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?

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.

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.

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....

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...

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 .

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....

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.