Crystal Prisms - The Facets of Our Lives

The Dawning of a Brighter Day?

2012-01-22T15:15:00.002-07:00

Yesterday afternoon the rain changed to big, fluffy flakes, which settled on the water on top of the frozen ground. Many of our neighbors have problems with water in their basements, but we are very fortunate that we do not. When the sun rose this morning, it made diamonds on the trees on the orchard. Enlarge these pictures for the effect.

What Happened to Winter?

2012-01-21T10:19:00.002-07:00

We're wondering if we should have built an ark. The rain has been coming all week long. It was supposed to be a huge snowstorm - perhaps in the mountains? Every day the forecast is for snow - or rain. Usually, the rain just soaks into the ground, but our lots are pretty soggy and squishy. No piles of snow, with the possibility of taking beautiful snowy pictures - just brown soggy ground. The weather never ceases to surprise us. I do worry that the bulbs will wake up just in time to have a relapse when the weather turns bitter cold again.

What to do on a Dreary Winter Day?

2012-01-20T10:17:00.002-07:00

The tools for hand quilting are very simple - thread, needles, thumb and finger thimbles, and a rubbery gripper to pull a recalcitrant needle through. I actually began appliqueing these sunbonnet girls in 1995. I finally pieced them together into a quilt top during the years we were going to Arizona for the winter. A trip to Utah Quilt Fest in 1996 with Louise and Cheryl resulted in purchasing this small rectangular quilting frame, and I completed about half the quilt during the winters in AZ. Then the quilt got put away. This is the year that I promised myself I would finish up old UFOs. That will take some doing, since I think there are probably at least six in an unfinished stage, with another 5 or so that just aren't quilted. Hand quilting goes slowly for me - perhaps because I don't do enough of it. I have one quilt that I made in Tumwater that took me 2 1/2 years to quilt. It was on a frame that could be put at a horizontal position, so that you could show the part of the quilt you were working on, but the actual frame takes up very little room. Thank goodness for professional quilters who get most of my quilting jobs so that I can go on beyond the present. Sometimes, if the quilt is not too large, I will machine quilt it myself. Any time that a quilt gets finished, bound and labeled, it is a Hallelujah moment! How long will it take me to finish this one? I'd rather not say.

Azaleas in Midwinter

2012-01-18T11:03:00.002-07:00

Ron brought this pot of flowers home on our anniversary, and they are still absolutely gorgeous. They brighten up these dull, cold days. The rhodies and azaleas (oh, and hydrangeas, also) are the flowering plants that I miss from our Washington garden. This plant has been so beautiful. Reminds us that there are brighter days ahead.

Where is the Snow?

2012-01-13T11:46:00.002-07:00

The snowy picture heading this blog needed to be replaced. There was only a trace of moisture in December, and now we're dry again through the first part of January. What a difference from last year! So, I took a picture of a painting that I did in Arizona from north of Fountain Hills in a National Park. Who knows, we may end up looking like this if the lack of moisture continues.

The last four blocks for the Flower Quilt

2012-01-02T12:15:00.002-07:00

Japanese Balloon Flower, which I have never ever seen. Does it exist? Beloved morning glory (s) - Oops, is this basket tipsy? At this stage of the game, I'm not worrying about that. Bell Flowers. Never seen these, either. A Red rose. More fun than the first one. The blocks are finished - they are not perfect, and the quilt will be less than perfect, but it was a joy to make, with some inherent problems. I'll finish it and go on to the next fun project. Something to look forward to in the New Year.

The Winter Scene above

2011-12-29T13:00:00.002-07:00

The wintery picture above is from quite a few years past. The tree is gone - it just gave up the ghost, and I felt sad, because it had the prettiest red and orange leaves in the fall. We have had an unusual year. Lots of snow before Thanksgiving, and not much since. There are patches on the ground, but very warm weather today is eroding that quite fast. The wind blows. That wintry wind that melted the snow so fast is the one that Dad called a chinook wind (or was it?) There will be snow sometime this winter, but at least we're having a reprieve from the thermometer dance around zero that went on for a couple of weeks.

Grnadmother's Garden - More Blocks

2011-12-29T12:47:00.003-07:00

I've been slowly working on this quilt project. The blocks are not perfectly pressed or cut to size, but I finished the work on the 18th block this morning. This is the second zinnia - I like it much better than the first one, but both will go on the top. Again, this is the second rose - I also like this one better than the first one. Guess a little experience makes a difference. This is a pink trillium. I loved the trillium in Washington, especially in the woods around Mother and Daddy's home on 93rd. And these are shooting stars.

Four more to post tomorrow. I need to cut these blocks down to size - a real challenge, because almost every flower is done in a dimensional way. I'm working on that one, as well as how to quilt. Some can be done on the machine, but some will have to be done by hand, so that I won't mess up the dimensional part of the quilt. This was so much fun to do - no deadlines, just pleasing myself. I'm glad that Eleanor Burns resurrected this '20's flower quilt pattern(s).

Remembrances of Christmas

2011-12-28T10:55:00.002-07:00

Steve designed this cocky fellow - Dad cut them out, and I painted them, and we sold quite a few in Tumwater at our Christmas boutique in the early '90s. There were a few other designs, but this is the only finished one I have left. Thank you, Steve, for your creative mind. This Christmas piece was done by Steve and Mary Lynn some years ago - he cut out the little copper (?) bear at the top, Mary Lynn made the stars and stuffed them with something very aromatic. After all these years, a squeeze on a star will give forth a pleasing smell. Dad made lots of this manger piece and other similar silhouettes pertaining to Christmas - I have strings of them that I hang every Christmas on the side lights of the front door. However, this little metal one is on the wall all the time. Another Steve creation. As you can see, I made this small counted cross stitch Scandinavian bell pull in '83. It is always magic to create something and see it take place before your eyes.

It's about time to begin storing away the Christmas memories until next year; each one is special and brings back memories of another time and place.

Christmas Flowers

2011-12-24T22:06:00.002-07:00

This was another Christmas surprise. Our local florist delivered it, covered carefully against the sub-freezing temperatures that we have been experiencing. Family members surprise us with these lovely things, and we always have a twinge (You know - the old "you shouldn't have"), but this one is lovely, and we think lovingly of the givers. This arrangement contains the only real greens in our house, and they do smell wonderful. Joyous Christmas Eve and Day to all!

Ron Turns a New Bowl

2011-12-22T15:08:00.005-07:00

Ron was given a board made of bamboo that had been laminated, and he began to think about what kind of a bowl he could make. A bowl in a woodturning book was the inspiration for this creation. The result is quite stunning, and includes some dye and gold leaf. Bronchitis made the finishing a little tough, but he did it! I think that it's gorgeous!

Christmas Flowers

2011-12-17T10:42:00.002-07:00

Often, for Christmas, one or another of our children gift us with flowers to brighten up the cold, frosty days. Four years ago, when Christmas became secondary with Ron's serious illnesses, periodic pots of bulbs to be coaxed into plants that flowered cheered us up for the months of his struggles. One year, a beautiful little spruce tree in a container, decorated with ornaments brightened our winter. (I tried to keep that one alive, but failed.) Other bouquets through the years have lent color to drab days. Even though Christmas comes in the dead of winter, it always heralds spring, as days begin to grow longer. More importantly, these bouquets are beautiful reminders of the birth of our Savior and the joy and hope he brings to all of us.

Christmas and the Tree

2011-12-13T18:11:00.004-07:00

The tree is up! This one is artificial, and is supposed to be self-lit. However, the attrition in the lights began a few years ago, and each year, less lights would come on, necessitating the stringing of more lights, making the lights already on the tree look a little ridiculous and unlit, but who cares? The tree is alight and semi-decorated. Sometimes it seems silly to have such a big tree when there is only Ron and myself to enjoy it, but the house would look empty without it at this time of year. I cannot recall a time when there wasn't a tree of some sort to celebrate Christmas. The year that Dwight got married, and Mother and I went to Salt Lake, we went on to Provo to pick up Louise, then turned around and drove all the way home across South Pass. We had to stop in Basin for gas, and there was a tiny tree sales place, where Mother purchased a tree for $1.00. When I was back in Laramie, going to school, the children and I made ornaments out of salt dough. I still have a couple of those in the box. The little acorn birdhouses are Ron's wood-turned contribution to the tree. Santa came from Rothenburg a.t., purchased in 1996, when we went to stay with Dorothy and Ken, and traveled all over. This little angel, singing "Silent Night", and sitting on a star is part of a collection I acquired in 1976-78 at the Christmas ornament factory and sales on the Army post in Bamberg. The apple candle holders with bows are also dating back to 1976 The gold ornaments were part of a collection that we acquired in the 1980's, and the wooden silhouette of the nativity came from Israel in 1993. One of my teacher friends said that Christmas trees should be full of surprises. When I open the stored ornaments each year, I am reminded of the many Christmas times past, both poignant and happy.

