Saturday Slight

 

I don't know why, but I could feel a deep sense of  pride when Melissa told her students at Selle Valley Carden School, "This is Mrs. Love, and she was my teacher." 

I guess it's partially the pride that goes with the profession with a substantial extra layer because Melissa became a teacher herself. 

And, from what I can see, she's a dandy. 

We always had a great relationship when she sat in my English classroom back in the late 1990s.  It was an unspoken country-girl bond and the fact that our families had been connected by teachers since the 1940s.  

Our dad's mother taught Melissa's grandparents.

I pulled into the school parking lot yesterday after seeing Melissa's students seated on the fence, waving and flashing posters about a fundraiser.  I also saw the word "donuts" on one poster. 

Well, it turns out that it was a Krispy Kreme fundraiser.  I felt a bit reluctant at the thought of Bill having to eat a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts all by himself (cuz my colitis acts up with too many sweets).  

So, I asked for a compromise.  

Numerous times while driving past the school, I've seen the cedar planting boxes and have thought some of those would be nice for our stump tables. 

So, instead of donuts, I bought a box.  The decision seemed okay with all the energetic kids and the planter box will last a lot longer than donuts.  

https://www.livescience.com/animals/which-animal-farts-the-most?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

It's an article that asks which animal farts the most. 

I was pretty sure that I knew the answer from my lifetime observations on a farm, and I was right. 

It was just after 5:30 a.m. PST, and Annie had already posted this photo of her friend Miriam and her. 

They had just finished running a 5K race in Savannah, Georgia. Meanwhile, Annie's friend Sam ran the Half Marathon.

Annie and her group are in the Deep South for the weekend, so below are a few photos that she has taken in their travels in and around Savannah and Hilton Head, South Carolina. 

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

It's GAME DAY!

The LSU Tigers have arrived in Spokane, so it's "game on" today at 12:30 p.m. PST. 

USA Channel is covering the game.  Let's hope the announcers didn't get caught in the airline shutdown. 

This matchup has a little family interest in that Bill's mother Ora earned her Master's Degree at LSU, and, of course the general "Luzianna" connection makes the game special for Bill. 

We'll be decked out in our ZAGS wear and cheering as the Bulldogs chase the Tigers around the gym and do their best to "hold that Tiger (figuratively, of course--no fouls!)

🏀GO, ZAGS!!!🏀

Critter Corners and Such

 

This is Nattie.  

He belongs to my sisters, and, in addition to his beauty, he's very sociable. 

He loves to join in on conversations, rubbing legs and making his presence or absence known. 

Yesterday afternoon it was the latter.  

Nattie had left the gab session next to Barbara and Laurie's barn. 

We found him in my car.  I'd left the door open, so he climbed in, checked out the car and then rejoined us as we visited. 

Below:  since I don't have horses around, my apple peelings go out on the stumps, and within a few hours, they're gone. 

This visitor cleaned them all up as a solo visitor to the stumps.  

Later, when the Lovestead trio came by, no apple peelings!  

I'm sure they'll catch some with the next batch of peelings. 

In addition to apple peelings, I've been scattering a few sunflower seeds on the stumps. 

If you leave, something will come. 

In this case, twas the squirrels. 

I have apple treats from Co Op over at Roxane's for the horses.  

Lily had already gobbled down a handful and since I didn't have any more to give her, she stuck her tongue out. 

While visiting with my sister Laurie yesterday afternoon, I looked over to the south and saw one deer. 

Then, I saw a second, and then I noticed two more, which blended in with the blah colors so much they were hard to spot. 

Some of the deer started racing around, and then, seemingly out of nowhere came the big rack with a buck under it. 

He walked around checking out the scene for a minute or two and then headed back to the woods. 

In the midst of our conversation and observation, we saw at least eight deer.  

We did not realize there was a second buck, but my camera did. 

It was a fun interlude as we visited. 

Gather round, my children.  

Let's eat, and so they did, all 'cept one or two. 

It was a cute scene at my sisters' neighbors' place. 

I try to move ever so slowly when I see the deer in the lawn, always hoping to get a little closer with the camera. 

The deer will have none of that.  Just as I think I can take another step or two, they wheel around, stick their tails in the air and leave. 

This one went to the edge of the woods and moseyed around, always watching me and hoping I'll leave so they can come back for another bite. 

Yesterday while driving home from my sisters' farm, I noticed that one of the neighbors up the road has an impressive Christmas light display in her yard.  

I know people don't like us to rush Christmas, but when it comes to colorful outdoor lights twinkling in the darkness, I can't help myself.  

Today I ordered a string of solar lights to drape over the fence boards seen in the photo above. 

It should be here tomorrow. 

That means we can look out our south windows and enjoy the magical colors, and I'll never apologize for loving Christmas lights any time of year. 

