Escape to the Mountain, Et. Al.

We're experiencing a welcome cool down this morning, and I'm hoping that this time, no more 90-plus days are on the calendar. 

For some reason yesterday seemed hotter than usual, even though the thermometer suggested it was cooler than the day before.   For the first time all summer, our house was uncomfortably humid and hot throughout the evening. 

When the heat intensified yesterday afternoon, Bill climbed into his air conditioned vehicle and headed to town, while I turned my car toward Schweitzer. 

I was not only curious to see how much activity there is at the resort this summer, but I also figured the elevation gain could mean a decrease in heat. 

Happily, it did.  

In fact, at times a pleasant breeze blew through the village and its accompanying recreational venues where folks can hike, ride horses, fat tire and mountain bikes, the chair lift and the zip line. 

The resort provided a nice wide open space for walking and enjoying the views and the activities.  

By summer standards, I'm sure it's best to say that I saw a handful of people strolling around, sitting outside enjoying a beer or even for youngsters trying their luck at finding gold. 

I talked to one employee who said the summer at Schweitzer has been a bit weird, but what hasn't seemed weird during this Pandemic?

Anyway, the place served my needs to beat the heat down in the valley yesterday.  As always, the resort was a fun place to enjoy in relative anonymity. 

And now a word from our sponsors----just kidding:

Sheena not only helps her mom bake wonderful breads, but she and her brother Tice use their artistic instincts to created colorful fairyland ornamental pieces.   They sell their finished products for very reasonable prices.

I purchased the building front with the yellow door the other day while picking up my second sack of fresh-baked Swiss bread and rolls.  
Stocking up on their bread products is just like refilling the candy jar in my mind.

It's always fun to add a sophisticated and tasty touch to the mundane in putting together meals or while enjoying snacks.

I would say that all of the purchases we've made this year from rural farmstands has provided those touches.

Cheese ends and ice cream cones from Selle Valley Creamery, various flavored fresh scones from Homewood Farm Stand, and for the past two weeks from Michele and Sheena on Sunnyside Cut-off Road.

Buyers not only get a taste of a unique food product, but in all cases, there's the welcome flavor of meeting the folks behind the goodies IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

And, when the environment includes the farm country north and east of Sandpoint, there's eye candy aplenty.

Back to the bread.  Bill warms his slices in the oven until they reach that crispy state.  Then, he smothers with butter and my homemade jellies.

As for me, I've made some wonderful garlic bread and have simply warmed slices up in the microwave and then added the butter and jelly.

Yesterday my daughter-in-law Debbie came by and we each enjoyed half a roll, warmed up and adorned with butter and jelly.

I dole out my rolls with great care, as if they were gold, and, by golly, they are literally a soft-gold, baked just right.

If Michele and Sheena entered their bread products in the fair, I'm sure judges, after cutting off a slice of bread, would agree on the perfect texture and the pure delight to their palate while tasting each bite.

Blue-ribbon bread and rolls for sure. I'm looking forward to trying some of the other offerings on Bread Day each Tuesday and along with seeing what creative side project the kids have taken on each week.  

Thursday Throwbacks . . . . 

Some family "outlaws" enjoying a 20th-year class reunion at Riley Creek Campground.

Kinda sad to think that foreign exchange students won't be coming to Sandpoint this year. 

We all shared such wonderful experiences with Laura and Emma who arrived about this time in August before their respective school years. 

There was a time when my sister was living her dream of owning a classy Volkswagen convertible.

Laurie called her VW Buck.

Nowadays she seems perfectly happy with her pickup. 

Our former home on Great Northern Road in the early 1970s.

At the time, my former student Marc Alton, now from Sarasota, Flor., lived there. 

His grandmother painted the scene, which included the original cottage-style white house, the barn and a machine shed.

By the time we moved there in 1977, the house had changed in shape and color.

It later burned down in 1984, and nowadays, the place includes the house built by John Knowles.

Mark sent me this image last week.