Old-Time Trail Ride

My mother had this photo sitting on her dining-room table yesterday. I think she was showing it to our friend, Cis.

Mother used to do publicity for the Bonner County Horsemen's Assoc., which was formed sometime in the 1950s. She also took lots of pictures, and some good ones at that, including this one.

I remember things about this trail ride, held over northeast of Priest River. The Horsemen's association did a lot of similar activities, along with building a rodeo grounds on Baldy Road.

Interstate Concrete is there now, but Mother still has several photos of the construction process, all done by volunteer labor on the part of club members.

Several rodeos were held there, as were numerous big Appaloosa Horse Club shows.

In the photo above, I recognize at least three people, maybe four.

Art Sphar is leading the pack. He ran the old sale yard down on Oak and Division across from where the First Christian Church is located.

Art's daughter Bernice Wood was also a well-known and much-loved 4-H leader for years here in the county.

The rider to the left of Art is Leo Jarvis, who lived down on Boyer about a mile south of where our farm was. He liked to show horses.

From the looks of the hat, that could be Arnold Roberts riding down the hill behind Leo. I'm not sure, though, but it sure looks like the hat style Arnold always wore.

Arnold is still alive; I don't know if he's still riding, but he used to be a fixture in the Fourth of July Parade, when the Horsemen's Association was still functioning.

Behind the "alleged Arnold" is Dale Sphar with his hat tipped back. He was one of Art's sons and, of course, Bernice's brother. The Sphars, in addition to running the sale yard, traded horses.

Dale's brother Bob handled a trade with one of our horses, Ponderay's Fancy Pants, our Appaloosa stallion. If I recall correctly, Bob picked up nine horses in return for Fancy.

The deal was made with one of my dad's friends Kenneth Parent, a wrangler with whom my dad had worked in the 1930s on a 40,000-acre spread over in the Madison Valley of Montana.

I don't know who got the best end of that horse trade, but I know Kenneth was mighty happy to have that big 16-hand handsome stallion.

Back in the crowd on the left, barely visible, is a black horse with a corona. I think that might be our family friend Helen Schmidt Poelstra, riding Darkie. Coronas and sheepskin nosebands were popular at the time.

Mother remembered yesterday how everyone picked out their materials and colors (red and white or green and white, etc.) and sewed their little yarn puffballs around the edges of a saddle blanket for their homemade coronas.

If that's Darkie, as I suspect, he was the horse I rode when Mother and I would ride to town from our North Boyer farm. Our destination was Jack's Lockers where we'd pick up some frozen packages of meat and then ride back home.

It was on one of those trips that Darkie's saddle cinch was loose. I started drifting to the side, but I kept my mouth shut cuz I might have been told to be quiet for some reason or another.

When Mother finally turned around, she saw me still sitting in the saddle at almost a 90-degree angle from Darkie's back. I think the cinch got tightened.

The picture certainly conjures up a lot of old memories. I can remember the three of us kids riding in a horse-drawn wagon that day.

What I remember the most was all the hot chocolate I consumed at the house while we waited for the trail riders to come back to the ranch. For the life of me, though, I have no idea whose ranch it was.

Definitely a "good ol' days" picture, but I'm happy to say that the "good ol' days" seem to be coming back in these parts.

I've just finished my series of stories for the summer edition of Sandpoint Magazine about horse interest here. It was truly one of the more fun experiences I've had for a writing assignment.

Based on the people I've met, the people I already knew and the wide variety of options, I can say with great confidence that horse interest has once again exploded in this area.

I don't know if we'll see trail rides like this with nearly 75 riders again or like the old Pend Oreille Trail Rides, put on by the Litehouse Hawkins family years ago, attracting as many as 250, but I can say that the trails around this area are getting used, and riders are having a blast.

The best part for me is that I can cinch up my own saddle, I don't have to ride in a horse-drawn wagon, and I can think about the hot chocolate at the END of the trail.

It's a good life. Of course, it is any time you can saddle up a horse and head down a trail.

Tuesday Drippedydoo

Yup, it's still wet out there. All those who claim we're going to burn up this summer because of no snow in the mountains need to look out my windows. A brand-new substantial coating of snow comes clear down to the flat land.

Ironically, Schweitzer got a big drop the night before last but had to close yesterday because of high winds. I knew it was windy at a point on my drive to town where it felt like a gust almost picked up my car and moved it sideways. Thankfully it didn't, but the sensation was frightening enough.

