Morning Mutterings

 

When you see Mom about to take a picture, hurry over and plop down in the middle of the scene. 

Bridie has become a loyal and helpful companion dog, and I know she wanted to help me take a better photo when she suddenly appeared yesterday. 

And, she did.

I told her that the scene was 100 percent better with her in it. 

Bridie seemed pleased. She would happily sign on as a model for one of those many TV commercials with Border Collies. 

Looks like stewed tomatoes, but it's a flower that didn't hold up well with all the hail we received last night. 

I'll take another photo when I go outside this morning to see if it's revived itself. 

And, the photo below shows that it's making a slow comeback. 

While we had several hail storms yesterday, along with thunder, some folks on Facebook posted photos of snow. 

I distinctly remember about 45 years ago when the drill team and the band set off from Sandpoint on May 5 in tour buses. 

We were headed to Canada (Salmon Arm, to be specific) where, thanks to the help of my longtime friend and educator Dean Fredlund, the groups stayed overnight with families and the next day performed for the Salmon Arm student body. 

Then, we went on to Wenatchee where they again performed in the annual Apple Blossom Festival. 

The first part of that trip was fairly ominous for marching in a parade.  The ground was covered with snow.  Eventually, we escaped the snow and all went well. 

So, snow in May:  not always a surprise. 

My friend Judy told me about her experience with these interesting flowers.  They're called "calceolaria" or "pocketbook plant." 

She says that she has discovered that if they're brought in during the fall, they'll bloom prolifically all winter long. 

I can imagine how uplifting it would be to have this amount of color inside our homes during gloomy winter days. 

So, of course, I'll give it a try with a couple here at my house this fall. 

Baby, it's green out there, and, within days, those sleepy horses will get to spend some time enjoying what they've waited all winter to taste again:  fresh green grass. 

Just need a little more warmth and more growth on the grass so they don't eat it down right away. 

I'll be picking lettuce for dinner soon. 

This is my greenhouse collection.  

BTW:  the heater went on in the greenhouse last night, and it will definitely stay for another couple of nights. 

We did have a frost last night, but it was mild, only leaving a coating on the vehicles. 

I'm really anxious to start transferring items from the greenhouse but also knowing that it's best to wait at least another ten days---and then no guarantees. 

Not much else on the mind this morning that I dare mention in this political season.  

Oh, how I'd like to let loose, though, but I'm keeping a disciplined watch on my old lady filter.  So far so good but no guarantees from this proud "fake Republican."

Maybe I'll save it all for right before the May 21 primary election. I've been told by good sources that old ladies can do and say whatever they want. 

That yet unsaid, I'll wish everyone a nice Tuesday. 

It's a Dandy Day, Et. Al.

I'm dedicating the top photo to my friend Pat Gooby.  He's an avid lover of "dandYlions," and he must be happy to see the abundant early crop this year.

Once again, he would be disappointed to learn that I have been engaged in my all-out assault on dandYlions in my yard. 

They grow profusely in the lawn for about two-three weeks each spring.  Some even hang on all year. 

The crop is looking good this year, and I am not that successful at mowing them all away.  

Some folks would suggest and have suggested Weed and Feed. 

I tried it once, 

and found that by the time I pushed that continuously loaded up that dispenser cart and pushed it around just one section of lawn, a brand new crop of dandelions had already pushed their way up through the soil, bloomed and had added to the yellow and green show. 

I decided after that feeble attempt to get the best of them that it was actually best for me to just settle for mowing, and sometimes more often than the grass needed to be mowed. 

DandYlions are here early like everything else, and they're keeping me busy. 

Pat used to hold publicized DandYlion Festivals at his house.  I don't know if he does that any more, but he and the family definitely had fun in those days. 

I'm guessing that it's the love of dandYlions that keeps Pat in the habit of sending bright yellow Christmas letters every single year. 

On another topic involving color, I almost completed painting another section of fence yesterday, but the white paint ran out and the rain started to fall. 

So, I got in the car and took a drive around the neighborhood and enjoyed seeing and snapping photos of all the brand new growth, especially on the deciduous trees. 

