Rocks, Hops, Smoke and Such

 

My friend Emily collects rocks from friends who visit the countries of the world. 

She says her hobby helps her travel vicariously. 

I first contributed to Emily's collection after a trip to Ireland several years ago. 

When she learned we were visiting Iceland this past summer, Emily put in an order via Facebook.  

So, I collected a small bag of rocks from two different shorelines in Iceland. 

It's taken me more than two months to give Emily her Icelandic stones, but I finally fulfilled that mission yesterday. 

Her Irish rocks were an easy and prompt delivery.  She was working at the care facility where my mother was living at the time. 

This time, I drove through smoke, past still smoldering forest fires, through vast farm fields and finally to the entrance of Elk Mountain Farms in the Kootenai Valley.  

What a treat it was to see up close this huge and beautiful hops farm, owned by Anheuser-Busch and home to hops used for Goose Island pale ale!  

For the past few years, Emily has been working as a bookkeeper for Elk Mountain Farms.  She's also a photographer, and I've enjoyed her Facebook photos of wildlife sightings she has enjoyed on her drive to work. 

When she gave me the option of delivering the Icelandic rocks to her home or to her office at Elk Mountain (complete with a tour if I so desired), I had no problem making a decision. 

We have driven around Elk Mountain and viewed it from a distance many many times over the years but have never seen the central core of the farm. 

September is harvest time at the farm, so I was able to see the equipment used to bring in the hops (a mechanic was needed yesterday). 

I also enjoyed meeting the general manager of Elk Mountain.  Ed, whose family has lived in Boundary County since the 1880s,  has worked at the farm for 36 years. 

He, too, has brought home Emily rocks for her collection.  Ed's donations to the cause have come from his visits to South Africa and Argentina.

The drive to fulfill my rock mission was beautiful from start to finish, especially thanks to a morning rain which had erased the latest coatings of dust.  

In addition, the welcome moisture had provided immense help to fire fighters who have been battling a number of fires in the mountains west of the Kootenai Valley. 

In several cases, I saw portions of fires that had burned down to the Westside Road. 

And, so, Emily now has a touch of Iceland, along with a few souvenirs to add to her worldly experiences through rocks. 

And, I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to see the infrastructure of Elk Mountain.  Emily says to come back for a tour when harvest is in motion. 

We may have to do that next year. 

Thanks, Emily and Ed. It was a fun and informative visit.

And, thanks to all the firefighters. 

Happy Thursday. 

At the Colburn farm, little Kenny inspects the ring around the windmill formed by his big brother Joe's many trips around the structure. 

I couldn't be sure, but it looked as if this bovine mom at the Russell farm is raising twins.