Dog Days of Winter

Sandie, a French bulldog, is all dressed up and patiently waiting her turn on stage during the Kootenai Humane Society's Dog Daze fundraiser at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

Stimulation

Most Americans might not be aware that there's more than one Oval Office. Thousands of miles from Washington, DC, the Oval Office in Post Falls is encouraging the citizens of North Idaho to stimulate the local economy by dining out.

Painted Sky

Like the cherry on top of a snowy sundae, Mother Nature painted the North Idaho sky in pastels to end the day.

Snow Bug

The butterfly wind chime on the back porch was a flutter in snowflakes after a storm came through in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Spring Fever

Blue skies and balmy 40 degree weather brought North Idahoans out of their houses in droves over the weekend. And although it's still two months until Mother Nature springs into action in our gardens, sidewalk strollers in downtown Coeur d'Alene enjoyed a sneak preview of spring fever in the form of a shopkeeper's glass flower blossoms.

Splashing Sparrows

A family of sparrows found a puddle of melted snow on East Lakeshore Dr. the perfect place to take a bath on this sunny February day in North Idaho.

Frozen Fishing

A solitary fisherman is silhouetted along the shoreline of still-frozen Hauser Lake. In Kootenai County, the smaller lakes of Fernan, Hauser, Spirit and Twin are still solidly safe for ice fishing aficionados.

Turkey Trio

A trio of wild turkeys graze in a Fernan Village yard. Wild turkeys abound in this small community on Fernan Lake at the east end of Coeur d'Alene.

Moose To Go

This 7-foot-tall bronze moose sculpture appears a bit Gulliver-like on a trailer in his creator's Sanders Beach driveway. Coeur d'Alene artist Terry Lee is the also the creator of the Mudgy and Millie statues that are located throughout downtown Coeur d'Alene. I'm not sure of the price tag but the moose on the trailer, including the antlers which are strapped behind, is for sale.

Spirt Lake

Spirit Lake, about 25 miles northwest of Coeur d'Alene, is still frozen over despite temperatures in the high 30s for the past few weeks. Snowmobilers took advantage of the wide open frozen surface to ride over the weekend.

Snow dogs

A cross country skiier along Burlington Road, near Highway 53, is accompanied by two snow white canine companions.

Countdown

The final weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count, several robins came to visit our Post Falls yard.

Wild blue yonder

Large flocks of Canada geese can be seen in the fields of the Rathdrum Prairie of North Idaho, foraging for the grain that's now visible as the snow melts.

Backyard Birds

The National Audubon Society needs you for the 12th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, coming Feb. 13-16. It’s a fun citizen science project that I’ve participated in the past few years. We have so many incredible feathered friends in north Idaho and this is a great family activity. Go to www.birdcount.com for information.
*this flickertail (woodpecker) is a regular visitor to the suet feeders on our porch.

Outdoor Adventure

Dozens of family members and friends turned out at Cabela's in Post Falls on Saturday. Our own North Idaho hometown hero Kyle Miller was surprised by Weston Clark, host with his wife, Jodi, of Higher Ground Outdoor Adventure show. Kyle's receiving an all-expense paid, week-long hunting trip to Texas. Kyle and his wife, Tara, have a great and inspiring story that you can see when the show airs on the Outdoor Channel. www.highergroundoutdoors.com

Double take

This majestic bull elk statue prompts double takes from passers by along Church Road in Hauser Lake. I bet he's fooled a few of his own kind, too.

Warning Signs

There's no limit to the signs to be seen in North Idaho that prompt me to get out the camera. I didn't want to loiter too long in front of this one, though.

Marmot Day

The closest we come to groundhogs in North Idaho is their cousin, the marmot. Often found near water, there's quite a large neighborhood of the creatures in Falls Park in Post Falls. But the most famous groundhog of all, Punxsutawney Phil, to much hoopla, did see his shadow this morning. Six more weeks of winter? Well, in these parts March most often goes out like a lion so maybe eight more weeks is more likely.