It's definitely spring time in the Selle Valley and getting prettier all the time. 

This attractive cat from the Adopt-a-House-in-the-Country Feline Placement Agency has been appearing outside our living room window on a regular basis lately. 

They (since I don't know if "he" or "she") has/have (what the heck to you do for a verb helper when there's just one "they"????).  

Anywho, they think they own this chair on the deck. 

They are not afraid of the dogs, and they are much too aggressively affectionate for my liking/safety. Annie can back me up on that after having the cat almost grab hold of her bare legs when she was home recently. 

Apparently, "they" got into a tussle with another cat and endured an abscess, but it seems to be okay now.

I'm wondering if they are going to allow us humans to have barbecues on what they consider their deck this summer. 

I think we'll have to name them "Mystery," and that seems to be appropriate for when ever and if ever we find out if they are a MYSTER or a MYSUSS or even a MYSS. 

Plus, if we do ever figure out the mystery of why they  appeared and adopted us and where they get their meals, maybe we can find out their real name. 

Twould be nice to know who lets this cat out of the bag every day and sends them to the Love house to spend their leisure hours on the deck.  

Such great news arrived in my in-box this morning. 

Once again, Sandpoint High grad Luke Mayville and his amazing team have pulled off another amazing feat for the people of Idaho. 

Now, we voters have to seal the deal when we vote in November. 

Definitely a dandy day!

from Luke: 

You heard it here first: The Open Primaries Initiative will be on the ballot in 2024!

 

This achievement is the result of the hard work and support of thousands of Idahoans. To every leader and organization who joined the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition; to our nearly 4,000 donors who chipped in along the way; to our talented and dedicated staff who organized relentlessly; and to our 2,000 volunteers from over 40 Idaho communities. THANK YOU ALL!  

Yesterday, on my drive, I saw that what looked to be  flying saucers had landed in fields along Center Valley Road.

I saw three of them, and there always seemed to be cows around, so am curious to know if they are new feeding tools for the cattle folks. 

Jody Russell, enquiring minds want to know. 

😜😜😜 

Happy Monday. 

Dog Gone Fun, Etc.

                                                                                 ----Felicia Hirst Photo

Hello, I'm Felicia!

I'm a passionate & caring person who loves to care for animals big & small!

                                ---Photo, courtesy of Felicia Hirst

After seeing the greeting above a few weeks ago on the 7B Pet Sitting post, I scrolled through the information and admired the amazing photos. 

"This lady knows how to take pictures," I thought, and even left a compliment. 

Since then, I've had the opportunity to learn more about Felicia, including a nice comment from my friend and fellow educator former Priest River Lamanna principal Shelley Nacarrato Brooks. 

"I've known her and her family forever. In high school she was a great young woman," Shelley stated.  "Caring, kind, hard-working, responsible and funny.

"She’s the youngest girl in a family of four girls and two boys," she adds. "I have kept track of her since she graduated and can speak to her dedication and love of our 4 legged friends." 

 What fascinated me most about Felicia's pet sitting service was the doggie field trips.

I was amazed by the numbers of beautiful dogs and the fun they seem to be having when Felicia takes them to open roaming areas around the county, and even to some areas around Coeur d'Alene. 

----Felicia Hirst Photos----

I asked Felicia how this wonderful opportunity for dogs all got started. 

The following thoughts from her reflect a well-thought-out system which guarantees both safety and fun for dogs on a field trip. 

When someone’s interested in a Field Trip I send them a list of questions to make sure they’ll work well in a Field Trip. I have my 15 solid pack dogs, who have done Field Trips for the last 4 years. They listen, know the rules, and behave. 

I add new dogs in one at a time. Field Trip dogs always start on leash, no matter if the owner says they are great off leash.

Next they graduate to a buddy dog.

This is where they are tethered to a solid pack dog, and then they are shown the ropes by that dog. Once they graduate that step, the dog is put on a 50-foot leash. 

I am constantly calling them, making sure their recall works, making sure they are going to stick around and behave. Once I have 1,000 percent trust in them, they are free to run around as they please. 

