Saturday Slight

Gonna be some mad jays at the Lovestead!

"You are being watched."  That's Annie's caption for this photo, which she shot from the couch while I was typing my blog post.

In the above photo, the invader was being watched in the act.

The talking points can change.  Tomorrow it's March, so when the next few nights' temperatures get down into the teens, we can start complaining about "how this sure is cold weather for March."  

We'll be receiving a dramatic break from the unusual shirt sleeve weather which we enjoyed so much in February.  Time to bundle up now that a spring month has come upon us.  

It might get cold, but along with the low temps comes a row of suns.  And, that's okay. 

This morning Annie is here.  I made two trips to Spokane within 24 hours as her flight came in late yesterday afternoon.

We wasted no time getting to Second Avenue Pizza where the rest of the family had gathered.  Let me tell you that place was buzzing last night, so we enjoyed some good visiting while waiting for our calzones and pizzas. 

I even made a trip over to Willie's end of the table, just to reintroduce myself.  Haven't seen much of him lately as he's a busy young man.  When basketball ended, Cedar Post deadline nights at school took its place. 

During our visit last night, Willie also told me that the staff has been working hard on its online website.  So, I visited the site briefly this morning and came away impressed.  

If you want to see what a hard-working high school newspaper staff can do, go check it out.  Looks like they're having fun and putting a variety of skills learned in the program to some high-quality use   

Here's the link:  http://shscedarpost.com/

We probably won't be seeing Willie and Debbie for our ZAGS spaghetti feed tonight as the Missoula Children's Theater production of "The Princess and the Pea" is showing at the Panida Theater this afternoon and evening.

It's a POAC-sponsored event, so Debbie's been busy with logistics associated with the annual activity all week long.  I don't know if Willie has to help move mattresses or the pea, but I know he's been signed up for helping out with both performances. 

They're a busy couple, so we're happy to grab visits when we can.  As for Annie, she'll probably take advantage of the nice weather here this weekend.  Right now, the only item set on today's agenda is the game at 7 p.m. 

Let's hope they seal the deal with 30 wins tonight.  Could be a tough match with BYU, but I have a feeling Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell and Byron Wesley will be doing everything possible to end their phenomenal senior career at the Kennel on a high note. 

Should be fun, and it looks like a fun Saturday ahead.  

Happy Saturday.  GO ZAGS!!!

Kennel Mania: United We ZAG

My day of ZAGomania all began with a hat----only two of its kind in the world, I'm told. My friend Cis came over yesterday morning with a ZAG-related surprise, crafted by her daughter.  

Cis' daughter Jeannette has been on my list for ZAGS posters the past few years. So, in appreciation for the annual deliveries, she decided I needed a ZAGS hat.  

It's beautiful and truly adorable.  The new hat got some mileage yesterday as it went along with Bill and me to Spokane to watch the ZAGS take on San Diego in their Kennel at MacArthey Athletic Complex.  

We arrived early, which allowed some time for some photo shoots with my new hat.  I even asked a "perfect stranger," who turned out to be a horse lover who knows my sisters, to try it on so I could see the hat on another head and take a picture.   

Gayle happily obliged and looked magnificent in the hat.  Other people commented about the hat, so I knew instantly it was a hit.  That hat even helped during the second half of last night's game as I switched it with my official ZAGS cap.  

Once that happened, the ZAGS field goal percentage picked up dramatically as they won the game by 20 points after a slow start. 

Being in the Kennel involved more than just another exciting ZAGS basketball contest, for our No. 2/No.3 team in the nation. 

The place rocks for about three hours with excitement as players warm up and practice shooting while others around the arena practice shooting----with their cameras, that is. 

I'm thinking that no one person can claim a monopoly on Gonzaga pride when the ZAG Nation faithful get together.  I'm also thinking that just about every ZAGS fan around knows as much about the team and the coaches and their statistics and who's hot and who's not as the next ZAGS fan knows.  

That's kinda why "United We ZAG" makes so much sense for this years team poster theme. 

During the game I sat next to and, within minutes became friends (Facebook and the normal kind) with Amelia and Joe who have five beautiful daughters.  When we weren't watching every move on the floor, we were sharing stories about our backgrounds, families and life experiences.  Oh, and we laughed a lot too!

It was yet another magical night and another phenomenal night to be a ZAGS fan.  The evening sped by all too quickly because virtually every moment was filled with some aspect of Kennel Mania, which is truly a momentous experience.  

I appreciate my new hat.  Thank you, Jeannette. I also appreciate the opportunity that Bill and I so enjoyed last night, thanks to an angel!

GO ZAGS!  Happy Friday. 

