Leaving the Chill

Texas here we come! Never been there, so it is sure sounding nice in the high 70s compared to our low 30 degrees! Hopefully I'll get some great shots of the Texas Stampede and be able to share them by Thanksgiving Weekend at our Anniversary Celebration. If you are up at Priest Lake for the Holidays be sure to see our new creations Fri.27, Sat.28, & Sun.29th 10-6pm. We will be giving away free DVD slideshows and travel mugs... enter to win FREE 8x10 prints... enjoy food, cider, and treats!

1st Anniversary Celebration at Priest Lake !

This Thanksgiving Weekend, Fri. 27, Sat.28, and Sun. 29 is our first anniversary at our Priest Lake location. Please join us 10-6pm for sales, drawings, treats, cider, prizes, and free gift wrapping! We will be having our annual photography sale... photo cards 4/$10, 8x10 Prints $25, 5x7 Prints $12., and all photo wall art 15% Off. Rustic benches will be 15% OFF. Enter the drawing for a free 8x10 matted photo, your choice! Also free to-go mugs for the first 10 sales of the weekend!

Elk Splashing in Puddle

Thanks Glenna for the e-mail of the little elk calf romping around in a forest puddle. It's pure joy and definitely worth sharing!

First Day of Snow at Priest Lake!

"It's raining, it's pouring, this morning it was snowing!!!"

I can't believe it! 46 degrees right now outside with light rain. Orange tamracks surrounded by heavy mist are barely visable across highway 57 (our wonderous view). I'm not ready to see our green grass go. And definitely not ready to see fall expire! If winter could just be pushed back until December 15th I would be fine; snow for Christmas, snow for Jan. and Feb. then disappear for an early spring that dries up fast.... if only I was in charge of the seasons...

Fall Fall Fall

It's warming up a little (54 degrees) compared to last week's 9 degree mornings! Ohhhhh Wowww! The leaves haven't even turned their brilliant colors and it's already oh so cold. Dad is now heading back from his elk hunting camp near the north fork of the Clear Water. Didn't shoot anything, but was feet away from the biggest bull elk he'd ever seen! Why didn't he take a camera I don't know! Why didn't he shoot it... well he would have to tell you the rest of the story. I swear people need to start hunting with camera's... so when you can't take the killing shot, atleast you can have a "shot" to remember 'em by!

Fall is Here!

On the west side of the lake it's a cold 54 degrees. I was so hoping that summer would hang on a little longer! I do love fall (especially since I'm in season), but I'm just not ready for it this year. Dad is getting ready for elk hunting, the girls and I are looking forward to cider and sweaters. What are you looking forward to? Hope fall greets you well.

New October Hours

Starting Thursday, October 1st-31st we will be open Daily 10-5pm

What A Beautiful Indian Summer

Hope this weather lasts through October! The lake is a sunny 81 degrees, warm, and delicious. Took my girls to Kalispell Bay yesterday BY MYSELF. A huge event for a mother of a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old! It was wonderful to lay in the sun, dig in the sand, and dangle are feet from an old half sunk dock. We even found some arrowheads! Or what I thought was an arrowhead. Turned out to be just nice flat, sharp, and triangular rocks. :( Anyway, I'm still going to make necklaces out of them... Kalispell Kabobbs or some kind of cutsie name like that.

Lavender Fairies 2009

Thanks to all of the patient parents who have been waiting to see the Lavender Fairy photos from the Pend Oreille Lavender Festival at the Newport City Park in July. Images are edited and finally uploaded! Go to www.PriestLakeImages.com and enter my photography site. Click on galleries. Enter the Lavender Fairies 09 folder. The slide show is running slow. I will try to get it to speed up. If your child had many images I made them a separate folder under client log in that you can access with a password. Contact me if you don't see your child's image or have any questions about viewing the images, adding to favorites, or using the shopping cart. Thank you!

