A Three-Bob Day; Ponderettes, Wolves

 

“I also think that, personally, less is more. I think we see so much today of people ripping their clothes off and eating each other, basically, that it doesn’t mean anything anymore. I think we’ve become inured to that. 

What’s most powerful is sometimes the simplest.”

                                                                                  --Actress Glenn Close

Glenn Close was talking about her friend "Bob" during a CNN interview yesterday.  

She had been asked by Brianna Keillor about "the kiss," in the movie The Natural where she played opposite Robert Redford. 

  Apparently at some time, the actress had referenced the moment as the best kiss ever in her career, so Brianna asked her to comment. 

I loved her response and chuckled. 

That was the first "Bob" of the day. 

Later, after the interview, I heard the doorbell ring. 

Nancy, who works as a senior companion, stood on the deck at the door and announced that Bob Gooby was here.  She had brought him for a visit. 

So, I grabbed some chairs, and we sat in the shade gabbing away for about an hour. It was SO good to see Bob looking so good. 

He has had a rough few months after a branch "clotheslined" him while he was mowing his lawn. The impact caused an injury to his spine. 

So Bob spent considerable time in therapy and wearing a brace.  Happily, the problem has healed so he can take the brace off whenever he wishes. 

During our conversation, Bob told me that he'll be 90 next week, Sept. 23, to be exact.  So, anyone reading this who knows Bob, send him a card. I know he'll appreciate it. 

Plus, I think his brother Pat needs to acknowledge the occasion in one of his one-liner letters to the editor. Tell Pat that Marianne says he has an assignment. 

I've known Bob and his Gooby family since I was a little girl, so every time I get to visit with him is special. And, to see him doing so well was really special. 

The third Bob came wheeling into the driveway on his bike and wearing his florescent vest around dusk last evening. 

Twas Bob Libbey who lives over on North Kootenai Road.  I had Foster on the pickup tailgate, clipping his nails when I heard, "Hi, Marianne," and looked up to see Bob. 

Bob and Ginny Libbey and I started working for Bonner County School District 82 in the fall of 1969. The Libbey's had already taught a couple of years, while that was my first year.

We worked our way through our careers in our respective schools.  Bob and Ginny were elementary teachers, while I taught high school. 

Years later, after our move to Selle, we ended up in the same neighborhood. 

Bob and I visited for a while, and then I sent him on down the lane to visit with Bill who knew Bob well because of his Northside School participation in the annual State Forestry contest.  

And, so ended a three-Bob day, all dealing with really good Bob's too. 

Bob and Nancy during our visit yesterday. 

 I’m sitting at the boys’ varsity soccer game and the dance team performed at halftime. Derek D announced that the team has gone nostalgic and renamed themselves the Ponderettes . . . . I love our small town.  

--Melanie Almeida

After seeing the last "Bob" of the day, I went inside and checked my iPhone where the message above appeared in my email. 

Of course, Melanie, a former student, knew that I had spent several years as the Sandpoint High Ponderettes drill team adviser, so she thought I'd enjoy the news she had witnessed. 

Yes, I did, and I told her that all past Ponderettes will be thrilled to know that their group name has been revived.  

Also, I'm looking forward to sitting back and watching some Ponderette performances, totally stress free as a "former" Ponderette adviser.  

The garden is still producing.  This was yesterday's harvest.  I pulled only a few carrots cuz I want the rest to keep growing and avoiding any vole cropping. 

And, Mama and her baby are still passing through the yard pretty much every day. 

 

I've been spending some time at my "Wolf Crossing" sign given to me many years ago by the Book family.  It still brings a few smiles when I think of why they gave it to me. 

There's a story in my second book Postcards from Potato Land, which features a few members of the Book family who came to the rescue after I thought I saw a wolf  on a rainy day while delivering "Inlander" newspapers and getting stuck in the mud while pursuing said wolf. 

You just have to read the story to appreciate the full meaning of the sign.

Anyway, it's on a post next to the new power pole Northern Lights installed a few days ago. I've been removing the dirt pile and watching out for wolves. 

So far, no sightings but a lot less dirt to clean up. 

Happy Wednesday. 

Since I've been talking about wolves and about dance teams now known as Ponderettes, how about some pretty music to go along with the conversation.  

Enjoy. 

Tuesday This and That

It's a little late for this pumpkin to get started, but it offers a beautiful beginning. 

We weren't quite to the "frost on the pumpkins" status, but there was a nip in the air this morning, reminding us that it won't be long.

After a couple of rainy days, I saw stars in the early morning sky and fog rising at daylight. 

I also wore another layer on my morning outings, and it was needed.  

Cool weather brings back the enjoyment of working on outdoor projects. 

Yesterday I chose the electric fence around the barnyard. 

When it's not on, the fence wire serves as Lefty and CB's favorite toy. 

Look the human square in the eye, grab ahold of the wire and pull it until it either rebounds or snaps. 

Well, it snaps a lot of the time, so the electric charge that runs through the wire will not do its job. 

