I was excited last night and excited again this morning.

Magpies were squawking away in the big cottonwood just over the fenceline in the Meserve Preserve.

They were first heard and occasionally spotted in the far pasture, but something has enticed them to move up closer to the peeps.

They may drive me nuts over time, but, for now, it's neat to have them around for the first time ever.

The operator in this big tractor in my sisters' field is Larissa Lippert.

I've known her ever since she was born and taught both her mom Leslie and dad Harvey.

Larissa, I believe, just finished her first year at the University of Idaho.

This summer hay harvesting is a total family project for the Lippert's.

I saw the other day that they're even having some fun while they put up hay.

Both Leslie and Harvey were baling, and in the same period of time, Leslie's rig put out more bales than Harvey's.

She was proud.

And, from what I saw on Facebook yesterday, they finished off the Tibbs' fields and stacked it all in their driveway for the bucking-bales crew to take to the barn for winter storage.

Speaking of hay, I think it's been an excellent year for area farmers.

The weather has generally cooperated and the harvest looks plentiful.

This combination of factors is almost a rarity and definitely appreciated by all who sell and all who feed hay.

from my friend and talented former student, Elle Susnis

Hey you guys! The new Sandpoint Walking Tour Brochure is here!

Take a self-guided tour of Historic Sandpoint, at your own pace.

You can get them at City Hall, the Bonner County History Museum & the Chamber of Commerce right now, and other local businesses as I disperse them in the next week or so.

Or get a hold of me! I’m really proud of the work the Sandpoint Art, Culture & Historic Preservation Commission put into this project!

--Photos compliments of Elle Susnis

I asked Elle how this all came about, and this is what she told me:

The Sandpoint Walking Tour Brochure is a long standing collaboration between the City of Sandpoint, it’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Bonner County History Museum.

We combined the Arts Commission and Historic Preservation Commission in 2019, and have been working hard to update the photos, text, maps and cover.

We hope to give the reader an interactive experience while viewing our town through a historical lens.

Looks like a fun activity, especially when you have company this summer who've never been to Sandpoint.

Send them to town, have them pick up a brochure and take the tour.

The one fruit tree at the Lovestead which is offering up some produce, and lots of it, this year is the old apple tree in the north lawn.

The others had lots of blossoms but no fruit.

I think they blossomed before the bees appeared.

Lots of "Fresh Eggs" stands around the rural areas, so go for a country drive and pick up your eggs at their home ground.

Another friend and former student Kari Saccomanno writes a good letter to the editor. I especially liked her latest thoughts in today's Daily Bee.

Granted, it's not that easy in this divisive political climate, but we should still do our best to be the best citizens we can be.

Humanity begins with listening to everyone

July 14, 2026 1:00 AM

Life is rarely divided into simple categories of good and evil. Most of us live in the gray areas, where people are imperfect, situations are complex, and absolute certainty can be dangerous.

Too often, we assume those who disagree with us — or who are simply different from us — are wrong or even bad. Yet every person has redeeming qualities if we’re willing to look.

Humility begins with recognizing that none of us has all the answers. We all make mistakes, hold inconsistent views and have more to learn.

Standing up for truth and justice doesn’t require self-righteousness. It requires kindness, curiosity, and humility — even toward those with whom we disagree.

We should resist the urge to demonize people because of their beliefs, celebrate their failures, or accept every social media post as fact simply because it reinforces our own opinions.

Truth is rarely found in slogans or viral posts. It requires listening, asking questions, researching the facts, and being willing to change our minds when the evidence leads us elsewhere.

Having an opinion doesn’t make it true.

Our communities — and our democracy — are strongest when humility, critical thinking, and a genuine search for truth guide our convictions rather than certainty alone.

KARI SACCOMANNO

Sandpoint