Monday Miscellany

 

I heard that some blog readers have wondered what the green tint is to the Iphone photos I take in the early morning. 

Not all of these photos have that tint, but those taken from near the barn do.  I think the coloring comes from the barn light.

I don't know why, but that's my final answer, and I'll stick to it. 

 The full moon this morning offered another opportunity to capture some fun very early morning scenes with my Iphone.  

Plus, it was pretty out.  I'm hearing more and more early-morning critter sounds, besides Bridie's barking, as spring draws closer and we have more morning light. 

This morning I even heard a honk or two in the darkness, but it wasn't a goose.  It was Gary Finney heading off for his coffee Klatch.

The morning sounds signal that spring is getting closer.  

Bill said it's not anatomically correct for a beetle.  If I wanted it to be, I guess I could use AI. 

No need.  

It was just a cute roadside display while we were driving through the Hoodoo Valley yesterday. 

It turned out to be a rainy, gloomy Sunday.  I was watching a very compelling Netflix documentary about the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart when Bill came home from church. 

When the documentary ended, my plan to spend some more time outside suddenly changed. Rain and dark clouds had set in, and it looked as though both had arrived for the long haul. 

So, I suggested that we load up the dogs and go for a driver.  Ironically, I had already thought about the Priest River--Dufort Loop, when Bill suggested that very same idea. 

It was a good plan to leave the house and, if it was raining, at least we'd be seeing something different. Happily, by the time we reached Laclede, the skies brightened a bit and the rain stopped for a while. 

I love driving through Priest River, especially on quiet winter days.  It's a timber town west of Sandpoint where the residents have displayed great pride in its history.  

Each time we drive through, there seems to be an added touch of historical sophistication. 

More roadside auto art in the Hoodoo/Edgemere area. 

We stopped at a launch area in Morton yesterday.  It was quiet except for two people doing some winter fishing in the Pend Oreille River. 

And, it offered a supreme sniffing experience for Bridie and Foster. 

After we arrived home from our afternoon drive, the Grammys had started in Los Angeles. 

While on our drive, I saw on Facebook that a very talented former student would be attending the annual music awards event. 

So, I sent him a note and asked if he'd send me a couple of paragraphs about the experience. 

So far, Jeremy, who composes music for ESPN, Monday Night Football, Sony, etc., has sent me some pre-Grammy photos and has said he'd try to put something together for his old English teacher.  

Jeremy Birdsall before last night's Grammy's. 

 

Brothers and accomplished musicians who graduated from Sandpoint High School,  Aaron and Jeremy Birdsall.

JEREMY BIRDSALL

Multi-Instrumentalist

Known for his electric stage presence and ability to play multiple instruments at the same time, Jeremy Birdsall is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Orlando, Florida. 

Jeremy performs and records regularly on bass, piano, guitar, percussion, cello, mandolin, ukulele, dulcimer banjo, sitar, Chapman Stick and vocals. 

Jeremy is the President of Kavode Studios, where he provides music instruction, audio post production and music composition for film, TV and video games.

Throughout his performance career, Jeremy has played venues and festivals with attendances of 10,000-100,000 including Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, Hard Rock Orlando, Amway Center and SunFest, and he has opened for national acts including Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Huey Lewis & The News, Toots & The Maytals, Hunter Hayes and Sawyer Brown. 

The opportunity to tour with 5-time Grammy award-winner, Sandi Patty, is a cherished career highlight. He has been featured as a street musician in a national commercial and is a recipient of the “Musician of the Year” award from Songwriters Showcase of America.

As a composer and recording artist, Jeremy’s solo release, Acoustic Healing, is an ambient, instrumental album featuring beautiful, contemplative melodies and exotic instrumentation. 

As a member of alt-pop sibling band Flying Mammals, Jeremy has had the extraordinary experience of recording an album with legendary producer, Sylvia Massy (Prince, Johnny Cash, Tool, RHCP, etc.).

His passion for arts in the community led Jeremy to found the instrumental music festival, Shut Up & Play, as well as the Orlando Jazz Community Facebook group. 

