Thursday This, That; TBT

 

Another glorious morning.   

Ahhh!

I could get spoiled with this lovely weather.

And, I'm accomplishing a lot of outside projects because of it.  

I'm about to ask Bill to charge up the lawnmower. 

It would not be to mow the lawn; instead, my first-of-the-year rounds with the mower involve cleaning/chopping up debris that would take too long to rake. 

If we have more of this cold, crisp and dry weather, I may just set a personal record for early outings on the mower.   

Yesterday after lawn work, I met my sister Laurie over at Roxane's.  She saddled up CB, lunged him and rode him.  

Our friend Brad was also enjoying his horse Firefly in the arena. 

In between horse workouts, we enjoyed some visiting. 

As we left, Helen and Deb headed toward the arena with their horses. 

So, it was a good afternoon for enjoying some friendly faces. 

Someone at the high school is very good with AI. 

This illustration of Willie showed up on Facebook yesterday. 

It's good timing to have Coach Love and his team playing a game at Les Rogers Court on Valentine's Day. 

Tip-off is at 3 p.m. 

As noted it's also Senior Night for seven seniors as the Bulldogs host the Moscow Bears. 

💓🏀💓🏀

Sandpoint is also scheduled to host Lakeland on Friday (tomorrow) night with tip-off at 7 p.m.  

Both matchups are league games, so let's go cheer on the Bulldogs in both games.

Tonight, the Sandpoint girls host the Moscow Bears in a district playoff match-up.

Tip-off is at 6 p.m.  

If the Bulldogs win tonight, they'll travel to Grangeville Saturday to play a Southern Idaho team in a chance to earn a berth to State. 

Lots of Bulldog action for the rest of the week.  Best of luck to both teams. 

GO, BULLDOGS!! 

🏀🏀🏀🏀

Thursday Throwbacks:  images from the photo library.  Enjoy. 

Former student Shelley Andersen-Healy. 

SHS Class of 1974 reunion with Judy Moon and Sue Walson Kent

Annie Love of Sandpoint, Idaho

Several years ago, I ran into my former student Ali (right) at Bloom Lake northeast of Sandpoint,  She and her friend were enjoying some fishing, as was Bill .

 

Bill on one of our many hikes at Boulder Meadows. 

Some family members enjoying a short hike at Boulder City. Not much of the mining ghost town east of Bonners Ferry is left these days, but there is some signage explaining its history.

 

Three Love's, Annie, Debbie and Marianne

Former student Hilbur Blair at one of his class reunions. 

We clean up good, at least for a few minutes. 

 

By the time we left this wedding, Willie's (the ring bearer's) white pants had green knees, and Annie's (the flower girl) skirt had separated from the dress top. 

But they sure looked nice for a while.  

Harvey Martin, from Sandpoint High Class of 1982, at his reunion. 

Below: horse friends Helen and Eileen enjoying lunch at Trinity. 

I miss that place. 

Below:  Deb was part of the lunch group above where some fun bottle cap glasses were passed around.   

Brother Jim on the right with one of classmates Jeff aka Mercury. Both were members of the Monticola yearbook staff. 

Andrea and her husband Kennden established one of the great meeting and dining restaurants in Sandpoint:  Marchwood Brewing Co. 

Hard to believe, but we've had dogs other than Border Collies. Julie and Bogey were our English Setters who inspired a story in one of my books called "Gone Dog Blues."

They loved to sneak off and go to town and especially liked Serva Burger. 

We once had dogs other than Border Collies.  

These two are Julie and Bogey who inspired a story for one of my books called "Gone Dog Blues."  

They loved to sneak away and go to town.  One of their favorite stops was ServaBurger. 

Annie and her Minneapolis friend Miriam touting their MLS soccer loyalties. 

Love and Spring Beauty

 

I'm already feeling endorphins this morning. 

The snow and rain from yesterday morning has turned into a distant memory. 

For the rest of Tuesday, the sun ruled the outdoors and definitely the moods. 

I even spent some time standing against the barn door, beckoning the bright early spring sunshine to bring warmth to my face.

