19 Years @ The Lovestead; Et. Al.

We're quietly celebrating a significant date today.  Maybe next year, when we've lived here on the Lovestead 20 years, we'll have a party. 

Slight Detour blog entry from

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Movin' on . . . .

The RV's parked next to the front porch. The horse trailer's full of outdoor furniture and clothes, hanging from a longe line. 

 Annie's home from Seattle, still snoozing. There's a wash going in the laundry room. The dryer we won't be using anymore quit drying clothes yesterday. It's sure fun having to pay to fix stuff you're not gonna use.

Bill's eating his breakfast and reading the morning blats. Laura, Sefo and the triplets will be up later this morning, just in time to see all kinds of planes at the airport for the first Fly-in we've had in years----I think Mt. St. Helens Day in 1980 was the last one when we had a host of folks sitting in our barnyard getting a free aerial show until "the cloud" came through and stopped it all.

We probably won't have a lot of time to watch the planes cuz today we're movin' on. 

 The Stewarts are probably out there in Selle loading up their goats and donkey. Soon, they'll be moving on down the road to southeastern South Dakota. And, soon thereafter the next tenants of 214 South Center Valley Road will put the key in the door and begin a new life.

We'll take what we can this morning in the horse trailer, motor home, pickup and cars. By day's end, we're hoping to have most of the boxes out of this house and stacked in that house, and we'll have taken a tour or two of the new property with the Yamaha Rhino. 

 If all goes well, tomorrow we'll have some extra muscle helping us with the heavy pieces of furniture. By Monday, the new dining room set and Maytag washer will arrive.

We'll take time out from most of the work on Tuesday to celebrate----the Fourth of July and our new life in the country. So, I'd better shut up and get moving. Lots to do to get ready for lots more to do.

Happy Saturday. Stay cool!

Follow-up:  the day turned even more exciting when Willie walked through the door of our old house that day and surprised me.  He had flown up from Boise to take part and help with the big move.

Nineteen years later, we're firmly planted here in Selle and will probably eventually stay that way, especially if our next move is to the Pack River Cemetery. 

Nineteen years later, I still think it's definitely Heaven on Earth out here, most of the time! 

And, I"m still pinching myself every time I think about how fortunate we are to live here.

It's been a wonderful 19 years.  

 

The heat is on in North Idaho, and last evening peeps along Sunnyside Road were finding a way to escape it.

News Flash!

This mini chair and pen, given to me by a Columbia Bank staff member a few years back, will no longer be a relic. 

Twas given to me after I had noted that I own a piggy bank representing the old Idaho First National Bank where I had my first checking account and took out loans approved by beloved banker Bill Dowling.  It's metal and shaped like a log. 

Columbia Bank, which followed Panhandle State Bank touted a blue couch as its symbol.  

The mini couch and its Columbia Bank pen may become timely once again as we Umpqua Bank clients will soon be back to writing Columbia Bank checks again. 

Hopefully, we'll also enjoy the Columbia policy of not charging seniors for checks.

I heard the rumor about the change last Wednesday and had it confirmed when I called the bank about ordering checks.  I asked if the rumor was true, and the staff member said "yes," that the change takes place in August. 

Needless to say, I'm holding off on paying $28 for Umpqua Bank checks. 

I wish we were welcoming back Panhandle State Bank, which was truly a local bank, but if the checks are free again, Columbia will be okay. 

The big holiday barbecue is coming, and we've got homemade quiche.  

I sampled some last night.  My stomach wasn't so thrilled, but my tastebuds were.

 

I saw the item below yesterday and appreciated its thoughtful perspective.  Plus, I recognized the author's name. 

by Brian Hadley

Note:  Brian was one of my students at Sandpoint High School.  Plus, there's lots of positive Sandpoint history among his family members, including a state senator. 

He now lives in Coeur d'Alene where tragedy struck on Sunday with a fire on Canfield Mountain followed by a reported ambush by a sniper, killing two Coeur d'Alene firefighters and critically injuring another. 

  I was riding on Canfield yesterday when the fire started, I rode through the area where the shooting happened about 20 minutes before, and a neighbor called me to tell me about the fire when I was above it. 

 I learned what had happened when I saw the massive police presence on the way down.

Canfield is my sanctuary. It's where I go to process when stuff like this happens in the world. I think sometimes I am guilty of letting it be "somewhere else" or "someone else" but I know the world is hurting very badly. 

 Somehow the internet creates this illusion that we are more connected, while simultaneously disconnecting us and making us all feel like "other." I mostly quit posting here because I don't like that about it.

I can put myself in the shoes of those firefighters. Yesterday was a beautiful day on the mountain, the drive up would have been pleasant and I'm hoping they were feeling optimistic and confident about being able to contain things quickly and get back to their day. 

 That someone planned this to cause innocent, helpful people such horrible suffering is hard to wrap my head around.

But I hurt for this young person and his family too. The world seems so confusing, and the only thing I really know is that he must have suffered tremendously to plan something like this.

 I'm a parent, and I know that kids today live in a world that is very different from the one I grew up in... Naples Idaho, three broadcast TV channels and 5 other kids in my elementary class..

I know how big the love and compassion of people in this area can be. I've lived it all of my life. I really hope that this event serves as a wake up call to fire up the much older network of neighborly good will. 

 Little stuff adds up, say hi to strangers on the street. Hug a friend who seems down. Listen deeply to someone who is going through a struggle. 

 Wave with sincerity to someone protesting a cause you disagree with, that's a real person who has their own reasons for feeling that way. Maybe stop and find out about it. 

 We're not here long enough to squabble over petty shit the media plays up just to get clicks.

Today is a beautiful day out here too. The birds are chirping and there is a gentle breeze that doesn't seem big enough to be spreading the fire. 

 The sun in the trees reminds me how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. When they get it put out, I really hope to see a lot of people out on the trail.

Thank you, Brian, for sharing your thoughts.

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