A Great Day to Be Me

I'm so thankful for all of my wonderful family, friends, and faithful customers who have supported me in all my endeavors the last few years. Thank you for all of your love, listening ears, support, and encouragement. As an artist I have a term I like to call the "Van Gogh Syndrome" meaning the way artists sometimes act a little nuts, seem a little different, sometimes in their own world, and are very picky about certain things. We sometimes tend to frustrate easily and need to act out our inner emotions in order to release & feel some relief. Whether that is painting on a canvas, singing at the top of their lungs, raging fingers down their piano keys, writing a torrent of creative thoughts, or like in Vincent Van Gogh's example; cut off your ear in order to release your creative torment. I don't think I'll ever go that far (gosh I hope not). But I sure do appreciate those close to me who have had to endure my many faults and my "Van Gogh Syndrome". Maybe I shouldn't blame my artist tendencies, perhaps it just comes with being a Virgo. Tomorrow I turn 32. I hope it will be the best year yet! May imagination and creativity flow through this year more than ever!

Summer Thoughts

Last night was looking through an old journal. Found this little writing of summer thoughts from 2003.

Sweet home Idaho
Clear sun that stays
Endless blue horizon
There are no clouds today...
I'm sailing on Lake Pend Oreille.

The winds change swiftly
Horn of the train echos by
I'm laying on the bow
Hoping I won't fall off this time.

Huckleberry Festival SATURDAY JULY 18

VISIT OUR DOUBLE BOOTH THIS SATURDAY AT THE PRIEST LAKE GOLF COURSE! Mom and dad will be selling their new Birch Bark Round Tables with stick legs and Birch Bark Corner Shelves! Also this summer we have upright log planters, and birch bark lavender sconces. I will be selling new huckleberry photographs ! Stop by and visit our new creations this Saturday, July 18th at the Priest Lake Golf Course. Enjoy artist booths and live blue grass music! Hope to see you there!

Lavender Festival Drawing

Congratulations to Billie Flannery of Athol, Idaho winner of our drawing for a free 8x10 photography print! Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth and made this year's 2009 Lavender Festival at the Newport City Park a wonderful weekend! Also, thanks to all of the little lavender fairies who made the festival extra special! Photos of this year's festival and lavender fairies will be available online within this next month. Stay tuned and check the website gallery to view images!

The Sounds of Summer

The whizz of cars, trailers, and trucks speed by
Eager to get in the summer sunshine.
Across the street motorcycles race on dusty trails
And on the lake the breeze pushes boat sails.

The robin's red belly quickly flutters by
Preparing the nest where her little eggs lie.
A dry thunderstorm rumbles across the water
and I'm eager to see lightening; the highlight of summer.

When the trees start to sway and crack in the wind
The repetitive chirp of a squirrel warns of the end.
For summer is a short season, one that's sweet but fast lived...
And those spent at Priest Lake are such a precious gift.

2009 Lavender Festival July 11 and 12th

Bring your little ones this weekend to the 2009 Lavender Festival at the Newport City Park! Once again I am the festival's photographer and this year I will be taking photos of the lavender fairies' storybook time. Bring your little ones for a photo opportunity with fairy wings and to pose with the onsite whymsical lavender fairies! Stop by our booth for festival specials!
New Hours: Saturday 9-7pm and Sunday 9-4pm. See you there!

Huckleberry Picking!

The huckleberries are out! Clara (who is 28 months now) and I found two different types just out beyond our yard... a low growing vine type with a large deep purple berry, the other a greener leafed more blue in color berry. Oh, how she enjoys eating them! Though now she has gotten lazy and wants momma to pick them, so she can eat 'em, rather than fill her yellow bucket and save them for breakfast.
We found that the huckleberries that were exposed to more sun are the ripe ones, and those bushes growing under the trees have green berries still. We have found more and more small plants here and there surrounding our house which makes it so convenient for picking. But, last season we found the mother load of all patches at the lake! Of course I cannot divulge my secret stash of huge berry bushes that would take a good few days to pick over. Surely you can understand my secrecy.
When I was just a child my family would berry pick up near Lionhead. Dad would always bring a pistol in case we came upon a bear (which only happened once I think). Anthony and I would leave the afternoon with stained hands and faces. Now it's Clara and Lilly's turn for purple shirts and mouths!
Tip for all you pickers out there: make sure to turn every bush over and look underneath. Sometimes that's where the largest most ripe berries are found! Also do not rape the bush... meaning BE A CLEAN PICKER and leave the leaves alone so the bush can replenish itself!

