For Such A Time As This

Such a month.
It has been filled with thinking, journaling, praying, stressing, talking, worrying, and silence.

We have been sheltering in place during the first month of this covid 19 virus. I leave the house to grocery shop, pick up food to go, and take Riley for runs. Everett has only left the house for three medical appointments. We have stopped Sunday Family Dinners, book club, water aerobics, birthday parties, family visits, going out to favorite restaurants, and hanging out with friends.We want to stay safe.

We are blessed. We have a home that is warm and cozy. We have food to keep us sustained for months. We have a dog and three cats that bring comfort every day. We shelter inside well. We have spent hours reading, keeping up with the news, talking, laughing, sneaking in a cocktail, preparing good meals, baking for others, and keeping a weird schedule that works for the two of us. As it warms up we are heading outside to our backyard gardens.

I don't like surprises. I want to know what will be around the corner. I want to be able to count on what is coming next. I can't do that anymore. We don't know what will happen  now. We don't know what is around the corner. I can't control the events around us and that is okay. Right now I am being cautious. I am being safe. Our health is my first concern. I am enjoying our house.
More later. Be safe. Be well.

Today I Am Thankful for Our Dogs

Today I am thankful for my dogs. Tucker and Riley bring so much joy into our lives. They get along famously. They play funny chase games outside that make us laugh. When I am sick or need to take a nap both of them join me in the bedroom and always stay close. We know Tucker would protect us if our lives were in danger. We know Riley would just assist. They are loyal, they love us inconditionally, and they are one reason I get out of bed every day, Here are some of my favorite photos of the two of them.

The Shed Notebook: Ten Things That Make Me Feel Happy All The Time

"The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest 

in all the details of daily life." William Morris

This quote really spoke to me today. When I am feeling down or overwhelmed, it is the details of daily life that fill me with happiness. I am not a fan of expensive jewelery, exotic trips, or fancy cars. I don't know what I would do with a closet full of Jimmy Choos and Gucci bags. I don't even have the closet space. Nope, the things that make me feel happy are the things I surround myself with in my daily life. Here is the list:

1. Everett. My husband takes the details of daily life and makes them special any day of the year.

2. My dogs. My dogs bring me pleasure when they jump up to tell me to get out of bed, when they lay at my feet when I am sad, or when they look at me like I am the most important person in the world.

3. My camera. Recently I reviewed over 20,000 pictures I have taken since I had digital cameras. Now that made me happy. So many images, so many memories.
4. Our cats. Each cat is unique in personality and looks, but they make evenings special at our house.

5. Fresh flowers. There is nothing like a pretty bouquet to add happiness to a day.

6. My gardens.  Seeing roses, sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, and more come to life in the summer is pure happiness.
7. Books. Whether it is my Bible, a new novel from the library, a cookbook, or a how-to book it is happiness.
8. Friends. Childhood friends or recent friends, they all bring me happiness.

9. Family. Each of them adds to the true secret of happiness.
10. My little house. My little green house with the red trim is my ultimate happy place. I view beautiful sunsets from the front porch. I can sit by a warm fire in the winter. I stand in the kitchen and look out at beautiful gardens three seasons out of the year, and I can provide meals to nourish the souls of family and friends.

The Shed Notebook: Winter Keeping Away Spring

According to the calendar, spring does not officially begin until March 20th.  Around these parts people are ready for spring to begin today. Weather has been quite a topic of conversation because we are still buried in snow and we are waking up to temperatures below 10 degrees. Many days roads have been difficult for travel, and our dogs are tired of being couped up.

Arriving at a grocery store and seeing a display of primroses, a rack of garden seeds, and Easter decor makes that desire for warmer weather even stronger. When I revisisted my Facebook memories I was reminded that two years ago, we had sunshine and green grass and JEJ was building our new raised beds. Today we can't see any grass and the raised beds are buried in the drifts of snow. 

I am taking advantage of this longer hibernation period. I am planning my garden beds, getting caught up on reading, and moving slowing toward creating a studio in the basement for my creative ventures. I am saving money on gas by not traveling as much, but I am missing being able to get out and exercise. Soon enough is will be safe. 

