Scenes along Woodside Road

Barbara, Laurie, Debbie and I went for a bike ride down Woodside Road last evening.

I've mentioned before on the blog that it's one of my favorite places to ride: it's just a couple of miles away, it's flat, at night meeting even one vehicle is shocking and the place abounds with animal life.

Last night's trip brought out the usual birds, including a group of wildly ranting and darting kildeer.

We were more than shocked to tally up three vehicles, driven by two humans.

One human, Garrett Stockdale, was working his shift as mechanic for Woods truck fleet, so he went up the road in a pick-up and came back down the road with a big front-end loader from the gravel pit.

Garrett told us he's the "put 'em to bed" mechanic. He comes in late in the day and makes sure everything is in running order for the next morning.

We saw three or four deer along the way, but none of them gave us much of a chance to snap a picture or two.

But the cows and horses and the Appaloosa mule did.

All seemed happy to see us, so we spent some time with each group and took a few nature portraits.

I liked the clump of daisies alongside the road.

It was an exhilarating and relaxing ride on a perfect evening.

Enjoy the photos below.

Akey's Army, Et. Al.

Willie came home from a week at the University of Idaho.

With him came some T-shirts for Mom and Dad.

He gave me the yellow one and Bill, the Akey's Army shirt.

After seeing an ad in this morning's paper for people to come and meet Idaho Vandal football coach Akey at Dover Bay Resort, I said to Bill that I believe the University of Idaho has embraced Rob Akey. And, yes, that's an understatement.

He has to be one of the most colorful coaches in college football, and he's turned his Vandal team and all its supporters into believers.

Having heard him interviewed a time or two, I'd feel safe in saying he's a supreme motivator, all through an incomparable enthusiasm.

Bill likes his shirt, and I like mine. Now, we're proper BSU parents, along with all our Boise State University Bronco memorabilia.

And, I can say I'm a good Vandal alum with my new shirt. Bill is and always has been an avid Vandal fan.

And, Willie assured me yesterday that he may be a Bronco grad, but he's gonna complete his Master's Degree at the University of Idaho.

So, he can always be a Vandal.

~~~~~

Now, speaking of  the Love family FANatics, Annie has asked a favor.  She and her friend Miriam have entered the Seattle Sounders Fan Contest.  Pictures of fans of all sizes, genders, etc. have been posted to the contest site.

Whoever wins in the voting gets to go to Houston to watch the Sounders play.

So, Annie asked that I post the site on my blog and encourage you all to click on it, find Annie and Miriam (they're the two lovely ladies with the blue and green Sounders wigs) and vote for them.

Of course, with these types of contests, the more people each of you Slight Detour fans tell, the more chances Annie and Miriam have to win the contest.

So, here's the site:  thanks for taking time to vote.  Annie will appreciate you, for sure.

http://www.werealotlikeyou.com/#contests/5/38

~~~~~

One more FANatic story:  I've submitted a story idea for the 20th anniversary edition of Sandpoint Magazine.  

It's the upcoming winter edition, and it's called ZAG NUTS.  It will be about how the ZAGS help so many people make it through the winters in Sandpoint.  So, if you're a ZAG NUT and you have an anecdote to share, send it my way.  I might just get to do the story, and maybe your contribution will appear in it. 

Thanks.

~~~~~

Under my new "Classified Ads" feature, I discovered that I have a box of "sorta gently used" Pocket Girdles books.  That means they have little pale yellow marks on the bottom side across the breadth of pages, and their covers and pages look a tiny bit rough.

I'll be happy to sell them for $5 plus postage and autographed if anyone's interested in a used "Pocket Girdles."  That's half-price.

On the reality side, I can't imagine anyone being interested in a used girdle, but keep in mind this is a book ABOUT the lingerie, not the real thing.

Send me a note at potatohead89@hotmail.com, if you're interested, and I'll send you a book.

~~~~~

My thoughts go out to the Evans, Moore and Gunter families.  They each lost a beloved family member over the past week.  Again, that longtime local status brings forth sadness when a string of folks you've known most or all of your life pass away.

Frank, Bobby and Cleadis, may you rest in peace.  I did not know Col. Paul Weisz, except by sight and by his mom Susie from St. Joseph's Catholic Church.  I always knew he was an outstanding individual, and his life story this morning confirmed that.

Frank, Bobby, Cleadis and Paul, RIP, and condolences to each of your family members.

~~~~~

Super 1 Foods opens tomorrow, less than a block from where Margaret and John Bradetich had their Boyer Store on the corner of Larch and Boyer. 
I read in this morning's history column that the Bradetich's opened their bigger, better M and J Food Store on Fifth Avenue (site of present Super Drug) 50 years ago this week.  

So, tomorrow will begin a new chapter in grocery shopping for Sandpoint, and a new chapter in how we get there.  The Roundabout on Boyer leading to Super 1 now takes up part of the site where all of us North Boyer folks used to shop so long ago.

Could this possibly be a case of the local grocery store scene going "full circle"?

~~~~~

It's another beautiful day in North Idaho, and it will be another night time when I totally collapse after a full day spent making the rounds to finish off projects and start others.  I was not successful in moving the rototiller yesterday.  The ground out there in the north garden is still too soft.  Maybe today.

With help from Bill, I did get Big Blue out of the back corner of  the storage shed last night.  We simply deposited it next to its summer home.  

 After lifting up the pool's vinyl cover which has been spread across the Big Blue sand foundation, we discovered a large colony of ants which had taken up residence there over the winter.

Both of us were imagining fighting off the ants while swimming, but Bill figures that when Big Blue gets filled several thousand gallons of water, the ants may go marching somewhere else.

I checked this morning, and I think they decided to leave Dodge before getting squashed.  

Happy Tuesday.

Early to rise gets more work done.

I heard people stirring and dogs barking at neighbor dogs really early this morning.  The first time I looked at the clock it was 3:40.  A few minutes later some yiping outside the window awakened me again.  

