Thursday, December 28, 2017

Great Grandpa Erv and his 2 of his Grandkids

One of my favorite photos,  my Dad and my Grandkids.  You just never know when that one photo will become one of the cherished.  This one is!

Thursday, December 21, 2017

A tree...


 No,  we did not cut a tree.  From a few years ago,  my safari is out of date on my computer so have not been able to add more photos.  So, until I get a little update on my computer I plan to post some photos that are old or maybe already on this blog.  

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Another Pilot Index

Pilot Index is always a beautiful view.  One we will have daily in our new Crandall Home.  

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Fun quilts


I made these 2 quilts for my daughter in laws nieces.  I love this pattern.  I think it was about 3 years ago I made one for my Grandson,  we visited last week and I checked it out.   I did a few things different, most of his colors are boy colors not a lot of pink or purple,  I did not do the 2 borders on his.   It is always on his bed, and he told me he loves his quilts.  2 more just waiting to be quilted, one a donation to Benjamin Smiles Toy Run and the other for our Park County Animal Shelter (photos to come soon).  both will be raffle quilts,  I think, that is the choice of the organization,  I just make and donate.  

Thursday, November 16, 2017

It is getting there.




At times it seems to be taking forever!! But,  it is a process that we are enjoying.  The window in my sewing room is now in, and it works.  It blew out the hole when it was being installed.  That just damaged the up and down not the window itself,  installed last week and working great.  Our garage doors are now in.  Russ and I painted those a burgundy color.  Love them.  All the white doors you see will also be painted that burgundy color.  We vacuumed the outside walls in the lower garage area,  today if weather permitted the insulators will be spraying the "seal" part of the insulation on all the outside walls.  Next week the front deck will be finished and the wood up under the overhang will be finished.  We picked up the wood and the steele for the siding the last 2 weeks and when weather permits we will start on that.  These photos are from Nov 2, 2017

Thursday, November 9, 2017

November 3rd 2017 Our Morning Walk



 We received about 6-8 inches of snow with lots of rain under that.  Russ and I were in Crandall until yesterday. Crandall…at least 10 inches of snow and was still snowing when we left.  Walking in this heavy wet snow is another kind of exercise,  I feel my calves burn and my hips hurt.  I still go everyday and everyday it is a different walk,  be it the weather, the people we pass, or the animals and birds we see.  It clears the mind and this am was a good laugh to watch the Ruger, he loves the snow and loves to run as fast as he can.  His tail wagging the entire time.  Life is good!






Thursday, November 2, 2017

I know that Cowboy hat

This photo makes me smile.    My Dad passed in 2015.  When we cleaned out his home I found a camera and had it developed.   I know that the Cowboy hat is my Dad but not sure who the other person is.  Not really sure what the drain is in this photo either.  but it does bring a smile to my face and good thoughts of my Dad.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Ruger

Ruger, he is a big sweetheart but the biggest PITA.
He is the  75 lb. baby in this family

Thursday, October 5, 2017

A buck and the girls

This was yet another beautiful scene on our walk.  Look closely you will see a nice looking buck and 2 girls.  The red sun,  from all the wild land fires in Montana.  

Thursday, September 28, 2017

When I see a rainbow….

We walk everyday,  everyday we are blessed with viewing wildlife, beautiful sunrises, flowers, all sorts of weather,   and every now and then a rainbow.  This one was straight toward  the heavens. Those of you that know me well, know that seeing a rainbow has always reminded me that my brother John is looking down on me from the heavens.  40 plus years and he is still loved, and still missed!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Aretha makes the cover!!

I am so honored to be on the cover of this book,  ok NOT me but my art.  Aretha Franklin front and center.  This book actually has 2 of my art pieces,  Aretha and Through the Lens, both have been on this blog.  Soon to be on the book shelves.  Hope all of you find one to purchase,  this is gonna be an awesome book celebrating women in HERstory!!

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Forty and other 1st

I could not find a photo of just Russ and I so Olivia is also in this one, and a sweetie as always, love this beautiful girl.     We celebrated our 41st Anniversary this year. A lot of 1st. 
Forty  1st anniversary
1st house we have ever built
and Russ for the 1st time is not working, he retired.    
Looking forward to lots more 1st.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Ruger helps us build our new home too...


Ruger is really not much help.  He is very much a crazy dog without fear.  So we have to watch him closely when the equipment is running or a visitor drives up the driveway.  He has been known to run into moving vehicles, the 1st time he dented a car, the 2nd he managed to break his leg.  He does love Crandall, lots of room to run, water to swim in and he does like to help with all the building.


Thursday, August 31, 2017

We also have a Montana Cowboy!



Liam enjoyed riding his cousins horse.  Much bigger than Nugget.  He took this very seriously and looked great on that horse.  

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Our little cowgirl

 She is getting very good at riding "Nugget".   And she is in charge of feeding and watering not only Nugget but the goats and chickens.  She does not seem to mind doing these chores.   I think we have another animal lover in our family.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Grizzly Bear, oh my!



This was several weeks back on our way up to Crandall.  Just past Russell Creek this Grizzly bear was foraging in the bushes,  not more than 20 feet off the highway.   Not another soul around, so we turned the truck around to take a look and some photos.  He or she did not seem to be bothered at all by our truck and Rugers squeals of joy and excitement.  

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Changing every time I get up there….

 West end of our new home.  This was taken a few weeks back.  I have not been up there since then but the metal roof is probably now on,  they were working on the whatever you call the edge and the soffit when I was up there.  
This end faces the east.  My sewing room is the 3 windows.  North and south also have windows,  really big.  Loving it!