It was a day filled with dramatic shadows and greener grass and raking up riffraff from winter storms. 

And, it was all so satisfying. 

The warmth, with no need for a jacket, meant our dogs could spend time in their outdoor run. 

They could be safe and they could breathe fresh air while I tended to my yard clean-up with no concerns. 

Bill was gone for part of that time, teaching a forestry class at Sandpoint High School.  He did so once last week and will wrap up his teaching duties today.

Today looks even better than yesterday weatherwise.  It also marks a welcome milestone.  My second walking trip outdoors with Bridie involved a lighter load than usual.  

No flashlight needed!!!!🌞 

We have turned the corner for 2026, and it feels so invigorating.  

This morning has required the jackets because we had a substantial overnight freeze, adding a beautiful glistening touch to the landscape. 

By afternoon, the frost will be gone and even more birds will be singing songs of spring. 

BTW:  while typing this, I looked out the window and saw that my least favorite birds, the starlings, have arrived.  They were congregating on top of the shop roof. 

Ugh!

Yesterday when I observed that Mauri Brooks Knott  (a Priest River native and family friend) was concentrating on "love" this week with her Facebook output, I kept reading.

Upon finishing her post, I sent her a note and asked if I could include the thoughts she had written about her grandfather in my blog today.  She graciously said yes. 

I knew her grandparents on the Naccarato side and always thought the world of them.  Her Grandma Mary Lou, a spunky and fun lady, was one of my favorite people in the 4-H, fair and general farm scenes. 

Though I didn't know her grandfather that well, I always viewed him much the way Mauri has illustrated in her meaningful piece below. 

Yes, Mauri, it's a great week to think about love as we make our way toward Valentine's Day. 

I've always said it's the best 4-letter word in the world.  Happily, most of the time when I say that, people will guess the word. 

There are so many levels of love beside the obvious romantic version.  Mauri has articulated one such.  

It's nice to remember her grandfather, and equally comforting to think about all the layers of love we see and experience in our lives each and every day. 

Hope you enjoy Mauri's thoughts and think about the Bob Naccarato examples whom you know. 

Our world can use these reminders. 

 

💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

By Mauri Knott

Posted yesterday. 

My Facebook this week is all about love.

Not because I am naïve. Not because I don’t have opinions. But because I am a moderate with friends who lean both left and right, and I am tired of the war we are waging against one another.

Robert Naccarato

My grandpa was born on this day in 1926. One hundred years ago, the first year of what would later be called the “Silent Generation.”

He didn’t know it then, but those born that year would live through World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

He served his country for six of those years as a member of the U.S. Army and the National Guard.

As I reflect, I think the timing of his passing in 2019 was a blessing. Because this most recent war—the one we willingly play into every single day, would have been deeply disgusting to him. 

You see, my Gramps was a man of God. Not God-fearing, I never once remember him being fearful. He celebrated God. He believed fiercely in grace, in joy, and in the love God showed for others.

Gramps never met a stranger.

After meeting someone new, he’d often ask [me], “Did you tell them you were Robert Naccarato’s granddaughter?” 

He held relationships in the highest regard. Differences didn’t scare him or slow him down.

Despite being raised in rural Idaho in a migrant Italian community, he could have been narrow-minded or quick to judge, but he wasn’t.

He met people where they were and for who they were: hippies snowed in on the Bear Paw, the first African American family to move to town with six kids in tow, a cousin and her partner celebrating their nuptials at the Ranch, an immigrant priest with very broken English. 

That same priest said something at my grandpa’s funeral that stopped me cold. As he listed all the ways Gramps loved others, devoted husband, caring father, proud grandpa, faithful follower, he paused, teared up, and said, “And he was my friend.”

He went on to explain that Gramps was one of the very first people to welcome him into a tiny town in north Idaho, and that he never expected such kindness from someone of my grandpa’s generation and demographic. 

But there it is.

He didn’t just sit in the pew on Sunday and go through the motions with self-righteousness. He lived it. He loved his neighbor. He lived with humility. He showed his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids that people come before judgment.

