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| Debbie, Joe, Willie, Laurie, Jessie, Marianne, Bill, Meggie, Barbara. Brooke is in the background and Todd is in the car taking his afternoon nap. |
As announced in yesterday's post, six members of our family from three local households, along with five dogs (three of them our grandpuppies), took off in a caravan, bound for our favorite picnic spot.
"Bring your personal toilet paper," I texted to the group. "No guarantees there will be any in the porta-potties.
Eventual score: 1-1. One potty had three rolls of varying sizes, while the other required using our personal supplies.
"Bring chairs," I texted later before our departure. "Others may have the same idea we do."
Eventual score: we batted a thousand.
Our favorite picnic spot at the Fish and Game area along Boundary Creek, just across from Canada on the north and Port Hill Border Station on the east remained ours for the two-plus hours we spent there.
About three cars drove through but did not stop.
And so, we carried our respective food supplies and chairs from the cars to the picnic table, chuckled at dogs racing down to the creek, then rolling in the grass and just generally enjoying the lives of dogs.
It would be an understatement to say we were glad to see each other and catch up on our individual lives and stories of the week.
Yesterday's therapy of getting away from the news and all the other stresses of uncertain times probably helped Debbie the most.
She has put in a stressful week at the local food bank. Generally, her message: numbers and needs are rising. She's seeing new faces who have been laid off from work.
And, so the needs increase and will continue to do so. I encourage you to read the story in the link below, and if possible, send a monetary donation.
Bonner Community Food Bank
1707 Culvers Drive
Sandpoint, ID 83864
Willie spent his week at Sandpoint High School adjusting to a new style of teaching his graphic arts, journalism and photography classes: distance learning.
So far so good, but, as with anything, there's a learning curve for both teachers and students.
The retirees just shared little snippets of farm life and thoughts on how people can get together on ZOOM!
I'm hearing people are quite satisfied with how it works AND it's free. Nice to know that our Internet suppliers are doing their best to keep us connected during these times.
We did have one side effect from our outing. After sitting around eating and chewing the fat, we took off for a hike along a dike across from the picnic area.
Barbara reported finding a tick on her neck last night before going to bed. It could have come from one of the dogs as they ran up and down the river bank through thickets.
So, for those on outings-----the ticks are watching and coveting you.
We, as family members, did everything possible to keep our distance through the entire outing.
It feels awkward, and it feels weird using wipes every time you open and close a door or pump gas (one of the most important items to wipe off).
We're getting the hang of it, and we're also following the news enough to know that the situation is going to get worse before it gets better.
We are also grateful, knowing that we have the option of "escaping" when we can.
Those moments help so much in bracing for what's ahead.
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After leaving our picnic area, Bill wanted to take some pictures of Boundary Creek at a bridge just off the road. While he did his picture taking, I visited with this family who were out celebrating a family member's birthday and doing their best at playing badminton. Not often you see badminton without a net. I'm guessing the wood on the ground served that purpose. Creativity and perseverance come in handy. I also learned from this family when I told them where my sisters live that I need to drop the "next to Wood's Meats" and use "the big manure pile" as a way to explain where Barbara and Laurie live. Farm folks notice those manure piles just as much as they tune in on two fiberglass halves of beef identifying woods meats. Happpy Monday. |
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