G'day for a ride

Well, they've seen the big trees in Montana, they've seen the big lake, and they've eaten one brand of North Idaho pizza.  Today, they'll see lots of trees and beautiful scenery from the back of a horse, and they'll eat another brand of North Idaho pizza.  My Aussie's rode the Great Escape Quad at Schweitzer yesterday morning and walked the trails at Ross Creek Cedars up the Bull River Highway in Montana yesterday.  We topped the night off with dinner at Icehouse Pizza in Hope.  Today we'll head up to Western Pleasure Guest Ranch and set off on a trail ride.  I'm hauling Lily up there and hoping she'll be more mellowed out while riding with other horses. We'll return, hopefully unscathed but fulfilled and then go on into town for Second Avenue Pizza.  As I've said to the ladies:  it's fun to go on vacation in your own back yard.  Happy Friday.

G'day Two

You can show them all the touristy stuff like the drive across the Long Bridge or downtown Sandpoint or the pretty mountains, but I'm guessing our guests were their happiest yesterday visiting my sisters' stable and indoor arena.They expressed their appreciation by giving Barbara and Laurie a sign to warn off future visitors to Tibbs Arabians about possible kangaroo sightings. A rainy day meant no trip to a clouded-over Schweitzer Ski Area, but that was okay for Joyce (extreme left), Danni and Polly (right).  They're on a mission to find saddles, and if getting acquainted with American horses happens to get in the way, that's okay too.  We spent a couple of hours at Barbara and Laurie's before heading off to visit with Mother, pick up some goodies and return to the Lovestead.  That return meant that the ladies could get in their rental car, head back to town and shop until they dropped.  They were astounded at the inexpensive prices on items at Wal-Mart and Big R.  Don't know what other stores they visited, but this was a first-timer for all of them to walk into Wal-Mart.  Today, after they've sampled some huckleberry hotcakes,  we might make it up to Schweitzer 'cuz those clouds are drifting off, and it looks like a nice day ahead.  Bill will come home at lunch time, and we'll take them along the north end of Lake Pend Oreille, show them a little geocaching, visit the Ross Creek cedars and top off the trip with a funky experience at Icehouse Pizza.  Should be a fun day. 

Aussies are here!

Our visitors: Joyce, Danni-Lee and Polly from Southwest Australia at the U.S. Border Crossing at Eastport, Idaho, yesterday.  

Joyce and Polly are nurses, while Danni works in a factory.  She plans to attend a police academy.

It was truly Danni-Lee's first crossing into the USA, while Joyce and Polly, who took different flights, had been to LA and Seattle airports.

After getting through a brief bureacratic encounter at the border, we went to Feist Creek Falls Restaurant along the Moyie River Road where we enjoyed delicious huckleberry cheesecake and the "best coffee" Polly and Joyce had tasted since leaving Australia.

Our kitchen island this morning is covered with wonderful souvenirs from Australia presented to us by our guests: boomerangs, flags, coffee cups, an Australian poetry book, a barbecue apron for Bill and a book of Australian slang.

So far, we've not had too much trouble communicating.

Our doggies are in heaven with this group of animal lovers.  Danni has already bonded with Kiwi and Kea. 

For Joyce, the bathroom has presented a few challenges: How do I turn the water off? How do I turn the shower on?

Since I've never used the shower upstairs, it took me some time to figure it out. I did but not before getting a good douse of water on my head.

The ladies seem very much at home here, and we're looking forward to showing them around today.

My blog entries may be spotty or show up at different times than usual over the next few days, so check in from time to time.

We're having a good visit with our guests!

Today they'll enjoy some Mennonite cinnamon rolls and a good taste of Sandpoint.

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday TwitterdeeG'day!

Well, I've spoken to Polly, one of the ladies from Down Under who is currently up above us in Calgary but soon to be on her way down to Idaho. 

She says they're off to get the rental car.

I asked, "Have any of you driven on the right side of the road?"

"No," she said.

"Have any of you sat on the left side of car to drive down the road?"

"No," she said.

"Who gets the honors of driving first?" I asked.

"Joyce," she said.  

The plan is to use a relay strategy where everyone gets a try at driving.  

"Do you say 'Hail Mary's?'" I asked.

"No, I don't, but I'm sure we'll say a lot of 'Thank God's,'" Polly responded.

Our other plan is for Polly to call me from Cranbrook, and then I'll head up toward the border to meet them.  She says the car will be recognizable by its Australian flag in the window.  

So, the saga of meeting my Aussie guests will soon begin.  We laughed a lot over the phone when she "rang me up," so that's a good sign.  

I told her to expect their temporary living accommodations here at the Lovestead to be comfortably clean and neat but warned her not to look behind any doors, lest things thrown inside should fall out.

~~~~

Their arrival later today gives me a chance to attend to a few other items around here, maybe even get the horses all spruced up for their company.

Poor Lefty.  He gets to stay in the pasture for a few hours and then has to stand in the barnyard for most of the day before a short pasture run at night.

Some horses are like people.  They walk past food and it piles on them.  Lefty is one of those, just like his owner.  

I feel sorry for him but also tell him that even though he doesn't understand, his weight reduction plan is good for him.  

Anyway, I might give each one of them a little haircut and trim their whiskers so they'll be presentable for the company. 

I've  also noticed a few cherries getting ripe on the tree in the north lawn, so I might do some picking.  Every year it's a competition between me and the birds.  I usually get one cherry to their ten, but if I can scrounge out enough to make some jelly, that will be nice.

The garden is starting to produce plenty of goodies to go in our salads.  Last night we enjoyed the best crunchy lettuce I've ever raised along with a Walla Walla sweet onion, some dill, and several chunks of beautiful celery.  

There's a tomato out there that should ripen within the next week or so and a cucumber in one of the manure gardens almost ready for slicing.

My peas have pods and they're starting to fatten up, so we should be enjoying them soon. 

The strawberries have been "to die for" in flavor and size this year.  It's a struggle to fight through the jungle to get to them but well worth all the thistle pokes.  

Love those summer dinners with all that fresh stuff, and this odd year is oddly providing us with garden goodies aplenty. 

Guess that's enough babble from me on this g'day when our Australian mates are coming.  Actually, Polly and I were both pleasantly surprised that neither of us had to utter any "huh's" in our conversation. 

So, the talking will probably reach the overflowing stages as soon as we all meet up. It will be fun.

Happy Tuesday.

Bumper-to-bumper fun this week

Mother stands proudly with Caitlin Warner of Liberty Lake, Wash., winner of this year's "Harold Tibbs -- Toby I" memorial belt buckle at the conclusion of this week's Spots of Fun Open Horse Show.

The award goes annually to the most versatile horse in the two-day show. Caitlin rode English, won at games, participated in trail classes and cleaned up in Western, taking the high point Western horse yesterday also.

Another proud moment for our family and for a very deserving young lady.

Caitlin went to equine school in Wyoming and has since returned to her hometown of Liberty Lake.  She joins four other winners of the award.  Two have won twice.  We're delighted to keep up with their lives as each year the circle grows. 

I'm sure Harold is pretty pleased too.

