Tuesday This and That

 

It was a little harder to walk around the Lovestead this morning after about two inches of snow fell overnight. 

Soon, we'll be plowing and blowing and shoveling. 

If all works out when the snow gets deeper, I'll once again plow pathways around the hay field so we can all keep up our walking aka bio hacking. 

The added snow means a good chance that Schweitzer ski area will open later this week. 

And, it's pretty. 

This is not a Border Collie but close enough and the same colors as Bridie. 

Time to put in the batteries and light this guy up. 

It's nice to have our woods with lots of trees and neat limbs for outdoor Christmas decorations. 

I've put together about six swags so far and may do some more. 

Miss Bridie is going to the vets today.  

Her "pressure points" on both elbows seem to be hanging around longer than necessary AND they continue to cause her to do a lot of licking. 

It's a vicious circle, to say the least AND frustrating.

I hope our vet has some answers because I don't think Bridie wants to wear an Elizabethan collar forever. 

Today we are also having an electrician come to fix some of our outdoor lights.  Bill hasn't had lights in the far shed for more than a year, so it will be nice to get them going again.

Our yard light works when it feels like it, so we think it's probably time for a new bulb. 

Anything we can do to make winter time more bearable, we're willing to do. 

So, busy day ahead on this snowy morning. 

Happy Tuesday.  

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The Bulldog men's team heads into Spokane tonight to take on Lewis and Clark. 

In the link below you'll see a recap of their victory over Bonners Ferry this past Saturday night---also a neat milestone factoid about Coach Love.  

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/dec/01/prep-boys-basketball-sandpoint-assists-way-to-season-opening-win-over-bonners-ferry/

Good luck, tonight to both Bulldog basketball teams. The girls play at home. 

https://x.com/chrisjollyhale/status/199571221727088676https://x.com/chrisjollyhale/status/1995712217270886763?s=203?s=20

Hello, December

If those aren't butterscotch morsals, what are they???

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Three batches down, a few yet to go. 

I decided over the past few years to keep my Christmas cookie plates pretty basic with varieties that people like eating every day and not just during Christmas season. 

So far, I've baked ginger snaps, snickerdoodles AND a new kind which cookie lovers possibly could add to their every-day tastebud satisfaction. 

While shopping at Yoke's for cookie supplies the other day, I found a stack of pumpkin morsals/chips on display. 

What a neat idea, I thought. 

Sorta like my wish for the Oreos people to try lemon filling.  

I love the taste of pumpkin, so I thought these were worth a try. 

Yesterday I used the standard chocolate chip cookie recipe and added some cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice to the dry ingredients. 

Though I have to be careful with dairy products, I took a taste or two, and, yes, they are YUMMY.

I may have to purchase more chips and bake more pumpkin chip cookies. 

Words of the Year to Usher in December. 

Two nouns, one verb.

 Top word for 2025:  rage bait: content usually found online to provoke anger

https://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/whats-hot/rage-bait-is-oxfords-2025-word-of-the-year-heres-what-it-means/ar-AA1Ru041

aura farming: to do things repetitively to look cool 

bio hack: Biohacking is a do-it-yourself (DIY) form of personal improvement in which people attempt to change aspects of their biology to improve their health, performance, or well-being.

It is not a scientific term nor an undertaking. Rather, a currently popular anecdotal umbrella term for broad, non-specific activities.

People may want to hack their biology for various reasons, such as:

• fix what they perceive as flaws
• increase their perceived control over their health
• try and extend their lives

These are the words that the folks with Oxford Dictionary have designated as words of the year, with rage bait topping the list. 

My first questions when I saw this announcement:  have I ever used them?  

Have I unknowingly practiced or participated in their respective meanings? 

First answer: no, I'd never heard of any of the three until this morning announcement. 

Second answer: possibly so but not so sure on some. 

I happen to know of people who use "rage bait" frequently, often late at night when they think nobody is looking as they use their unhappy fingers to tap out hideous, mean or cruel thoughts.

Now that I know of the word, I have to confess that I've  often been tempted to use a little rage bait, in response--maybe even more so in the past few years. 

Fortunately, my filter keeps me fairly disciplined. Oh, if there could be more filters in this world.  Maybe next year we could promote "brain filter" as word of the year. 

Anyway, when considering how effective "rage bait" tends to be, I'd have to give it a 10. 

Aura farming is another word that makes me wonder if I subsconsciously make attempts at times.   

Having been a major klutz for most of my life, I don't think anything I have to offer to appear cool would be too appealing to others. 

Now, with bio hacking, I guess I've done that on occasion during my life, usually with every diet.  One of the examples for the word mentioned the use of a Fitbit, so, yes, check me in as a bio hacker. 

And, I am in the constant mode of prolonging life through various methods, especially the simplest, often uttered by doctors:  keep moving.