Thanksgiving Cactus

2011-11-26T18:14:00.002-07:00

When I purchased this plant a long time ago, it was blooming at Thanksgiving and that seems to be it's cycle. That's fine - leads into the bright colors of Christmas. Cheery day and time.

Snow is on the ground, and here is a jonquil.

2011-11-23T15:34:00.002-07:00

I only have three blocks to go! Now the background looks yellow. It really is white! Oh, well. We're doing last minute things for Thanksgiving Day, cranberries, pumpkin pie in the oven, and what all. Tony will be here - for which we're glad - but three people can only eat so much food. We'll still enjoy our weekend. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all who gather near and wide.

Let it Snow!

2011-11-19T16:10:00.002-07:00

We had quite a snow storm yesterday. The feathery white flakes came down steadily most of the day until it changed to a fine powdery snow last night. The snow plows came out, as did everyone with their snow blowers and shovels. The neighbor kids were delighted - they loved to knock the snow off of our sundial - it had reached over a foot. Today, the sun is shining, although the temperature only got up to 33 for a few brief hours. We are shivering, remembering the beautiful, warm fall we enjoyed. There are still some carrots and beets resting under the cover of snow in the garden. I didn't get the roses mulched enough, but they are covered in snow, and, if past years are any portend, they will remain so for quite some time. Thank heaven for a warm house, food to eat, and clothes to keep us warm. We are mindful at this Thanksgiving season of the year that there are many in this world who, through circumstances not of their doing, do not have those blessings.

Zinnia Applique Block - for Grandmother's Garden Quilt

2011-11-19T09:37:00.002-07:00

I am nearing the end - this quilt requires 18 flower blocks. I wasn't quite content with this zinnia block, so am making one in a different color. At last I've conquered ruching - not so evident in this block. I had quite a struggle with this one. I've decided that one must try something new several times before the "Aha" moment comes and it becomes easier to do. It has been most relaxing to make these blocks. The applique and embellishments are fun to do. I usually do handwork in the evening while we have the TV on. (After all, TV today doesn't have a whole lot to offer in all the hundreds of channels that we receive.)

Another Applique Block for my Quilt - Tulips

2011-11-17T16:48:00.003-07:00

The background is really white - I took these this gray afternoon with the light from the room. I've only got a few blocks to go before I am finished! Hooray. It was nice to think about a quilt for a change. We decided to gift each other for Christmas by purchasing a Nook reader each. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to set up the blasted things. Frustration reigns supreme at this moment. I got a message from Barnes & Noble to shut the thing off for 30 minutes and try again. We'll see. All of this came from sitting by someone at Church who had a reader, and looking at the apparent ease of moving around in it, and the difference between carrying bunches of heavy books to Church and one small tablet. Now, I've just got to get the whole things figured out. Laura? We may be calling you again. (This is an addendum - now you can see how lazy I am. I didn't like the color in the first photo I pasted into the blog, so I adjusted it in the top picture. Now, you can see the contrast between the picture more like the original block, and the one with the darker color created by poor lighting.)

Quilt from a Jelly Roll

2011-11-07T10:35:00.002-07:00

This is a hurry-up quilt made for a dear friend who underwent a mastectomy last Monday morning. Finding out you have cancer has to require a difficult adjustment, but the move to positive outcome is very important. I had a jelly roll (for the uninitiated, that is a roll of fabrics cut to 2-1/2" . You can make many different kids of quilts out of them, but the easiest is to miter the adjoining strips, vary them a little bit, and sew them together. I really did a hurry-up job, but hopefully, the quilt police will look at my motives and forgive me. The quilting was simple - I did curves in every other row, hoping that would hold everything together. And I free-handed feathers in the border. Some were great, some were so-so, and some very sub-par, but the important thing is, the quilt was made with love, and is backed with soft flannel so that it will be cozy for the next few months. (The binding was really slap-dash. I sewed the first seam on the back, turned it over to the front, added steam-a-seam tape underneath, fused it, and sewed it down with a decorative stitch. I finally caught on to the technique by the third side, but I'll never do it again that way.) My friend was very happy to get her quilt.

Burning Bush Time

2011-11-04T10:21:00.002-06:00

We've had an unusually mild fall - one to make up for the late spring. Our 4-year old neighbor, Cayden, loves the red leaves of the burning bush most of all. Once in a while, he will bring a little bag with him, and ask if he can have a few because they're so pretty. The most protected bush (the top picture) turns more slowly than the other one. There is something very satisfying about fall colors, even if it means clean-up later. When we're in the middle of it, autumn is my favorite time of the year.

Fall is Really Here

2011-11-01T13:12:00.002-06:00

There are still some apples way high up on the big apple tree at the corner of our property and the orchard next door. Ron picked a bucket full of these little apples - they are very good to eat. We figure that apples hanging over on our property are fair game - and no one ever climbs up way high to pick those up high. They will eventually fall, making food for the deer and the birds in the wintertime. We hate to see the weather change, after such a beautiful October, but in this country, it's inevitable. We've been very busy harvesting and cleaning out the gardens, and buttoning up everything that is outdoors, ready for what is inevitable - winter. In the meantime, there is still plenty of beauty around us, and we appreciate that.

Storm at Sea Quilt

2011-10-07T13:22:00.003-06:00

This is a miniature quilt - lots of fun putting it together. It isn't perfect, but the effect is okay. Sewing a miniature is so challenging - Little mistakes get magnified. I began this quilt in November, and put it away for a while. (Actually, I cheated and got a laser-cut kit from John Flynn in Billings, Montana, so I didn't have to cut out those tiny pieces.) Nice to have a project finished. I've heard quilts before saying "Better finished than perfect".

Dorothy's September Birthday

2011-09-26T09:36:00.005-06:00

We were in Germany for Dorothy's Sweet Sixteenth birthday. Now, many years later, she is still sweet - don't laugh, Dorothy! Soon after she turned 16, Dorothy starred as the heroine on the base theater production of "Dial M for Murder". People couldn't believe she was only 16. She did a wonderful job of make-believe.

We missed Tony's Birthday!

2011-09-17T10:26:00.002-06:00

Laramie, 1970. The white felt cowboy hat was worn everywhere, and it was a fight to get him to leave it on the coat rack at church.

Tony, 1973, Powell. Being the youngest of 5, he was spoiled by all of us. He was a special child (aren't all of them?), and had a gift for finding good things in life. He has made the best of difficult situations, and has proven to be a very loving father. Love to you on this belated birthday greeting.

Gardens and the Katsura Tree

2011-09-06T14:23:00.003-06:00

Twenty-seven years ago, we were looking for a small tree to plant in the mini-garden that was seen from the operatories in Ron's dental office in Tumwater. The nurseryman assured him that the ceracydum japonicum, katsura tree, would stay very small and be suited for that garden. After a couple of years, the tree began to look like more than small, so he dug it up, and we found a place for it on Tumwater hill. While we were back in Olympia-Tumwater, we drove by our former home, and there was the katsura tree in all it's glory - probably between 25 and 30 feet high. But it is a very beautiful tree! At the foot of it is one of my birthday presents, a beautiful red Japanese maple. Time does bring many changes.

Brianna, Justin, and Tony Visit us at Andrea's House

2011-09-04T15:37:00.002-06:00

Unfortunately, Justin wasn't in a picture-taking mood, so I didn't get a picture of either him or Tony, but Brianna was happy to give me a smile. Visiting with her in Andrea's living room was fun - with Andrea there, also, recuperating from foot surgery. Andrea's painful foot wasn't a deterent from guiding us on a tour of the unusual things to be seen in her yard - wherever one looks. Just for fun!

Proprietors of the Petersen Bed and Breakfast and Environs

2011-09-01T08:50:00.002-06:00

Don't you wonder what they were saying? Three jolly compatriots. Alstromeria, which is highly prized by florists because they last a long time in a bouquet, besides being very attractive, grows freely in Judy's flower beds. She says they are like weeds. We should all have such weeds. And, last, but not least, the bucking bronco, a reminder of Judy's roots in Wyoming.

