Category Archives: Nature

Pend Oreille County Road Trip

 

On Thursday June 12th we left our home bright and early to travel to the Metaline Falls area of our state. Instead of traveling highway 20 to Highway 31, we chose a back road that looked simple enough to navigate. The map showed that Aladdin Road would get us to an alternate route to the town of Ione. After a while we knew we had missed the turnoff. We turned around and saw a gentleman on his morning walk so we stopped to ask him if he knew where we went wrong and if he knew an alternate route to Ione. He said he did and he had just driven it the day before and if we didn’t mind getting our car dirty we could drive Smackout Creek Road for 14 miles and get to Ione. We found the primitive road and set out slow and easy. After several miles the road changed names to Smackout Pass Road. It was a pretty but very remote road.

We did not see another vehicle until we got to about mile 12. We were relieved to finally reach the small town of Ione.

Our first stop once we reached highway 31 was Box Canyon Viewpoint in Ione.

We were happy to see a nice parking area with a clean restroom.

We saw eagles besides the nice views up and down the Pend Oreille river. Pend Oreille is pronounced ‘Pond Array’.

We made a quick stop at Eagle Nest Viewpoint but we were only entertained by swallows.

Continuing on Highway 31 we crossed the bridge over the river into the little town of Metaline Falls.

The Farmhouse Cafe was the spot we picked for our breakfast. Since it was the only choice for food we were happy the food and service was good.

After breakfast we stopped at a Mercantile for a little shopping. We bought a puzzle for me and a hat for Greg.

We got some extra information about the area from the owners of the shop and set off north again on Highway 31. We had two planned stops that were about 1 mile from the U.S. – Canadian Border.

We knew the next two stops were something we’d enjoy seeing in person because our son, Dan, had been in this area last month and had sent photos via text of what he saw.

I’ll save those stops for another post.

Yesterday we had a nice Father’s Day starting with church and then we enjoyed a quiche for brunch.

Our Colville kids brought us a wonderful homemade Curry for dinner along with a Strawberry/Rhubarb Pie that Addy and JJ helped bake.

They forgot to bring a strawberry for the top so they improvised with the fresh cherries we were enjoying.

It was high time to take a fresh generations photo of the guys.

Enjoy the last days of Spring!

Out in the Country

These sunny Spring days we’ve been getting some outdoor work done. Weeds are a never ending job. Watering has been simplified with oscillating sprinklers. Watering will also be easier with the projects below completed.

Our two water hydrants have been out of commission for some time. After a lot of researching on replacing them and what replacement parts would work the best for us, it was time to dig the holes. Once the connection under the frostline was uncovered and examined, more parts were bought. Hats off to Greg for researching and completing these projects and thanks to Dan for helping him on the first hole and for the use of his pick-up for the stones needed for the projects.

Now we have easy water access with both working hydrants.

After the second hydrant was secured in place on Saturday, we had a good diversion driving north about 8 miles to the Kettle Falls Town and Country Days. Addy’s dance troupe were to perform on stage at 1:15. We were fortunate to score some front row seats on bleachers to watch the performance.

It is such a treat to be able to see Addy dance along with her fellow dancers! On Saturday we got into the 90’s so the dancers had to make sure they stayed hydrated.

To finish off the busy Saturday of work, digging, installing, dancing, and staying hydrated in ninety degree weather, our son’s family picked up some sheep and soon there will be some lamb grilling on their mountain. I’m sure they’ll share some packages of lamb with us, too. They aren’t naming them and the time will be short before it’s judgement day so they won’t be missed as pets.

In other country news from the state of Wyoming…

…we enjoyed seeing our oldest taking advantage of his beautiful surroundings while on a business trip to Jackson Hole. Those Tetons make an awesome backdrop!

Last week after I mowed our acreage, our mower gave up the ghost. Our new riding lawnmower is arriving today. Hopefully it will come first thing so I can mow.

When I was weeding last week I found a tick on the back base of my hairline. I was able to get it off and kill it before it bit me or dug into my body. Ugh! That was the very first one I’ve experienced since moving here in 2018!

We still have to get our mosquito abatement system going. Yikes, they are bad this year! We have our other flying pest traps that need to be set out, too.  What sort of flying pests do you have to fight off?

May Catch-Ups…

Looking back to Mother’s Day weekend and Addy’s dance recital with the Great Potato play. She had the part of one of the leprechauns. None of us got good photos of her in costume but her mama saved the day after the fact. The costume was pulled out of storage at the dance studio and Addy played the part in the still photos!

Thank you, Jamie and Addy, for filling in the gaps.

Towards the end of the month Addy and JJ attended a Shakespeare in the park event.