~~~~

The show went well, except for the sound system glitching out about midday yesterday.  It put out sound but more than any of us wanted----a continuous nervous tick and frequent cut-outs made for an interesting afternoon of announcing. 

As always, it was a fun event, and from what I saw at the end, most folks enjoyed themselves.

~~~~

With that over, I'm looking ahead to the adventure beginning tomorrow when three ladies I've never met in my life make their way down this way from Calgary.   There's always that unknown concern of "Are we gonna like each other?"

If this trio of Aussies is anything like my penpal from New Zealand and her family, whom I finally met in person after 20 years of exchanging letters, it should be a great experience.  

Sadly my penpal died last year, but I still keep track of her family who are wonderful, wonderful people.  I have a feeling from the few emails that Polly and I have exchanged, that this experience will be just as meaningful.

They're watching their last segment of the Calgary Stampede tonight, and Polly says she's calling before they head off for that. So, at least, I'll have one voice to hear before we connect at the Canadian Border tomorrow. 

Today will include some last-minute touch-ups around here, and then I'm figuring the rest of the week will be like one grand vacation, showing them around the area, taking a trail ride at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch and just plain learning about each other's cultures. 

So, I'm excited and hopeful that this week will be another great one for the memory books.

With that, I'll post a few more photos from the show and call it a day here at Lovestead Blog Central.  Stay tuned for Aussie fun as the week rolls on.

Caitlin Warner and her horse; seems to me the mare's name is Sertainly Suntanned aka "Chattie."  I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.  Congratulations, Caitlin.

Spots of Fun Horse Show organizer Moreen Leen.  To use "dedicated" is understating the energy Moreen and her family and friends put into making the show both successful and fun every year.  

These sisters are from Connell, Wash.,  and they've always loved coming to the Spots of Fun Show.  Elaine (left) won the "Harold Tibbs -- Toby I" belt buckle last year.  Rachel is attending college in Dallas, and her sister Katie on the horse is a recent college graduate.  Always fun to see them.

Miranda Yetter takes her horse Cappy on the required showmanship pattern.

Horse-show judge Tom Selberg had some challenges with high-quality classes like this group of adult showmanship competitors at the Spots of Fun Show.

Nice prizes, good times

Seeing awards like these yesterday made me want to go get a horse and join in on the fun.

One more day of Spots of Fun, and when it's over, some participants will have some exquisite time pieces.

The show has gone well so far, and weather has cooperated nicely.

Not too hot. Not too cold.

~~~~

My sister won another nice award yesterday with her gelding Dusty: high point halter horse. I'll include a photo.

~~~~

With the show ending around 3 yesterday, I wasted no time coming home and doing some house work.

Bill had gone fishing, so that left me an open-ended schedule to do some much-needed clutter control and griming out in the kitchen.

Now, we have cupboards that can hold more food, and the dining room table is actually much more distinguishable thanks to the removal of piles of stuff.

Some piles remain, but they'll do so in spite of the company coming.

I've learned of late that if I put too much stuff in an out-of-sight location, it stays out of sight and out of mind for years afterward. And, some of that stuff is still pretty relevant in our lives----like bills, etc.

Anyway, things are falling into place for the Australian guests who will arrive Tuesday. One more lawn mowing and some vacuuming should do it.

My first report from Polly indicated that their trip had not gone as smoothly as desired: one ten-hour flight delay and a cell phone that does not work in North America.

I'm hoping we can make up for some of that disappointment once they arrive.

~~~~

Well, that's all the gab for this morning. The gardens are waiting for their morning drink, and then, it's off to the horse show again.

Happy Sunday.

Saturday Slight

By the time you read this, I'll be sitting in a booth overlooking the Bonner County Fairgrounds arena, calling in classes and giving instructions to "walk, trot, canter, etc."  The annual Spots of Fun Open Horse Show starts today.

I do the announcing gig every year for my friend Moreen Leen who, along with her family,  works really hard to keep the open horse shows going in the Sandpoint area.  

Moreen does her best to see that the shows always have nice awards, that they're well organized, that there's a knowledgeable staff helping make the shows run smoothly and, most of all, that participants have fun.

It has become increasingly more expensive to put on these shows, due to a myriad of fees that get charged for fairgrounds maintenance, insurance, etc.   Still, every year Moreen answers the call and sees to it that the shows go on.

