It's an odds-and-ends sort of morning as I get back into a relatively normal routine. This trip actually required two nights of sleep to rid the body and mind of jet lag. Must be that 70-year-old stuff kicking in.
Anyway, I am feeling a bit more grounded back here at the Lovestead. Earlier this morning on the first-cup-of-coffee surfing episode, I saw the photo above taken by my brother Jim who was here for the Fourth.
Unfortunately, we did not get to visit with Jim because he went scooting on down the road back to Oregon the same day we flew into Spokane.
While he was here, though, he took a hike to the top on the Mickinnick Trail to the top of Greenhorn Mountain (our mountain which watched over us throughout our youth).
Once there, Jim took a photo of the lovely vista below, which shows north Sandpoint, the airport, part of Lake Pend Oreille and the Long Bridge---all of which have attracted people to America's Most Beautiful Small Town over the years.
Jim, the architect, used his skills to plot the boundaries of what was once our family farm, including the segment in the foreground, which was the Harney Dairy before my folks bought the parcel in 1966.
With virtually little evidence that we or the Harney family ever lived on that land shown within the red boundaries, this image provides us all at least a sense of the place where we lived, learned and played as children and young adults.
Fortunately, our memories will help with the rest, and, among us siblings and the next generation, there are plenty of those.
Thanks, Jim, for taking the photo and for allowing me to share it as a modern-day slice of our past. So sad to see the structures and the woods, which played so much a part of our family history, have given way to progress.
And, then, there's the photo below. Not anything special unless you're taking the first walk down your country road since returning from Ireland.
I felt a true sense of freedom this morning as I walked wherever I wished and did not need to keep my eyes and ears on constant overload in readiment for stepping well off the roadway.
We learned how to walk country roads in Ireland, and let's just say the term "leisurely stroll" hardly fits.
As you look at the car about to turn at the end of South Center Valley Road, note how much room it has on either side, and it's not in the other lane.
Before our neighbor Sherri came down the road and stopped for a brief visit, I had been eyeing the road and estimating that most of the roads we traveled in the Irish countryside would, at their best, make up about half of what you see in the photo below.
For cars, it's challenging enough. Add a tour bus to the mix or some pedestrians. Not much room for error, to say the least.
And, when you add a pedestrian who can't keep it straight really what side of the road is meant for walking cuz they're still getting used to folks driving on the left side of the road, it can get dicey at times.
So, I must say that this morning's walk down our "wide" and relatively empty dirt road put me at ease once again.
I also enjoyed returning to my morning strolls around the yard to see how the flower and garden displays had changed since we left here in June. Pansies have decreased in size a bit due to the extreme heat, but the roses are impressive, as are the cuke plants. Beans are blossoming, and I ate that first ripe raspberry.
Yum. Yum to come.
Another hot day ahead, so I'll close with the wish that all stay cool and enjoy this Friday. To my dear friend and editor, Helen, have a wonderful trip to Alaska. Cherry will be here to keep me honest.
Happy Friday.
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