle board. Bill says I might even run into a dead goat if I keep digging. The other day I dug into the stinkiest item I've ever smelled. It looked like it may have been a really dead goose egg, but I'm just not sure. I just know that my nose has never been so overcome with such rotten fumes. A large ant colony has taken residence in the pile, as have many mice. So far, I haven't dug up any of their nests, but I clearly remember how much time the cats spent over there when we first moved in.

Each wheelbarrow load of compost has gone to replenish garden beds over west of the house. I can't wait to see what grows next year with that enhanced soil. Some of that ripe stuff will also go to a new bed surrounding the shot put circle out south of the house. Have I mentioned that we probably have Bonner County's only shot put circle not located on a school ground?

The previous owners' son almost made the Olympics with his putting prowess, so I'm sure Mom and Dad did everything they could to provide him ample time for practice. Since Bill or I don't plan to participate in any track and field events any time soon, I'm planning to dig a new flower bed around the circle and eventually get someone to do a painting on the cement. Or, maybe I'll just put a single chair out there for folks to sit and reflect while looking at the posies, which will, no doubt, be bulb plants for starters.

Besides garden stuff today, I'm spending part of the afternoon at the Creekside Gifts/Well Life Pharmacy grand opening. They've asked me to do a book signing and reading at 2 p.m., so if you're looking for a new place to do some Christmas shopping, I'd love to see you there. It is a very nice store, especially for us folks north of town.

I'm pretty sure the store is gonna get some traffic today, since it's located in the same mall as the Ponderay Starbuck's. And since that truck ran through part of the downtown Starbuck's this week, I figure plenty of in-town caffeine junkies will come out Ponderay way to get their fix. I understand there will also be a barbecue going on in conjunction with the grand opening, so it should be a fun time for all.

Guess that's all from the Lovestead on this last September Saturday. Hope all is well with everyone; have a happy Saturday.