Beautiful Wyoming

I took these pictures on the way home from Burlington - just outside of Kemmerer. The clouds were beautiful, and this hill looks almost like a watercolor. Western Wyoming was amazingly green for the last of July.

Time for Chicks to leave the nest

The nest above the patio door is empty! The three babies hatched, and the mother and father birds were busy carrying insects to them - what a job! Ron took this picture this morning, and it was just in time, because this afternoon, we were sitting at the table on the patio, and the biggest baby (the one in front) staggered to the edge of the nest and did a wavy flight to the Ponderosa pine by the basketball standard. In just a little while, the other two were gone - now the parents can take a little vacation.

Bow Tie or Lover's Knot Quilt

I named this quilt "Something Blue..." - It is a king-sized quilt. However, the official name of the pattern is bow tie, or lover's knot. Take your pick.

Kemp and Sonja opened the box the quilt was in, but I was just able to get Kemp's picture.

Quilts are very important to our way of life - beauty and utility all rolled up into one.

Children at the Wedding

Ron didn't have to talk hard to convince Benjamin to be a part of the picture of the children, but his patience didn't last very long. Children left to right are: Bethany, Brittany, Arilla, Seth, and Benjamin in front. (Denton is missing - our missionary in Michigan.)

Ben tried, but...

Getting ready to leave...

I'm off - did you ever feel this way when your picture was being taken?

Tradition - Sharing the wedding cake

As you can see, this generation understands about treating each other with respect when it comes to giving the first bite of the wedding cake. There must be a very good reason for this tradition. Anyone want to speculate? Or tell us the real reason.

This is such a good picture of Kemp, Sonja, and Ron, that even though I have my eyes closed, I chose it to put on the blog.

Wedding Day in Burlington

It was a good day! Kemp and Sonja got married, and ready to set out on their big adventure. Sonja's house is piled high with boxes, ready for the big move, but there are many last minute details to take care of. I have a feeling that they are going to all falll into shape, with a moderate amount of push and pull from all members of the family who have his/her own things to complete - the common, every-day things that intrude on an occasion like this.

We could write a little story about all the details of the wedding day. Kemp and Ron went into Cody (about 32 miles away) for the cakes and the bouquets. Rings were safe in a charming little ring box, turned on the lathe by Uncle Bob. Sonja and I prepared fruit and took it to the church, where her family was setting up for the reception-dinner after the ceremony. And all this while, girls were getting gussied up for the event. Seth worked on his computer until the last minute, when he suddenly appeared in suit and tie. Everyone was in a pretty mellow mood - if either Sonja or Kemp were nervous, there wasn't time to exhibit it. The bishop was more nervous than either the bride or groom, but he managed to properly get things done. Sonja's sister Tamara sang a very fitting song before the ceremony, and Sonja's mother supplied the prelude music and accompaniment.

We wish the happy couple all the joy and love in their combined family that is possible. Thank goodness both of them are blessed with a unique sense of humor, and the patience of Job. They are seasoned in life's experiences, which will help them along their way.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose...

Be sure to click on these pictures to enlarge them so that you can enjoy the techniques used in creating each picture.

I used different techniques on this rose picture to change the appearance of the picture. Can you pick out the mosaic smudges, the pencil on canvas, or the watercolor wash? Or can you pick out the two that are the same? Can you tell that summer is upon us in full force, and it gets too hot to go outside and use the patio for lunch when the temperature is in the low 90s? But the garden is growing faster. Peas, which should have been ready by mid-July are just setting scads of pods, and the beans aren't blooming yet. Since we had the wettest June on record, and it was super cold, everything has to rush to catch up.

Our Neighbor's back yard, and some cleome

We ate supper at our neighbor's home the other night. The view from their patio is so beautiful - it's almost like being at Buchardt Gardens. It's wonderful when people can create their own little bit of beauty to enjoy every day.

This plant came with a label that said Mexican Hatdance, or some such. It sure looks a lot like cleome, which I used to grow in Washington. Love the intricacy of it.

New Table Runner in the Latest Unusual Fabrics

I think this is an Amy Butler fabric - isn't it different? I'm trying to get accustomed to the "newest" prints - they are bright and unusual!

The Joy of Geraniums

This is one that wintered over - what a beautiful bloom!

