It's officially an Idaho spring!

Any sign of snow in this area at this time of year easily brings serious laments even from the most hardcore of Idahoan.

This area has officially set a record for the most snowfall in a season. I think it is a cruel April Fool's joke. Here I am getting ready and excited to plant my garden, and I can't even see it.

Okay, but enough whining about snow. I am just going to stay inside by the grow lights and pretend I am in Florida sunning myself. I do have the sunburnt tummy to show for it. Today is a good day to sip mojitos by the seedlings, and dream of jumping off the rocks at Tubb's Hill into the refreshing lake water on a very hot day. It is great having a vivid imagination.

Idaho spring garden

My friend, Amy, helped me get a jump on gardening this year by loaning me a simple, but very efficient, indoor growing system she put together. Since she is going to school full-time, she doesn't have the time to invest in her garden (which I used to go raid in the summers... she is a good gardener). 

I got my seed and planters, and wasted no time getting things started. I am so excited. If I were to plant everything growing in my dining room, I could probably feed most of Post Falls this year! My plan, if I am successful at keeping these little guys alive, is to donate my over-plantings to the community garden in Coeur d'Alene.

Meanwhile, I get such joy from watching stuff grow... if it can't be outside, I am happy to see it every morning. And I anticipate being able to plant my cold-weather crops outside in a couple of weeks (spinach, kale, collards, lettuce, radishes, and cilantro).

I decided all the seeds I purchased this year would be organic or heirloom, and I was able to find an abundance of seeds with a short season. I want to avoid the genetically-altered seeds so that everything that comes out of the garden is healthy and wholesome.

And with the help of Amy, I expect to have some delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, peppers, squash, with some pretty nasturtiums and sunflowers mixed in.

So if you are hungry this summer, come on over!

First signs of spring...

... in a winter-weary yard.

The snow is gone. The sun is out. Let's celebrate the first day of spring!

The adventures of a true Irish leprechaun

It was a cold, snowy St. Patrick's Day in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho when I met the coolest little leprechaun, Lynne McWiggen.

We decided to have a St. Paddy's day adventure. And, knowing how truly Irish we intended to be, we took a cab. We had planned on riding the bus (and really being green) but the weather talked us out of it since the City Link did not make stops where we were going.

Our first stop took us to the Fort Ground Grill, a traditionally wild place for the Irish on March 17. Since we were there so early, we didn't see anyone wilder than us.

Our next stop was 315 martini and tapas. We caught a ride with some of Lynne's friends, so we once again didn't have to catch a bus. Club 315 is our new favorite place to go. And tonight was not disappointing... live Irish music, green specials, great comraderie. 

Our luck of the Irish held out once again when Kevin came to pick us up, saving us a cab ride home. Keep your eyes peeled for Miss Lynne McWiggen next March 17. I am pretty sure just being in her presence is the best of luck.

Posted by fellow leprechaun and consistent partner-in-crime, Ali O'Shute!

Update

Just an hour later... we are up to 6"! This sucks. Rylee and I just took a walk in it. He kept burying his head in the deeper pockets of snow and burrowing through it. Funny dog.

More damn snow

I don't know a single person who isn't frustrated beyond belief that we are getting more damn snow (except for Conor who lives for snowboarding). Today we have gotten 2"+, and it is still coming down. I am SOOOO done with it. The whole world is white again.

Atleast you can see Rylee in it very clearly. Beth, you are so lucky not to be here anymore. I will see you in Florida in a few minutes.

Another snowy day in paradise...

I have a theory: spring cannot come to Idaho until it has hailed.

Today it hailed buckets! The wind was blowing hard, and it was so cold... bitter cold. So I am thinking this is the lion, and the lamb can't be too far behind.

So, what does one do in Idaho when the weather is so crappy! SHOPPING! I received my bonus checks from Costco, and went to spend them, loading up the freezer with food and getting my little self out of the house.

Just a little side note: 

Happy Birthday Beth! Let me know how 50 is cuz I am right behind ya! I hope you are having a GREAT day. You deserve a great day.

Yes, Virginia, there are still angels out there...

It has been an interesting day. Not a bad day... more like one of those days you chalk up to adventure, and definitely a day that you remember that there are still angels out there.

