Dogs & Friends

The past few days have been somewhat hectic. Went to Sandpoint to have my glaucoma checked (I'm doing great.) and left Baby Rocket Dog with Lucy, her Airedale friend in Sandpoint. Patrick & I met Jon, Lucy's owner, while he was walking her last year and we were amazed at how much she & Baby looked alike. Turns out they are only weeks apart in age. Jon gave an invitation to bring Baby by anytime we are in town and let her play in his & Mary's back yard with Lucy. The 2 dogs haven't seen each other since last October but immediately became partners in crime. They acted like sisters. Sweet. It was a good thing for me, as the ophthalmologist appt. was for 9 & 10am, so I didn't get out until around 1045am. I then stopped at the Litehouse store and picked up some yummy cilantro salad dressing. They were completely out of cheese curds. I guess that was a good thing for me. When I picked Baby up she and Lucy were still nosing around together and they got really wild when I opened the gate. Two 55# dogs vying for ones attention. I forgot to take a picture. I'll try to remember next time. It is so nice of Jon & Mary to let Baby visit. My buddy, Cathi, had decided kind of at the last minute, that she wanted to fly up here in June with Mandi. We were both excited about it for a few days, but it isn't going to work out, so the excitement has faded. Next year will probably be best, that way she can get advanced airfares that should be a lot less expensive. We hope. She & Mandy visited me when we were renting on Schweitzer Mountain & her hubby was good with them coming again. I told her I think she should make the trip with Mark too, because if he falls in love with the area maybe they will buy some land. Also, I'm not sure Cathi has any idea how "rustic" our cabin is....there is still so much that needs work and she is a city girl. It'll be interesting to see how she reacts when she does make it up here. Okay, I must go now. God bless you all richly. love from the top of the U.S., Cassie

Freebie Friday - Really Good Deals

Today Larsens had a terrific Memorial Day sale & to top it off, they had JoJo Baker (a local personality) cooking and giving out FREE giant hot dogs. I bought Patrick several items of clothing for super deals and got David (my son in law) some flip flops and bought a cool, wool purse I have had my eye on for over a year......All on sale. Before that I went to the hospital and got my blood drawn using a FREE coupon we picked up at the health fair last weekend. A FREE cholesterol test. Patrick and I like FREE things. I am sure you have all heard that you can't get something for nothing, but that really is not true. I've just mentioned a few freebies I have gotten. Now, I know that a few of my friends & family who read this blog are Christians, so you understand the concept of a FREE GIFT. But, for those of you who do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I want to ask you a question. Do you know where you are going to spend your eternity? Heaven or Hell? If you are saying well I might go to Heaven because I've been a pretty good person. Or if you are saying no way I'll go to Heaven because I've done too many rotten things in my life. I've got good news for you!! God has a FREE GIFT for each and every one of us. All you have to do is accept it. That gift is His son, Jesus, who gave His life for our sins. That is a big YIPPEE! Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he that hears my word, and believes on Him that sent me, will have everlasting life." John 5:24. I'll talk about this more later on, right now the computer is running low on power so I must sign off. Oh, by the way, I am using the Visitors Center FREE wireless Internet to type this blog. We love FREE!!!! Blessings to you who read this. Because He Lives, Cassie

Greetings From Far North Idaho

Greetings & salutations from far North Idaho. Baby Rocket Dog & I are sitting here at a picnic table at the Selkirk International Loop Visitors Center. She just got her first grownup Airedale haircut today and looks like a different dog. Much less puppy-ish. Spent the day down in Sandpoint while she got groomed and did all kinds of errands for Patrick. He stayed at the cabin working like a slave. He is sanding (& sanding) the inside logs. It's a tough job, but saves LOTS on hired labor. We are in no big hurry, so should be done by 2014....about retirement time we're thinking. He does all the sanding by hand, then the two of us treat the logs and clear coat them. I am the official chinker and that job should be done by 2020....or upon my death! I chink a little, then sit back and enjoy the beauty of it for a few weeks, then chink a little more. Basically I'm enjoying the trip. hmmmm. The temp in the cabin has been "brisk" and I am loving it. It will get warm soon enough so we are just enjoying the cold. A fire in the fireplace heated the place up to 66 degrees, so I didn't do that again. Up until 3 days ago was working like crazy on all sorts of odd jobs. He fixed the dog kennel (which had a badly bent upper brace), picked up several bags of bark from the ground, hoisted the dog house (for me to paint) and many more 'honey-do' jobs. We have had some relaxation too though. Went to Montana and spent time with our friend Ilse for Mother's Day. Spent the night Sat. night and had a nice, but short, visit. Well, I better get back up to the cabin and get to work too. Patrick deserves a nice meal after eating saw dust all day! May our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ bless and keep you. Have a great day & rest of the week. Love, Cassie

Blessings & Surprises in Dillon, Montana

It's a small world after all. Yesterday when we stopped for gas and to peruse the Rocky Mountain Country Store in Dillon, MT Patrick was surprised when someone said from behind him, "What's going on here?". He was checking the oil & turned around to see Lou Lanton, a young serviceman who used to go to Pastor Manny's Bible study down in Phoenix!! Lou & his wife of 6 years, Nicole, were traveling from Mt. Home Air Force Base with their two little ones to Helena to visit Nicole's Uncle. What a wonderful surprise for us. Pat said God knew that we always stop at that same gas station/store every trip we make to & from Idaho so that's how Lou was guided there. We had a nice mini-visit while pumping gas and got a cowboy to take a group picture of us. If I can figure out how to transfer the pic I will post it at a later date. Oh, Lou now has his bachelors degree and he plans on going into the ministry in the future. For now though, he is heading back to Iraq for another 6 months. Please remember to keep Lou in prayer and also his young family. The children are little Louie, 3yrs, and Eliyana, 2 years. We are getting ready to leave Missoula, MT right now. Spent the night at the Red Lion Inn, a tradition we started years ago while traveling with our daughter, Jessica and our 1st Persian, Surprise. Chuck the Cat was here every year we had him and Baby Rocket Dog is now on her 2nd year here. She was really noisey last night. Every strange noise made her bark.....lots of strange noises I guess. Anyway, Patrick is all packed up, so I better sign off. Really wanted to tell about our Dillon blessing while I still have access to internet. May the Lord bless and keep all who read this blog. Always in His care, Cassie

On Our Way

Here we are in Provo, Utah. Not quite half way to our place in Farrrrr North Idaho. Patrick read our morning devotions and that will have to do as church for this week. Had a tasty buffet breakfast around 630am. Patrick did all the driving yesterday, so I will probably help out today. I was SO zonked yesterday. Got zero sleep in preparing for the trip so had a free pass to be the passenger on Saturday. Of course, the Subaru is packed so full my floor space was minimal...purse and large goodie bag took up most. Quite uncomfortable, but better than being the driver! ;<) We are getting ready for check out now. Stayed at the Hampton Inn. Quite acceptable. Baby had sudden bursts of barking which we found were caused by a yappy little dog across the hall. So much for a peaceful night sleep. Better sign off now. Keep our journey in your prayers please. This might be the last one for a while. No land line at our place in N.Idaho but might be able to connect at the Visitors Center. love & peace, Cassie