Sunday, December 31, 2006

2006 a Year to Remember


As my last post for this past year I think it's only fitting to pay hommage to those we lost and moments that reflect the great wonders we are allowed to experience.

This link lists all deaths that occured in 2006.
As I looked through the long list I was so saddened by those who I recalled from my childhood. It makes our short time here on earth mean so much more.

Here's a list people and events that took place in 2006.

I have to must mention that my greatest moment in 2006 was the birth of my Granddaughter. Yes, I'm kinda stuck on Eva.

I wish you all a very Happy and Safe New Year.





Thursday, December 28, 2006

Our Poochie, McKay


This is one of our pooches, McKay, she's an 11 year old Gordon Setter. She has been a great bird dog and friend. She poses well, too! For many years she hunted with the hubby for grouse, quail and pheasant. Now she's semi retired.


On another note...this past year has been quite productive for us. We have built a hay/horse barn, revamped the pond by planting native plants and flowers for the wildlife to enjoy, and "almost" finished the kitchen. The kitchen, no doubt, has been a real stickler. I have himmed and hawed over the backsplash tile for months and I have finally made a decision. Whoo hoo! I even found, after six months of searching, a company that I can order a stainless steel tambour from for the appliance garage. One of these days I will share the before and after photos of our place which we fondly call the "Love Shack."

BTW---I got my White Christmas !!!





Saturday, December 23, 2006

Scrooge


While I thought coming back home to Cocolalla this trip would make a big change in my Bah Humbug Christmas attitude...I was wrong. First off the lights on the big tree outside are missing a section of lights, that really annoys me. If ya can't do it right don't do it at all. I came back to a horribly messy home. My hubby just can't seem to clean it "my way." I know that is my problem. You see, our home has been under construction for five years and it is not quite the Better Homes and Garden version of mountain living as I imagined.

While I am in California working hubby is here taking care of the animals and "remodeling." Well, it just ain't so. I know the three horses, three dogs, five parrots, five tortoises, building a horse barn and keeping the driveway clear, not to mention the rental property intact is a lot of work. By the time he's done with the animals he's too tired to do much remodeling. Our ranch is spread out so every thing associated with animals takes a lot of time and effort, plus hubby is not an organized person. BINGO, organization ! That is my problem, that he is not organized. You would think that it's not a big thing but it is. It affects every aspect of our life here. I hate taking an hour to find a flashlight that should..............

OK, hold everything. Guess what just pulled up in my driveway. My neighbor Bucky Roop, in his pick up truck with 10 neighbor hood children in the back... it's snowing and they are coming to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas. Now that's Christmas.....I have never had Carolers come to my home and sing, what a treat!!

OK, Scrooge signing off to go clean the house, no I didn't even mind the 10 drippy foot prints, and find something to bake.


Thursday, December 14, 2006

My Love/Hate Affair with Christmas


Come on, I know there's more like me out there.

Round about November I'm all excited and have my list in place, asking who wants what.
I hate the response, " I don't know, get me whatever." There's also the Christmas music being played in all the shops during Thanksgiving-grrr.

By December 1st I've scratched through half my list and feeling smug.
By Dec 12th I'm in a panic because I've procrastinated thinking the last half of the list would be a breeze.

It's now Dec 14th and Christmas Spirit is fading. The only bright side is knowing I will get to see my Granddaughter soon and I've already done her shopping.
Bah Humbug side. I tell myself "I'll just shop online or go shopping when I get up to Idaho..

I have no tree set up in California since I'm only here to work. I decided to pull out my ole Douglas Fir talking tree!
After 5 minutes of it automatically turning on when I walked by I unpluged it- ACK !

I'm currently hoping Christmas will go away - rainey California weather does that to a soul.
I can't wait to get up to Cocolalla and hopefully see BIG SNOW !!!

Merry Humbug Christmas

Monday, December 11, 2006

Dinner for One

I've been in Morgan Hill on my week off work... If it weren't for my folks, other family members and work I would not be here at all. My son, Bobby, from New Jersey came out to visit and saved me from total boredom. He kept me entertained with his wit and humor. Sometimes it's hard not to treat him like a kid even though he's nearing 30, is a pilot for the USAF and has a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Yikes! Just dated myself.

