Wednesday, July 30, 2008

It was a dark and stormy afternoon...

Hauser Lake is a pretty little lake just west of Post Falls. Yesterday as the storm clouds were rolling in, Nancy and I went on a little drive around the lake. She drove while I shot photos. I love the dark sky and the somber feeling a storm brings. It is romantic, and introspective.


This little canal and the north end of the lake seems like a great place to go exploring on a canoe. I have always loved finding little places to closely inspect. It looks a little like a place you might find in the everglades, sans alligators.

The seasons this year certainly have been unusual. It feels like fall already. I am pretty sure this is short-lived, and we will get the rest of our summer, but it is already reminding me that our season is drawing to a close... an unwelcome reminder that our summer will probably be short.

GOOD NEWS: My garden now has soil in it, and I am going to plant some seeds that might actually produce some food this season: collard greens, lettuce, and spinach. I will be looking for some edible flower starts to plant... I should be able to find some pansies and nasturtiums... maybe some flowering kale.

Monday, July 28, 2008

A wild day for NIC

Every January, the NIC Alumni Association puts on the Wild Game Feast as their annual fundraiser. It is a benefit to raise funds for scholarships for students in need to attend North Idaho College. The event is really fun, and includes a silent auction.

This past Wild Game Feast's auction included an item called "A Day on the Lake" donated by Kevin and I and our friends, Allen and Shari. We had the help of their son, Matt, and their nephews, Nick and JJ, and Allen's sister, Kim.

Yesterday was the day we all chose for the dinner, and began with Allen and Kevin picking up a lively group of 8 at the docks in Coeur d'Alene. After a fun little tour of the lake, Shari and I greeted them with hors d'oeuvres and wine. They spent the day relaxing on the decks, playing in the water, jet skiing, and just enjoying the day with each other.

Later in the day, we fed them a delicious seafood boil with crab, clams, shrimp, polka kiebasa, corn, and potatoes that Kevin and Allen made. The wine for the dinner was donated by Coeur d'Alene Cellars.

The day was capped with chocolate brownies and chocolate port.

Everyone had a great time, including us. We all left with the knowledge that our dinner sponsored 1.5 students' scholarships. Good feeling, good fun. Mission accomplished.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

One Way (because there is only one-way down)

 
Conor's favorite thing to do this summer is jump off rocks in Post Falls into the Spokane River. His favorite place to do this is what the kids refer to as One Way, just below the dam.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Scotchman's Peak


On June 27, Kevin and several of his family members made the generational trek to the top of Scotchman's Peak, just outside of Clark Fork in Idaho. It all began with Kevin's great, great grandfather Heber Payne who was on the first pack mule train with the supplies to build a fire lookout just after the turn of the century. 

Each generation since has made the climb, and last summer Kevin and his brothers planned out the trip and invited all of the Payne family cousins. Most couldn't go, for one reason or another, but Kevin, Glenn, David and cousin Joe with his son, Nick, made the hike together, and Kevin, Joe, and Nick made it to the very top.

There was still quite a bit of snow, sometimes 12-15 feet, towards the summit. Amazing for the end of June. And other than some rather precarious hanging ice/snow cornices, there was no snow on the rocks at the top. I, obviously, did not take these photos. Joe had the presence of mind to take a camera. The shots from way up there are breathtaking.

Glenn and David made it to about 6000 feet, still quite an accomplishment. Kevin, Joe, and Nick met them about there where they all descended together. I kinda wish I had gone, but I am not losing any sleep over it. Maybe I will go when Melanie, another cousin, is ready to go.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Conor and the squirrel

Last Thursday Conor and I took Charlie to Prichard to visit my in-laws and float the river. This year, the river is higher than normal, so our float was promising at this late time of year. We arrived at lunch time, and Marylou is always ready to feed visitors. 

One of the visitors is a little squirrel they have named Charlie. He is so friendly, he comes and gets his little peanuts right out of their hands. Conor was fascinated with this little guy, and decided to see if he would eat off the shoulder, and then right out of his mouth.

I can't believe I forgot my camera... but fortunately I was able to use Jim's, and have just now gotten the photos.

Our float was awesome! The water was pretty cold, but it was a perfect, hot day for it. Jim dropped us off up river from their place, and we pulled into their beach about 2 hours later.

The boys kept pestering me to get in the water. I wasn't too keen on it because I didn't want to get my hair wet, but when Charlie called me a "pansy," that was enough, and I rolled off the raft into the water. To say it was invigorating is probably an understatement. And my legs got quit cold as I hung onto the side of the raft until we could get in more shallow water so I could boost myself back into the boat.

I think I gained a little respect, however, from those boys which made the jumping in worth it all.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Tri-tip in Margaritaville

Nibblin' on tri-tip

Oh ain't that delish'

Each of the guests have all gotten lei'd

Listening to Buffett

As we find time to get

Drunk on tequila the bartender made

Wasted away again in Margaritaville

Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that the ole Shute's are to blame

And they're right, its our own damn fault!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Hello backyard!!!!!

Yesterday we bid farewell to the boat. Everyone misses it... our neighbors behind us came over to see what we were doing. They said they liked the boat... it made them feel as if they were at the beach.

But what we gained having the boat gone is tremendous. We were ready when tweedle dum and tweedle dee left with the boat teetering on their homemade trailer. Why did they have a homemade trailer? Because after the Tuesday fiasco, no other company would come and take the boat. We thought we would hear about it on the evening news, but nothing.

Anyway, we were ready, and jumped right into what needed to be done. The transformation began at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and we had it all cleaned up with the raised bed garden formed up. This morning we got up, hauled the junk to the dump, and laid down some sod. Man it looks good back there!

I will have my posting for last Thursday when MaryLou and Jim bring me the photos. I forgot my camera when we went to Pritchard, and had to borrow theirs. I guess they couldn't figure out how to email the photos, so I (and you) will just have to wait.

Meanwhile, I have to go prepare for the arrival of Jimmy Buffett, and all our guests. It is going to be a happenin' evening here!