OK - my turn for PIF

Alrighty - I finally succumbed (I should only use words I know how to spell, without having to look them up. :-( ) Linda, at All Stitched Up got me to get with it and sign up for Pay it Forward. You all know the game: (or at least most of you know) - the first 3 people who leave a comment here saying they want to "play" will get a handmade gift from me. Each of them will put this same invitation on their blog for three more to sign up and they will each receive a handmade gift. And so on and so on and so on. FUN!

More Photos & travel stories

For me who is a bit nervous of heights, this was a big challenge!


Logan Pass is the highest place in the park and site of the Continental Divide [water flows to the east and to the west].
The upgraded 1930's red buses are the best way to see things in the park. These originally were called "jammers" as there wasn't a clutch to change gears and the driver just jammed it into gear.


Spring flowers are only "out" for a very short time.


There were so many things to do and things to see. It was just a continual sense of awe and amazement. I think I must have said "Oh my goodness" about a zillion and a half times. It was pretty breezy and sometimes challenging to sit outdoors for meals, but we tried, most of the time, as it was so georgous! The campground sponsored a fireworks display (on July 4), but sadly the trailer from which the fireworks were shot off caught fire afterwards. Glad to hear those fire sirens coming.

I'm not sure I have the right name, but I loved the 'motorcycle tricycles' that we saw. They were so stable that they even appealed to 'chickens' like me. And many of those folks were pulling little trailers that set up into tents with a sleeping area - reputedly a queen-sized bed, as well as a small enclosed area for dressing/cooking/whatever. It struck me as extremely clever. I spoke with one couple from Texas who reported that their trailer only weighed just over 500 lbs.

We are really so fortunate to be able to make this trip and see this beautiful country. I continue to be appreciative and thankful for all my blessings. Much for which to be grateful! [More still to come]

Back from our "Holidays"

It really had been my intention to send little posts along the way but discovered that the RockyMountains, in many areas, interfere with internet signals and we couldn't get connected. So this will have to be a retrospective of a magnificent trip through Washington and Idaho to Montana and Glacier National Park. Having never been, I was delighted and overwhelmed with what nature has managed to do. And bless the National Park Service for their efforts to maintain what is there. But back to the beginning: the Columbia River cuts a wide swath through central Washington at the Vantage Bridge. We drove on through the eastern Washington Palouse country and spent the night in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

The next morning we headed east into Montana and then north past Flathead Lake. Wow was that beautiful. We spent the night in Kalispell and then began our Glacier Park Adventure the next day. We drove around the south side of the park and met our family in St. Mary's on the East side of the park. The eastern and western sides of the park are very different, but what I found most unusual was that there are virtually no foothills into these mountains. You have rolling plains then you have mountains. The Going to the Sun Highway [THE road across and through the park] had been closed all winter because of the large amount of snow and subsequent road damage and only opened the day we arrived.
Because it was still "early" in the park season, all the flowers were blooming, the waterfalls were roaring with snow melt and everything was still green. Over the summer it will dry out and much will become brown. We hiked, looked for animals, tried macro-photography and generally had a fabulous time. During our time there we saw: moose, elk, bear, mountain goats, long-horned sheep, pika's, marmots, squirrels, chipmonks, beaver, geese and ducks. We got a full zoological exposure - but all at arm's length (as it's supposed to be). Forest fires are a big threat and there was one while we were there in the very southern part of the park. Because it was hot and windy, it made containing the fire even more difficult - they don't try to put them out, only contain them. More adventures to follow, but needless to say, it was a great treat to be able to go and we couldn't encourage you more to go yourselves. All ages, all abilities - a magnificent place to visit.
P.S. I did take the mat and cutter and got quite a few I Spy hexagons cut out (on a picnic table in the KOA park.) No one said anything - I wonder what they thought I was doing?

Counting down to vacation

First of all, here's how I used much of my time last week:

But how's this for a fabulous payoff?

DD isn't finished packing, but well on her way and Nana has to prepare for the up-coming trip: making lists, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. etc. etc. Mind you, I'm not complaining, just noting what lays ahead this week as our goal is to be headed out of town early Saturday morning. We're planning to meet family on the east side of Glacier National Park on Monday (a week).

I have completed a couple of little hand-work projects [wall hanging for DDIL - did I just make that up? - and the green placemats]. I have been wanting to make an "I Spy" for the kidlets, so am thinking I will take the templates and small mat along. I can't just go "cold turkey" - no quilting/sewing project for two weeks. This morning I'm off to Stone Soup Quilting for a couple of hours of volunteering and then I need to get home and get busy!

While the weatherman predicts sunshine later today, we are wavering in the 'will it rain/will it sun' mode. Outside my window it's grey and cloudy, but there are a few blue patches poking through. Almost July already - can you believe it?

Wednesday - a break

Spent the past two days helping DD get herself organized in prep. for this up-coming move. She totally unloaded the storage space above the garage and we sorted and threw away a lot! Yesterday we started in on the kitchen. Small appliances seem to have been multiplying in the cupboard - they required 3 boxes. Now they weren't totally full, but they get heavy quickly, so the tops were filled with flannel sheets.