It's always fun working with Moreen and the horse show staff, even though the days up there in the booth are long.  I thoroughly enjoy getting to know the participants and watching good horses perform well.  

~~~~

Yesterday's Space Shuttle mission went off without too many hitches, and my niece Laura has more to report about her group and their experiences with the historic launch.  

So, check out her blog:  http://cdarezshuttlelaunch.blogspot.com/

My friend Helen sent me a note yesterday reminiscing her experience watching an earlier Space Shuttle launch.  I thought her description was definitely worth sharing for those of us who have never seen a launch other than on television.

So, I'll leave you this morning with Helen's note.  Enjoy.  

We were on site for the 2nd to last launch of the Challenger – its next flight was the fatal flight – glad we weren’t there for that!

We stayed in Cocoa Beach the night before and were up by 5 a.m. to make the drive of just a few miles. As we prepared to leave,  we had the TV on and were told the astronauts were still asleep!

We couldn’t believe what we saw when we approached the exit from the freeway onto the Cape – the east/west free was packed as far as we could see – which in Florida is quite a ways because it is FLAT! We joked that the only “view points” in the state were from freeway cloverleaves.

We got to where cars are parked and boarded buses to go out to the viewing areas. There were a lot of people but also plenty of space to move around. 

This area is 10 miles (yes!) from the shuttle but it was clearly visible because it is so HUGE. Sound systems were set up through the viewing area and there was a running commentary including the countdown.

When the blast off point was reached, nothing was happening. There was tons of steam but it takes a while to raise those millions of pounds off the ground. 

Then it moved so slowly we thought it would topple over. And the sound didn’t hit us for a few seconds and then WOW!

Once it got going, it was out of sight in 60 to 90 seconds and it was a cloudless day. One actually sees a lot more watching on TV but doesn’t get that “live experience” that is seared into your memory forever!

Shootin' the Breeze

My header seemed appropriate this morning because a wind has cooled things off since yesterday.  In fact, while watering earlier, I even zipped up my fleece  completely from bottom to top.  

You might say I was shooting the breeze with that hose and even shivering a bit while doing so. 

I don't mind the cooler temps cuz the hot stuff gets old in a hurry:  sweat dripping down the brow and from every other body part; hair getting all yucked up, sunglasses fogging up and feet screaming to get out of those dust-filled shoes and socks.

When you're weed eating, you've got to dress appropriately, or you pay the price of suffering even worse than the misery endured from all those clothes keeping your body too warm. 

Those clothes offer some protection from rocks or stems flying upward after receiving a high-powered whipping from high-speed plastic strings.  

Most of the yard has received its work-over from the weed eater, but there's still more to go.  So, today's breeze will be nice. 

Last night's breeze, coupled with thunder and lightning was causing some fits for a fire that broke out on Granite Ridge north of Sandpoint.  My sister called just before nine and said they could see the fire from the highway.  

We learned later that the Department of Lands had sent crew members up the mountain to put it out.  Hard to believe a fire would break out this soon after all the moisture we've had this year.

If they do this year, though, there's plenty of material for them to burn with all the grass that's grown thanks to that moisture. 

Speaking of my sisters, they had an unplanned stay in Ellensburg yesterday while returning from their horse show in Monroe.  Laurie called around noon and said she, Dusty, the horse and Pita, the dog were at the Ellensburg fairgrounds, while Barbara was at the Ford garage. 

Four hours later, thanks to the mechanics finding a timing problem, they were on the road again.  I think they'll be washing horses again today for another show tomorrow.

The Spots of Fun Show runs through the weekend.  It's one of the long-lasting horse shows for Sandpoint, coordinated for years by Moreen Leen and family. Moreen says entries are low.  My sisters told me that could be because of the equine herpes scare earlier this spring.

When that was big news, a regular Coeur d'Alene show was postponed and rescheduled for this weekend.  The conflict cuts the entries significantly, since many folks from down south usually participate.

I'll be spending the weekend in the announcer's stand---another reason I'm glad the weather has cooled off a bit.  The bees and I usually co-exist.  If they stay away from me, I won't spray away at them. Simple as that. 

Lots going on.  I learned that my brother Mike is hiking the Pacific Crest trail with his son-in-law, so he'll be missing the Space Shuttle launch, but not his daughter and grandson.

Laura continues to report their activities in Florida on her blog.  The kids were thrilled yesterday to have a recognizable Hollywood actor on their flight.  He was even nice enough to pose for pictures with the kids.  

You can learn more by visiting:  http://cdarezshuttlelaunch.blogspot.com/

With that, I'll quit shooting the breeze and send you off to the Coeur d'Alene Rez Space Shuttle Adventure.  Enjoy.

Happy Friday. 

Time flies

It's already Thursday.  Didn't we just begin the week?  The problem with extended weekends is that the weeks get really short, flying by almost with the blink of an eye.  

Moreover, the problem with summer and nice weather and longer days is that it all goes by much too fast.

Somehow, that doesn't make sense.  Why is longer shorter anyway?

Longer is shorter when we're having too much fun, and in my life,  too much fun comes in both work and play.  I love to be able to work----outside, that is.  And, the play over the past few weeks has been pretty fun too.

More will come in both categories with a local horse show this weekend and the Down Under guests arriving early next week. 

Before both of those events,however, our family excitement turns to young Jacob, my grandnephew from Plummer.  He's flying to Florida today.

Just in case you had not heard, Florida does have more going on than the Casey Anthony trial. 

There's a Space Shuttle launch tomorrow---the last one ever.  Jacob and his mom get to be there to watch this historic happening, provided no thunderstorms mess up the plans. 

I talked to Jacob very briefly last weekend.  He appeared as matter-of-fact and upbeat as any 9-year-old I've ever seen.  Usually, Jacob's kinda quiet----not when talking about his Space Camp adventure, though.  

His excitement for the experience was palpable, for sure. 

It will be interesting to see where our space program is by the time Jacob grows up, goes to college and decides what he wants to do with his life.

Neal Armstrong walked on the moon the year I graduated from college 42 years ago. I still remember standing in Bert and Esther Lines' living room on that July afternoon and hearing tough ol' Bert, the Cady and Pier mechanic,  utter, "God bless him" after Armstrong's moon walk. 

We paid a lot of attention to space travel during that time.

Maybe there will be another burst of advancement in Outer Space exploration, and maybe tomorrow's launch will launch a desire within Jacob to be a full participant in those additional steps for mankind that leave their mark on history.

In the pathetically ironic category, it seems that Casey Anthony's story will probably trump the space shuttle launch tomorrow. 

Time will fly. There will be a new  lurid tale, bringing some oddball from obscurity to a household name and a potential book deal The 24-hour news stations will pounce,  clinging steadfastly to every detail of its base degrees in hopes of taking them through the rest of their summer programming.  

The Space Shuttle will fly one last time, but then many viewers will turn their channels once again to stay in tune with the sensational, the grotesque or the disgusting aspects of society.

Seems ridiculous but it's also reality.  And, reality TV has done well for the deep pockets.  

In the midst of all this insanity, however, good things do happen every day. They just don't always make news headlines. 

Good people continue to plug away in their individual grinds, attempting to make the world a better place.

In so doing, others benefit from the long-haul march where one day at a time, steps for the betterment of this Earth and its inhabitants still occur.

Once more, time has flown by this morning while I've been typing at this keyboard, and that means I'd better take my own steps outside to make my garden and yard a better place.

Happy Thursday.

P.S.  Jacob's mom Laura is maintaining a blog about this wonderful experience.  To learn more, you can visit this link:  http://cdarezshuttlelaunch.blogspot.com/

Warm Wednesday . . . .

I'm living vicariously this morning through my Aussie guests.  Within the next two hours, they'll finally land in Los Angeles, completing the first leg of their trip to North America from Down Under.  

Throughout the day, they'll fly to Seattle and then on to Calgary, arriving there around 10 p.m. Calgary time.  I know how exhausted but excited they must be.  If there's time during their brief stays at U.S. airports, they may even call.

It will be fun to hear their voices and their Aussie dialect for the first time. 

After spending some time in Canada, they'll be arriving here next Tuesday. It's fun getting the place ready and thinking of little things to leave in their new old motorhome quarters.  So far, three miniature American flags are sitting on the table.  