Visitors from Sequim

2011-08-30T14:58:00.003-06:00

Brig, Linda, Heather, Chris, and Trevor came to see us just before we left for the Pacific Northwest and more family. We had not seen these family members all together for more than a few years! It was good to have all under one roof, and to have a time for visiting, even if it was short. They left from here to go fishing at Red Lodge - we'll hear the rest of the story sooner or later. The nice thing about family is that no matter what the distance in time or miles, there is always a good feeling when we get together. ```

More of the giant Lily

2011-08-14T14:58:00.002-06:00

When Breck's sent the original advertisement for this lily, I lumped it with the ones for giant strawberries, tomatoes, etc. However, after letting the brochure lie around the house for a while, I decided that I couldn't lose anything by trying, so I purchased two bulbs, to be panted in the fall. Sure enough, just as promised, the first year, one stalk came up, and bore one lily. Last year, the stalk was a little higher and a little thicker. This year, this plant is a prize winner. It's partner, in another flower bed, didn't grow so tall, but it's coming. Trying to count the blossoms at the top of this one sturdy stalk is a challenge, and the fragrance is very vivid. So, last fall, I planted some partners. One is red - that picture has already been posted, one is the same as this one, and one is a pure yellow, edged with white. My lily bed is coming, making things more beautiful around here.

What makes a Geranium a Geranium?

2011-08-12T17:41:00.003-06:00

Would you think this pretty, pansy-like flower is a geranium? It certainly is. I love the coloration, the markings, and especially the flirty stamens in the center. I've had this plant for about 4 years. It lives in the garage during the winter months, and then comes out to rejuvenate when spring comes. The leaves are fragrant. This is another geranium. The blossoms may make an appearance as white, pink, or the scarlet color you see below. This plant also winters in the garage and comes out to delight in the spring.

The Flowers Bloom On

2011-08-09T09:10:00.002-06:00

Petunias are always a sure thing for Idaho summers. As long as the deadheading persists, the blooms keep coming. I love the gingery smell when the sun heats up the blossoms. The penstemmon is also in it's glory, keeping one tall lily plant company. The succession of flowers in a small garden keeps the interest up. I do miss the rhodies and azaleas from our Washington gardens (even after 16 years), but here we begin with the tulips, the grape hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus, violas and pansies. Next the columbine and bleeding heart takes over, with the purple thyme adding a fragrant note. Iris follow, looking like beautiful orchids with their fuzzy beards. Peonies follow, with huge, voluptuous blooms as big as dinner plates. In the meantime, the miniature and David Austen roses are gearing up for a big show. Clematis grow and bloom, and it's time for the lilies to begin. The lollipop (pink and white) lilies bloom first, then comes the golden lilies, and the big lilies like the one in the picture above. I've still got a big bed of lilies to bloom - I didn't keep the literature on them, and this is the first time, so I've got surprises to come. Meanwhile, the pots of geraniums keep blooming their glorious blooms - life is good in flower land.

Bowls from Odds and Ends, Strips and Strings

2011-08-08T09:20:00.003-06:00

For some years, I pre-washed my quilting fabric, and regardless of following various tips such as "clip the corners", etc, I found that when the fabric came out of the washer and/or dryer, there were still strings that were tangled and had to be clipped. I have been aware for years that interesting bowls and other forms could be made from these throw-aways. I sewed the first bowl (top two pictures), trying to remember what I had read about the process, and then searched online for instructions, which helped simplify making the second bowl. I first measured the bottom of a smooth bowl to determine the size I needed, and with the first bowl, I improvised a circle on the Solvy before stitching through all layers. After finding the directions, I found that cutting a preliminary large circle to go underneath the Super Solvy to be a guide for the size of the string, thread, and snippings creation. I used a temporary adhesive spray to affix the conglomeration to the Solvy, and then sewed wavy lines back and forth. Then you wash out most of the Solvy under running water, leaving enough to be goopy, and form the sewn creation over the bottom of the original bowl. A spray with clear Krylon will protect the bowl. The first and last pictures are my last bowl, and the middle pictures are of the first bowl. Pretty nice to create something out of stuff that usually ends up in the wastebasket. Be sure to enlarge.

Supports for my flowers

2011-08-06T08:52:00.003-06:00

Many times I have looked longingly at the fancy, expensive supports for individual tall flowers that the gardening catalogues carry. My oral hints have not affected Ron until I told him that I was going to order some, since they are now on an end-of-season sale. I know that wooden dowels are a short-term solution for my tall lilies that grow in front of the porch because even when I paint them, the part that is in the soil will disintegrate after a time. These particular lilies are in the shade until mid-afternoon, so they are always leaning westward, reaching for the sun. My creative husband left in the van, and, after visiting the metalworks on the west end of Preston, came home with rebar cut into appropriate length. Total cost of enough supports for my beautiful lilies and penstemon, $16. Cost of supports for two plants from the catalogue, $14.95 plus shipping. I do believe we are ahead of the game on this one, thanks to Ron, who loves to solve problems like this one. (More lily pictures tomorrow.)

P.S. Be sure to enlarge the photos so that you can see how well the rebar works. I used the green gardener's wonder tape that works a bit like velcro, but doesn't bite into the stems and sticks to itself.

Not the Old Oaken Bucket

2011-08-05T10:21:00.003-06:00

Ron must be part Scotch, although he has only found hints of forbearers from that country. For years, we used two green watering buckets to water plants in pots and carry water to the bird baths. Last year, this one parted company, the handle being no longer a part of the bucket. Bottom of bucket - good; handle - kaput. This morning, Ron took time to repair the handle. Some epoxy glue, some wire with a knowledgeable twist, and a ring for holding things together completed the fix. Now the bucket is as good as new. Isn't it amazing that things that need to be fixed in our lives may require just such a fix? Rather than setting things aside forever, a little concentration on the best way to proceed, rounding up the right tools, studying how to get the best result, and applying a little muscle and ingenuity. It is easier to shunt these problems aside and attempt to ignore them, but faced squarely, the job is often quickly done.

Little Purple Pansies, Touched with Yellow Gold...

2011-08-04T12:31:00.001-06:00

Pansies are a sure thing, whether for real, or in an applique quilt. Love the little faces on them. Another block completed. Phew!

The Tiger Lily Quilt Block

2011-08-03T13:14:00.002-06:00

The blocks are adding up. They look pretty cool on my big design wall. I keep plodding along - of late, I have been working on the blocks in the evening. Maybe have to step up the pace. They are so satisfying to do. I really prefer the variety - doing the same block over and over isn't really my thing, although I have done it, and had to do that to get the basic basket in this block.

A New Flower Block - the Poppy?

2011-08-02T11:44:00.002-06:00

This flower is supposed to be a poppy. I loved the fabrics, but find it a very different poppy - it's just a very pretty flower. Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it.

New Trellis for a Planter

2011-07-30T09:49:00.002-06:00

I had a willow a-frame center-of-interest for this pot for my vines to climb on. Unfortunately, it demised this spring, so I was at a loss to replace it. I didn't want to spend $15 on a new one - besides, prices have probably gone up. My solution was to take some limbs from the pruning of my filbert tree - commonly called Harry Lauder's Walking Stick because of it's twisted branches. Morning glories do grow pretty quickly, and I'll confine their seeds to the pot I'm used to blue morning glories, but this purple color is good, roo.

The Bleeding Heart Quilt Block

2011-07-12T10:19:00.001-06:00

Time for the bleeding heart quilt block. This one was so much fun to do. Enlarge, please.

Flowers are the Theme - Another Flower Quilt Block

2011-07-08T09:37:00.003-06:00

The fuschia baskets that we grew in Tumwater were so incredibly beautiful. Fuschias love the humidity and mild climate. I took a plant to Mother once, while they still lived in Penrose. She tried to nurture it, but it didn't like the dry air, and soon lost its flowers and leaves. Besides rhodies and azaleas, I miss fuschias. It was fun to make this quilt block, celebrating the fuschia flowers. The little flowers are three-dimensional.

More Flowers from the Spring/Summer Garden

2011-07-06T20:46:00.002-06:00

Miniature roses are exquisite in their perfection. Wonderful things do come in small packages. The Maxima peony - white with deep red markings in the center - are the last peonies to bloom. The blossoms are huge - almost as big as a dinner plate! Another miniature, a perfect red rose.