Of course, in between Nana needed to have some time with the dear grandkids. The 7 year old wants to be sooooo grown up, but still is a charming, little girl. Tomorrow she and I have a "planning party" to plan a camping trip she and I will make later this summer. It is sure to cause some havoc with the 4 year old. 'Alone' time with Nana (lucky for me) seems to be a most valuable commodity. The four year old has more energy than several kids combined. We had a number of tea parties with gear unearthed in the garage, in between climbing the tree and swinging on the tire swing. The 7 1/2 mo. old didn't remember me the last time I saw her - when you only get to see them every 3-4 weeks, it takes a while to know for sure that this lady is OK. So she and I spent a lot of time talking to each other and getting re-acquainted.

Spent last evening ironing. I have to admit that I enjoy ironing, so it wasn't a real chore. Background: I used to have a next-door neighbor who made couture evening dresses. One day I asked her what she did with her scraps. She said she just threw them away! Imagine! So I have received two large plastic bags full of scraps of silk and satin. I have made a couple of satin gowns for a wonderful group called Newborns in Need. I took all the dupioni silks in vibrant hues and last night I got them almost all ironed. I'm thinking that I might make myself a stitch and flip vest in various colors. I don't want it on cotton batting - too heavy. But perhaps a piece of flannel will do the trick. I certainly haven't used up all she gave me and wouldn't you know - she's now moved. But I will parcel out what I have left. I'm thinking perhaps one of the larger white silks could be the background for the church wedding banner. Hmmmmmm.

Back over to my DD's tomorrow and Friday. One of these days I need to grocery shop, clean my house, do laundry and get ready to go out of town for 2 weeks. Oh well - as my dad used to say, "something is bound to happen" [be that good or bad] :-) Life is good.

T.G.I.F.

Thank goodness it's Friday. This has been such a busy week, although I don't have much to show you, in terms of quilty progress. Three quilts got 'sandwiched' and I've started to do some 'in the ditch' stitching with monofiliment thread, but that doesn't show up very well here. :-)



I tried to take the training for the Cothing and Textile Advisor program, through Washington State University Extension program. There weren't enough of us (3) to really make it worthwhile, so it's been postponed until the fall. Don't you know - I'll be out of town. But they have encouraged all of us to continue to come to the meetings and I guess I'll try for the next training session. This was the last meeting for the summer. The meeting was short and then we got to do a hands-on session with dyeing (sp?) silk. It was quite fun. I'm not sure I'm ready to go out and buy all the necessary gear and inks and and and - but the gal who was our trainer does some private lessons/work from her home. So perhaps that silk dress I bought two years ago intending to do something to (paint, dye, adorn in some way) she can help me with. [oh, bad grammar. sorry.]



I did do the "slash and stitch" placemats. I guess I'm late to the game as I haven't made these before, but they were fun and pretty easy once I got my thread to unreel properly. Is that the right word? I do have some really lovely burgundy/red/pink to try next. I'm doing these by colors I like, rather than to match a specific set of dishes or even household decor. I suppose I could surge some napkins and have a set ready to go for a gift, right?


I lay in bed early this morning thinking about the banner I have been asked to consider for the church. They have lots of different ones, but want one specifically for weddings. So I made a trip to the copy center and got the picture enlarged to 24" high. So now I'll play a bit and see what I can make. I will show you when I have something more than a piece of paper. And so it goes. Off to a W.N.B.A. [basketball] game tonight, a house-warming tomorrow and a graduation party on Sunday. Monday I'm going to my DD's to help her seriously start packing up her house to move. Luckily the move is only about 3 miles, but not sure just how early they can get into the house. And we'll be heading to Glacier National Park the end of the month, so cannot help then. Oh dear! Happy Friday, one and all!

Friday appreciation

Several folks are very good at noting things for which they are thankful. I must take a turn at marking those things which I have appreciated:

*For the very kind restaurant manager who must have noted my very red face when I admitted that I had left my wallet at home and let me write a check for our dinner bill. I had offered to go home and get it, leaving him something of value to ensure I would return, but he said "for you" (me) he would accept a check.

*Sunshine and the blooming Mock Orange bush outside the kitchen door.

*For the new-to-me quilting group that welcomed me last night. [It's a long, sad story of the 3 other groups I have joined that have subsequently met their demise.] They are just beginning a new group charity quilt and everyone 'jumped' in with both feet. One gal explained that they don't lack for leaders in this group - everyone shared their thoughts and opinions and welcomed more input. They call themselves Stash Busters and having just finished the Nine Patch Wonder (all from my stash) I felt right at home.

Lastly, I have my fingers crossed that my free-motion quiliting skills will be up to the challenge. I have made a cherry table runner, all with fabrics I have bought over time at the Goodwill. Now to see if I can quilt cherries into the borders...... hmmmm. Maybe by days end, I can add one more thing to my list of 'gratitudes'.

Happy Friday. Life is good.