He has also served as a board member for the Central Florida Jazz Society and Circle Member for the world-class Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Jeremy is extremely honored to be an annual judge for the NAACP’s National ACT-SO Competition, voting member and District Advocate for the Recording Academy / GRAMMY Awards, Mentor for the Recording Academy’s GRAMMYU program, and voting member of the GMA / Dove Awards. He is proud to endorse Aguilar Amplification, Gold Tone Instruments and Gator Cases.

Instruments:

Bass (electric – fretted/fretless, acoustic bass guitar, upright bass)

Piano/keys

Guitar (electric/acoustic/classical)

Percussion (drums/auxiliary)

Cello

Mandolin

Ukulele

Dulcimer banjo

Sitar

Chapman Stick

Vocals

Another amazing graduate of Sandpoint High School. 

Happy Ground Hog Day.  

I don't think I've ever gotten too worked up about whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not. 

Spring will come when spring wants to come. 

Annie has been in Las Vegas and Yuma, Ariz., this weekend for a geocaching event. 

It's always nice when she goes to see the sun during the winter.  

In gloomy times here, I can steal some of her photos to add a little color to my blog posts and reminders that spring is coming. 

It could be that she'll bring some of that warm weather with her when she comes for a visit this weekend.  

We may hit the 50s this week, so that will be a welcome change. 

It seems to be an action-packed week ahead with appointments and good television (the Olympics), basketball games and just general enjoyment watching the snow disappear and the green grass re-appear. 

Plus, there as the snow melts, there will be abundant dog piles to pick up and remove. 

Definitely doggie doodoo clean-up season. 

Happy Monday. 

Hello, February

 

Former President Obama posted this factoid on Twitter today:

February

4 Mondays 

4 Tuesdays

     4 Wednesdays 

  4 Thursdays 

4 Fridays 

  4 Saturdays 

4 Sundays 

 This only happens once every 823 years!

And, since I don't think I'll be posting on Slight Detour on Feb. 1 in 823 years, I thought it was worth sharing today. 

Thanks to the Winter Olympics, February is a loaded month for television sports viewing this year. 

So, it should be fun times for pretty much all 28 days. 

The weather forecast is also looking fairly pleasant  this week AND I saw and heard robins in the north lawn yesterday. 

It appears to be a definite emergence from the winter doldrums as we also greet more light with the ever-increasing longer days. 

All good.  

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Today is St. Brigid's Day in Ireland.

I learn a little more each year about St. Brigid, the second most famous saint in Ireland.  

She seems to be a multi-tasker as far as saints go cuz she watches over so many aspects of life in Ireland. Plus, she's multi-faceted as both human and myth. 

Because we spend at least one night on each of our Ireland trips in Kildare---where her story is most prominent---we've become St. Brigid admirers. 

Over the years, I've brought home and given away many St. Brigid's crosses like you see in the photo below.

If you are one of my Facebook friends, go to my site and be sure to see the multi-media artwork my favorite Irish artist Suzie has posted today.  

It's lovely and exquisite, like all the work Suzie does. 

I saw this post last night and kept trying to remember to follow its guidelines, but the intensity of the ZAGS-Gaels game got in the way. 

☘☘☘☘

Put your scarves, hats or whatever outside tonight, folks! Tomorrow (Sunday) is Imbolc (or Imbolg), the traditional festival that marks the beginning of Spring in Ireland. 

It was originally a Pagan festival but when Christianity was introduced into Ireland, it morphed into the Feast of St. Brigid (nickname: Bridie).

Now that's tomorrow (now today) but celebrations for Irish festivals always begin on the eve of the day itself because that was considered a very liminal time when the otherworld was close, so appeals for protection and blessings were extra effective. 

Tonight, on the eve of the festival, Brigid is said to walk the earth.

Traditionally, families would have a special St. Brigid's Eve supper and leave some of the food and drink aside for the saint. 

By doing so,  they were inviting her into their house. A bed was made up for her and before retiring for the night, each member of the family would leave a piece of cloth outside the house for the saint to bless. 

The cloth is called Brat Bhríde (Brigid's Cloak), and can be anything from a strip of material to a scarf. 

In the morning it's brought inside and, because it now possesses powers, will be used for healing and protection throughout the year. Bill (the author's hubby) and I both both have our scarves out. 