Today we're supposed to have more rain and maybe some snow. I feel sorry for my horses. The ground is too soft to allow them into the pasture areas.

The barn stalls have boarded floors with rubber mats on top, but leaving them to walk around those stalls round the clock doesn't do the floors any good nor the horses. So, they have to slog around in the mud until it dries up, and that doesn't look like any time soon.

~~~~

Big news in this area is the medi-vac helicopter that landed in Jim and Virginia Wood's yard night before last. According to Janice Schoonover's Facebook account, the weather on Sunday night was a factor in the decision for the unscheduled landing. I don't know much more except that it was still there on Monday.

~~~~~
This morning I read in the historical notes for the local paper that we had some mud problems 50 years ago and that the schools remained closed. I can't remember that particular mud vacation---must have been in the eighth grade at the time. I do remember the thrill of listening to KSPT radio early in the morning and finding out we didn't need to go to school.

We loved our mud vacations. I'm not so sure about the parents or anyone else, but for us they meant bonus time off, and in those days, we usually set off each day on great adventures, like going up the mountain north of our place and checking out the caves, which we were sure had never been discovered before our arrival.

~~~~~
Spring Break is coming, as of this Friday afternoon. And, that reminds me of my teaching days when the vacation officially started with the dismissal bell on Friday, but it usually started for many students several days beforehand.

By the time, those of us who followed the rules (either by contractual obligation or deep-seeded ethical beliefs) headed out the door, the silence in the usually cacophonous setting was more than notable. Folks had left town, long before the rest of us. I guess someone had to hold down the fort those last couple of days.

I noticed the later it got in my career, the earlier the gradual exodus to spring somewhere other than Sandpoint began. In some cases, the break extended to two weeks or more.

~~~~~
I've always liked being in Sandpoint during Spring Break. It's guaranteed to be the quietest time of the year in our community because droves of families numbering in the hundreds have left town.

