Thursday This and That

Newest member of the Lodgepole Society.

Pastor Andy Kennaly from First Presbyterian Church spent the afternoon with us yesterday.

We snow-shoed through the woods as sloppy snow fell. 

Once we reached our unique lodgepole tree, the brief ceremony began.  

Andy seemed to appreciate joining this illustrious group of fellow Lodgepole Society members from all over the country and even Internationally.

I'm sure it helped that I told him he was standing next to the "God" tree. 

Andy and his family came to Sandpoint last spring from Minnesota.

It was a coming home, of sorts, for this Spokane native and his wife who hails from Mercer Island, Washington.

Two of Andy's boys got a taste of bucking bales when they worked for my sisters last summer.

We had a nice outing yesterday and a great visit, complete with fresh blueberry cobbler. 

Welcome, Pastor Andy, to the Lodgepole Society and to Sandpoint. 

So, the groundhog has spoken already today.  I read on Twitter that this rodent harbinger calls for six more weeks of Newt.

I don't know about that, but we're entering a short springlike period here this morning, and that means several days of enjoying the outdoors AND staying away from the political yakkedy yak. 

Good for the soul, for sure!

Willie's winding down with his basketball season over the next few days.  They'll be going to Post Falls tonight.

We'll be staying home to watch the BIG GAME with Brigham Young University. 

Should be a fun one as the ZAGS take on the Cougars for the first time as a league opponent.

GO ZAGS!

Bill has just left for work for the second time this morning.  There may be a third.

There usually is.

He'll holler upstairs that he's taking off.

So, I holler downstairs, "Have a good day."

A few seconds or minutes pass; then, I hear walking downstairs and a door opening.

Sometimes he announces his departure again.  Sometimes not.

Usually, the third time's a charm when I hear the pickup finally headed out the driveway.

I chuckled while reading the "Letters to the Editor" in this morning's paper.  One was signed by a young man named Ilijah Karasek. 

His father Israel was a student in my senior English class.  I loved the experience as Israel  added a touch of upbeat, enthusiastic energy to the class. 

Israel has always been outgoing and dynamic, and it looks as if his son is following in the footsteps.

Ilijah wrote a very respectful letter suggesting that it would been nice for the paper folks to spell his name correctly when listing him as a winner in the local spelling bee. 

Good point, Ilijah!
 

That aside, it's just a normal, nice Thursday morning here along with the promise of a great day outside and a good basketball game tonight.

Love these days!

Happy Thursday.

Have fun at your party, Pat and Carol!  GO ZAGS!