"Seen's" after a Snowfall

 

Twas a spectacular day yesterday.  

Mother put on a fine show with that early snow dump.  

Her timing was perfect for looking at the landscape and seeing stunning and brilliant contrasts. 

How often do we get to see fall colors reaching toward their height, only to be enhanced by scenes with pure white snow as backdrops?

Not often.

 And, with brilliant sunshine to go along with it, the outdoors offered one giant postcard or two or three and maybe even a whole lot more. 

The best part of the early snowstorm:  it fell only in the mountains, allowing us to get our work done while enjoying the beauty from afar. 

We had some cold, crisp air with a little wind-enhancing bitterness, but that was okay. 

Monday was a whole lot prettier than Sunday, but we must not discount Sunday cuz its ugly weather provided a thorough cleanse making Monday color all the more spectacular. 

We enjoyed the day, constantly busy with numerous winterizing projects. 

The travel trailer went for its winterizing and came home to its winter home in the shop. 

Garrett Poelstra showed up with his excavator for some work he's going to do today, replacing a culvert in the lane.  When the end falls off from a metal culvert, it's probably time for replacement. 

Today Steve, the farrier will also come to give the horses their last pedicure before they move over to Roxane's tomorrow. 

This morning I filled the cart with hay for their breakfast for the last time and scattered their "last supper" in the barnyard.

In a few minutes, I'll take a run to my medical provider's office for a blood draw, needed for the good ol' Medicare Wellness checkup coming in early November. 

Lots of "to do's" this week, to say the least, but when it's all done, we can take a break, sit back, relax and maybe even do some long-awaited traveling. 

In the midst of it all, we are ecstatic about the Seattle Mariners.  Two more games and their first World Series.  Hope it happens. 

Gotta go!  Happy Tuesday. 

Enjoy the photos.  

Oh No! Snow!

 

To all our friends within the indigenous community, a salute to you and wishing you a meaningful day of celebration. 

Below:  the great symbol of the bond between the Irish and the Choctaw Tribe.  

The Kindred spirits monument in Midleton, Ireland, commemorating the Choctaw donation during the potato famine in 1850s.

Also, Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends.  Sorry about the Mariners spoiling the party in Toronto last night.  

It was delightful on this side of the Border, and the series is young, even though I'll still pull for the Mariners.      

First the rain, then the snow. 

Twas as if Mother Nature was trying to make up for the lack of moisture over the past few months. 

We are wet, we are cold but we are not yet covered with snow as the surrounding mountains are this morning. 

It's a while before those runs on Schweitzer will be put to use again, but it's a hopeful sign for those involved in snow sports. 

It's a bitter cold out there this morning compared to the 70s we had just a few days ago. 

Not too many scenes like this left for this year. 

Yesterday I took my horse gear and some sacks of grain over to Roxane's for the winter. 

Tomorrow the three horses have their farrier appointment.  Steve will remove Lily's shoes and give each of the three a trim. 

Wednesday morning, with the help of my sister Laurie, we'll load them up and take them to their winter home, an amazing stable facility right here in the neighborhood. 

I've cleaned stalls twice this week after feeding the horses inside during the wet conditions.   

The ache in a muscle below my right knee serves as a clear reminder of why I decided to board them for the winters. 

It doesn't take old, creaky bodies very long to scream, "ENOUGH!"  The message has been received.

It will be fun not cleaning stalls or pushing obstinate sliding barn doors open and especially fun returning to the stable culture visiting them and other horse owners at their winter home. 

At the usual chore time, here, Bridie and I will maintain our disciplined schedule and go for morning walks around the place.  

Big changes in seasonal lifestyle a-comin' this week.  

It's the skeleton time of year, and they seem to be haunting more and more areas earlier and earlier every year. 

Maybe next year we should do like they do for birds and conduct an official skeleton count for the Sandpoint area.  

Below:  a few flowers on or near the deck are still surviving, so as long as they're still pretty, I'll take pictures. 

Happy Monday. 

Good Time; Great Cause

 

It was a bountiful, successful evening, to say the least. 

Lots of smiles.  

Lots of fun.

Lots of visiting.  

Abundant generosity on several levels.  

Great local food and drink offerings. 

Lots of good stuff for attendees to take home in return for generous bidding and donating to benefit the Bonner Community Food Bank. 

The food bank's first-ever gala, celebrating the institution's 45th anniversary went smoothly with its overall meticulous organization comprising a small village of volunteers, its fast-moving pace and its laid-back, festive and fun atmosphere. 

Plus, a lot of money was gleaned through the silent and live auctions, raffles and outright generous donations.  One anonymous donor gave $20,000.

A cross section of the Sandpoint community who attended or participated in the event shined last night in an effort to add a significant boost to the food bank and its ability to see that no one goes hungry, either for food, human connections or dignity.

Job well done, Debbie Love and your amazing staff and volunteers.

~Lots of meals for those in need~.  

 

We enjoyed another fun evening bantering with Thompson family members and their neighbor Elaine, along with their German visitor Cornelius. 

I told Bill before we left for the event that it was for sure Chris and Judy would be there.  Then, I repeated the claim.  

Sure enough, Chris and Judy were there, as were Chris and Judy. 

That meant two Moon sisters (Chris and Judy) and a husband-wife team from the "outlaw" Thompson gang (Chris and Judy). 

It was pretty neat that Debbie arranged to have the two families who are "outlaws" to each other, seated at tables next to each other. 

 

As executive director of the Bonner Community Food Bank, Debbie spoke about the general mission of the food bank and about the ever-growing numbers of clients in need. 

Two William E. Love's were in attendance too:  William E. Jr and William E, III. 

Barb Oler kept track of silent auction activity, while Sarah Nixon managed the beverage line.  

Bill and Shanta.  

Shanta,  Debbie's friend from Coeur d'Alene, helped volunteer last evening.  

Olivia Gonzales, who works with Sandpoint's Farmers Market, was on hand to take photos of last night's event.