Normally dogs aren't outside at that time, so the neighborhood sounds wafting through the early dawn air put them into a barking mode.  I yelled out the window for them to be quiet, which they did.

I never heard Bill or Annie leave, but by shortly after 4, I know they were on the road.  Annie decided to change her airline ticket for an early Monday flight, allowing her the whole Sunday to enjoy her visit to Sandpoint.

I think she had a good time.  She spent a lot of this past weekend taking photos with her brand-new iphone, which she tells me has a much superior camera over her first iphone.  She belongs to some photo group which sponsors weekly contests, and this week's theme was photos taken by cell phone.

I told her if she wanted to win first place to take that phone out to the funky front lawn while I watered the flowers and carrots in the antique manure spreader.  When I water flowers or veggies anywhere, I have more than enough help.  

Have I mentioned before that Border Collies love hoses, especially hoses that spray water?  It's fun to jump really high in the air grab a mouthful of running water and then choke on it.  Border Collies can't get enough of chugging and choking.  And, they do nice dances in the process. Kea, in particular, puts on some good photogenic moves. 

Did I ever mention that Border Collies like to stick with a routine?  When Mom Love waters the stuff in the antique manure spreader, Kea's self imposed assignment is the south side of the spreader.  Todd and Brooke take the north side, while Kiwi, like a good big sister dog,  stands behind Mom Love, allowing the young-uns to play. 

The routine seldom varies.  And, as the hose operator, I get to see some neat scenes.  My favorite is Kea jumping up on the other side of the spreader, trying to get her chug.  There's rustic wood, artistic cascades, and cute columbine blossoms  in the photo frame, along with a determined little black-and-white dog popping up every few seconds.  

Annie took several pictures of this scene yesterday and caught some good action shots with her new phone, so we'll see how she does in the contest.

Anyway, as I write, she's probably over Central Washington about to see the Cascade Mountains.  If she caught her flight, she'll probably be at work by 9 a.m. So, Groundspeak people, if she's late, you know she's on her way.  

The early morning wake-up eventually got my mind to thinking that if I'd just get up, I could get some hot work done during relatively cool hours.  So, I went out, turned the horses out, and wasted no time going back to the horse stalls which need floor repair.

Lefty's stall should hold up for another year after yesterday's patch job.  This morning I pulled up the mats and discovered a little more challenging job in Lily's stall.  It will involve replacing two full boards, so I cleaned up the area and pulled out the previous patchwork.  

This will probably be a two-day project cuz I'm actually going to try to do it somewhat right.  I'm not too good at doing anything somewhat right when it comes to boards, hammers and nails, but I'll do my best.  

 Maybe today I can finally get into the north garden and move the rototiller from the spot where it's been sitting for almost a month.  I'll do my best to work up the ground one more time, throw in some bean seed and transplant my cucumbers---all before July.

With luck, maybe some of that stuff will still have a chance.  I have discovered, very sadly, that most of my strawberry patch, which I doubled in size this past year, is without berries.  The cold weather must have done a number on those blossoms too.  So, what looked like a great fruit year has turned a bit dismal.

Maybe next year.  

Anyway, gotta get going and get some sweaty work done before it heats up, and some doggies are waiting for their daily water dance. 

Happy Monday. 

Lots to do, lots to do

I could go several directions on this lovely Sunday.  Seems like when the good weather finally comes, the time clock starts ticking.  This to do. Tick.   That to do. Tock.  And, all those other things.  Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock . . . .

I can hear it going off in my head as I think about the repair work on the box stall floors, another attempt at rotilling the garden in hopes some seeds will geminate, pulling weeds, pulling weeds, pulling grass, watering, mowing lawn, weed eating, etc., etc., etc.

We're given so much time to get so many things done before weather turns bad again.  And, this year's late start means that much more pressure and that much less time to get at it-------especially once the weather turns warmer.

I have another project, thanks to a lovely gift Bill gave me for my birthday.  My neighbor in the know down the road, Janice properly referred to it as an arbor, while I called it a trellis.  Bill put it together Friday night, and it was placed in front of the garage door for Annie and me to walk through when we arrived home from the airport.

Now, I've picked a spot out in what I call my "funky" north lawn.  And, now I'll have to plot out a space big enough to surround it and to allow room for climbing roses on either side.  To avoid problems mowing, I'll create a gravel base around it, maybe with some boards. 

It will be a lot of work, but if I do it right, the end product should be beautiful in a couple of years.

While today is basically a work day mixed with play, yesterday turned out to be total play day, and it was nice.  Annie and I ended up at Mick Duffs to watch the World Cup Soccer game.  I can see what she means about how much more fun it is with a crowd.  

The pub was filled with dozens of diehard fans, some even painted up for the occasion, and as their beer flowed, their raucous intensity as fans increased.  Annie and I sat fairly quietly and watched while enjoying lunch and quick visits with friends strolling through the place.  

Sadly USA lost, but we didn't spend much time lamenting it.  Annie headed home to meet Bill, and they took off for Schweitzer where they rode the chairlift, hiked to the top of Blue Mountain, found a geacache and headed back.  

Meanwhile, I went to a horse clinic where Laurie was taking some dressage lessons. It was fun kicking back and just enjoying the action along with lots of visiting. 

We all met last evening---Barbara, Laurie, Mother, Bill, Annie and I---at Second Avenue Pizza.  Part of that session included some fun banter with Billy Bopp and Casey Fournier, whom I've known forever.  Both are local beer stockers, and they report that the Super One Foods Store is going to be REALLY NICE.  

Second Avenue owner Carolyn joined in on the fun and later sent out a nice birthday dessert.  Thanks so much, Carolyn.  You're a sweetie, and I ate three slices of that wonderful pizza last night.  Usually I can hold myself to two, which is difficult.  But birthdays come once a year, so an extra slice can be rationalized. 

Anyway, it was a great day, and I'm looking forward to another activity-filled one today.  It might even include some visiting with Laura, Sefo and the triplets.  So, I'd better get on with the morning projects.

Happy Sunday. Tick. Tock.

