CDA Summer Theater-Broadway in Our Own Backyard

USA Today named Couer d'Alene Summer Theater as one of the "ten best places to see musical theater way off Broadway."  If you have not had the chance to experience the absolutely entertaining and professional acting that goes on while sitting in the audience of one of these productions, you really must plan to treat yourself this summer.  The CDA Summer Theatre truly is like having Broadway in your own Backyard and better yet, it is just a one hour scenic drive from the St. Joe Riverfront Bed and Breakfast.  

The 2011 season is yet again promising to deliver fantastic reviews.  Here is the line-up:
The Wizard of Oz  June 9-12, 16-19
A Little Night Music  June 30-July 3, 7-10
Once on This Island  July 21-24, 28-31
The Sound of Music  Aug. 11-14, 18-21

The first show of the season is the classic tale of Dorothy's adventures to Oz includes many of the songs from the famous MGM musical.  The Wicked Witch of the West will be played by Ellen Travolta, along with her sister Margaret as Glinda the "good" witch and Annie Travolta's green hair is going to send the laugh barometer to the top!  If you had the opportunity to see these three sisters in action in Cinderella you will know just exactly what I mean.

Watch the stage come alive with flying monkeys, dancing jitterbugs and a yellow brick road that will lead you to the Emerald City...and I don't mean Seattle!  The CDA Summer Theater is Idaho's oldest performing arts organization and performs in the Schuler Performing Arts Center on the Campus of North Idaho College on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

The theater is commited to producing live performances of theatre for the benefit, education and appreciation of the audience.  The multi-talented performers are recruited nationally along with local talent and features full orchestrations performed by the region's most accomplished musicians.

If you would like to include tickets in conjunction to your stay at our bed and breakfast just mention that at time of reserving your room or you can access tickets by going to http://www.cdasummertheatre.com/.

Things To Do While Staying at the St.Joe Riverfront Bed and Breakfast

As some may well know, I have entered the "social media" world and have been having our website updated, now have a FB page and this blog.  Interesting that you don't take the time to think about all the wonderful things in your very own backyard until you are told to.  My gosh, I think a monster has been created as my brain can't seem to stop when thinking of all the fantastic activities and sites to explore while in North Idaho.  I am hoping to do an in-depth article on each subject that I have thought of but here are a few I wish to start with:

Antiques, Art, Baldy Mountain, Bicycling, Birds, Coeur d'Alene, Cooking, Farmers Market, Golf, Hiking, Holidays, Huckleberries, Kayaking,Parks, Recipes, Recreation, River Fun, Resturants, Seasons Beauty, St. Joe River, St. Maries River, Shopping, Skiing, Spa, Vacations, Wallace, Wildlife, Wine, Winery and this is just the start! !  As I said, I think a monster has been created.  So stay tuned and check back in regularly.

The Fire of 1910

The Great Fire of 1910 referred to as the Big Burn was a wildfire that burned about 3 million acres, approximately the size of Connecticut and killed 87 people-of which 78 were firefighters.  It was the largest forest fire, although not the deadliest fire in American history.  Maybe even the largest forest fire ever.  No one knows for sure, but even now, it is hard to put into words what it did.  For two terrifying days and nights-August 20 and 21, 1910-the fire raged across those three million acres of virgin timberland in northern Idaho, northeast Washington and western Montana.  Many thought the world would end, and for 86, it did.

No single event in American history did more to shape the United States Forest Service than did the 1910 fire, and no two men ever cast longer shadows over the Forest Service than did Gifford Pinchot and W.B. Greely, the agency's first and third chief foresters.  Beyond all doubt, the way the Forest Service views forest fires today-indeed the way the public views forest fires-is rooted in their handling of events that occured during and immediately following the 1910 fire. 

It is amazing how a person can grow up in an area and not truly understand or better yet, take the time to learn about the incredible history that surrounds them.  I have lived in the Western Washington and Idaho area for my entire life and yet had not really thought much about the Fire of 1910 which has been written about in numerous books such as WHEN THE MOUNTAINS ROARED, THE WEST IS BURNING UP, THE BIG BURN: TEDDY ROOSEVEL AND THE FIRE THAT SAVED AMERICA or PULASKI'S CREW, words on pages that brings this time in history to life.

However, differant things in my life have changed my way of thinking, and has also given me a huge appreciation for our forest service and our local history.  Last summer, August 2010 was the 100 year anniversary of this famous fire and the towns of St. Maries and Wallace really did a fantastic job of educating the people about this momentous time in our area's history.  Everything from the authors of books to the parades and dignitaries visiting the area for this great celebration brought tears to my eyes with respect to all the courageous people who saved lives and changed the future of our forest service.

