Tentative Tulips

A rare few days of sun and warm temps over the weekend coaxed my tulips to bloom. April is ending in North Idaho with a promise of good weather to come.

Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving is long past but for Idaho hunters, spring turkey hunting season is in full swing. Opening on April 15 and running through May 25, hunters might find the hunt a bit more challenging. In 2007 6,000 of Idaho's largest game birds were harvested but this past long, hard winter moved many turkeys down from their usual habitats in North Idaho. This tom finds a perch to his liking on a backyard fence near Fernan Lake.

A year and a day

It's been one year and a day since the very first post of OnLocation North Idaho. This is the 244th post with nearly 300 photographs of the place where I love living.
There have been 13,260 visits in the past year, averaging 1,150 each month. It's a treat to share the visuals of life in our corner of paradise. Thanks to all of you who stop here. Look for me out and about, OnLocation in North Idaho and say hello!

Mallard

From the lawn outside his namesake restaurant at Red Lion Templin's Resort, this colorful mallard looks over the Spokane River at sunset.

Green green grass

One of the best aromas of summer is a freshly cut lawn. I'm sooooo ready for sunshine.

Flamboyant Pheasant

A ring-necked pheasant runs in a farmer's field alongside the road on the Rathdrum Prairie.

Big Wheels

A 480,000 pound "super load" crossed into Washington on Highway 53 near Hauser Lake at sunset Monday. The huge boiler is on its way to an oil refinery near Blaine in northwest Washington. At 231 feet long and 21.5 feet wide, it's nearly the length of a football field. The tractor/trailer caravan is taking the "back roads" to avoid Interstate overpasses and bridges that can't bear it's weight or accomdate the height.

It's April ... isn't it?

Who would imagine that this photo was taken on April 21 and not in January or February. Welcome to Spring 2008 in beautiful North Idaho!

A Quail of a Monday

My resident quails found the trail through the yard covered in snow this morning. Even for North Idaho, an inch or two of snow the fourth week of April is unusual.

Go Fly a Kite

A blustery and chilly Sunday afternoon did nothing to dampen this boy's enthusiasm for kite flying on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

White Water

White water kayaking on the Spokane River at Corbin Park was chilly on Saturday, even though the sun broke through in the afternoon. Below the Post Falls dam is a favorite spot for spring kayaking.

Patriot's Day

It's fitting that my father was born on Patriot's Day, April 19. Although he's been gone since 2004, his spirit and love of America lives on in the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza. The plaza was a labor of love for the Marine Corps combat veteran of the Korean War who was my dad. His eagle stands sentry over the monuments and memorials in a place where the public comes to do business with Kootenai County. Located between the county adminstration building and the historic courthouse, it's a special place to remember the sacrifice of local veterans past and present.

Is it really April?

At 6:30 a.m there was a blanket of snow on the freshly mowed front lawn... and by late afternoon snow was again falling in large, fluffy flakes. April 15?????

Coming soon ...

Bare branches on our backyard poplar tree will soon be filled with leaves, which will provide shade from the summer sun. We're going to have summer in North Idaho, I'm hoping. This week's April showers will put a smile on the May flowers.

Going, going ...

When the sun came out on Saturday in North Idaho, the shirts came off. Tennis players at the city courts in Post Falls happily showed some skin. Many communities are still bearing remnants of winter with three or more feet of snow still on the ground. This slow melting pile of snow next to the tennis courts is the only reminder of the long and record-breaking snowfall of the winter of 2007-08.

Levels of the Lake

The protracted North Idaho winter has delayed snow melt in the mountains, which has resulted in much lower than usual lake and river levels for mid-April as these photos, taken this week and last July, of Coeur d'Alene's popular city beach illustrate. Hopefully by mid-summer we'll be back to normal, and beach blankets will dot the shoreline sands.

Border States

Idaho shares a border with Washington and at the Miss USA Pageant Miss Washington Michelle Font and Miss Idaho Tracey Brown are sharing a room.

The "I"s have it!

OnLocation as Miss Idaho USA Tracey Brown is joined on the Miss USA stage with fellow delegates from Illinois and Indiana in the preliminary swimsuit competition. This bevy of "I" state brunettes are looking good! The Miss USA Pageant is Friday night on NBC.

I found sun!

Okay, I cheated. I went on location to sunshine and 80 degree temps since it seems Old Man Winter won't loosen his grip on North Idaho. I frolicked at the pool while spending a few days in Las Vegas for Miss USA prelims and chatting up our hometown Miss Idaho USA. I knew I'd return to the final remnants of winter weather, though. But it felt good while it lasted. :)

Free Trees

For the past several years the Post Falls Parks Department has coordinated a tree give-away for residents of Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and Hayden. Over 3,000 6' to 8' tall bare-root trees of several types will find new homes on Saturday morning at Q'emlin Park. For more info go to www.postfallsidaho.org. On Saturday morning, look for Mr. OnLocation North Idaho (aka Bert) with his fellow Lions who will be volunteering with the project again.