Spring Break means: always parking spots, no waits in restaurant lines, no traffic jams or waiting at stop signs. It's a pleasant place, a bit reminiscent of the old days when the peaceful silence and simplicity of daily life downtown was the norm rather than the exception.

~~~~~
Not a whole lot else on my mind this morning. This is a somewhat peaceful week for me with most work and obligations attended to, nothing major coming up in the next few days except for the continuing string of birthdays.

So, I'm just going to enjoy the day and see what it brings. Have a great Tuesday.

Fun at the Photo Shoot

Aunt Laurie does a little primping on her nephew.

At Saturday's SHS publications fundraiser, there was plenty of fun to be had along with the funds raised.

My sisters suggested that we go have our portraits taken "as we are."

Well, we were dressed as we feel most comfortable.

In fact, at the Junior Miss fashion show, also held at the high school, we wondered what kind of looks we'd get if we walked in and joined all the folks in high fashion.

We chose to turn the other way and go to Willie's room where Cody Finney, Kendall Stratton and others from Monticola were shooting family and pet portraits.

Well, the farm crowd came in and had a blast on the set loaned to the students by Coldwater Creek.

Later, Willie got dragged into the craziness. We heard later that the students spent their share of time misbehaving in front of the camera.

My sister Laurie said she hadn't laughed that hard in ages.

And, to top it all off, the photography was such high quality that a lady who arranged to have her family portrait taken went to Wal-Mart to have prints made.

She was told they couldn't make prints because "These are PROFESSIONAL photos." Quite a tribute to the kids' work.

My sister Barbara says they'll send Wal-Mart a heads-up before the next high-school photo shoot.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed having them taken.

Katie wasn't too embarrassed to be seen with us.

Katie, in front, my sister Laurie, me, my sister Barbara.

Occasionally, we behaved.

Demure school marms, indeed!

Mother and son Cedar Post advisers (1990-1997 and 2009--, respectively) reading the latest issue.

A fun-raising day nets FUNDS

I donated this item to the publications students' yard sale yesterday.

I figured they could use it for a silent auction item.

They chose to keep it.

Willie (pictured above and dubbed by his students as 'Dr. Love') and his Aunt Barbara were the adults in charge, just like they'll be when their students attend the JEA national convention in Portland next month.

SHS principal Dr. Becky Kiebert (a real PhD) and Willie's wife Debbie will accompany the group.

It was a fun day for everyone involved, and the needed funds materialized.

It was also a day of fun for me as I reflected over several generations of friendship and invovement in SHS publications.

A yard sale and gabfest: Cedar Post and Monticola students spent the day at the high school yesterday, selling baked goods, garage-sale items, taking portraits of families and pets, and waiting for a horse to drop his apples.

The combined activities brought in about $3,500.

Horses involved in "public poohing" must look nice, so my sisters Barbara and Laurie do some last-minute grooming.

Laurie brought Scout so Dusty would get nervous and do his business faster.

Took about 15 minutes to do the deed.

My longtime friend Marilyn Chambers with her granddaughter Katie.

Some Chambers-Love trivia:

I used to babysit the Chambers kids, including Katie's dad, when Marilyn and her husband Bill would go on vacation.

Marilyn took care of Willie for several days when our daughter Annie was born.

Marilyn took care of Annie when we went on a trip to Glacier Park.

We have owned two dogs, born at the Chambers home, including Annie Dog, pictured below.

Marilyn and I have exchanged the "magic friendship candle" in varying forms for years.

I don't think either of us know where it is at this time.

Marilyn's nephew from Georgia stayed with us for a week one time. In return, Marilyn gave us tickets to a John Denver concert.

We used to have horses that were related, both coming from Jean Martin.

Katie's mother Kathy and I have served on the board of the Women Honoring Women.

My sister Barbara has been Katie's teacher for four years.

The list goes on, and so does the longtime family friendship.

Cedar Post and Monticola students getting acquainted with "Dusty, the Pooh" horse.

Dusty's deposit netted almost $3,000 for the students' trip to Portland next month.

A portion of the gallery, waiting for yesterday's Big Pooh Drop.

Kendall, Sage, Josie and Kari.

Kari was my student for three years and editor of the Monticola in 1983.

Dusty says, "I'm here. Now, what am I supposed to do?"

He later figured it out.

Yup, that was a valuable pile of pooh for Mikka.

He had the winning square. He now has a new appreciation for horses.

Newest members of the Lodgepole Society: Kari Daarstad Saccomanno and her daughter Sage.

Bill does the honors of induction.

Old Puppy Love and young friend: Annie and Sage hit it off.

Annie will be 14 in June; Sage just turned 8.

Saturday Slight

I'm hoping the potty-mouth people don't put me on their shame-shame list like they did Joe Biden this week. There was noise pollution at the Lovestead this morning. With luck the neighbors on each side were still inside their houses when Lefty and Heather played escape artists and ran past me out the barnyard gate.

Down the lane they raced, toward the hayfield---tails in the air, heads swaying from side to side, nostrils flared. And, behind them I shouted out "S" bombs, adding "heads" to the adjective-noun combo. I hope Geneva didn't hear me. While shouting, I ran to the grain barrel and scooped up some pellets in a bucket to rattle.

Could be my bomb blasts shielded out the sound of grain rattling cuz it didn't faze them for a minute. They just kept on running. I just kept on cussing. Suddenly they wheeled around in the field and came galloping back my way.

Even as mad as I was, I could not help but admire the exquisite beauty of two gorgeous Arabians, enhanced even more by morning sunlight as they came prancing down the lane toward me.

They must have sensed trouble brewing cuz Lefty stopped and let me throw the lead rope over his neck. As fast as they had escaped they proceeded right back to the muddy barnyard. Can't say as I blame them for wanting to be in the green grass rather than the muck.

As for my potty mouth, I repent, and I repeat that it's usually horses doing what they're not supposed to do that brings out my more primitive behavior.

~~~~~
We're taking the pickup and horse trailer over to my sisters' this morning to haul 16-foot panels down to the high school. That's where they'll set up a pen around a grid with 400 squares and later today, Barbara and Laurie's horses will go into the enclosure to leave green deposits.

Whoever bought the square that has the most green gets a little green to take home: $999, to be exact. Apparently, the law says such activities must be under $1,000 so they're following the rules.

From this, the journalism and Monticola students are hoping to reap some good profits to help finance their trip to Portland and the national convention next month.

AND: they're having a yard sale from 9-2 at the high school today, so we hope the locals will show up and help with the cause. They're also taking portraits during the day, and I've heard they have some pretty fancy lighting and sets, thanks to help from Coldwater Creek.