So, I tightened a lot of wire, replaced some and nailed in some new insulators. 

Around here, we usually need only a couple of times of turning on the fence charger to keep our horses honest and respectful. 

Still, occasionally boredom sets in and they have to have something fun to do.  

I'll probably turn the charger on for a night this week, just to rebuild some respect before they snap it again. 

Here's some news for those of us who love to do the Bull River Loop drive. 

U.S. Forest Service - Kootenai National Forest

The closure order in effect for the Ross Creek Cedars Area on the Three Rivers Ranger District will be rescinded and the site will open Friday, September 12th.

Ross Creek Cedar Scenic area has been closed for much needed improvements. The summer project improved the existing nature trail to provide a consistent, sustainable trail surface that meets Forest Accessibility Standards for all users and better defines the route. 

The updated trail will also help protect the grove and other vegetation from the high visitation rates. New benches, bridges, and portions of boardwalk were installed, and new signs are forthcoming.

If you visit, please be respectful of these improvements and help keep this wonderful place special for all to enjoy.

Thank you to the project contractor and our local recreation crew for their efforts!

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

It will be fun to see the improvements. 

For decades, Robert Redford has been one of my favorite actors, so much so that one of my students once brought me a poster of him. 

The poster hung in our living room and probably burned in our house fire in 1984.

It may have been this one from The Electric Horseman.  

The same student, Molly, also invited me to her house to watch a newly released documentary film.  Her dad Dann McCann was an Oscar-winning documentary film maker so he had access to such opportunities. 

Redford was an actor who was not only handsome but also highly respected for his attention toward the environment. 

His legacy will also live on through the Sundance Film Festival, which he founded.   

Redford did well on many levels of his life, and his memory will be a positive one. 

RIP, Robert Redford. 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/movies/articles/robert-redford-movie-star-sundance-122155678.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

Foster went to the doctor yesterday. He has been totally blind for at least three years.  

Earlier this year, we discovered a small growth on his eyelid.  Dr. Kelly, new owner of Center Valley Vets, said it was benign and not to worry.  

Well, lately, his eye has been running occasionally, and I discovered last week while applying his daily eye drops that the white part of that eye appeared a bit enflamed. 

So, he had an eye exam yesterday, complete with a glaucoma test, and the doctor saw nothing concerning.  

She thinks the growth may be is causing some irritation, so she gave me a bottle of antibiotic drops in case there's a slight infection. 

It was a good visit for Foster.  He received excellent care and TLC from both Dr. Kelly and her vet tech intern Makayla. 

Makayla spent the summer at Center Valley Vets and will go back to school in Oregon to finish her veterinary tech studies.  Then, she plans to return to Sandpoint. 

Speaking of apples, I think of teachers and then I think of education. 

This morning another good letter appeared in the Daily Bee, and since I once babysat (actually teen sat) the author, I thought it was worth posting.   Plus, the message resounds to me.  

Chris is absolutely right:  enhanced literacy could solve many of the woes of the world, including here in the United States. 

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/sep/16/creating-peace-through-literacy/

Thanks, Chris, for writing your letter. 

Our daughter-in-law Debbie and her food bank staff and volunteers are working hard to make this event a success.  

Not only would that be nice, but, more importantly, the event's successful results will meet the needs of many who can use help feeding their families. 

So, check out the information on the images and click on the link where you can find a variety of ways to support the event and add to the nutritional needs of our community. 

You don't have to attend the event to help its success. 

Ending hunger bite by bite. 

https://event.auctria.com/076bc237-e0f7-4437-9a4a-16025f35759e/

Rainy Sunday Stuff; Bus 80

No need to drag hoses around this morning. 

Yay!  

I do have to water my deck flowers, but the rest of the garden areas received enough moisture from yesterday's rain that they'll be fine today. 

It was nice to have a cooler, slightly moist day yesterday.  Such days make me feel like I'm alive again.  Instead of looking forward to getting into the cooler house, I'm excited to spend more time out of the house. 

After we received the first batch of drops, I climbed aboard the lawnmower and cleaned up a bunch of leaves. 

Damp leaves are much more pleasant to manage than dusty, dirty leaves. 

With no hose dragging this morning, Bridie and I enjoyed a pleasant walk in the woods. 

It's been a good start to the day. 

Talk about a good start to yesterday, I read the Letter to the Editor below in the Daily Bee. 

It made my day in so many ways. 

It's a tribute of sorts to a legendary local bus driver who passed away recently.  Plus, it's a tribute to the author who not only persevered and succeeded but also remembered some good and special moments in her life.

Turns out this writer is a shirt-tail relative and that's putting it mildly.  Really, she's not related, but marriages have connected us in a distant fashion.  

The most neat and tidy way to explain that connection is to say that her grandmother's brother was married to my step-father Harold's sister. 

Cami is the granddaughter of Bert and Esther Lines and the daughter of Bruce and Laura (Gurney) Lines. 