Birth of A Hummingbird

http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/

I thought this was an interesting forward e-mail I received from my friend Margie. A lady found a hummingbird nest and got pictures all the way from the egg to leaving the nest. Not many of us get to look inside the tiny world of a hummer. It took 24 days from birth to flight. Keep in mind the egg is smaller than a tic tac and a quarter fits the opening of the nest! This is truly amazing. Be sure to click on NEXT PAGE at the bottom of each page; there are 5 pages in all.

Grand Opening Weekend

Thanks everyone for a great Grand Opening June 19-21st Father's Day Weekend! What a great turnout for a rainy day weekend! And if you haven't visited us yet make sure to stop by our new location just pass mile marker 28 on Highway 57, next to Priest Lake Little Store and Service Station. We are open 7 days a week, 10 - 6pm! Give us a call if you are looking for something special 208-443-0216 Hope to see you this summer!

Coolin Days Drawing Winner

Congratulations K. Lynch of Sammamish, WA!!!! ... Winner of the Coolin Days Festival drawing for an 8x10 matted photograph. Stop by our new shop anytime and pick out your choice of 8x10 photo!

Coolin Days Arts & Crafts Spring Festival

Come visit our booth this coming weekend, May 23 & 24, 9AM - 3PM in Coolin at the south tip of Priest Lake. We haven't attended this show for a few years, so are very excited to have a booth, selling our new creations that have been made just for this show. Dad (Oscar) has come up with a handy "Knotty" Stool... perfect for naughty little ones as a time-out seat. Also, Birch Bark Corner Shelves, Rustic Log Frames, Black-grained Hemlock Frames, and more! These creations are limited. Hope to see you there!

In a dark black sky the stars are twinkling bright, waiting to be dimmed. It's 4:30 in the morning and if I felt better it would be a good time to get in the rig and venture out to see what other wildlife is awakening to the day. I guess it is true what they say that it is always darkest before the dawn. I have five weeks to go in the pregnancy and it sure feels like "the darkest before the dawn". Feels like I'm waiting on spring, the sun, the deck to be finished, and the snow level to diminish (though it is not as high as last time this year), and the new baby to arrive. Will she enjoy the same outdoor activities as I do? Will she love collecting rocks and sticks like Clara does? Will she be more mellow & calm and sleep through the night? Or an early morning star gazer like I am right now? No doubt she'll be a mountain girl and I hope she enjoys hiking and the lake as much as we all do.

St. Patty's Day Moose

As I slowly drove up to the crest of the hill on the old country road, a large black moose lunged at me from the left. The road was still choppy snow & ice and I could tell he didn't want to have to jump into the 2 to 3 foot plus snow on the sidelines... so he ran beside me as the road bent east. I'm sure he is the same moose I spotted in December with his large symmetrical rack. That would've been a great photo! His curved spoons collected large white snowflakes as he stood dark and silently within a snow storm. Didn't have my camera ready though. This time I didn't even have my camera with me! Very rare. Anyway his rack must've shed somewhere between the crest of the hill and where I first spotted him. He's been hanging out to eat in this area the last few months.
Anyway, this time he galloped awkwardly beside my vehicle, then veering off into the ditch and into the snow that was still up to his knees. He didn't mind my presence as I pulled over to watch him graze on the bottom limbs of tall pine trees. The snow seems to make everything silent at certain times. I was able to watch him surrounded by white and green, munching on the food available at just his height. Sometimes it's beneficial to not be peering from behind the camera trying to get the best shot. Enjoying the moment and the closeness to nature is at times more precious and definitely needed.