Saturday Slight

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (left) listens as a Girl Scout official speaks about the Gold Star Awards at the Washington Governor's Mansion this past Wednesday. On the right behind the podium is our beloved Debbie who also addressed the gathering. 

In the second photo, Debbie speaks while others listen.  We're all very proud of Debbie.  This weekend Willie and Debbie are in Boise.  Willie finished his multicultural journalism course yesterday afternoon in Moscow and drove on down to Boise.  

He said the week-long, intensive study was a wonderful experience. It included working with both the Nez Perce and the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribes. We're anxious to hear his stories. 

~~~~

A gorgeous Saturday morning it is here in North Idaho.  Bill's reading the papers downstairs while Annie is snoozing in the bedroom next door.

 Annie presented me a wonderful birthday present at the end of the day yesterday:  herself.  She had planned to stay in Seattle for the weekend but decided Thursday to spend the weekend with us. She promised that if I'm nice to her, she'll be nice to me all weekend.  Can't get any better than that.

I picked her up at the airport last night, after dining on prime rib at the Ramada Inn.  My plan had been to dine on the Costco samples in Hayden, but somehow sitting down and relaxing after a very busy day sounded better.  

So, I enjoyed a birthday meal solo, and it was kinda fun cuz I was following totally my own schedule for a few hours with no restrictions except to meet up with Annie at 8:30 p.m.

The freedom to follow one's own schedule once in a while turns into a total luxury.  Occasionally, I really enjoy driving somewhere alone, where I can listen to any music I want, turn up the volume full blast, stop wherever I wish, etc. 

Last night, I even had time to sit and update my checkbook while seated at my table by the window watching Hoopfest participants and their families unload luggage and walk into the hotel.  The big weekend of basketball starts today in downtown Spokane, while the Ironman Triathlon is in Coeur d'Alene.  Definitely a sporting bonanza for this area.

And, later this morning, we'll probably head down to our chosen restaurant/pub to watch the World Cup Soccer. 

This afternoon, I'll probably go watch Laurie at her dressage clinic with Gail Redinger.  It's an East meets West equine affair where some folks will be learning more about reining while others concentrate on dressage.

With the lawn mowed and the house fairly clean, the day offers lots of flexibility in choices.  I'm even thinking of grabbing a bunch of my lovely radishes from the garden to throw into a homemade potato salad today.

The paper says Super 1 Foods will open this coming Wednesday.  It will be fun to go explore their offerings, and from the sounds of things, they have a topnotch bakery. 

Bill will add that they have topnotch chicken too.  He's an aficionado of  hot chicken, and he's sampled just about everywhere in North Idaho, so I'd say that's a pretty good recommendation. 

Well, I guess that's enough for now.  It's a great day and definitely not one to waste.  Have a wonderful Saturday wherever you are. 

Friday fun

John Fuller is  coming this morning.  He hasn't been here for three months, and Lily's shoes sound like it.  They clang with just about every step she takes.  She also has a hole in the side of her hoof.  That appeared over the past few weeks.  

Of course, it may have been there longer, but mud-caked hooves can hide a lot.  I don't think it's anything to worry about because it's not where John nails the shoes.

Lily's shoeing comes at a good time for future events cuz Laurie will be riding her in the Spots of Fun Show, just three weeks from now.  She should be adjusted to them, and her feet won't be too long.

It's a beautiful day for horse shoeing and for lawn work.  Bill brought me a young maple tree and a wild rose from the Farmer's Market the other night, so I'm hoping to get them in the ground today.  

I'm also hoping to get the rest of the lawn mowed cuz Annie's coming tonight.  She  has requested that we find a sports bar with big television screens so we can watch the USA take on Ghana tomorrow in the World Cup Soccer Tournament.  I've done my assignment, so we'll probably enjoy the game over lunch.  GO USA!

With the weather being nice and getting better, I'll probably also drag out Big Blue from the storage shed in preparation for another summer of Big Blue adventures.  For those, not in the know, Big Blue is our behind-the-barnyard, blow-up swimming pool, which Bill gave me last year as a gift.

The learning curve on filling such a pool was steep and deep (with flowing water, that is). . 

Twice I filled it (takes an entire day) only to have it collapse with oceans of water flowing throughout the area west of the barn.  We don't need oceans this year to add to the standing water which refuses to go away.

So, I'm hoping I've learned the proper way to fill Big Blue and that our Oden Water bill won't be too high.  Once that's done, we can invite Bert Wood's cows to come and watch while we enjoy our hot-afternoon refreshment.  

Ah, summer.  Nice to have it finally.  

A special thanks to Janis this morning.  Your talents and thoughtfulness are so touching.  Your artwork has a place of honor and will be cherished forever.

Happy Friday to all.  

News Week, Indeed

Oh to be a working reporter this week!  The buffet of tantalizing events has been so vast that I can't decide which story I would have selected for a "delicious" assignment.  Regardless of the events, good or bad, there are lots of questions to be asked in a variety of venues this week.

For Gen. McChrystal:  What were you thinking or were you thinking when you and your troops ran off at the mouth to the Rolling Stone reporter?   Remember those Rolling Stone journalists gather no moss; instead, they're looking for some good smut, and you sure dished out a healthy helping for everyone to chew upon while someone chewed upon you.  

For those soccer referees who keep nixing legal goals made by the United States in the World Cup:  What are your thoughts now that USA has emerged at the top of its current heap in spite of your efforts?  

For the Seattle Mariners who have lost and lost and lost but have found whatever they seemed to have lost and now have won and won and won and won and won and won?  What's the secret to your current success streak?  Never mind telling us if it's working for you.  Just keep it up.

For those tennis players whose match continues into a third day:  Have you signed a contract for the Hollywood movie?  Sounds like good stuff for the big screen.  My only concern is how long the movie will last.  Will it be a three or four day marathon, just like your match?

Years ago, one of my students gave a book report on Gone with the Wind once; it lasted for three days.  And, we were all wishing about halfway into it that she would go away with the wind, especially after all the times she said, "ENNAWAY" while relaying ultra-trivial details in the plot.

For BP:  So, who was operating the robot that caused havoc with the cap holding a portion of those millions of gallons of oil at bay?  Are they still working for you,  or have they gone yachting with Tony Hayward?  Will Tony bring his yacht to the Gulf to go sailing?

There's much more, but I would love to have an assignment on any of these stories.  Hard to believe so many news planets would line up at the same time for so much intriguing journalistic material.  There are a few juicy stories locally too, but unlike Gen. McChrystal, I'm gonna be careful what I ask in public about those.  

I guess it's good these stories have all surfaced early in the week because tomorrow's one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson is sure to trump any one of the above. 

Turkey buzzards, yuck!

Our deer doe saga continues.  We don't know a lot of details.  We know only what we see, and so far that hasn't connected many dots.  Instead, the story becomes more mysterious.

Bill took a walk through the woods, water and all, a couple of days ago.  He saw no sign of Mother Deer or of her potential baby.  Neither of us had seen her for a couple of days, except possibly Sunday.

I was mowing the front lawn when I looked up and saw what may have been our dear doe standing in the corner of the north lawn near the road, frozen like a statue and staring back at me.  I made a couple more rounds with my mowing while she continued to watch me.  Then, she decided the best escape route at that time was down the road. 

So, she galloped south.  I did not see her again until yesterday morning.

Actually, Heather spotted her as we walked down the lane.  She was standing in the hayfield near the Ponderosa tree,  staring at us.  She watched as I brought all three horses to the pasture.  Eventually, she disappeared for a while.

Later, I saw horses with heads up eyeing something near their fence.  It was the doe.  She was wandering in a small area halfway out into the hayfield and fairly close to the horses' fenceline.  She stared at them.  They ran around, snorted and stared back.

I saw this happen a couple of times yesterday.  She would be visible one minute, nowhere to be seen the next.  But she always came back to that area.  So, I figured she must have had her baby out there in the deep grass.

An ominous sign started appearing in mid-afternoon.  Occasionally, I would see what looked like over-sized crows flying from the big trees over the area, swooping down and flying off.  This happened in several intervals through the early evening hours.

The more I studied the individual birds making those passes the more I thought they might even be eagles, but they were not the right coloring.  Bill suggested maybe hawks.  I said they looked mighty big to be a hawk.

Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me.  I locked the dogs inside and walked out to the pasture where the horses were still eating.  I could see one of the big birds sitting on a tree limb at the edge of the woods watching me.

As I got closer, I spotted another and then another.  Five of them all together, and these were no crows, hawks or eagles.  The telltale red snots gave their cover away:  turkey buzzards.  I believe they must be the ugliest, most creepy birds known to man.  

They sat there with the tree limbs bouncing and swaying beneath them from the sheer weight of their bodies.  As I reached about the halfway point through the pasture and started looking for high spots where I could keep my feet out of standing water, the creatures took off.  

One by one, the monster-like birds left their tree limbs and soared spookily through the air to the west.

I walked part-way out into the chest-deep and thick hay, finding no sign of whatever had drawn them there, for those overhead reconnaissance missions.  Bill had suggested earlier that possibly they came to feed on the after birth.  I'm suspecting that it could have been much worse to draw a squadron of five.  

I can't imagine after-birth from a doe offering too much of a meal for that many huge birds.  

So, this morning, the mystery continues.  We haven't seen the turkey buzzards since last night.  We may have seen our doe this morning,  wandering through the front yard headed toward Gary Finney's.  Hard to tell cuz they do look a lot alike, but I'm guessing that was she.

And, at this point, only she knows the whole story, so I'll end it here, hoping to add some more chapters, and really hoping for a happier ending than what we're quietly surmising this morning.  

Stay tuned, and GO USA Soccer Team.  The match has begun!

Tuesday Twitterdeedum

Glad to see the rain was good for something.  My friend Cis (http://www.wordtosser.blogspot.com)  is back to blogging.  Welcome back, Cis.  We missed you. 

Well, this morning, I see a white cloud with some blue sky out the west window, and that's usually where we get our weather.  So, I think we may be in store for some nice times again.  

