Letting Go of the Bay Leaf: May 2019

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Mosaic Monday #29 - Three States in a Day

Did you know you can cross Idaho in an hour? Yep, you surely can, if you take the northern route. Just take a gander at this map of Idaho. Doesn't it make you wonder who drew state lines? What could possibly be the purpose of the little sticky-up bit between Montana and Washington State? Maybe it's just there so the achievement types (no, not me, no sir!) can check Idaho off the list … Well, now I can say I have been to and through the Gem State! That's good enough for me!

Yes, we have completed our road trip, 450 miles, 5 days and enough memories that it felt akin to a couple of weeks. But that's kinda our modus operandi - we don't just visit a place, we VISIT. So, I'll spare you a blog post the length of War and Peace; I will split our mini-vacation into several segments. Here we go with Day One.

Spousal Unit planned this trip, and he deserves high marks for his research and execution. Rather than scoot through Idaho with nothing but a wave at the potato farmers, we cruised to Coeur D'Alene. French-speaking fur traders named the lake/town in the mid-1800s; legend says the traders believed the local Indians to be sharp traders, and thus they bestowed the name that means "their hearts were sharp as an awl". The French translation is beaucoup more romantic, no?

World's Longest Floating Boardwalk at Coeur d'Alene Resort

The Resort also features the world's only floating green as part of

its golf course. On the 14th hole, the green measures 15,000 sq. ft.

and weighs almost five million pounds. It can be moved on the

surface of the water to change to distance from the tee to the hole.

It's almost impossible to visit the city without engaging Lake Coeur D'Alene, 25 miles long and featuring 135 miles of shoreline. In our case, we traded our truck for our bicycles and pedaled 12 miles of that shoreline. Such variety - world-class resorts to open vistas to elegant lake-side homes (collage below). A captivating peek into the routines of this quaint city.

Loading the bikes back into the truck, we pointed our noses westward, destination Spokane, WA. Yes, Montana in the morning, Idaho in the afternoon and Washington State in the early evening. We dropped the bags at our hotel and navigated to the Night Market, through throngs of people with the same notion as us - to relish the season opener of the Market, known for fresh local produce, pickles, jams, soap, jewelry, tea, baked goods, food trucks and live music.

Given the grey skies, we opted to nibble our food and sip our beverages on the covered patio at Nectar, with a view of the Spokane River and even an osprey nest perched high atop a tall pole.

On the way back to the hotel, we spotted this mural and decided to take the advice. We dropped into the Globe Bar and Kitchen, and boy, that bartender shook a mean Manhattan!

All of these murals decorate one wall of the Globe, located in a former historic hotel that has been in downtown Spokane since 1908. I think there is some pithy advice here for everyone - take your pick!

And so concluded Day One - watch for future posts about the rest of the trip!

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Mosaic Monday #28 - Little, Simple Joys

Royal Red Norway Maple - leafing out in our garden

My friends, we're taking a road trip! That is, Spousal Unit and I are taking a road trip. Now, now - don't worry. Letting Go of the Bay Leaf will post all the pictures and the details that are fit for a refined audience such as yourselves when we return. Which means this week's post will be shorter and simpler than most. Which some of you may greet with a "finally"! Welcome to a snapshot of my recent little, simple joys - all I need!

You've seen neighbor cat Katniss before in previous posts - I had the opportunity to look after her again recently. She is so soft and fluffy - such a luxurious coat for a cat!

And then there's our 17-year-old lady, Maggie, who digs the sun spots in our house. Sometimes I have to check that she's still breathing!

If you've been following my blog, you know that we have applied for several backcountry camping permits in Glacier National Park. Two of our three applications were approved, and we learned that mid-May, you can access real-time availability of the back-country campgrounds. As a result, we applied for an additional two-night camping trip, and it was approved within 24 hours. Yippee!

I volunteer at the Whitefish Historical Museum one day a week, and our executive director has witnessed my various craft projects during slow times, whether it is drawing or cross-stitch. Last week, she surprised me with this bookmark, which she said had been left in a donated book. So what is so special about this? Well, my friends, it looks the same on the front AND THE BACK. No knots, or crossing the thread to another section, and it is one piece of cloth … I was amazed. It is simple and yet remarkably beautiful, all at the same time. I especially like the Celtic knot patterns in the corners! I almost cried when I considered that she thought of me when she saw it, not to mention the wonder of the craftmanship.

My dear neighbor took me to a nearby waterfall. I couldn't take my eyes from the 100-foot drop over three distinct cascades, much less the wildflowers that seem to be several weeks ahead of those I have seen elsewhere!

Left: Yellowbells; Middle: That's me standing to right of the upper cascade;

Right: Shooting Star

We recently hosted a dinner party for several of our fellow Mountain Ambassadors, and I had prepared some flower arrangements to grace our outdoor tables. One of our guests brought tulips, and I added them to the vases. The next day I received my Mother's Day cards - it all made for a marvelous mosaic. Until next time, dear readers, I pray for you that every day brings little, simple joys!

Mosaic Monday

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Mosaic Monday #27 - Got the Fever

Drawing Fever, that is.
#1 Daughter gave me a drawing book for Christmas, along with a set of markers. I have featured some of my drawings, inspired by that book, in three previous posts (2/2, 3/14 and 4/7). But lately I have taken it up a notch due to a secret project (you will see it eventually) and an idea I had earlier this year.

What was that idea? My Day-Timer pages, with attractive art and pithy catch-phrases for each month, stirred my creative juices. I originally planned to wax lyrical about the meaning behind the phrases, and perhaps select a variety of photos from daily life to accompany them. But then I had the epiphany to create a post AND draw simultaneously - I could create my own drawings with those phrases!

And I am delirious with the joy of the process and the outcomes.

