Throwbacks

I selected this photo from the collection this morning because last night's KREM-TV report had some exciting news about Quest Aircraft Manufacturing.

They'll be doubling their production schedule of the Kodiak.  That means they'll be doubling their work force, and that is good news for Sandpoint. 

The photo above was taken a few years back, not long after we had moved to Selle. That's Jim, one of our neighbors to the south at the time.  

The folks now living on Jim's farm are very associated with Quest.  In fact, our neighbor Wes has been working for the company for several years as an engineer. 

For those new to the blog, Quest bought our farm on Great Northern Road in 2006. That allowed us to purchase the farm where we now live.

In the purchase agreement---just for fun---we added a contingency, and Quest happily agreed.  We wanted a ride in the Kodiak.

That happened one afternoon when we were supposed to drive in to Spokane to pick up Annie at the airport.  Paul Schaller, then CEO, said to forget that.  Instead, we could ride in the Kodiak to pick her up.  

We could ask a couple of people to join us, so that day Jim and my mother came along. When we landed at Spokane airport, a ways away from the main terminal, we waited, and soon saw a white stretch limo bringing Annie from her flight to the Kodiak. 

It was a wonderful experience, and we were very, very impressed with the Kodiak. Apparently, people around the world are impressed to because the company continues to add to its sales department and licenses to sell the plane in different countries.

Having watched the progress of the Kodiak and Quest since the original owners first broke ground behind our Great Northern farm, we are especially excited about the news we heard on KREM last night.

The company, from Day One, treated us like we were part of the family.  We wish them well as they continue their wonderful success and continue to put Sandpoint on the map. 

My other photos this morning do have a theme:  family horse fun.  Of course, the collection of thousands of family horse fun fotos could fill several blogs, but I just happened on to some of these this morning.  

They make me smile.

That's little Annie and Sassy at a horse show when she was a young 'un several years ago. 

With Aunts Laurie and Barbara to help, we found the right duds for both Annie and Willie to look pretty respectable with their Appaloosa mounts.  Willie rode Tonka that day.  

Bill most likely attended the horse show long enough to see each child perform and then headed home. That was pretty much always Bill's routine at horse shows when the fairground was just a mile away from our house. 

BUT, listen to this, everyone!   Bill did ride horses a time or two.  He enjoyed Casey, our purebred Arabian, and Casey usually behaved for him. 

 Bill doesn't ride these days cuz of sore knees.  At least, that's his excuse!

The other photos involve my sisters and me and young horses a few years ago.  Barbara and I had purchased the first of a long line of Arabians to come this way from Ravenwood Ranch in Ronan, Mont.  

Lefty screamed all the way home from Ronan, while Dusty just took it all in his stride. The two babies stayed at my sisters' for a while, and then Lily and Lefty got acquainted and have remained chums ever since. 

We had a good time that day showing off our horses; it's definitely a wonderful memory. And, we still don't mind showing them off.  Tonka and Sassy and Casey are long gone, but they left indelible images in the minds of all family members who loved them. 
  
Happy Throwback.