Our day did not work out as we intended. Our intention was to spend every last minute we could with Maegan and Byron... but somehow we ended up just outside of Boise, in the hills, with a very steamy engine that decided it was no longer going to go up that last hill.

So, here we are sitting in the middle of who-knows-where with a car that refused to start, and looked like it might burst into flames at any moment (but thank goodness it was just steam). 

The first car just drove right by. Now that was disappointing, and I was wondering when another might actually come by again.

But a few minutes later, a car came along and actually stopped. Pat got out of the car to see what our problem was, and when she found out, informed us that her husband worked for an organization that helped young college kids fix their cars. 

Thankfully, we had cell phone reception there, she called her husband, and a few minutes later Bill was there with lots of tools and problem-solving ideas to help us get on our way.

I can't exactly describe what was wrong with the car, but it involved a hose that had become disconnected, and some damp wiring from all the steam, and who knows what else. Pat took us to her house and gave us some tea, and took us on a tour of her gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-style home in Hidden Valley, just outside of Boise. After a couple of hours, we were finally able to start the car. Whew!

We got into town, and it died again and we had to have it towed... but at least we were in town, not out in the middle of nowhere. That stop did not involve any saints that we know of.

So let's toast tonight to Pat and Bill... and celebrate that there are still folks in the world who will stop what they are doing, taking time out of their day, to help those who don't know what they are doing.... well, you know what I mean.

488 emails in the inbox

After checking my email this morning, mom asked to check hers... the first time since she got here Sunday night.

She basically blew up my computer with 488 emails in her inbox. Too many e-newletters mom!

Another perspective or two.

Today was a great day hanging out with mom.

Sun, Rain, Sun, Rain...

Today began a little overcast, but it wasn't too long before the sun came out. Here is the wonderful bed and breakfast we are staying in. We took off and walked downtown, destination: the Art Museum and their exhibit of early Ansel Adams photos.

We stopped to have some coffee. I am working on different perspectives with my photography, just for fun.

We watched a few hail stones bounce on the street while we were sitting in the cafe, but the sun came out again as we were ready to leave, so we headed down to the museum. No hurry. It did start to sprinkle again, but we were ready with our hoods. No big deal. 

We were one block away from the museum when the sky opened up and dumped hail and rain hard all over us. There was a group of about 20 school kids outside, without proper clothing, their teachers trying to get control while the kids all screamed as they were pummeled by the little icy rocks. 

Hail hurts when it is coming down in torents. In one block we were fairly soaked.

We spent about 2 hours in the museum, and exited to warm, bright sunshine. Another example of a typical Idaho spring. And so it begins again.

By the way, this photo of my mom... I hope I grow up to look as beautiful as she is!

Here they are...

the gang's all here!

Around Boise

on a gorgeous sunny day. Yesterday was 65° and perfect! Mom and I walked all over downtown Boise, and then met Byron for lunch and a visit to the zoo. Zoo Boise is a small but nice zoo along the Boise River just across from BSU.

Boise has great walking and biking paths throughout the city. We are going to discover more today on the Boise Greenbelt.

Last night we met Mary Lou, Kevin's mom, for dinner at Cool Hand Lukes. Dinner was great, as was the company. We were lucky to all get to have dinner together as Byron was scheduled to work, but found someone to cover his shift so he could join us.

Mom and I had wandered in to the capital annex to try to find MaryLou, and luckily she was just getting out of session for lunch and we were able to talk to her and see where she legislates. After we left, she had a long committee meeting that she was happy to be done with when we met for dinner.

Mom and I will find more trouble to get into today.

Mom and Me in Boise

Mom and I met at the airport last night... she flew in from Philly via gorgeous Las Vegas (I think her tongue is in her cheek)!

So here we are in our loft room in a beautiful old colonial-style home built in 1904 that used to belong to Frank and Bethene Church. We are heading downtown, just six block from the downtown center, to explore. Then we'll be off to hang with Byron and Maegan and Mary Lou, who is busy solving Idaho's problems in the leglislature.

Hanging with my Mom is always a treat. (She is looking over my shoulder, but I would have said that anyway. She says "Hi Don"... hope you are snuggly-snowed in).