As the first born son he has always been the "test" baby. You know, the child you test all the rules on and see what works and doesn't work. Then by the time you get to the second child you're a bit more lax on rules...like I haven't heard the end of that. Bobby doesn't hesitate to let me know where I went wrong in raising him, but I have news for him. Unfortunately, he has to wait till he has a childof his own, then the real fun begins!

Now Bobby has left and I'm home alone...again.

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Immigration-Double Edged Sword

I just received an email from NumbersUSA.com on another immigration bill congress is trying to pass. It's the H-1B bill to increase foreign workers in tech, nursing, physical therapy, engineering and science fields.

I have to RANT a little as I know some of this to be true... I work in California, yes California. But I do bring my moola back to Idaho! I am a nurse and I do work along side of foreign nurses. While some of them are good nurses some are not, that goes for any other nurse for that matter.

What I do know, being educated in California myself, is that the nursing schools have waiting lists a mile long. So what happens when foreign nurses come swarming in? Our lines get longer on the college wait list, foreign nurses will work for lower wages (if their employer is not in a union) and then they bring in their relatives and friends on visas who take the other skilled or non-skilled jobs. Someday your kid won't even be able to work at Burger King or Taco Bell after school ?

Nurses are sent here usually by some contract to work in states like Texas where there is no union and are trained. They work under some grueling circumstances from the stories I have been told. Once they have the "experience"under their belt and fulfilled their obligation they come to CA where there are "ratios" for nursing and a union. Ratio Ex: The ICU where I work is a 1:2 ratio, one nurse, two patients-no ifs ands or buts. Med Surgical is 1:5.

Here's the double edged sword part.....
I have seen the foreign nurse I work with bring in six nursing friends who she sponsors on visas, not to mention relatives. I know this as she has asked me to help her write the sponsor letters !!! I have to hand it to her though, she is a pretty smart cookie. And don't think she's the only one that does this. They trade off bringing the Mom or Mother in Law here for six months to babysit the kids and help with the house while they work. And I mean they work! They take the overtime no one wants, do the double shifts and work at two hospitals. They sign up for holidays for double pay. In the CNA (union) they are making avg. base rate $55.00/hr you add differential pay for night work and extra pay for charge nurse duties and then top it off with overtime you're making a big fat paycheck. No wonder she lives in a 1.2 million dollar home and I don't. Her husband is also a nurse so double those figures I just gave you!!!

So basically what I am trying to say is that we need to start steppin up to the plate and take a stand for ourselves as US citizens. If we don't want our jobs taken over by foreign workers then we must let our congress know. What do you think?



Thursday, November 30, 2006

Yes, it's snowing!



Snow ! I love it ! This is a picture of a a little trail just off the main road where I live. The sun was shining though the trees but it seems I did not capture that very well. Looks rather gloomy in fact... Humm, back to the book for me.

On Monday Dear Hubby drove me back to Spokane airport at 4:45 am in a blizzard. I was on my way to Seattle for three days to see my Grand baby. Near Silverwood the road was almost impossible to see, we drove by center line braille and left side berms. The jerk behind us was tailgating and had his lights on high beam, some think more is better.. arrrggghhh!

During our ride we saw a red car off the road down in the ditch on 95 in Chilco. I tried being a good Samaritan and called the Bonner Sheriff Dispatch, what a joke.. They asked if I pulled over and I said nooo, it's snowing too bad and the guy behind us has his lights on bright and riding our bumper-not safe and we didn't see him until we were 10 feet away, that's how bad it was. They told me to call Kootenai dispatch and after telling them I don't know the number they decided to connect me. What? Isn't that their job? So the dispatcher finally transfers me and no one comes on the line. After 5 minutes I call back Bonner dispatch and she said they were suppose to call me back on my cell but they didn't. Go figure. She said Kootenai dispatch was alerted so I felt a little better. Hubby said the car was gone on his trip back.

