Light in the darkness.

Let's see. It's rained off and on for a week now. Our barnyard is a mudhole. It's raining and blowing right now, and we're supposed to have wind throughout the day. It's bleak, miserable and downright depressing outside, at best.

I just looked at the stock market totals like I do every morning at this time. Down three digits. Lately, I've been checking Coldwater Creek stock because it's been sliding. This morning, it's fallen as low as $1.76 per share. A year ago it was selling for $9.09 per share. Ouch!

I guess I'm glad I don't have any of that CC stock, although Bill says now's the time to buy. Somehow, buying some stamps for Christmas cards seems like a better investment. After all, some of those letters will travel far away, and maybe when family and friends receive my Christmas card amidst all the other bad news, it will bring a smile to their faces.

It's gloomy, for sure. And it was downright gloomy all day yesterday. Bill had the day off for the Veterans' Day holiday. After we watched some of the Veterans' Day activities on TV, we each made a valiant effort to go outside and do something. It was cold, wet and windy, and we each lasted about half an hour.

He came walking up the lane as I headed toward the barn, figuring I could look like an idiot trying to rake up a few more of the most recent fallen leaves. At least, I'd be doing something besides sitting in the house, complaining. As we met, he said it sure was dismal, and I suggested we go for a drive.

"Wanta go to Bonners Ferry?" he asked.

"Sure, whaddya going to do?" I replied.

"Well, there's a book at the bookstore up there I was looking at, and there may be some geocaches," he said.

Within ten minutes, we were on our way. We stopped at Mother's to see if she wanted some cinnamon rolls from the Boundary Trader and for Bill to see Laurie's new little horse.

Along the way, I decided it would be a good idea to stop at the Quality Farm and Garden Store to see what they had for horse blankets. We have all sizes and all sizes of horses, but not enough of the all sizes of blankets to fit the all sizes of horses.

We also agreed that after the stores, we'd have lunch somewhere. Since we were in the area, Bill suggested Papa Byrd's Bistro http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_8552.shtml.

Good choice.

The place used to be somewhat of a hole in the wall pizza parlor, but it's been the Bistro since February, according to Tracy, one of the owners. Still pizza but also lots of other wonderful choices. I settled for the chicken noodle soup special, which included the delectable tomato and cheese panini. Bill had the beef brisket sandwich.

We both agreed that we'd go back. I brought home a menu to help me decide between the sub sandwiches, specialty pizzas, calzones, and soups what to try the next time we go to Bonners Ferry. Believe me, it's going to be a difficult choice.

We enjoyed visiting with Tracy who told us she owns the place with her Uncle Mark. They have longtime Bonners Ferry roots, and both are glad to be back home---from Spokane and the East Coast, respectively. Both have had decades of experience in food preparation. Plus, they have a pastry specialist working with them.

After saying good bye to Tracy, we headed off to find a geocache at Bonner Lake. I realized I'd never been there in all our trips to Bonners Ferry. It's located east of Moyie Springs, off old HWY 2. We visited with one of the resident canines, a lovely hound dog who just happened to be nosing through the area.

Then, we took the back roads back to Bonners Ferry and to Deep Creek, where Bill found another cache on one of the bridges.

It was a dreary day, just like today, but we found a way to make it memorable. Thank goodness, at least, gas prices have gone down so that we could enjoy our rainy-day outing guilt free.

Now, I must figure out a way to keep an uplifting, sunshine perspective on this gloomy day. I think I'll make a big pot of chicken soup and maybe even go outside, look like an idiot, and rake some more wet leaves.

Hope the sun is shining where some of you are today and that those Coldwater Creek stocks start warming up a bit.