Cranesbill Geranium

2011-07-02T10:29:00.002-06:00

Aren't they beautiful? I fell prey a few years ago to a mailer that touted the different perennial geraniums as being very hardy. Of the original 10 plants, I have four left, but they are finally thriving. Worth the wait, but I do mourn for the ones that didn't make it. I am learning, however, to resist the temptation of the incredible deals and possibilities for my flower beds, and put them in file 13 before I get tempted again. (What looks great in June looks like a whole lot of work in the fall when the plants - bulbs come.) The world is full of possibilities and promises.

Another Applique Block for my Quilt

2011-07-01T09:47:00.002-06:00

Block # 3 - Should be a rose, but I'm not completely satisfied However, it's pretty, and I'm not into "overs". It will definitely go into the quilt.

Flower Applique Block #2 - Harebells

2011-06-29T10:16:00.006-06:00

This flower is called a Harebell - something I don't know anything about. Fun to do. By the way, the background of the block is white. I never noticed before that white looks gray in these photos - must have been the lighting on my design wall.

Crocus Applique

2011-06-28T10:12:00.004-06:00

A few years ago, Eleanor Burns, the marvelous quilting guru who tosses unneeded bits of fabric over her shoulder, published a wonderful book on baskets of flower quilts in 1999. It was based on patterns and a story that was published in 1928 and 1929. I fell in love with the patterns, purchased the book, and some of the fabric (a floral stripe) that she designed and there both sat on the shelf. I finally decided that this spring would be the time to begin this project. I found that all I had left of the fabric I purchased that went with the quilt was the floral stripe and some basket fabric. However, it has been fun to make all of the baskets, applique the handles, and then make the applique pieces. I decided to make the three-dimensional flowers and hand applique them. So far, it has been fun to leisurely enjoy each step of this project - no end in sight, just relishing the journey. Now that I have a few blocks finished, I can hang them on my design wall, and enjoy looking at them, while envisioning the finished quilt - sometime.

Be sure to enlarge the picture.

More Flowers from the Spring Garden

2011-06-24T10:59:00.003-06:00

Help! I'm having a senior moment and can't remember the name of this wonderful flower that is so generous in that it marches all around the bed it was originally planted in. The background is coral bells - certainly not white, as the nursery rhyme says. Columbine still beautiful, and the red peonies still showing us glories. The little gardens are full of past glories, promises for the rest of the summer, and

Spring Flowers - in Summer?

2011-06-23T12:19:00.003-06:00

The red peonies are in full bloom - We are still waiting for the Maxima and another nameless bush. And how about the blue of bachelor buttons? They have to be reigned in, or they would take over the bed, but they are a glorious color.

Ron on Father's Day

2011-06-19T15:09:00.003-06:00

Father's Day is a little different than Mother's Day. For some reason, people wax eloquent on Mother's Day about all the sacrifices, loving care, etc. that our mothers give us (all true), but we can't quite figure out how to show our appreciation for all that our fathers do, because of the stoic traits that men are supposed to display. Usually, our ward gives the mothers a Gerbera daisy for Mother's Day, and people give talks about what they learned from their mothers. Sometimes there have been talks about fathers, but more often, the subjects are generic, and in the past, have given the fathers a nice chocolate bar. That didn't happen today, but at least our Sunday School teacher baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies, which both mothers and fathers enjoyed while she taught the lesson on the second coming. We munched as we read scriptures on all of the difficult things that will occur and are occurring in the time before that, and appreciated that if we are on the path, we will be standing in good places. Eating a chocolate chip cookie provided a comfort that helped us look realistically at the world around us, and evaluate our place in it with a thankfulness for the comparatively safe place where we live. We sometimes have very strong winds, but a tornado is rare. Rain, hail, and snow come from the sky, in various degrees, depending on the year. This year, we had an abundance of snow, and the mountains are still showing lots. In places around us, people are still enjoying snow sports. Flooding is taking place south of us, but we are not affected. In southeastern Idaho, we have four seasons (this year, it's debatable - we skipped much of spring), but this fact leads us to an appreciation for rebirth in the spring.

But I digress. Back to fathers, and Ron, in particular. He was father of four children, of whom three daughters who are still living, so he has borne the heartbreak of losing a son. He has been stepfather to my five children, caring for them, trying to help them when he could, and caring for the two youngest in our home until they left for school or other events in their lives. He has been generous and gracious and kind to all eight children. The example he sets in striving to be even-tempered is a good one for my volatile family - (that means me, particularly). Having Father's Day to celebrate the fathers in our lives is a very good idea.

The Flags are Waving - in Mid-June

2011-06-19T14:59:00.004-06:00

About a month late, the iris are in full bloom. Their fragrance is unbeatable, as are the orchid-like flowers they bear. I love it when a stalk has four or five blooms - they go on for a satisfying time. I remember how Mother and Daddy loved iris, and would save some of the strawberry-raspberry money to purchase some new varieties.

It's Flag Day! Strike Up the Band!

2011-06-14T10:57:00.002-06:00

June 14th, and we actually have a beautiful sunny day. The Boy Scouts in our ward don their uniforms and assemble at 6:00 on patriotic days, and put flags in conspicuous places in the yards of those who want them. It's a worthy fund-raiser for the Scouts and certainly brightens up the neighborhoods as these flags fly bravely in the breezes. Since this is the first real day of good weather for a while, we feel as bright as these flags that honor our nation. The blue flax and columbine are in bloom - very late into the season, but that's just a result of the cold rainy-snowy days we had through the month of May and early June. Aren't they loverly?

Washington Visitors, and the Prize Gourd box

2011-06-09T13:01:00.002-06:00

Evie and Dick came from Lake Stevens to spread a little cheer. We always enjoy family visits, and appreciate the good feelings that exist in our family. What a blessing! Evie, the true gourder, brought us a gift of a gourd box (I know, it's round, but that's what it's called), that she had chip-carved. It's quite a masterful work of art. Her friend made the bead that sits atop the lid as a handle. Be sure to enlarge these pictures so that you can see the workmanship on this. She also gave me a gourd nightlight, but I'll save the showing until another post.

The Pot of Gold

2011-06-01T12:38:00.002-06:00

After days of rainy, cold weather, at last on Monday evening, the sun came out for a few minutes, and managed to paint a partial rainbow in the sky. I guess that means we don't have to build the ark after all. What a spring. At least there is a promise of some better weather. Who would think that the orchard would still be in bloom the last of May, or that the lilacs and iris haven't bloomed yet. Isn't there a song that says, "Spring will be a little late this year"?

Denton & Taylor

2011-05-31T08:51:00.003-06:00

Denton & Taylor came down from Rexburg Sunday afternoon to visit - We appreciated getting to know Taylor better, and also enjoyed Denton's happy spirit. One of our friends had baked me a birthday cake, so we got to share that with them - Very appropriate, since my birthday was Saturday and Denton's on the 30th. Denton & Taylor are making all kinds of adjustments as they are in their 3rd month of wedded bliss. Being full-time students and learning the ropes of married life keeps them very busy. We were pleased to hear that they have planted a garden. They seem to have their priorities in a very good place. There is joy in seeing young people who have set their feet on a positive path in life.

The Baby Robin Quandry

2011-05-27T09:39:00.003-06:00

Our dining table is situated near a patio door that gives us a great view of the back yard and all that lies beyond. As we were eating our Sunday afternoon meal, we were interested to see that a baby robin was running back and forth on the top step just beyond the windows. His cries seemed to tell us that he was a fledgling too soon out of the nest. His baby markings were bright and he appeared to be big enough to be on his own; when he disappeared after a while, we figured that he had found a way to leave and get back to his proper environment.

