It's Friday!

 

Yes, we've reached the first Friday of November 2026. 

Where does the time go? 

It seems like I just turned over the calendar, and six days have passed by already. 

This could be a fast month, which is okay with me. 

Next to January, the month of November ranks as one of my least favorite. 

I used to like it when I taught because we had a day off from school after teacher conferences and two days for Thanksgiving. 

These days, however, the added darkness that comes in November does not lift my spirits. 

No complaints so far because we've had daylight in the mornings, and I don't have to carry a flashlight when Bridie and I go out for the morning chores slot, which involves no chores. 

I stay on schedule, though, so it won't be such a shock to the system when the horses come home in the spring. 

I have been able to take a few morning photos, so that's a plus, but the long road of diminishing daylight is coming soon. 

Happily, Bill and I have been taking stock in the ever diminishing "to do's" for winter, and we're down to the wire. 

He has to put the travel trailer in the shop and turn off the outdoor watering holes, while I still have to pull some dead posies from the pots and make one more go-round with the lawnmower and leaf bags. 

There is great news on the leaf front. SO many fewer leaves this year, thanks to the removal of those eight poplar trees south of the house. 

Leaf pickup seems like a piece of cake this year, and I'm not complaining. 

I'm loving the poplar stumps that were left after tree removal.  They're like low-cut tables, and I've made a flower garden around one set of four.  Next spring will see daffodils, columbine, black-eyed susans, some oregano and maybe even some dahlias. 

In the meantime, the poplar stump tables are nice for scattering apple peelings for the deer, squirrels and whatever else wants them. 

It hasn't taken long for the critters to know where the tables are. 

Today I'll take some time out of yard work and spend some more time in the dentist's chair.  Nikole will do a deep cleaning on the other half of my teeth. 

So, that means a numb jaw for a while.  Last time I took along some of my peanut butter pretzels cuz I thought I'd want a snack after sitting for almost two hours. 

That was crazy. 

It's possible to down a couple of those little pretzel treats with a numb jaw, but I would not advise it. Today the pretzels will stay home.

Looks like another busy weekend ahead and some nice weather on Saturday.  It will be nice to enjoy the after-election calm and pivot to a basketball mindset. 

Willie starts his practices next week for the SHS boys squad, and, in a few weeks, we'll be going to games and watching games and politics will be far behind, I hope. 

When the fog lifts, I think we're going to have a nice Friday.  

Enjoy. 

Our usual trio of deer must have told other deer about the apple tree at the Love house.  We had six of them standing around in the north lawn when I rolled into the driveway a couple of days ago. 

Sadly, most of the apples are gone from the tree, and the piliated woodpecker is finishing off the rest.

  So, as long as I'm peeling for applesauce, the deer will have to settle for peels on the stump tables. 

I have to confess that I gave in and went to Sharon's Country Store north of Bonners Ferry yesterday morning to pick up some bigger peeling apples--Fujis. 

My home apples are plentiful, but the time needed to peel those significantly smaller apples for sauce has become tedious and overwhelming. 

Yesterday, after coming home, I peeled the same amount in 20 minutes that it was taking me off and on over two days to peel.  

So, the rest of mine will go for jelly and maybe some dried apples---not much peeling. 

When we drove to Bonners Ferry, we soon found that it was well worth the trip.  Gas prices ranged from $3.99 to $4.19, so Bill filled up at Sturgeon Station.

Nice to see the dramatic decrease. Hope it happens in Sandpoint.  

I sent this lady a "Happy Birthday" greeting today via Facebook.  

She's 98, amazing, funny, inspiring and a notable Sandpoint icon. 

Happy Birthday, Mary Faux!! 

Hats off to you! 

Be like a Mary; enjoy your precious time today.

 

⌛⌛⌛

Thursday This, That; TBT

I had the pleasant experience of meeting this amazing lady for the first time yesterday. 

I had heard her name numerous times from my friend Chris Moon, but yesterday I met Selkirks Pend Oreille Transit (SPOT) director Donna Griffin in person. 

A busy lady who knows how to seamlessly and happily juggle her time to satisfy the multitude of directions her job takes her---that was my impression of Donna. 

During the half hour or so that I spent in her office, she answered three phone calls and gave each person her utmost time and consideration.  

Two bus drivers also popped in the door. With both, I saw the same warmth, consideration and friendliness. 

 

We hit it off immediately, sharing our individual stories and getting acquainted.  I appreciated that she really liked hearing that Chis and I had worked for the U.S. Forest Service Engineers back in the 1970s.  

My kind of people, she said. 

We talked horses, kids and career experiences, of which hers are most impressive, especially working with Boys and Girls Clubs and outdoor recreation projects. 

With all the hats she has to wear as an administrator, SPOT Bus ambassador, grant writer, scheduler, etc., Donna seems to adjust to each new moment and challenge with ease and with a beautiful smile.

 I will also tell you that Donna has a firm handshake and a heartfelt good-bye hug. 

I think a new friendship may have hatched with that brief meeting.  I would also say if my time spent in Donna Griffin's office was the norm,  that SPOT has a capable leader at the helm. 

On Midterm Election 2026

The Facebook post below was offered yesterday by a friend whom I met one day in Ireland.  

She is from Wisconsin, and almost every year she takes a group of travelers to the Emerald Isle. 

We met on a sunny day while enjoying tea and treats at Molly Gallivan's Cottage and Traditional Farm outside of Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland. 

We also met again when we happened to be on the same flight from Dublin to Chicago. 

We have kept in touch via Facebook ever since, and we enjoy a mutual respect.

From my Midwest friend Tara Tinder----I second her suggestions. 

Now that the elections are, for the most part, behind us, regardless of how you voted, whether you’re celebrating the results or are feeling disappointed, the message has been sent.

But what happens next, is what is really important.

It’s time to put aside the divisiveness, the negative, and the constant finger pointing. 

We don’t have to agree on everything, we are certainly not going to see things the same way. This is part of living in a democracy.

But we do need to listen to one another, respecting others opinions, find the common ground, and remember, we are all in this together.

Our country will be far better off if we work together rather than against one another.

Let’s move forward with a little bit more kindness, a little less judgment, and a renewed commitment to working together. 

We have far more in common than we sometimes allow ourselves to believe.

With the election over and Veterans' Day coming soon, it seems timely to include this song with today's photos. 

Thursday Throwbacks:  Images of moments, people, animals, places, happenings from the past.  Enjoy. 

That's my oldest brother, by the way.  

He's not only a war hero but also a voice of reason. Thank you for your service, Mike, and especially, of late, thank you for your voice. 

That lady with the flag just won a World Championship in Fort Worth, Tex.; her hubby Roley did the driving. Hope they have safe travels home.