This reminds me of this last summer when I reported a fire to Bonner Dispatch up the mountain behind Round Lake. They couldn't find it...hello? After sending out a truck and calling me back they still couldn't find it. See the big plume of smoke in the middle of the green forest? I guess others reported it also and finally some local land owners went up the trail and put it out. Hummm wonder how it started in the middle of the day in the first place...

I just love to look out the window at snow...here's why:
Covers all the weeds.
I can anticipate my seed catalogs in a few months.
I fair better in snow than rain...old bones.
Ah, No mud!!!
My hubby is a good snow shoveler and loves his Bobcat.
I feel like I'm on vacation.

Oh and Seattle, it snowed there, too ! Yippee, thankfully I rented a 4WD.


Thursday, November 16, 2006

O. J. Simpson...what an AR&E


WON'T WATCH THE SHOW, WON'T READ THE BOOK...nuff said



Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Ho Hum Day


Nothing horribly exciting to post about today. I was called in to work tonight so that basically ruins my afternoon. I must take at least a four hour nap prior to working the night shift when I'm called in less than 24 hours. I love night shift but my body hates it. It's the only way I can work six nights on and have eight days off and go back home to Idaho. I've gained weight and that in it's self is my fault. One of the MD's told us night shifters that we would have a shorter life span and tend to get more cancers-good grief, such wonderful statistics !

Why don't I work days....list too long. Shh...if you're a night nurse you know why.

I need to find a counter I can post in my profile for days left to retire.

OK, off to grab a Starbucks...





Sunday, November 12, 2006

What's in a Name


For those of you who don't know me, ha ha that would be just about everyone, the name Scheenkonigin means Snow Queen. I believe the spelling is German and here's the wierd part. I'm not German, not a smidge.

I'm Azorian and Sicilian, which translates to me that I'm an island girl. You know the kind, Mediterranean tan, thick brown hair, slender......hey, it was good for me.

So back to why the blog name? A fluke? A whim? At first I wanted to use SNOQUEEN but decided someone might associate me with the "Evil Snow Queen." No comment......hah! Schneekonigin was just different I suppose.

I took a picture of the train while on the Long Bridge into Sandpoint last week. Actually, I have many pictures of the train crossing on the bridge. I'm not photogenic and thought the train was much more interesting to look at that why it's in my profile :) I swear every time I cross the bridge there is a train. But considering how many trains there are, like 80+ a day, I guess the odds are in my favor.

Hey, I can't wait for the Holiday traffic in town, how about you?


Saturday, November 11, 2006

Idaho Blogger Stress

Well....for the last few weeks I have been stressed over my recent post and deletion (finally) of the slide show containing pictures of family, friends and the surrounding areas in Idaho. It took me one hour to figure where the html code was in the template. The reason I'm so bent outta shape is because I used to teach computer programing (basic language) back in the day when the Apple II was hot stuff. Now, it's archaic and so am I !! I was going into the template to remove it like the site said, but all I had to do was delete the post---ARRRGGGGHH...

So now I will start over. And Wordtosser, I will get in touch with you next time I'm up. I fell down my stairs last week and was a bit outta sorts, more like my ego was crushed as I've never had that happen. Also, I have dial up in Cocolalla and just was in a foul mood at the 26K connection that kept dropping. I have cable down south ;) and I'm just spoiled I guess?

I contacted the Idaho satellite company in Sandpoint to get hooked up only to find out that the transponder on the satellite that serves this area is full and I have to be put on a waiting list. I guess it will be a Christmas present to myself since it won't be available till then.

What really prompted me to contact the satellite company was the fact that the new Sandpoint telephone book has their number printed in the yellow pages and it looks extremely similar to ours so we have been getting scads of calls for them. I finally called them up and told them the problem and that I would put a recording on our phone to redirect their calls back to them. Of course I just had to ask.....and now I'm patiently waiting for my satellite connection (not).

Hey did ya see the headless horseman picture in Sandpointonline.com, he was the guy riding around Bonner Mall. It was such a treat to see ! I ran over with a bunch of other people and snapped a picture for the paper.

