These pink roses, straight across the yard from our deck, were blooming the day we first moved to the Lovestead: July 1, 2006.
I remember my mother standing with me on the original deck admiring the huge front yard with its cedar backdrop and huge flower beds, saying, "Marianne, you could have weddings here."
Well, no weddings but lots of fun memories with visitors.
We were gone from the Lovestead on the anniversary date this year, but seeing those beautiful roses blooming on their large bush reminded me.
It's been 16 good years at this place.
In that time, all of the original beloveds who moved here with us from the Great Northern Road farm have passed on: Rambo, Casey, Licker, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Festus, Annie Dog, Kea and Kiwi.
Nowadays, Lily, Lefty, CB, Sunny, Foster, Liam, Bridie and a whole bunch of regular birds and returning deer rule the place.
Speaking of animals passing on, Debbie sent me the following link about a long-living, amazing Border Collie named Skippy from County Mayo, Ireland.
Skippy died this week at age 27, the oldest known dog in Ireland.
Meanwhile, back here at the Lovestead, my reflections take me to the Lodgepole pasture where, for several years, the big unusual Lodgepole and its surroundings served as a lovely place to take folks, often in the 4-wheeler, on their first visit to our lovely little farm.
Once there, Bill would lead the induction ceremony as the visitors stood beneath the stately double-trunked tree, officially becoming members of our Lodgepole Society.
Sadly, the tree crashed to the ground one February day several years ago. Its huge logs still extend for several feet from its base.
We no longer have the induction ceremonies, but remember each of them fondly as highlights for our respective visitors.
Over the years, we've added a few items to the structures, including the deck and a deck roof, along with a replacement shelter barn and an extension of another.
We added a lot of board fence, which has seen dozens of buckets of white paint over the years.
We have loved and appreciated living at this place surrounded by other productive farms and horse establishments.
So far, we feel very fortunate that the sense of land "development aka ravaging" so prevalent in Sandpoint and the surrounding area has not yet found its way to our neighborhood.
It's still a peaceful place, generally populated by peace-loving and friendly but not intrusive neighbors.
We always love coming home whether it's from a Friday-night dinner outing followed by a Dub's ice cream cone or a return from a long trip away from home.
It is home and has been for 16 years. After all that time, I still view it as pretty close to Heaven, especially in the summer time when the work load brought on by winter lessens.
We are blessed to live here.
Happy Saturday.
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