However, the next morning when I went outside to plant some of the planters on the patio, what did I discover, but the little bird carefully perched on the edge of a pot saucer atop a planter waiting for posies, looking just a little miserable, with colors not quite so bright and eyes a little dull. I thought he was ready to die, so I found Ron and asked him to take care of it. And so he did. Ron, being true to himself, went uptown (5 minutes) to Bob's Mart, which carries everything from cameras, clocks, Boy Scout paraphernalia, kitchen appliances, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, sewing supplies, gardening supplies, etc. all in one small store, (put in a new watch battery for the cost of the battery), bought a container of worms (night crawlers - fish bait). Now came the fun part. When he got home, the little bird who had looked like it was ready to expire, had disappeared. First job, to find him. He had made it quite a distance - around the corner of the house on the north side, and, plop, into a window well. Ron found a cardboard box of medium size, and proceeded to lower himself into the window well, pick up the bird, place it in the box, and then levitate himself out. The little fellow wasn't too happy about his new home,, and he used up excess energy trying to climb the sides. Now came the challenging part - how to feed the worms to the obviously starving baby robin. Ron tried the fingers technique, holding the giant night crawler between the index finger and the thumb. The beak hopefully opened wide, obliterating any sight of the bird's head and neck, but the worm decided to wriggle itself across the beak, resulting in a failed attempt. Not to be outdone, Ron then decided to break the worm up in smaller pieces (no time for empathy for night crawlers when a baby bird is starving). He managed to get one tiny piece down the hatch, but couldn't hang onto the other pieces long enough. I conceived the idea of using a pair of long tweezers, so I ran up to the sewing room to retrieve my long tweezers, and, viola, it semi worked. Worms are really squirmy, and it is a delicate procedure to hold the worm securely in the tweezers without either mashing it completely and letting the leftovers fall to the ground, or not holding it securely enough and losing it. Somehow, the baby got the idea, and Ron managed to work down about 2/3 of a long night crawler. Then, we looked at each other and decided this was enough nonsense, and laid the box on it's side. By now, we were noticing a male and a female robin beginning to hover around anxiously with worms in beak, making funny little cries. (Where were they when this poor thing obviously fell out of the nest? Off playing around?) So, we backed completely off, waiting for further developments, and thinking this would be taken care of.

NOT SO! I waited a reasonable amount of time, and then went out to the patio again, where, behold, the pestilent nuisance was back - perching on his original perch on the pot saucer that was resting on top of an unplanted pot. Gritting my teeth, I tried to think of a solution. Aha, if the night crawlers were too big, go into the garden, dig up a few of the regular earthly inhabitants, which are much smaller in circumfrence, as well as length, and try the tweezer method to get them down the hatch. After a frustrating few minutes of non-coordination between the opening and closing of the beak, I managed to get half a worm down him. This was too much. Again, I went to find where Ron was toiling, reported my failure, and went to work some place else. Frustration was compete. After a while, we were both in the house, and lo and behold, the bird was gone. Ron said that he threw it out into the middle of the lawn. We watched it as it ran through the grass, flapped his wings a few times, and ran some more. We'd like to think that maybe he had a little sustenance, and so managed to work up enough steam to fly? Maybe his lost parents found him? We do not know the end of the saga, but the lawn got mowed on Tuesday afternoon, and there are no little bird bodies to be found, so we want to hope that he endured his tribulations, and is finding shelter somewhere in all of the trees that surround our home. Do you suppose? Dream on. (By the way, this was only funny in retrospect - we should have gone to the internet and discovered how one treats lost baby birds - I just know this, that he didn't have the bird instinct to find his mother like the little bird in the beloved children's book, "Are You My Mother?")

Is there a moral to this story? Perhaps. Sometimes our fledglings leave the nest too soon and do not have all of the survival methods they need to thrive in this difficult world. Sometimes when sustenance of all kinds is offered them, they can't accept it, and wish to go their own way. Sometimes, they end up in places that are not the best environment for their growth and development, and do not prosper as we would wish. Sometimes the mothers and fathers hover in the background, wishing to aid the offspring, and are unsuccessful at making contact. Somehow, I think that there is much to be learned from this little saga - and we really don't know the end, just as we don't know the end of the story our children and grandchildren will write. Hope springs eternal, and we always hope for the best!

Finally Spring?

2011-05-21T16:30:00.002-06:00

At last we have tulips - and daffodils, and grape hyacinths, and plants growing in the flower beds. This has been an unbelievably cold, rainy spring. It reminds us of our western Washington springs, when a sunny sky is a special gift. We had such a gift this morning. I managed to plant the potatoes (late), peas (late), radishes, (also late), and other things such as lettuce, beets, and carrots. Sprinkle around a few marigold seeds, and the other warm weather crops will have to wait. We luxuriated in some blue sky and sunshine this morning, but all was gone by a little after noon, and it's again raining. Maybe there will be a day next week to sneak in the tomato and melon plants, the cucumber, squash and bean seeds. I guess if we were really desperate, we'd go out and plant in the sog and mud, but that does nothing for me right now.

Is Imitation the Sincerest Form of Flattery? - or The New Quilt Cabinet

2011-05-17T09:57:00.002-06:00

On May 6th, some quilting friends picked me up and we went to the Home Machine Sewing Quilt Show in Salt Lake. (Perhaps that name is correct, or maybe I just made it up.) Anyway, the show was tremendously inspiring, and we came home with aching feet and wishes to expand our quilting experiences. On the way to Salt Lake, we stopped in at sister Louise's house to see her and avail ourselves of her facilities. I was smitten with a new quilting storage cabinet that she had in her living room, with her quilts neatly stacked and draped to great advantage. In fact, all three of us looked on it with envy. (Big mistake - thou shalt not covet, right?) We entered the big quilt show in south Salt Lake, met another two members of our party, and were overwhelmed at the number of quilts, vendors, etc. After enjoying the first two rows + of quilts, one of our group spotted the vendor who had these cabinets for sale, so we all moved over to a shopping mode. Louise should have been given a commission, because two of us bought the larger models, one bought a smaller one, and two bought coffee tables that were like a glassed-in chest to hold the quilts. Some of the cabinets had leaded glass - I decided to forego that temptation. (Louise's is plain, too, with rounded glass at the top.) The picture above is my first attempt, and, although the village quilt looks charming on the table or wall, there is no way to hang it so that the buildings are right side up. The top picture shows the final setting, although that could quickly change.

Now, thank goodness, I have lessened the number of quilts in piles all over the upstairs bedrooms. There are fewer piles, and are where I can see them. It is convenient to have both a birthday and Mother's Day in the same month.

Mariner's Compass and Bargello Tablerunner

2011-05-04T12:49:00.003-06:00

Finally, I learned how to make a Mariner's Compass, using freezer paper, with inspiration from a quilt artist named Judy Mathieson. The flying geese do fly, and the points are pointed. This was so satisfying to sew. It is just the center of the quilt - There is more to come, but this was like a great first step. And, this is the bargello table runner that we began at our quilting retreat up Cub River in April. The original was a Christmas theme; I chose the 4th of July, and some chose spring themes and some autumn. Sometimes constructing a quilt is mind-bending, and for those of us who had never done bargello, this one certainly was. I will post another picture of these two projects when they are completed and quilted. The weather is getting warmer at last, so the neglected yard will get some attention in the next few weeks, so the sewing production will probably slow way down.

A few more of Rylee

2011-04-17T20:39:00.002-06:00

Here are a few more of Rylee, so you guys can see how big she has grown! She is now a little over 13 months old! She can say many words, her favorite thing to do is to look at books, or pretend to talk on the phone, dance to music videos, oh and her favorite word is "up" right now. She seems to be going through her terrible 2's quicker than supposed to though. She is a handful.

Rylee's First Birthday

2011-04-17T20:25:00.002-06:00

This post is especially for you Grandma and Grandpa. I know I have been doing a poor job of keeping up with updates. So this post is especially for you two. We love you and miss you!

These are pictures of Rylee's first Birthday.

She got a tent that looks like a house that she can play in.

She got a toy vacuum, and a hot pink wagon and she got a bunch of stuff

from both of her Grandparents. She had so so much fun! It's crazy that is been over a year since she was born. Every minute has been hard but amazing at the same time.

Where is the Dandy Lion?

2011-04-15T09:11:00.002-06:00

Usually, by this time of year, some of these are popping up around the flower beds. Haven't seen any so far - could we attribute this fact to the cold, snowy weather we continue to have? When we children were small, we used to pick them for Mother, disregarding the juice that ran from the stems and made our hands black and sticky. She would put them in a glass, sometimes slitting the stems so that we could watch them magically curl outward. (What makes them do that?) The tiny blue iris are blooming - my 3-year-old neighbor friend, Cayden, wanted to know why we had blue flowers. They do look somewhat forlorn, especially when it snows again, as it did on Wednesday night. I drove up Cub River to our quilt retreat yesterday morning, wishing I had taken my camera, because the snow was a very pretty sight, coating everything with magic. I was glad, however, to see it melted by yesterday afternoon. Perhaps spring will come, after all. We are waiting for those warm days when we can take some of our reading or sewing out to the patio to soak it all in, or to grub in the flower beds, or plant some of the early spring seeds. (I know, some of my friends have already planted their peas, radishes, etc., but these nights of frost deter me from being so ambitious.)

