Decorated displays
<p>Robyn Lieggi decorates the North Idaho College sponsored tree Friday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort in preparation for this weekend's Kootenai Health Foundation Festival of Trees.</p>
<p>Dottie Maley adjusts a decoration on the tree she and her sister, Jeanette Hill, sponsor for the Festival of Trees.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Hundreds of volunteers descended upon The Coeur d'Alene Resort Convention Center for a day after Thanksgiving tradition that has nothing to do with shopping.
It was decorating day for Kootenai Health Foundation's annual Festival of Trees, a four-day fundraising event that began Friday night at The Resort and continues through Monday.
The trees, all trimmed and donated by various sponsors, will be auctioned and sold to raise funds to support the expansion of Kootenai Health's cardiac care services.
"It's a beautiful event that brings so much joy to other people," said tree sponsor Jeanne Norton, co-owner of Silverwood Theme Park.
The Silverwood tree was aglow with rich purple lights and decked with warm, mocha-colored holiday bulbs and bows.
"We're thinking it's something you would consider yummy, and not just yummy to eat," Norton said.
The tree does come with a few tasty treats as well. A 30-pound chocolate Santa stands guard beside the shimmering branches which are adorned with individual chocolates and suckers.
This year's 23rd annual festival includes an array of 39 decorated displays to view and bid on, including 33 trees decked with more than ornaments. There are lots of goodies in the branches and on the ground that go to the winning bidders.
It's sisters Jeanette Hill and Dottie Maley's first time sponsoring a festival tree.
The pair, who live in Rathdrum, dubbed their tree, "Heart of Idaho," and decked it with Pacific Northwest-inspired items that will feel like home to anyone who lives in the Gem State. There is a framed original painting of a moose, by artist Sheila Bledsoe, and a large framed photo of an eagle in a tree by Ralph Kerr.
Hospice of North Idaho is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year. The nonprofit's tree, named "I'm Dreaming of a Wine Christmas," comes with 30 bottles of wine and an antique German wine press. It is adorned with garland and ornaments made of shiny ribbons and wine corks.
"The garland is all handmade and so are many of the ornaments," said Renee Miller.
A new tree sponsor this year, The Dining Divas, whipped up a tree recipe that includes equal parts nostalgia, gourmet living and good times.
The "divas" - Charlie Knudtsen, Ellen Jaeger, Brenda Garcia, Judy Cerenzia, Corrine Larsen, Ruth Pratt, Roberta Larsen, Atsuko Schlesinger, Mary Sanderson, Kelli Lattin, Deanna Goodlander and Claudia Brennan - are a group of friends who gather once a month to share good food and fine wine.
Decked with tools for cooking, tasting and sipping, the divas' tree is crowned with a chef's hat and comes with the chance to sample some diva hospitality - a party for eight that starts with a boat ride on Charlie Knudtsen's boat, with appetizers and cocktails, then dinner at Ellen Jaeger's home.
The tree also comes with a framed photo of the old Boat drive-in restaurant that once stood on East Sherman, and includes the recipe for the Boat's famous Coney sauce. Under the divas' tree, are items autographed by famous World Series perfect game pitcher Don Larsen, and a basket of bottles of wine.
"We had fun doing this," said Judy Cerenzia. "But we always have fun."
The trees will be on display throughout the weekend at The Resort. They will be auctioned at the festival gala tonight from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Information: (208) 666-2345