From My Perch . . . .

Well, from my perch this morning at my desktop computer, I can't even see the three photos above as I type.  

Wish I could figure out the glitch that makes posting photos so erratic from this computer.

I know the photos are there, though, because I checked on my laptop.  I always come back upstairs to post my thoughts cuz it's just easier to think here at my desk.

All that said, I must say that spending two days in an announcer's stand does offer a few fun perspectives.

On Saturday I spotted my sisters clear across and outside the arena searching for the concession stand----in the wrong place.  

Taking pity on Laurie with her crutches, I picked up my cell phone, called Barbara and told her where Eric of Eric's Dawg House was selling his hotdogs, Polish sausages and milk shakes.  

That perspective might have saved Laurie a few difficult steps. 

Yesterday I experienced a very stirring moment in the announcer's stand, complete with goosebumps while standing next to Osaze as she sang the "National Anthem." 

Osaze is a very talented, warm-hearted, phenomenal young lady.  She came to sing the anthem while her little sister and two other young ladies rode their horses with the flags down in the arena.

The previous day, when we had no electricity and the rain came pouring down, the young riders did an exemplary job presenting the colors.  So, the crowd gathered there attempted the anthem.  

"Attempt" is not a weak enough word to aptly describe how pathetic we singers were.  

So bad, in fact, Osaze's family, including her grandmother Ruthann Nordgaarden, threatened to blackmail me and post the video on Facebook.

So far, I'm safe.  To say that even Roseanne in her famous Anthem debacle sounded like Kate Smith in comparison to our feeble, tunelessness would be an understatement.  

So, yesterday Osaze made up for our failings with a stirring anthem.  She's one of SHS choir teacher John Brownell's students, and she did her instructor proud.

Some other kids had reason to be proud when they braved the pouring rain (yes, second day of wet, wet, wet) and performed for the judge in the leadline class.  

I figured the judge picked the boy in the cowboy hat, not only because of his riding skills but also cuz his hat differentiated him from the rest.  

Judges always have a difficult time picking a winner in leadline classes.

The bottom photo shows my sister Barbara and her horse Dusty doing what Barbara loves best----riding in Western classes.  

She won a few, including a trail class, and I think she had a good time at the show.

The Spots of Fun is over for another year, and nobody let the rain dampen their spirits.  It mighta made 'em mad, but they kept on trudging forward.

Finally, when Mother Nature realized she couldn't discourage the cowgirls and cowboys, she gave up---about noon.  

The sun came out, and the show ended on a pleasant note.

Kristy Jackson of Coeur d'Alene won the belt buckle honoring our dad and Toby I.  It was Kristy's third time as the belt buckle winner. 

Life returns to a fairly normal routine for me today.  At least, I think it does.  With the warm, wet weather, the grass grew prolifically.

So, the lawnmower will be roaring along in the next couple of hours.  There are peas to pick and maybe a few more strawberries hiding down there in that 3-foot high grass.

Never much time to sit around on these summer days.

Enjoy your Monday.