Some dogs take one field trip and are free off leash. Some take a couple of trips before they realize that this is their pack, and I have a couple dogs (mostly in training/young) that will remain on leash until they figure out the rules. 

I will not take mean dogs; however, dogs that correct each other (especially the young ones), are great, because they teach each other how to be a dog. 

Yesterday four dogs started on leash, and only two of the four knew each other. Within an hour, all dogs were off leash and playing together

 Felicia's 7B Pet Sitting field trips were inspired by her experience working at the Panhandle Animal Shelter, now known at the Better Together Animal Alliance. 

 I worked at the Animal Shelter in Sandpoint and would run Doggy Play Groups. When I left the shelter, I created Doggy Field Trips because I loved it so much!

Getting dogs together to play and party together brought a lot of joy! I’ve been doing Doggy Field Trips for 3 years now. I try and do them once a week, but at least twice a month. 

Cost for the three-hour field trips is $40. 

$40 cash per dog, per Field Trip 

Field Trips are 3 hours+ long

I’m available for pick up/drop off/meet up.

When someone is interested in a field trip, I send them a list of questions to make sure their dog will work well in a field trip. 

I recommend that people message me on my 7B Pet Sitter page on Facebook, that way we can discuss the details, and I can get to know about their dog(s).

 

This week's field trip.  Felicia's friend Amber helped her out. 

This seems to me to be a wonderful outlet for dogs who may not have big fields for their much-needed doggie recreation. 

Bet they sleep well at night when they come home! 😊

While discussing the animal world, I thought it would be fun to post the photo I took Friday of the staff at Family Pet Urgent Care in Ponderay on HWY 95 just north of Co-Op Country Store. 

Dr. Michelle Ward, between the trees, has assembled a fun and experienced group of veterinary-oriented staff. 

They're open from 12-noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

This facility fulfills the need for after-hours emergencies and for emergencies in general during working hours. 

Before Family Pet Urgent Care opened a few weeks ago, I personally and several people I've known had to rely on emergency services in Coeur d'Alene or the Spokane area. 

So, spread the word to your friends who own pets.  

These professionals are ready to serve those immediate vet-care needs here in the Sandpoint area. 

For more information, visit their site at  

https://www.familypeturgentcare.com/

Love these puffy, colorful flowers and added some to my pots yesterday. 

Saturday Slight

 

It's a rainy Saturday morning.  

I was planning to go to the opening day of Farmers Market today but just learned that twice weekly event doesn't happen until next weekend May 4. 

Maybe the weather will be more cooperative then. 

The rain is not so bad because it enhances the brilliant colors of an awakening spring. 

Most of the trees and shrubs here are budded out or are alive with brand new leaves. 

Along with the good stuff of spring come some irritants. 

Yesterday while vacuuming, I noticed an ant on the kitchen floor, then another. 

It doesn't take more than two ants within a few feet of each other scurrying across the floor to put one into instant ant-alert mode. 

We haven't had ant sightings in the house for quite some time BUT I do remember that if they did show up, it was usually around the first part of May.

With this year's spring showing itself earlier than usual, it would make sense for ants to come visiting now. 

Of course, we're thinking the worst, but we'll put that thought on hold until we see if our home remedy of three parts vinegar and one part water sprayed around the areas where they seem to come and go works. 

I saw only two this morning and immediately applied the spray.  We'll monitor it and decide if we'll go to the the traps. 

We also had another unwelcome visitor overnight. 

A skunk got mighty close to our garage, and the scent is still lingering. 

Besides the photos this morning, I'm including a video I saw on Facebook. 

It celebrates 60 years of Schweitzer, which has become a multi-purpose resort almost year around.  

I'm sure  the clips will take a lot of locals down Memory Lane. 

So, will keep this post short, wish all a Happy Saturday and direct you to the video below. 

Enjoy. 

I saw this on a friend's Facebook post this morning and, for some reason, totally identified.  

'Cept the fingers tamping in the dirt look far better than mine ever do in the spring.