Sunny Scenes and Thursday Throwbacks

We were supposed to have a bad day weatherwise, but if this is bad, I'll take it.  Hearing of the chance of snow on the ground this morning, I took advantage of every bit of sunshine possible yesterday.

That included some apple-tree pruning.  One of our trees tumbled over on its side this winter, and we'll have to remove it when the ground is more solid. Sad to see it go.

The other tree really needs a professional pruner to remove an abundance of growth that has been allowed to keep growing all directions for years.  Some of those limbs are much too big for me to handle, so I do my best to remove as many upstarts as possible.

I was snipping them off pretty fast yesterday from my ladder, but missed once with the little saw and tried to snip off my right pinkie.  The saw blade pierced my glove, and, within seconds, I knew it was band aid time.

So, I took care of that and then headed to town with my camera. As usual, the sun was adding its extra touch of beauty to the area, including little diamonds on the cold water of Lake Pend Oreille. 

I'm sure that a bigger telephoto would have revealed a few moving human dots enjoying the sun and the snow on those Schweitzer runs. 

The almost-finished railroad depot had no welcome signs--just yet---so I spent a short amount of time, simply walking around snapping and hoping no railroad official would suddenly appear and kick me off the property.  

Yellow tape around the south end reminds us that the job is still under construction. The building is looking beautiful, though, in its prominent spot between the Seasons of Sandpoint and the Byway. 

After grabbing a cup of coffee, I headed back home with plans to do some more pruning on the apple tree.  All went well until the last upstart sprig.  My saw slipped and grabbed hold just below the knuckle of my right hand, a notch down from where it had sliced my little finger earlier.

Lots of blood this time and a need for two band aids.  That area throbbed last night, but this morning, at least I can punch the computer keys with my little finger.  It's just a Less Nessman day for me with the band aids. 

After doctoring up my second pruning wound, I came upstairs and saw that my longest friend Laura Delamarter (she attended my birthday party at age 1), had posted some pictures on our Sandpoint High Class of 1965 Facebook group site. 

It was sixth grade at Lincoln School with teachers, Mr. Scheibe and Mrs. Ekholm (also our principal) standing with the group. Approximately 54 years ago, Laura had taken the time to write the names of each student on the back of the photo. 

I doubt that too many of us viewers combed through the list of names before taking the time to study Laura's magnificent penmanship and to remember how penmanship was drilled into us---even us "handicapped" left handers.  

The Lincoln School staff saw to it that we developed perfect cursive handwriting---for that particular era anyway.  What set our style at Lincoln aside, I do believe, was the unique method used for forming our "r's." 

Some of us fell short of developing the conventional style quite to the level that Laura has mastered, so many of our classmates 54 years later are likely marveling at her skills from way back when.

Left handers were given a bit of a pass and maybe slightly shunned (in our teachers' minds) in those days because, after all, we were born with a disability. Still, those same teachers didn't mind marking our report cards with "U's" for certain penmanship categories. 

While enjoying photos of our class, Laura's handwriting and of a day when the girls of Lincoln showed up at Sandpoint High School decked out in gypsy costumes, I also noted Steve Hendershot and "what a cutie" he was and "whatever happened to him?"

Well, leave it to the curiosity of a journalist, just a couple of Googles later, I was talking to Steve on the phone.  

Our conversation was unfolding only 54 years since the last time when he, who lived at 314 Euclid for one year---just a block down from the Browns of the early '50s---moved back to Montana where he had lived before and still lives. 

Steve and I had a great conversation.  I learned about his experience in the Navy with nuclear submarines, his talents for journalism which nabbed him a Montana state award, his current career as a saw repairman and his lifelong love for playing in a rock 'n roll band. 

So, yes, today is definitely a day for reminiscing the good ol' days---like when Laurie came back from a National show and put on an exhibition for her students down where the community gardens now grow.  

And, with another Seattle Sounders soccer season right around the block, Annie Love of Sandpoint, ID, has definitely stuck with her sport for a long, long time. 

Today is also a ZAGS day and a day to rejoice that a ZAG, Mr. Kyle Wiltjer, was honored as NATIONAL Player of the Week for last week's remarkable performances AND he's on the cover of Sports Illustrated. 

Doesn't get any better than that for the No. 2-3 ZAGS, who, of course, according to pundits, don't play anyone important. 

So be it.  That doesn't make us love them any less or look at them as our No. 1.  So, go ZAGS!!!   Let's finish off this season with a couple of wins!  And, yes, Mr. Angel, I'm getting pretty excited!

Happy Thursday!

Just Stuff

Seems like there's nothing earth-shattering or pressing on my mind this morning.  Maybe that's a good thing.  Every once in a while it's nice when everything is on such an even keel that nothing really stands out.

