Saturday Slight

Lots going on today with the family.  And, an added, unplanned experience for Bill and me this morning was the visit of this beautiful woodpecker.

If I had the new lens I ordered yesterday from Image Maker, the photo would be much more spectacular, but when a woodpecker comes for a visit, one takes action no matter what the lens happens to be. 

This colorful visitor stayed only a moment and then decided the power pole by the driveway had much more to offer than the poplar tree.

Today is graduation at Sandpoint High School.  I just finished thumbing through this year's Monticola yearbook, which celebrates its 100th edition.

The staff was very aware while putting together the annual that their work has a lasting legacy. They pored through old annuals and used photos of Sandpoint High School students taken over the decades since the Monticola aka White Pine was first published in 1914.

This year's edition is a beautiful book with some wonderful photography, layout, writing and clear reminders of the importance of preserving history of the moments. Congratulations to my sister Barbara and her staff. 

Barbara and my son Willie both said good bye to their publications staffs this week, and it has been a banner year for both, based on the quality of the Cedar Post and the Monticola.

So, they'll be attending graduation later this afternoon. 

Meanwhile Laurie and I will be glued to the TV until we know for sure if this year of 2014 turns into a year of great historical significance in the horse racing world.

I think virtually everyone wants California Chrome to take the Belmont----everyone except the spoilers running against him, that is. 

I hope those horses run like Hell and that California Chrome really earns the distinction by running faster.  Then, for years to come, it will be fun to remember the the thrill and poignancy of the first Triple Crown in 36 years.

Off in Portugal, Annie, who was born the year of the last Triple Crown, is fully involved in the geocaching mega event. 

I'm not quite sure what's involved with the Soap Bubbles Experience/flash mob,  which is just a couple of hours away in Lisbon, but it should be fun to see the photos when she posts them on Facebook.  

The top photo shows Annie with a group of geocachers and, of course, the usual thumbs up as the cachers work as a team. 

Looks like a busy schedule for her before her return to Seattle on Wednesday.  Then, we'll be seeing her next weekend when she comes home for a visit. 

At 9 a.m. Debbie will be on the radio at Station 88.5 FM, so give her a listen, and Bill's talking about heading over to Washington for some free fishing today. 

So far for me, it's been a productive morning with another three more rows of garden greens cut back and cleaned up in hopes of better days ahead and some more wonderful salads. Some of the plants are looking a little better each day and those pounded to the ground are slowly lifting their heads again. 

I'll be glad when the results of our hail storm from Hell turn into a distant memory.  It has certainly kept us busy this week picking up the pieces. 

Well, that's about it on this lovely summer Saturday.  Enjoy your day. 

GO CALIFORNIA CHROME!  Congratulations, Sandpoint High graduates and to my neighbors Bev and Ron on their grandson's graduation in the Midwest.