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When we lived in the High Desert of California, I used to really like the afternoon winds that so many people were often complaining about. I actually miss those winds often here, because many times, especially this time of year when the winds die down in the afternoons it gets very uncomfortable and humid in the still air. Then there are times that get myself and Stacy very nervous about the winds. Back in the desert it was the wind storms that stirred up sand that could sandblast a car down to the bare metal. That actually happened early on when we had moved to the area, no garage yet, no protective fences up yet, just our 3 vehicles parked side by side in our front yard, my Datsun 240Z, our Chevy Suburban and Ford F150 pickup truck. It was our first time with winds like those and we didn't know what to expect. But we had not expected that! The storm happened over night and the next morning I was very upset to find the passenger side of the 240Z obliterated from the sand blas...

So, here in North Idaho we are very lucky to have a wide variety of wildlife, considerably more than I ever saw in Southern California. Bald Eagles, Osprey, Elk, White Tailed Deer, Moose, Wild Turkey, Canadian Geese, Swans, Wood Ducks and on and on with varieties of other small animals and birds. On our property itself we have quite a lot to see, but to me, one of the most beautiful birds that is also one of the hardest to spot and causes the most damage to our trees is the Pileated Woodpecker. Adult birds are said to be around 18 inches (45.72 cm), and the one I've seen twice is a big bird. These are the biggest woodpecker species in North America. Black with some white and a red crest, I've read these birds to have been the inspiration for the cartoon character "Woody Woodpecker" in the 1940s. To me I think of them as the relative of the thought to be extinct "Ivory Billed Woodpecker" from the South East swaps. In the years we've lived here now I...

A short post today as I had written a long post yesterday only to have it lost as we lost our Internet at work for the last 2 hours, and unlike mobile devices like this Nexus 7 where you can save the post on the local device,  on my computer all was lost as the Internet failure was early on in my typing. So, today just a note to say all is well.  It's finally summer here with the last few days and all next week the temps being mid 80s to low 90s. Tonight is our communities 4th of July fireworks but we won't be attending.  Due to our location this far North,  the show won't start until after 10 pm.  A bit late for us and then the traffic after the show just to leave. Did get to hear a lot of fireworks last night though. They're not illegal in this area so quite a few people buy them and love to set them off until around midnight. Probably the same tonight also. Anyway, I will post again next week.  Happy holiday.

I had posted this photo and not gone back to edit or publish it until today. On June 29th Stacy and I drove to Libby, Montana, about an hour away, for the drive and to check out a few places, like the photo below, to hopefully some weekend soon check out with our trailer.  The photo is a pull through RV site at the East- Yaak River campground, in Montana, about a half hour or so from our property in Idaho.  The pull through is actually the roadway to the left with the pass by on the right. To me this photo looks like it could just as easily be on the coast of Washington instead of over 400 miles inland in North Idaho.  Still, we really liked this and a couple of other sites at this same campground. Ten dollars a night, 14 day limit, no hookups, and several of the sites are right along the Kootenai River.  The West Yaak River campground with it's entrance just a few yards before the entrance to this group if heading east, and on the other side of a gully,...

A taste of summer today as the temps are, at this point- 1:55, about 80 degrees, which is actually just above what was predicted and warmer than yesterday by a degree or two or three. Last week was in the upper 50s to low 60s and cloudy and rainy. It is predicted to be that way again next week too, so the sunny and warm (hot) weather is just teasing yesterday, today and tomorrow. Even I have to admit it to be a nice change. Everything is sprouting everywhere with the longer days and now the warmer weather. Everything, green, green, green. All summer long too here. Morning twilight is from about 4:30 in the morning already and evening twilight goes to after 8 pm, it really makes me wonder why this far north we have to be included in the 'daylight savings time' switch. I mean right now, if it was still 'standard time', it would still be getting light at 3:30 in the morning! And staying light till 7 to 8 pm already. And the days are getting longer very fast, about ...

This story starts with the box in the above photo that Stacy received via UPS on her birthday, Thursday, the 17th, from our daughter Sandy, and about a marmalade that Sandy had liked that was available near her home from "Frog Hollow Farm". Last Saturday the 19th, Stacy decided to take on the challenge of creating it and I would photograph and be the helper and taster. To be honest though, when Sandy had said it was the 'best she'd tasted' we were expecting a box with some pre-made marmalade and not a marmalade kit. And lemon marmalade to boot! It looks to be quite the challenge to make lemon into a sweet and tasty marmalade In the box were two smaller boxes, the top one had some packed like eggs lemons, a bag of sugar, three little jars for the finished product and some directions and advertisements for the place. As the packed directions were somewhat simplistic and a little vague, Stacy looked online and found some slightly more detailed directions. So...

So, here's the story about the photos below.  Stacy and I were on the final day of the annual Juvenile Justice Conference, and in 2011 it was in Pocatello, Idaho.  The conference moves to different locations around the state each year for each conference.  While most other people were checking out and driving back to their various locations in the state, Stacy had to attend a state level meeting that lasted most of the day.  Just the day before, Stacy had been asked by the hotel's hospitality representative if she was interested in being in a promotional photo shoot for the facility in updating their website.  While Stacy couldn't because of the meeting, she told her I might be interested. Stacy later told me about it and told me if I wanted too, all I had to do was show up at 10:00 am to the sports bar in the building. Since that last day of the conferences are often me sitting around after packing our stuff back in the vehicle and checking u...