Sunday Babble

 

Yesterday seemed like a perfect September day.  

Comfy temperatures, blue skies with billowy clouds and just plain pretty. 

This t-shirt arrived in my mail yesterday. 

It's 61 years old and, as of yesterday, finally worn. 

My friend Jean aka "Mow" sent it to me from her home in Palm Springs. 

She said it really never fit right and asked if I'd like it. 

Besides being pretty, the shirt has special and historic meaning. 

Mow and I met during the summer of 1965 when we both worked at Camp Neewahlu on Lake Coeur d'Alene.  

My job as a dishwasher was financed by the college work-study program which had just begun. 

Before working at Camp Neewahlu, I spent the first part of that summer at the University of Idaho working at the Radio-TV Center.  

It was a job I would have all through college except for the last semester when the work-study program got the hatchet. 

I borrowed $800 from my parents to finish college and paid it back as quickly as possible. 

Back to Camp Neewahlu. It was a Campfire Girls camp which served the groups from North Idaho.  I washed dishes with Terry Chronic, who was also from Sandpoint, while Mow, who had come from Kansas served as a Water Safety Instructor.

As the summer wore on, Terry and I developed some efficiency strategies to speed up our dish-washing, enabling us to spend a lot of time at the dock where Mow hung out. 

We worked throughout the week and weekend, getting one afternoon and one morning off each week as each new group of campers showed up on the Dancewanna, which provided access to the camp. 

Those daily experiences and some crazy "weekend" breaks led to a friendship which has lasted as long as that t-shirt. 

As I told Mow when she asked me if I wanted the shirt, I probably did not have enough money to afford a shirt of my own. 

So, now, going on 80, I have a Camp Neewahlu shirt, which represents a host of great memories and a lasting friendship. 

So, thank you, Mow.  I'll treasure the shirt and probably not wear it too often because it's in mint condition, just like our long friendship.

BTW:  the camp eventually closed and the land was purchased by actor Dennis Franz of "NYPD Blue."  

The birdies have been competing with a big family of squirrels at the bird feeder. 

Sometimes I look out on the lawn and it seems to be crawling with critters with big bushy tails. 

Yesterday Bill and I received our Covid 19 shots.  

The new vaccine was approved and apparently arrived at Wal-Mart and other outlets in the past few days. 

We are always relieved when we get the shots, which have kept us in good health ever since they were first administered in early 2021. 

We enjoyed the visiting pharmacist named "Get" who gave us our vaccinations.  

As a native of East Africa, he said his full name is too challenging for most folks to pronounce so he goes by Get. 

Nice guy and he did an okay job giving us the "jab." 

Proof that I raised at least one cob of corn with fairly uniform kernels and no big gaps. 

This is an achievement after all the bad luck I've had in the past few years. 

My only regret now:  that I planted only four corn stocks as part of my mound of veggie and flower variety. 

Bill has actually eaten two cobs of homegrown corn along with with corn grown by my friend Becky, an Iowa native. 

I did not want to disturb this little friend which was taking a break from whatever praying mantises do when they're not taking a break. 

It was stationed on one of the camp chairs on the deck and it seemed perfectly happy for me to take its picture. 

Saturday Slight

 

It's a sneak peak of the gorgeous, beautifully laid-out concert venue at the Samuels Store/Blue Heron Restaurant north of Sandpoint. 

The spot has drawn music lovers to concerts every weekend throughout the summer. 

Plus, the restaurant, where we dined last night, has great food and service.  

My cousin Sue turned 70 this week.  

Her celebration of this milestone includes some breath-taking experiences in Switzerland, including working out with a cow. 

Seems like the cow is getting the easier part of the deal. 

Our Friday-night crowd touring the Blue Heron Restaurant concert venue after dinner last night. 

Willie, Bill, Laurie, Marianne, Barbara and Debbie. 

Typical plate at the Blue Heron Restaurant north of Sandpoint. 

Two former students and great peeps, Candy and Pat were dining at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Samuels last evening. 

 

My former student Adrian sent me this photo this morning.  

It's the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 

The Cathedral marks the destination for pilgrims walking the various Caminos in Spain. 

Adrian and his wife Lindsay are on a cruise.  

Congratulations to Coach Ryan Knowles and his Sandpoint High Bulldog football team:  now 3-0 after a victory over Post Falls last night. 

It was so good to see my neighbor and classmate Gary last night at dinner.   

He has rebounded from a long illness that kept him under medical care throughout the summer. 

Welcome back, Gary.  

Can't wait to hear your honks when you drive by. 

The link below takes you to a great article about Becky Sawyer and her new Sawyer's Bakery in downtown Sandpoint. 

She has a lot happening in her establishment, the former home of Image Maker. 

https://sandpointreader.com/flour-butter-tradition/

Happy Saturday. 

Friday Mutterings: Little Boxes

 

I was thinking this morning while walking through the woods with Bridie that I sure haven't missed dragging a hose around for watering. 

The mildly rainy days of late have meant a nice change of pace, including an opportunity to take morning walks where I normally don't go during mornings in the summer months. 

I love our woods and realize that I have missed spending time there. 

The woods will be even more fun now that Bill's Forest Service sign indicates that part of our forest is in Montana---west of Idaho, no less. 

When he was preparing to put up the sign on the dog run fence the other day, I told him he would have to hang it on the south side of the run facing the trees. 

That, of course, was for accuracy sake because we all know Montana is east of Idaho.  

But then again, in today's world, I'm guessing it could be anywhere we want it to be. And, we can rename the state if necessary. 

Anywho, he has one sign up and is digging a post hole so he can nail one to a post near the entrance of the woods. 

I'm glad our "funkiness" is extending to the woods and especially glad that when those signs go up, we'll know where we are going. 

I immediately thought of Pete Seeger's song when my sister introduced me to her "little boxes" yesterday. 

But her little boxes don't all look just the same. 

😊😊😊😊😊

When I drove to my sisters' house yesterday to drop off a sponsorship check for the upcoming horse show, Laurie started bringing out boxes filled with little wooden boxes. 

She and Barbara have been working for the past few weeks preparing awards for the horse show, and some of them include the little boxes adorned with scenes from photos, my mother's artwork and from publications. 

Laurie has an engraving machine and has engraved at least three dozen little boxes and journals for horse show prizes. 

I thought these were some of the nicest and useful prizes I've ever seen as awards, so, of course, I took pictures and am showing them off. 

You'll also see graphics advertising the show which will be held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds from Sept. 18-20.  

Each day (except Sunday with two segments) will include three segments of classes in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.

This is the third year for the September Showcase, which is sponsored by the Emerald Empire Arabian Horse Club.  It's both fun and laid back and getting better every year. 

Bring the kids and come to enjoy beautiful horses and riders doing their thing. 

And, if you're a horse owner and have an inkling to win one of those boxes, you can sign up to compete in some classes. 

Early entries close Sept. 10. After that day, you can post enter classes for an extra fee.

You'll notice a link on the announcements which will direct you toward more specific information about the classes offered and when they happen. 

So, enjoy the photos and maybe we'll see you at the show.  

Of course, I like this journal cuz I recognize the horse. 

Wishing everyone a happy Labor Day weekend.  

Stay safe, dry and have fun. 

Happy Friday.