Besides making money for their trip, today ought to be a wonderful and practical learning experience for these students as they deal with the public and put their talents to use.

~~~~~
Seems like my Facebook fun brings in a new story almost every day. This past week I reconnected with Cathy Klager. She and her husband John used to have the Whistlestop Restaurant (was Pend Oreille Sport Shop, now Mick Duff's Pub) on First Avenue in Sandpoint. Good donuts, good food all day long.

The day I turned 40, I was sent on a scavenger hunt around Sandpoint. The House of Flowers was still going---maybe it was Michigan Greenhouse at that time. When I went there, they gave me a dozen dead roses. I went on to the Whistlestop.

As I walked in the door, Cathy greeted me, wished me a happy birthday and handed me a baby, just days old. I knew I was supposed to play along with the game, but firmly declined the opportunity to take home a newborn.

She, the baby, is now 23. Cathy tells me that Eryn has graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in aerospace engineering and she's off to work at Edwards AFB as a flight engineer. Look at what I turned down that day.

By the way, I was standing in Mick Duff's, former home to Whistlestop Cafe, last night when I saw Pierre and Denise. And what did that Pierre do???? He gave me a big smack on the cheek and told me I'd just gotten a French kiss.

Needless to say, a lot of strange things have happened to me whenever I go inside that building.

Congratulations to John and Cathy on both of their daughters. Their other daughter Lisa is a junior at Central Michigan University, studying child development and special education.

~~~~~
Guess that's enough for this Saturday. Hope you all have a great one as we wind down this month of March and look forward to the fun, the green and the flowers of April.

Friday drip, drip, drip . . .

Let's think of this morning's post "Raindrops keep falling from my head." So, I'll drop a few bits of rain your way. We do have a wet morning and more worms forming patterns in the sand throughout the driveway and on South Center Valley Road.

I wonder if an aspiring artist could do a worm-slithering painting and make a fortune on it. Seems like they come up with some interesting pathways through the sand. I always wonder where they're going and if they ever get there.

I do know, however, that many meet their demise after being smashed by a ton's worth of rubber tires passing over them. And, of course, there are those which probably don't slither fast enough to escape the beaks of our many robins.

DRRRRRIPPP: My lawnmowers are standing side by side just inside the door of the shop/storage area. They're waiting for Tony who will change their oil, replace their blades and perform any other needed maintenance needed for what looks like a longer mowing season than we've had for the past three years.

Was it June last year and the year before when I finally started mowing lawns after the snow finally left? I believe so. Let's add eight weeks more of mowing, and I'm saying the gas companies are going to have a glut on sales this year. If only the prices would remain steady, but that's more than we can wish for.

I think I'll be mowing for the first time next week. My first sighting of anyone doing lawn work came earlier this week when I drove by Bill Crouse's farm.

He was out there on his John Deere, pulling something behind. Looked like an aerator to me. It also looked like Bill was pretty pleased to be out there and that he's probably a confirmed John Deere man.

DRRIPPP: I saw in the paper this morning that my former Internet provider didn't show up for work yesterday. I think there were a lot of mildly irritated people throughout the area who couldn't get on the Internet----some were businesses who've used Imbris for years.

They were good to me all those years as they grew and grew with a huge customer base. The service was always good, but apparently, they've left town. The reporter said there's a "closed" sign on their office with a note telling where to pay the bill. Hmm. I don't know if I'd pay my bill.

Anyway, I'm relieved and have been very relieved for two years to have my satellite Internet. It will be interesting to learn what happened to Imbris and where those people who ran the operation are (hiding?) now.

DRRIPPP: The week ahead is looking fairly open, for a change. Then comes spring break. My sisters will be off, and we'll probably do some stuff with my 3-year-old horses, maybe even fulfill that goal to get Lefty pulling a cart.

DRRIPPP: And, the family birthday marathon starts---brother Kevin, Willie, Bill(he's 60 this year on April 2, if anyone wants to send him greetings), Bill's twin sister Margaret, my sister Laurie, the triplets and our dad's birthday on April 12. Should be some fun times as we celebrate.

DRRIPPP: And, I'd better get my barn chores done on this rainy, sloppy day cuz Tony will be here soon. Have a great Friday. Enjoy the rain. I know the worms and the robins do.

Travels with Lily: Dirt Roads of Selle

With a bunch of rain scheduled on upcoming forecasts and with some new shoes on Lily, I seized the moment yesterday and took off for a lovely spring horseback ride.

I enjoyed every minute, as did Lily.

This shot is taken as we approached the Filipowski Hereford Farm on South Center Valley Road.

Almost 5 years old now, Lily becomes more trustworthy and patient with every ride. She's become accustomed to my desire to stop and snap a picture.