Words are definitely powerful and always useful for us humans.  

If we could do our best to use them well and when we realize we might be using our words to rage bait, I think the world would be a better place for all. 

 

Twas "blanket off" for brushing, combing and clipping with CB yesterday.  

While visiting, I usually spend time with all three horses in their outside setting so that each gets some personal attention, but yesterday seemed like a good day to take one of the three inside for a good grooming session.  

Since CB came to the gate to meet me, he got the nod.

He loves his attention, and he looked pretty sharp when I took him back outside.  

Looks like it's time to do a little bio hacking and work on improving my brain filter. 

So, Happy Monday.

Mark 190, Et. Al.

 

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. 

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. 

"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

Politicians and diapers must be changed often and for the same reason. 

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." 

Today marks the 190th birthday of Samuel Clemons aka Mark Twain.  He was born in Hannibal, Miss., Nov. 30, 1835, during the appearance of Hailey's Comet. He died in 1910, when once again the comet was visible.

Happy Birthday, Mark Twain, and thank you for your thoughts and observations.  

Always timely and pretty accurate.

My solar-powered lights arrived a couple of days ago.  After realizing they had switches under the hood, I have managed to get most of them to light up. 

I'm a bit disappointed because I thought they would be colored. 

Since they've already been stuck in the ground, which is now frozen, they'll have to do and, even with just one color, they create some neat effects. 

As each day gets shorter, the amount of time they stay lit up with shorten also. 

Since they're permanent fixtures in their respective spots, I'm sure that I'll get an abundance of enjoyment from them over the months and years, especially when we have longer days. 

 

Bill and Bridie have been doing a lot of work in the woods, and much of it involves tending little bon fires, which help clean up the areas where he has been sawing and chopping wood. 

I hope that the snow will not get too deep this winter so we can still walk around the woods. 

It's a pretty and peaceful place. 

We see several of the same deer several times each day, but we saw this buck for the first time yesterday. 

I hope he doesn't look in the mirror and get too disappointed with his antlers. 

It was a monumental night last night for our family as we proudly watched Willie coached his boys to a solid victory over Bonners Ferry. 

It was definitely a nice way for him to get his start as the boys varsity head coach at Sandpoint High School, his alma mater where he played basketball and earned a plaque as Most Inspirational Player back in the 1990s. 

The most dramatic difference I've noticed between girls and boys basketball is that the boys jump really high and with a lot of flair. 

As I told Bill when we were walking to the parking lot, I just sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the game.  

We also enjoyed visiting with longtime friends and family. 

Twas a real treat to see Emma.  

As a German exchange student, she lived with Willie and Debbie for a year where she gained experience as a cheerleader, played tennis and received academic accolades as an outstanding student. 

Emma has continued to excel as a student at the University of Montana in Missoula where she will graduate in May. 

We are all proud of her. 

 

This young man is part of the Verby clan. He and I enjoyed a nice get-acquainted conversation.

Below:  Emma 

I turned the deck lights on yesterday as one more step toward Christmas cheer. 

I also baked my second batch of cookies for the gift plates.

Slowly but surely, the holiday stuff is coming together and I'm loving the pace, which, this year is not hurried or urgent.  I hope it stays that way. 

More cookies and more decorating lies ahead on this gorgeous Sunday. 

Happy Sunday. 

Saturday Slight

 

Beautiful morning out there. 

As I look out my west window, I see bluish  and white mountains with pink skies forming a backdrop. 

I heard that Schweitzer Ski Area was going to open today but later I heard, not yet. 

It had not been cold enough for the snow-making machine.

Today I'm guessing it's cold enough for the machine to get started creating extra snow to fill in the gaps and to allow the resort to open. 

The walks outside this morning were crisp and a bit crunchy, but still nice walking. 

Fortunately the little patches of ice that we have are easy to avoid, so no concerns there. 

The beauty of the morning enhances the excitement of this day when our son's boys varsity basketball team tips off for its official season starter. 

The Bulldogs will host Bonners Ferry tonight at Les Rogers Gym. 

Tip off is set for 7 p.m.  PST

JV2 and JV teams will play at 4 and 5:30 p.m. 

So, if you're in Sandpoint and want to see the home teams start their seasons, plan to come attend the game or games. 

It should be fun. 

I don't have the details right now, but will add later specifics on how you can watch the varsity game via Facebook. 

Check back before 7, and hopefully, the information will appear here.

Link to watch game via video: 

  https://fan.hudl.com/usa/id/sandpoint/organization/7601/sandpoint-high-school

   

Sandpoint High Bulldog Men's Basketball

 Bonner County Daily Bee Winter Sports Preview

by MAX OSWALD

Sports Reporter | November 29, 2025 1:00 AM

Nice job, Max. 

