Saturday Slight

Jingle . . . jingle . . .clomp, clomp, clomp, clomp . . . jingle . . . jingle . . . clomp, clomp . . . .

I lay there in a semi stupor, feeling the heat and realizing I had turned on the thermostat earlier in the day. I did not want to get up to turn it down or to open the window, for fear of waking Bill.

After all, he had to go to work in Clark Fork on this Saturday for some sort of forest owners' gathering.

So, I remained in my stupor, eventually thinking my mind was playing tricks on me. I heard it again, over the fan which runs full blast all night to drown out Bullet's barking up the road and bawling cows who've been separated from their calves further up the road.

Jingle . . . jingle . . . clomp, clomp-----sure sounded like lead feet scurrying up the stairs.

Suddenly, it clicked! I knew that sound.

Jumping out of bed, I stole a quick glance at the clock. It read 1:59 a.m. I opened the door to the hallway where the kitchen light was on, and there stood Debbie with two dogs eyeing me back.

I know I screamed with joy, surely waking Bill who was trying to sleep. Debbie had just driven in from Boise and doggies were racing through the house checking out all the fun spots.

Walking into the kitchen, I gave Debbie a big hug and saw three other doggies standing politely at the open door to the garage where they reside at night.

Willie was coming in the far door, carrying a doggie crate. Debbie had surprised some of us but not Willie who had waited up with a movie channel for Debbie's safe arrival.

He had arrived home around 11 from reporting the Sandpoint-Coeur d' Alene game for the Spokesman-Review newspaper http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/19/strong-finish/

She had left Boise at 6 p.m. and would have made better time had it not been for a 20-minute delay a mile south of Sandpoint because of Byway construction. The dogs had gotten to know the flag person really well during that wait.

Debbie is now upstairs catching up with her sleep. Willie and the doggies are outside enjoying some running around the lawn. Bill got his beauty rest and headed off to Clark Fork around 6 a.m. He'll be back late this afternoon.

Willie promised the grandpuppies that he'd take them to the Nature Conservancy property north of Bonners Ferry today so they can run to their heart's content.

So, it's another Saturday and another beautiful day, suddenly enhanced by our surprise visitors.

There's a horse show today and tomorrow. Laurie has one class with Rusty today. All three of us sisters have four classes among us tomorrow.

Barbara's young Arabian gelding Dusty has his debut in the show ring. And, I have to go get yet another shirt. Seems that the red hat, purple shirt class has turned red hat, pink shirt.

That $13 shirt I bought yesterday at Wal-Mart decorated with $7 worth of bling from Meyer's Sport Tees will have to wait for another occasion.

It promises to be a fun weekend. My brother is running tomorrow morning as a participant in the inaugural scenic marathon, et. al.

Could be more family members involved in that one as runners; I know for sure that several are involved in the organizing cuz my sister-in-law Mary told me she has to be at the beach at 6 a.m. to do whatever she's told.

Over in Seattle, Annie will be running also. I think she said it was a 5 K. She's got another big Sounder soccer match this weekend as well as Oktoberfest and the bands in Fremont.

Plink, plink, plink . . . crunch, crunch, crunch . . . doggies are eating their breakfast and Willie's dishing up his cereal.

The day is well underway. Hope your Saturday is a good one. Here at the Lovestead, we've gone to the dogs and we're loving it!