It's now automatic for her to stand perfectly still as I focus on my shot. Once she hears the shutter snap, she knows to head on down the road.

Filipowski calves soakin' up the sun.

Heading east on Forest Siding.

This was taken just before a rather serendipitous moment, as Laura Gillet called it yesterday.

Lily was aware of something different as we plodded down the road.

I turned around to see two bicyclers coming up behind us.

Then, I turned Lily around so she could see them.

I learned about 40 years ago why it's important to let your horse know that something silent is coming from behind.

They don't have eyes out of the back of their head, for one thing.

For another, on a ride about 40 years ago down Woodland Drive, I experienced the real reason to be cautious.

I had two of my students with me, riding double on one of our horses.

Suddenly some silent bikers from behind spooked the horses.

I looked back in time to see the two students landing in the ditch.

One of those students was Karla Stilwell Sheffler; the other Lesle Tatterson (Gillet)

Lesle is Laura's mother.

Yesterday the two bicyclers were Laura and one of the Finney boys.

This time, I thankfully stayed aboard Lily as we turned and faced the bikers.

Lesson learned.

We're spoiled in Selle cuz we get to see lots of views of the Selkirk Mountains Seven Sisters.

This was taken from Forest Siding Road.

Pastoral pasture scene. A part of Jack Filipowski's Hereford herd.

One of the many beautiful bounties of spring.

Nature's art vs. man's.

Perspective change: back on the ground after a nice ride aboard a tall horse.

Tuckered out.

Late start

Early to bed and early to rise makes a humanoid healthy, wealthy and wise. I thought I needed to be politically correct with that. Maybe I can get a job updating all the aphorisms coined so long ago when "men" did everything.

For example, nowadays, it should read, "All work and no play make Jack and Jill mighty dull people." We have to change the verb and maybe throw in an adverb to dress it up a bit, but I'm sure it's now much more acceptable to today's audience.

Of course, there may be a little political incorrectness in that update because I'm picking on the Jack's and Jill's of the world, probably thanks to an association with my past. After all, it was a long time ago that I learned about Jack and Jill going up that hill to get that water.

Now, with a little age on me, I'm thinking that it might not have been very logical for Jack and Jill to carry that bucket (wonder who would be carrying it today) to the top of a hill to get some water. Seems like they might have wasted a lot of energy cuz doesn't water run downhill?

Still, I believed that they did climb the hill way back when, so Jack and Jill and their bucket and the fact that they were working really hard and were probably really boring people has stuck with me for a long, long time. Hence, I couldn't come up with "All work and no play make Amber and Felix really dull people.

How did I get off on this anyway? Oh yeah, the "early to bed" stuff. Here's how it deals with my history. I went to bed early last night and intended to rise early so I could keep up my health, my wealth and my wisdom. Something got in the way of my good intentions, and it wasn't the road to Hell.

I awakened at about 2:15 and couldn't get back to sleep for more than an hour. I thought about everything that happened yesterday and everything that's supposed to happen today and everything I'm supposed to get done on my "all work, no play" schedule, and it all kept me struggling to get back to sleep.

So, when I did finally doze off about 3:30 this morning, I slept almost an hour later than usual. That discovery turned into a "haste makes waste" morning as I rushed around, trying to make up for lost time.

Things did not fall into place the way they're supposed to, and my brain was in a frenzy because the routine had been smashed to smithereens. (What ARE smithereens, anyway)?

Long story short, I'm still in a "haste makes waste" mode as I try to finish this blog posting by the regular time. My fingers are confused, though, along with my brain, and I'm not sensing a lot of wisdom dribbling out on to the clipboard. Just a bunch of boring stuff coming from a lady who does all work and no play.

So, ya know what I'm gonna do about it on this lovely Wednesday. I'm gonna play. Cuz "shoes on the feet, shoes on the feet; my mare Lily, she's got shoes on the feet." So, I'm gonna use some of this day riding down the road on my pretty mare who now has "shoes on her feet."

I'm still running a little late and must get the work done before the play begins. So, a quick good bye and a wish that your day will be filled with a little play. After all, none of us humanoids want to be called boring, right?

Tuesday Twitterdeedum

We've got the foggy, foggy dew this morning but a beautiful day in store. I put the horses in the round pen to keep their feet relatively dry for John Fuller. He'll be here in the next hour to trim their feet and to put shoes on Lily for the first time this year.

