When Comes a Dry Spell

These are NOT the times of telltale clods of mud caked to  jeans calves from exiting a dirty car.

These ARE the times of soaking wet lower pant legs from walking through an endless series of mini lakes aka standing water.

These are the times of changing those jeans to go to town OR just saying, "To heck with it."  

After all, we may not be wearing the only wet pant legs at the grocery store.

Yesterday turned out to be a time for a dry spell---for a while anyway.  

And, when that time came and the sun actually came out for a while, wet pant legs got wetter while slogging through wet fields to re-attach fence wire to metal posts. 

While I'm a wet pant-legs type of person, Bill wears his muck boots along with his hard hat and face shield when he goes to the woods with his chain saw. 

He did that twice yesterday, and when that happens, the dogs stay in the garage.  

So, when my fencing project ended and Bill was still in the woods, I jumped in the car to see what else was happening on this Sunday afternoon much welcomed dry spell. 

Plus, the fields are greening up, thanks to all the water, and color is gradually returning to the Selle Valley. 

And, with the snow almost melted other items are appearing along the roadways.  Folks were out picking up a winter's worth of unwelcome items flung from passing cars.

In one case, I saw my friend Terra and her friend with their gloves, muck boots and garbage bag.  Terra told me she was picking up garbage along Selle Road as a school project. 

In my travels, I saw some cows and calves sunning themselves and other bovines showing their maternal love. 

Later, during Bill's second trip to the woods after dinner, I took off for town to get some Drano.  

I decided to go the North Kootenai Road route which through Betty Berger Pass, which is along the Berger farm, which has been clearly designated as a "No Hunting" zone. 

It's a rare trip through that area when no wildlife are seen.  Last night could probably go down as the largest critter count I've seen at the farm ever. 

I think there's a welcome lesson to be learned from all those turkeys and all those deer actually getting along with each other. 

Later, while watching the Country Music Awards, I was reminded of those turkeys and deer and thought it would be really nice for us humans to work a little harder at the mission Kenny Chesney suggests in his country hit.

A man wearin' a t-shirt says, "Virginia is for lovers," 

Had a Bible in his left hand and a bottle in the other

He says "All you're really given is the sunshine and your name"

We both started laughin' when the sky started to rain

[Chorus]

Get along, on down the road

We've got a long long way to go

Scared to live, scared to die

We ain't perfect but we try

Get along while we can

Always give love the upper hand

Paint a wall, learn to dance

Call your mom, buy a boat

Drink a beer, sing a song

Make a friend, can't we all get along

[Verse 2]

Saw a model on a billboard, 1-800 get to know me

Wondered was she photoshopped, or were her eyes really that lonely?

Did she leave her hometown thinkin' she'd end up in L.A.?

Did she break down in the desert and get stuck beside the highway?

[Chorus]

Get along, on down the road

We've got a long long way to go

Scared to live, scared to die

We ain't perfect but we try

Get along while we can

Always give love the upper hand

Paint a wall, learn to dance

Call your mom, buy a boat

Drink a beer, sing a song

Make a friend, can't we all get along

[Bridge]

We find out when you die, the keys to heaven can't be bought

We still don't know what love is, but we sure know what it's not

Sometimes you got to

[Chorus]

Get along, on down the road

We've got a long long way to go

Scared to live, scared to die

We ain't perfect but we try

Get along while we can

Always give love the upper hand

Paint a wall, learn to dance

Call your mom, buy a boat

Drink a beer, sing a song

Make a friend, can't we all get along

And, while listening to Kenny's lyrics, I also thought about my chance meeting at Wal-Mart as I walked to the check stand with a big red bottle of Drano in my left hand.

I watched as a couple in front of me exchanged whispers and then turned around to face me.  During that ever-so-brief interlude, I silently mused that they probably thought that was a strange looking old woman lugging the Drano.

Nope.  Not that at all.

"Why don't you step in front of us," the lady said, " you have only one item and we have several."  Her gentleman smiled.

"Are you sure?" I asked.  "I'm okay waiting."

They insisted, so I thanked them and stepped ahead of them, thanking them and saying how nice they were to offer me their spot. 

That comment soon turned into give-and-take and, in no time, a new friendship with Stan and Amara, who were up in Sandpoint visiting.  I learned that a bench at City Beach is dedicated to one of Amara's family members. 

Such a nice moment and such a reminder that the little chance niceties of life often grow into greater intangible and priceless rewards.

All it took was an old lady with a bottle of drano and a thoughtful gesture.  Thanks, Stan and Amara. 

Getting along is such a simple idea.  Too bad we sometimes forget to put it into practice. 

And, speaking of getting along and going down roads, I'd like to point out the top link at the right of my blog posting.  It's called "Annie's Camino Walk."

Well, she's posting occasionally about her planning for the upcoming Camino adventure in late June where she'll be walking from Portugal to Santiago, Spain. 

I invite you to check it out and check back occasionally.  Plus, I'll make a note in my post when I see new entries.

Annie loved her first Camino experience because of fulfilling the challenge but probably more so because of escaping into an environment where she could meet and develop friendships with a wide variety of people representing different cultures from all over the world. 

----from a recent blog post "Annie's Camino Walk"

  The Camino doesn’t end when you reach Santiago. It stays with you forever. Thoughts often lead back to the simple life of walking, first breakfast, walking some more, second breakfast, walking…  The simplicity takes your thoughts to a peaceful place, but even better are the memories of laughing and sharing stories with Camino family and friends. These are lifetime connections – even if it’s someone you just met for a day. They stick with you.

Underlying Theme:  getting along----not only down the road but with humanity-----just like the turkeys and deer at Betty Berger Pass. 

On that note, Happy Monday.  Enjoy the photos.