~~~~

Weed eating will continue today as will a visit to Big Blue.  I've discovered in the past week that filling Big Blue with too much water can lead to disaster.  Still, the pool will be fully functional even if it doesn't have a perfect shape.

Who cares what it looks like when you're swimming anyway!  Wet, refreshing water is the key ingredient for hot days, and Big Blue will satisfy that need for the rest of the summer.  

~~~~

Before the Aussie visit, there's a horse show this weekend.  The belt buckle our family gives, honoring our dad and going to the most versatile horse at the show, arrived yesterday.  

I was ciphering, and I believe this will be the eighth time we've awarded it.  For sure, the seventh.  Some riders have won it more than once, so I'm not positive what year we started sponsoring the award.

What's nice is that every year it brings to mind the memory of our dad and his great horse Toby I.  And, we are always thrilled to connect with each year's winners.

The first recipient, Sarah Snedden,  now serves our country as a military journalist in Iraq.  So, we'll be thinking about and appreciating her as the show unfolds.  I'm bettin' Sarah would give anything to be here in Sandpoint, riding a horse.  

~~~~

Last night Bill and I enjoyed our first of just a few strawberry sundaes, with berries straight from the garden.  Incomparable!  With every sample of those sundaes I wish I could grow more strawberries AND then I don't. 

Why is it that strawberry patches are also weed patches waiting to happen?

I picked weeds faithfully until about three weeks ago when the netting had to go over the patch to save the berries from our resident robins. 

That action served as a golden invitation for every weed and every blade of grass to begin their ascent from the ground.  

Not much I can do about the weeds with that netting protection, so picking AND finding the strawberries is requires tedious separation of every square inch of the weed-infested jungle.  

It's especially fun reaching in there to grab a berry which is being guarded by the most prickly of thistles.  Yes, we've got thistles this year, and plenty of them. 

Battle-scarred but hungry, I eventually took a bowl of berries to the house, cleaned and stemmed them, added some sugar, mashed them and poured the sauce over a bowlful of Meadow Gold French vanilla ice cream.

Heaven!