As you might predict, I am learning as I go along, and I think my lessons learned are delivering improved quality drawings. Here are "Angie's
A-Ha Moments":

ONE: Draw in pencil first. It will erase, unlike marker and colored pencils!

Phrase for March

TWO: Go over the pencil with permanent marker and then erase all pencil marks before coloring; lingering pencil can blend with the colored pencil and mar the desired tone.

THREE: If I complete the drawing in stages - pencil, marker, erase; pencil, marker, erase - I can draw over the marker with pencil but only where I want, thereby creating the illusion of objects being behind or on top of each other. So excited about this discovery!

FOUR: A ruler is my friend. Especially if straight words are important! I found my lettering tends to slant upward as I move right to left - pencil lines to guide my lettering helps tremendously, and the lines can be erased! No one needs to know! (But now I guess you do ....)

FIVE: Inspiration can come from anywhere, such as this bookmark that I picked up at the library check-out counter.

SIX: When looking for fonts for a particular theme, Pinterest is my go-to source!

Phrase for February

SEVEN: It's good to let a drawing percolate overnight, or even a day or two. Sometimes I like it more when I haven't been staring at it, and sometimes it helps me discern what needs to be improved.

EIGHT: I may need a wider variety of colored pencils.

April theme: my drawing book inspired me to try this style with the positive and negative spaces

And that's when I knew I had the fever. Whether you are a painter, quilter, knitter, eco-dyer, choose your passion - you know you're hooked when you need MORE SUPPLIES!

Mosaic Monday

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Mosaic Monday #26 - Dithering April

Leafy Aster in our garden

I found April to be a month of contrasts. An in-between month, almost like a teenager that wavers between the simplicity of childhood and the desire to be considered an adult. The sun was out but the air was still cold. I had some recurring events, but in general I was less scheduled. The "dead" of Winter was slowly losing its grip to the life of Spring. All in all, I enjoyed the variety that was April 2019.

I am so glad this is the only

day Spousal Unit wears

this sweater!

The ski season ended with a cool vibe as Whitefish Mountain Resort hosted Employee Ski/Ride Day. In keeping with the "fun" character of the resort, costumes were encouraged and each department adopted a theme to identify its employees. In the case of the Mountain Ambassadors, everyone decked out in retro/60s gear. We don't often get the opportunity to ski/board at the same time, so this was treasured team bonding.

With skiing wrapped up for the season, I welcomed the free time to finish a key project, a Shutterfly book. This labor of love documented the life of our new house from inception of the dream in 2006, through its first two years. I chose this timing because April 24 marked the two-year anniversary of the date excavation began on the property. It was a surprise for Spousal Unit, and it gave me great joy to present it to him on April 21 - once I had it in my hands, I couldn't wait to share it!

Salted Caramel

My open schedule also allowed me to simply pounce on some opportunities that came along. Like the day Spousal Unit texted me that local ice cream company Sweet Peaks was giving away free ice cream - I was all over that! (Sweet Peaks opened its Whitefish shop in April 2010 and now has 6 additional shops throughout Montana, Idaho and Washington State.)

As long as we're focused on my sweet tooth - I was spoiled at Easter by a basket from Spousal Unit and from a dear neighbor.

It was such a delight to join my fellow Arts and Environment committee members to decorate our church for Easter. After the barren symbols of rocks and branches during Lent, the color and life of Easter flowers and lilies was a feast for the eyes and the nose.

In past posts, I have written about my search for options to enact true charity. Last month, Spousal Unit and I attended a fundraiser for the Samaritan House, a homeless shelter and transitional living program in Kalispell, Montana. Its mission is to provide shelter and basic needs for homeless people, while fostering self-respect and human dignity. The Twelfth Annual Cowboy Up event featured a live auction, silent auction, Chinese auction, wine pull, dinner and live music. We bid on several items and were pleased to win a rustic bucket full of gardening-related items.

As one who likes structure, I garner contentment from my recurring activities. My cooking adventures for the month included Shawarma Chicken, Pan-seared Cod, Chicken Taquitos and Chocolate Chip Crumb Cake. Only the Shawarma Chicken passed muster. We liked the Chicken Taquitos IF IT HAD MORE BUFFALO SAUCE, MORE CHICKEN AND LESS CHEESE. In other words, that's a different recipe!

Shawarma Chicken Salad

Pan-seared Cod

Chicken Taquitos

I have continued experimenting with my spotting scope/phone camera combination, and one morning was thrilled to have Spousal Unit join me. We observed a Belted Kingfisher in the dead trees on the edge of the lake, but didn't manage any good photos. It probably didn't help that mist was rising from the lake due to the brisk morning temperature. But I am very proud to report that Spousal Unit snapped these entertaining Flicker photos through the spotting scope. He might just be hooked!

The trail cams have also documented April's fickle ways.

I am sure the deer thought we were done with the whole snow thing!

The diversity of wildlife seems to be on the rise - whether migrating or emerging from winter dens, they are on the move and in some cases, vying for territory.

Upper middle and right: BADGER!

Perhaps the best wildlife story is captured in this video. One morning, Spousal Unit and I were on the lower level, deeply engaged in our photo album project, when we heard a succession of "whap, whap, whap" on the glass doors. Since it sounded like bird strikes, I wondered out loud about the chances of several birds striking the windows in such short order. Then the sound came again. WHAT??? Away to the windows we flew like a flash … and what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a crazed Tom Turkey, intent on fighting his reflection in the glass. We just love living in the woods!

Of course, with the passing of Easter, my limited Easter decorations have retreated to storage, leaving our dining room table lacking in adornment. But never fear, creativity and our back forty soon came to the rescue with a simple green and white arrangement. Welcome to the month of May!

Mosaic Monday