Sunday Miscellany

 

One purple potato

A few blueberries. 

Some raspberries.  

Lots of lettuce. 

One ripening tomato. 

Lots and lots of oregano with buzzing with busy bees. 

Just taking stock of the early rewards of sticking with some gardening this year. 

I've never had purple potatoes before, so when they grow bigger, they'll make great subjects for photos. 

The gardens are coming along nicely---for me, that is. 

I would never want to show off my plots to true gardeners.  They would laugh. 

For me, however, they're good enough. 

I've been better this year about weeding, but even with that effort, the weeds overshadow the vegetables in some places. 

It's never ending, and I'm guessing that if we stuck with it 24-7, the weeds would still win. 

So, I do my best and will try to do my best to see that none of it goes to waste. 

That job will be somewhat challenging in the next few days as everything comes on strong and the lawn still grows.  

That's always the time when you finish one job several more a staring you in the face. 

If only we could find some moderation between the summer hyperactivity and winter slug time. 

This morning I'll take some time out and go to the horse show at the fairgrounds. 

My sister Barbara is showing her Arabian gelding Vinnie, so we'll be doing some grandstand cheerleading. 

Plus, it will be fun to see who wins the belt buckle for the annual "Harold Tibbs-Toby I" award, which has been given for almost 20 consecutive years. 

Harold took his stallion Toby I to the first-ever National Appaloosa Show in the late 1940s.  It was held in Lewiston, Idaho, and when it was over, Harold and his stallion had won several awards, including the overall performance championship. 

Nearly 70 years later, the family still has the Navajo blanket he won in that show. 

Harold's award goes to a horse that demonstrates versatility in both English and Western-style riding. 

He didn't win the cup. He won our respect. 

I was fascinated with this soccer player from the beginning of the World Cup and even predicted that Norway would win the cup this year because of him. 

Well, it wasn't to be, but this illustration says it all. 

He and his Norwegian fans added a special touch to the tournament. 

I hauled off most of the poppies in the north lawn yesterday, as the plants were starting to get pretty ragged looking.  

Before dumping them, I harvested several dozen heads for seed collecting. 

The poppies were gorgeous and abundant this year, so I'm looking forward to adding more in different areas next year. 

After a little watering and morning chores, it's off to the horse show. 

Happy Sunday. 

Saturday Slight

 

I've noticed darker mornings this week.  

Coming on fast, it seems. 

But time is flying by, and we've become very aware that it's also filling up with a multitude of events.  

The next few weeks almost need a flow chart to keep track of all the happenings. 

In the midst of these fast-paced days, I've also noticed an uptick with things that don't work or, at least, don't want to work like they used to. 

For example, my cell phone keeps telling me that it wants NO more pictures to store and that I should delete some documents, photos and apps to rectify the situation.

Not easy choices, but I'll delete with care.  

My Fitbit battery went low yesterday and then the Fitbit quit working.  When I charged it, the Fitbit clock was an hour slow. 

That's when I discovered that Fitbit is no longer Fitbit on line.  It's now Google Health. 

I tried to sign in, but fell short because I couldn't remember my password.  So, whoever was at the other end said they would send me instructions.  

Well, the instructions never arrived. 

Later, by accident, I learned how to find the settings on my Fitbit.  Once there, I was able to shut down and restart the Fitbit, which came back on with the correct time. 

In all this trying to figure things out, I must have done something right because I also received a message on my phone this morning that I had enjoyed a restful night's sleep. 

Google Health apparently monitored me as I slept, so I'll be interested to know what it reports on nights when insomnia strikes. 

Later in the day, my Canon camera refused to take pictures.  I would press the shutter button, and nothing would happen. 

After fiddling around with the camera for a while without much luck, I eventually realized that maybe it was the memory card and that maybe it was full and that might be why the camera would not take pictures. 

I emptied the card, and things seemed to come back to normal. 

So, in all cases, some regular maintenance on my part should keep things on track.

Life was so much simpler way back when.  

Sometimes I'd like to go back to those times, but I'm sure that even then, "stuff" would happen to disrupt our days. 

So, it's best to just deal with stuff as it comes and avoid the time travel.  

My sister Laurie and Pache had a successful showing in a Sport Horse show in Monroe, Wash., yesterday. 

She, Pache and brother Kevin are on their way home; they'll be cheering for Barbara tomorrow as she competes at the Spots of Fun Show. 

The show begins this morning and runs all day today and tomorrow at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

 It's free for spectators, and there will be food and refreshments available. 

This mule will be performing in the Spots of Fun Open Horse Show this weekend.  

The culprit at work in his summer tree trimming pursuits.  

It's a sad thing to see a one-sided quince bush. 

Happy Saturday to all. 

Enjoy the summer day, and smell some posies. 

Fun-Stuff Friday

from KHQ News

 SANDPOINT, Idaho – The Long Bridge pedestrian path is expected to be reopened by the end of next week, allowing end-to-end access via a designated route, after custom steel support brackets were installed at the bridge’s “most critical” locations, according to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD).

The announcement was made on Thursday evening, just over one month since inspectors found major structural deterioration in key parts of the bridge  and closed the pedestrian path near the start of the summer season.

*******

I'm guessing there will be a lot of happy pedestrian bridge users as they learn this news. 

And, then below, some neat hoops news. 

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

North Idaho! 

Bring out the young Vandals to Sandpoint HS. 

Our whole team will be there, and we will have an open practice following the youth clinic.

                             ---Vandal Coach Alex Pribble

Willie aka Coach Love featured University of Idaho Coach Pribble in an Idaho Basketball Coaching podcast earlier this year. 

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/idaho-basketball/transition-rebounding-4b9LV-xySBO/

He told me this morning that Coach Pribble, who earlier this year took his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 36 years,  views this experience as a team-building opportunity for the Vandal squad. 

As noted in the graphic, the clinic lasts from 2-4 p.m. Afterward, the Vandals will hold a practice in Les Rogers Gym. 

Coach Love says a set of bleachers will be pulled out and available for anyone who wants to watch the practice which starts shortly after the clinic. That portion of the Vandals visit is free to the public.  

Meanwhile in Spokane last night . . . . a very generous gesture from a former ZAG.

The largest donation ever to Gonzaga by a former player, Domantis Sabonis, a member of the NBA Sacramento Kings and three-time NBA rebounding champ. 

How neat for the ZAGS program and really neat when people show their appreciation! 

According to Artificial Intelligence: 

The Spots of Fun Open Horse Show is a vibrant event that takes place at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, Idaho.

This event is organized by Moriha Yetter.  

The two-day event is free to attend and offers a chance to watch thrilling competition and enjoy the beautiful horses.

Thanks, AI. 

Now, I'll add that there are lots of pretty belt buckles to win as well as first-place awards, ribbons and raffle goodies.

The show, which has been an annual event for about 40 years,  opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday.

You can show up any time after 8 a.m. each day and even enjoy some goodies from the food vendor. 

Well, I'm sure there's more good news to share, but I'm calling it a day. 

Happy Friday and wishing you all a "good news" weekend.