I'm flying in on Turkey Day, can't wait.



Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Jewel Lake



The lake was smooth and clear at the waters edge but if there was a whopper in that lake I sure didn't find it. I must have caught 12-15 fish and none were bigger than five or six inches. It didn't matter where I cast off, near the dock or 20 feet out, all the same. We used flies and worms but that wasn't on their menu I guess.

The scenery was beautiful especially when the Canadian geese flew over. You could hear the geese honking and as soon as they flew over our heads I yelled out the warning "Cover Your Heads." Luckily, we were missed by a few feet but you could see all the plops in the water. The other yelling involved was my distain for the bees trying to carry off my can of 7-up. I just go ballistic when bees are bothersome. All in all it was a nice fishing trip.


Tuesday, September 26, 2006

She's back...

I've taken a short hiatus for some reason or other. I must confess it was my funky computer. I decided to stop being cheap and go buy a new one, nothing fancy but it does the job. This one actually has speakers. Yes, I was living in the ice age...

The old ranch is still in a state of change. The newest element is the hunting condo at the top of the mountain, actually it's an elaborate camo hunting stand..a two seater with swivel seats and surround viewing turret. Hopefully, this one won't get stolen like our other one seater did last hunting season. Some jerk actually unscrewed all the bolts, bundled it up and laid it in the forest to pick up later on, possibly in an ATV. We foiled his plans by using our eagle eye tracking skills then posted a "Keep Out" sign...Yeah, like that's going to work.

I see the Bonner County assessment dilemma is continuing to disgruntle most folks. Who can blame them, even this old place is assessed at five times what I bought it for. Do you ever wonder if the real estate companies and insurance companies have a little monopoly going on and the Chamber is stirring the pot? Why, you ask? My home owners insurance guy says you have to insure your place for what it's worth? Humm, Ok that would triple what I pay now. Between that, property tax and mortgage, general up keep your other regular bills and food I can't afford to retire! What kind of bunk is that? (What is Blog without a RANT anyway, ha !)

On a happy note my son, Bobby, is back from the Middle East! He and his honey are coming out to visit this week. Life is good again....


Tuesday, May 23, 2006

FIRST PICTURES


Remember when you were 14 and you thought your Mother was just not with the times? That's how I felt when I unpacked my new camera. After perusing the instructions for 20 minutes I took this picture of Evie, my first Grandbaby.

I am hoping to take as many cool pictures as Toni, http://www.idahonaturetrails.blogspot.com/

I ended up getting a 1GB disk so I should be able to get about 200+ shots if needed. I could never imagine what a person would want with all that memory until Evie came into my life. I put Evie through the Anne Geddie's routine, the flower pot and stuffed animal shots, poor child she had the furrowed brow after the second picture. Well, that's it for now...

Sunday, May 21, 2006

New Camera Canon a620

Purchasing a camera on line was too easy. Click, click, click and 300 buckaroos later, it's mine! I did my research and spoke with the shutter bugs at work and decided on the Canon a620. Not to small for my "mature" hands and just enough "fluff" so I don't have to over tax the ole brain to figure it out.
The only scary part is that it's being delivered to my doorstep in Cocolalla and I so hope it's all there, in one peice, when I get it. I hope I didn't buy a lemon, either! Ole tight wad me even splurged on an extended warranty.

I mainly wanted it to take picutres of the new grand baby and will be stopping down in Seattle on my way back to California...oh, don't remimd me. In Califonia is a grey, rainy day today.

Hubby tells me he had to corral the neighbors horses and take them back up the road, not an easy feat with three hoses and one man. He's a good egg neighbor. And that in it's self is another subject...

I know more neighbors in Idaho after five years than I do here in CA after 50 years! My neighbor two doors down moved in 2 years ago was actually a high school classmate of mine. The only place I'v seen him is in the ICU where I work! Do I see him in the driveway to wave at, no. We are all too busy I guess.