Guess this lovely Wednesday is one of those days.

We have one more day with sun and then an interlude of wet, cold and maybe even snowy weather.  The nasty stuff is supposed to end by the weekend.

So, that might be good too.  I can stay inside and do a little house cleaning.

Except for a few planned activities in town or otherwise, I've spent the majority of my daylight time over the past week working on outside projects. 

Horses are getting some grooming, as is the yard area.  Yesterday I finally spent part of the gift card from then Big R now North 40 that Willie and Debbie gave me for my birthday last June.  

I purchased a new lawn rake and a nice rubbery comb for manes, tales and long winter hair on the horses.  Both got some action yesterday.

The other lawn rake had met its match with some raking under the row of cedars north of the driveway.  I've been removing many of the lower limbs, but the tines still grabbed hold of some extra limbs hidden in the dead grass.

First, one tine (about the fourth or fifth for the rake) fell off; then the whole bottom of the rake cracked halfway across its main body. 

Hard to believe I'm doing all this outside stuff this time of year, but it's pretty nice to get a head start and maybe eliminate the frenzied mindset that usually comes on with spring when virtually every outdoor scene spells "WORK." 

While raking out by the road, I visited with a local horse shoer who was passing by from a shoeing job in the neighborhood.  He's having a hard time believing that he's nailing shoes on horses this time of year.  

My two will wait until April or May, as usual. Still, it would not be too out of line to saddle up if I wanted to take off for an early ride. 

Another aspect of this lovely weather that I've noticed is that my aging body is having the opportunity to get into shape much earlier than usual for the nonstop springtime work ahead.  

Seems like the older we get the longer it takes avoid that feeling of throwing the rake aside and going inside for a break within five minutes of starting an outdoor project.

My endurance is improving every day. 

So, today, I'll keep at it with the rake and trimming protruding ends from shrubs that poke me every time I drive by on the lawnmower.  Hard to believe that lawn mowing isn't too far off, unless we have a real winter, that is. 

And, of course, the horses will get another good rub down.  

Should be a good day ahead, so that's about it on this basically steady-as-it-goes morning where Mr. Jay is starting his usual song and the resident crows are cawing out to anyone who'll listen.

Happy Wednesday. 

Tuesday TwitterdeeLOVIN'THE SUN

 I refuse to fall for the guilt trip. 

"Oh, don't ya love this beautiful weather?" I've said a few times while meeting people in the grocery line.

Then, comes the "big BUT" response. 

" . . . . BUT we need the snow in the mountains, or . . . ," a person, much wiser and cautious than I, will often counsel back. 

I often infer from the remark that instead of rejoicing, I need to immediately take back my words of praise, retreat into the misery of my hole and repent.  Often, I just nod and say, "Yeah, you're right."

Yesterday, however, instead of recoiling in shame, I went assertive.

"Well, I'm not gonna let that bother me," I shot back.  "I'm gonna enjoy it."  

That remark led to a lady in the line who's visiting from Dallas to lament about the horrible weather she left back home.  

To which I added my revelation that a few months ago, I had advised some Californians, who think they might want to move to beautiful North Idaho, to "come in February . . . that's when everyone wants to leave town."

Well, they took my advice and came last week during some more unusually beautiful Sandpoint weather.  What do I know, anywho, having lived here almost 68 years!

Well, my advice might be lame, but my word is not. 

After leaving the grocery store, I went out and thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent spring sunshine yesterday.  

What better place to do so than the trip along the north end of the lake, including Pack River flats where the "Pack" flows into the lake. 

I know I've taken numerous other photos in some of these same areas, but one can never get enough of North Idaho beauty on a sunny day any time of the year. 

To be able to walk along the shoreline, where the lake has receded, in my Kivas with no worries of sinking into mud or coming back with wet socks-----that was nice. 

And, to approach a tree with an regal inhabitant enjoying the glorious day as much as I was---what a treat!

Throughout my shoreline interlude late yesterday afternoon, I did not feel one ounce of guilt, for, with my 68 years living here, I know we must always maintain the "Pay me now or pay me later" attitude.  

Yes, we shall pay for these beautiful February days----surely with a few miserable cold, wet stretches to come.  

So, in my mind, choosing to embrace the beauty and the freedom that a few snowless days in the valley bring during this month definitely trumps the alternative of being cooped up inside and unhappy. 

I  think even Mother Nature, with all her fickleness, would approve of our enthusiasm toward what she has dished out for us weatherwise.

Thank you, Mother Nature.  I'm sure I may be cussing you later, but this delightful weather has been much appreciated good for the soul.