Anyway, I hope this letter touches you in a sweet, meaningful and positive way like it did me.

Like I told Cami, we need more stories like this told to us as reminders of the poignant goodness of humanity. 

I also told Cami to keep on writing.  Her voice is needed. 

Enjoy.  

 

Back to school on LPOSD's Bus 80

 

Back to school, the words I dreaded hearing. 

Chances are I was probably excited to begin my first day as a first grader at Washington Elementary. I remember loving my classroom, my friends and my teacher who had carefully placed dozens of pretty seashells upon the bookshelves.

But as the weeks wore on, I did not love school. As much as I, and my parents tried, the short words printed on notecards didn’t make sense to me. Eventually, I hated waking up to go to school so much that I cried every morning. 

I’m certain my mom shed more than one tear as she sent me up our driveway to catch my bus. I hated school, but I loved the ride back and forth. You see, Bonnie Mitchell drove Bus 80 down Lakeshore Drive, and I sat right behind her.

I was the only student on Bonnie’s bus who attended Washington, and since I was the first one, she picked up in the afternoon, my seat behind Bonnie was guaranteed. I’m sure I talked her ear off! But she always greeted me with a smile, appearing to feel as happy to see me as I was to see her. Forty-four years later I can still hear the joyful sound of Bonnie’s voice chatting with me as she drove me home.

As the months passed, the words I had once memorized were forgotten to make room for all the new words I had to learn. Despite all my mom’s efforts she was simply told I didn’t want to learn, because she “babied me too much.”

It was left up to my parents whether I should move on to second grade, but they were told it would be better for me to repeat first. And so, in the fall I started first grade again. First graders were not allowed to cross Erie Street, so I stayed behind while my friends rolled giant snowballs across the street. 

Despite that year’s changes, or lack thereof, Bonnie continued to be my friend. Bonnie was always on time, but one afternoon she knew she’d be late picking me up. Rather than driving out to the bus barn, back to pick me up, to only turn around and drive back to Farmin-Stidwell she just picked me up in her car! Saving that time must have put us a little ahead of schedule, because she stopped at Dairy Depot to buy me an ice cream cone!

Before I began second grade, my family moved to the coast. I wasn’t in second grade for long when my teacher recognized signs of dyslexia. I was evaluated, given more support for reading, went to a tutor twice a week after school and slowly caught up. Throughout middle school I earned straight As. I had to work harder than most, but I was accepted into the University of Washington and earned a degree in English, of all things. 

Throughout the years Bonnie and I stayed in touch, but one meeting stands out to me the most. It was back to school time when my daughter visited my parents’ lake house for the first time. One afternoon I heard Bonnie’s bus round our corner, and I made note of the time. The next afternoon I waited at the top of our drive with my five-week-old in my arms. When Bonnie spotted us, a big smile appeared on her face, and the bus came to a halt. We quickly said hello, and she promised she’d visit soon, which she did. Time spent with Bonnie was always precious.

With "back to school" time upon us, it occurs to me just how important each person is who meets all those faces bravely starting a new school year. Whether you are a librarian, janitor, kaleidoscope volunteer, resource officer or a bus driver, who just might drive Bus 80, please know the difference you can make for the students you interact with. Ice cream is great, but a kind person who listens and encourages is even better.

Bonnie drove her bus for over 42 years. Just imagine the bright impact she made on “her kids” who were lucky enough to ride Bus 80.

CAMI LINES CARRIS

Sandpoint

Yesterday afternoon I drove to Ponderay.  

It's a bedroom community northeast of Sandpoint, and I consider its old-time residential community a gem. 

Maybe it's cuz I like the past.  

Or, maybe it's because there is no pretense in Ponderay.  It's historic residential area is funky, it's ungentrified, and it has character, all of which I love. 

There's also a lot of pride in the community itself, which includes the Mall, the Field of Dreams, numerous restaurants and established businesses along with the old and the new of living situations.

We have pockets of areas like Ponderay around our general area, and I always feel at home and filled with delight whenever I drive through them.

My mission in Ponderay yesterday was to capture some fun photos, and I must say the possibilities were plentiful enough that I'll might have to go back some day. 

You'll see a few of those photos below, mixed in with scenes from around our neighborhood. 

Enjoy.  

 

The photo above is not in Ponderay.  

It's on North Kootenai Road, and it belongs to my friends Tom and Joanne, who do a beautiful job of enhancing their adorable little farm. 

Joanne's ever-growing number of barn quilts and her flowers are amazing. 

I first saw this building when Haley Olin was baptized.  I was asked to join her extended family with my camera and follow them through the day. 

Four segments of Haley's family had gathered in Sandpoint for a reunion.  Each group wore T-shirts with colors designating their branch of the family. 

They first came together at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for the Baptism and then drove on to this place in Ponderay where the older generation had lived while growing up. 

I've loved the building ever since because of its meaningful family story and memories of that wonderful day.  

One household in Ponderay is ready for Halloween and then some. I'm thinking maybe the year round.