I'll go in to berry-picking combat a few more times, and we'll savor every sundae. 

~~~~

Off to the weed eater and the watering on this lovely summer day.  Happy Wednesday.

Fun and faces from over the Fourth

 It was almost a flawless holiday weekend--perfect weather, fun with family and friends, wonderful food and great fireworks, but the one flaw led to one sleepless night of worry when Todd, the Wonder Dog pushed open the screen door and disappeared into the night. He did not like the fireworks and set off for someplace to avoid them.  We learned at 10:30 yesterday morning that the Donahue home on Selkirk Road provided what Todd considered a safe haven.The weekend involved two barbecues:  one somewhat intimate with Mother, Barbara, Laurie, Bill and me.  Mother enjoyed a ride around the place in the 4-wheeler, and Bill enjoyed showing off his rails from Lovestead timber harvests.  The other barbecue was a bit more raucous but still pretty tame by most folks' standards.  Willie, Debbie and their friends came over and hosted the baby-back rib dinner at the Lovestead.  Thanks, Dustin and Leslie for the fine Dutch-oven ribs. Some of last night's group joined the Lodgepole Society, and all of the group enjoyed a fabulous fireworks show complemented by music from the Capitol Fourth of July celebration on the TV. I'm sure everyone involved will be enjoying the many wonderful and some scary memories of this year's nation's birthday party for some time.

And more . . .

Happy Birthday, America

Happy Birthday to our beloved United States of America.

May all who love this country enjoy the celebration.  

Who let the skunk in and THEN let the dogs out?

All the preparation for in the world for a fine Fourth of July weekend gathering can go down the tubes in one squirt.

It smelled like disaster this morning when something other than Festus entered the shop attached to the house.

I knew we had a visitor while making the morning coffee and hearing Kiwi and Kea suddenly let out some assertive barking.  

After opening the door and turning on the light in the garage, I saw both dogs, still barking and trying to stare holes through the door leading into the shop.

That's when I remembered that I'd forgotten to make sure Festus, the cat, was in the shop, where he resides,  last night.

I like to have all our critters buttoned up and safe during the dark hours.  For some reason, I completely forgot to call Festus and shut the shop door behind him last night.  

My oversight would not be a big problem cuz with the door slightly open, Festus could come and go any time he wanted. 

BUT,  skunks could too. 

The Border Collies were about to break the door down with their noses, so I opened it for them.  That may have been a big mistake.

The visitor was holed up in the moving boxes stacked under the work bench.  I knew that because both dogs stood in front of those boxes with noses at full alert.  

I still had no idea what species could be hiding in there, but I could hear it moving around among the boxes.

So I went to tell Bill.  By the time I spit out the words about the early-morning invader, I did not need to tell Bill anything.  We could both smell what was going on in the shop.

By the time we ran back to the scene, dogs were out of the shop, possibly smarting from the spray.  

At this writing, I have no idea if the skunk is still hiding among the moving boxes, but all cat food has been removed,  and the garage door is fully open as are the windows.  

With some good luck, by the time this afternoon's barbecue begins, the place will be aired out.  I can only wait and hope that the skunk has exited and gone on to greener pastures----maybe even to the barn.

After all, it's still hard for me to believe that Fuzzy Wuzzy, who lives in the barn,  licks that pan of Meow Mix that clean and polished every single day.  

I'll bet this skunk has learned from plenty of experience just how good Meow Mix can taste, and I'll bet I've been subsidizing its meals for some time.

Only time and smell will tell if we're rid of the skunk. In the meantime, I'll be looking for ways to enhance the aroma of that area in time for today's barbecue.  Maybe I'll have Bill fry up some bacon so its lovely aroma can waft through the air past the shop before the guests arrive. 

Other than that, it looks to be a good day as we continue quietly celebrating the holiday weekend here at the Lovestead.  

And, my sister Barbara posted some lovely photos of the Arlee powwow on her Flickr site. 

So, enjoy your day and go check out the photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/misstshs/

Saturday Slight

A perfect weekend.  Yup, that's what the weather's gonna do for us on this Fourth of July holiday celebration.  

Last year I rode Lily on the Wiley Knob trail up Grouse Creek on the Fourth of July.  On that ride, I wore four layers and felt a bit chilled occasionally.

This year the weekend will have clear skies and temperatures averaging from mid to high '70s.  Can't beat that.

Bill and I started off the weekend at a very crowded Second Avenue Pizza last night.  We did not have pizzas; we'll save that dinner for when the Aussies come.  Instead, he enjoyed a calzone, and I had my ultimate bacon sandwich.

Bill's calzone attracted the attention of a man at the table next to us.  First, he wondered what it was that Bill was eating; then he wondered if Bill could eat it all. Twenty years of coming from LA to Second Avenue Pizza, and he'd never seen their calzones.

Well, Bill ate the whole thing, and our new friend plans to order one next time he dines there.  

I've never seen the place so crowded, and I probably knew about five people there besides the staff.  Yes, Mrs. Gleason and Patti, you're included, and thanks so much for following my slight detours. 

We arrived home in time for a call from Debbie.  They were at Samuels on their way home from a day in Canada with their friends.  So, when they came to pick up the dogs, we enjoyed a nice visit.

That Love crowd has fishing on the agenda this morning.  Some of us had planned to join my sisters at a powwow in Arlee, Montana,  today, but the 6 a.m. departure time and all the chores with animals and gardens made me decide that staying home was a better option. 

We'll be content enjoy a little of this and a little of that and remain somewhat laid-back as the weekend winds on.  And, this magnificent weather will make it all the better. 

Yesterday was Canada Day, and Canada is especially enjoying its celebrations this year with the visit of Prince William and Kate.  

In fact, I learned in yesterday's paper that our Aussie visitors may get to see the couple when they attend the Calgary Stampede this next week.

Polly, who's my correspondent from Southwest Australia, said it's nice that the Prince and his wife will be there to welcome them to Canada.  I think so too!

I also think my education will be greatly enhanced when these gals visit us in a few days.  In fact, I've already has received a preview of what's to come in the communicating department.

The night before last I sent a short note, asking Polly (who has Appaloosas) if she'd ever heard the name Harold Tibbs and of the stallion Toby I.  I finished off the query, telling her that Harold was my stepfather.

Well, Polly was "gobsmacked," she said.  

She was gobsmacked cuz her horses have Toby I bloodlines, and, yes, she's heard of Harold Tibbs. Might even have a picture.  

And, her friend Joyce, who's coming and who also has Appaloosas with Toby bloodlines, will probably be gobsmacked too. 

The world is getting smaller, Polly wrote.  

It's been fun over the years just to mention Harold's and Toby's names to Appaloosa fans and to hear the reaction from people all over the world.  For a guy who hardly left the ranch, that's quite an achievement.   

Next weekend we'll be giving away the seventh belt buckle for the most versatile horse in his and Toby's honor at the Spots of Fun Open Horse Show.  Harold's legacy lives on . . . . 

Anyway, I'm figuring on being gobsmacked a time or two during the Aussie visit and figuring for sure that my vocabulary is going to take on some fun new words and phrases.

And, it works both ways.  Maybe some Aussies will take home some unique North Idaho vernacular to share with their friends.  I'll be gol-durned if they don't!

Well, the outside chores are calling, so I'll sign off and wish everyone a happy Saturday.  

Happy Anniversary, Lovestead

As we turned the calendar over to July, we did some reminiscing this morning.  It was a hotter day five years ago but a nice day like today. 

We had to wait until early afternoon to begin the move because the Stewarts were still wrapping up the loose ends of transporting a bunch of their possessions, including a horse trailer full of goats and one donkey.

They were bound for their new home in South Dakota, where a week later, the temperature shot up to 114 degrees.  I felt sorry for Jolene.

I felt really sorry for Jolene, having to leave this gorgeous piece of property but not sorry enough to still feel the giddiness of knowing that we "get" to live here. 

Today is the 5-year anniversary of our move, which included a few past members of the menagerie.  Rambo, Casey, Charlie and Lonesome are no longer with us, although most of them sleep eternally on this beautiful plot we call home.

Since that move, Kea, Lily, Lefty and Heather have joined the ranks of official Lovestead residents AND a whole lot of birds (I'm reminded as I type by the cooing of the mourning doves who moved in this spring and have hung around). 

I've written this next line several times since July 1, 2006:  I'm still pinching myself.

I probably pinch more on the beautiful summer days because this is truly a heavenly existence.  The long, long winter months are a bit tougher, but we still find ways to appreciate our home on South Center Valley Road. 

