The other had rusted so much that it had big holes in it. So, he hauled it off to the transfer station earlier this week.
The new box came from Tractor Supply in Newport, so I joined him when he went to pick it up yesterday.
After the box was loaded, I snapped some photos of the happy, cute dogs hanging out their car window, enjoying the parking-lot sights.
Then, Bill asked if I wanted to see the Kalispel Tribe fishing pond where he had taught fly fishing to kids on Wednesday.
Sure, I said, always ready to see something new.
The pond is located about ten minutes up the highway which runs on the east side of the Pend Oreille River.
It's obviously a fairly new development in the complex which includes forest land and a nature trail.
As we walked around the pond, an osprey overhead stayed frozen in space, watching below for a good opportunity to dive for a fish.
It had apparently caught some breakfast earlier in the day as a big trout, half-eaten lay along the trail.
Fish were jumping the entire time we were there, and the fish are large.
When we were about to leave, Bill went to the restroom, and I was walking away from the pond when I heard a huge cannon-ball splash in the water.
As I turned around, the osprey was launching off from where it had hit the water and had apparently missed the targeted fish.
We waited around, hoping the osprey would dive again, but we eventually decided it was waiting for us to leave before going after another fish.
It's a beautiful facility with a lot of activity between the fish and their predator.
After dinner, another pleasant evening was unfolding with cooler temps and a slight breeze.
On a whim, I asked Bill if he would hang around as a human security blanket while I took Lily for a short ride.
It would be my first horseback ride of 2022 and my first as a 75-year-old. I can tell anyone who's younger than I that anxiety builds up with the years, no matter how long one has been riding.
It had been almost a year since I'd climbed on a horse, and that was the day CB squashed my big toe while shying and knocking me to the ground during a grooming session.
Needless to say, I stubbornly rode him over at my sisters, dealing with extreme pain in that big toe which I'd stuffed inside a Western boot.
So, I was hoping for the initial Lily ride of the year to go much better.
It did.
With Bill keeping an eye out, I rode Lily for about 15 minutes in the yard and down the trail. She was pretty lazy because she knew she could be without my wearing spurs.
For me, last night's short ride was a big step in regaining confidence for this year, especially after several months of knee and foot problems.
Plus, it felt good to be back in the saddle.
When Terra comes back next week, I'll probably ride again with her and, with luck, the apprehension will lessen about being old and knowing what happens if I fall off a horse.
At this age, it's so important and comforting to have someone around if there's a need to pick up the pieces.
Short ride. Defining moment in my horseback-riding journey.
Also, here at the Lovestead, I noticed that the plums are starting to ripen and the pumpkin plant has its fruit.
At this point, with the baby pumpkins not much bigger than the plums, I'm not anticipating entering a pumpkin in the fair.
Still, they'll be nice for the Halloween season.
Another relatively cool day today, so pickin' berries from the vines and grinnin' should be pleasant.
Happy Friday.
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