It was a day for enjoying farm life yesterday all day long and around the neighborhood.
Between cows and young calves grazing on green grass, curious horses hanging out in the hay field, collection of homegrown spuds and fresh cucumbers, and the beautiful colors of late summer flowers, the cup of rural delights was full.
My sisters were busy transferring straw from the horse trailer into their hay loft, but we did take a moment to enjoy their floral color shows around the barn, including the new potty pot dressed up with mums.
Actually, it's an old potty, replaced in the barn bathroom by a new version, but old potties "never die."
They simply transition from people pots to flower pots, and, oh so pretty.
Here at the Lovestead, my horses were loving the 4-wheeler, as they always do when I drive out to the hay field in search of a fly mask shed by any one of them on pretty much any given day.
This time CB was in need of his mask. I found it not too far from the hay field gate. Then, it was time for them to give the 4-wheeler a thorough sniffing and maybe even run behind it for a while.
Todd and Jody Russell, our neighbors who live on Center Valley Road, plan for their baby calves to be born in the late summer each year.
So that means good stuff for neighbors driving by who love the sight of babies in the fields, especially when mamas are loving and licking their darlings.
Yesterday also meant some nice surprises in the garden bounty.
Four more cucumbers came to the house while two potato plants in the manure pile garden yielded some nice spuds, even a couple big enough to bake for last night's dinner.
I also harvested the last of my green beans and began pulling the plants from the garden boxes.
And, so the transition to fall is appearing in little ways each day as a few leaves turn color, dropping to the ground and garden plants are pulled and thrown in a pile to be hauled off.
It won't be long before the garden is emptied and bare except for new deposits from the aged manure pile to enhance the soil for next year.
It's nice to have pleasant, laid-back days like yesterday where outdoor tasks associated with an impending fall can be more pleasure than work.
Twas blissful and productive here in the country while events in the outside world continued to be dismal, as evidenced by this morning's article in the Bonner County Daily Bee.
https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2021/sep/08/covid-pushes-kootenai-health-crisis-standards-snp/
The Covid count for Bonner County this morning: 55 new cases, one new death.
Seems like we can't go any lower, and it's especially sad that a sensible and easy answer could make all the difference in this situation for all concerned.
Get vaccinated!
It was also extremely distressing yesterday to hear the news about ZAGS Coach Mark Few being cited in Coeur d' ALene Monday night with a DUI.
A lot can be said and probably is being said judgment-wise, but that doesn't solve anything.
In situations like this, I reflect on the case of one of my students who used some extremely poor judgment, which meant BIG trouble for him.
When he asked me if I would write a letter of support for him in his effort to minimize his troubles, I responded with an emphatic "NO!"
Then, I added that he needed to take full responsibility for his actions, and if he did, I would be his No. 1 cheerleader as he moved on.
He did, and I did.
From that time on, my respect for him soared.
This young man has experienced a few bumps in the road but has been amazingly successful through grit, hard work and vision.
The same is true for Mark Few.
He had a bad day, like most of us do at one time or another.
Now, he has the golden opportunity to show his family, players and fans a shining and courageous example of how it looks to bounce back from personal adversity and ultimately stand proud.
I think he will.
Taking responsibility at the toughest times sometimes yields the best endings.
GO, ZAGS!
Happy Wednesday.
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