NFL Football!

Below is a recent article about Steve! When he describes "THE" blocked punt my feelings come rushing back to me! I was at school that night. I was watching the game before open house started. The game was on my TV and the reception was horrible. I saw someone break through the line and then recognized it was Steve. When he blocked that punt I was screaming! That's Steve! Over and over. I tried to call Mike but couldn't even dial the phone. It was so very exciting! New Orleans had been through so much and this was a moment of healing for everyone and a really fun football moment! Can't imagine how it would have felt to be in Steve's shoes! I couldn't be more blessed with awesome step-sons and magnificent daughters! We are proud of all of you kids for sure! Click to read Steve's Article

Fall Hiawatha Trail

I know it isn't officially fall yet but it felt like it today riding the Hiawatha Trail. A little chill in the air when we started! When the clouds hid the sun the chill was still there. Some of the trees were turning the oranges and golds of fall! Beautiful day! I have taken pictures of every trestle and tunnel on the trail so today was a people picture day on the trail. Pictures of Maryanne and I!

Labor Day Weekend brought more people out riding. More cars in the lot than I have ever seen but on the trail it didn't seem crowded at all. Lots of lights in the dark tunnels! That was great!

The beauty of the trail never ceases to amaze me. God is great!

OK, I got a picture of one of the trestles! Behind me!

Don't jump Maryanne!

Yes, there are people in this picture. See the little white dots in the middle of the picture. Bikers riding where we had already been.

I zoomed in a bit on the bikers!

Do we look like we were having fun! Always!

This picture might need a bit of an explanation. We took the bus back to the top of the trail. The bus shares about a mile of the trail with the bikers. The bus has to go through the next to the last tunnel and then it drops us off to ride through the last 1.7 mile tunnel again! These are bikers coming out of the tunnel while the bus waits for them. It is a narrow tunnel so the bus tries to wait for the bikers. If the bus and the bikers meet the bikers have to snug up to the side of the tunnel!

We thought we would stop in Wallace on the way home for some quick food. Wallace is rich with history. It is an old mining town nestled in the mountains of Northern Idaho! In its day the majority of the town consisted of bars and brothels. They have restored much of the town and it is a tourist stop now with restaurants and shopping. No fast food. I think it is nice that there is no Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, etc. If you want something to eat you have to sit awhile and enjoy the town!

We did finally get some fast food of the Subway variety down the road a bit! Yum!

I feel blessed that I can do so many fun things and that I have so many good friends to share them with. Lovin' life! Thanking God!

David Cook Concert

Ah! The David Cook concert was finally here! Two happy girls! The concert started at 8 PM. Doors opened at 7 PM. Cheryl and I got a tip from a friend that they let the people that eat at the restaurant in before the people in line out on the street. So dinner it was at the Knitting Factory. We got to the restaurant a little after 5 PM and the place was packed. We did find a place to sit and had a good dinner! Go glad we did the dinner because it was open seating and standing. There were not many places to sit. We were the in the last restaurant group to go in and we did find a spot and a couple of stools to sit on. Whew!

I took Keri's camera with me to take pictures. I had no idea what I was doing using this sophisticated camera. Low light and not reading the instruction book didn't mix well. The first group came out and sang and I didn't get any good pictures. That was OK because they didn't sing many good songs either. Fortunately, David Cook had a lot more light on his set so I was able to get some OK pictures! He sang a lot of good songs! I am not going to admit to how many times I turned the controls on the camera or how many pictures I actually took! Here are a few!

David Cook is a very talented artist! Gifted really! You could just tell he was so joyful performing. Not just happy but joyful. He truly appreciated his fans! The night made me a bigger fan than ever! When he comes to Spokane next time let's be there Cheryl!

Home on the Range

Mike and I started buying buffalo for our dinner table instead of beef several years ago. Last Sat. we drove to the buffalo ranch/farm to stock up! The reason we switched to buffalo is cholesterol! Way less cholesterol than beef! You know you are getting older when you blog about your need for lower cholesterol! So anyway as we were driving up to Priest River there was a traffic jam! This California girl has been in plenty of traffic jams but none caused by cows on the road! It made me laugh. Life is good! Here is the guy in charge of these beasts! He was reluctant to get in the picture and wanted to know what a blog was! Nice man!

Really big animals!

This is the crazy dog that lives among the buffalo. You know those people that just don't get the fact that they could be or are bothering someone. They are out there! You think someday someone is going to get tired of what this person is dishing out and they are going to clobber them! I felt that way about this dog. First this guy needs to realize he is way smaller than the buffalo! After that he needs to realize that they don't like him running around them and biting their legs! Perhaps not realizing your limitations is when you do great things???? I don't know!

A little warm up for the buffalo biting!

Look closely and you will see the dog in front of Mr. Buffalo!

Taking a little break from the harassment!

Going back to it! He survived! So far so good but ...

It is true I am no longer a California girl. I live where there are cows on the road and we eat buffalo! I even have cowboy boots! Wouldn't trade it for anything! Mike and I had a nice lunch at a quaint restaurant after the trip to the buffalo ranch! Nice way to spend a Sat!

Thunder Thursday

Really! I was the only one at Thunder Thursday taking pictures. I can't imagine that someone else didn't want to snap a couple of pictures. Lots of motorcycles! Lots! It was very cool to ride up and see bikes in every direction! Jerene and I rode out together. Jerene is a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and we met working a gate at a motorcycle show. We had great fun and decided we better keep in touch. Jerene has been riding motorcycles for about 26 years!! Impressive. And I know why they call this even that happens every Thursday during the summer Thunder Thursday. Loud! Loud pipes on bikes!!

These bikes were for sale. Perhaps Jerene will own one of them tomorrow. Harley Sportster! Mike joined us later and tried to do some persuading! He though the Harley was a great buy! There was a band!!

Lots of tables so you can visit and eat!

And motorcycles! Lots of motorcycles! This group is waiting to play a little game. See the balls on the cones. The rider on the back of the bike has to grab the ball as the bike passes the cone. First we thought it looked simple but the driver has to go slow and the cones are staggered in a way that makes it more difficult. It isn't easy going slowly on a motorcycle. It's a balance thing.

Here is the course!

Here a couple of ladies from a different chapter of the CMA giving away prizes.

Bikes, bikes, and more bikes!

Jerene!

Jackie and Jerene!

CMA people that I met tonight.

Doesn't this bike remind you of a candy cane??? I think it does! Yum! I am such a biker chick aren't I? Well, maybe not!

Not sure about this one. Nothing came to mind but very uncomfortable when I saw this bike!

Next week we are headed out to the Thursday night event at Cruisers. Thanks for riding with me tonight Jerene! It was a good time! One thing I have discovered this summer is that I love riding on warm summer nights. I guess it reminds me of when I was a kid. We were always outside doing something in my neighborhood at night. Loved those warm Southern California nights. I guess riding my motorcycle at night takes me back there to those carefree nights. Good times! I look forward to the motorcycle discoveries that are yet to come!