Taking a break

As you could probably tell from my lack of posts, I am in need of a break. I can't do everything I have to do and maintain this blog with any semblance of consistency. I hope to be back at it before the end of the summer!

Theme Day: Feet

This tiny, two-hour old foot belongs to the daughter of one of my very best friends, Julie. I had the honor of serving as her doula and watching her beautiful baby girl come into the world.

Down they go

Our mall has one of these fun gadgets that eats whatever money you toss into it...probably a great source of income for them! It is a good way to get rid of your pocket change I suppose! I snapped this photo while some kids were putting in pennies. The centrifugal force keeps them spinning around for a looooooong time!

Under the apple trees

Quiet garden under a grove of apple trees. I could hear the bees buzzing as they went about their business. It was very peaceful.

Pinata!

This was one tough old bird! It took the kids about 100 whacks before they managed to get to the candy treasure waiting inside.

Once again I apologize for the delay in posting...the husband had yet another surgery...hopefully the last one. Forever!

A memorial

Two years ago in the early am hours of this day and the late night hours of the previous, our town suffered several losses. Some tragic losses that won't soon be forgotten, nor should they be. My thoughts and prayers are still with all the families and friends on what I know has to be a very hard day. Gone, but not forgotten. RIP.

Tunnel and fence

One of the play structures at Rotary Park where we held my sons 6th birthday party this past weekend. It was a beautiful day to be at the park, and the kids had a great time.

Here's Your Sign

That gorgeous looking burger is a new offering from Carl's Jr's 6$ Burger line, the Kentucky Bourbon Burger. It had been about 10 years since my husband and I had entered a Carl's Jr, so I figured what the heck...I got the double. I like laughing in the face of arterial plaque and at a whopping 1,000 calories and 51 grams of fat, it won't be a frequent meal...though, in it's defense, it also sports your daily allotment of protein as well, matching the fat gram for gram.

All that aside, it was delicious but could have done with a bit more of the tangy barbeque sauce. Yum.

Lichen Rock

I have always loved this lichen covered rock...unfortunately on this day it was overcast and the brilliant lime green color of the lichen just didn't show up very well in the photo.

Kibbie chunk

When I was out taking pictures of the Kibbie Dome a few days ago, I noticed a huge chunk of the roof missing. I am also wondering if they plan on replacing or repainting the tiles you can see just behind the scaffolding that decorate the face of the dome. I will keep you posted!

Tree lined

As you can see, the farmers are getting their fields ready for planting. I liked the way the trees seem to line this ridge. Trees are not something you would normally see taking up prime farming land on the Palouse...I was happy to see that a few trees were left in place!

Track and field events

There were some track events going on this past weekend at U of I. It was a nice day for it...mid 60's and sunny! We enjoyed watching for a few moments.

Dome facelift

We drove past the Kibbie Dome a few days ago and I took some photos of the dome which appears to be undergoing a facelift. I am not sure what they are doing, but it sure looks cool with all the scaffolding around it!

Spring Blooms: Tulip bed

Spring Blooms: Tulips and Bamboo

Little clucker

I love chickens. They make me smile. We have a few hens for enjoyment and fresh eggs. Nothing from a grocery store can beat the taste of a farm fresh free range chicken egg. The girls went crazy with delight when we tilled up our garden area last weekend...they were in worm and bug heaven!

Brick artwork

I love this colorful mural on the side of a building in Oakesdale, Washington. It's much nicer to look at than a plain brick structure.

Derailed

Purposeful or not, you decide! I couldn't figure out this scene when I came upon it. The tops of the railcars are facing the tracks instead of the wheels...does this seem odd to you? Yet, the grain has spilled and the whole scene is quite a mess! I captured this photo between Oakesdale and Rosalia, Washington.

Two photos today! The photo below is my almost 6 year old sons own 'capture'. He drew the above train wreck on his sisters Nintendo DS...he is quite the artist, wouldn't you agree? :)

Thunderhead

Amazing cloud formations were to be had last week in our area. Some of them more incredible than others!

Theme Day: Shadows

This month's City Daily Photo theme is Shadows. I had no idea what photo I was going to present...or even try for, and then today as we were rototilling our garden, my youngest son asked if he could take a pass with the monster tiller and I had the opportunity for this shot. We got the garden mostly ready before we called it a day. I don't think I have it in me to tackle another pass tomorrow before we have to return the tiller!


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Steptoe Battlefield

The sign pretty much tells the story here. The bridge I posted about yesterday can be seen in the background of this photo.

