Early Spring

Our beautiful spring weather continues. Easter was a bright, sunny day with balmy temperatures. A lovely day for worshiping, relaxing, and fun family activities. We opted not to go to the early service or breakfast at church, due to the long hours Lyle had worked last week. After putting in 77 hours, he decided that it might be wise to sleep in a bit.

Late in the evening we went for a walk in Falls Park. I thought we might see some ducklings, but maybe it's still a little early for babies yet. We'll be sure to check back soon.

 But look here! See the tiny yellow flowers in the grass? Spring is officially here! (Still no blooms in my yard... but Falls Park is only about 2 miles away, so it can't be long.)

 Lots of water flowing over the dam, but it's still not at full capacity. One side of the gates was not completely open. I expect the snow on the mountains will be melting pretty quickly now, if the sunny days we're enjoying continue.

Happy Spring!

Springtime Fragments

Today seems like a good day for a Friday Fragments post, especially since that's how my schedule has been lately-- fragmented.

However, it's spring! And the weather in these parts has been cooperating nicely. Still no flower sightings, but we are having sunshine regularly. That's always a good thing!

Sunday afternoon drives are one of our favorite ways to relax on the Day of Rest. Lately we've been watching for signs of spring. There is still snow on the mountains and the trees are still bare... but it's shirt-sleeve weather when the sun is out!

 The chickies are happy and thriving in their little brooder box in the garage, but they are growing fast. It will soon be time to move them into their coop in the backyard.

Becky and her daddy got it all set up for them, and she takes them out daily for a play time to get used to their new home. Lots of "chicken spectating" going on in our backyard these days!

Lyle's been working long hours again. The print shop recently got some new equipment that requires construction of a "clean room"-- whatever that is. The equipment came with 3 computers. I was amused at his makeshift "computer lab" as he got the computers up and running, ready to put into place when the room is completed. He said each one had a different version of Windows on it.

In other news, the neighbors are building a new garage, to replace the one that burned down a few weeks ago. We've been watching the progress with interest. (Laura calls me a "stalker" for taking pictures!)

I've also been:

• working
• homeschooling
• preparing for my upcoming homeschool conventions
• studying for the class I'll be teaching for the spring trimester at co-op
• helping out at the print shop when there's something I can do
• thinking about writing (but not getting much done)
• poking around in my genealogy and family history at odd moments
• crocheting and reading in my spare time, as always

And that pretty much wraps it up for this week's Friday Fragments post.

Have a Blessed Easter!

Post Falls Coffee Company

Several years ago, when we first moved to this neighborhood, it didn't take us long to scope out the coffee kiosks in the area. We live in the Northwest, you know, where there are tiny little coffee shops every few blocks. Post Falls Coffee Company soon became our favorite, partly because it was only about a mile from our house... but mostly because they make good coffee! (Some of the other kiosks we tried were kinda hit or miss. They might get our order right one time, but not the next. Or the taste wouldn't be consistent from one visit to the next.) It turns out, we're coffee snobs... but, hey, when you spend 3 or 4 bucks on a "frou-frou" coffee, you want it right, don't you?

Anyway, time went along and we began to recognize the young couple who owned the little kiosk down the road. We still didn't know their names, but could always count on a friendly greeting... and they would remember our "usual" orders. (Decaf caramel macchiato for me. Peppermint mocha for Lyle.) One day I noticed that they had Bible verses written in wipe-off marker on the inside walls over the windows.

And then, last summer, we started going to a new church where we didn't know anyone. We thought. On our first Sunday there, during the "meet-and-greet" portion of the service, the couple sitting in front of us turned to greet us. Familiar faces. Where had I seen them before? "The coffee shop!" I gasped. "We know you from the coffee shop!" Turns out their names are Gabe and Mandy, and over the past few months we've gotten to know them a little better now that we go to church with them. That makes it even more fun to stop for coffee and quick visits when we're out and about.

Back in the fall, Gabe had told Lyle that they were hoping to open a second location this winter, with a real sit-down coffee shop and a bakery. We were so excited, because we love to go on coffee dates, but the only sit-down coffee shops here in Post Falls are the big chains, which don't have quite the charm of the locally owned places. Finally, about a month ago, we learned that they had signed the lease on the building and would be opening in February.

We took special interest in watching their progress each time we drove past. Did I mention that it's located between our house and the print shop, right on the street Lyle drives every day to work? So yeah, we pass it practically every day. Last Thursday we noticed their sign was up. Lyle worked late that night. I went to hang out with him. It was about 10 p.m. when we went home, and the lights were still on at the coffee shop. We could see them in there still working. What we didn't realize was that they would be open for business on Friday, February 1st!

This week's Saturday morning breakfast date was for coffee and scones at the brand-new Post Falls Coffee Company and Bakery.

And so... we have a new favorite neighborhood hang-out!

Fire!

We were watching a movie last night when Becky came down to the family room quite alarmed. "There's a cop car with its lights out sitting in front of our house. It's got the street blocked off, and it's freakin' me out!"

Now, admittedly, she gets "freaked out" easily, but Lyle went to see what was going on. Our house sits on the corner so he looked out the back door to see the other street.

"Karla, come look!" he said. "The neighbor's garage is on fire!" Flames were shooting out the roof!

When the neighborhood is filled with fire trucks and emergency vehicles galore, all the 14-year-old boys (even those in their 40s) gather to watch. Doesn't matter that it's 19 degrees and dark outside!

And of course, Mama has to get her camera just in case she might want to blog about it.

Lyle came back in to put on proper shoes and a coat, then went back out to stroll around and see if he could find out what happened. Me? Once I got my pictures (taken from the back porch), I retreated back inside where it was warm.

Turns out the neighbor guy had been smoking some meat in his smoker inside the garage, and the fire got out of control. He tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but to no avail. He hosts football parties in his garage nearly every weekend. I wonder what this bodes for his Super Bowl plans?