This and That on Tuesday

 

Sixteen legs fully filled the pickup cab yesterday. 

Two peeps and three dogs. 

"Let's take all three dogs," I suggested, after Bill asked if I wanted to take a drive to the end of the Grouse Creek Road. 

I didn't sense a lot of enthusiasm. 

"We'll take the white pickup then," he said. 

With the back seat covered with towels, Liam and Bridie rode there.  

Meanwhile, a nice little pallet of towels on the console served as the perfect place for Foster, 'cept late in the trip when Bill hit a bump. 

Foster fell backward into the second seat and just decided to stay there. 

The Border Collies adjusted to the additional body quickly; after all, Foster calls the shots, even if he is only a third their size. 

Before leaving, I put my camera tripod in the pickup, suggesting to Bill that we should take a "family" picture once we arrived at the end of the road. 

People talk about herding cats, but there's a definite challenge in herding herd dogs too, especially when you want them to pose for a picture.

Eventually after three sets of ten time-exposure shots, we caught a few with people smiles and doggie grins and with most eyes looking at the camera.

All three dogs had a great time sniffing and running about in the area where the road loops around.  

Happily, they love us enough to not wander too far away. 

Liam usually howls or cries when he rides in a vehicle, but the last time I took three dogs on a round trip to Bonners Ferry, I never heard a peep out of him. 

So, I assured Bill it wouldn't be too noisy in the pickup. Bill had purchased a couple of CD's from Homespun at their Saturday night concert. 

So, we listened to one of CD's twice on the way up.

  When Hilary's solo "I want to be a Cowboy Sweetheart" came up on the set, Liam's newfound silence in the car ended pretty much the second Jimmy howled like a coyote on the CD followed by Hilary's yodeling. 

It got noisy in the back seat as Liam began to accompany the music. 

Eventually, that stopped and Liam resumed riding in silent mode. 

It was a nice outing on the road where I first worked for the Forest Service engineers about 50 years ago.  We surveyed nine miles of that road, which is now due for a slight change in course a few miles up. 

Yesterday's trip was especially pleasant because an overnight rain had washed off the landscape to a point of clean and fresh and colorful. 

Speaking of "washing off," our upstairs shower now sprays hot water again.  Joey and his new assistant Jada came out in the morning and fixed the problem.

While they were at the house, I asked a few questions and then caused Jada to blush when I gave her a big hug.  

That happened after I learned that I knew a lot of folks she knew---like her grandmother Patti whose daycare provided before and after school care for Willie and Annie when they were little and I was teaching.

It was kinda like a little bit of "family" had entered the house in the form of that young plumber's assistant. 

I enjoyed getting to know Jada and have a feeling that whatever she decides to do, she'll succeed.   

Lovestead pups:  Foster, Bridie and Liam and, of course, Mom and Dad. 

Two J's at a plumbing truck:  Jada, the assistant and Joey, the plumber. 

Joey Zavala owns VIP Plumbing. He has helped us out with plumbing issues over the years and seems to be doing very well now that he's in business for himself.

I hear lots of positive comments from others who have had him come to their homes. 

If you ever need some plumbing done, especially in an emergency, you can call Joey at 208-290-4202 or email joe.zavala@live.com.

 

I stood outside for a little extra time after picking up the paper this morning---hoping that a school bus would go by so I could take a picture. 

None did, but I think I heard one later. 

Wishing all students and staff a successful and fun school year. 

 Willie is beginning his 14th year at Sandpoint High today as Cedar Post adviser, journalism, graphic arts and photography instructor AND girls basketball head coach. 

A busy year begins. 

Good luck to all, and Happy Tuesday.