Slight Detour: Tuesday This and That

A "go-back-to-bed" sort of day.

Yup, it's about as ugly as ugly can get outside my window: dark, gloomy, overcast and steady rain stirring up more mud.

So, to have an orchid sitting on the end table where I always read the morning paper: that's helpful.

It's also fun to add a creative photographic touch to the orchid blossoms.

There's a garden's worth of tomatoes and other flowers providing some life to the window above the sink and near the sliding glass door.

It's for sure, they won't be going outside for quite some time. By the time they finally do move to the greenhouse, I'll be dealing with a jungle.

One sure sign of spring, though, has been appearing in various areas around the place for the past three days.

Those two deer, which I first spotted sneaking through the front yard a couple of days ago, grabbed Lefty (the guard horse's) attention yesterday.

I had just returned from the Kootenai Post Office when I noticed Lefty, intently focused on something down the lane. Walking that way, I eventually saw a head rising above the horizon in the hilly field.

The two deer were out trying to nourish themselves on soggy new grass. They stayed there as I walked down the lane with my cell phone camera and even posed. Finally, they scurried off toward the Meserve Preserve.

Last night just before dark, they were grazing in the same spot where I'd seen them in the morning.

Gonna be fun from now on with dogs cuz those deer leave high-intensity sniffing zones all around the yard area almost every night.

And, when they appear out of nowhere around the yard in the day time, Foster feels it's his duty to chase them off. Liam follows but, happily, does come back when called.

Of course, they and whatever friends join them as the spring rolls on are just waiting for me to move my "jungle" outside for their dining pleasure.

Strategy sessions for outwitting hungry deer, messy squirrels and thieving moles are soon to begin, as if I needed anything more to do.

Speaking of which, Liam, who gets agitated when those squirrels torment him from tree limbs above, works out his frustration with his claws, digging hole after hole at the base of whatever tree a squirrel decides to perch.

Which means, keeping a supply of replacement dirt ready for filling the Liam holes.

Thinking about all the upcoming work on this gloomy day makes me think I need to enjoy it cuz I'll be busy enough when and if spring decides to stay around for more than half an hour.

Much to my dismay yesterday, spring went away and winter returned in early afternoon. Even the ducks are getting confused when snowflakes start falling on the ponds.

A large number of quackers were floating around my neighbor Eva's pond yesterday as I drove by. After I stepped from the car to snap some photos, they flew off, creating some fun pictures.

I'm sure they'll be back cuz today is perfect duck weather.

In other news, Bill has been gone since Sunday for the annual gathering in Moscow, which he has attended for at least the last 40 years, I do believe.

I told him that Oregon and Notre Dame women were playing for the Final Four in Spokane at 6 p.m., and that the game would be shown on ESPN.

Bill said he'd probably miss the game because he'd be involved with a presentation at his forestry-related conference.

The recipient of the special award, which honored the Tree Farm Logger of the Year, happened to be Sandpoint's Luke Peterson, owner of Northwoods Forestry. Luke, his wife Amy and his crew were on hand for the presentation.

Congratulations, Luke.

Finally, this morning, in the "cuteness" category, my sister Barbara captured another adorable photo of the young stall mates, Arty and CB.

They're probably the happiest creatures around on these slop-filled days as they get to stay in their comfy stall.

CB probably won't know what to do when he comes home next week and has to stay in a stall all by himself.

He has experienced a wonderful situation over at Tibbs Arabians over the winter, and I really appreciate my sisters for welcoming him and caring for him.

Thank you, Barbara and Laurie.

I don't think I'll go back to bed cuz my mind is filled to the brim with thoughts of "things to be done." Hard to snooze with those thoughts.

Happy Tuesday. Maybe tomorrow we'll start drying out.