The snow has stopped----for a while. Bridie and I came close to being white figures moving across the landscape as heavy, wet flakes fell on us throughout our walk.
By the time we arrived back at the house, it was pretty easy to shake it all off.
I hope that's all, but the weather forecast indicates we might have more. Dramatic increases temps, though, suggests rain rather than snow.
So, just another entree for the day and the week which is also featuring some variety, especially bracketology for March Madness.
I did put in considerable time yesterday watching the last of the games, Selection Sunday and the Oscars, which had to have taken a record amount of time.
I almost missed the first hour because they started at 4 p.m. instead of 5.
Though it was long, it was a fun show with lots to think about.
Oscars 2026
An Irish lady from Killarney won the Oscar for Best Actress.
~~~
Though it didn't win any awards, the movie "Train Dreams," which is set in our region, received generous applause from the audience every time it was announced as an Oscar nominee.
~~~~
I agree with others that this statement was an important highlight at last night's Oscars.
The director of “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” just said this from the stage:
“You lose your country through countless small acts of complicity:
When we act complicit when a government murders people on the streets.
When oligarchs take over the media and control how we produce and consume it.
We all face a moral choice. But even a nobody is more powerful than you think.”
******
Also, this morning's message from Pope Leo XIV in support of responsible journalism, which many of us still expect and appreciate.
In the dramatic circumstances of war, information must guard against the risk of turning into propaganda.
It is every journalist's duty to verify the news, so as not to become a megaphone for power.
They must show the suffering that war always brings to populations, which entails showing the face of war and recounting it through the eyes of victims.
🏆🏆🏆🏆
Selection Sunday
Bill had his two caps ready to wear for Selection Sunday.
Our favorites and their opponents in the March Madness dance, first-round matchups
Gonzaga men: Kennesaw State
Gonzaga women: Ol Miss
Idaho men: Houston
Idaho women: Oklahoma
McNeese State: Vanderbilt
Lots to consider and lots to remember about times and days and channels with our teams this year.
Hopefully, that problem will continue through at least the second round.
I'll plan to complete two or three brackets for pools this year just to keep life interesting.
When the sun was shining yesterday, Bill was once again tending to mini bonfires.
It may be a day or two or maybe even three before it's dry enough to burn again.
Annie watched these Irish dancers in Victoria, BC yesterday.
We are getting close to the wonderful holiday. BTW: Jennifer Bair Wood puts together some neat Irish treats at her farm stand on the connector road between the two Shingle Mill Roads.
The Guinness brownies are to die for, as is her soda bread. So, check it out tomorrow.
Scenes like this are the main and probably only reason that we valley dwellers will welcome snow in March.
Yesterday afternoon's contrast of almost-green fields with that brilliant white backdrop was jaw-dropping to say the least.
Twas a different kind of gorgeous this morning with the mountains outlined by a hot-pink ribbon of early sunlight running along their tops. Evenly spaced rays of thin gray clouds in the sky above this mountain scene added an extra touch of beauty.
And, so the Ides of March have come, and thankfully, so far in this historically ominous day, we are not feeling the need to Beware.
I told Bill, while reading the morning paper, that we could watch television pretty much all day long with the last of the regional NCAA basketball tournament championships running from 10 until "Selection Sunday" at 3 p.m.
And, then come the Academy Awards.
What a perfect day for good TV if we want to be couch potatoes all day.
No plans for that at this house, but we're happy to know that when we come inside, there will be an enticing TV menu ready to roll.
Little Foster is experiencing his second bout with canine vestibular disease aka "old-dog vertigo," and, happily, he is getting better each day.
His first bout in late November took about six weeks for his head to quit tilting off to one side. Still, he soldiered on, and so did we, seeing that his life was the best it could be in spite of the circumstances.
We're doing the same now, and, except for not being too cooperative about taking nausea pills, Foster has been doing his best at getting back to normal.
We're grateful that we have the time to give this wonderful little dog all the time he needs to get better.
We're also grateful to Dr. Kelly at Center Valley Vets who's always there to guide us through his care.