I just love the quote below. I do love all four seasons. It is certainly a process. Yes, I am working on growing in life also. I am getting better. 

"I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming. I believe that there's a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better. "

Steve Southerland

The Shed Notebook: Ten Reasons Why I Love January

January is an unpopular month for many people.  It is that letdown month after the holiday season. It is a long month that often brings on gray, dark days. Taxes need to be done soon,weather may slow down travel.  I am different. I enjoy January.

Ten Reasons Why I Love January
10: Snow usually covers all mess in the backyard left by dog toys, dog droppings, and dog bones.
9.   Snow usually covers all the weeds I didn't get cleaned up in the fall.
8.   I celebrate my birthday!
7.   We also celebrate Mom's birthday and work on keeping her memory alive,
6.   As tax documents begin to arrive in the mail, you only have to think about taxes.
5.   College basketball is in full swing. Go Zags!

4.    Winter photo walks produce beautiful pictures.
3.   It is a good time to show off handmade mittens, hats, and scarfs.
2.   It is a perfect month to just stay home and catch up on movies, reading, and writing.
1.   It is winter decor month which means my snowman collection fills the house with cheer.     

Sibling Assignment #199: A Piece of Heaven: Priest Lake

Brother Bill gave this assignment. "  I’m thinking about Christy’s recent trip to Priest Lake, Carol’s recent  trip to Seattle, and my recent trip to Eugene. Let’s all describe and write about an unexpected pleasure each of us experienced on these trips. " You can find sister Carol's post here and brother Bill's post here

 I love to call Priest Lake a piece of heaven. Growing up we were so close to Priest Lake, but had never gone there. In northern Idaho there are so many lakes that we often visited ones that were closer to home. About ten years ago we decided to take a week-end getaway to Hill's Resort on Priest and have continued to visit since then, moving up the lake to stay at Elkin's Resort.

There are always unexpected pleasures each time we take a trip to Elkin's Resort. That is why we continue to visit at least once a year. This year the first unexpected pleasure was the weather. It was sunny, warm, and just the right temperature to sit on the sand by the water, or take a hike to Hanna Flats.

The second unexpected pleasure was the cabin we stayed in. I had always looked at the cabin across a little bridge from the rest of the cabins and wanted to stay there. Our other favorite cabins were booked this time, so it worked out perfectly. The cabin was off by itself, it was full of beautiful furniture, and it even had a washer and dryer. We learned later that this cabin had been a home to the owners son while he was building a house, We could have stayed a week!

The third unexpected pleasure was the trail outside the cabin that led to a deserted beach. We had warm sunshine, lovely red chairs, the lakeshore for the dogs to romp in the water, and peace and quiet. I love these pictures of that beach enjoying quality time with Everett and the dogs. 

I spent time journaling, reading, sipping adult beverages, taking lots of photos, taking each dog for walks, and and spending quality time with Everett. The resturant was a short walk across the parking lot so we had it made.

I can't wait for our next trip to Elkin's Resort at Priest Lake.

The Shed Notebook: Ten Lessons Learned From The Remodel

We started a remodel project on our house on April 25th. As of yesterday, it is winding down and we are working to put the house back together. I had never been through a remodel before, but I did learn some important lessons through the process.
1. You can survive without a shower every day. You can even survive without a shower every three days.
2. Having a toilet in your house is overrated. We managed one whole night sneaking outside and "watering"  the lawn.
3. A human CAN sleep through hammering, drilling and pounding. I have mastered it very well in the six weeks.
4. The dogs did survive not being with us every waking moment of the day. They started enjoying the backyard together.  They also enjoyed playing tug a war with two bench cushions. The cushions didn't survive.
5. It is possible to enjoy healthy dinners without a stove/oven. It helps to have restaurants close by in a pinch though.
6. Our cats can also sleep through hammering, drilling, and pounding. Our cats could sleep through an earthquake.
7. When purchasing a vanity for the bathroom, don't rely on looks only. Our very beautiful vanity only gave us about an inch to squeeze by to the toilet. It had to go back. Darn, I loved that vanity.
8. Having a mirror is overrated also. We both survived with only one hand mirror during the remodel. I didn't scare anyone when I went to the store so I guess I looked somewhat presentable.
9. You have a perfect excuse to not clean house during a remodel. Why dust when more dust will fly?
10. The whole process is so worth it. We could live with the inconvience.
Photos soon!