I noticed yesterday that the same pink rose bush on the east backdrop of our front lawn had begun blooming.  It was putting on a full show the day we moved in.  

In five years, we've grown to love the neighborhood and the people living in it.  Someone told me that the folks out here pretty much mind their own business, and that is true---but, have something go wrong, and they're there to help.  And, that is true. 

While reading the paper this morning, I heard the daily honk.  That was Gary Finney driving by on his way to work.

Actually, the daily honk happens several times a day, any time Gary is headed to or from home in any of his fleet of rigs ranging from big truck to big tractors to motorcycle to the white Blazer.

Gary and I have known each other most of our lives; we're ten days apart in age.  I'm older. Darnit!

But Gary has become a good friend and neighbor since we moved out here, and we've come to appreciate each other much more since 2006.  Gary likes his Christmas plate of goodies as do the others surrounding us.

Jim Taylor fell some trees over across the road last year.  One brushed against our already sagging mailbox.  Jim thought he caused the sag.  I told him it had sagged before that tree fell.  

Still, Jim has felt a responsibility to fix up our mailbox stand with a more sturdy foundation.  He drove a big pipe into the ditch a while back and plans to complete the overall rehaul this summer.

We did not expect him to do such a thing, but that's what rural neighbors are like, and we sure do like being in a rural neighborhood. 

Five years ago, Laura, Sefo and the gang of Samoans helped us move into and organize our home.  Sefo has since helped Bill with a section of the extensive board fence which has been constructed to replace a great portion of electric wire. 

The green vinyl storage shed, which caved in three winters ago, now lies in piles out in the loafing shed, and the beautiful shop that replaced it has made such a difference in looks and convenience. 

Much has happened since that day Willie surprised me when he flew in from Boise to help with the move.  Since then, the Border Collie population has increased with the grandpuppies and Kea. 

Willie no longer lives in Boise.  He and Debbie have been here in Sandpoint for almost two years, making a difference in the lives of young people.  And, the grandpuppies spend a lot of time with me.

In fact, on this morning five years after the move, grandpuppies have arrived with Willie.  Grandpuppies will stay the day while Willie and Debbie take their friends Andrew and Alicia on a trip to Canada.  

So, with that in mind, I'll end this reflection of five good years here at the Lovestead.  Cuz I've got pups to watch and gardens to water.

It's a good life here at the Lovestead, and I'm sure we'll celebrate our good fortune every July 1 for years to come. 

Its water broke!

Early this morning Big Blue's water broke.  I looked out the window about 5 a.m. just in time to see a waterfall seeping over the spot where water had seeped out of Big Blue the other day.

Thought I had that situation solved, but not!

I raced out the door toward the pool as fast as my 64-year-old legs could carry me.  By the time I reached Big Blue,  the waterfall had begun gushing.  

I pushed the limp blow-up rim back toward the inside of the pool,  raced to the other side and turned on the air compressor.

I discovered quickly that it's extremely difficult---well, actually impossible--to hold on to an air hose and stop Niagra Falls on the other side of the pool at the same time.

So, I dropped the hose and ran back to the waterfall, holding the rim up and entertaining a quick, awful thought that I could be standing there doing this all day if I wanted water to stay in the pool. 

With one hand, I held back the flood; with the other, I motioned, "Get the Hell out here!" to Bill, who I knew was watching the action from the sliding glass door of the house.  

Sure enough he was.  He just trotted to the pool; after all, I was holding the water back.

"Go plug in that hose and blow up this rim!" I ordered.  He reached the blow-up hole and announced that the cap was open, figuring maybe that was why the rim had gone limp.

"I opened the cap to air it up," I yelled.

"Oh," he said, inserting the compressor hose.  

Here's the deal with Big Blue.  I thought after that first disaster of the year with Big Blue earlier this week and after a night's sleep to dream about it, that a true miracle had happened at the Lovestead.

The second day after my frustration with the pump that didn't work, all the sudden the pump was working fine.  I even added more water and blew up the rim.

A few hours later, I realized that we hadn't quite reached miracle status, so my chances for sainthood are still a long ways off. As if!

Turns out that leak in the rim continues to let most of the air escape after a few hours. Having a rim full of air is crucial to water staying INSIDE the pool. 

So, I've been airing it up every few hours.  Yesterday I did another all-out search for where the heck that leak could be.  

Even wore my glasses and used a bottle of dish soap, as suggested by Bill.

"If you find a place where you think it's leaking, squirt some soap on it," he had explained to me a day earlier. "If that's the place, the soap will bubble."  

Well, you can imagine how great that would be for me to see suds on Big Blue and know where to patch the leak.

I spent nearly half an hour caressing the rim, listening for escaping air, bending over and searching up close and personal----to no avail.

So, I figured if I let the compressor work a little longer, maybe the air inside the rim would stay there a little longer.  This morning I'm sure there's a good scientific reason why that's faulty logic,  cuz the air did not last the night.

The pool still has about 3,500 gallons of water inside, and the grass on the southwest side should turn really green today. 

While he was working the air-compressor controls, Bill said, "We'll just buy a new pool."

"It's not gonna be another one like this," I said.

"Yeah, it will be one of those with frames," he said. 

Now, of course, I'm thinking about the economic wisdom of letting those 3,500 gallons of Oden water go, buying a new pool and filling it again with 4,000 more gallons of Oden water and maybe-----if we're lucky----having about three hot days this summer.

There's a lot to ponder.  In the meantime, I've turned off the pump and will offer a reward for the eagle eye who can find the leak in our Big Blue rim.  

The reward:  a free swim in the pool when I patch the leak and the pool stays full overnight without help from the air compressor.

As if Big Blue's water breaking was not enough to bring a groggy head to a full alert, we had more drama while walking back to the house from the pool.

Horses' heads were in the air.  Horses were snorting.  Kea was barking.  Suddenly we hard a loud, piercing----EEEEEEEEAh in the woods. 

"What is that?" I said, then answering my own question.  "That's a baby deer." 

Sure enough, we saw Mom a few minutes later.  A few minutes after that, she decided her baby needed to go elsewhere, so I heard it protesting all through the woods while I was leading horses to pasture. 

The horses were still upset, racing around and snorting.

I think Mom and fawn are far enough away by now to allow things to settle down a bit.

All that stuff had happened by 6 a.m.!

My friend Diane commented the other day on Facebook:  never a dull moment at the Lovestead.

On this morning, I'd take a few moments of dull.

The Aussies are coming! The Aussies are coming!

On this day two weeks from now, we'll have a trio of Australian visitors here at the Lovestead.  And, my mind is swirling with thoughts of all that they need to see and experience.  

I've never met these people, although I have interviewed one.  In 2000 when the Summer Olympics were held in Australia, Polly was involved in a mounted Search and Rescue team who had the honor of carrying the Olympic torch. I'll post the full story below.

Eleven years later, Polly, her daughter and her friend, all horse lovers,  are excited about their first visit to North America, and Bill and I are just equally excited to host them for a few days. 

As their visit grows closer, I keep thinking of what we take for granted about our daily lives and what they will find fascinating about our culture and our country.  

Yesterday I made plans for them to go on a trail ride at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, and they want to visit the Appaloosa Horse Club headquarters in Moscow.  We'll also take them on a scenic geocaching tour and make sure they cross into Montana. 

I decided, after hearing more details from Polly, to drive up to the Canadian border to meet them.  They're flying in to Calgary and planning to attend the Calgary Stampede before heading to Idaho.

It will be neat to experience firsthand someone's introduction to the United States and to witness what makes them go "Wow."  Having just had that experience in Ireland and several years ago in New Zealand and Mexico, I have no doubt that these ladies will be all eyes and ears. 

While here, they'll be staying in the new-old motor home. Polly told me in a letter last night they'll plan to be here three days and then taking off on their own---just in case we don't like them. 

Now, that definitely is a factor when you've got a bunch of almost perfect strangers coming to stay with perfect strangers.  Of course, after reading Polly's comment, my immediate thoughts were:  maybe they won't like us.!  Guess we'll all know in two weeks.

Anyway, it's fun planning for their visit, which I hope to document.  Could make a good story.  Speaking of which, you can read the 2000 Appaloosa Journal story, featuring Polly,  below.

