Countdown to 2010

The 24' wide pine wreath on the parking garage of the Coeur d'Alene Resort reminds us of the year about to come to an end. Weighing nearly 3 tons, the wreath is handcrafted each year by Post Falls florist, Connie O'Neil.

Lighting up the lake

The annual fireworks display over Lake Coeur d'Alene dwarfed the Coeur d'Alene Resort cruise boats which were filled with revelers as Coeur d'Alene's downtown was officially lit up for the season.

Dressed for December

The grounds of the Coeur d'Alene Resort and downtown's Sherman Avenue are all dressed in lights, although Mother Nature has yet to blanket North Idaho in white.

Nothing says Christmas like ...

... shotgun shell lights on the tree. These, and other outdoors-themed lights like Coleman lanterns, are displayed at Cabela's in Post Falls.

Kicking off Christmas!

The day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas season kicks off in Coeur d'Alene with the Festival of Lights Parade at dusk. At parade's end, thousands gather on the lawn of the Coeur d'Alene Resort for the official flipping of the switch to light up the downtown. At the Resort alone there are over a million lights strung.

Birds on a wire

On a sunny but cold North Idaho November day, hundreds of starlings surveyed the landscape from overhead wires. Every few minutes they'd swoop as a group to feed in the fields below.

Gobble Gobble

With less than a week before Thanksgiving, a family of wild turkeys parades through a Fernan Lake neighborhood.

First snow

The first measurable snow of the season fell on Friday the 13th. By Saturday it was still dusting the fields of the prairie and Rathdrum Mountain. At the Idaho/Montana stateline Lookout Ski and Recreation area opened this weekend for early season skiiers.

In like a lamb

November arrived in North Idaho without a roar. Beautiful blue skies and mild temperatures made for some great late season golf at the Highlands Country Club in Post Falls. Dozens of golfers were out on the links and the driving range on a sunny Sunday ... which just happened to be November 1.

Fire on the Mountain

On Saturday, smoke and fire could be seen on the south side of Rathdrum Mountain, high winds sending the smoke nearly horizontal. No cause for alarm ... evidently it was a controlled slash burn.