Farewell 2010!

The beautiful 25' wide wreath that each year adorns the side of the Coeur d'Alene Resort is hand-crafted by Connie O'Neal of Hauser Lake. As we say goodbye to another year, we remember the great things that have come our way and look forward to the promise of a new beginning.

2011 Birthdays

Don't forget to add your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club for 2011! Click on the photo of the cake/balloons at the top right side of this page and you'll find the link.

A Christmas Eve Journey

Wishing Main Street readers and listeners the merriest of Christmases.
You all bless my life in so many ways.

The audio version of my traditional Christmas Eve column is HERE.

Cake Mix Cookies

This holiday season my baking has been very limited because I've made some lifestyle/diet changes. But sometimes you need to break out a platter of Christmas cookies for guests. Simple recipe I've been using for years, especially when my daughters were in school is this Cake Mix Cookie trick.
Use one box of any flavor cake mix and combine with 2 eggs and 1/3 cup oil. Stir until it turns to dough texture. Shape into 2-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a sugared drinking glass. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Can be frosted or not. Your choice. The cookies shown here I made with Red Velvet flavor cake mix for a festive look.

Sunny snow

A late afternoon sunbreak illuminates the snow-covered peak of Rathdrum Mountain. At nearly 5,000 ft. elevation, the mountain stands sentry over the farmland on the north side of the Rathdrum Prairie.

Pile driver

A worker helps position a log piling for the pile driving crane. The new pilings were installed at the Independence Point public dock on Lake Coeur d'Alene on Thursday morning.

Traffic

On Wednesday evening, westbound commuter traffic on I-90 was backed up for hours and miles through Post Falls following a fatal accident.
Story HERE.

Lake Tower panorama

Don Sausser shared another fabulous view from his penthouse apartment overlooking the Coeur d'Alene Resort and Lake Coeur d'Alene. Thanks Don!

Eagles are here!

The North Idaho winter version of stopping to smell the roses is watching the bald eagles during their several week migration that brings them to the east end of Lake Coeur d'Alene. This year the eagles are slower to arrive but by Christmas there should be anywhere from 80 to 100 or so making their visit. Viewing tip for families is to drive out Lake Coeur d'Alene Drive to Higgin's Point. Along the way keep your eyes open to the trees alongside the road (this photo of a young eagle was taken from my car on the side of the road) and you'll often see clusters of people with their cameras pointed in the direction of a sighted bird. At Higgin's Point there's a large parking lot, trails and an information kiosk. Very family friendly. The eagles are most active first thing in the morning and just before dusk, although I've seen eagles feeding mid-day. Just like fishing, patience is a good trait, some days you'll see dozens of eagles and others maybe just a few. But even one bald eagle soaring majestically and swooping down to catch a fish is something not everyone will ever get to experience! A photo album from my Sunday morning hour out at Higgin's Point is HERE.

Jammie Time!

The River City Leadership Academy Class of 2011 hosted a holiday Pajama Party on Dec. 3 to benefit the Post Falls Police Department's OASIS program. Donated pajamas will be given to children who are being sheltered due to domestic violence. RCLA members pictured (l-r) Pat Knight, Cindy Jordan, Anne Hagman, Shelly Enderud, Nellie Armstrong, Jame` Davis, Tami Martinez and Sherry Wallis.

Morning has broken ...

The morning sun breaking through the clouds illuminates the surface fog on the water along the Centennial Trail on Lake Coeur d'Alene Drive.

Death Spiral

When over 100 bald eagles come to the east end of Lake Coeur d'Alene this month on their annual migration south, this is what will keep them here. Kokanee salmon spawn in huge numbers before dying. It's during their last thoes, that the spiraling movement attracts the attention of eagles. By the first week of January the supply of salmon decreases and the eagles head south. I shot this photograph at Higgen's Point on Friday morning.

Scooping snow

Record snowfall in November became a slushy mess on local roads the first two days of December. But the respite from snow gave Coeur d'Alene city crews a chance to remove the berms from Sherman Avenue on Friday. Here the trucks make their way east at 9th Street.

Lighting up the weekend!



 Holiday D'Lites Parade

 Friday is WinterFest in Post Falls with a tree lighting, caroles, cider & cookies and a visit from Santa. 6-8 p.m. in the City Hall rotunda. Mid-Town Coeur d'Alene businesses will light up 4th Street, between Indiana and Foster Aveue, in unison at 6 p.m. on Friday night to kick off the season.


Two big small town celebrations on Saturday. Hayden's 5th annual Holiday Tree Lighting starts with the lighted parade at 5 p.m. on Government Way from Hayden Avenue to Honeysuckle. The tree lighting follows at Hayden City Park. Rathdrum's Holiday D'Lites runs from 2 to 6 p.m. with family activities taking place on Main Street and a lighted parade to top off the celebration.

Let it snow!

By 4 p.m. Tuesday, November 30, over 33 inches of snow had fallen for the month, besting 1973's record of 31.6 inches.
While it was definately a white Thanksgiving, the jury's out on whether this will guarantee a white Christmas. But the ski resorts are singing a happy tune for sure!
November weather story HERE. A visual of my patio with snowfall from November 23 through 30, 2010, HERE.

This week's Main Street

in print in the Coeur d'Alene Press 12/1/10  HERE.