Slight Detour: Good News and Pretty Stuff

Great News in the Priest River area this morning!

The West Bonner County School District levy passed.

The community can now move forward and maybe look behind at the daunting and upsetting challenges it has faced over the past few years.

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/may/21/voters-approve-wbcsd-levy/

My longtime friend Ernie Schoeffel deserves kudos and eternal appreciation for his efforts in supporting this win for the young people, their educators and support staff.

Ernie kept his well-written, sensible letters appearing often in the media.

He has always been a huge supporter of youth in the Priest River area. The community is fortunate to have this amazing man in its midst.

Like my friend Pat Gooby said in yesterday's paper about Carolyn Gleason, founder and organizer of "Lost in the '50s," Ernie should have a bronze statue created in Priest River in his honor.

The world in general can do with a lot more Ernie's and Carolyn's.

Both have made positive differences in and have brought joy to a lot of lives this past week.

🎇🎇🎇🎇🎇

I have evolved over a lifetime when it comes to horses, and we have reached the season where I can enjoy my present stage of horse ownership.

There's always too much money involved, but when I was younger, the general routine involved sneaking to a back road with my friend, so we could race without parents seeing.

Then came trail riding which alternated with occasional horse-show stuff. I never participated in either very much but enjoyed both some of the time.

I do regret not having more time for trail riding because I loved that aspect of horsemanship.

One thing I've always done with horses, besides spending too much money on them, is to admire a beautiful horse.

For my eyes to enjoy the scene, the horse must have good conformation and especially a beautiful head with a bright big, intelligent and loving eye.

Plus, I like to keep them clipped, groomed and looking like someone cares for them and their overall look.

There is nothing more pleasing and exciting to my eyes than a gorgeous horse of any breed.

My three beloveds are not the most beautiful horses in the world, but they are pretty enough for me, especially when they prance around, snort and show off in green fields of spring and summer.

As yet, they haven't done that much this year because eating is foremost in their minds.

But, it is the season where my mode of enjoying my horses in this season of my life is to stand and watch them and say, "Aren't they pretty out in the field!"

Last night, even though they weren't putting on a show, they were still pretty grazing out in the field with the sunshine enhancing their summer coats.

There's a summer's worth of that enjoyment ahead, and I intend to take advantage of it, along with an occasional evening ride around the yard.

I've been hearing them the past two mornings while doing my chores.

Mrs. and Mr. Swallow have arrived and are occupying the pink bird house in the garden.

I think they are still setting up house because this morning I saw a very fine string of vegetation extending from either side of Mrs. Swallow's beak.

When the kids come, I expect to see some dive bombing from the parents if I get too close to their home.

Whatever the case, I'm happy to see that they have moved in for a while.

Also, in the bird department, I also saw the garden crow take after one of the squirrels today.

That's the second time I've seen such a confrontation. Normally, they choose to co-exist around one of the bird feeders and take turns.

Somebody must have messed with the routine this morning, and that somebody got a scolding and a shoo off.

While out on my morning walk down the road, I watched one Canada goose chase another for a ways across Taylor's field. It looked as if the aggressor also passed along a verbal message.

Fun to watch the animals settle their disputes. It's usually done quickly. Then, it's over, and life goes on. I'm wishing we humans could learn to do the same.