One Word Essay: Green

Enjoy my green collection.

One Word Essay: Emerging

As we leave the season of winter we watch for evidence of spring emerging around us like the water from beneath the ice in the pond.

The chickens have been set free from their coop, emerging into the sunlight.

The onion plants are emerging through the ice to begin the yearly growth cycle.

Green leaves emerge from the winter blanket of dead leaves.

Buds are emerging as the weather warms.

Teacher, Student, Parent

We all read headlines about what is right and wrong with  education, hear sound bites about education, and are bombarded by people outside the field wondering what is happening in our classrooms today.

It is tough to be a teacher today. One reason it is tough is because high stakes testing take precedence in our classrooms and schools.

It is tough to be a student today because there is reading at home, homework, sports, family time, and other activities to squeeze into a time called life.

It is tough to be a parent today because when trying to work, provide, be there , help with homework, cheer on the sports, create family time, and add on other activites.. it is tough.

There are no clear answers. We all just keep plugging along doing the best we can. Teachers, students, and parents. 

The International Selkirk Loop: Connie's Cafe in Sandpoint

 The International Selkirk Loop has been called " one of the top ten scenic destinations in the Northern Rockies". I agree. I live on a side trip of the Selkirk Loop and recently when we traveled to Sandpoint and Bonner's Ferry we read brochures about all the places you can visit on this loop.

We made a decision that day  to visit a part of the Selkirk Loop each month. On Janurar we enjoyed the beauty of Bonner's Ferry, Sandpoint, and Priest River.

One of the surprises of our trip was Connie's Cafe in Sandpoint. When I was growing up in Kellogg, Connie's Cafe was well-known in our parts. When sports teams traveled in that area, they always got to stop at Connie's Cafe. I heard stories of the great food, but never got to visit the cafe.

Connie's Cafe changed hands, closed for awhile, but now has new owners. We had breakfast there on our trip and really loved the diner atmosphere. The decor was perfect and the food was amazing. It is part of the La Quinta Hotel in Sandpoint, so it made sense to try it since we were staying there . We want to return to try lunch or dinner.


If you are interested in more information on the International Selkirk Loop you can go here: http://www.selkirkloop.org

In February we traveled the Canadian part of the loop. Next we want to observe the tundra swans in Cusick and Usk in March.

One Word Essay: Travel

When  we travel we often stay close to home.


We search for places that we can relax and retreat.

We also look for places that are surrounded by beauty.

JEJ and I load up the rig, the dogs, cameras, food and drink and hit the road.

Our destination last week was Osoyoos, B.C. Such a great choice.

Super Bowl Party #1

I grew up in a household where football games were front and center on the television set in the living room every week-end during the season. Then there were bowl games and more bowl games. In the earl seventies games were added to Monday night.  ESPN came after I moved away from home, but when I visited there it was with more games.

I have never been that interested in watching NFL games. There was always so much more I wanted to do on a Sunday. Before yesterday I only attended two Super Bowl parties in my adult life. One was when the Chicago Bears won in the mid-eighties, and another was in January of my first year in Inchelium. I don't even remember watching that game. I was there more to visit with new friends. 

 I don't often watch the Seahawks, but  I love following them. I  have enjoy keeping up with the season, the players, and the games so I can engage in conversations with my Seahawk fan students.  Also, I take pride in supporting a team from our state of Washington, and am inspired by The Twelfth Man. Having said all this, I am not really a band-wagoner. They are my favorite team.  I just spend Sundays in other ways. This changed the last few weeks.

We sat and watched the playoff game when the Seahawks earned their spot in the Super Bowl. It was fun to see all the excitement unfold in Seattle. As the hype began building and the recipes for Super Bowl party dishes started popping up everywhere online last week, I decided we needed to have our first Super Bowl party.

Here was the plan for the party. We would stay home.  The guest list would include myself and Everett, the dogs, and the cats. I would create a simple menu of finger foods that we could enjoy during the game that wouldn't take lots of prep time. No blue hair, green face paint, or crazy outfits.

What a Super Bowl party it was. I dug out a vintage recipe for hot broccoli dip with Fritoes. We had cold shrimp, Mom's pickled veggies, my homemade salsa, and cold beverages. 

I loved the commercials, was amazed at the game, and took a series of pictures of the dogs and cats experiencing their first Super Bowl.  We enjoyed the comfort of our own home with a fire warming the house. It was overall pretty calm and quiet. It was a perfect Sunday and we have leftovers!

I may have to plan a party again next year.