DOGgone Fun;TBT

While walking Bridie early this morning for her first business of the day, I saw two moving objects in a starlit sky. 

What a great sighting so early on this beautiful last day of March. 

I did not see the Northern Lights, which were supposed to be visible overnight, but those two objects floating so steadily so far away---one brighter one in front of the other----made up for it.

CB may have been a little jealous because that's his bedraggled ball.  

Bridie had her first experience with the ball yesterday, and, though she may not be as dramatic as CB is, she took to the big ball right away. 

The balls are advertised in horse catalogs, but they seem like a great toy for young pups too. 

Speaking of all we old timers do for our canine buddies, the article below goes into great detail about the demographics of dogs, their owners, dog parks and the neighbors of dog parks. 

I've often noted how during my childhood, the dogs were simply mutts that almost always stayed outside and often chased cars. 

Could be they might not have taken up that annoying habit if their human peeps had be more accommodating to their needs like many of us happen to be---almost to a fault. 

Times have definitely changed.

I'm glad we have our own informal dog park. 

 https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-politics-of-the-dog-park?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Last night on the news, an item noted that governmental agencies had suggested that everyone over 50 and anyone with underlying medical conditions get a fourth vaccination aka second booster. 

I've been wondering for months if this was gonna happen, and, by golly, it has. 

We will be following the suggestion, especially since we hope to be going overseas this summer. 

Seems all the Covid talk and suggestions of late have been all over the ball park, depending on what news sources we listen to and at what time that news is being shared with the public. 

So, I thought I would include the following general suggestions from this morning's New York Times newsletter . . . .

The bottom line is that Americans would benefit from hearing a series of clear, repeated messages:

Getting a booster shot may save your life. Many immunocompromised people would probably be helped by Evusheld, and it’s available. [Check for info. at www.Covid.gov] Vulnerable people — like the elderly — should talk with a doctor as soon as they test positive for Covid and seek treatments that can reduce its severity, like Paxlovid or molnupiravir.

Who knows anymore where we're headed with Covid? 

Whatever direction, we've certainly learned that nothing is certain anymore in our world.  

So, we play the crap shoot, proceed with caution, develop a multitude of Plan B's and hope we make the right choices as time goes on. 

Throwback Thursday Time . . . .

It's also the annual "string of birthday's"  time, so I think my throwbacks will feature a few of the birthday peeps I happen to know are celebrating over the next several days. 

Happy Birthday to all. 

Former student Chad and his daughter Eli.  

Birthday today. 

William E. Love, Jr.

April 2.

William E. Love III

April 1.

Laurie Tibbs

April 7.

Kevin Brown

March 29.

William E. Love, Jr. and Margaret Love Cowan

April 2. 

Cis Gors, right, family friend. 

First week in April.  I won't guess. 

Laurie Tibbs and Kevin Brown, April 7 and March 29, respectively. 

William E. Love III

April 1. 

Iusitina, Grace and Jacob Laumatia

April 9.

Laurie Tibbs

April 7. 

Chad Berkley

March 31, today. 

Jean Martin, longtime family friend.

First week of April, the 5th, I think. 

Iusitina, Jacob and Grace Laumatia

April 9. 

Play Ball!

It's finally spring ball time.  

Here at the Lovestead, fields are slowing losing snow and drying up, allowing some much appreciated space for a penned-up pup to enjoy some freedom and to play her own brand of ball. 

It's a beautiful scene, just as it was in town when I stopped by the newly renovated baseball facility where the home team was playing. 

During my brief visit to the stadium, I saw several examples of "vintage Sandpoint," which felt mighty good on a glorious Tuesday in spring. 

These examples came in the form of folks I've known forever and on many levels. 

Of course, it seemed natural to take their photos in this beautiful setting. 

Erin and Mike Roos, and Mike's dad Sam had come to watch their son/grandson play.  Later, along came the other grandparents, Erin's parents, Bernie and Patty McGovern. 

It doesn't get any more hometown than that connections through St. Joseph's, school experiences, insurance, Church Ladies and even the fact that my mother once worked for Patty's dad Ed Parkins at Sandpoint Cleaners. 

I won't go into any more connections, but let's just say a strong feeling of family in these relationships.

I also saw my dear friend and great scenic photographer Don Swanstrom, but we spent too much time looking at cameras to take a picture.  

Photo taken by Sandpoint High Athletic Director Kris Knowles. 


I saw Kris at the SHS Bulldogs vs Bonners Ferry Badgers doubleheader yesterday at War Memorial Field. 

My impression as I watched parents and grandparents and other fans arriving while the two teams warmed up:  what a gorgeous facility for our youth!

And, Kris, after showing me his photo that he would later post on Facebook, added to that overall impression.   

"What a backdrop for a baseball game!  Go, Bulldogs!" he posted. 

Agreed.

It was fun to see SHS grad Jason Duchow out capturing the moments of yet another Sandpoint High School sport. 

He provides a wonderful service for the athletes and their fans. 

I actually went to town yesterday to search out locations for an assignment involving a group photo and, of course, enjoyed some pleasant distractions. 

I haven't found the perfect spot for the photo yet, so that means more looking. At this time of year, as Sandpoint wakes up from winter, that's not a bad thing. 

Happy Wednesday. 

Rainbows, Aaron, Et. Al.

 

We received this exquisite gift from nature yesterday afternoon. 

My attitude toward the sudden afternoon rainstorm did a 180 when I walked outside and saw this scene. 

Up to that point, I had my fingers crossed and worried that the painting job I'd just done on two sections of barnyard fence was gonna wash away. 

Well, it did not, and the rain brought in it's beautiful bow. 

Twas an exhilarating few moments of awe as the rainbow hung around long enough for me to take a few pictures from different angles. 

