Swans take over the dog days of summer
For the first time in decades, the south side of our yard is unshaded by several 50-foot-tall trees we removed this spring. So what to do with all of that summer sun? Put up an above-ground pool is what we did, thanks to a friend’s family outgrowing their 14-foot-diameter pool.
While waiting, sometimes impatiently, for summer to actually arrive this year I received an email catalogue from Hammacher Schlemmer which featured items for the backyard and patio. The company’s catalogues are very similar to the SkyMall catalogues that used to appear in the seat backs on airplanes. Unique and interesting items with price tags that are sky-high.
An item caught my eye and made me chuckle. A giant inflatable swan floatie that according to the ad copy was all the rage with the Hamptons blue bloods. So tongue-in-cheek I posted the item link on my Facebook page and one of the commenters was my friend Brett Seright who happens to own ACE Hardware. I was surprised when he said they had the same swans in stock and they were half the price of the one in the catalogue.
Cut to the chase, I now own a giant swan floatie that looks rather comical in our less-than-giant pool. The swans have flocked to lakes and pools all over the area. I’ve seen a number of photos of locals enjoying the summer sun with giant swans on Hayden Lake, Priest Lake, Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River.
The youngest new swan owner has to be Ashley Yates whose aunt, Katie Morrisroe, gifted her with one for her 7th birthday. Sarah Gondo has a pair of giant swans in her backyard pool for her teens and their friends to enjoy.
The Hamptons ain't got nothin' on North Idaho. Who needs 'Pokemon Go' when you can frolic with a giant inflatable swan during the dog days of summer? Looking forward to seeing if giant inflatable flamingos or unicorns become the next big thing for the summer of 2017.
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“Public servant, social justice activist, and daughter of Idaho pioneers, Ida Louise (Daugharty) Hawkins, 94, passed away at her home of 61 years in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on June 13, 2016.”
While the first line of Ida Hawkins’ obituary is descriptive, it doesn’t do justice to the many layers of impact this incredible woman had on our community. She was a beautiful woman who shaped many lives, the mother of two of my friends, Bob and Betsy. In recent days Betsy and I were chatting about Ida and about my late father, Ron Rankin.
Two people could not have been more diametrically opposed on political philosophy but they shared a mutual respect for the other.
Ida volunteered at the blood bank and my father was a prolific lifelong donor. Recalled Betsy, “I still smile when I remember watching your dad and my mom at the blood bank laughing and enjoying each other. They both shared a passion for history, service, veterans, community.”
In this time of uncivil political discourse I think we’d all do well to emulate the example of Ida and Ron. There’s always common ground.
A memorial service for Ida is at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Wallace Avenue following her internment at 9:30 a.m. at historic Forest Cemetery, not far from the Civil War statue and just a few yards from my father’s final resting place. I think they will both enjoy the company.
Read Ida Hawkins’ full obituary at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com for an inspiring story of a life well-lived.
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Pat Whalen, along with his oldest brother, Mike, and youngest brother Chris, had a most incredible adventure last weekend in San Francisco ... a 52.4 mile adventure, which is the distance of two full marathons. The brothers started at midnight in the Ultra Marathon and according to Pat’s wife, Lora, finished in time to have a bagel and bacon before joining the 25,000 other San Francisco Marathon runners for a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge. The brothers finished two back-to-back full marathons in less than 11 hours which is impressive, especially considering Pat was nursing a broken rib from a rough and tumble game of volleyball on the Coeur d’Alene River the weekend before.
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Things to Do Highlights: On Thursday is the annual Post Falls Community Picnic at Q’emiln Park in the Lions Grand Pavilion. Come have a barbecue dinner, starting at 5 p.m., with the Post Falls Community Volunteers and dance to Kelly Hughes and his band.
Art on the Green, Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes and the Downtown Street Fair come to Coeur d’Alene Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday the Kootenai County Veterans Council is holding a pancake breakfast at Applebee’s in Coeur d’Alene to benefit local veterans projects. $10 (cash) per person.
In Spirit Lake on Saturday on Maine Street downtown is the annual swap meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Opera on a Summer’s Eve is Marlo Faulkner’s annual production to benefit the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls featuring professional Italian opera. Tickets at www.thejacklincenter.org.
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Happy birthday today to Ronda Smithson and Jessica Hendricks.
The same tomorrow to Vic Eachon (90!), Jennifer Custer, Ben Fairfield, Jack Glinski, Amy Evans, Ruthie Johnson, Sara McDrummand, Toni Caywood, Joel Bertsch, Michele Wood, Erin Delaney, Austin Viles (30!) and Amy Ford.
On Friday Doris Weaver, Dave Holinka, Kristin Kilmer, Jonathan Thomas Burnett and Danna Ziegler will blow out the candles.
Tracey Fouché (30!), George Evjen, Brenda Knight, Rick Marshall, James Fulton, Shirleen Jacobs, Christine Maiani, Kelli Aiken, Tom Wood and best buddies Lyle Ekness and Don Larsen will toast to another year on Saturday.
On Sunday Bill Kinder, Cindi Wimmer, Greg Delavan, Bob Nonini, Billie Collins and Dan Dahl are putting on their party hats.
Celebrating on 8/8 are Roberta Larsen, Sara Meyer, Jodi Anderson, Eli Yates, Jeff Humphrey, Ken McMeans, Virginia Griggs, Jim Hollingsworth, Jennifer Bokma, Heidi Phillips-Allen and Patty Collins.
Aug. 9 birthdays belong to Anne Anderson, Joni Hay-Smith, Terry Morris, Jack Havens, Keith Cousins, Kyle Patterson and Christian Strailman.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.