Road Trip Over Tiger Highway Through Pend Oreille County

JEJ, Raymond Pert, and I took a road trip today through a part of Northeastern Washington that is a favorite for all of us. We headed east on Tiger Highway (Highway 20) from Colville toward Highway 31. Our first stop was at Crystal Falls. The clear, cascading water was situated between large rocks creating a perfect photo opportunity. Next we headed north on Highway 31 in Pend Oreille County and stopped above Box Canyon Dam. With the train trestle hugging the mountain it looked like it had always been there. The striking view looking north toward Canada and the Selkirk Mountains was enhanced by varied shades of green, gray, blue, and white. After stopping in Metaline Falls we looped around and headed toward Sullivan Lake. JEJ and I had been there a few years ago in the fall and thought the area around the lake was spectacular. Today was no different. The cloud cover and rain sprinkles gave Sullivan Lake a serene look. The road hugged the shore of the lake as we headed southwest. The campground was enclosed by a grove of trees creating a green reflection on the lake. A lone tent was pitched close to the water in the shadows.As we drove closer to Colville again the clouds began to depart, leaving the promise of a sunny late afternoon. Today was again a reminder of why we do much of our traveling in thiscorner of the Inland Empire. The beauty astounds me on every road trip.

Cats Are a Blessing!

"Of all domestic animals the cat is the most expressive. His face is capable of showing a wide range of expressions. His tail is a mirror of his mind. His gracefulness is surpassed only by his agility. And, along with all these, he has a sense of humor." - Walter Chandoha

Now that the cats are coming in more with the cooler mornings and rain I can get reacquainted with them and be reminded of how much each of them is unique in their own way. Finnigan and McDuff came together as kittens. Yes, believe it or not they are brothers. Finny is an elusive cat now. Sometimes we don't see him for days. He loved our deceased dog Lucy and followed her around in the yard, but now he wanders off to hunt and explore. McDuff is always around. He waits by the cat door in the morning for his breakfast. He sits under a shrub to keep cool in the afternoon. He sits on the wall in the evening behind us as we rest after dinner. He loves companionship and a nice tummy rub!
Sweet William and Lily came together from our friend's house when she died. They also are brother and sister. William is a affectionate cat and hangs around close by like he is above on a ladder that holds up hanging plants in the summer.
Lily's new favorite spot is on top of an old dog run that became a chicken yard. She loves to nap on the chicken wire and it works like a hammock. She has been scared by our older cat so she keeps her distance.

Iris is the cat that thinks she is royalty. She stays in the house the most. She loves to try to show the other cats that she's The Queen. I don't know if they believe that, but they usually stay out of her way. She had a twin sister Poppy that disappeared a few years ago.

The newest addition to our cat population is Isabelle. I love this picture where she is on the other side of the fence when I went to water plants on the dog graves one day. The family that rescued her was moving so we brought her home. We lost her brother Lucas when he was ill as a kitten.

Each of these cats are a blessing and they let us pamper them, hold them, comfort them, and make theirs lives as comfortable as possible. What more could you ask for?

Sibling Assignment #32 : Wildcat Tales

Our sibling assignment this week is to write about an accomplishment from high school. My brother's is here and my sister's is here. I attended high school in Kellogg, Idaho and graduated in 1973. High school was a busy, active, full -of- fun time that went by quickly. A few months ago my mother and I had a conversation about where my interest in writing began. She was staying at my house and as we visited she reminded me of opportunities I experienced in my school years that may have contributed to my love of writing today. One thing that stands out in high school was when I was a feature writer for our school newspaper " The Wildcat".

Our school newspaper was published at the local town newspaper office so it looked like a real newspaper. I think it came out once a week. When I was a junior in high school I took my first journalism class. I wanted to be a newspaper writer. I began by doing features on the fashions in the high school. I helped with a feature called " Fads and Fashions." Next I reported on events in the high school such as school plays, speech competitions, and music activities. Then my editor K.B. decided I should do a column. My own newspaper column! It was titled " Wildcat Tales" and my job was to give the scoop on the happenings of our high school. I remember loving to compose that weekly column on an old typewriter in the "journalism office" .