As I moved about, the awe of this fresh new sight of clean green grass and translucent drops hanging off from tree limbs kept me in a steady case of wonderment and appreciation for the early gifts of spring.

They keep coming as much more snow melted yesterday, and I even found a sad but lovely pansy bloom in one of the front planters.

Bill has been gone since Sunday for the first Idaho Tree Farm/Family Forest Owners convention in Moscow. 

It's been two years since the group met in person, so I'm sure the excitement has been high.  Bill is especially excited that Sandpoint High grad and University of Idaho professor Ryanne Pilgeram will be addressing the group about her 2021 book release Pushed Out. 

She uses Dover, the community of her youth, in illustrating the sociological and demographic changes, along with consequences in small communities, especially after they've "been discovered." 

Speaking of former students, I have another exciting item to report this morning.  It involves another Sandpoint High grad from the 1990s who experienced what had to be a lifetime moment yesterday.   

What a day! 

 When we started this journey over 20 years ago I could have never imagined we would end up here!

 Pretty dang awesome to have the opportunity to ring the bell and open the NASDAQ Exchange this morning!

---Aaron Fuhriman, a former student from Sandpoint High AND a former neighbor from Woodland Drive. 

Aaron now lives in the Boise area with his very active family.  

He owns Guardian Financial in Meridian. 

 I can say with great confidence that he's a downright nice person. 

Aaron's mom Kayce was also one of my colleagues for a few years at Sandpoint High School. 

So proud of you, Aaron! (on the right below).

 

And, so today, I'll keep working at my outdoor projects.  I do now have one length of fence painted, and with the green grass coming on, there's a stunning contrast. 

Going it alone for the past couple of days has been a bit of a challenge keeping all dogs happy, but, by golly, it's getting done. 

Bridie has figured out her limitations with the overhead cable, and she's been enjoying her time spent there.  Foster has been helping out, as usual, in the doggie companion department. 

Meanwhile, Liam, who does no babysitting,  has figured out that Bridie has toys available in the area of that cable, and toys are good for stealing. 

Liam loves to torment Bridie by taking her Chuck-it balls and getting just far enough away that she can't get to them.  Then he lies down and lords it over her, holding the ball in his mouth

In early morning ball chasing after chores, which started a couple of days ago, Bridie doesn't have to compete with other dogs.

I throw the ball.  She retrieves it and puts it down wherever she chooses.  I pick it up and throw it again. 

Well, this morning, it was obvious that Bridie's play routines are a work in progress.

She added a new element to the ball activity today.

  Now, she retrieves the ball, brings it back, sets it down and then makes a small circle, picks out the best spot, plops into the "down" position and eyes the ball intently until I pick it up and throw it again. 

A couple of times I noted that this Border Collie actually forgot the new routine she had created.  BUT she caught herself each time and made the circle and plopped down.

As Bill said on the phone, "that will be how she does it for the rest of her life." 

For sure. 

Well, that's enough for today.

Happy Tuesday. 

Fun and Funky

 

Rose Chaney, blogger

Grateful for Life

https://rosechaneygratefulforlife.blogspot.com/2021/11/would-like-to-share-things-i-am.html

Yesterday afternoon, I went to town looking for some Sandpoint funk for fun pics. 

I found some.

I also found Rose and her crocuses. 

Rose, a fellow blogger, who pens her daily "Grateful for Life" thoughts and pictures, was out with her daughter Mary Lou sweeping up winter residue. 

I knew she had crocuses because she has posted some pictures on her blog. 

So, I asked if I could take some of my own crocus pictures. 

Rose was more than happy to take me around the side of her house facing the Pend Oreille River.  

And, by golly, she's got crocuses---thousands of them of varying colors and putting on a crocus show like I've never seen. 

So far, this spring I've seen two crocuses popping up in the same bed where my periwinkle sleep for the winter. 

Twas a nice interlude with Rose, and soon I went on my way, only to be chased down in this quiet south Sandpoint neighborhood in my green Subaru by some goofball in a gray Subaru.

What's Sandpoint coming to these days to experience potential road rage on a quiet street???

Well, turns out the gray Subaru was my son Willie and his wife Debbie and his friend Duane, wondering what Mom was doing snooping around in the neighborhood where Duane lives.

The trio were headed to Spokane to watch the NCAA women's tournament game between Stanford and Texas. 

So, I guess it was quite okay for Willie to chase me down. 

Anyway, I had a nice time clicking on fun stuff in town and then coming home to watch the Oscars.

What are the peace loving Oscars coming to these days when another Will chases down a Chris who's up on a stage and slaps him across the face, then returns to his seat and yells profanities that had to be muffled out on everyone's Oscar feed for several seconds???

Well, I don't think Chris' slap on the face resulted in the same "Hi, how ya doin'?" experience I had yesterday with my Will. 

Crazy world we're living in with reminders every day, it seems.

That said, there are the shining moments, and to spend a few minutes with a fellow blogger and her beautiful spring flowers----that kinda sets of the disappointing behavior seen by a "prince" at the Oscars. 

Thanks, Rose, for letting me see those crocuses. 

In other news, I did some 'mater transplanting yesterday, and the plants spent the night in the greenhouse with heaters. 

We'll see how they do in the next few days. 

The article below talks about whether or not we save any money gardening.  I don't think we do, but the taste of our own homegrown and fresh goodies each year is priceless.

https://lifehacker.com/is-gardening-really-cheaper-than-buying-fruits-and-vege-1848698827?utm_source=pocket-newtab

My friend Connie has been busy like all the rest of us who've been yearning for months to get outside and do something besides shovel snow. 

I hope you enjoy her blog post and the photos. 

Happy Monday. 

https://retiredmtnlady.blogspot.com/