~~~~~

I'm not full of fascinating, funny or deep thoughts this morning.  

I can tell Slight Detour reader Judy who wrote to me yesterday that I don't have the answer on the Evans Bros. coffee family roots.  All I can say is that I met one of the Mrs. Evans Bros. a few weeks ago, and she told me she came to Sandpoint from Seattle after living several other places prior.  She's a teacher.  

~~~~~

Speaking of local businesses, I read in the paper this morning that Litehouse, Inc. of Sandpoint has acquired Green Garden Foods of Kent, Wash.  It's been fun over my adult lifetime to watch this company grow from those salad dressing hand-outs at the Litehouse Restaurant to the leading refrigerated dressing company in the nation.  

I even went on a Pend Oreille Trail Ride years ago when the Litehouse salad dressing king himself,   Ed Hawkins, Sr.,  was the trail boss and chief cook.  I distinctly remember him putting together our outdoor banquet in the darkness near Moose Lake in the Cabinet Mountains where we camped that night. 

And, when you've known some of the present owners since junior high and have watched others grow from students into phenomenal adults, its all the more fun.  Congrats to Litehouse and all its staff on yet another move into corporate stardom.

~~~~~

I've had grandpuppies overnight.  Debbie had to travel to Colville last night and knew she'd be home late, so I told her Todd and Brooke could stay overnight.  They've come a long way since those initial overnighters earlier this spring when we worried every second that they'd run away or get trampled by a horse.

The doggies know their bounds now, and they're pretty fast when recoiling from barking at Lily through the fence.  So, we've settled down as they've settled down.  

I cannot emphasize enough the hundreds of moments of joy and total amusement we've had during their stays here. Four Border Collies at once is a lot like kindergaarten but better.  They're just plain funny dogs.  In fact, after the experiences we've had this spring, I firmly believe hospitals ought to hire Border Collies to keep the patients happy. 