Still, when darkness prevails, colored lights lift our moods. 

Turkeys are a rather common sight in the county.  Now, they're more noticeable than ever cuz all the babies have grown into adulthood.  

There's a spot in our area where turkeys abound, and yesterday they seemed to be abounding in numbers like I'd never seen before. 

The photo shows just a small portion of yesterday's population on the road, the ditches, the yards and the woods. 

They hang out with deer and if you ever need a turkey-deer fix, it's available any time, any day. 

Part of Bill's wood pile for the winter.  

He putters away all year, sawing and moving and splitting and piling.  

This year he's enjoying splitting more than ever thanks to his wood splitter which requires much less muscle than an axe does. 

We usually tough out the cold until Thanksgiving, using the forced-air thermostats. 

After Thanksgiving, the wood stove will provide more than enough warmth along with the exercise of bringing in the wood. 

That's when a kettle of water on top of the stove will be kept full to combat the dry air.  

I'm still peeling.  

This was yesterday's batch.  I have yet to cook it up into applesauce.  

I also brought home some pie crusts and will fill them with sliced apples, sugar, a little flour and cinnamon.  

I'll also make up some crumble to sprinkle over the top, and, if all goes well, we'll have some homemade apple pies.

Yum! 

Still, some flowers are growing and refusing to go into hibernation.  

I love it. 

Happy Friday. 

Enjoy your day and, of course, whatever critters come to visit your house. 

Thursday This, That; TBT

On a rainy day if you're standing in a long line at the pharmacy, an opportunity awaits as you move along slowly. 

It could be the colorful candy display. No, you don't open the lids and sneak a gummy out of the plastic container. 

Instead, you pull out your phone and take pictures. 

Well, at least if you're nutty Marianne, you do that.  

I had to go through that same line twice the other day, so I also took advantage of the floral department where some of the prettiest orchids I've ever seen made me want to fill a shopping cart with the whole collection. 

I ate no candy and bought no flowers, but my wait in line went so much faster, thanks to some indoor eye candy. 

Ongoing rain that day also produced a few very clean and interesting outdoor scenes. 

Life is what you make it when you have to wait in line or endure a rainy day. 

When I read the post below on Facebook the other day, I immediately wrote a note to Dick and asked if I could post it on my blog.

He said yes cuz he wants to send a message to others.  

Dick is 82, the same age as my brother Mike.  I don't think I've ever met him, but ever since I first saw his posts, sharing his life of travel, I have followed his writings ever since. 

I think this most recent one is as inspirational as they comes.  

It doesn't matter if you are 20 or 82, there's a world out there for you to experience, and it can make all the difference in your life as it has for Dick who thought he might settle down for good in Albania.

Happy "Slow Travel," Dick!

 

by Dick Ragland

Sandpoint High School Class of 1962

THE WORLD IS STILL CALLING ME — AND I'M READY TO ANSWER!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about my life, my future, and what truly makes me happy. And I've come to a wonderful realization.

I'm not ready to settle down!

For years, I've had the incredible privilege of traveling the world, exploring different countries, discovering new cultures, meeting fascinating people, and experiencing ways of life completely different from my own.

And I miss it. I really, really miss it!

I thought perhaps it was time to settle down, find a comfortable place to call home, and simply enjoy a quieter life. 

But something inside me keeps saying, "There's still so much of this beautiful world you haven't seen!"

And that adventurous spirit is calling me again.

So I've come up with a new idea: Slow Travel!

During my travels through South America, I often stayed just ten days, two weeks, or perhaps three weeks in one place before moving on. It was exciting, but constantly packing, moving, and starting over eventually became exhausting.

This time, I want to do things differently.

Three months in one country. 

Then three months in another. 

And another.

Imagine spending three wonderful months in Norway, then moving on to Georgia, followed by Estonia or Finland. Perhaps returning to Albania for a while before setting off again.

And then there's Central Asia! Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Imagine exploring the ancient Silk Road, experiencing fascinating cultures, and discovering places most people never get to see.

The possibilities are almost endless!

No rushing. No frantic sightseeing schedules. Just finding a comfortable apartment, settling in, walking the streets, meeting local people, enjoying the food, learning about the culture, and experiencing what everyday life is really like in another country.

Not just visiting countries. Actually living in them!

I passed by this new RV venue (in link below) south of Sandpoint the other day and chuckled out loud. 

Clever owners, indeed!  

Appropriately named and looking like a great park. 

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2026/nov/12/sandpoint-chamber-welcomes-rest-in-peace-rv-park/

Thursday Throwbacks:  Images from the photo library featuring people, places, events or moments from the past.  Enjoy. And, do play the music while scrolling. 

AI enhanced for color.