29 July - 73rd Anniversary Dinner for Bob and Phyllis Schwandt. Last night at Clear Lake.

29 July
Today is the 73rd wedding anniversary of Doreen's aunt and uncle, Bob and Phyllis Schwandt.  Wow!  That is quite an accomplishment on several levels!  This afternoon we traveled back over to Coeur d'Alene ID to Bob and Phyllis's son's house John Schwandt and his wife Donna for an anniversary dinner and celebration. We leave this area tomorrow for Montana and points east, so today will be the last time we will see them on this trip.

We arrived at John and Donna's house about 1500 hrs and John was just finishing up some yard work.  Soon he headed over to the assisted living facility and picked up Bob and Phyllis for the celebration.  We migrated to the deck and Donna served a delicious huckleberry drink.  We admired their beautiful garden which produced the green beans and wax beans for dinner tonight.

John and Donna's vegetable garden.

Donna has also harvested some garlic which is drying now.

John has been traveling to his secret spot in the hills to pick huckleberries.  They are very sweet and used to make desserts, drinks, and they freeze them for future use in muffins, pancakes, etc.  Knowing we were coming to visit, the last time out John brought back part of a huckleberry bush for show-and-tell!!  It was loaded with berries and when uncle Bob arrived today John gave us all a demonstration on how the comb device is used to harvest the berries.

John demonstrating how the comb device works

A handle provides leverage to sweep the comb through the bushes to harvest the berries

The fingers strip the berries from the bush and they are gathered in the bottom.

Uncle Bob giving it a try

Doreen has this down!!

Ripe huckleberries, ready for consumption!  About the size of low bush blueberries.

Doreen and Debbie bought some flowers for Bob and Phyllis's anniversary

 We relaxed for a while on the deck as dinner cooked on the grille.  John busted out the playing cards and showed us a few of his recently mastered card tricks.  I think uncle Bob figured out his slight of hand, but the tricks that were straight math-related stumped us all!

Doreen is entertained by John!

We reminisced  about Decatur and times when we visited their house there many years ago.  Bob explained about the dredging of the lake and many other aspects of their old residence there.  As we talked the salmon and chicken continued to cook on the grill with John's assistance and it was done so we moved to the dinner table.  It seemed like an opportune time to take a few pictures.

Bob and Phyllis Schwandt, married 73 years today!  Lets celebrate with some huckleberry and Riesling wine!

John and Donna with Bob and Phyllis

Doreen in this one

 Dinner was served and it was fantastic!  John had grilled some sockeye salmon for the fish-eaters and chicken for the others.  Donna prepared a nice lettuce salad with wild rice and beans from her garden.   The meal was complimented with huckleberry and Riesling wines.

Donna also prepared a delicious huckleberry graham cracker dessert for Bob and Phyllis's anniversary celebration. 

This was delicious!!

 After dinner we headed inside and John cued up a slideshow of Bob and Phyllis's 70th wedding anniversary celebration three years ago right here.  We flew here from Des Moines to attend.  All the relatives including children, grandchildren, etc were here.  

 Bob and Phyllis are a very special couple.  We should all model our own lives after the example they have set.  We love you very much!  We are so glad we had the opportunity to travel here to see you and help you celebrate this very special day!  Thanks to John and Donna for all the support they provide to Bob and Phyllis on a daily basis.  We are again so glad we were able to visit you as we travel the Country. Thank you for your hospitality!

Easterward-ho tomorrow.  Next report from St Regis MT!