Horsepower

North Idaho is feeling the pinch at the pump ... but this Spokane Street service station in Post Falls is covering all of their bases with serving customers' alternative transportation.

Where Buffalo Roam

While driving this morning near Bayview I came upon a large herd of famous North Idaho bison taking a stroll on the road. They were on their annual migration to the ancient spring feeding grounds in Cocalala.

Spring stream

This stream along the road at Lake Coeur d'Alene's Kidd Island Bay makes its way through the deep snow, hopeful greenery showing promise that Spring really is on the way.

Sign of Spring?

Traditionally, robins hopping in the wet grass in search of worms are the symbolic sign of Spring. This past weekend's snow storms seemed to befuddle dozens of robins in my Post Falls neighborhood. Saturday morning upwards of 50 fat, round robins clustered close to the back deck sharing the shelter with dozens of sparrows, several starlings and even a Northern Flicker. Everywhere I looked, every bush, shrub and tree branch was covered with robins. Usually more aloof and definately not seed feeder or suet visitors, they should be feathering their nests right about now, not seeking shelter from the snow. Here's hoping April showers will be of the rainy kind and that Spring flowers will be close behind.

Lawn. What lawn?

My husband takes great pains and pride in manicuring our lawn, often it's as well-groomed as a putting green. It may be a while before the lawn mower and fertilizer replace the snow blower and shovel, though, as this weekend photo of our back yard would indicate. According to North Idaho climatologist Cliff Harris, Saturday marked the 124th consecutive day that snow has been on the ground here, breaking the record of 123 days. Since snow started falling in early winter, 13.5 feet have fallen in Coeur d'Alene, nearly 100 inches more than normal for this period. In Rathdrum, more than 15 feet have fallen, and at stations between Spirit Lake and Priest Lake, the total is as high as 18 feet. Sigh.

Potentate's Ball

I go "on location" to a variety of places around North Idaho but this was a very special event, the annual Potentate's Ball. The Shriners Calam Temple's newly-installed Potentate is a childhood friend and neighbor from Coeur d'Alene. Bill Hamilton and the Shriners do great work through the Shriners Childrens Hospitals around the country. Also hailing from Coeur d'Alene is Bob Turnipseed, a past Imperial Potentate of the Shriners of North America.

Sandpoint is a 10!

Sometimes we're surprised when people discover what we've known all along, North Idaho is a special place. In the company of The Hamptons, Hilton Head Island, Key West and Aspen, one of our own North Idaho treasures captured a Top Ten ranking in a national poll this week. From AOL Travel/Across America: Best Resort Towns- "Our top choices are all in the lower 48 states, and are accessible from major and regional airports. Furthermore, each town offers the upscale luxury you demand, the accessibility you need, and the ability to see and be seen while you're there.
In the Northern Idaho panhandle, breathtaking scenery is just the beginning. Sandpoint, with a population of less than 9,000 people, is becoming a destination that is accessible, although it feels far removed. Heading outdoors for recreation on Lake Pend Oreille, and on the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort will quickly erase stress. New visitors are sure to enjoy the artistic and cultural depth found here. Galleries house impressive works of local and regional artists, the Festival at Sandpoint concert series draws great musicians, plus the Lakedance International Film Festival has quickly gained recognition."

Home Grown

When the Miss USA Pageant airs on NBC April 11, look for Miss Idaho USA Tracey Brown. We're doubly proud that not only does she hail from the Gem State, she's a Post Falls hometown girl. Tracey's far more than just a pretty face, she's an honor student at Whitworth College, an acomplished ballerina and the driving force behind Idaho's Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates. OnLocation North Idaho will go On Location to the Miss USA Pageant in April so check back here for some behind the scenes views. If you'd like info on where to send a good luck card or note to Tracey while she prepares for the pageant in Las Vegas, leave an email contact in the comment section.

It's a bird, it's a plane ...

There are no shortage of incredible sights to see in North Idaho but after spotting this sign on 7th Street in Coeur d'Alene, I'm wondering if there won't be an addition to the tourism promotions. A flying hound dog? I've passed this yard several times but have yet to see the talented pooch in action.

Memo to Mother Nature

That balancing act of changing weather continues this week with more snow falling. This ring-billed gull seemed a little surprised to be grounded on the snowy sand on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Memo to Mother Nature: Didn't the official first day of Spring arrive in North Idaho over a week ago?