And now I must get busy and get ready for work. Red flannel reindeer PJ's isn't an acceptable ICU uniform .

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Flowers on Parade


My flowers, most are blooming and some are spent already... the other problem is I'm not up there to even enjoy them right now. My flight leaves the 24th of May and that's when I will be a happy camper. I've already packed my bags and I'm ready to go, wait, wait, that's a song and an old one too boot. ACK.-dating myself again.

Word Tosser mentioned the mud slide up on Schweitzer. The picture in the Bee don't look too devestating but I'm sure there's some hidden dammage as usual. Our property had a lot of run off this year, too, and all those little run offs turned slightly larger this year. So hubby is busy diverting water away from the house...

Whos going to the "Back to the Fifties" this year? I'm going to miss it for the 5th year in a row, I have to work. I have an old 1948 car to refinish and enter one of these decades..wel, hubby does, lol.

On a good note I will be up for the 4th of July, my favorite time up here. I love all the fireworks shows around; Cocolalla Lake, Sandpoint, Bottle Bay and from there you can see Garfields fireworks over the mountain tops. The parade is a real kick , too. Just like my old town use to have, pooper scoopers and all!

Well gotta get ready so I can go to the old horsepistol and put my 12 hours in....



Tuesday, May 16, 2006

It's a G-I-R-L, Eva Maree is here !

My Little Sweetie
Finally, on May 3rd I became a Nonne to the most petite, cute, sweet, lovely...ok, ok I'll contain myself. Eva Maree weighed 6.1 lbs, 19.75 inches long. I wasn't there for the birth but I did get there before she was 24 hours old and carried her out fo the hospital. And yes, I bought more pink and a Shermag rocker for Mommie. I never had the extra money for a rocker and I sure wanted my Grandbaby to have one.

Mom and Dad are doing good, too. They are so happy.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

What's Bloomin ?

The hubby calls me today ands tells me my flowers are blooming around the pond. The crocus have been up for a week peeking through the remenants of snow and the daffodils are ready to unfold. Local moose have already done damage to the not so lucky bulbs underfoot. But best of all ...no rain today.

I wanted to share some info on my best growing flowers and plants up here in Cocolalla. One is a pricey little flower called Cape Daisy in Nasinga Pink. It has the best blooming span of all my flowers and the deer won't eat them either. Next would be my collection of Chickens n Hens. I was surprised by their ability to make it thought the freezing winters and occasional hot summer days and still have beautiful flower displays. I would have to say that my masses of daffodils are the real show stoppers of all the flowers. I also planted peonies last year and hope they all made it through the winter as well as the mass plantings of what I term "ditch lilies" along the driveway.

So as soon as I get back up to Cocolalla on Wednesday I will add some pictures to the site.

By the way the Grandbaby is not here yet.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Peeps or Bunnies?



Well, this picture just cracks me up. I decided to go with peeps this year instead of chocolate Bunnies for the table dressing. Chocolate, it appears, is too tempting BUT I'm not a fan of Peeps. Also, I can watch the big kids do weird things with the peeps, like have peep wars and tear heads off and that sort of nonsense. Probably similar to the bunnie pictures on here.

I'm picking up the hubby today in san Jose. I'm getting to know the airport all too well. The weather is dreary, rainey just not Easter weather. You know, the happy, sunny, spring flower day it should be, right?

Well, I must get back to smashing potatoes. I'm the designated cook for the holiday. So, Happy Easter!

Friday, April 14, 2006

Middle East Deployment.....ACK!




My oldest son, Bobby, will be deploying to the United Arab Emeritus in May. Thankfully, he is a pilot in a KC-10 fueler...What that means, according to Bob, is that all the fighter planes will protect his plane since he's their gas station in the sky. (Note: this is being said in my words as Bobby gave me a 20 minute detailed, indepth over my head techical reasons he should be safe.) Fuel is sucked up at an alarming rate so they know where he is at all times, plus he says he flies so high he would be considered a low priority target. ...Lets only hope.

Could I talk him into using his Aerospace Engineering degree to work at... Let's say NASA? "Oh no, that's too boring Mom!" I knew the plan long ago.

