Raindrops have been ubiquitous and relentless the past 24 hours in our area.
I'm not a big fan of rain, but I didn't mind seeing a lot of green again this morning, instead of white.
Warmer temps and rains have brought on another dramatic change in the landscape.
When this warmth rids us of the slippery patches of ice, I'll be happy.
Instead of walking in the icy areas with Bridie on my second outing this morning, we headed for the woods where soft cushy pine needles and very little snow make walking easy.
As we were moseying along with the only light ahead coming from the flashlight I was carrying, a plump mouse appeared in the trail.
What fun for Bridie! She chased the mouse, and it skittered from one tree to another, eventually finding a hiding place in the needles at the base of the tree.
Twas a nice interlude during our walk, and it did take a minute to convince Bridie that she didn't have to continue her pursuit of the mouse.
Walking in weather like this is tricky at best. The snow in the hay field is crusted over and with no idea where the bumps and dips are, old feet and legs suffer some unpredictable strains.
So, yes, I'm happy to see bare ground again.
The rain kept us inside for most of the day yesterday, but by mid-afternoon I was ready to see some different scenes besides the television set or the kitchen.
So, off I drove to town with my camera and the Cedar Street Bridge as my destination.
We locals like to gripe a lot about how the town has changed too much in recent years, but it's also fair to say that downtown Sandpoint is beautiful at Christmas time, and one of the most magical places I've ever seen in my hometown is the Cedar Street Bridge.
Besides the magic and the beauty, that segment of Sandpoint has family history.
And, this morning after spotting the mouse in the woods and then going to the spot where this year's Christmas tree stands next to an opening in the woods, I realized that this Christmas marks 80 years since our family moved to Sandpoint.
I never tire of telling the story of how on a wintry, wet and miserable night my mother, my brother Mike (then 18 months old) and our English Setter Peggy aka Licker Lap stepped off the train from Chicago at the depot across Sand Creek.
Mother was moving her family west, and, more than likely, that first scene of total ugliness made her wonder why. She often laughingly said that she thought she had moved to Hell.
Still, she walked across the then uncovered Cedar Street Bridge and turned onto First Avenue.
After walking past bars where raucous activity was prevalent, she arrived at her destination, the Rolands Hotel on First and Church where she stayed for about a month before finding a temporary residence at the stone house across from what's now the Sandpoint Events Center.
Mother never left Sandpoint, except for when she traveled.
For that I am grateful because I love being 78 years old and still appreciating my hometown, even with the changes.
Yesterday's trip through the Cedar Street Bridge felt like nothing less than nostalgic, magical and beautiful.
It's been through its good times and bad, but it's safe to say that the Cedar Street Bridge is flourishing, and, having brought home a few bags of goodies, I'd say it's a perfect place to find some unique and meaningful and fun Christmas gifts.
And, there was some hometown flair. I saw a former student and her grandson, whom I had written about a few years back when, as a baby, he faced a daunting challenge with his life.
He seems to be flourishing too, and it was neat to see the baby had turned into a kind, polite young man.
So, the hometown flavor is still there, and that is comforting.
Outside the bridge, Sand Creek looked about as ugly in the gloomy rain as it must have on Christmas night 1945, but inside the beautiful wooden structure, the scene was festive and glorious.
Fun trip to town. I may go back again and snap some more evidence of how pretty our hometown is, even after all the years of change.
And, I have made a mental note to go back to the Bridge on Christmas Day and reflect on the 80th anniversary of our family's existence in beautiful Sandpoint.
Enjoy the photos.
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