Once they're blessed they can be wrapped around the head to cure a headache and, traditionally, were widely used by midwives to help women in childbirth (Brigid being, among other things, the patron of healers and midwives). 

There were no epidurals back then of course, but no need! All the mother-to-be needed to do was hang on to a scrap of cloth and she'd be grand.

This is a fun song about St. Brigid's cloak. 

On Friday when I went to the Riverside building to have my hair done, I saw a neat chair in the lobby of the building which serves salons and other small businesses, including that of a local artist. 

I loved the design on the chair, so had to take a photo.  It adds a wonderful splash of color to the "old building," mentioned in the note below. 

You may have guessed that the flyer with a message was taped to the inside door of a bathroom stall. 

Does this mean that all old buildings often have "remnants" left over for others to enjoy and do we just have to expect to flush twice if the building is old?

Just wondering.  You can be sure that I left no remnants after my visit. 

Yes, it was a tight ball game last night when the St. Mary's Gaels came to the Kennel for what may be the last time.   

Gonzaga is going to another league, so the two teams won't necessarily meet each other again, unless a nonleague game is scheduled. 

The narrative that Graham Ike, who's been sidelined for a couple of weeks with an injury, pretty much played out the way he had envisioned.  He was not going to let St. Mary's win for a third consecutive time in the Kennel. 

Thirty points later for him, mission accomplished.  The ZAGS won. 

It was a good day for Bulldogs yesterday, as Willie's Sandpoint Bulldogs took a 46-26 win on an away game matchup with Moscow.  

Willie said it was a grinding out game, but it was a convincing victory. 

Congratulations to all Bulldogs. 

Saturday Slight

So lovely to go outside this morning and see the moon, a few stars and just a few clouds in the sky. 

After yesterday's wet, foggy and dismal weather, it looks like we're getting a break and maybe even a beautiful day ahead. 

During yesterday afternoon's gloom, there was an escape from the yucky weather at Roxane's arena where I board my horses. 

An area 4-H group comes every Friday afternoon to enjoy their horses and maybe a little learning. 

I spent some time visiting with Kim Lippert whose daughter is a member of the 4-H group. 

It's laid-back and definitely an upbeat activity for the kids in the dead of winter.

It's nice that the members have this outlet, and really nice for old ladies looking for some fun photos and visiting on a rainy day.  

Above:  Bill has been tacking up posters promoting this year's Trout Unlimited Fly Fishing Film Tour.  

So, I decided to help spread the word here on the blog. 

It's four weeks away, and it's always a popular event in Sandpoint, so mark it on your calendar. 

Below:  Big Bulldog basketball day. 

Willie is headed out this morning for Moscow with his Bulldogs.  

They'll be tipping off against the Bears at 3 p.m., and, by golly, earlier this week Hudl.com worked well for streaming the game. 

So, it should work for today's game.

After that 1-point overtime loss Thursday night in the thriller against Coeur d'Alene, the Bulldogs are hungry for a win. 

Wishing them luck and hoping they enjoy those pillows with basketballs on the pillowcases which Debbie gave them for today's bus ride.  

Good luck, Sandpoint Bulldogs. 

It's also Game Day for the ZAGS men. 

And, tonight's matchup will probably be a nailbiter as the ZAGS host the St. Mary's Gaels at McCarthey Athletic Complex aka the Kennel. 

Virtually every game with St. Mary's presents a challenge, so let's hope for some good vibes and a great ZAGS victory tonight. 

Tip off:  7:30 p.m. PST

Television:  ESPN. 

GO, ZAGS!!!

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

I'm probably not exaggerating when I say that I could list  thousands of reasons for why Sandpoint High School has been and continues to provide one of the most amazing and productive settings for students to experience a well-rounded education. 

Through my own experience as a student there in the 1960s, as an educator from the late '60s to the early 2000s and as a journalist who loves to tell or write stories about the school's graduates, I've witnessed the academics, the activities and the overall positive atmosphere at this school for more than 60 years.

I've always been beyond proud of my alma mater.

If ever there were a fun and all-inclusive way of showcasing what is so great about this school, Erin McGovern Roos and her team have done just that.  

