Slight Detour: Bluebird Day and Throwbacks

Some call them bluebird days. I just call ‘em beautiful.

Whether they’re bluebird, beautiful or both, I’ll take days like yesterday.

Eagles sitting regally on limbs, overlooking their domain, dogs frolicking in the grass, sunshine forming golden halos on horses in just right combination of shade and light AND a feeling of heavy gloom lifted, stunning snow-capped mountains accenting an otherwise blah backdrop----it was truly a lovely Wednesday.

The dry weather and sun provided welcomed opportunities to complete even more pre-winter projects.

I now have a greenhouse where, in the spring, I’ll open the door and go right to work, knowing I don’t have to do major cleanup.

The dog kennel, where Festus and Sunny now trade off lounging inside its little house during the day, is now free of it carpet of most wet, soggy leaves.

Still, the day was ordinary with no major highlights, just pure enjoyment to be outside.

And, today, we have more clear skies, crisp late fall air and more opportunities to finish the winter prep.

It’s also throwback day, and on this Thursday, Nov. 21, my first thoughts go back to another day 16 years ago when we said our good byes to our dad in a Spokane hospital.

Just before the sun rose to cast its light over a glistening blanket of newly fallen snow, longtime Sandpoint resident, rancher and father, Harold Tibbs, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane.

Tibbs, who had suffered a heart attack and subsequent complications, spent his last day resting comfortably with the warmth of his loving family and his specially crafted cowboy quilt.

Hard to believe so many years have passed so quickly with all of our lives moving on in so many directions but still grounded by principles like “always shut the gate,” “feed your animals before yourself,” “keeping your nose clean” and “don’t take any wooden nickels.”

It's a comforting thought knowing that they and their influence always live in our hearts.

I’ve also assembled a few oldies but goodies for this TBT day. Hope you enjoy.

Happy Thursday.

Thursday Throwbacks. . .

My husband Bill likes to fish, hike, go to meetings, help people with trees, go to church, travel and whole lotta other things.

I think riding horses never even made his original bucket list, but he made the effort AND it was chronicled.

Bill rode a few times on Casey, once on Sassy. In no particular order, one ride went bad when Bill decided to bail and hit the ditch.

He lived to tell the story many times.

This has always been one of my favorites among my mother's notecard collection: Herman Lake near Bonners Ferry.

Back in the day when Jim Nieman coached a bunch of willing round ballers. One went on to play in college at the University of Idaho---that would be Jim's daughter Ali, standing beside him.

And, of course, one is coaching his second game of the season tonight at Timberlake High School.

GO, Bulldogs!

And, yes, coach Love rode a horse or two as a youngster.

He was a handsome young cowboy.

Geocaching Annie also spent her share of time aboard some of the family horses---in this case, Sassy.

I believe this young ladies probably competed on local horse judging teams. Can't remember the year.

Laurie Tibbs, Janice Wood Schoonover, Kim Lewis Cox, Barbara Tibbs.

Larri Ann Smith, Mari Chambers, Becky Marienau Hawkins and Sheri Karst.

Swiss Miss aka Laura and Debbie at a Super Bowl party a few years back.

Swiss Miss, who is attending college in Switzerland, is planning to return to Sandpoint for a couple of weeks in December.

We're excited to see her.

My friend Chris Moon took this photo a few years ago in a setting where we spent much of our time as Forest Service survey aides: the mountains and the beautiful back country.