It's hard to describe their natural talents, and it's just as hard to not laugh a lot of the time when they're just being Border Collies.

~~~~~

As I said at the beginning, there's just not a lot on my mind this morning, so this will do it for today.  Have a wonderful Tuesday.

I'm headed outside to laugh at Border Collies and to enjoy some dry weather.  Thank you, Mother Nature!

Longest rainy day and intolerance

I was thinking back about a "nice"  evening last week when our friends Bill and Mindy stopped by.  I was leading horses up from pasture, and Bill was working outside near the shop.  As we visited with our guests, I learned that Mindy and I (a couple of journalists) share mirror-image mindsets on the weather we've experienced of late.

In fact, she stated something almost word-for-word with what I'd said to Bill a couple of weeks ago.  It dealt with the fact that we haven't really had any sensation of the "longest days of the year" in 2010 because they seem more like the shortest.  

The excessive amount of dark, rain-filled clouds contributing to gloom both morning and night has removed all sense of the wonderful light moods that we normally enjoy this time of year.  It's more like December, only the ground is green and not white.

This morning,  as I slowly got myself going on yet another dark, dismal day, I thought about how we've missed out on our sense of summer.  Last fall, we were deprived of  the beauty of autumn, thanks to an early freeze which sapped all color from the usual brilliant and fading leaves.  And, even though I didn't complain, we did not have winter as we know it.

It's been a strange past few months, and who knows what we have in store. 

As Mindy and I continued to talk, we noted several similarities in our outlook.  For example, there's just so much housework one can do every single day while being cooped up,  and outdoors-oriented people quickly grow weary of conjuring up inside "projects."  

"After a while, I think maybe I should bake some cookies," Mindy told me, "and I find myself spending too much time at the computer."  

Ditto!  That's me to a tee.  

Well, here we are again on the first day of summer on the longest gray day of the year.  I have once again shut all the windows, turned on the living room thermostat and have just flipped the electric heater off.  Its job was to provide some heat so my pant legs,  from 15 minutes  spent outside doing my chores,  would dry.  

This morning, I bit the bullet and just fed the horses in the barn.  I knew they'd let me stand out in the pouring rain waiting while one of them finally bit its bullet and walked over the barn stall threshold into the slop outside.  They're not stupid, ya know.  They know enough to STAY inside out of the rain.  

So, they got fed inside. 

This morning's paper is really skinny cuz it's Monday, and we don't get the Daily Bee on Monday's, so paper reading lasted all of ten minutes.  The house is pretty clean, and, no, I don't want to read a book or bake cookies.  We've got plenty of blonde oreos sitting on the counter.

I do have a column I can finish for the River Journal, and that will involve "too much time at the computer."

Last night I finally planted some more bean seed (Iz the third time a charm?) on a ridge in the manure pile ABOVE the high-water line.  My rototiller, since my brother helped me fix the starter cord, is still sitting out in the north garden where it has remained for three weeks now.

I did rototil that area once the starter cord worked again and quickly planted some potatoes, corn and beans THREE WEEKS AGO.  Nothing resembling any of those items has appeared.

All tolled, I'd say that garden spot has remained under water about 95 percent of those past three weeks.  When I went there last week to cut a pretty blue Iris (with a lovely aroma and given to me by the Camp family)  for Mindy, I tried stepping inside the garden.  My foot immediately sank about three inches into the muck.  

That was at the garden's dryest stage in recent weeks.  I ended up threading my hand through a hole in the woven wire fence and stretching it as far as possible to get the Iris.

We can count on less than one hand the number of nice days we've had in the last month, and I'm finding myself totally resenting having to spend five hours at the Women of Wisdom luncheon Saturday---only because it took up a great portion of that nice day with our having to remain inside while the sun was shining outside.  

Pretty pathetic to judge things by those standards, I'll tell you.  No offense to Women of Wisdom.  I can only imagine the mood of the luncheon if it had occurred on one of the gloom days we've come to know so well.  

Anyway, here we are again, complaining.  My apologies.

I'm thinking of what I have to do today and trying to figure out on one more day how I'll be occupying my time doing another countdown aimed at that elusive date three days from now where the weather map shows a big smiling sun.

Only problem is that once we reached the point of being a day shy from thinking we're going to be happy again and can get on with summer,  those damn smiley graphics keep moving on down the calendar to three days later. 

I wonder if we'll see fall colors this year!

Some images from the WOW luncheon

Yes, it's Father's Day today, and I extend my best wishes to all the dads who are special to their families on this 100th anniversary of your celebration.

You deserve special treatment today and on all days.

~~~~~

Today is also the day that I have photos from yesterday's Women of Wisdom luncheon at the Tango Cafe.

This year's honorees included Barbie Buchanen, Pat Lewis, Mollie O'Reilly, Linda Plaster and Dixie Stansell.

While their families and friends watched, each was honored with a special video production, a speech and a pin.

As usual, it was a great and festive affair, coordinated by the Women Honoring Women committee, so enthusiastically guided by chair Kathy Chambers.

And, yes, a good time was had by all as guests sipped wine, listened to beautiful harp music, enjoyed a lovely luncheon and renewed lots of old friendships.

Enjoy the photos below.

Diane Stockton and Kathy Chambers share a laugh before the guests arrived.

WHW committee members Kathy Conger, Rachel Riddle Schwam and Marilyn Sabella.

Our teen-aged harpist played exquisitely beautiful music.

Committee members Mickey Quinn and Marilyn Sabella visit before the luncheon.

The guests begin arriving.

WOW honoree Linda Plaster with some of her many family members who attended.

Honoree Pat Lewis, center, with WHW board member Diane Arrant and Jerry Lewis.

Friends:  Kendall, Jennifer, Buddy and Kathy.

Inlaws and outlaws: Sig Thompson Brannen, Mary Thompson Brown, Debbie Love and Rose Marie Thompson stand with past WOW honoree Helen Thompson.