Train overpass

This great bridge is a train overpass in Rosalia, Washington. The area it passes over is a slightly famous battlefield that I will expound more on tomorrow. :)

Rain storm

We managed to beat this rain storm home yesterday. It started out as a gorgeous day and then these dark clouds moved in and the rain came down. It's good I suppose since the wheat fields are starting to green up and need the rain.

Serene kitty

Here is my lovable furball again. I couldn't pass up this photo of him looking all serene. He was very nearly asleep like this sitting on the warm hood of the car the other morning.

Famous explorers

The famous explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through the cities now known as Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington (such original names, I know! haha) in October of 1805 on their journey to discover the Northwest Passage (a water route) to the Pacific Ocean at the behest of President Thomas Jefferson. The Idaho section of their trail follows along side several rivers and what is now known as Highway 12, or the Lewis & Clark Highway. The terrain is pretty much the same now as it was back then...except of course for the highway...and is a very beautiful drive into Montana.

Divided highway

Last year saw the completion of the new Moscow-Lewiston 4-lane divided highway (Hwy 95 South). This used to be a two lane highway which could be a little frustrating with semi's and slower farm vehicles taking up space...or for those of us who might sometimes have a bit of a lead foot getting stuck behind a slow-poke! The new highway has a speed limit of 65 mph which is really nice and makes the daily commute to and from Lewiston much quicker for those who live in one town, but work in the other...like my hubby. :)

Maple blooms

Everything is starting to bloom around town, including this maple tree. In a few weeks, all the flowers and trees will be in full blossom...of course, we are supposed to have snow at the end of the week from what I have heard. It's hard to imagine that when it was very nearly 80° here today!

Ornate Steeple

Yesterday after our brief foray into the Presbyterian church for a rummage sale, I took this photo of the church steeple. I had never really noticed how beautiful and ornate the brickwork is!

Blooms of Spring: Illuminated

Ok, I'm sure you are all tired of flower photos, so this is the last one for awhile! I just couldn't resist snapping these gorgeous daffodils this morning in the parking lot at the Presbyterian Church. We went for the rummage sale...this photo was the best thing I got!

Blooms of Spring: Bunch of Daffodils

Our backyard is terraced with rail ties...I have always liked the setup and think it makes a great backdrop for all the flower bulbs that the original owners planted.

Blooms of Spring: Orange rims

These are my favorites of the daffodils, creamy white petals with deep yellow trumpets and orange rims. I only have a few of these, so when they come up, they always get special attention. :)

Blooms of Spring: Daffodil trumpet

Another shot of one of my daffodils. It's amazing what the camera sees that I do not...cause I never saw the two bugs that are on the flower!
Posting again from Sacred Heart in Spokane...and outpatient surgery for my hubby ended up as an admit...sigh. Hopefully we can go home soon!

Eggcellent dye job

I hope everyone has had or is having a wonderful Resurrection Sunday! My kids have always enjoyed egg dyeing and the hunt afterwards, so here are a few of this years colored wonders.

Blooms of Spring: Daffodils

Two photos today because I couldn't really decide which I liked better! These Daffodils (Narcissus) opened yesterday...I just love these flowers, they bring back such wonderful childhood memories of my best friend Kim and I. We were a couple of crazy little girls, let me tell you...but what fun we had! I posted another blog and photo here about Kim and the daffodils if you care to read it. :)

Blooms of Spring: White Crocus

These white and yellow Crocus blooms are so pretty. I think the white ones just look so perfect. Normally white flowers just aren't very attractive to me, but I love these. They remind me of all that is good about Spring...a fresh clean start.

Blooms of Spring: Striped Crocus

I love the Crocus...to me they signify that Spring might actually be close! These are in my front yard and bloomed last week...then they had 8 inches of snow dumped on them, yet here they are still looking beautiful. I was so glad that all the blooms seemed unaffected by the snow!

Blooms of Spring: Lavender Crocus

For the next few days I am going to post some flower photos...other than pics of my kids, flowers are my favorite subjects. :) These pretty lavender Crocus blooms are in my front yard among a hundred others that have popped up through the leaf and pine needle debris.

Hello...again!

This morning as my husband sat outside, our resident woodpecker decided to show his little face for the first time this year...well the first we have seen of him anyway. I blogged about his 'mate' (or what I call his mate!) in this post last year. I don't know how long woodpeckers can live, but I swear this is the same bird that we have seen each year and in the same spot since we moved into our house in July 2004! He is a pretty little thing and very tolerant of my acrobatics out the window as I try to get a good shot of him! He stayed for half an hour before flying off.

