A Day Filled with Beauty

 

Bill and I went to a foreign country yesterday to watch our neighbor and a few other Sandpoint residents perform in an International choir.  

While watching, we were treated to exemplary choir performances  and impressive photographs of summer scenes from London and Scotland.

It would be difficult to check off all the highlights of the day, but I'll give it a try. 

The drive from Sandpoint to Creston, British Columbia, always stunning and especially so yesterday. 

Fun with our dogs at a park alongside a river just outside of Creston. 

A comforting thrill that we could take our dogs with us and that they would snooze together in the back seat of the car while we attended the concert.

The Irish tenor with the most beautiful voice.

The multimedia approach.

The Irish tenor. 

An exquisite rendition of "Wild Mountain Thyme. I wish I could figure out how to post my video of this lovely song.  

The refreshments provided by residents of Creston. 

And, so on . . . . 

This same concert was presented in Sandpoint on Friday night and Bonners Ferry on Saturday. 

The group has an flexible feel to it with a men's choir, sometimes a women's, at times just a few men and women and then the combined choir. 

Yesterday's song list also included accompaniment by flute, harp and piano and a sign language interpreter.  

The concert and the choir are the brainchild of Vicki Blake Thompson, once the choir director at Bonners Ferry High School. 

And, what an amazing, high-quality concept she has developed over the years, directing choirs in Bonners Ferry and across the border in Creston!  

The frosting on the cake:  biennial trips to perform in foreign countries and to become immersed in the culture, often with the connection and blending in to local singing and musical groups.

Some of the countries over the years:  most recently England and Scotland this year, Cuba, Costa Rica, Greece, China, etc. 

The meticulous planning that goes into this endeavor is immediately obvious in the quality of the choirs, the themes with each trip's musical selections and the amazing cultural perks that go along with it. 

In this weekend's concerts, another dimension emerged as admission to each concert involved donations to local humanitarian groups. 

It's win, win, win, as far as I'm concerned.  

Bill and I had been hearing from our friend and neighbor Tricia about these concerts for a few years. So, we were thrilled to finally attend one. 

Of course, we loved the photographic back drop which included numerous pictures of Tricia and her daughter Terra (once my horse Lefty's best friend and now an exchange student through the University of Arizona in London). 

As confirmed travel lovers, the concert offered everything that inspires us, especially music performed well and the lure of adventuring into different cultures. 

It was a very good day for dogs, Ma and Pa Love and a group of very talented singers. 

So glad that we went. 

I loved the quotes that went with the programming in yesterday's concert, especially the one below. 

It's a worthy goal and definitely worth the effort. 

Not Much

 

It's just one of those days where there's not much to say. 

My mind is a relatively empty vessel. 

So, I'll try not to fight the situation. 

To avoid redundancy, I'll simply state that I'm looking forward to the day ahead, and that yesterday and the days before have been pleasant, stress-free and fairly productive. 

When you can't be very productive with your writing,  you just have to take a Sunday break.

I'm reading a new book, so that will help.  

Don't get me wrong; there's plenty to be said, but the topics available in my mind (of a political nature) are not what I consider appropriate for the blog. 

So, I'll simply wish everyone a wonderful day.  

Enjoy the photos. 

Our brilliant outdoor color will soon be gone.  Dang! 

Happy Sunday. 

Bill started his fall burning this week.  

And, Bridie has been there to help, with her ball, of course. 

Saturday Slight

 

I couldn't figure out how to get my leaf bags on my lawnmower yesterday, so I mulched.  

At times the build-up of maple leaves in pathways created by the lawnmower was impressive. 

It's already evident that this year's leaf pickup will be much easier than usual, thanks to the removal of eight poplar trees from the yard.

No poplar leaves or twigs or bark means approximately 2, 432, 710 fewer pieces of residue to scoop up and haul away. 

Still, it would be nice to figure out the leaf bag.  I go to You Tube for help and find that their how-to instructional videos require a lot more nuts, bolts, wrenches, screwdrivers that what I have to install my bags.  

The main mystery for me involves two long rods, and I cannot figure out where they are supposed to go.

Bill has no idea either.  

So, I'll keep studying the bag situation and continue mulching.

More than likely by the time I figure it out, the leaves will be gone. 

For now, those still clinging to their respective bushes or trees are holding their beauty.  

Well, for what it's worth, a new season of Gonzaga men's basketball is starting today.

It's an exhibition game, pitting the ZAGS against John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks.  Like the challenges associated with my lawnmower bag installation, the game involves some road bumps in figuring out to watch it. 

From what I read, we have to pay a subscription fee to ESPN+ and then stream the game. 

I'm hoping my sisters or Willie will figure out how to stream the game on their television sets cuz I'm not that proficient in the streaming department.

If they do, we'll be taking our ZAGS swag over to Colburn to watch the game. 

Since Bill and I were not here to watch Kraziness in the Kennel, we've got some catching up to do on who's who on the squad. 

And, it sounds like that's fairly common, maybe even with the coaches. 

What a bunch of Kraziness the once simple and fun game of watching our beloved ZAGS has become because of portals and big money for players and a brand new league. 

I guess it will be good for us fans to go head-on toward a new learning curve and do our best to navigate the new ways of watching college basketball. 

Anywho, it's exciting to know that the ZAGS are starting out with what should be a competitive and exciting exhibition game today. 

Now, if we can just figure out how to watch it! 

 

🏀$🏀$🏀$🏀$🏀$🏀$🏀

Gonzaga Bulldogs Game on Oct. 24 — Channel & Details

The Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Oct. 24, 2026 game is an exhibition matchup at Arkansas, airing at 1:00 PM ET on SEC Network+ 

Game details

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

• Opponent: Arkansas Razorbacks

• Tip-off: 1 p.m. PDT (12:00 PM MT)

• Type: Exhibition game

• TV channel: SEC Network+ (streaming via ESPN+ subscription) 

• Below:  it's neat to see former ZAG Kevin Pangos making the move from player to coach, even if it isn't with the ZAGS.  I kinda figure that Arizona is the ZAGS South. 

• 
  
   GO, ZAGS!!!!!

Our dear family of deer.  

Yesterday they allowed me to walk slowly toward them as they chomped on apples.  

I was standing about 20 feet away when they finally decided to flip their tails in the air and run away, just around the corner.  

I saw them back at the tree shortly thereafter. 

I guess it depends on what kind of poop you prefer.  

Is it certified weed-free poop or is it poop filled with toxins and other seedy stuff?

The nation will be making up its mind about its preferred political poop in just a few days.  

I'm wondering how we'll all be feeling once the S--- finally hits the fan on Nov. 3. 

Will it be total relief, the kind that only a good laxative can provide OR will it be more chronic constipation where, try as we might, we can never rid ourselves of the unsavory elements? 

Guess we'll have to stay out of horse trailers and stay tuned, hoping for the best movement possible.

As for the promises, I guess it's all in the perspective. 

Some promises kept, especially those of late ----not welcome. 

Others, offering hope:  let's see if those who make them can deliver.

Which brings me to my perennial complaint.  

Why so much money and time spent on the ugliness and misery associated with elections in this country. 

If we elected a whole bunch of people with spines, maybe they could pass legislation limiting the amount of time and money allowed for campaigning. 

I would wager that we would know all we need to know about candidates in a month's time.  If we need two to four years and bajillions of dollars to figure this out, we must be pretty stupid. 

Think of how that time and money could be spent for more productive pursuits and how we might just see a trend that elevates our country on the world's "most happy" list. 

Life at the Lovestead has sure been lovely lately with the amazing fall weather. 

Thank you, Mother Nature.  

Happy Saturday.