Happy Birthday Riley!

On May 14, 2017 our dog Riley was born at a kennel close to Emida, Idaho. We went and chose him from a very cute bunch of puppies in late July and he quickly became part of the family.

Riley has been the best thing that happened to Tucker and Tucker has been the best thing that happened to Riley. They quickly became fast friends and have shared toys, food, bones, car seats, beds, and us. All summer Riley wore himself out keeping up with Tucker.

Riley has grown, changed color, began some training, and stole our hearts. He loves everyone. He jumped out of the car at Walmart in Hayden one day and decided to be the greeter. He won lots of fans before we could get him in the car.

He was able to make a trip to Kindred to meet Mom when we brought him home, He cheered her and the staff up that day. He was so little then I had to carry him.

He hasn't really found a bark yet, but he watches the world go by from the front window, the car window, and the back gate. He has added so much joy to our lives.

The Shed Notebook: One Art

Moving from childhood into puberty, then on to adulthood frames a timeline of losses. A loss of a first tooth, a bicycle key, or the first dollar earned. Between the bookends of puberty is the loss of first love, which may seem like the end of the world. Growing older loss may include a favorite sweater, a much needed assignment, a faded photograph. Pets fill in painful spaces of loss. In this timeline of loss there are people. Young children, a childhood friend, an elderly family friend, grandma, then parents. 

Until my mother died, I read this poem with a whole different meaning. For me, the art of losing is very hard to master.

One Art

BY ELIZABETH BISHOP

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;

so many things seem filled with the intent

to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster

of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:

places, and names, and where it was you meant

to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother’s watch. And look! my last, or

next-to-last, of three loved houses went.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,

some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.

I miss them, but it wasn’t a disaster.

—Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture

I love) I shan’t have lied. It’s evident

the art of losing’s not too hard to master

though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Elizabeth Bishop, “One Art” from The Complete Poems 1926-1979. Copyright © 1979, 1983 by Alice Helen Methfessel. Reprinted with the permission of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, LLC.

Source: The Complete Poems 1926-1979 (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1983)

April is National Poetry Month: There Is a Place

There Is a Place

There is a place

where the museum houses thousands of paintings

seen nowhere else in the world,

the colors so bright they grab your eyes

and hold you there, looking,

where the library is filled with brand new books

waiting for you to open them first,

to tell stories only you could know,

where fresh cherries have no pits,

where puppies never grow old.

There is such a place,

hidden deep

in me.

- Janet Wong

The Shed Notebook: The Mysteries of Grayson, Frontier Internet, and All That is Missing

Our house has been surrounded by some strange mysteries this month. Grayson is our big, beautiful, fluffy gray cat. We have a cat door in the basement so the cats can go outside. The mysterious disapperances of Grayson started early in the fall, but after diappearing for at least a week, he returned. He could have stopped in to eat during the night. We just didn't know. Then he was back living with us twenty-four seven. Last week he decided to disappear again. After a few days he just saundered upstairs for feeding time like he had never been gone. Where does he go? Does he have another family that he gets tired of? Is he cat food stealing around the neighborhood? We just don't know. Perhaps he needs a cat cam so we can track his activity. We are so pleased he is back home and keeping my head warm as he relaxes on the back of my chair.

Frontier Internet has been another huge mystery in the Silver Valley the month of February. Many nights in a row about 7:30 the internet would just go off, then come back on much later in the evening. Our local classified page on Facebook had a huge thread about what was going on. It seemed each time a person called, they got a different reason why this was happening. They heard they oversold in our area, there was a break in the line, they were going through an update, a solar outage ( which happens in February or early March. Who knew?), or they had no reports of any problems. I think my sister's theory is the best. When people livestream the Olympics, watch Netflix, or play games after dinner it does overload the system. It has been okay for a few days now. The next thread on the page was how it needs to be fixed. I am not even going into that!