Old friends and children of WOW honorees (Linda Plaster and Pat Lewis) John Plaster and Jeralyn Lewis Mire, SHS Class of 1982.

Saturday Slight

Our annual deer who's not so dear.

Our woods may be off limits for the next several weeks, if this is the same doe who has appeared every June to give birth.

Our first sighting of her came three days ago when I saw her grazing down in the hayfield.

Since then, she's spent time along the fenceline between the woods and our yard/pastures.

She appears relatively unafraid, which is a good indicator that she IS the same aggressive doe who has chased our dogs and even chased our daughter Annie who was driving a 4-wheeler UTV through the woods.

The ol' gal means business, so we keep our distance.  Several members of the family have seen her in action, so there's a healthy respect.

Last year I was pulling up fence wire on the south side of the woods when Kea had joined me.  

Suddenly, Kea came running my way and the doe came crashing out of the bushes behind her.  The deer was nice enough when she saw me to turn the other way.  I was glad.

So far, she's just been slinking through the woods several times a day, watching and probably waiting to have her baby.  When and if that occurs, we'll all be exercising caution if we see her in our proximity.

If she is the same doe, she probably has more reason than most for her somewhat scary ways.  Two years ago she had her fawn in one of the pastures where grass was waist high.  The horses were grazing in the enclosure at the time.  

One of them happened on to the baby.  It shrieked.  The horses gathered around and stomped the poor little thing.  I stood helpless in the lane, listening and knowing that the fawn had met a quick death.

I was also angry at the mother for choosing that spot to have her fawn when she had the entire woods with waist-high grass and no horses.  

It was truly a sad incident of nature.

We'll see what this year's adventures are during her stay and hope for the best.

~~~~~

I'm glad to see that the World Cup Soccer is investigating the refereeing job of yesterday's USA-Slovenia soccer match.  I read that if they find negligence on his part, he'll not referee any more matches during the tournament.

Seldom do I "blame the refs" for losses, but yesterday's decision to call back a third goal made by the USA was eggregious at best.  So far, anyone who has reviewed the tapes can find any reason for his decision.

The story I read also points out that he allowed unusually rough play during the match.

Of course, this may not reverse the outcome of yesterday's match which ended in a tie, but it will at least soothe a portion of the frustration felt by the USA team, staff and its supporters around the world.

~~~~~

Last night after we finished helping set up for today's Women of Wisdom luncheon, Debbie and I  went to The Dish for dinner.

We had planned for Willie to be with us, but Willie's Friday plans changed suddenly at 1:15 when he was talking to Debbie on the phone.  

Apparently, he was looking over the schedule for his week of classes at the University of Idaho at the time.  

"Oh, God," he yelled over the phone, "I was supposed to be there 15 minutes ago!"

Willie had thought the classes started today, when, in fact, they had already started in Moscow when he was home in Sandpoint, just about to start his packing process.

Well, needless to say, packing went quickly, Willie took off quickly and had driven a few miles from his home only to remember that he had forgotten all his shirts.

Oh yeah, he did call the teacher, whose rather pointed comment to him was, "We're waiting for you."  

Apparently, they didn't wait and moved on with the class while Willie made his way to Moscow.

His only comment when we talked to him last night about his harried day was that "It will be interesting."

Anyway, Debbie and I had a delightful time at The Dish, as we always do.  I usually don't eat my entire hamburger, but every mouth-watering bite of the Kobe beef burger was worth the calories.

We also enjoyed seeing the Finney sisters who were happy to reminisce about old times in the Schweitzer Valley Dwellers 4-H Club.  And, yes, Joan, your name was mentioned when I asked your brother George how you're doing these days.  He says you still read the blog.  Thanks. 

And, thank you so much to the Dish staff for the exquisite and tasty creme brulee. To die for, is all I can say, and so nice of you.

~~~~~~~~

After our dinner, Debbie and I drove by our old home on Great Northern Road.  

It looked fairly quiet so we drove in the driveway. 

I know they say you can't go home again 

I just had to come back one last time
                                     --Miranda Lambert
 

I should not have gone there.  

I know the place was purchased for expansion by Quest Aircraft, but still that does not diminish the personal sadness of seeing one's home of 30 years, looking so disheveled----grass, weeds, stuff falling apart, a few flowers growing among the tall grass and weeds, the beautiful barn slowly disintegrating with doors missing.  

Our plaque, thanking the community and John Knowles for building the house in 1985 after our other house burned down, still hangs on the back door. 

Debbie stepped from the car, walked to the porch, peeked in the window, came back and said the carpeting and linoleum had been pulled.  That would suggest that the house will probably disappear one of these days.

They say you should not go home again.  They're right in this case.  It was a sad sight.

~~~~

Well, we've got a luncheon to go to, so I'd better wash my hair, iron my downtown clothes and get on with it.  It will be a nice affair, but I'll also be glad to get home, shed the dress clothes and get back into my jeans.

Country hickdum feels better every day.

Happy Saturday. 

Fun Times and Friday

Willie and some of the ladies at last night's Delta Kappa Gamma State Convention banquet.

We both had a great time. Pat Stewart, on the right, coerced me into saying yes to speaking at the convention nearly a year ago while we visited in the then Boundary Trader grocery-store parking lot.

I told her only one item could convince me to work up my nerves to do such a thing, after saying no more speeches last year.

A glass of Chardonnay.

Yep, it helped. The stomach nerves stayed in tow, and I had a great time speaking.

Willie had a great time too.

It was a proud moment for a mom and a teacher.

Thanks to Delta Kappa Gamma for having us. We met some wonderful ladies, all teachers, from throughout the state.

~~~~~

This Friday has rolled in to town quickly, despite the rainy days. Now, yesterday had to be a record rain. I think all tolled, I might have spent ten minutes outside, during those very rare semi-dry times.

So far, this morning there's no rain but low hanging clouds. If all goes well, it will clear off and we can have an enjoyable day.

Gardening, i.e., the hope of ever planting my beans and corn, may be dimming this late in the summer. Beans may have a chance, but forget the corn.

I did plant a dozen stalks inside my greenhouse, and they're in the one garden that doesn't have water problems. So, we can enjoy a few ears of fresh corn this summer.

As this rain has gone on and on and on, one learns that urgency must take a back seat to acceptance that things will get done when they're meant to get done.

One of the positive sides to so much rain is my discovery that dandelions must not like it at all. Those little yellow buggers just haven't been popping up and ruining my mowing projects within hours like they usually do. The lawn has been gorgeous through all this.