My pride as a mother was even greater as I have a son who has been fighting fires for the past 10 years and his role in this celebration and more importantly his role in the many fires across the United States cannot be explained easily.  As a husband and father of two, he is such a fine example of the bravery, loyalty and sacrifice he is willing to exhibit time after time as he travels throughout our nation to do whatever needs to be done to save lives and timberland.  Take the time to thank those brave men and women who put their lives on the line daily just doing their job....how many of us would really sign up for that kind of job?  It takes a very special person and one whos thought process it to "run to danger rather that from danger" when they know their service is needed.

I would like to also invite anyone who wishes to appreciate natural beauty while also learning about this famous fire and actually having the chance to ride bikes through the very train tunnels that were instumental in saving the lives of more  than 600 people as this fire raged through the area.  You can do this by taking advantage of biking the fantastic Route of the Hiawatha and stop to read the fascinating history and the numerous stories of very heroic actions by railroad employees who drove engines and boxcars filled with people through the flames to the safety of the longer tunnels. 

The St. Joe Riverfront B & B is just a scenic 1 1/2 hour drive to the LookOut Pass where this adventure takes place.  The beauty of the drive itself will be a highlight but the bike trail following the rail system (all downhill) will be guaranteed to give you a new appreciation of the fascinating history of the area.  We will even pack a picnic lunch for those who wish to make a day of it.

For more information on the history of 1910 Fire go to: http://www.idahoforests.org/fires.htm
For more information on the Route of the Hiawatha go to:
http://www.skilookout.com/hiawatha/
For more information on accommodations at our B&B go to:
http://www.stjoeriverbb.com/



 

America, Come Home to St. Maries, Idaho

The way America was-northern Idaho-the true "gem of the mountains".  Add quality to your life by selecting northern Idaho as your next vacation destination.

Four seasons, fresh air, clean water, un-crowded-this is the magnet that draws people to our area.  St. Maries is amidst this paradise-cradled within the arms of majestic mountains, surrounded by lakes and rivers and towering forests, and bordered by the fertile Palouse farming area.  Winter snow and the smell of wood smoke, summer days and the sound of gentle breezes through the pines-every where you turn satisfies a hidden yearning. Add to that the best outdoor recreation opportunities in America, and you'll begin to realize why we cherish this little slice of heaven called home amidst the pines, firs and pungent cedars.

Our recreational offerings run the entire gamut-from leisurely walks along the tranquil waters of the St. Joe River, to the nature walks at nearby Heyburn Park, or the more challenging Marble Creek walking trail system.  Family bicycles rides along the Hiawatha Rail Trail.  Cruise boat rides from Heyburn Park or inner-tube floats down the Shadowy St. Joe or St. Maries River.  Any age, any interest-Enjoy!  There's summer fishing and fall hunting-one of America's largest elk herd resides nearby.  Duck, turkey, pheasant, grouse and geese abound for the bird hunter.  Add to this the hundreds of miles of accessble groomed snow mobile trails-and yu have a full year. Join the many bird watchers from throughout the northwest who find our area  a source of satisfaction for their hobby.

White swan, blue heron, osprey and eagle-The nations largest concentration of nesting birds is located seven miles away.  Or you can just sit on the patio and watch the hummingbirds feed.  the metropolitan area of Spokane-Coeur d'Alene is less than an hour drive away from St. Maries. 

Find out more about our beautiful area on the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce website, who by the way wrote alot of this article.  Thank you.

A Walk Through My Thoughts

For the better part of a year I have realized that we have been "missing the boat" when it comes to seizing the whole "social media marketing" craze.  Only as recently as November of this past year did I really realize how the market was passing us by and we were in no way, shape, or form ready to grab ahold without getting drug through some mud while we were trying to catch up.  For those of you who have been business owners for the past 30 to 35 years and think you can do things just like back in the good old days, I have news for you.  It ain't going to happen.

I have been using the excuse that I am an artist and my artist brain just does not think that way.  Well, I realized my artist brain just needs a huge portion of "technical bootcamp" if we hope to let people know just what a beautiful part of the country we live in and what an amazing home we are willing to share with the people who pass through our doors. 

North Idaho has got to be one of the places that you can truly say is a little piece of heaven.  Yes, we have had our share of rain these past few months but how do you think the magnificent shades of green are captured on our hillsides?  Just taking the time to appreciate the river as it flows swiftly downstream headed for the Coeur d'Alene Lake is enough to say "Thank you God for allowing me to live here".  The snow pack always allows a grand show this time of year as it melts away and the level of the river rises higher and higher. 

