More F'in-stuff

Seems like the F-words just won't go away, and it also seems like I'm going several directions this week, so it's hard to light on any one subject. Something goes "bong" in my brain, or, more likely, goes "bark, bark, bark" outside, and I'm off to another thing.

In fact, I just left in the middle of that sentence because the first of the concrete crew who are finishing out storage shed/shop FLOOR arrived. I guess two more carloads of workers are coming, followed by a couple of concrete trucks at 9 a.m.

I've gotta check the barks because some of those might be for Barbara and Laurie who are bringing their FOTOS by for me to enter in the Bonner County Fair. They're headed off to Ronan again today. Since no checkbooks were taken to Ravenwood Arabians last week on Mother's birthday, there may be a need for one today.

A darling little pinto baby foal, born June 15, took Laurie's eye last Tuesday as we walked down the row of Arabian mamas and their babies. She's going back today for a closer look and maybe to sign on the dotted line. So, I'm taking their photos to the FAIR since today is the big "enter your stuff" day.

I've been around the gardens this morning, tentatively deciding what I might want to dig up, clean up and spruce up for veggie and FLOWER entries. The cookies are baked. Probably too much of that Mexican vanilla flavor for the judge's tastes, but they look nice and uniform and not too over or under-baked.

I don't hold out big hopes for beating Miss Grace in our chocolate chip challenge, but I know that the mere thought of those cookies competing with each other at the fair will bring smiles from above. We all win in what I hope will continue to be a long-standing competition, always reminding us of happy times spent at the FAIR.

Back to F-words. We attended the FESTIVAL last night. That was after I finished painting the FENCE, baked those cookies and went for a refreshing dip in the lake over at the Thompson cabin. It took me a while to get my nerve up to walk to the water since my body represents the poster child for farm arms, pasty pale legs and white meat on the backside. Yesterday was the FIRST to summer sun for some body parts.

Finally, the heat got to me after enjoying some good visiting with the folks filing in and out of the water. So, I took the plunge, slowly. Doesn't matter how warm the water is, it always takes time for the body to get the nerve for full-fledged immersion. But, oh-h-h-h, it felt so good. I knew I could make it through the rest of the heat.

While leaving the cabin, I visited briefly with Vicki Dolsby who was out in her peach and pear orchard across the road. And, I thought I had a garden! It will take me years to catch up with Vicki, who has generously shared some of those beautiful raspberry plants with me.

As I drove off, I noticed a missed call on the cell phone from Bill. When I called him back, he said he was about half an hour's walk from getting back on the chair lift to come down off the mountain at Schweitzer. Yes, the hiking boots dried out, and he took the hike yesterday that he had wanted to take Saturday. He wanted me to know that he had called in a FIRE on Gisborne Ridge.

Apparently, they were already on it because the look-out had called it in too and then had left his lookout. The fire was apparently too close for comfort. We've since learned that it was about 2-3 acres. They'd called in aerial water drops and had a hotshot crew on the way. The rain forecast for tomorrow or Wednesday can't come fast enough.

The Festival last night was delightful. Seemed like three quarters of the audience, mainly over in the wine-tasting section, was made up of teachers. Oodles of familiar faces, and even some faces from the past. I hadn't seen Ed Humble, our former superintendent, and his wife Michelle since sometime back in the late '80s.

He's gone on to bigger and better things, now running an educational consultant company in Olympia, and Michelle teaches middle school. Ed was quite pleased to learn that he was mentioned in my book Lessons with Love, and I'll be quite pleased if he likes what he sees and starts consulting with educators about the need to buy it and read it. Howz that for an assignment for an old boss????

Bill ate two dinners last night at the Festival: ribs from the Laclede's Klondyke and fish and chips from the North Idaho Fish and Chips booth. He was nice enough the second time through to offer me a French fry. I stuck with one bacon, turkey and lettuce wrap and a Kokanee from the Festival bar.

We sat on the top row of the bleachers where we could stand up if we desired while listening to nearly two hours of Beethoven, presented masterfully by the Spokane Symphony. I know Bill was wondering the same as I why some of those people come to the Festival. They're either walking and walking or talking and talking, all through the music.

It was a good time and a great return to an event which used to dominate three weeks of our summers back in the '90s. It was nice to go with no cares and even more fun to catch snatches of conversation from all those friends we haven't seen in a long time.

Well, I can't think of any more F-words to discuss this morning. So, I'll just say "Fiddle-faddle," and head off for a busy day of a little of this and a lot of that. Have a good Monday.

P.S.: If you need more F-words, (www.footlaunchedfreeflyinfool.blogspot) aka my brother Jim, took his first flight yesterday in the national hang gliding competition. Read all about it at his blog.