Last season: 11-12 (5-3 in 6A/5A IEL), 5A District 1-2 Runner-ups

Coaches: William Love ('95), head coach, first year; Chris Taylor, head junior varsity coach and assistant coach; Matt Majors, head JV2 coach and assistant coach; Jacob Schultz, assistant coach; Derrick Hagstrom, assistant coach.

Key returners: Knox Williams, PG, jr.; Logan Iverson, SG/SF, jr.; Brock Yarbrough, SG, jr; Derrick Chamberlain, C, jr.; Logan Roos, SG/F, sr.; Caiden Gion, PF, sr.; Kingston Corbett, C, sr.

Key newcomers: Tyler Weisz, SF, sr.; Dallen Williams, G/F, sr.; Coleman Inge, G/F, sr.

Key losses to graduation: Wil Leisy, SG; Emerik Jones, SG/F; Rece Wolff, C, sr.

Outlook: Will Love has officially taken over as head coach, and he wants to put together the pieces that will build Bulldog hoops into a perennial contender at the state level. 

The program has seen a rise in success across the last two seasons, but a runner-up finish a year ago after winning the district title during the 2023-2024 campaign has Sandpoint searching for more.

Logan Roos, an all-league selection a season ago standing a 6 feet 6 inches tall, is expected to lead a strong core of seasoned returners. The high-flying senior, Roos, who averaged 9.2 points per game last year, is a threat inside, but also makes opposing team's pay when he's hot from behind the three-point line. 

Knox Williams, a junior and now three-year varsity player, is primed for a breakthrough year at the point guard position while junior Derrick Chamberlain, also a three-year varsity player and standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, is looking to shake off an injury that hindered his sophomore campaign. 

Williams plays a high-IQ brand of basketball and Chamberlain, with his great footwork in and around the rim, is typically a benefactor of that play.

Look out for junior Brock Yarbrough and senior Caiden Gion, coming off spectacular seasons of football and soccer, respectively, to see their roles expanded. 

The same goes for junior Logan Iverson and senior Kingston Corbett. Senior Tyler Weisz, who saw some time at the varsity level last year, will see an uptick in minutes after bettering his game this summer. 

Dallen Williams and Coleman Inge, both seniors, are new to the team this season and will really help with depth when it comes to the style of offense and defense the Bulldogs want to play this year.

As for the schedule, the Bulldogs will head to the TitleOne Tip-Off Classic where they'll see teams such as Coeur d’Alene, Shelley, Century, Boise, Star Valley of Wyoming, Vallivue and Hillcrest at the two-day event at the Mountain America Center. 

Sandpoint will also travel to Eastmont and Wenatchee High for the GESA Winter Shootout, where they'll see some of Washington's best across the three-day tournament. 

New to the non-league slate is Lewis & Clark of the Greater Spokane League, which finished 5-19 last season but returns nearly their entire starting lineup.

Coach's comments:

"We had a really good summer in regards to introducing the ways in which we go about things. 

"It's one of those things where you have to be meeting regularly for it to really work. 

"I'm really pleased by the effort from all the kids in the program. Excited to see us go through the process throughout the year. " — Coach Will Love on the conceptual nature of his offensive and defensive schemes

"I wanted to carry over the scheduling philosophy of facing some of the better teams in Idaho and get us in a tournament mindset. 

"Getting playing experience in an Arena (TitleOne Tip-Off Classic), which ultimately, if we're going to compete for a state title, you have to win games in an arena. 

"Heading over to Wenatchee (2025-2026 GESA Winter Shootout) and facing some teams we don't know a whole lot about will also provide a great tournament feel." — Coach Will Love on getting ready for postseason tournament play

"We return a lot of experience, and for some of them, that includes playing at state a few years ago. 

"Lots of our kids play other sports and I think that all bodes well in regard to the competitive aspect of playing at the 5A level... and competing against the 6A's. 

"I think with these guys, with what we've done during the summer, including scrimmages and camps, we'll have a group that can get on the floor and compete with the 6A IEL." — Coach Will Love on the competitiveness of his squad

"We really want to focus on building on our legacy and making this a program where people are very involved. 

"The mission is to be the best program on and off the court at the 5A level. 

"It's going to take a lot of work, and we'll need to understand how much the off-the-court stuff plays a role in our success." — Coach Will Love on building year-over-year success within the program.

Hey, Washington Cousins and other family members:  maybe we can watch some basketball and enjoy a low-key, loosely organized and laid-back  reunion when the Bulldogs are playing in Wenatchee Jan. 1-3. 

Could be fun. 

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While we're at it, YOU can help the Sandpoint activities and athletics programs by purchasing tickets on this glitzy Subaru. 

Christmas decorations are going up in the neighborhood, and it's feeling more festive each day with every new addition to the colorful magic of lights.

If all goes well, I'll have my deck lights shining by evening.  

Happy Saturday.