Thursday, August 3, 2017

June Fire


 The June Fire is burning up  the North Fork  and we have certainly gotten some beautiful sunsets and sunrises from that fire.   I had the sunset from the cabin on here but have changed the photo to the actual sunrise during the June Fire.  

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Fledging..

I try to keep up to date on my blog but recently I have been really distracted.  1st Russ's Truck had to have 3 injectors put in, 2  something was banging around in the wheel of my truck,  fearing it was the bearings we took that in to the shop.   #3,  we went to Crandall for less than 24 hours, our intention was to stay for 4 days but as things go we had to come back,  thank goodness I had left the water on in the pond,   I lost all my huge goldfish,  and now have a leak somewhere in the top area.  Last but not the least,  #4, I walked into our spare bedroom and the floor was soaked with water.  Our air conditioner is in our attic, the pump stopped working,  we do not use that room much and leave the door closed most of the time.  Who knows how long that was leaking, on my antique' quilts, my traditional quilts, prints, shoes, clothes.  Long enough for things to grow that nasty mold.  So,  we are lucky to have a great company locally that is cleaning up the wet, mold, and uck!

Thursday, July 13, 2017

The dream is now a visible Reality...

 This is looking West.  The lower level is a window opening, a "man" door and 2 garage door openings.  The lower level is for Russ and his wood working.  As well as his truck.
This photo is looking up from the cabin area.   That big window opening on the left is my sewing room.  Actually, that entire end 17' wide by 30' long is my sewing room.  Love it!! lots of natural light and what a view.  Lots to inspire!

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Crandall home…...

 This end of the new home is where my sewing room will be,  16' X 30'.  Of course the lower level will be Russ's woodshop and garage.
 This is the view from what will be the front door area.
 The side view looking east
 This is the view toward Russ's garage, you can see my garage is done and on the upper level of the driveway.
This is what will be the view from our living room/ kitchen area.  Pilot/Index Mountain.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

On a roll..

 Even I am amazed at how many unfinished quilts I have finished this year.   I believe this one was started either in 2004 or 2005.  I have learned a lot with every quilt I have done this one taught me that I love wool but although this is not a huge quilt it is very heavy.   I had all of it done but the binding when I found it again.  Could not find any of that wool left-over so found the perfect color in cotton, and that is the only cotton on this quilt, even the batting is wool.  I applied the basket and flower pieces with hand embroidery.  

Thursday, June 15, 2017

So it begins……..

 We started building our home in Crandall, Wyoming.  The view is awesome.  This is the block walls for the lower level.  Concrete was poured into those walls May 31st.  Russ will work on the floor for this level, it will include 2 garage areas, a woodshop, and a dog bathing area. (yes, Teton and Ruger get a special bathing area)

Friday, June 9, 2017

Another unfinished quilt…finished!!

I started this quilt I believe about 6-7years ago.  It was a Bible Study.  I enjoyed the study and really love having this quilt as a visual reminder not to forget my Bible studies.  I quilted this all those years ago,  and then decided to add crystal and jewels, unfortunately I used a glue to attach those items,  when I was finished, I hated the look.  So I removed them,  the glue would not come off, so it ended up unfinished.  I was going through a closet in my sewing room and uncovered it,  decided this was never going to be a gift,  I could add more flowers, more hearts, more leaves and stems, for me I  did not need to sew them down, and they would cover the glue.  Love the end result!!

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Just a little rock in the driveway

We have started out new home, (May 6th the date of this photo)  We have orange marks for the backhoe to clear the dirt and the rocks out of the way for the the lower level walls.   This particular rock was in the middle of the driveway.  We built our garage last summer. Smoothing out the driveway this one would not move with the bobcat.  The neighbor brought his backhoe over and dug this one as well as another smaller one out of the driveway.  We will use them as "landscape art"

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Utah Quilting and Sewing Marketplace





The entire  'Fly Me to the Moon' Quilt exhibit  was at the UQSM May 4-6th.   I was humbled to have my 2 quilts juried into this exhibit. This exhibit will travel to many countries,  I  was happy to have the opportunity to see it in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Not all quilts in this exhibit will go to all of the scheduled shows, so being able to see it so close and with all the quilts, was something I could not miss.  I was lucky to have 2 of my favorite friends join me in the experience.  I do  have to express how it gave me an overwhelming feeling of  honor to have given a part of history another look through my fiber eyes.   

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Fabric of Memory is on the move..


This quilt is one of two I donated to the Heart Mountain Foundation.  Total there are 22 quilts donated by 17 artist.  Our 1st stop is the Crazy Mountain Museum in Big Timber, Montana.  They hope to have it up and showing for the museums opening Memorial weekend.   Below is my 2nd quilt in this exhibit.   A window into  the Japanese Americans, interned, yet trying to make a hard situation have some "normal" life to it.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Junk Journal for John and Emily

 I had to wait on "show and tell" for this.  I made it for Emily and John as a wedding gift.  The pages are fun,  and I will add another photo of a page or 2 later,  I added pockets, some with fabric, vinyl, paper, and envelopes.  I also added some fun, and very funny journals, and letters, schoolwork that John did in grade and middle school.  

Friday, April 28, 2017

John and Emily's Family Tree


I can show and tell this quilt now, this gift is now living in Alaska.   I designed this quilt for my son and his now wife.  I had been tossing around the idea of making my own.  Just so happens that Emily thought it would be wonderful, so I made it for her and John.   It was not as easy to make as I thought,  I probably spent a full 2 weeks just doing this tree.  I made a lot of mistakes, and when I put the leaves on with the names I managed to mess those up as well.  I am not sure about how I placed the family on the tree but it works for me,   I added the beads as a color coding to how they each individual is related to John or Emily and now both.