Perhaps these type of columns set the stage for "web logs" as writing on the internet became popular. I loved composing " Wildcat Tales" and that column was the beginnings of a writing life that started and stopped many times in the next thirty- some years until I began this blog. Now my tales have taken on a different form. Thanks to KB, I was encouraged to put my thoughts to typewriter to paper back in that year when I was a junior in high school at Kellogg High School. That writing lit a spark that ignited, then smoldered, then reignited again. That was an accomplishment from high school that was a lifelong lesson. It was the beginning of a writing life that I hope continues to grow and thrive.

Scenic Idaho Road Trip

I captured new images today on a road trip through a beautiful part of the inland empire in northern Idaho that began on Highway 3. My brother and I stopped at the trailhead on the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes by Cave Lake.When we were children we had stopped at the place where Idaho's largest Western White Pine stood. As we toured through the Scenic White Pine Highway today we stopped at that same site. The pine died in 1998, but the fallen tree was still there for us to photograph today. The hiking trails provided a nice combination of shadows and light with the western white pines in the background.Next we drove through the Palouse and took a break in Moscow to try Patty's Kitchen. I had heard the tamales were excellent and that they were.

Enjoying the cooler summer weather at the outdoor eating area was a treat. Another treat was hiking up to the famous I Tower on the University of Idaho campus. We hadn't been there together since our days of living in Moscow the summer of 1966 which you can read about here. We then made a full circle returning to Kellogg via Highway 95 through Plummer, Worley, and Coeur d'Alene.

It was a day of good coffee, companionship, food, scenery, and memories of childhood. The only part that was missing was our third sibling. Silver Valley Girl had a full day and couldn't join us.

I Love Zucchini #4 and a Keeper From the Recipe Box: Garden Pasta Pie

Once again I have a delicious way to use that bumper crop of zucchini. I had cut this recipe out of the Spokesman Review a few years ago and now finally tried it recently and it is a keeper. I think this recipe could also be served cold and other vegetables or pasta could be substituted. The store was out of ricotta so cottage cheese worked fine. Enjoy!

Garden Pasta Pie

1 TB olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups cooked linguine

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 TB fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teas. dried oregano

1 1/2 teas. dried basil

1/4 teas. pepper

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced

1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini

1 1/2 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 8-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In small skillet, heat oil; add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent. Transfer to a bowl and add cooked pasta, parsley, lemon juice, and 1/2 teas. each of oregano and basil. Add pepper and toss well.

In small bowl combine ricotta, 2 TB Parmesan cheese, egg and remaining oregano and basil;stir into pasta mixture until blended.

Place half the pasta mixture in prepared pan. Arrange half the tomato and zucchini slices on top. Add remaining pasta mixture. Top with remaining tomatoes and zucchini ( that stage is shown below);sprinkle with mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.

Cover with foil and place on baking sheet. Bake 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden, 5-10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Yield: 6 Servings. 254 calories per serving.

from "Weight Watchers Favorite Homestyle Recipes", 1993

Some Favorite Trees and a Poem for Silver Valley Girl

On my sister's blog Silver Valley Stories here she has provided us with beauty most days since the start of the blog with a picture of her backyard tree through the seasons. She then uses a quote, song lyrics, poem, or scripture to match the tree picture. It is very inspirational each day. She has also asked other people to submit pictures of their trees to be posted on her blog. She has been on a trip with her family and got to witness her daughter asking a question to the astronauts in space (see below) yesterday so I decided to present to her today a collage of my favorite trees with a poem to match. This is for you Silver Valley Girl.

Advice from a Tree By Ilan Shamir
Dear Friend,
Stand Tall and Proud

Sink your roots deeply into the Earth

Reflect the light of a greater source

Think long term

Go out on a limb

Remember your place among all living beings

Embrace with joy the changing seasons

For each yields its own abundance

The Energy and Birth of Spring

The Growth and Contentment of Summer

The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall

The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter
Feel the wind and the sun

And delight in their presence

Look up at the moon that shines down upon you

And the mystery of the stars at night.

Seek nourishment from the good things in life

Simple pleasures Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty

Drink plenty of water

Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes

Be flexible

Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!