Hagerman, Idaho, and the hundreds of falls

2011-04-06T09:39:00.006-06:00

Even though the weather was questionable, as we came home from Boise, we decided to turn south and go through the little farm communities that are along the Snake River. For quite a long ways, the river is bound on the north by the results of big lava flows, out of which flow an astonishing number of springs, creating magical waterfalls. Would have been nicer to see on a beautiful day, but it still was quite a sight. This is the scene you first see as you turn off of the freeway toward Buhl and then on to Hagerman and then Twin Falls.

Visitors in Boise

2011-04-01T14:40:00.002-06:00

Our time in Boise was spent in a motel-hotel along the Boise River. The weather must have been perfect for these fowl who came in a curious manner up to our patio windows. A lone Canadian goose, who managed to get goodies from some of the walkers or joggers on the path along the river. Papa and Mama duck also spent time hanging out by our windows. Her coloring is not so spectacular as the drake, but the markings on her feathers are very well done.

Guests of the Wedding Reception and Later

2011-03-29T17:07:00.002-06:00

Bethany - difficult to get a candid shot of this beautiful teenager, but I managed, after discarding about ten shots. She is classic! She is also very original, and oozes talent in the field of art. The paternal grandparents - Ron, bride Taylor, groom Denton, and Grandma Eliz. The other set of grandparents, Ken and Connie Cook with grandson Denton and new wife, Taylor. These are occasions that grandparents like to attend, to see beloved grandchildren off on the grand adventure of life that marriages are - probably lots of ups and downs and growth to be made as yet. They are so young and innocent - only they can determine their future life, as they work together. We do wish them the best.

The Wedding Reception

2011-03-28T20:47:00.003-06:00

Denton and Taylor dance the first dance - after the cake fiasco. Taylor and Denton, Sonja and Kemp Arrilla, Taylor, denton, Sonja, Kemp, and Bethany - The reception was well-attended. Many friends of both Taylor and Denton made the trip to the reception, as well as family. Happy occasion for all concerned. We traveled to Boise on Friday to attend the reception that evening. What a challenge to be setting out on one of life's biggest adventures - better faced when young and optimistic. Life to be lived to the fullest.

Sawtooth Star for Denton and Taylor

2011-03-12T10:29:00.003-07:00

The quilter very kindly sent me pictures of the quilt I've made for Denton and Taylor's wedding at the end of this month. I took it to Sue yesterday, and it's finished this morning. That means that if I get the quilt on Monday, I'll be able to get it bound in time for the wedding. I'm not too worried about Denton's seeing it on the blog before the day, because he's probably way too engrossed (twitterpated?) to think of looking on this blog. Denton told me that his bride-to-be liked pink and red, so I went with the pinks - Sister Louise sent me her book on construction of the quilt, and I began - only to be constantly interrupted by other responsibilities and a couple of cataract surgeries. The quilt was supposed to be simple, but didn't end out that way. Good experience? Always a joy when a quilt is finished, especially in time for a special event. Now, on to the big celebration in Boise later this month.

The Interminable Winter

2011-02-26T07:31:00.003-07:00

After snowing light fluffy snow all night Thursday, the weather really got to work all day yesterday, leaving us with plenty to close out the month of February. This has been an extraordinarily long winter - the sundial above wears its cap of compacted snow with resignation. (The inscription under all that pile of snow is the old "Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be.") I took the pictures in the blue-cast gloom of the early morning light. The only slight break we can see in the gray sky is the little glow to the west. Even the yard light wears a little cap this morning. The house at the end of the cul-de-sac and across the street looks closer because I was loathe to put on my boots and get closer. Hurrah for telescopic lenses! Will the snow begin to melt? Did the groundhog see his shadow on Feb. 2nd? Will BYU win the ball game today? (I just threw that in, because that's how we'll be spending the middle part of the day - watching the game and eating homemade chicken noodle soup and maybe even popping popcorn.)

Forecast the Weather!

2011-02-18T10:45:00.003-07:00

This weather globe was a gift from friends who purchased it in Billings, Montana. They forgot to give it to us for Christmas, but found it a little while ago. Ron performed the trick of filling it, following directions carefully. Now, we can tell when the weather is about to change. Lots of fun to look every day and watch the green water go up and down in the tube. When we had the bad wind and snowstorm on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the water was pushed clear up to the little fat bulb on the top of the tubing. Today? Cloudy overhead, and rising. (Remember, Mark Twain said something about people talking about the weather, but never doing anything about it.) We just watch - always a topic of conversation. Who would think that we would get so much fun out of a little object.

Does a Christmas Cactus Bloom at Christmas?

2011-02-08T13:41:00.002-07:00

This plant bloomed the first part of December, and the show was over by Christmas. Now, it's chosen to bloom again. The plant is in a room where it is much neglected - only gets watered occasionally. It does get filtered light from the east, which it must like. So, now, when the days are often dull and gray and very cold, we have this bit of beautiful color to lighten our days. I'm so glad that God made flowers for us on this earth!

a Typical Night at Home

2011-01-29T22:25:00.004-07:00

A typical night with Rylee involves us playing around, chilling on the floor (so I'm at her level, she hates it when I choose to sit on the couch I have to sit on the floor or she'll start screaming). Tonight I pulled out the camera and took pictures of us, she was extremely chill and mellow, it was kind of nice!

She's Growing Up to Fast!

2011-01-29T22:18:00.002-07:00

Rylee has just been growing and growing, and it seems to be too fast. She is already walking, not very well but it is walking. She loves wearing her tu tu. Shes a lot of fun and sure keeps me busy! Wish her luck she gets tubes in her ears Friday Feb. 4th :(

Happy Birthday, Ron!

2011-01-23T17:58:00.003-07:00

This has been a very fun birthday for Ron (and me, too). First came a box in the mail which was full of Snickerdoodles for Ron from his sister, Evie in Washington. Celebration continued last night, when we went to a friend's house to watch the BYU-CSU game. (Our satellite carries CBS-C and Versus sports stations, and they have MTN, so we trade off - our house or theirs.) Our friend, Leo, had baked Ron a birthday cake - chocolate with icing, so that was the first treat. At Church this morning, the Priesthood brethren sang "Happy Birthday to You" to him. We had a special steak dinner at home, and then the fun began. We have three families with little children in our cul-de-sac. First came the green-iced sugar cookies with the fun card that you see above. Clayton, who is the next-to-smartest boy in his first grade class(by this own admission), made the card with his little brother, Cayden. Next came neighbor Carolyn with a plate of iced cinnamon rolls with a candle in the middle and a card written by her two boys. Friend Nancy dropped by with two pieces of chocolate cake, and the neighborhood trio of Jayden, Logan, and Kennedy, brought a fantastic plate full of chocolate-iced cupcakes stacked like a cake, with a candle on the top. Oh, and the home teachers brought a plate of cookies. Wish you could all drop in and help us eat these treats. Cards and remembrances were all much appreciated. We are grateful for the warm feeling that family and friends brought to this special day!

Denton and Taylor

2011-01-19T11:38:00.002-07:00

The picture was already on Facebook, so I purloined this picture of our grandson and his fiancee. Nice to look at - we know that Denton is special, so we assume that Taylor is, too.

2011-01-15T21:04:00.002-07:00

I forgot to post this picture. I had taken clear back in August up in the bighorns, enjoy!

New Year, New Quilt, New Challenges

2011-01-15T12:18:00.004-07:00

I am working on a quilt using the pattern called Sawtooth Star. A very simple star is formed in the block, with the corner squares being in a light color. When I copied the fabric in the catalog, and duplicated it many times to have enough paper representation of the fabric to make a dummy block, I was very pleased with the block. When I sewed the first block and hung it on my design wall, I could see that the edges of the star were often lost because of the large white spaces in the packed roses. I had three choices - to have a disappearing star (which is very "in" in some quilting circles, but which I don't like), to purchase other fabric, or to alter the rose fabric. Liking the third choice best (remember, it's still cold outside), I got out my Polycolor pencils, and began coloring each little square that will make a flying geese. Eureka, it works - and I can do it while I sit at my ease, using my lap desk and thinking about other things at the same time. Now I can't finish sorting out the stacks of filing I still need to do (my usual New Year's job), but it will make some busy work for some time, and should result in a more beautiful quilt. There is always a solution of some sort to the problem, even if it's one that results in a little more work. (This was supposed to be a fast quilt.) Wish me luck. These are the same two blocks - the top one untouched, and the one below, the colored one. Quite a difference.