The third mystery is all the things that have ended up missing in my house. I received a beautiful book from a friend after Mom died. It is missing. When I couldn't get my printer to work wirelessly, I looked for the cord. You guessed it. Missing. Two camera batteries walked away to somewhere also.
I won't even go into the usual socks, Tupperware lids, keys, and gloves that walk away. I am hoping one day soon I will open a box, drawer, or bag and find the missing items. Either that, or when the snow leaves, the dogs will show me a hole they dug so they could bury the items. I am holding on to hope.

The Shed Notebook: Top Ten Things I Dislike When It Is Below Ten Degrees

In Kellogg we went from a few days that felt like spring to a blizzard, ten inches of snow, then temperatures that dropped way below freezing.  These temperatures can make things difficult for this person that just wants to sit in front of the fire, wrap up in a blanket and sip hot beverages.

Top Ten Things I Dislike When The Temperature is Below Ten Degrees

10. Having to find boots at eleven o'clock pm to check the garage light. Advice: don't try it barefoot.
9.  Discovering my arm isn't quite long enough to reach the newspaper out the front door when I still have on nightwear.
8. Having Riley jump in my lap when he is covered with fifty tiny snowballs from head to toe.
7. Learning that a latte left in the car overnight turns into a icky coffee slushy thing.
6. After dressing in layers, zipping the coat, getting on gloves, scarf, and hat then discovering I needed to use the bathroom before leaving.
5.  Losing my lip balm.
4. Getting shocked by the static electricity on my sweater, socks, bathrobe, and hair.
3. Realizing shivering doesn't count as steps on my Fitbit.
2. Finding snow in my boots.
And the #1 thing I dislike when the temperature is below ten degrees:
Remembering I forgot to buy my dogs the latest clothing and assessories for really cold weather

The Shed Notebook:Best Buddies

Our Springer Spaniel Annie died last June. When we decided to get a brother for Tucker, we decided on a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Tucker is an Australian Cattle Dog or blue heeler. Above is close to when Riley arrived home.

Since the time Riley got in the car Tucker has loved his little brother, The have romped, played, ran, swam, walked, wrestled, got in some trouble, and played with toys together for the last seven months.  Riley has had some puppy challenges, but sometimes Tucker helps by herding him into shape. Tucker is the barker alert dog in the house, but Riley hasn't picked that up. I have only heard him bark a few times.

Here are some photos below that capture that brotherly love between Tucker and Riley.

Tucker teaching Riley how to do stairs when we were at a vacation house.

Checking out the view from The Shed,

Both love to watch out the window.

Riley showing off his new haircut.

Tucker showing off his new bed

Annie: Good-bye Hello

In the last few weeks our dear, loyal Springer Spaniel Annie has not been herself. The vet ran tests, prescribed meds, and gave us the best diagnosis he could. He felt Annie was in the early stages of liver disease. We had gone through this painful diagnosis with Shelby in the early summer. We were devastated.

We took her home and coddled her, loved on her, and prayed. One day last week she collapsed and couldn't walk. She wouldn't eat and was lethargic. Could this be the end? We carried her in to the vet and he wasn't sure all of it was liver disease. We took her home, changed her diet, and prayed even more.

On Tuesday night we cried and shared memories of Annie thinking she would need to be put to sleep on Wednesday. We didn't want her to suffer. It was a tough decision.

She was not ready to say good-bye. She got up on her own and ate. She came begging for people food in the kitchen. She headed out the doggie door and went outside. Her tail wiggled, she was Annie again.

It may be short-lived, but Hello Annie. What a joy to spend more time with her. Tucker was pleased also.

Sibling Photo Assignment #11: A Study of Black and White: Annie and Tucker

 I gave the assignment once again this week.
What makes effective black and white photos? Is it the subject, the light, the composition? Take a series of photos in black and white, explaining why they are effective. I will post my siblings' posts when they are completed.

The coloring of my dogs and where I took these pictures just seemed right to being edited to black and white. In this case it is the subject. It is effective doing black and white images with dogs because it causes the viewer to focus more on the expressions or actions of the dogs. See what you think.