As you can see from the photo above, we've got water. And, from what I've seen of next week's forecast, we'll have a lot more before it's over. This is the first year we've encountered endless mud, and I know the horses are getting tired of slogging around in it day in and day out.

Adding to the frustration of not walking on solid ground, Lily has "scratches." I'd never heard of "scratches" as a disease until last summer when Lefty incurred a bad case of them on one of his hind legs. Nobody seems to know the rhyme or reason behind scratches except that it's in the soil.

Most of the time, it comes when the horses are in deep mud, so it was somewhat mysterious when Lefty had it during the dryest of the dry summer. Scratches causes severe pain. The area looks dirty and crusty, and any horse suffering with a case will react with even the slightest touch on the area.

Usually when horses get scratches, it will come back at a later time, often worse than the first time. Treatment involves putting a healing salve on the area and wrapping it. With luck, the horse will get relief within a day or two.

Fun and games of mud.

~~~~~
With all the rain, we've got worms aplenty, and I've never seen so many robins at this place. I swore when we first moved here that this was the robin center of North Idaho. I think they all multiplied. I worked on cross fences yesterday, putting up more steel posts and clamping the wire to the posts.

Virtually any direction I looked, half a dozen robins were digging for worms, sitting on fenceposts or flying over looking for their next perch. There's a definite sense of spring when you're standing in water and green grass and the chirping chorus is going wild. Love it!

~~~~
I also saw a grouse last evening while walking through the woods. It was on Wes' side of the fence, and it stood there as a statue for ten minutes. I stopped my walk to watch and see how long it would stay there.

I moved closer to the fence. I talked to it and made noises. Not one move. Even when the dogs came up behind me, it remained rigid. I began to wonder if it was a plant, stuck out there in the woods to humor me.

Finally, it could stand no more. Off it fluttered through the trees to go find another place to stand.

~~~~~
Just before dark I looked out the upstairs window and noticed that blankets of fog had rolled in. It was within minutes of my walk. As I stepped closer to the window, I spotted the outlines of eight deer feeding in the hayfield, where I'd just been.

For sure, the deer were watching me----and waiting.

Bill figures we'll see a lot of deer this year because of the mild winter. And, I'm figuring they may make me mad a time or two while pilfering my garden and chewing on my shrubs.

In spite of their bad habits, though, I never tire of seeing them.

~~~~~
Congrats to the Lady Zags. Off to the Sweet Sixteen. I'll admit I haven't followed them as closely as the men's team, but I knew they were good. It will be great if they have a very deserved Cinderella experience in this year's dance. GO ZAGS!

~~~~~
Speaking of dances, I was happy to see "Dancing with the Stars" return last night. Somehow I think Buzz Aldrin should stick with walking on the moon rather than shooting for any other stars in the Galaxy. He had a good time, but I think even I could give him a run for his money on boogying.

Always a fun show. I think the ESPN lady and the NFL star "good ol' what's his name" are going to be good as will be the skater.

~~~~~

Well, John will be here soon, so I'll call it a day and get outside to enjoy this beautiful Tuesday. Have a great day.

Moving on with Maintenance

Another season with the Zags has ended, not quite the way we all wanted the story to go, for sure. I enjoyed reading a column with Coach Mark Few this morning, reflecting on the tough game they had yesterday against Syracuse as opposed to the season as a whole.

He said he enjoyed this season with his team more than any other. I think his fans would agree with him. The Zags were fun. The Zags were exciting to watch, except for those games when it looked like they didn't show up mentally.

As we all sensed the outcome yesterday morning, each of us donned in our ZAG uniforms, be they hats or sweatshirts, we all concurred, "Once more they helped us through the winter." That in itself is quite a feat. And, that was enough.

We left my sisters' house while my mother stayed behind to watch some more NCAA games. We headed to the Tibbs Arabians indoor arena and immediately moved on to another activity that keeps us going for the months after winter and those leading into the next snow season: enjoying our horses.

Like the Zags, many of our equine athletes show great potential, and this season with our horses could be like Mark Few's just completed---our most enjoyable yet.

Just like the Zags, we'll probably have a few classes, among the many in which our horses perform, where they don't show up mentally. We'll be disappointed, but we'll move on with hopes of a better day or better luck next time.

And, today definitely signals a time to move on to new pursuits. For the first time this year, I saw angle worms this morning stretching their bodies and moving along the surface of the driveway after a night of rain. The lawns are almost green, and it could be just days before the lawnmowers come out.