Time to Celebrate

2011-01-10T21:54:00.002-07:00

Today, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. (We will have to live into our late 90's to reach 50.) Obviously, this picture was taken in younger days - about 20 years ago. We spent our wedding day in typical fashion for those of us who are more mature - I had a doctor's appointment in Logan, then Ron sat in the car at JoAnn Fabrics, we went to a book store and browsed, and then went to lunch at our favorite Logan restaurant, The Coppermill. And, one good thing about eating out when you have lived longer - you usually end up with as much as you ate to take home and make a second meal out of it.

There were many remembrances of the day we got married in Bellevue, WA. The day began very early - I had been staying with Mother and Dad; the children had already moved into Ron's house in Tumwater. He went early to the post office, pounded on the door, and explained that the wedding ring he needed for the day had not been delivered, so they found it for him. One hurdle overcome! Mother, Dad, and I got to the his house, and we proceeded to drive to Seattle. This was the short period of time that Mother's cancer seemed to be in remission, we were so happy to have them present at the temple for the ceremony. I haven't found the pictures that were taken that day - but I know that Judy and Bob, Julie and Mike, Andrea, and many others were there. Were you there, Ann? Where is that picture???? It's supposed to be in the album, but I've neglected them for years and can't find it. I remember that the pansies were blooming, and the day was warm enough to walk around the grounds without a jacket. This was during the time of the ERA, and there were pickets outside the temple grounds.

When we went back to the car, after being in the temple, it wouldn't start - a door had been left slightly ajar, and the battery had run down. Fortunately, there was help, and a man came with his battery charger. We had lunch at the Tyee in Tumwater with family and friends, and then proceeded to load Andrea's things in the car to take her to the airport to leave for the MTC in Provo. Part way there, Julie and MIke caught up with us with Andrea's coat, which had been left behind. When we got to the airport, I stayed in the car, and drove around and around and around so that the battery would be charged up, while Ron took Andrea into the airport. What a day! Memorable in all aspects.

Rylee and I

2011-01-07T21:11:00.004-07:00

Here are some pics of Rylee and I that were taken today. She has been having a fever all day at 103.3 poor girl, she just keeps getting sick. After giving her some medicine she was back to herself though. We took some goofy pictures together, she has such a fun personality! oh and she loved wearing her new tutu skirt!

Pics of Rylee

2011-01-06T23:54:00.002-07:00

Rylee is so much fun. Her personality is sure coming through. She's such a flirt and growing so big. Yesterday she turned 10 months old! She's a big healthy girl too, hitting the scale at 24 lbs and 29 in. long. Enjoy the pics!

The Birches on fabric

2011-01-03T16:36:00.004-07:00

A muslin base with crayon drawing and coloring plus a little thread-painting with the sewing machine is all it took to compose this picture from a photo that I took in the fall. Double click on the picture to look at it more closely. The finished size of the center is 16 1/2 x 16 1/2.

2010-12-31T11:49:00.003-07:00

Rylee's First Christmas! 2010

Rylee had a wonderful first Christmas. She had a blast opening up all her gifts, (of course she needed some help from her mama). Then later she got all dressed up for pictures but she just wasn't interested in getting all dolled up or getting her pictures taken. In fact she was very very upset about taking pictures. She sure looked cute though!

Her over all first christmas experience was a success and I'm so blessed to have a wonderful daughter! I love her to death and only want the best for her.

This is What Christmas is About

2010-12-25T09:22:00.002-07:00

Admittedly, this picture is a little fuzzy, but I can't go back and take it over. However, the message is one that we need to remember at all times. Isaiah's words sing with the wonderful message. May everyone's Christmas season be blessed with those things that you need the most.

Ron's Christmas Present

2010-12-21T09:54:00.002-07:00

There has already been quite a lot of use for the snowblower this fall, and with winter beginning today, there will be more. Ron got tired of coming into the house looking like the Abominable Snowman, so when he got an advertisement for this wonderful cab to attach to the snowblower, he bit - says it's his Christmas present. It came promptly, but he found that the parts to attach weren't compatible, so it took him a day to figure things out and go get more connection parts. Ta-Da - he was successful, and it works! Pretty classy, don't you agree? See how the snow blows - and never back on him anymore! You could get a real snow bath in this one!

Rylee and her teeth!

2010-12-17T15:23:00.005-07:00

These pictures were taken a week or so ago. She's showing off her 4 teeth!

More Depictions of the Nativity

2010-12-16T09:57:00.003-07:00

This lovely cornhusk Nativity Scene with Mary Joseph and baby Jesus came from Ohio. This is part of my Nativity set made by the Petersen family (no relation). One wise man and only a part of a shepherd are missing from this picture. I fell in love with the beautiful olive wood carved nativity scenes in Bethlehem, but gulped at the price, so I ended up with this tiny silver-plated one found in a shop in Jerusalem. This set was lovingly painted by its owner - children found it appealing.

The Celebration of the Nativity is Worldwide

2010-12-09T16:48:00.004-07:00

This poignant reminder of the Flight to Egypt reminds us that life was never easy for Mary and Joseph after the birth of Christ. We think that he was older than depicted here when they were warned to flee into Egypt. A look at the map tells us that it was a way of hardship to leave Bethlehem and travel the long way to Egypt. And artist Jim Shore combined quilting patterns and the figures for the Nativity scene for a pleasing effect - especially to all quilters. The background to this charming scene was all in gold. Difficult to photograph, but you get the idea. I loved the e-mail we got where one of the wise men in a Nativity pageant announced that they brought gold, common sense, and fur to the baby. May we all have that middle trait to smooth our path along the way.

Unique Creches

2010-12-07T22:05:00.002-07:00

As I said before, many cultures and countries were represented in the 261 scenes in last weekend's display. Obviously from Peru - This one is a little difficult to see, but I loved the furry camel and the wonderful donkey. This Lego Nativity set was a family project - enlarge this picture so you can see a little bit of the story. In fact, enlarge all of the Nativity scenes - more details become apparent.

Another Group of Creches

2010-12-06T08:44:00.003-07:00

The interpretation of the scene for the birth of the baby Jesus is widely varied. This one was painted on white-washed wood, and is lovely in its simplicity. I thought that this set was made of clay, but when I enlarge it, the texture looks like some kind of felt fabric. This Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus was enclosed in a large evergreen wreath. As you can see, the lighting did not help with the photography. This charming home-made set fits in nicely with the counted cross-stitch sampler. These figures were hand-crafted by a friend of mine. She said that when her children saw them, they begged for a similar set, but she felt that "once is enough". Each figure was between six to eight inches tall, and the stitching on the hands and some of the details can't be seen in these pictures.

Creche Display for Christmas

2010-12-04T20:01:00.002-07:00

This afternoon, we enjoyed a cantata performed by about 140 teen-agers with a sprinkling of adult singers to bolster them It was beautifully done, solos and all. As a part of the two-day celebration of preparing for Christmas, there were 235 creches on display. It was a breathtaking display, and a very diverse interpretation of the Nativity. People who live in this valley may seem provincial, but, amazingly, they have lived in Africa, Europe, South America, Central America, on Indian Reservations, and almost any place you could think of as they served missions for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here are a few of the nativity sets in the group. I do not have the histories of all, because, although they were written out by each set, it is a feat of memory that I don't possess. This decorated gourd, hollowed out, and prepared with a special Nativity scene, came from Africa.

Winter Doesn't Wait for December 21st

2010-12-01T16:06:00.002-07:00

Our little boy garden statue looks very cold, indeed. He is holding a frog that is covered up with snow. Not to worry - when spring comes, he will warm up again. Note the snow embedded in the brick wall - the wind did blow hard that way, but that's probably snowblower snow. This is a picture of the sundial last week - before more snow fell. It's too cold to go repeat the picture today. A neighbor from the Big Horn Basin were we Blood children grew up was complaining that it never snowed so much in Wyoming - I seem to recall a few snowstorms of mammoth proportions. Snowed all day today, but finally stopped, so Ron has gone out to blow the snow off one more time - the third today. Isn't winter fun?

