Gleason Visit July 2021

It finally happened! Michel and Steve bought a lot in Idaho on the Pend Oreille River!  It will eventually be a Pacific Northwest home for them! They aren't moving here but they will be able to spend more time in the Pacific NW.  Yeah!

Surprise! Brendan, Steve's cousin, was visiting too.  We didn't know that he and his wife Leslie moved to Spokane.

Tony and Mike in a deep conversation about the state of our country.  At least I think that was the topic of conversation.  They could have been talking about the weather! Who knows.

Pops and Steve!  

There is a bond between Mike and Michel over this beer that warranted a picture. Apparently Michel introduced Mike to Stella.  

After checking out the lot we headed to a shady gazebo.  You can see the hazy sky.  Summer fires!  

Ever so adorable!

Another surprise.  Brendon and Leslie have an 8 month old baby girl!

Grandpa Mike and Rivers!

Oh, the fishing.  Michel, Mike and Rivers love it!  Not so much for me.  I was a spectator and picture taker. 

I have a bite! 

This is Rivers' fish.  It looks big because of the way the picture was taken but it wasn't.  All fish had to go back in the water since there was no place to cook them.  All catches were too small to keep anyway!

There it is! A boy and his fish.  

Success for Michel too.  

This critter kept appearing around the dock.  Michel thought it was an otter.  I thought it was odd that there was an otter in this river.  Mike said it was a muskrat.  That made more sense. The muskrat was gathering things to make a home under the dock.  

You can't really see what the muskrat has in it's mouth here.  Mr. Muskrat had seaweed or a plant it was dragging along.  

Until next time.  It was a great visit, full of laughter and joy!  

Drive's License and Golf Team

It's been a great week for the grandkids.  Layne got her driver's license.  16 years old and starting her junior year in high school!!!!  I know people say this all the time and it's true.  Time flies!  Wasn't she just a baby?

Same for Ryland!  He is starting his freshman year at a private high school.  Two rounds of golf landed him on the golf team! 88 on the first 18 holes and 82 on the second 18.  It's a big deal.  Congratulations to Layne and Ryland!!!  

 

Layne's Broken Arm

Well, well.  A pretty bad softball injury required surgery for Layne in early May.  Layne was on third base and it was a hit and run play.  As soon as the ball was pitched Layne took off.  The problem was the batter hit a pop up in the infield.  Layne dove back to 3rd base.  She jammed her arm into the base and broke the end of the bone in her arm off.  Ouch.  When they went in for surgery there we some other issues too.  No more softball for awhile.  No more running for awhile.  

This was the most special thing ever! Her cross country coach came to her house to give her the sweatshirt she earned.  The 100 mile club.  

She ran more than 100 miles.  This was such a great thing to do for Layne.  Good job coach! 

Phase two the cast is off and now a brace/cast.  

By mid June she was able to start running short distances with a brace on.  He is still working on getting back to 100 percent in early August!  Layne is running with her cross country team now and still doing physical therapy. She never gives up!!!  

We will see her run cross country this fall and can't wait to see her play softball next summer.  

Waikiki Springs Hike July 2021

I belong to a women's hiking group.  You will see some familiar faces, Sheila, Bonnie and Peggy.  This is the first hike Sheila and I joined.  Wonderful group of women that love the outdoors. 

I have to say the two ladies that organize these hikes do a great job.  They noticed everything along the way and they even knew the history of the area.  This hike was 15 minutes from home and I had no idea it existed.  It was tucked back in a neighborhood.  

I didn't notice this bird but they did.  I may have used one of their pictures of the bird. 

Sheila got this great shot of a bubble bee!

Beautiful.  Love the colors in the sky. 

The terrain provided a little bit of everything.  

Peggy and Bonnie

Toward the end of our hike Carrie pointed out this eagle's nest.  It's right in the middle of the picture. We wouldn't have seen it if she hadn't shown us.  This nest is huge.  It doesn't seem huge in the picture but it is huge.  No eagles in the next today.  

We fit right in with these ladies because we all went to a local spot and had coffee and some food after our hike. A perfect ending to a great hike with new friends and old ones.  

Cindy's Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS 2021

Team Gleason decided to do the ALS fundraiser bike ride at the normal location.  The ride was virtual again this year but I am sure next year we will get the full experience.  We did our best to recreate the experience.  We started at the trailhead in Kingston, Idaho across from the Snake Pit restaurant.  Peggy and Bonnie did their speed walking and Sheila and I biked the Trail of the Coeur d Alene's.  

Sheila could have had me hold her bike or she could have used the asphalt path to the restroom but NO!  She hauled her bike up the stairs.  

And there they go, the speed walkers!  They saw a bald eagle on their walk!  We did not see the bald eagle riding bikes. 

This trail is so beautiful.  

No diving or jumping off the bridge.  That was not a temptation at all.  

I was riding my bike when I took this picture and didn't know if I would capture the fishermen.  I did. I am getting pretty good at taking pictures while moving.  HA. 

We went across the road to explore the other side of the trail.  It started out looking great. 

We discovered that this was some sort of a quarry that created lots of dust.  We turned around. 

We finished our ride and walk and headed to the Snake Pit.  The Snake Pit usually provides an outdoor BBQ after the ride.  Trying to make the experience as close as possible to the real deal meant we had to eat at the Snake Pit.  Of course we did!

See that grilled cheese sandwich?  It was the best grilled cheese I have ever eaten.  That says a lot because I have eaten a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches.  

I appreciate these ladies and their continued support of my ALS fundraising efforts and of me in general.  Good friends, good food, good exercise for a good cause.  Thank you for joining me and being such good friends.