Yesterday after putzing at a variety of indoor and outdoor projects, we decided to go to Sweet Lou's to grab a bite of dinner.
As we left the restaurant, we happened on to the gentlemen above. Over the years, Trevor, on the left, has helped with construction of a few projects around the Lovestead, including the dog run.
Meanwhile, Zach, on the right, graduated from Sandpoint High with our daughter Annie. He works as a therapist in Coeur d'Alene.
It was great to catch up what's happening in the lives of these two lovable guys.
Bill's bonfire from yesterday.
The huge pile of debris south of the house is gradually getting smaller as he picks out items and starts small bonfires.
The finches are entering their colorful season.
Two days until St. Patrick's celebration, and the Irish endorphins are overflowing.
Hope you enjoy today's moving and inspiring selection.
Happy Sunday.
Annie and her friends spent some time in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, yesterday, where she captured a shot of this beautiful blue flower.
More snowflakes were falling this morning when I took the dogs outside.
Happily, they are no longer falling.
Yesterday's snow created some pretty scenes around the place.
With a promise of 60 degrees in a few days, we'll deal with it.
Speaking of dealing with the elements, my sisters finally had their power restored at 8:30 p.m. last night.
So, they toughed it out for almost two days.
They said the biggest problem was light, especially in their stable where they had to wear head lamps to feed horses and clean stalls.
So, maybe now, one week before spring officially begins and after a comparatively mild few months, we can say that we've had winter.
Bring on the spring!
I've heard that weather changes are often credited with the onset of aches and pains. I've also heard the same about vertigo, at least for older dogs.
I don't know if it's true, but I'll blame the weather change for triggering a second bout of canine vestibular disease for our Foster.
Like the first round, this came on almost instantaneously. Fine one minute, floundering the next.
So, the little guy has been getting lots of tender loving care since yesterday morning.
It's tough on him, but he's a trooper. We're keeping our fingers crossed that he works his way through this episode.
On a light note, Bill and I had a great time at the Gehring household last night. The occasion revolved around the visit from Portland of a fellow educator, her son and her grandson.
We've all known each other for decades. Several years ago, she moved to Portland, so it was a special visit.
With other teachers, current and retired, we enjoyed some good story telling and more than enough laughs.
Some of these included passing around affirmation cards to boost our outlooks or NOT.
It's safe to say that a good time was had by all, and Bill and I thoroughly enjoyed being among the guests.
A neat perspective on the high school art students who created colorful bowls for last week's Empty Bowl luncheon which benefitted the Bonner Community Food Bank.
I really liked the letter below because it speaks to people like me who are not so much political but more concerned with the general aspects of living and functioning in what we call a democracy.
Like the television sitcom, with the exception of a few issues from time to time, we sit and think "In the Middle. "
I sincerely believe that it's time for all of us to work our way a little bit more toward the middle, even if it's just an inch or two.
If that could happen, I think we'd start finding some common ground and moving forward on what's good for the masses as opposed to satisfying simply extreme segments of our population.
Thank you, Barb, for submitting this letter to the Bonner Daily Bee.
It's time to look past political labels, scorecards
March 12, 2026 1:00 AM
When I moved to Sandpoint almost 25 years ago, my aunt
visited and asked my friend, “So, what do you do?” She meant her job,
but that’s not what people here care about.
In Sandpoint, the question
is more like, “Do you hike, ski, have kids, horses, fish, hunt?” It’s
about finding connection through how we live, not what we do for work —
and that’s what made this place feel like home.
I’ve been a
Republican since the 1990s, and for a long time here, that was beside
the point. We were a conservative community in the best sense: fiscally
responsible, committed to strong families, and grounded in the idea that
neighbors look out for each other.
We invested carefully in good
schools, decent roads, and public institutions because we understood
they were tools that helped us build the kind of life we want.
Over
the past decade, many people have moved to Idaho to escape what they
see as failed liberal policies elsewhere. I understand that impulse.
But
in the rush to be the “opposite” of where they came from, some now look
at longtime Idaho Republicans as “RINOs” or even closet liberals,
simply because we still believe in funding schools, protecting public
land, supporting emergency services, keeping hospitals open, or
maintaining basic services.
