Thursday This, That, TBT

 

Twas a beautiful experience this morning, walking three horses to pasture down a moonlit lane. 

I don't know if the horses appreciated all the light shining down from that great big moon, but I thought it was pretty neat. 

After a day of steady rain, we are looking forward to another gorgeous October day, and we'd better enjoy it cuz more rain's a-coming. 

Maybe it will wash away the cow pies in the north lawn. 

For the past couple of days, I've been in contact with Liz Wood about the mysterious round green plops in the grass. 

Seems each day there's a new one but never a clue what "renegade cow" left it there----til last night. 

Wanting to take one last trip outside for some fresh air and a short walk, I stepped outside the garage and saw the culprit.  

Twas black, maybe several months old and nibbling on grass like it owned the place. 

"Ahhh!" I said out loud turning back toward the house to get a camera for documentation.  After all, we have never installed a "cow" camera cuz usually if they're gonna come for a visit, they'll come in the day time, and often en masse. 

I yelled at Bill in the living room that the bovine visitor had appeared and then headed outside.  Within seconds, I saw Liam trot up alongside me. 

Oops, this could get interesting, I thought.  Well, by golly, Liam, who's not known for his "when it's the real thing" herding behavior, somehow reverted to a few of the lessons he'd learned at his very brief school stint. 

Instead of racing straight at the intruder, he planned his route very carefully, making a slow circle and then waiting for me to urge him on. 

Must've learned something, I thought. 

The calf stood its ground, continuing to graze until finally deciding it was time to head back to the fence area where it had actually traversed a working electric wire to come for its visit. 

Eventually, it reached the fence and simply jumped through, joining the rest of its four-legged onlookers who apparently had a little more respect for the electric current running through the wire. 

Anywho, I sent documentation to Liz who says the cows will come home to Naples early next week. 

"How nice it was for them to wait until you came home," she texted, "adding that they had been really good this year."  This series of loner visits was the first fence infraction from the herd next door this entire season. 

Best part?  The mystery of who dropped those pies has been solved AND after stepping in a hot, steaming one the other day, I'm taking much more care with where I place my feet. 

All in a day or two in the country!  Priceless!

Bill and I want to thank Tim and Angela, for inviting us to yesterday's Rotary luncheon where another Love family member was featured speaker.

Debbie Love, executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank, outlined highlights of what the Food Bank has done to serve the public throughout the Pandemic, and, of course, to thank the Rotary for its generous support.

It was neat for us to sit in the audience and watch our daughter-in-law in action.  

Needless to say, she's in action sometimes seven days a week, attending to the various needs of clients at the facility.  

Often, that goes well beyond providing food.

Debbie Love, we are proud of you!

The visit to yesterday's Rotary meeting marked the first of its kind for me in 19 months. 

And, oh, how neat it was several times to see familiar faces behind masks whom I had not seen in nearly two years. 

One of the best:  Dann Hall, my classmate who has undergone a kidney transplant during those months and who wasted no time expressing his appreciation for life.

So, great to see him with a renewed outlook and plans to make the most of it. 

It was also fun watching all the Rotarians in action, accomplishing a myriad of good things for the community during a short lunch hour.  

Events like the Rotary meeting remind us of how much has changed during this Pandemic but also how much does not change in spite of the challenges. 

There are still a lot of dedicated people persevering doing so much for their fellow community members. 

Thanks, Rotary, and thanks, Food Bank. 

As kidz would say, "You all rock!"

TBT's aka Trippin' down  Pleasant Memory Lane . . . . 

Once again, I spent time last night skimming through my photo library, selecting a grab bag of treasured moments with some of the "good friends, family and gentle people" from my hometown. 

Always fun.  Enjoy. 

A couple of local O'Donnells----Sally and Karen at an all-class reunion a few years back. 

Why is it that I think "ratfink" and elevator shafts when I see these two???  

Bet they could tell you. 

Since about 1998, a group called Women Honoring Women has selected and honored women of achievement and of special qualities in our community. 

This photo of Women of Wisdom (WOW) honorees and WHW members was taken a few years ago. 

Sadly, many are no longer with us, but seeing their faces and all the others brings alive so many wonderful stories these women created during their lives in our community.  

Twould be nice to know what was said in this conversation between Bobbie Brown Huguenin and Pat Lewis, both Sandpoint WOW's. 

I think these two gals have a bit of wisdom and definitely a dose or two of impishness between them, but they don't live in Sandpoint.  

My cousins Sue and Patti. 

A fun day spent touring geocaching headquarters in Seattle where our daughter Annie has worked for the past several years. 

Jim and Laurie, both Sandpoint High Class of 1982 grads, make frequent trips to their condo in Sandpoint and occasionally to the Lovestead. 

Some great laughs from two dear friends, Ann and Rick,  at one of our retired SHS faculty parties.

Longtime friends, Kathy Chambers and her mother-in-law  Marilyn Chambers, at a Women of Wisdom luncheon a while back. 

A fun wedding at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch a few years back when Libby and Isaac tied the knot. 

And, Isaac's sweet grandmother Marilla was ready with her camera. 

A happy time spent with Mother Tibbs. 

A family hike at the Ginter Wildlife Management Area. 

My friend Jean posted this picture on Facebook a while back. That's Guy Hesselgesser, a Sandpoint staple, usually aboard a horse, back in the good ol' days. 

When I looked a little closer at the crowd on the sidewalk, I was pretty sure that I saw Toni Lutzke Pursley with other members of her family. 

So, I checked, and Toni said yes.

Maybe someone will recognize a few others standing around the Lutzke family. 

 

Mom and daughter at a WOW luncheon:  Pat and Jeralyn. 

Jim and Virginia at their great grandson's wedding. Son Dan and his wife Terry, our neighbors,  not photobombing behind.

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Below:  twas the good ol' days, for sure, when outdoors lovers could make the annual trip up Rapid Lightning Creek Road to admire this magnificent aspen grove. 

Now, there's a gate across the road, blocking access. 

Sad.