Returning to Cocolalla

It's been several months since was was at the big C. I have a contractor and will be renovating, finally! The cabin will finally be cozy and livable, and I can start working on the barn (below).

I, unfortunately, have dealt with some nasty neighbors that dumped junk on my property and trashed things. Thank God for cameras.  Hopefully, I won't have to deal with them or the sheriff this trip.

There's also a hunting stand that's being made into an observation stand, can't wait toget that hidious thing taken down. So...lots on my to do list....whee!

Taking reins

Getting rid of the white trash crappy shed and hay barn put on my place. What an improvement !

Gossip on the hill

Nothing like getting a message on Facebook from another one of your soon-to-be ex's prospects! What an eye opener, NOT. I already knew the things she told me, too bad she was another victim and traveled even farther than the last one. At least my rants are validated and truthful !!!

Caredio Cocolalla 2016

This year I'm getting back to posting on this blog! For the last few years I've been in the process of taking care of ill parents who both passed away, surgery with less than acceptable outcomes leading to an early retirement and a divorce... I can only hope 2016 will be a much better year. Of course it will!

Currently in the process of taking care of my folks ranch in exchange for rent since I can't afford rent down in California and going to Idaho to clean up a horrific mess at my cabin. Who lives like this ? Just GROSS !!!!

This is just an inkling of how I found my cabin in January. Thousands in damages thanks to the ex. Can't belive he left it like a pig sty.

On brighter side I can make the way it I envisioned it should be!

Two weeks ago...

This is what the view looked like from my ranch above Cocolalla Lake. For the middle of winter it's pretty pitiful as far as snowfall is concerned. I think I will be spraying for weeds next month...

2nd Ave. Pizza

So...I've been in Cocolalla for almost nine years now and my last trip up was the first time I ate at 2nd Ave. Pizza. What huge pizzas !

I was surprised by the lack of snow, thought Len was joking when he told me there was still dirt showing...I couldn't even use my snowshoes this year!

Horizon Airlies is offering non stop daily flights from San Jose, Ca to Spokane ,WA

Whee-doggies.! I'm all over that one!

Bear stuff

Just one of the bears in Idaho we've seen this year...well, not me. I'm stuck in California for the next month!

Sandpoint Travels

Today neighbor X forced me into her car and took me to the local Dufort Mall. If you're from Cocolalla or Sagle you know what I mean...actually, it's the local dump that has a donation station where people place used items that aren't total trash. My neighbor donated some items, and trash, then we took off to Sandpoint.













In Sandpoint we decided to visit a local eatery and bar (2)...yes, we drink. We went to the new restaurant called Oishii which has decor that combines mob stuff and fish...very odd..so we had some sake with an assortment of sashimi...it was great, but not filling...so...on the way out we see an even newer bar attached to this place called (blank) ah, I think the sake has taken hold by now...called "Spar". So we go upstairs. The music is playing and as soon as the bartender sees us he turns it off...what the heck? Oh, I get it, he thinks because were not a "21" crowd we can't handle the music, great..I'm the "Mame" generation. We look around, ask a few questions, neighbor X checks out the seating and decides it's not too comfy....we leave. Here's a few pictures of Oishii.












































Next stop is the Tam-O-Shanter bar...ah, what can I say. It's a local hang out and has been there a long time...We did make friends with this 83 year old lady, Lucille, who was about the only friendly person in the place. She told us about her garden, work and life's travels, she said she really liked a beer now and then even if it wasn't good for her. We took her name and number and she told us to drive by and check out her garden, so we did. Pretty impressive for someone her age to be gardening as much as she does! Here's a picture of her garden.














Then off to the local Farmers Market. We were so happy to see fresh tomatoes. We taste tested a few local cheeses which were surprisingly good. Lots of huckleberries for sale, $30.00 a gal which is cheap. We made our purchases and then off to Yokes grocery store and back home.

Sorry butt ....this is not art

Ok, a few years back the city of Sandpoint placed this wood sculpture, aka piece of art, in the front of the court house in downtown... Much controversy later it's still there,ugh! I don't care if there's any connection to the gay community or not, to each his own...I just think it's ugly. It doesn't represent anything I can think of ...except the fact that there are no more logging companies up here and maybe this "art" represents how some locals got screwed...not. Oh, this is my raciest blog yet...
What do you think?

Huckleberry Picking in Idaho

First picture is a huckleberry plant on our place, but as you can see it's a little too reddish. They should be a purplish-blue color. We were invited by the neighbors to go up to the high mountains in Idaho on government land to hunt huckleberries. While they weren't plentiful or big there were many,many plants. It seems most the plants had already been picked or the bears had their fill!! Some of you may know that hunting areas are kept secret by most people as they can fetch as much as $40-45.00 a gallon!!! Personally, I think they're over rated... They are good in milkshakes though, but since I've never made anything else from them I'll reserve judgement. I've gotten a few new recipes I hope to try this year.