Road work

A week ago I was rudely awakened at 7am by the sound of a jackhammer and large equipment...and the annoying beeps they make when put into reverse. Did I mention that it was 7am? When I finally dragged myself out of bed, resigned to not being able to get back to sleep and looked out my window, I was greeted with this site. They worked all day, tore up a patch of road about 20 x 8 fixed whatever was broken, and laid new asphalt before driving off at 5pm. How can construction workers always look like they are doing nothing and yet get stuff done? I swear each time I looked out, there was either no one in sight or they were all standing around talking! One of life's great mysteries I suppose!

Ahhhhhhh...Sunshine!

I have the best cat...he has never met a human he didn't love, and the feeling is usually mutual. Here he is on the front porch doing what cats do best, sleeping...while reaching out to the sun as if to say, "Where have you been old friend? Please don't leave!" I couldn't resist posting his photo today.

Seedlings

It's that time of year again...once all the snow is over with that is! These seedlings are in my mini indoor greenouse. I can't wait until the garden is in full production!

Here's Your Sign

This one pretty much speaks for itself! I love it when people go out of their way to think of something clever for their signs!

Early Spring Snow

Look what we woke up to this morning! Yep, that's a full 8" of snow out there on my deck table and a winter weather warning still in effect until 5pm, so who knows how much more we will end up with...guess Mother Nature forgot it was actually Spring! After 8 years of living here, I am kinda resigned to these last minute snow storms, but what gets me EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. is that the superintendent of schools balks at even running on a two hour delay let alone actually closing school...so it puts all the kids and the bus drivers and the parents who drive their kids at risk being out on the road. Our plows just can't handle the volume that quickly...and with the warning in effect until 5pm, we will be getting more before the day is out. Ok, rant over! At least two of my children were off anyway for teacher conferences, so they will have a good time playing out in the snow and building a snowman. :)

Theme Day: Yellow

Sorry for my long absence from the blog. We had a nice 10 day stay in the hospital and since coming home have had so much going on and I have been running in twenty different directions!
Thank you to those who emailed or left get well comments. That was so appreciated! My hubby is 'ok' and about at 60%, so we aren't pushing it.

Today's theme for the City Daily Photo this month is the color yellow. I took this photo today of some cut flowers that my husband received while in the hospital from his employer...so nice of them, and a beautiful display. Two weeks later and they are still looking good!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this months theme day!

The Gem State

When people think of Idaho, usually the first thing to go through their minds is the potato. Yes, we have famous potatoes, but Idaho is the gem state. You might wonder how we got this nickname when Idaho really doesn't have a plethora of gems...we DO have the star garnet which is only found in Idaho and India, Idaho's one claim to gem fame...but that doesn't really account for the prestigious name. In fact, Idaho's nickname is a mistake! The word 'Idaho' was thought to mean "gem of the mountains" in a native American language, but was later found not to be true. Still, the name stuck and to this day, Idaho is the Gem State.

This sign hangs on main street and points the way to a local shop.

I am posting this photo from the 2nd floor at Gritman Medical Center where my husband has been admitted. I am not sure how long we may be here, so I may or may not have a photo for tomorrow. Please bear with me.

Friendship Square clock

This clock is 4 sided and sits at the intersection of Main and Friendship Square. There are many activities throughout the year here in Friendship Square...not the least of which is the Farmer's Market which runs from May through October. Also many music events take place in the square and all the parades pass through it making it a hot spot for people watching.

Moon on the Palouse

The last few mornings as I have gone to pick up my son from his job, the moon has been out and almost ready to leave the horizon. I managed to snap this photo today, just as the sun was starting to come up on the opposite horizon.

Biggest Loser

The North Idaho Athletic Center in downtown Moscow is running this Biggest Loser contest. It's a great idea...I just wish my husband had gotten involved with it! He has lost 40 lbs in the past 3 months (not by choice), but because he has been having gall bladder pain and has changed his eating habits completely. He is feeling great, has more energy, is sleeping better, and has dropped 4 sizes! The gall bladder pain seems to be a thing of the past, thank God. Nothing like feeling like you would rather die than be in pain to make you rethink what garbage you are putting into your body!

Oxymorons...

Or double oxymoron...Save Money, Live Better...and it's printed on a soda pop dispenser? LOL Spend your money and ruin your health would be more apt, but there you go! This one really made me chuckle. Also found at our local Walmart. :)