Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Last night Dennis and I decided to have a date night. I picked him up after work and we drove about 20 minutes to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We had dinner at the Cracker Barrel there. Woo hoo! I know, big spenders aren’t we? But we do love the Cracker Barrel. After a wonderful dinner and some browsing in their little country store, we drove to the Coeur d’Alene resort and took a walk on the floating boardwalk.  It was really cold and the wind was blowing, so the boardwalk we were on was moving in the water. Hence the blurry photos. But at least you get the idea.

The Resort itself was all lit up with a sign that said 2019.

Now these next few are really blurry and I apologize for that. First was the nativity scene on the top of some of the boat shelters. You can see the reflection in the water underneath.

Then there were lots of toys soldiers and other things from the nutcracker, also reflected in the water.

Of course Santa and his sleigh were there.  There were a LOT of other decorations, but I just gave up trying to get pictures because they were so blurry.
This one was of four party boats. These boats take groups of people out to an island in the middle of the lake where Santa is waiting with his elves.  He reads off the names of the children that are on the boat and tells them he has their list. They serve hot chocolate and cookies on the boats and it’s a highlight for many children in our area each Christmas

This one was taken while standing on dry ground so it’s much less blurry. Doesn’t that look elegant?  There is something about pure white lights that I just love.
Inside the resort itself are some beautifully decorated trees.

I think this one was my favorite. We sat by the fire in the lobby and warmed up for a little while before venturing back out and heading home.

We did make one last stop at the last exit before leaving Idaho and going back into Washington. We filled our tank with gas!  It is $.34 a gallon cheaper in Idaho than in Washington. Our taxes are so high! Whenever we go to Idaho we make sure to top off our tanks. 

The next photo is to me, one of our most precious decorations.  I hand painted this nativity scene for the first Christmas Dennis and I were married in 1978. It has been through raising our children and and an in-home daycare that I had for years, along with many pets. Nothing has ever been broken and I think that is a miracle in itself. Especially having had several cats in the house!  Each year when I set this nativity scene up, it reminds me of why we’re actually celebrating Christmas and it calms my spirit.  Someday this will go to Mandy and I know she will treasure it just like I do.

One more week from today and we celebrate Christmas! I hope you are able to slow down and take some deep breath’s and enjoy the season.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

Blessings,
Betsy



18 comments:

  1. Coeur d'Alene looks like a gorgeous place Betsy. So festive and pretty. I'm not sure about the floating boardwalk though...I might have gotten sick - lol. Your pictures are so pretty - even the blurry ones. I love the reflections in the water. What a beautiful Nativity set - you are right that it is a miracle that it has survived the years!!

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  2. Your photos of the resort are beautiful.

    I'm a little jealous about Cracker Barrel. I love their chicken and dumplings.

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  3. That looks like so much fun! I used to have an in home day care too. I didn't go back to teaching until my kids were all in school. Instead I had a little room off the back of the house that I turned into a daycare. It was hard work but I got to be there for my little ones.

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  4. We've been in Coeur d'Alene more than once but always in camping ( warm) weather. Now we don't have our RV any more so no more trips away.
    That nativity set is so pretty. I like how you put greens around.

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  5. It is very hard to get good pictures of lights at night but looks like you had a lovely outing. My favorite part of Christmas growing up was going to my Mammaw's in Mississippi and driving through neighborhoods at night to see all the houses all lit up with beautiful decorations. Can't believe we are almost through the month of December.

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  6. Am so glad Betsy that you and Dennis enjoyed such a wonderful date night, the lights are really pretty but I think the nativity of a lowly stable where our Savioir and Lord was born is my favourite too. I don't have any decorations this year as not 100% but that's ok I'm using the small table which my cards as my Christmas tree this year 😁 there are some really pretty ones... with lovely nativity on them, I don't put out Santa cards. They stay in envelopes. I like real reason front and centre, most folks knkw that by now. Love the verse you closed your post with, it truly wonderful how our Father loves us.
    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless you.
    Hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  7. Coeur d'Alene is beautiful in all seasons. I love the holiday lights reflected in the water. Your evening must have been lovely there. I have the same nativity (mine is all opalescent) from 1977. Only one piece - the burro that Mary rode - has been broken.

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  8. What a wonderful date night! We have our very first nativity scene also. Merry Christmas. Nancy

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  9. What a neat idea for you two to drive to have dinner at Cracker Barrel, I like it too. It looks like a fun time was had looking at the lights on the water, there. Thanks for sharing your Nativity.. what a family heirloom. I have mine on your gorgeous doily on the baby grand piano that you made for me. That was so kind of you! Miss you!

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. You and Nancy have the same nativity set? ?What??? That's angelic!

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  11. What a nice Nativity set! We have lights in a town about 40 miles away and some about 50 miles away...maybe Sunday night...:)

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  12. Aw, reading about your precious manger scene brought me to tears! Especially when you said one day it will go to Mandy. It is so beautiful and so miraculous that it didn't get broken through the years. God has His hand and eye on it, no doubt, and He knows how precious it is to you. I believe He truly cares about what we care about. It sounds like you had a lovely evening out. God is so good! Merry Christmas to you and Dennis!

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  13. Thank you for sharing the lights-beautiful! Those Christmas trees are so pretty--the sit by the fire sounded great! Love your Nativity set-what a treasure!

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  14. This is such a nice post. Your date night sounds perfect! I love how you sat by the fire in the lobby and warmed up. The tree is so pretty. We like Cracker Barrel too. That's fancy enough for me. Wish I could get my husband to actually go somewhere! Love your special Nativity set. It's very pretty. Merry Christmas!

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  15. That sounds like a perfect date night to me. Steve and I stayed in that resort once when his company was having a conference there. It's a beautiful place and the cleanest, nicest hotel that we have ever stayed in. he went to meeting all day long and i walked the streets and went in and out of all the shops, especially the antique shops. It was February so cold, but a nice get away :)
    I love your nativity and the fact that it comes from your first Christmas. It will be a treasure to pass on and on through the years and a wonderful thing to use in teaching all the grandchildren and great-grands the story of the birth of our savior.
    Wishing you a very lovely Christmas.
    Connie :)

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  16. Love the story of your beautiful Nativity Betsy. So glad you had a lovely evening out, and by the way I love Cracker Barrel!

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  17. I love the nativity. You did a beautiful job and it is a miracle that nothing has ever broken! LOL! What a lovely place and I didn't realize how close you were to Coeur d'Alene. That is where Mary Jane Butters lives she has a Mercantile shop there too. She is an organic farmer and has a magazine too. What a fun boat ride for the children! Glad you and Dennis had a nice evening.

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  18. While I got to explore the lake area with my sisters a few years ago in late summer, it is a treat to see it through your camera lens now in December...so festive with lights and decorated trees! I am glad you and Dennis enjoyed your date, including the Cracker Barrel...I went to the local one once with visiting friends and family. It was when it first opened so mobbed, but the gift shop especially fun :) And I enjoy seeing your Nativity scene, learning about how it was created and used and realizing how it encourages us to focus on the one, Jesus Christ, who came not to condemn the world but to save it! Thanks for posting, dear Betsy.

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