Well, those mowers need their maintenance, and I've got to call my fix-it guru Tony today to arrange for his first visit of the year. I've already called John Fuller, our farrier. He just returned from his winter months in Mexico and says he'll be out between 8-9 tomorrow to put some shoes on Lily and give Lefty and Heather a trim.

I'll be calling Harvey, my hay supplier, to bring me those two tons of hay I bought last year. The hay pile still has 20-plus bales, but with lush green grass coming in the pastures, we still feed hay. We don't want them going out there gorging on that rich stuff and getting bad tummies. Bad tummies for horses can be deadly.

Thursday, I've got two maintenance appointments. One involves Mother's regular doctor's visit where they check to see that she's still doing okay, which she appears to be. And, there's Rowdy, her beloved cat.

Rowdy is long-haired, and his coat has developed its usual winter mats. So, he'll go to Ruthann's Quality Grooming in Ponderay for some first-class primping and combing. No doubt, Rowdy will come home happy on Thursday, and that will make Mother happy.

We also have to go down to the Power House and pick up the taxes from Bev. She finished 'em up and didn't even send me any lectures, except that she sure hopes we have some baby animals or crops coming next year so we'll make some money on our farm business. We'll sure work on that, Bev.

We're relieved that the only check we'll have to write is to Bev, and we'll get those tax forms for 2009 sent off in the mail.

Yup, this is definitely the maintenance time of the year, but all for good reasons. Pretty soon I'll have to be mowing lawns weekly, plucking weeds daily and watching my garden grow. And, that's a great substitute for no more ZAGS games.

Besides, we usually don't need much help getting through spring, summer and fall in North Idaho.

Fun stuff at the horse clinic

Lily made a liar out of me yesterday.

Both Monty (he's the one in the amazing glowing jacket) and Laurie were thrilled with her exemplary behavior and performance.

Why horses are special. Can you see the love? Ruby and Marqee.

Rusty and his headless horseperson.

Just standin' and waitin' to go to work: Rusty

I'll rub your foot if you'll rub my nose.

Mr. Dusty, Barbara's 3-year-old during his cool down.

R and R and debriefing after a good workout. Monte, Rusty and Laurie.

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Saturday Slight

Busy day ahead. Monte Collison from Spokane, originally from Sandpoint, is coming to put on a clinic at my sisters' arena. Lily is going to be one of the students, with Laurie aboard.

Could be Monte may end up aboard Lily cuz she's going to have to work, and Lily doesn't like being overstressed in the work department.

We know she's likely to buck cuz she's already done that with Laurie this spring. Lily seldom thinks about bucking with me, but I don't push her beyond walking down the road. Laurie does.

I spent the afternoon giving Lily a bath. Couldn't believe it was the second bath of the year and only March 19. Unheard of in these parts, unless the horses have their own shower room with hot water. Not here.

Still, Lily rather enjoyed the scrub down. I had a big container of warm water and used that for washing her face and head. Plus, the warm afternoon sun helped out.

Lily never once complained or tried to escape, except when I was spraying her hind quarters. Doesn't matter what time of the year it is, horses don't seem to like that part of their baths.

Anyway, when Lily goes over to my sisters' this morning, she'll be a clean horse in a nice clean blanket. So, if she bucks, she'll look pretty while she's doing it.

~~~~~~
Well, our ZAGS did it last night against Florida State. We were nervous throughout because we've seen them lose games after being ahead. They played well and met the challenge in the second half when Florida State tried some different strategies and almost came back.

After seeing the paper this morning and learning that their game tomorrow against Syracuse will be broadcast at 9 a.m., we figure it's time have those phones where you can watch television. The clinic will still be going on at that time, and that's when Bill heads off for church.

I told him this morning he's going to have to make a big decision between Presbyterians and Catholics. We've got some figuring out to do before tomorrow because I don't think there's a person in our family that would even think of missing the game.

GO ZAGS!!!

~~~~~

We had a nice time at Slate's Restaurant last night. Willie and Debbie joined us after we'd all watched the game at our own homes. Slate's has lots of TV's so we could continue to watch the tournament while eating.

I also enjoyed seeing several former students, all of the bunch I taught while in Portable 2. The group included one of my most memorable and most beloved students, Mike. I wrote about him in my last book. Mike and I went round and round that first year he was in my "class from Hell."

