At the Fair, etc.

 

Well, I published once and then found that Blogger ate most of my content. 

So, rather than trying to remember all that stuff I said in the first published post, I'll do my best to replicate the photo offerings and summarize a day which included making jelly and taking a break in that process to visit the fair. 

In short, I did make jelly from a blend of huckleberries, raspberries and blueberries.  

Happily, I've discovered this morning that it set up and that it tastes really good. 

These days, with my limited diet, I've found that my jellies make a nice side for the meat dishes I can still eat. 

So, it's nice to get the winter supply going again. 

I've been taking pictures of fair and 4-H happenings since this guy was about 10 years old. 

The first time I ever met him, he offered me a prize portrait.  That was at a Gold n' Grouse 4-H Club potluck. 

Tom Albertson had spaghetti dripping out both sides of his mouth.  Of course, I snapped a photo, and it appeared in a special fair tabloid inserted in the Sandpoint News Bulletin.  

Since those days, I've taken lots of photos of Tom at the fair and as a fellow educator.  He taught with me at Sandpoint High School, later became principal and retired at Lake Pend Oreille School superintendent. 

I thought he offered a nice pose for me yesterday---just no spaghetti!

The weather is hot, and the pigs were doing whatever they could to beat the heat yesterday. 

And, their 4-H owners were trying to help keep them comfortable also. 

My classmate and friend Lee Burnett was holding down the fort at extensive the antique motorized vehicle department, which includes tractors, cars and pickups. 

These folks were showing their open class beef entries.  

I believe they are brother and sister,  both named Lippert. 

Daniel was a student in my last year at Sandpoint High School. 

These days he delivers our UPS items and goes off on some neat world adventures with his wife and kids.  

Below:  I hadn't seen Eric for at least 30 years.  

He comes from Eastern Washington and brings his horse to the fair and competes in cattle sorting. 

I've heard he's pretty good. 

These folks can tell some stories about the Lower Pack River area where some of their ancestors settled several years ago. 

And, on the home front:  jelly and pretty marigolds.  

Sorry about the late post.  Sometimes there are glitches in the blogging world, and today was one of those days. 

Happy Friday to all.  Stay cool. 

Thursday This, That; TBT

 

This is the scene on summer evenings after dinner for horses and peeps. 

I walk to the apple tree, which is really loaded this year, grab some low-hanging fruit and yell out, "Who wants apples?"

Sometimes I might have to yell a few times because the radio is blaring in the barn. 

Once they hear me, all three leave what they're doing and come out to munch on some apples.

  

A lovely visit and a fun photo op. 

Yesterday Tricia Dickens and her mom Ruth and dad Don came over for a visit. 

Ruth and Don live in Arizona, but they do spend time up in Sandpoint each year. 

So, it's always nice to see them. 

We sat in the front yard, enjoyed Miller's Country Store scones and coffee and did some catching up on life in general. 

Always nice to see them.

Today Bill is helping out with some Kaniksu Land Trust stuff, and I think I might cook up my first batch of jelly. 

It seems like the right time to, and I'm noticing that the supply is dwindling. 

I'm looking forward to when gala apples are ready so I can get started with this year's applesauce supply.  I tried galas for the first time a couple of years ago and really liked them. 

That will mean a trip to Bonners Ferry and Sharon's Country Store.  It's always a fun errand.

We're starting another tomato run.  

Several ripened in July and then the rest took a break. 

They've apparently decided it's time to move on with their life cycle because I saw several in various stages of turning red during my morning watering.

The tomatoes have been extraordinary this year, so it's nice to have lots of them.  

Throwback Thursday:  Images of past events, people, places and moments.  Hope you enjoy the photos while scrolling along with the music.  

Name these ZAGS!

Time flies.  This family photo was taken at Samuels Store in 2003 the day Annie flew off to New Zealand for a semester abroad.  

Now, it's almost 50 countries later for Annie and few for the rest of us too. 

Willie and his sidekick Rusty. 

My penpal who inspired both Annie and me to visit New Zealand. 

Our correspondence began back in the day (in the '80s) when letters were written by hand and sent through the mail. 

Robyn lived in Taupo, New Zealand, and when Annie spent time as an exchange student on the North Isle, she met Robyn and her family.   

Soon after that visit in late 2003, Annie convinced me to travel to New Zealand. 

Robyn and all her family were lovely people. I connected with her as a penpal after her younger sister Sally spent a semester at Sandpoint High School as an exchange student. 

Sadly, Robyn died several years ago from brain cancer. 

She was a great lady.  I still keep in touch with her family, thanks to Facebook. 

Welcome home, Cheryl and Jeff.