My son and I spent a few hours in Wallace, Idaho, today. First stop was the Sierra Silver Mine, which had been transformed into the Haunted Silver Mine for Halloween. This old mine is already a little spooky and it was made even more so by a fog machine, orange and purple lights, cobwebs, and some realistic "ghost miners" who managed to make me jump at least twice. My camera didn't like the lighting, but I did manage to snap one good shot of a TNT-happy miner who threatened to blow us all up.



After the tour, we stopped at the Nine Mile Road Cemetery in Wallace and I told my son a story about how the dead like to dig themselves up on Halloween so they can party all night. I warned him to be careful walking over the graves because someone or something might be reaching up out of the ground a little early. As we walked back to the car he snagged his foot on a tree root in the tall grass. You better believe I had fun with that!



Last stop, a walk around downtown Wallace, where we saw this dog locked inside an office building. My son said it looked like a ghost dog. Definitely a spooky afternoon... Happy Halloween!

We try to hike Tubb's Hill a couple of times a month. It always lives up to its billing as the jewel of Coeur d'Alene. Located right in the heart of downtown, the main trail is an easy loop. We usually get no further than halfway where the hill comes to a point with beautiful beaches on either side. That's where I like to sit and gaze out over the water. There's nothing better.

I like these steps at Lake Coeur d'Alene better when they're not covered with teenagers.

Sunset over Lake Coeur d'Alene. No lifeguards on duty 'til next summer.

A few days ago we went for an early evening walk through Coeur d'Alene's City Park and Beach. I was really surprised to find the place completely empty at 5:30pm, but I guess that's what happens on fall days when the tourists are gone. This is why I live here.

Playing on the wall above City Beach in Coeur d'Alene.

A rainy fall day on the University of Idaho campus.

This sidewalk leading to the administration building was named Hello Walk in the 1920's when the university president made it a habit to greet students, faculty, and staff with a warm hello and friendly smile on his way to work.

Watching football at the Kibbie Dome! Idaho beat Utah State 27-13. The kids ate lots of popcorn, hot dogs, nachos and caramel apples.

Don't know what these kids were eating...