Test from Jennifer

This is a test to see if I can even "blog." This is my favorite picture so far of Camillia's daughter, Astraea Nyx Quisenberry.

Gerbera Daisies - Another "Saved" Plant

On Mother's Day 4 years ago, all the mothers in our church congregation were gifted with a plant - gerbera daisies. (In years past, there have been books of poems about mothers - rated very low on the priority list. This year, we all received an Alvey's chocolate nut bar - a local ((Logan)) product that is very tasty, but soon gone.) I had grown gerbera daisies from seed many years ago in Washington, but hesitate to putchase them because they are inclined to be a little pricey. But, what a show. They are lending a great presence to the pot they reside in outdoors; they winter over with the lewisia in a pot placed by the garage window. Love that window! It also harbors big pots of geraniums - I've got a pink one that is probably about 8 years old. I am grateful to my neighbor gardener who clued me into this possibility - even in the very cold winters of Preston, the geraniums continue to bloom in the garage that seldom reaches below freezing. When spring comes, all of the plants get a general pruning, clean-up, are fertilized, get a little compost added to them, and then go to spruce up the front porch and the patio. Seems like a very thrifty thing to do.

Astraea Nyx Quisenberry

This is my first try at posting anything on any sort of blog, so what better thing to share with you then my granddaughter. Camillia's little girl. The picture is about 3 months old, but she is wearing the robe I sent her so I couldn't resist. Plus she is looking right at you and is so sweet. I'll see how this turns out and then I'll try some other things to share.

Report on the Square Foot Garden(s)

Things are really growing - but the nights have been so cool (46 degrees this a.m.), that only the Siberian tomato is setting fruit. However, the lettuce has been cut once, and has grown again, the radishes are about done, the chard is ready, as are the beets. No blooms on the zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, or other squash yet, but the melons are blooming big time, and the beans are finally starting to climb the strings. Things will grow this month! We were told that we had a record 4.41 inches of rainfall in June. Unheard of in this desert climate. (Of course, one of our neighbors, he of the long-rows and mighty vegetables, has sneered rather slightingly at this garden, but I love the non-work involved.)

The Wide Open Spaces

On the Fourth of July, we went to a steak cookout at a ranch about 8 miles south and east of Soda Springs. The day was alternately hot and cloudy, depending on whether the sun would go behind a cloud or not. Idaho is very beautiful this year, because we had so much rain that everything that is usually turning brown by this time of the year is still green. There are still wild flowers blooming in places. The sky was very dramatic - but there were only a few drops of rain.

Another flower - Lewisia

I grew lewisia in my gardens in Tumwater, and loved the lovely symmetrical lightly striped petals, with the yellow stamens. The plant does well in Preston by growing it in a pot that winters over in the garage placed by a window. This plant is just coming into bloom - lots of little buds to brighten our days.

Lollipop Lilies

I am so glad for comments - now I know what to call these lilies- and I think the name is very appropriate. Lilies opened up big time between yesterday and today! These are looking especially beautiful this morning. Thank you again, Joleen

Joleen's Lilies

A few (?) years ago, when niece Joleen was working for the lily lady, she gifted me with a little bag with a few oriental lilybulbs in it. When we got home from Olympia, I promptly set them aside, and only remembered them a couple of months later (fall). I did plant them, and was pleased to have them grow the next spring. Now, they've spread, been dug up and relocated in three flower beds in the yard. I always love it when they begin to bloom, because (1) I think about Joleen, and (2) they are truly lovely.

The Rose

Some years ago, as I was standing in line at the local King's store (a variety store like the old 5 and dime stores), I saw a bunch of roses at cut-rate prices. The season for planting was almost over, and these bare-root plants were begging to be taken home. I picked one, and got it for such a small amount that I couldn't believe it when it proved to be such a winner. It proved to be a plant that gives us much beauty each summer; the blooms last well when cut and cared for in the house. I came out to the kitchen early one morning, and the sun was just beginning to come through the kitchen window, with the rays hitting the rose in its container, creating this dramatic picture.

The Fourth of July

There is no wind this 4th of July morning, but the flag is out to remind us of its symbolism for our country. The sun is playing hide and seek this morning, but the colors of the flag remain a bright constant. We are thankful for a free country, and hope that our freedoms will be protected in this perilous time.