Slight Detour: Weekend Wrap

We made it back to Boulder Meadows yesterday with four more people and three more dogs than what went with Bill and me on Friday.

Our friend Nancy, an avid trail rider, had never seen the meadows.

It's always a treat to be with anyone who experiences this glorious place for the first time.

While Bill and Willie walked along the creek and did some fishing, Barbara, Laurie, Nancy and I walked the trails, stopping frequently for photos.

On our way back, we met a man from Sandpoint with his young dog. He was hoping to walk a loop through the area.

Other than him and a couple on a motorcycle who sat visiting in the parking lot, we had the place to ourselves.

Later, we sat around the fire pit, nibbled on food and did some of our own visiting.

It's a long, long way in to Boulder Meadows on the Twenty Mile road which gets bumpy from time to time.

AND, it's just as far back, but well worth the drive.

Along the route, we saw some nice huckleberries along the roadside and some great views of the Selkirk Mountains.

Would you believe: no smoke!

We've grown accustomed to the haze or lack of visibility in the past couple of years, thanks to forest fires.

So, it was a treat to see those mountaintops clearly. Hope this trend of no smoke, no fires continues.

Life, on this Monday morning, is returning back to normal after two weeks of preparing for horse-related activities.

We finished up the 4-H horse show yesterday morning with Terra winning another top blue in a walk-trot equitation class.

She took her helmet, which has been hanging in the barn for three years, home.

I don't think she's in any way finished with riding Lefty, but the Bodes have a Norwegian Fiord horse coming to their place for a year's stay.

So, Terra and family members can saddle up Tillie and enjoy some riding at home.

Today I'll get back to picking blueberries and raspberries and mow my messy lawn. Breezes have been blowing the past few days, leaving a carpet of residue throughout the yard.

I'll also be waiting to hear from Loretta about our hay, and that will mean calling some young men to put it in the barn.

Hoping the coordination all goes well, and, like our friend Nancy said yesterday, a big annual stress will be lifted.

Fingers crossed for good luck.

At week's end, Annie comes home again to see the Julyamsh powwow where our extended family member and Lily's new best friend Jade is running for Miss Coeur d'Alene.

We're all excited for Jade and equally excited to see another colorful and mesmerizing display of Native American culture.

It begins Friday and runs through Sunday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d'Alene. If you're in the area and have never seen a powwow, I encourage you to go.

And, so it's off to the yard and the berries and the watering and Liam barking at the hose.

Yep, life is back to normal today.

Note the announcement of Connie's blog below.

Happy Monday.