Bobby wanted to be a pilot from the time he was three. His Dad, Grandpa and most all the folks on that side of the family are pilots. Planes have been in his life from day one(see the little picture) Grandpa and Uncle George (both were USAF pilots, too) they also fly Formula One's (the itty bitty planes) in the National Air Races. So yes, I used go with the family to do the Air Race circuit all over the US. Since I haven't been married to his Dad for over 20 years I no longer follow the sport. I saw more Lomschavags (sp?) than the you can imagine. That's an aerobatic maneuver called "headache" in Russian.

I won't see my son until he returns in July...I already miss him.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Who took my body?

Today is my first day off after my six day rotation at work. I have cleaned my house, washed my windows, hosed off the porch and mowed the lawn. I'm poodered out and out of shape, how did that happen? I supose it doesn't take but a few burgers and fries.

Work is no help either. I walk a lot but that isn't much exercise when it's only 20 feet at a time. I'm an RN and work in the ICU in CA. It's very rural setting, much like Bonner General, but the pay is twice as much. The work load is hit and miss, feast or famine, or just plain S_L_O_W... Thanks to the CNA union we can refuse to be put "on call." So we just sit and help do what's needed or we can volunteer and go home with out pay- now, who wants to do that? They can cancel us and we have the option to take "PTO" pay (paid time off) but, I'm greedy and like to bank my hours just in case of a family emergency. Now, you ask why would I work in California and have a home in Idaho? Easy. Twice the pay, job security, insurnace, I can afford to contribute to my 401K and every other week I go to Idaho and leave the rat race behind....but.....

This week I'm staying in Morgan Hill taking care of my folks and hubby is coming down for his Grandmas funeral. (Good, he has to come down and suffer with me, ha ha.) He can barely stand to leave the ranch and I don't blame him. Oh, cripe I gotta go finish the edging on the lawn..............


Sunday, April 2, 2006

April Fools !

Today was the best! I woke up feeling kinda depressed it would be another gloomy day. Muck at my door step so that meant I wasn't going to venture outside too much. So, what to do, what to do? I end up helping hubby renovate the wall that will hold the railing in the stairwell. Excitement beyond comparison I tell ya. Then what do I see... SNOW ! Yeaha! I love the snow.
OK, now I'm really excited....! That's all.



Monday, March 20, 2006

The Long Walk

Well, I w-a-s going on a long walk, I desperatly need one. Going to Seattle for a baby shower was just another reminder that I do not like the big city life. But I will not elaborate as not to bore anyone.

I checked out the Sandpointonline.com site and read the news...I can't believe all the depressing developments going on. Sidewalks, removing geese on the City Beach, school issues, levys.....what next?

Ok, so now I'm bored and depressed. I will sit and vege out on TV, coffee while the rain pours and clouds are grey--NOT! I'm outta here.........





Thursday, March 16, 2006

Disheartened

I'm so disheartened lately..Sandpoint is growing out of control; developments, the public complaining about geese on the City Beach (oh brother), increasing taxes, roads are a mess, influx of child molesters to the area from out of state, the Home Makeover mess and so on. Cocolalla is growing , too. That's where I have a problem. Here comes California..

I have finally learned that in order to deal with all the building I will be moving. Moving up higher on our hill so I can't see anyone unless they are down in the valley miles away. Yes, building, but this is no development! Unfortunately we will have to wait and burn a huge slash pile. So, that means another year or two as it's going to be hell getting it burned and cleaned. But, it will all work out. I'll need a rest from the renovation of the cabin and of course there is always a weed or two to pull.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Thumb Twittiling











Today I sit and wait...Wait for the new Grandbaby (girl), wait for the day I go to Seattle (Friday) to attend the baby shower, wait for my Moms diabetic supplies to come (long story), wait for my tax return, wait for the next time I'm off work and go back to Cocolalla.

Most of all I can't wait for that baby! First time Grandma here, you see. I have three boys of my own so a girl is a real treat. I have never bought so much pink in my life! The girls at work are having a Grandma baby shower for me. I've never heard of one, but hey, anything for a party these day, right?