Updates on Rylee

2010-11-24T11:18:00.002-07:00

We have been getting ready for the cold weather here in Bend, It sure came early this year!

Rylee sure loves to wear her daddy's hat.

Rylee started crawling at 5 1/2 months and started sitting up at exactly 5 months. She is already climbing things, getting into trouble, and falling down hurting herself. She is 8 months old and took her first step on Friday Nov. 19 2010. Shes such a big girl!

She also has been sick the 3-4 weeks. She kept getting ear infections while her top 2 teeth came in. Now she is on antibiotics for the sinus infection she has. Poor girl!

Snow on the Mountains

2010-11-18T11:10:00.002-07:00

We've had a couple of snowstorms so far - both on days when we were supposed to go to Salt Lake for appointments. The mountains look cold and beautiful - and the autumn foliage still on the apple trees is a nice color foil for them.

Visitors to Preston

2010-11-18T10:13:00.003-07:00

We recently had a visit from Ron's sister, Evie and her husband, Dick, from the Lake Stevens area north of Seattle. She is, without doubt, a human dynamo. Family is very special, and we had a great time together. Evie used to paint pictures, but her passion for the last 10+ years has been in gourding. It has become an incredible art form, and she is a member of the Washington Gourd Society Board - Gourders travel all over to take and give classes, and learn more about the art. She tried to get me involved some years ago, with the result that I have a big number of dried and cleaned gourds, and have completed a very few into some sort of an art form. There are so many things of interest to do in this world, and sometimes I am greedy and want to do them all. Oh, well, I might have a quarter of a century left. (My two new dental implants are guaranteed for twenty-five years, and the roof on our house for 30 - do you think we will make it?) Anyway, it stirs us up to have people around us who love to do different things. The world is full of possibilities!

Fall is Fading Fast

2010-11-11T09:45:00.002-07:00

These bushes are now gone - but their beauty lay in the fall color. I don't know what they were, but they became a trash bush, so some of the neighbors came and helped Ron pull them out, leaving the north side of the house a little bare. I'll miss the color and the little birds that enjoyed the berries; controlling the wildness is a good trade-off. Now, we are trading them for the snow that has come and is coming. The mountains are white, and at 17 degrees F this morning, we don't expect to have a warming trend any time soon. Glorious October has verged into chilly November, so we gird up for winter.

The Glories of Autumn

2010-11-02T10:17:00.002-06:00

The Sedum Autumn Joy is in full bloom. And, the frost comes almost every morning, sprinkling glittering diamonds everywhere, and making fallen leaves look like something very special. This is certainly a miracle. This planter sits in the corner by our front door. Amazingly enough, after many nights of upper 20's temperatures, these plants keep on giving. They are certainly not cold-hardy. We appreciate the extra days of beauty, knowing that soon they'll succumb to the cold nights.

The Big Carrot Harvest

2010-10-30T14:48:00.002-06:00

I laughed when I pulled this huge carrot. Perhaps it grew for Harvey? Last year in my square foot garden boxes, which were only one box high, my carrots formed 45 degree angles, as the root hit the bottom and then grew sideways. This year, Ron increased the height of my box, and I had the greatest carrot harvest yet. But this big root was amazing. I laid the foot-long ruler by it so that you can see the size of this thing. One carrot alone would make carrot pudding. Victory!

October

2010-10-30T10:01:00.002-06:00

After an early frost this fall, we have enjoyed beautiful weather - chilly nights, bright days with blue skies and lots of sunshine until this last week. As I was planting some spring bulbs this past week, I found this iris speciman. Evidently this plant, which I had not cut back, got tricked by the warm October days into thinking that it was spring again! The strange shape of the stem gives it away - the poor plant is mixed up. But there is a blossom at the end, and that is all we need to appreciate the plant's perserverance. Of course, the other plant we appreciate in the fall is the burning bush. As it slowly turns a bright red in the fall, it lights up our home's landscape. Mother Nature gives us many gifts at this time of the year.

More Winning Quilts From Our Local Quilt Show

2010-10-19T12:21:00.002-06:00

This quilt won Judge's Best of Show. It was so perfectly sewn, and the machine quilting was appropriate. I loved the colors. This quilt was made by a lady from Paris, ID. She is one of the few hand quilters left in our show. The old-fashioned fabric and pattern appealed to lots of people. This quilt was also hand quilted. However, this quilt, made by a member of our guild, didn't place any ribbons in competition, but one of the judges chose this as her favorite, and it won Viewer's Choice, which means that in voting for a favorite quilt, this one got the most votes. This is another look at one of my favorites in our show - the hand-sewn Grandmother's Flower Garden. And my neighbor made this quilt - it is a Buggy Barn pattern - the cats were hilarious. I love quilt shows because of the variety of ideas that people have as they create their quilts.

My Storybook Farm, completed

2010-10-18T11:44:00.004-06:00

The completed quilt - be sure to click on each of these pictures so that you can see the details. The quilting on this quilt was fun, but tedious. I learned a lot about quilting on my home sewing machine. (When in doubt, buy another book on the subject.) I began this quilt on April 10th, and finished it in the first week of October of this year. I worked on other things in between, but finishing this quilt has been a main focus. I am showing these pictures with the permission of the designer, McKenna Ryan. Three-dimensional clothes, including a little quilt, are on the clothesline. Holstein cows were a part of our childhood on the farm. We didn't have a scarecrow - I think this one is classy.

The Quilt Show

2010-10-17T07:34:00.002-06:00

Ann, This quilt was done all in rectangles with blanket-stitched hearts - this lady was using up her quilt pieces and scraps. I especially liked this Grandmother's Garden quilt. The woman who made this quilt had never made a quilt before. It took her five years to completely hand-piece the quilt. It was quilted by a long-arm quilter - so appropriate. I liked the embroidery in this quilt - This Dresden Plate with folded rays was a favorite of mine. I've made a smaller version of this quilt, and it's difficult to make everything work just right.

This last week, the quilt show has been all-time consuming. From the checking in of the quilts on Tuesday evening to the take-down late Saturday afternoon, many members of my local quilt guild, the Preston Piecers, have been extremely busy. We had 74 quilts come in, and managed to show 69 - really too many for the library community room, but we made it work. About 230 people came to visit the show, including sister Louise and niece Cheryl. (That was special). Some men came on purpose to see the show, and some came to accompany their wives.) Now, it's back to business. More pictures later.

Watermelon and the Optimistic Gardener

2010-10-07T11:27:00.003-06:00

Gardening is such an "iffy" avocation. Multiply the problems and uncertainty of success, and you have the life of a farmer - the life that my parents lived for so many years. Did we plant at the right time? Did we have the correct fertilization, watering, weeding, etc. regime? The farmer is the supreme gambler. Gardening is farming on a smaller scale. Who knows when the last frost of spring will come? Or when the first frost of fall descends? We lived through a dark, dismal, cold June this year, so most plants were unhappy, and growth was slow. It frosted around the 9th of June, nipping many of the plants and retarding their growth. After that frost, I planted three more watermelon plants and hoped. In the past, we have planted Sugar Babies, which grow to the size of a soccer ball, and usually sweet and delicious; perhaps each plant giving us three melons. This spring's plants were the real thing, though, and promised to produce larger melons. Ron took over the chore of mulching, watering, and fertilizing these plants which grew and grew and grew. We looked in vain for melons under the lush foliage, and then one day, Ron came in so excited because he counted 15 melons - and they were growing. As I commented before, all seven neighborhood kids (6 boys and 1 girl, ranging in age from 3 to 7), who consider Ron their close friend, kept watch with him, and were appropriately impressed with his watermelon growing skills. Each child had his watermelon picked out. The first one was picked too soon, and wasn't ripe enough, but then things got better. The last one left with the 4-year-old neighbor boy bringing his own wheelbarrow to get his melon (sorry I missed that picture). Now, there are five left in the garden, and Ron has gifted most of the neighbors. No frost yet! We lucked out, and experienced a gardening triumph. Thank you!

Blue Morning Glories

2010-10-02T17:36:00.003-06:00

I finally grew blue morning glories. Once summer in Penrose, when there was still a small pole gate at the far side of the front yard, Mother planted some blue morning glories, and they were tough enough to grow up and over the poles. I loved the pretty blue, but have never tried to grow them again. I hate the bindweed with the white flowers that grows in the field, but this is really a plant of a different habit - I hope.