~~~~ 

By the time it had  reached  Australia’s Olympic Stadium,  the fiery symbol of the Summer Games had created a kaleidoscope of memories and inspiring stories for its bearers, support staff and onlookers.   

Traveling more than 18,000 miles  via boats, trains, ferries, a race car,   horses and humans  through 1,000 Australian towns, the Olympic Torch passed over the Land Down Under for 100 days (June 8—Sept. 15)  on its journey to Sydney. 

One of those days, July 13,  proved very special for a nine-member mounted search and rescue  group, which included seven Appaloosa horses.  On Day 36  the State Emergency Service Horse Search Team aka Kapunda Mounted Unit, led by Harvey Zbierski on Diamond Z Spook,  helped escort the torch through the small communities of  Clare and Kapunda in  South Australia’s wine country.

“It was an experience that could only happen once in a lifetime,” says group organizer and Appaloosa owner Pauline Morran of Kapunda.  “We patrolled the streets and provided support to police as well as the foot patrols.

“We started off so serious but ended up interacting with the crowd on a personal level,” Morran explained. “The kids loved the horses and I reckon that nearly every child in the street patted or clapped when the horses came near.

“Finally we received notification that the torch had hit the town and we swung into action maintaining the crowd as  it started to bottleneck into the street when  they tried to grab a glance of the torch,” she continued. “We were going so well until we saw the torch,  and everyone in the team was over-awed and as Joyce [Atkinson]  put it, her heart skipped a beat.  All too soon it was over . . . .”

The group worked for two hours during a lunch-time visit in Clare and later that afternoon during the torch’s half-hour pass through the historic copper-mining town of Kapunda. 

Training officer Paul Kearney, a former mounted policeman and past member of the Australian Light Horse Association,  considered the busy 12-hour day a great success.  Besides getting up at the crack of dawn to prepare their horses, the group had to load up in floats (trailers) several times to get from one venue to another.   Clare is about 50 miles from Kapunda.

“The primary task was to keep people off the road,” he explained.  “The secondary task was public relations. The kids and old folks loved the horses.  The police were grateful for our assistance and my riders enjoyed themselves.  It was superb and a privilege to work with the other riders.  All turned up.  None complained and uniforms and horses looked magnificent.”

The spotted horses made a splash in both community events, according to ambulance driver and spectator  Jacqui Bridge.

“They were very colorful and well behaved and a good ambassador for the breed,” she said.

Pauline’s daughter Hayley rode her 15-year-old Appaloosa gelding Belron Friendly R. (Friendly).

“I was very nervous about how my horse would  react to the size of the crowd and the flags,” she said. “but I need not have worried as he was fine with everything. The torch arrived (in Clare) at 12:15 p.m.  As the crowd went mad with excitement, I also was thrilled with excitement.  Friendly took everything in his stride.”

     As the only one of its kind in South Australia, the mounted unit has forged a successful uphill battle for support since 1995 when Morran, a tenacious visionary and State Emergency Service volunteer,  conceived the idea.

“I had queried why, in our vast state of varied conditions, did we not have a mounted search and rescue team,” she recalls. “I have to admit it was not warmly received but with many a nagging, I had my wish granted on the fourth of November in 1997.

“We did not have access to funding so everything had to be begged, borrowed or acquired,” she adds.   “To start with, we had three full volunteer members and one cadet.   This has since increased to nine.”

Members include men and women ranging in age from 15 to 60.   Hayley Morran, a gymkhana, barrel racing and jumping enthusiast,  serves as a cadet.   She generally receives the same training as other members but would not search for a body because of her age, according to Kearney, a South Australia highway patrol officer.

Kearney says the only membership requirement for riders to have access to a horse, preferably their own. Training involves mounted cavalry drill movements for parade work or crowd control and land search exercises.

“This will involve work amongst traffic and people on foot just walking around, lots of cheering, etc.,” Kearney explained, adding that the only requirement for riders is to come with an open mind, willing to learn and with plenty of enthusiasm.

Training occurs twice monthly for practical exercises and weekly in riding theory. Some sessions, lasting for entire weekends,  focus on different styles of land searches, practice with evacuation procedures for fallen riders and lecture sessions.
 
The group appeared  in its first public event, the Celtic Parade Festival,  in March, 1998.   Since that time, thousands of onlookers have  seen the mounted unit in three Celtic parades, a Barossa  Valley Vintage Wine Parade, and a parade through central Adelaide, a city of 1.5 million about 65 miles south of Kapunda.

    The Kapunda Mounted Unit has been put on standby for several searches.  One search involved 130 personnel, helicopters and several hundred man hours.  Morran said the horses were unfazed by the helicopters.

    While searching for missing persons, riders observe a few  basic rules. They must maintain a line when working in a sweep pattern and search from only one side of the horse---left or right--as designated.  They are also expected to maintain the welfare of their horses before their own, follow orders to the letter, and maintain professionalism at all times.

   Kearney explains that  mounted search and rescue units can be helpful because, seated two meters above  the ground, riders have a greater view of open land,  and the horse can travel four times faster than a person on foot.

   “We can go in more hostile terrain quicker than a person on foot and perform reconnaissance more efficiently and more quickly,” he explained. “Also, when a foot searcher is starting to tire and needing a rest, the horse has just warmed up and is ready for the real work.”

Through their public appearances and  continued training, the Kapunda riders are gaining both visibility and credibility from the skeptical hierarchy of the State Emergency Service and the South Australia Police Department.

“As the police have their own mounted unit, we had to show them that we were not a threat to their existence as budgeting is always an issue in public service,”  Morran explained. “Now that they see the publicity and raised profile that we have achieved especially at the government level, we have a budget.”  

The group now operates on a government allocation of  $7,500 per year.  In addition, the state has supplied two new 3-horse floats or horse trailers.  More vehicles are  expected.

Besides her passionate efforts to see that the Kapunda Mounted Unit continues to gain stature through its public service, Morran, owner of four Appaloosas,  wants to keep the breed in the spotlight as much as possible.   Her efforts are working.