Wanting functional public institutions is
not liberalism; it’s basic conservative stewardship.
Since the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s “index” became a kind of shadow
party platform, too many legislators seem more focused on protecting
their score than protecting their constituents.
If a Republican supports
a school levy, a fire levy, or a practical compromise, they’re branded
suspect. That’s how we end up with politicians who chase perfect scores
and viral headlines instead of doing the unglamorous work of governing.
When
voters get pulled into this purity test mindset and constant
culture‑war outrage, we start voting against our own best interests.
We’re told to obsess over “RINOs,” books, bathrooms, and slogans about
“freedom,” while we ignore whether our kids’ classrooms are overcrowded,
if there are adequate police and fire personnel, whether the local ER
can stay open, or whether our roads and property values are being
protected.
None of those real life fights look flashy on a postcard.
We’re
already seeing the cost. Idaho has the fewest doctors per capita, 47th
for overall public school quality, and dead last for 3-5-year-olds'
early learning skills.
Young people leave because wages, housing, and
services can’t keep up with growth. If we keep treating any Republican
who believes in basic investment as a traitor, we will hollow out the
communities we moved here to enjoy.
That is not the Idaho
conservatism I found in 2002, and it’s not the Idaho that drew so many
of us here. We can be conservative without being self‑destructive.
We
can demand accountability without sabotaging our schools and hospitals.
I
hope newer and older Idahoans alike will take a step back, look past
the scorecards and labels, and start voting for the people who actually
protect the communities we all chose to call home.
BARBARA SCHRIBER
Sandpoint
With St. Patrick's Day soon approaching, I thought readers would enjoy a couple this nugget from a story listing the best Irish pubs in each state.
Enjoy
Idaho: The Harp
If an Irish pub that's serving dishes made from family recipes and soda bread that's scratch-made fresh every day sounds like the place to be, you'll love The Harp in Meridian.
It's also taking pride in the number of beers on tap at any given time, and that soda bread gets rave reviews, as you might expect. The Guinness lamb stew does, too, just save room for Bailey's mousse for dessert.
Why does it seem like it's been Friday the 13th in America for some time?
Instead of the "deer are watching you," Miss Bridie is watching the deer from the comfort of her warm home.
We haven't heard if power has been restored at my sisters' farm. That includes two houses of family members---Barbara and Laure; Willie and Debbie.
Yesterday when our power went out in the middle of the night, Bill followed his usual routine for power outages. He lit some candles and then climbed in his pickup and went on a fact-finding mission around the neighborhood.
Bill always likes to initially see that the next-door neighbors' power is out too; then we know it's not just us.
He drives up and down the neighboring roads and then comes home so he can report to me when I get up.
A day after the power went out, we're hoping the Colburn crew has their back after an entire day without electricity.
Bill was concerned about the cell phones at Colburn. To which I said, they can always charge them in their cars.
To which he said that he, on his fact-finding mission (at 3:30 or so in the morning) had observed two cars in driveways with their motors running and lights on. We both agreed that someone was on their cell phone.
Which brings to mind, the following, which was inspired by something I read in the New York Times.
Netaholism
Are you a netaholic?
Should there be a group for people like you that
meets at churches or maybe even libraries called NA for Netaholics
Anonymous?
With their addiction, though, would they
be able to remain anonymous?
If you are reading this, maybe
you could use some help or follow some of the strategies people are using to escape their cell phones.
How many of us fall into this group?
People
are repairing to the woods, building full-scale replicas of Thoreau's
cabin at Walden Pond — no plumbing, no electricity, definitely no
Wi-Fi.
One
modern transcendentalist’s dwelling has just a kerosene lamp, a desk and
research materials to keep him from using Google.
“It
naturally makes me not want to check email impulsively,” he told The Times.
Sometimes
it feels as if our phones are our captors, and we’re in perpetual search for a
device or a detox that will release us.
We’re
constantly negotiating: I’ll keep my devices out of the bedroom. I’ll wait 15
minutes after waking before checking social media.