Throughout the month of May several deer came through our acreage looking for tasty nibbles of this and that. When they start nibbling on the clematis, I shoo them away.

June has started sunny and warm on the Westside of our state and on our side of the state, too. Josh and Laura, loyal fans at the Sunday afternoon Sounders Soccer game.

Our Colville ‘kids’ working hard in the garden and in the background you’ll see the lawn being mowed all on the first day of June 2025.

I tried to catch the aurora borealis on Sunday night but it wasn’t the right time. If I would have stayed up till 2am on Monday I might have seen some better color but I was fast asleep while the lights danced in the sky.

Hello September

My Grands via their dear mom gifted me with seeds to plant at Mother’s Day. The Sunflower is finally blooming in all it’s glory. There are three more buds that could bloom any minute.

The rest of these photos are of the nicest areas of our yard taken on September the 1st. Our high today, Sunday, was 97 degrees at our Country Bungalow after several cooler days. Sunday was the hottest of a few days of warming in our neck of the woods. Labor Day, today, is a bit cooler in the forecast.

I’m happy that our potted hanging plant we bought in May has survived until now.

Don’t look too close or you will see all the weeds I have not been able to keep on top of.

We are so thankful for our little plot of land that affords us peace and contentment in this stage of life that God has afforded us.

Happy September to you all. Happy Labor Day to all our friends in the U.S. of A.

God’s Amazing Handiwork

On May 10th I stayed up late to see if I could see the Northern Lights which were predicted to be visible in our area and many other areas around the world. I looked up and could tell there was something different happening but no color was visible to the naked eye. When I saw other people posting on Facebook the pinks and greens in color I was confused as to why I couldn’t see the same thing. When I looked at the image of the sky I just had snapped on my phone I could see the colors in the sky. How odd that was. I just kept snapping away and here is what my phone captured.

 

At the end of my time on our deck taking photos, these lights below which were more on the horizon and not looking straight up, were visible to my naked eye.

It was amazing to witness and a bucket list item that I could check off my list.

In the stars His handiwork I see…

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to Day pours forth speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.”

Psalm 19:1,2

We are running out of May days. Over the weekend some of our kids and nieces and nephews were together in Arizona for their annual ‘Cousins Memorial Day Weekend’. On Monday our flag pole was taken out of it’s Winter storage and back in it’s worthy spot in our front acres. Long may the Red, White and Blue wave!

We have lots of pretty color popping up along with so many weeds that we have not kept at bay. I’ll share some of those colors, soon. What’s popping up at your place?

No Winter Lasts Forever…

…No spring fails to appear.

Our last door wreath had seen better days so we picked this one on our last trip to HomeGoods in Spokane.

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were able to spend time outside clearing some dead growth in several of our planters. We got a very good start but aren’t finished, yet. It was encouraging to see signs of Spring growth in those planters.

Columbines

Daffodils

Rhubarb

 

I changed up my plate hanger with these dishes, Dreamtown Made in England by Johnson Brothers. I have 4 dinner plates. They were a thrift store find.

Soon I’ll be pulling out the Easter bin and changing things up again with lots of Spring accents.

Are you seeing signs of Spring in your corner of the world?

I See You!

Hope y’all are doing okay with the heatwave hitting just about everybody. We are so thankful for our air conditioned bungalow. We had guests arrive yesterday in their little RV for an overnight before they head further East. I’m typing this before they get here and I hope we have the clarity of mind to get a photo.

Happy Friday to you all…

The Fawn

Gimpy mama and the fawn appeared a couple weeks ago and since then they both have spent time in our back acres. The doe has a broken leg and limps so she gets more grace from us on what we let her nibble on our property. We put water out on these hot days.  Healthier deer get run off when they come after our flowers.

Fawns are so much fun to watch when they are on the go.

Our quail population has increased with baby quail looking like teenagers and a whole new batch of baby quail, too.

We are looking forward to the week ahead. What is new in your neck of the woods?

Early July Blooms

 

Thank you, Laura, for this collage of the blooms you took close-ups of during ‘Baptism’ weekend.

We had a good 4th of July celebration with several families from our church. Thankful for such generous hosts to open up their beautiful yard and barbecues for cooking. A potluck of sides and desserts and everyone cooked their own meat on the 3 barbecues available. We all got numbers as we arrived letting us know which barbecue to cook our meat on. A great system for a crowd of 75+ people! A Corn Hole tournament, volleyball and fireworks were all part of the afternoon and evening fun. They also rent a porta-potty which is very smart when servicing such a crowd!

Enjoy the rest of your week trying to figure out what day it is! That always is a challenge for me when a holiday lands on an odd day of the week! Today is Wednesday BTW!