So once again today, I’m reflecting on LOVE, the love that was modeled for me and for my children.

Not as a political move.

Not as a talking point. 

But as a choice.

Because if a man who lived through real wars could still choose relationship over righteousness and love over labels, then surely we can do the same.

The world doesn’t need louder sides; it needs better neighbors.

 

Tuesday This and That

 

I'm hearing a pitter patter with a low roar on our metal roof right now. 

Today's forecast looked like it was going to be dry.

First thing this morning, I noticed a skiff of snow from overnight.

On the second trip outside, the snowfall had increased. 

Now, it's a definite raindrop pitter patter. 

Hopefully, the rain will quit soon, and we'll move on to a day that looks more like the photo above. 

That was yesterday afternoon, and I was raking up debris from the two or three times we've plowed the lane this winter. 

It would be nice if we don't have to plow again. 

We saw a little of this and a little of that yesterday as the morning and late afternoon had some welcome feelings of spring. 

I spent a couple of hours at DiLuna's Restaurant for our monthly class get-together. 

As usual, there was no shortage of conversations.  One of the highlights for me was listening to my classmate Judy Chronic Dabrowski tell about the reunion they are planning this summer. 

It will be the Heath family.  Her mom was a Heath.  It will celebrate the 100 years that Judy's family has spent in North Idaho and on their property at Heath Lake south of town. 

Judy told about the family setting off from Southern Idaho in a covered wagon with their farm stock walking along with them. 

They left in the spring and moved on to their property, purchased from timber companies, a couple of months later. 

Judy said her mother was 13 when they made the move. It was a wonderful story and definitely worth having a celebration. 

All the stories of family migrations are treasures to be passed along through the generations. 

And, all the stories and at least one tall tale exchanged at our luncheon table yesterday reminded us of why we enjoy each other so much. 

And, so before we left, March 9 was designated as our next meeting date. 

After a glance outside my window, I see that the rain has turned white again. Pitter patters are gone, thanks to the softer snowflakes.

Whatever the weather, I'll be working on more yard cleanup today and transplanting some of my baby plants into bigger pots. 

How many have watched curling more than once since the Olympics began? 

I haven't met the 3-day mark yet, but I know I've watched on at least two days since the Olympics began. 

Curling kinda grows on you, even if you don't quite understand the science behind it.

I suggested to Bill the other day that the curling stars probably net more up close and personal TV time than any other athletes in the Olympics. 

Of course, that may just be that curling just takes a lot of time. 

So far, I haven't zeroed in to the other sports much; it's been somewhat of a potpourri of a little bit of everything. 

The other night when we were watching the opening ceremony and there was all the dancing (beautiful dancing at that), I was nodding off. 

 I suddenly came to life and nodded in agreement when I heard Annie suggest that maybe some of this stuff took up a little more time than necessary. 

Whatever the case, I will always acknowledge how much time and care it takes to develop any aspect of the Olympics. 

It's all of the highest level, and even if we're nodding off through some of the activities, we still respect the work that goes into it all for athletes and organizers. 

Speaking of TV watching, we get to stay up late tonight and try not to nod off while watching the ZAGS.  They'll be hosting Washington State at the Kennel. 

Tip off is at 8, and the game will be telecast on ESPN2. 

GO, ZAGS!!!!  

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Also, the Sandpoint High girls varsity will tip off against Lakeland tonight as the two teams vie for a berth to State. 

The game begins at 6, and if Hudl is working, you can stream it. 

Good luck, Bulldogs!!!

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

I ran across this Vonnegut quote this morning and am betting we all know at least a handful of saints. 

“You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.” — Kurt Vonnegut

These downtown photos were taken at Foster's Crossing antique store yesterday. 

Lots of fun stuff on and along the side of their building. 

The pitter patter has stopped.  

I see no snow flakes falling. 

 Maybe the rest of the day will be as predicted---dry and some sun. 

Happy Tuesday. 

Hope you have some sunshine in your lives.