My long time friend, Vonne, is waving from the patch she is working on. Our group took a short lunch break, thankfully not too many flying critters were there.
The cleaning process is almost as labor intensive as the picking. Rinse, sort three times, used a blower on cool setting to dry off to prevent ice crystals. Then packaged them and froze between my Limoncello and Haagen Dazs! Humm, I see a milkshake in the near future...

Bee Gone Already !

These bee's have stung almost everyone in the area....including me. Put out this bee trap in the morning...
















A few hours later there's over an inch of dead bees. Next year we'll set them out earlier to get the queens, like Thomas (my neighbor) mentioned in his blog.

Lazy blogger...found her crown!

Ok, Marmite.., this Snow Queen (Schneekonigin) is guilty...I've been way too lazy about blogging.

Here are my best excuses:
!. Work nights and worthless during those days...
2. Lazy...
3. Addicted to Facebook and applications...Farmtown, Class Reunion stuff..
4. Nothing really exciting to write about....

I'm leaving for Idaho tomorrow so I'm sure I'll be in a picture taking mood and have something to share.

Local Wildflowers

Just thought I'd post some of the local wild flowers. These were taken on our place in Idaho.

Idaho Cusine ???

Ok I was just looking at the menu on the Dish restaurant webpage in Sandpoint when I noticed the link to Idaho Cusine, North Idaho's premier restaurant and entertainment guide. The main page is here.
This sheds a whole new light on dining since I'm not really familiar with Coeur d'Alene and the surrounding areas.

I'm flying into Spokane next week so I'll be trying out one of the places listed in either Hayden or Coeur d'Alene on my way up to Cocolalla...as long as we don't meet any moose.

And here's something for the ladies, North Idaho ladies that is!

Geocaching....finally!

These are pictures from my first geocaching expedition. We all took off on the ATV's, yes this is the before accident photo. We used our GPS units and if we'd followed them correctly we'd have gotten their much sooner and probably easier. Once we found the site, thanks to Doug, they all let me open the container since I've been buggin everyone to do this for at least a year now. Once the can was opened I was a bit disappointed in the swag. Swag, the items you exchange in the cache. We decided not to take anything but left a $5.00 Starbucks card. I huffed and puffed my way back up hill and back to the ATV...you know what comes next if you read my previous post. BTW, in second pix I'm on the end in the blue cap. And..I took my new header picture from my neighbor, Anne's, deck !

Flowers and the ATV

Since getting in the moose collision I've also taken a header off the ATV...well, more like a butt plop and then did a nose dive down a ravine. After going to the ER I'm now on medical leave until who know when...I was very lucky, since I wasn't wearing a helmet, and the ATV flew off in another direction...I guess God has other plans for me. The flowers are from my garden that my hubby has been keeping weed free..well, almost. I was able to enjoy them at their finest moment.

I was also able to meet our new neighbors from the midwest and they had a block party, camp out style, at their soon to be home site. It's really nice to know all my neighbors up in Idaho. I've lived in California most of my life and I don't really know any neighbors there and they live closer to me than in Idaho!

Moose Mishap

On the way home, to north Idaho, from the airport in Spokane we collided with a moose. If it weren't for our Ford F-350 truck, and the moose being young, we would have been killed.

It was 9:30 at night, dark. The moose was black and it was running across the hiway, we didn't see until it was in front of the truck. All my husband had time to do was shout "Oh (&)*, a moose" and slam on the brakes. I was sleeping in the passenger seat, I opened my eyes and heard the bang all at the same time. In a spit second the body of the moose slid up the hood, then she flew off. I think her momentum carried her to the side of the road.

We called the hiway patrol and it took them forever to come, at least thirty minutes. I'm guessing that was because no one was hurt, but the moose was suffering as I had told them in the report. Just before the patrol showed up the moose was flailing and starting to drag herself back to the hiway. When the officer showed up he ended up having to "put her down". Unfortunately, it took him two tries, it was ugly. We were so shaken. Before the patrol showed up there was one man who stopped and used a yellow flashing light to warn drivers behind us, but they just zoomed on by. Three other cars stopped and offered help if needed. We are very appreciative to them, who ever they were.

Most people die as a result of hitting a moose, they are so tall the bumber knocks their legs out from under them and they crash into the cab. We were fortunate this was not a large moose and our truck is tall, plus we were slowing down for a red light...thank the good Lord!

Three Years Ago

My beautiful Grandbaby, Eva, was born three years ago, today. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

COPD ....

Many patients in my unit have COPD..what is it? Well, COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It's kind of a global description for various lung diseases like asthma, bronchitis, smoking and SMOKING too much... this obstructs the air flow and exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your lungs.

I would venture to say that 90% of the COPD patients that come to my unit are from SMOKING too much...

After educating patients we still hear these comments;

..."but I quit a month ago"... {{{after smoking for 40 years...doh}}}
..."I didn't refill my Rx for my inhalers" {{{well, there ya go}}}
..."I ran out of cigarettes"...{{{what the ?}}}
..." I don't like my c-pap"..{{{it's keeping you alive *%&^%*}}}

After 24 hours a heavy smoker will need a nicotine patch...usually they beg you let them go out for a smoke first...to myself I say, "job security,job security,job security"

Are you not feeling my compassion...