~~~~~~
Tomorrow is the Women of Wisdom luncheon at the Tango Cafe in Panhandle State Bank, so Debbie and I will be helping with set-up tonight. Bill is going to a retirement dinner in Bonners Ferry, so Willie will probably join Debbie and me for dinner in town.

Tomorrow, Willie heads off to Moscow for a week-long summer-school course dealing with journalism. Next week Debbie will be representing the Spokane Council of the Girl Scouts of America at a Gold Star luncheon in Olympia.

She'll be giving a speech where the Washington governor and the state's U.S. Senators will be in the audience, as well as a lot of outstanding Girl Scouts.

Our Love family speaking circuit has kept us popping this month, for sure.

~~~~~~

That Annie,  with all her interest in soccer,  has the rest of us re-addicted to the sport, and the U.S. is playing Slovenia as I type. So, I'll bid all adieu and wish you all a great Friday.

GO USA!

Can a Speech Get Rained Out?

So, the Sandpoint Sampler, scheduled for today, was postponed until next week.  If it had gone off as scheduled, local restaurant owners would have set up shop in Farmin Park and hungry people could come and sample the offerings.  

Oops, if it had gone off as scheduled, local restaurant owners would have paddled their boats full of slimy spaghetti, rain-rotted alfalfa sprouts, roast leg of drowned duck and fartless burritos to Farmin Park,  and a few brave hungry mouths covered with raingear may have showed up looking for a good deal. 

And, it's very possible, they could have drunk their dinner without aid of alcohol, green tea or strawberry punch.  The rain would have taken care of that.

Apparently, the folks sponsoring the event, listened to the NOAH (is there an ark involved there?) weather forecast for 100 percent rain on Thursday.  Knowing a rainy forecast when they saw one----after all we've all become experienced at that lately----they chose wisely to postpone the food party.  

I'll bet a few baseball games get rained out today, just as will several neighborhood lawnmowing parties.  

This all begs the question:  could the speech Willie and I have to give tonight in Post Falls possibly get rained out?  

Could the Spokane River possibly overflow its banks into Templins dining room and send all the guests scurrying for higher ground?  And, could those ladies from that teaching sorority decide they really don't need to listen to "Education:  A Family Runs through It."  

After all, there's a river running past that place, and it could run through it.

I guess that's a lot of wishful thinking on my part.  Cuz, yes, it's nervous-stomach day.  At last, the day has come, when I can finally go through the torment of anticipation once more (after stating publicly I'd never do such things again), take several trips to the bathroom and finally get introduced as the banquet speaker.  

That is the key moment for today.  Once I step up to the podium, most of that crazy nervous stuff goes away, but as yet, I've found no hypnotist or therapist who can make me believe that giving a speech is no big deal.  

"Pretend they're all naked," the experts say.  Well, the naked truth is they aren't.  They're real live human beings--teachers no less---sitting there with real expectations for this neurotic, pacing lady to get up there and sound halfway intelligent. 

Tonight I am going armed with a quasi-relaxation ploy:  my son.  I'm banking on the fact that all those female school teachers will be so enamored with my charming Willie (the only man in the room)  that attention will be deflected.  They really won't even be listening to me cuz they're dealing with their own anticipation euphoria as opposed to my anticipation anxiety.

Oh, they will humor me by pretending to pay attention to my long-crafted words about all the teaching influences in our family dating back to Iva Downing Tibbs and Ora Scott Love and leading right up to William E. Love III, educator,  because they just can't wait for adorable William E. Love III, educator,  to get up and flash those big brown eyes at them and work his elocutionary magic.

Yeah, Willie will provide a buffer between me and my fears, but I'll still be nervous and wishing the Spokane River would flood and Templins would have to evacuate before 6 p.m.  and when we come hydro-planing into the parking lot, some security guard will meet us and say, "Sorry, but your speech has been canceled due to rain."  

Fat chance.  

But it IS mighty wet out, and I DID finally place my tomatoes into relatively moist ground yesterday, and they probably will float away from the mud flats today.

In fact, the probability of those tomatoes heading southward toward Post Falls and floating on down the Spokane River  is surely a lot higher than my wishful thinking that a speech could be rained out.

So, I'd better get on with the day and let the stomach get nervous and just plan get it over with.  Actually, I think the ladies will go easy on me. 

Stay dry, and put the Sandpoint Sampler on your calendar for NEXT THURSDAY.  Maybe it won't rain out. 

Wednesday wet and wonderful

We've got rain coming down this morning, but we'll deal with it after having a few lovely sunny days.

And, with the rain at this time of year comes some extra special beauty.

My Iris, many of which were given to me by Carol and Gary Pietsch when we first moved here, are putting on quite the shows.

Words can't capture their true beauty, and it's kinda hard to do so with a camera also.

But you'll get the picture: they're elegant, showy and lovely reminders.

A Border Collie's work is never done, even on rainy days.

Poppy Premiere

Dear Hearts and Gentle People

Dear Bill,

Happy 36th anniversary.  Thank you for the card and loving words.  They meant so much.  

I think it would be fun to go to The Dive on our anniversary.  On Facebook this morning, I saw photos of the Schoonover family having a "whooping up" good time there at the after-graduation party Saturday night.  

I don't expect you to ride the mechanical bull, nor do I expect to climb aboard either.  And, we'll stay off that outdoors balcony,  overlooking First Avenue. 

I've heard the State has told them that's a no go anyway, and that was after my friend Mike speculated on when the first drunk would go hurling over the fence and land on top of a cattle truck rolling through downtown Sandpoint.

Well, maybe he didn't suggest the cattle truck scenario, but the likelihood is certainly there.

The Dive folks kept advertising on K102 that their food IS no more than $9 a plate, so in these hard economic times, I think we should keep it cheap, and certainly The Dive connotes the proper spirit, in its name alone.  

I wonder if they serve ribs. 

Speaking of ribs, I'd invite Willie and Debbie to join us, but they may be attending the faculty picnic this afternoon.  After all, it's the LAST day of school, which brings me to some other letters I need to write.

Before doing that, though, here's another "love" note.