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Tuesday, February 21, 2006

15 minutes to Sandpoint

So if you've never been to Sandpoint and want to see what's going on click on the title..

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Three Horses in Cocolalla

Today is burry cold! The wind chill is up and the horses are still standing out in the weather like nothing is wrong. We have two paints, Shine and No Name Uno (aka; Jane Doe), havent named her yet. She was an almost rescue horse. She was for sale because the owners were splitting up and couldn't afford to feed her and when we saw her the first time she had no water in her trough. She had ribs sticking out and looked emaciated. We took her home to Cocolalla and there she was met by our other horse Shine, a two year old spoiled boy. They had the usual "testing time" with the food and space issues but are now pasture buddies!

We also have an Arabian about six years old. He is black and gray, kinda jittery as most Arabians are. I haven't gotten to know him too well but plan to.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Cocolalla, Idaho


Can I go back home now..........

I hear it's like 4 degrees in Sandpoint, Id. Ha, I love it! I love the snow and the mountian peace. Nobody bugs me on my hill. Except the moose can scare the jeebers outta me now and then. I'ts late and I gotta go to bed, hopefully with out the aid of AMBIEN. Ugh, I think i'm addicted and need to go off cold turkey again. That happened only once before, hate it. Anyhoo it's late late late. I miss my boys...love you.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Morgan Hill, CA ...

I'm in Morgan Hill this week....it's beautiful. There is a light breeze and no clouds in the sky, although it does smell a bit like mushroom farm gases...ack!

The ole town has changed. No more farms, ranches, corner drug store, Roberts dept. store, dime store or small town atmosphere. I cringe evertime I go to the grocery store, there is no one I know. The only familiar faces are a few tellers I went to high school with.

Long gone is the social element found at the old Nob Hill on Hale Ave to the CornerDrug and the five and dime next to the Granada theater. Does anyone remember the Bank of America and the elderly man, I think he was the manager, that gave out life savers? Well, he was elderly to me, I was only 5 years old at the time and every adult was "old."
I remember Mrs. Moreno, my kindergarten teacher at P.A. Walsh. She was beautiful and so nice. I remember making my first folder to hold all my painting projects. I cut out a picture of flowers on a hillside and pasted it on the front, she thought it was beautiful and I thought I was special. Weird, the stuff we remember.
It will be interesting to see how the Coyote Valley changes over the next decade. All I remember about that area is that is was swampy and they are now planning to put a lake were all the water collects naturally on Santa Teresa north of Bailey. Psst...I think it's been a lake all along except when some one tried putting tons of landfill there. And where are all these jobs coming from to support 80K people and not to mention the additional traffic we will see? Coyote is the narrowest part of the valley, humm, what does that mean in terms of flood, earthquake, smog (well, we already know that it collects there) traffic and sewage. And life happens.....

Monday, January 2, 2006

Who am I ?


What to write, what to write... I live in north Idaho near Sandpoint and there I am married. Most of the time I spend renovating our cabin and checking out the surrounding countryside. (That's hubby on the pond deck (minature wharf,haha) in the picture.

Life is good and today I will just kick back and walk around the property and try not to be scared of running into large animals. Last week we were riding around on the ATV and there was Miss Moose 20 yards away, we all froze. I screamed of course. I made the hubby back down and take another route up to the top, thankfully MM didn't charge us, whew. At first I thought she was laying down with a baby next to her but then she stood up and that "baby" was her butt! She was huge and she had no calf after all.

A few days later we saw another Momma Moose and her twins at the pond. They were so pituresque so we took about 5 pictures until they became annoyed and left. The next day we found they had eaten all the bark wround our newly planted golden weeping willow. Now we wait till spring to see if it survives...

FYI~
We are orginally from California but our little town was no longer "ours." The construction took over and now there is nary an orchard. I hope this doesn't happen to Cocolalla or Sandpoint but I have my fears. We are lucky to have wonderful neighbors and friends and hope to make more!