Stay tuned for 13 minutes of upbeat fun and playful creativity from the students and staff of  Sandpoint High School.

I smiled through the entire production, and I'll probably watch it again and again and again.

I think that every Sandpoint High graduate would do the same. 

This production will make your day.  

Erin McGovern Roos, you orchestrated an amazing production which will be enjoyed for decades to come.

 Thank you. 

Hint:  watch toward the end when Willie Love aka Coach Love nails an assist for Bulldog standout Logan Roos.

 

 

Fun and Games

 

Bob, the clock man at SHS basketball games,  had no desire to have his picture taken last night. 

Let's just say he was photo-balled.

On the other hand, statistician and retired English teacher Barb Crumb (below) was all smiles. 

 

There was plenty of noise last night---enough , in fact, that you couldn't hear the squeak of the various colored sneakers on the gym floor. 

Lots of cheering and excitement as Sandpoint and Coeur d'Alene played what some would call a heavyweight match as balls would drop through the hoop at one end and, a few seconds later, the same would soon happen at the other end of Les Rogers Court. 

I'm pretty sure that there were never more than four points separating the perennial rival teams.  

Ties, one-point leads, often two point separations---the fans got their money's worth and their blood pressure was tested as the Bulldogs and Coeur d'Alene Vikings battled it out for four quarters and then an overtime.

At the overtime final buzzer, the Vikings were victorious with a one-point lead. 

What a game!  

The Bulldogs made us all proud as they gave it their all in impressive and entertaining style. 

In short, it was an intense, well-played and exciting basketball barn burner from tip-off to final buzzer.

 

Coach Love and his team strategize in the last time-out before the final buzzer. 

I loved meeting this couple, A.J. and Leah Smith at last night's game. 

Both are very engaging and enthusiastic. They also have great stories to tell.  Are you listening, Mike Winslow?

I understand that A.J. cuts Mike, the retired barber' hair these days. 

A.J. comes from Vermont, and he cuts hair in what's advertised as the Last Male Outpost in Sandpoint.  His father cut hair there, and, if I'm recalling correctly, so does his sister. 

It's easy to see that A.J., who has a great gift of gab,  has the perfect personality for his craft. I'd love to listen to him and Mike (one of Sandpoint's treasures) during a hair-cutting session.  

Meanwhile, Leah serves as team trainer for the Bulldogs, and she teaches sports science at Sandpoint High.  

When I learned that she had grown up in Dillon, Mont., my gift of gab went into high gear as I related the story of the Selkirk Hereford Ranch (ranch is just a couple of miles from us as the birds fly). 

Fifty some years ago, I documented the move when the cattle were loaded up and taken to the Circle C Ranch in Dillon. 

It was an amazing journalistic experience. 

Bill, Leah and I compared a few notes about our respective experiences in Dillon. 

Nice and fun couple.  

Plus, Leah exemplifies exactly why Sandpoint High is a great place for teens to experience their education. 

In the "Where Has the Time Gone" department, our daughter Annie celebrated a geocaching anniversary yesterday.  

Check out her comment below. 

Today marks 19 years of working at Geocaching HQ! Wouldn’t trade the last 19 years for anything. 

I feel so lucky to work alongside Signal the Frog and an amazing group of Lackeys!

Congratulations, Annie.  

We are proud of you and have ALL enjoyed your job. 

*******

Another reminder of a special birthday party coming up in a week. 

Our friend Myra's family will be hosting the party. 

Let's pass the word.  

Look Who’s Turning 90!! 

Myra Lewis!! 

When:  Saturday, February 7, 2026 

Where:  At her house (5192 River Road; Clark Fork, ID) 

Time:  11-3 

We would love to have friends come and go and share stories from their friendship with our Mom!

🎈🎉🎊

Yesterday my sisters (Laurie, Roxzene, Barbara, me) and I got together with our horse friend Roxzene for lunch. 

Good food, great service and good company at The View Cafe south of Sandpoint. 

Today we still have fog, but the rain has stopped and my cell phone says it's done for most of the day. 

It also told me that we'll be in the 50s next week.  

I'll take it. 

Happy Friday.