~~~~~

Dear Kevin and Joyce, 

Happy 42nd anniversary. Wasn't it just yesterday when John Pucci stood up for you at your wedding at the Whitworth Presbyterian Church?  Didn't John Pucci do that with everyone back in those days.  Heck, then he started marrying people, probably because he had so much prior experience as a groomsman.  

Does that mean John Pucci's a pretty nice guy?  I'd say so.

And, then, as I recall from that June day, our little brother Jim wasn't too keen on being the ringbearer.  He was pretty young at the time, so we'll give him a pass.  A few years later, he did okay at Bill's and my wedding, even though he was disappointed to be the only guy in the wedding party without a mustache.

Well, anyway, have a great anniversary on this special day that we share.

~~~~~

Back to the school stuff

~~~~~

Dear Esther,

So, you're finally hanging it up.  I'd say it's about time; after all, you're five years younger than I am, and I retired from SHS eight years ago.

Esther, you were always a great friend on staff.  Your sense of humor was supreme, and I can remember lots of moments in the faculty room when you called it like it was, and we laughed our crazy heads off.

You were so dedicated to your kids in the home ec department, and I know they all loved you.  

I still can't forgive you for thinking I was SO much older than you, but I guess those days back in 4-H times when you came from Priest River and I came from Sandpoint might have skewed your view of me. After all, there was a bit of a rivalry between the the communities, wasn't there?

I'm sure you may have thought I was really old cuz I taught Ernie, your beloved husband.  But that was in the beginning, so I was pretty young then.

Anyway, Esther, I've always thought of you as a true blue friend and wonderful colleague.  Best of luck in your retirement, and may we meet again often to laugh over the old times.

~~~~

Dear Betsy,

Where does one start?  First, I'll wish you the best.  You rank right up there as one of the most energetic, enthusiastic fun people I've ever met.  The school system in this area is saying good bye to a treasure when you put in your last day as principal of Kootenai School.

By the way, you spearheaded a mighty nice centarian celebration for the school, and what a party with all the old and the new of Kootenai coming together!

I'm honored to have spent some years teaching with you at SHS.  And, so thankful to you when Annie was coming along, and Dick Sodorff finally decided I could leave the drill team in someone else's hands, those belonging to Betsy Walker.

And, I'll never forget the days of "dress-up" as we staff members gathered at the Walker house. 

You inspired so many people over your career, and your gardening skills are beyond belief.  Welcome to the other side, and when you get that phenomenal garden going good down the road, give me a call.  I'd love to see it.

~~~~~

Dear Mike Mc.,

I can still hear your voice booming next door in Room 3 from my perch in Room 4.  You loved your literature, and it was apparent from the passion that came out your door, down the hallway and into my room.  

As English teachers, we shared a lot of the same students over the years.  It was always fun to send my kids on to you and to assure them that they would be learning from a truly dynamic literature teacher.  

We were sad to see Marian go from Dr. Lawrence's office, but we understood that you were heading on to retirement also.  

Best wishes to one fine educator and friend.  I wonder if now is the time to tell folks that the first time I heard that Willie had been hired by the school district was at the Colburn Landfill, straight from you.  I loved that. 

Here's hoping Willie will follow in your footsteps and in those of so many other fine SHS teachers, leaving the impact that you did on your students.

Happy retirement, and don't spend too much time on John's houseboat. 

~~~~~

Dear Mike K,

I never really taught with you, but I have truly fond memories.  Of course, the funniest goes back to the days when I occupied Portable 2 clear out there in the hinterlands, far from the main high school.  

You taught PE at the middle school, and in the spring when you'd take your class out to the football practice field, my fifth period boys would come running into the room, slam their books down on their desks, run to the window, open it wide and then yell, "KEEEEE OH,  KEEEEE OH" every single day.  

I often wondered if you had a few inaudible/unprintable responses for them.

What I'll remember most about you, Mike, is what you did for my daughter, and I'll always appreciate it.

You coached and encouraged Annie through four years of varsity golf, and what a difference your influence made in her life and her self esteem.  I can't remember how many times she made it to state, but that experience was a highlight of her high school years.  Thank you.

Can't say Annie is doing much golfing now; instead, she's a geocaching/soccer/mountain climbing fiend.  And, since you're retiring, I'll bet anything that Annie would love to come to Sandpoint sometime and show you the ropes of geocaching.

Best wishes to you for the rest of your life.  Who knows?  Maybe some day you can move on up from Senator's First Dude to the First Dude of Idaho.  I still think Shawn should run for governor.

~~~~~~

Pat,

I know you and your hubby read the blog every day, and, do we ever go back a ways?  Of course, with Vance, it's clear back to first grade at Stinkin' Lincoln.  

For you, I'd say we share that Catholic spirit,  as you were attending IHM about the same time I was going to school here in Sandpoint and learning my Catholic stuff at Sister School and Catechism.  I learned the material but clearly not as well as you.

You stand up as a shining star for potential sainthood in comparison to me.  And, you've dedicated yourself as a wonderful teacher at Farmin School.  Plus, you've been a good friend to so many.  I'm sure Laurie would attest to that.

Anyway, Pat, I wish you the best, and I hope to see you and Vance out on your country drives.  Some one of these days you've got to stop in at the Lovestead.

Thanks for all you've done for your colleagues and for the students of this community.

And, thanks to all the others who are retiring this year from throughout our educational community.  

Sincerely and with much love, 

Marianne