Tractor Surgeon; TBT

 

I usually refer to Tony Bitton as the "wizard" when I write about his amazing ability to fix just about anything. 

Today I'll refer to him as "Doc." 

Tony performed surgery on our Kubota tractor this week.

And, a day later, the tractor's already hooked up to the brush hog, ready to get back to work.

On Monday, Tony hauled the tractor to his shop where he could work in his own operating room with all the necessary tools.

After the tedious operation of removing a whole bunch of wires and hydraulic lines and other stuff he split the tractor in half so that he could repair the clutch. 

Tony told us that when he finally got to the clutch, it was in really bad shape. He was surprised that we made it through the winter after the first hint of some problems last fall where he simply tightened a bolt underneath. 

Happily, we did, and the clutch waited to go completely bad this summer. 

Now that Dr. Bitton has used his skills, fixing the clutch and putting the tractor back together, we're good to go for brush hogging the woods.

We really appreciate Tony who has fixed our lawnmowers, rototillers, weed eater, brush hog and now the tractor over the past 20 years. 

Speaking of years passing by, the item below from the Sandpoint News-Bulletin appeared in today's newspaper.  

💚💘💖💜💚💘💖💜

50 Years Ago

Sandpoint News-Bulletin

July 20, 1973 – 1973 JAMBOREE WEST

Tents are being erected in Farragut State Park for housing for 1973 Jamboree West. Over 35,000 Boy Scouts will begin to arrive July 30 from every state in the nation and from several foreign countries.

•••

Telling the story of the Jamboree was one of my major summer assignments for the local weekly paper. 

Gary Pietsch, the newspaper publisher, pulled me aside and gave me a general outline of what he'd like me to do before and during the Jamboree, which was highlighted that year by commedian Bob Hope.  

The assignment included several visits to Farragut, a lot of interviewing and taking a whole lot of pictures.

Twas a story assignment which changed my life forever. Alternating between reporting on a forest fire up Rattle Creek in the Lightning Creek drainage and driving to Farragut, I put in the miles and certainly had a good time meeting the males. 

Being a single female and reporting on a forest fire presented pretty good odds for dating possibilities and the same was definitely true at Farragut where the main demographic was BOY Scouts. 

Well, I must say those odds turned out okay.  On my first visit to Farragut while doing a series of interviews, I met a college student and Eagle Scout who was working for the Jamboree staff.  His name was Bill Love, and he was wearing a Tulane T-shirt that day. 

When I assured his co-workers (also college students) and him that the girls in Sandpoint were, of course, much better looking than the girls in Coeur d'Alene, their eyes and ears perked up. 

A whole lot happened in between, and some other Sandpoint gals  who met these guys can attest that we all had a great time as what my mother termed "only a summer romance" began for me. 

I guess it's been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG summer cuz Bill and I will be celebrating 50 years of marriage next year.  

Lots of wonderful memories happened thanks to that story assignment from my boss Gary Pietsch.  Bill and Gary talked in church this past Sunday about those days so long ago. 

Thanks, Gary from Ma and Pa Love. 

Ponderay Hereford Ranch, our North Boyer farm

Jim Parsons, Jr. sent me this photo a few years ago. I like to bring it out every once in a while to revive the memories of when that present field full of hangars along North Boyer used to be our hay field and our home.

Sad to drive by and see no sign that we ever lived there, so the picture is a treasure. 

 

This photo was taken nearly 20 years ago when my brothers, my mother and I took a trip to Northern California to visit with our cousin Jim Halter. 

We stopped off in Burnt Ranch, Calif., where Mother lived for a few years as a child. 

I think the lady standing next to Mother was named Willie.  She shared some tidbits with Mother about the small village in the Trinity River area. 

This "little Darling" is called Maddie.  She's all grown up now and has graduated from high school, and yes, she is a Darling, the daughter of Dave, Jr. 

She was considering taking a horse in 4-H at the time so she came to meet Lefty.  It didn't work out, but Lefty made a friend and so did I. 

I don't know if the guy on the stilts still lives over on Forest Siding Road, but he sure took my eye a few years back when I drove past his place. 

The Baker Bikers!  This trio went from coast to coast with the guys riding bikes and the gal ferrying all their gear in a car and maintaining organization.  

They stopped by our home for a couple of days on their way.  

We had a wonderful time getting to know them and swapping story. 

The Baker on the left graduated from West Point the same year as my brother, while his brother on the right worked in Sandpoint for a while. 

The trio enjoyed some Maine lobster once they reached the East Coast. 

First family deck party after Amos Walkington built us a brand new deck.  

Later, he constructed a roof over the deck. 

Some great-grandkids attending their great-grandmother Viriginia Tibbs' celebration of life at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch ten years ago. 

Again, almost all are grown-up now. 

Debbie loves anything Bigfoot, so she really enjoyed visiting the Kokanee Brewery in Creston, B.C., along with Willie a few years ago.

 

I met these lovely sisters from Connell several years ago while announcing the Spots of Fun horse show. 

It was always fun to see them each year.  

The legendary "new-old" motorhome which housed many guests.  In this case, three women from Australia spent a week in the motorhome and enjoying the Sandpoint area. 

And, that's our beloved Kiwi.  We miss her. 

Below:  two of my classmates, Francie and Teri, two members of the SHS Class of 1963 (seniors when I was a sophomore) Diana and Danny, and a member of the SHS Class of 1961, Ralph. 

They were attending an all-class reunion a few years ago.

This past weekend Ralph introduced himself to my neighbors Tricia and Terra who were in Bend, Ore., for a lacrosse match. 

Ralph follows the blog, so he knew about Tricia and Terra and Trent and Boston Bode. 

Twas truly one of those small-world meetings. 

Later, I told Tricia about my many connections with the Delamarter family. 

And, that's all for TBT. 

Happy Thursday.