See what I meant by "a walk through my thoughts" as my thoughts can start wandering here and there.  Back to my social media predicament...I met a wonderful gal who has been walking me through this jungle of social media.  Everything from facebook to blogs, from Aweber to Dropbox, new websites needing to be built, SEO and Google Analytics.  For those of you who learned to play on a computer at age 3, this most likely sounds silly but for those of us who just want a phone that rings so you can say "hello" or a TV that just has 4 channels so you don't have to ask your 5 year old grandson how to change the channel, this has been QUITE a challenge.

I would like to highly recommend the person who has taken on the job of being my bootcamp commanding officer, Christy Ruffner.  She has helped pull me through the mud when I have fallen down and keeps on encouraging me--even after the 5th time that she needs to explain something -yet once again.  I know this whole endeavor will be well worth the final outcome but like anything else, when you are right in the midst of the storm you cannot see the safety of the shore.  Her patience and professional manner are appreciated and if you are a small business who needs help with Web Design or Internet Marketing Support just contact her at http://www.organicmarketingsolutions.com/. 
P.S.  She taught me how to add this link and I am VERY proud of myself!

Hidden Treasures in North Idaho

There are so many beautiful places in North Idaho that I think as a native from this area we tend to forget just how much natural beauty we are surrounded by.  I find it very interesting that as a travel agent I have spent 35 years sending people AWAY from our area so that they can catch a glimpse of other parts of the world that show up in travel brochures as something real spectacular. 

Many times we don't appreciate what we have in our very own backyard.  It has become very evident to me just how gorgeous North Idaho is due to the amount of people who actually arrange a vacation to visit our part of the country.  I absolutely love their pictures that they so graciously share with us upon returning to the B&B after another day of exploring.

I must ask myself, when was the last time I put my camera in my car as I take a leisurely drive around the Coeur d'Alene Lake or head up the St. Joe.  If all these pictures that our clients click were put into a glossy 6- color brochure I think they would go out of our travel agency lickity split. But one of the nice things about our area is that most people don't even realize just what is in store for them when they visit Northern Idaho.

I hope to share some of these beauties with you so that not only you can appreciate them but that I can start appreciating what I have within a 60 minute drive.  And at the price of gas now days, that will be a real treat!

13 Cooks in Our Kitchen

Last Thursday evening our kitchen at the bed and breakfast was filled with lots of laughter, fellowship and fun as the first night for our new small groups Bible study gathered.  There were 13 gals who signed up for the Women to Women Mentoring/Cooking class.  We are doing a 7-week nurturing program based on the book Apples of Gold by Betty Huezenga. 

I was so pleased at how many older women are taking their Titus 2 verse to heart and are willing to be mentors to the younger women.  The younger women are eager to learn not only lessons regarding kindness, loving your husband and children, hospitality and more but they were very excited about the cooking part of the evening.

I had decided to have the first class be on "comfort food" and thought of fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  My husband loves to cook and added his own thoughts as to what he thought I should teach.  By the time we had the menu done, I was taking the fried chicken to the next level by offering Norwegian Chicken, then decided to show not just one way to prepare potatoes but three, and I even threw in homemade Thousand Island Dressing and Ranch. 

We started the evening out fixing bruchetta that had olive oil slathered on both sides, baked for 20 minutes and the fresh garlic rubbed over the tops.  Then we put carmelized onions and mushrooms over the bruchetta.  Yum, it was a great appetizer and had to tide everyone over until their study was done.

The gals not only learned how to make garlic mashed potatoes but homemade french fries and stuffed potatoe skins.  Now one of the secrets  to good mashed potatoes is that you put in about 6 cloves of garlic while cooking them and then after you drain  the water off you put back on the heat to pull out any excess water.  DO NOT mash with an electric mixer....not good.  Just use  the old fashion masher.

The homemade fries also have a few secrets to be great.  After cutting the fries into the correct size, rinse repeatedly to get all of the starch out.  Then drain and let totally dry on paper towels.  Coat potatoes with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil, sprinkle with some Sea Salt and bake on aluminum foil in a 350 oven for 30-35 minutes. 

The potatoe skins were microwaved for about 6 minutes then cut in two.  Scoop out the potatoe, mix with sour cream, butter, Johnnies Seasoning salt, and minced green onions.  Refill the potatoe skins and place those in oven for about 25-30 minutes.

Meanwhile we had the chicken frying, added a can of cream of mushroom and a can of cream of chicken soup, about 1/2 container of sour cream, salt and pepper and covered the chicken to slowly simmer for about 1 hour.  You can also put this in a crock pot in the morning and be greeted by the wonderful smells when arriving home after a long day. 

Green salad with red and yellow bell peppers and the homemade dressings were put on the tables to complete this meal.  As all these dear women sat together to enjoy the feast it was evident that this was a comfort food meal being shared by new friends. I am excited for our next class which will be "Italian Night".  Stay tuned for the recipes for homemade lazagna, marinated greens, homemade bread and other goodies.