Saturday Slight

Doggone fun in the sun.

Foster, outstanding in his field. 

Grandpuppy Love

Kiwi:  always the leader of the pack. 

Just as the dogs are doing in the bottom photo, I think we may have turned the corner weatherwise.  And, it is nice. 

Snow is still hanging around, but less of it every day, and the fields are dryer than they were this time last year.   Plus, the weather forecast shows a nice stretch of dry days. 

So, it's a happy Saturday here at the Lovestead.  

Two horses may even escape their barnyard for a while to do a few circles in the round pen, followed by a good rubdown with brushes and combs.  

Lefty will like that, I'm sure.  The poor fella has done his usual self torture by rubbing big patches on his neck raw.  At least, now that he's 6, I'm aware of the pattern, and, if last year was any indication, I may be able to manage his hide through the summer---patch free.

For now, he looks pretty pathetic, but with spring cleaning and maybe even a warm day for a good bath, his hide should feel better and new hair will fill in the patches. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day, but I spent most of it inside.   

Part of the day involved an interview with a longtime Sandpoint resident who spent time more than 50 years ago with the early Schweitzer visionaries scoping out plans for a ski area.  While they scoped, he snapped hundreds of pictures.

Jim Parsons also told me about his experiences skiing on Pine Street Hill and Talache long before Schweitzer's beginnings.   

In the Talache experience, skiers rode a school bus to the resort on Lake Pend Oreille near Sagle.  Their "chair lift" in those days was a 4-wheel drive jeep which took them to the top of the hill.  

Wearing long skis, they headed to the bottom, slowing down to walk through their turns.  Eventually, a ski instructor, hired by the folks at Talache, gave them some pointers on refining and speeding up those turns. 

It was an enjoyable interview with Jim, who also ran the first ski shop at Schweitzer. 

We sat at a table in The Readery, located in the old Pastime Cafe.  I've always wanted to spend some time in there, and yesterday's interview gave me an excuse.

After Jim left, I spent some time visiting with owners Mike and Katie, along with Sandpoint newcomers Jen and Mike, who moved here in 2012 from Virginia.

As usual, I asked "Why Sandpoint?"  In their case, they wanted to escape life in the big city for a more simple existence.  They did some thorough research, and Sandpoint's overall profile seemed to meet their needs.

They wasted no time tying up loose ends, packing and heading West.  From my visit, I'd say our little town was a good fit for them, and they appear to be a good fit for Sandpoint. 

Anyway, The Readery is a fun, charming place, with lots of book shelves filled with reading material and a very ample, tantalizing menu for breakfast and lunch. 

It will definitely be my place of choice for future interviews and to try out the menu. 

Looks like another full schedule of basketball today with the NCAA tournament, topped off with a Gonzaga game tonight against the Wichita Shockers.  

So, on this beautiful Saturday, I'll issue an equal-opportunity gesture of good luck to all who love their teams and GO ZAGS!  Pull off a "Shocker" in Salt Lake, and win again!

Happy Saturday.