“The Appaloosa has been highlighted not only locally but also in Adelaide Central where people just can’t get enough of the spotted horse,” she says. “[Also,] when we attended the Vintage Parade, we had a lovely comment made.  An American couple who came over for the festival said we were the best group of colored Appys they had seen in a long time.”

Big Blue Blues

Life had been moving along much too smoothly.  When that happens for more than two days in North Idaho, you know it's time to start worrying.

Well, I hadn't gotten to the worry mode quite yet.  In fact, yesterday was turning out to be another day of bliss.

No stresses, no deadlines, nothing to drive me into my familiar routine of overcoming the crazy challenges that seem to haunt me most every day of my life.

And, Big Blue's to blame for most of yesterday's bliss demise. 

Actually, there were good things happening.  The sun was shining.  In spite of the obstacles, I also fixed a nice dinner for me and for Bill to enjoy later after his return from fishing.

The menu included slow-baked chicken breasts, swimming in margarine, garlic salt, salt, pepper and topped off during the last few minutes of baking with fresh asparagus.

The meat met with a lovely salad, all picked from the garden----beautiful, crisp, chilled lettuce, fresh celery from my lovely celery patch, onion and a few pieces of red chard.  

Of course, the Mennonite garlic bread provided a tasty mop for the chicken juice and honey mustard dressing.

Yeah, it was a delectable summer dinner, and I deserved it after the stress that blow-up pool had caused me throughout the afternoon.

This winter I decided to leave Big Blue outside rather than trying to fold it up.  I've never folded up an elephant before, but the two times I've put Big Blue away for the winter, I could imagine the feeling.

So, this past winter, as an experiment, Big Blue stayed in its spot.

Never again.  

Besides Sunday's many hours of  filling Big Blue with 4,000-plus gallons of Oden water (some seeped out, so I know we went beyond capacity), I had already spent most many hours on earlier days,  scouring out the insides of Big Blue.

See, when those pools sit out all winter, they gather up algae and everything else that comes along to squat within a vinyl enclosure. That meant picking up the elephant--er-pool and trying to drape it between two fence posts.  

I got some of it cleaned that way, but then I dragged the massive vinyl monster up to the pickup bed to finish the rest of the job.  My body had a workout that day, I'll tell you. 

It must have been one of the few warm days we had cuz sweat was dripping so badly I had to go in and take a bath after the scrub session in the swimming poo.

I couldn't clean the exterior until Big Blue got filled up with water, and I warned Bill not to get too panicky if he looked out there at that smudged-up  pool.  It was clean inside, I assured him.

Bill didn't seem to care one way or the other----I know he does care when he sees the water bill, but, thankfully, my husband never says a word about such sticker shock when it comes to a pool out behind the barn that offers him moments of summer refreshment on hot days. 

He also liked coming up with the clever thought yesterday:  you just tell people that you're helping with the drawdown of Lake Pend Oreille when you're filling that pool. 

Well, I'm so busy filling the pool, I haven't got time to talk to people, but I'll be sure to remember that quip next time someone asks, "You're on a well, aren't you? . . . No, oooh, that must be pricey!"

Besides his kindness of not complaining about the water bill, Bill also does not volunteer to help when I'm lugging and filling Big Blue.  After yesterday,  I've decided that he needs to join the pool-raising committee next time.

You see these blow-up pools need a lot of nurturing while being filled with water, and if the nurturing is not done just right, you've got 4,000 gallons either threatening to escape or already escaping on a weak side.

Before any water threatened to escape, I went about the duties of getting all the necessities for Big Blue.  Shock and Swim was stirred into the water Sunday night.  Chlorine went into the little floating container yesterday morning.

Then, I brought out the pump with its hoses and hooked them to the pool.  Miles of extension cord was carefully hidden on an indirect path from the barn to the pool.  I don't like mowing extension cords.

I brought out the compressor to fill the rim around the top, which has a leak.  I have checked numerous times but can't find it, but the rim usually stays pumped up for a couple of hours before self-reducing into a limp, wet noodle. 

Everything was ready for swimming by about noon yesterday----or so I thought.

I came out from lunch to discover that the pump had quit working.  

Three years into Big Blue I figured it probably had gone south.  So, my trip to town would include buying a new pump.

They cost $70, but after all the work I'd done to get the pool ready for hot days, I wasn't gonna let one item foul it all up.  I did go to the returns section and ask if I could return it if the pump wasn't the problem.  30 days, they said.

Well, it's going back to Wal-Mart today, 29 days early cuz when I got home the original pump was working.  Turns out the water level was not quite high enough to pour enough water through those hoses to keep it working all the time.

Figuring a simple fix would be to add more water, I put the hose back into Big Blue, turned it on and went to the house to check my email.

There was a note from my editor at the Appaloosa Journal, asking for a photo or two.  Stressor No. 2 had shown up to ruin my deteriorating day.  

It wasn't sending the photo that through me into agitation; it was the fact that no matter what I tried, the photos would NOT send in their original size.  Magazine folks want photos in their original sizes for clarity.

An hour later, the graphic artist had saved me from a total conniption fit by explaining to me the website called "YouSendIt."  All that stress was dissipating as I tried the site and the photo went right through in its full size.

Little did I know, however, that while my stress was dissipating inside, the pool water was dissipating or should I say "disappearing" outside.  

After sending a couple of photos, I told the graphic artist that I needed to take a break to check the pool.  

From a distance I could see one side of Big Blue was pointed and that wet stuff was cascading from the now limp rim. 

Bottom line is that as the pool fills, it fills more on one side than the other, sending water to the ground and lowering the level on the other side where the hoses need that water to make the pump work.

The first band aide I tried was to prop a board up against the weak side.  Worked for a while, but as a person who did not take physics but understands it just a bit, I know I'm doomed.

I turned off the pump, turned off the water, straightened up the pointed side of the pool and gave up for the day. 

There's water enough to swim in it, and Bills says that if we can get the pump to work part of the time, that may be okay.  

Basically I have a Big Blue snafu on my hands, but I also have 4,000 gallons of Oden water inside that snafu, and my lawn does not need watering. 

So, today I'll ponder on this situation some more and hope for better times ahead.  The one thing I do know today is that if anyone wants me to send them a big picture, I'll just bring up YouSendIt, and all will work out fine. 

Guess that's enough from the Lovestead circus. Happy Tuesday.