Still, we maintained an respectful understanding toward each other. I've always looked upon him as one of those students who made me truly earn the label of teacher and who brings a smile to my face every time I see him and learn how his life is progressing. He had his little 6-month old son with him last night, and it was neat to see what a doting dad he's become.

~~~~~~

We have a beautiful Saturday ahead, and I've got several items to put in the horse trailer before loading up Lily, so that's enough babble for today.

Happy Saturday.

Photos on a spring day

One would never know from this photo that my trio of horsies is still enduring the mud season.

I caught this shot in the late afternoon after Debbie and I went for a walk.

Part of yesterday was spent in Clark Fork on a picture-taking mission for one of my Sandpoint Magazine articles.

It's always a pleasure to "have" to go to Myra Lewis' place, and yesterday was no exception.

And, this spring has brought us many simple pleasures and lovely scenes, including the neighbors' Yaks coming over for a visit.

They're like horses in that when they escape their enclosure, they don't stay away too long.

Before I had time to get my camera, they had already gone home.

Yak Yak, who's there?

Sweet Heather at rest

Lefty: A kinder, gentler soul, I'll never know.

My friend Myra---always an inspiration---and her friend. I visited Myra yesterday at her beautiful farm east of Clark Fork.

She's 74 and a great role model.

What a deal! What a deal!

I've got lots of nice reasons to post the illustration above.

It was designed by Kendall Stratton, daughter of Kari.

Kari was my student for three years; she's remained my friend ever since.

She works as senior director at the Coldwater Creek Catalog Co. photo studio.

Her dad Erik has won some Academy Awards for cinematography.

He's worked for National Geographic for years.

He's my friend and has been for years. He makes a mean margarita.

Kendall is a student in my sister's yearbook class.

My sister Barbara is a wonderful photographer, just like Kari and Erik.

My sister Barbara is Kendall's teacher, has been for three years, I believe.

I'm sure Kendall is a great photographer: just haven't seen any of her work, except her graphic skills above.

Kendall is planning to attend the Journalism Education Association National Convention next month in Portland, along with other Monticola yearbook staff members at Sandpoint High School.

They'll be going with the newspaper staff students.

My son Willie advises and teaches the newspaper and journalism students.

I think more than 20 students are planning to attend.

They need money.

So, instead of aforementioned spaghetti feed, which I believe was supposed to be today, Barbara (Miss Tibbs) and her nephew, Willie (Mr. Love) have come up with a variety of fundraisers, all set for one day.

That would be Saturday, March 27 at Sandpoint High School.

In addition to taking your family and/or your pets down there for a very reasonable portrait, you can buy things.

The students will have a parking lot aka garage sale.

They are also sponsoring a road-apple rally.

In this event, people purchase squares on a grid. The grid will be inside an enclosure. At an assigned time, two rather pretty horses belonging to my two sisters, will be led into the enclosure.

At no prescribed time other than when nature decides, one of those horses, maybe both, will leave deposits on the grid. Those are called "road apples," for any uninformed readers.

Which ever square on the grid shows the largest amount or most road apples (sometimes the consistency of road apples turns to mash), which ever square gets dirty and green determines the winner of a cash prize.

From what I've heard, it's a lot of return on your $10 ticket, a heckuva lot more than the banks give you for interest. I've heard $1,000 mentioned as the prize, but I know this whole project has been a work in progress, so I won't say for sure.

If all goes well, there will be a whole lot of cash left over for the kids to use on their trip to Portland. And, of course, a mess to clean up.

I know those tickets have gone out, and I'm pretty sure I was the first one to purchase several of them, but nobody's assigned me any squares yet.

Anyway, it should be a fun day for all involved----nice photos taken by talented kids (you get a CD with a large assortment), second-hand stuff of good quality for prices even lower than what you'll earn for your bank interest, and pretty horses dropping their apples on squares.

Doesn't get any better than that, and, of course, when it's all over, there will be a bunch of smiling kids and even happier parents who don't have to go find an arm and a leg to send their kids to the convention.

So, there you have it, the complete scoop on the journalism fundraiser. Except for one thing. To learn more about any of these projects, you can call the number on the flyer or call Miss Tibbs or Mr. Love at Sandpoint High School 208-263-3034.

If you simply want to donate, you can send a check to either staff member at Sandpoint High School, 410 South Division, Sandpoint, ID 83864. I know they'll appreciate it.

And, since I have so many neat connections with the people involved, I encourage you to help them out and to spread the word.

Thank you.