This and That and TBT

I'm getting used to a different computer this morning.  

Amidst several hours of yard clean-up yesterday---thanks to that ten-minute wind, lightning blitz---I took my desktop version to the doctor aka wizard. 

Besides wild, intense storms leaving their damage, it seems impish gremlins have been busy here at the Lovestead.

Tell me why a computer AND a lawnmower can work efficiently and smoothly for two straight days, only to act like they're on their deathbeds.

Just when ya think it's time to bite the bullet and get the fix-it man, both suddenly rebound and go back to working like a charm.

Over the past month or so, I've been experiencing such mysterious cycles with the desktop and the Husqvarna. 

So, yesterday, for what seemed like a never-ending clean-up of fallen leaves and limbs, the Sears Craftsman riding mower went into action and the computer went to the doctor.

My lawnmower wizard Tony has received word about the zero-turn mower's strange behavior, and with luck, he'll show up soon to determine the problem. 

In the meantime, Wizard Joel of Laser Image has the desktop at his fix-it shop, and I've put my laptop back into action.

Usually, the laptop gets used only on trips, which will explain my throwback photo selection today---lots of pics from travels.

Twas a busy, busy day yesterday cleaning up the yard and trying to to get the greenhouse back to looking just disreputable rather than a total disaster. 

Panels flew off from the roof during the storm and side panels came loose.  The door, which has been duct-taped together for a few years, may need complete reconstruction.

In the meantime, the resident bees still seem happy to maintain their respective domiciles inside the now open-air structure.

Out behind the barn, Bill has several hours of chainsaw work and cleanup where at least two cottonwoods went down during the storm. One was even uprooted.

Meanwhile, over at Colburn, the young Loves were mighty lucky that the cedar tree top, which broke off and toppled on top of the old cottage across from their house, missed their cars AND them.

Oh what a fall that was! 

Happily, it seems as if there's more of a challenging mess to remove rather than any serious damage. 

Bill said he would take his chainsaw over this afternoon and saw out enough for Willie and Debbie to be able to use their driveway.  

The rest of the clean-up on the cottage will probably be a bit tricky.

So far, today seems pretty calm.  Fingers crossed.

Hay will be coming soon, as Loretta told me that Brian was holding off until after Tuesday night's storm to cut any more hay, but when he does, we're at the top of the list.

Loretta also suggested that this year's hay harvesting could be called "Haying for Geriatrics," since they cut a little, wait a little, fret a little and then start the cycle all over again.

Hmmm, this is sounding vaguely familiar with something I wrote earlier.  

D'ya spose my computer and lawnmower have turned geriatric???

In our case, we aren't exactly to the geriatric mode just yet, but we'll be happy to let the "youth" put the hay in the barn once it comes. 

And so, today looks like a day for catching up on the mundane, and I'm quite happy to do just that.

It would be so nice to have a day when everything works so we don't have to work overtime while falling behind.

Be sure to check out the construction project at Connie's house near Hope by clicking on   

https://retiredmtnlady.blogspot.com/

Thursday Throwbacks from Travels since I Purchased my Laptop. . . . 

Annie and me a few years ago on the Bainbridge Island Ferry

I posted this scene from a San Diego In and Out for my friend Kyle, who just returned from his city roots.

Annie geocaching on Bainbridge Island.

I purchased my laptop one day before going to Maui because my other laptop did not fake death; it just died.

So, these were among the first batch of photos stored in this laptop.

Those are my cousins, Eddie (left) and Sue (right).  That's Ed's wife Mary, along with Annie and me.

Fate would have it that we decided to go to Maui the same week.  So, we got together and went snorkeling one early morning. Some of us didn't take to snorkeling too well because of nausea, but others had no problems.

Twas a great time with fun peeps.  

Sue and me on the boat in Maui.

One time on a trip to Seattle while staying at the Silver Cloud Hotel next to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, I looked up former SHS student Barry Stoddard.

I sent him an email, and, lo and behold, he answered right back, telling me he'd meet me in the hotel lobby and take me on a tour of the Hutch including his own Stoddard Research Lab where he's beening doing research for several years.

Pretty impressive and fun. 

Annie, we've gotta have another ICE!

ICE, in Lovestead terms, means Idaho Cultural Experience, where Annie's Seattle friends come and stay the weekend.   They not only enjoy our natural beauty, but they also partake in good ol' North Idaho activities, such as target practice, hiking, horseback riding or cliff diving at Green Bay on Lake Pend Oreille.

Fun stuff, again with fun peeps. 

Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Ireland.  

Vintage wear in downtown Port Townsend, Wash.

My sisters finally convinced me (the fraidy cat)  to go ahead and ride in that hot-air balloon.

We all survived and enjoyed a morning toast after landing in the desert near Phoenix. 

Bill and me during a fun weekend in Chicago.

That's Annie on "Monster," while we rode along the Atlantic shoreline near Tralee, Ireland.

Rich Aspell, I want you to come to Sandpoint so I can take your picture here!

Got that????

Rich is my cousin from Chicago where, a few years back, we enjoyed a large family gathering honoring the lives of his parents. 

Native American Hoop dancing at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, which reminds me that we'll be seeing some Northwest Native American dancing at this weekend's Julyamsh in Coeur d'Alene.

Can't wait.