The wall hanging is done.

I finished my practice wall hanging this afternoon. Well, it isn't exactly "finished" as it would need to be framed before hanging if I wanted it truly complete. But I enjoyed this project and I hope to find some red colors tomorrow at the craft store to see if I can blend my favorite colors into a hanging piece too. Doing this practice piece helped me understand how colors should be placed. I have never done a patchwork quilt before so all of this is new and fun to me. This was a wonderful way to pass a snowy afternoon in Montana!

It's actually snowing here today

Yes, I was very surprised to see it snowing here for a change. We haven't gotten much but the clean white color is pretty. It's the first time we have had clouds in more than a week.
I have been practicing making myself a wall hanging today. I am just using colors I found in my crafting area and if I can get better at this craft I want to try one in my favorite choice of colors....red. It feels good to be creative again with my craft projects. I will post a picture when this project is finished. I hope to find my favorite red tones tomorrow when we venture into Missoula and I find a good craft store. Now that's a fun adventure!!

My mind is wandering today

I was sitting here early this morning gazing out the office window when I began to reflect on all the happenings that have taken place in the last year. Our first plans were to spend the summer at a resort guest ranch in the mountains. We learned quite a bit about ourselves on that adventure. We knew we were there because we choose to, not because we needed to be there for the money. The most important thing we learned from the experience was that we were both very happy at this point in our lives and we discovered that neither of us had a need to work as hard as we were to find our happiness. Leaving that adventure behind was really difficult for the two of us but we knew our health was a much more important issue for us to worry about. So we returned home knowing that it was time to take a different direction in our lives. That is when we made the major decision to move ourselves to Darby Montana. And I can honestly tell you that I have never had a moment of regret about our move. Our new home is very comfortable, we adore the daughter and her family that live just next door, and the neighborhood has welcomed us with open arms. The lack of stress and the freedom we feel here is incredible.

My relationship with my adult son has turned in to a friendship during the last year that any mother would envy. He is a wonderful man and I am always so very proud of him. To hear his cheerful voice on the phone always makes me smile. I know I will be putting on the miles between here and Seattle to visit him this summer. Pike's Place Market is a must destination for the two of us when I am there.


And my own life's journey has truly amazed me. I am in a place in my life that is difficult to describe. I spent 26 years alone with my son after his father was killed. Yes, it was very hard to let son stretch his wings and fly but I knew in my heart that it was what I had spent all those years preparing him...and I...for. After son left home it took me several years to find my wonderful JW. Marrying him in 2003 was the event that made me the luckiest woman on earth. Thank you JW.

So life here in Montana is just what we had been dreaming about but now we are actually living that dream. And of course, living with your best friend is a fabulous way to spend your time on this earth too!

Can this weather get any better in the state of Montana?

JW and I went for a walk together today...well, it was more like a stroll together. The weather is so beautiful that we took our time and looked at all the beauty along the way. This is the dirt road we live on and it is so dry over here that the passing cars stir up a lot of dust. No, there aren't a lot of passing cars, but when there is it takes awhile for the dust to settle.

If you look real close you can see our house just in behind the real tall pine tree to the right of the road. The white buildings with the red roof are our closest neighbors. If you click on the picture to enlarge it you may get a closer view. The large blue building with the green roof is JW's machine shop.

So as you can see we have plenty of room to enjoy our lives here. And we certainly are doing just that!
This is a typical scene in our neighborhood....a Montana style fence ladder. When the ranchers need to go quickly from field to field they just use these handy devices..no need to get scratches from 5 to 6 strands of barbwire.

The weatherman is saying that our wonderful weather should continue on through this week. Good news as we must travel up to Missoula during the middle of the week for my checkup on my hand with my doctor. Of course that also means we get to make another run to Costco. Yippee!! We love those Costco muffins.

Views of Montana

This herd of Montana Elk were grazing in a field not far from our home this week. The actual herd has been reported to be more than 750 in number. There are so many of them because the rolling hills across the road from this field is private land so the Elk all hang out there. So it's not unusual to see them very close to the highway even during hunting season because they seem to know the hunters can't hunt them in these hills.
This beautiful feather made of copper is on an entrance to a large ranch we pass every time we drive to or from Darby. The feather it's self is about 8 feet tall and when the sun shines on it, it just glows. Of course there is a matching one on the opposite site of the entrance. The ranch house apparently sits up around the corner because nothing is visible from the road. Hmm, maybe that's where Hank Williams, Jr lives!! Or, maybe not.

Winter

Well, I guess if we have to have winter that this is the only kind to have. This interesting shadow was taken in the neighbors pasture on my walk yesterday afternoon. He hangs his garden hoses on the pasture fence for the winter and they casts this scene. This was the another neighbors pasture as I passed by today on my walk. The sun made it appear that his pasture was filled with beautiful crystals and they were all glistening in their own beauty. Nature, what an amazing thing. It never fails to astound me at what you can see if you just slow down and look around you.

Is this really January?

JW and I ventured into Darby this morning to ship some machined parts by UPS. The above photo is of son-in-law Perry's Napa Auto store. It sits right on main street in Darby. The flag is at half staff in honor of a Montana soldier that died in Iraq recently.
Because the weather is so gorgeous, we just had to stop at a well known fishing spot very close to our home to check things out. Besides the wonderful fishing location, there is also several camping spots just to the right in this picture, over looking the river. Just up stream from this photo, a young man was suiting up to do some serious fly fishing. He too, was thrilled about our wonderful weather...the temperature was in the high 40's again today! Good luck with that fishing. Yes, that's me way out there in this picture!

Wednesday, Jan 24th, 2007

The Resturant Is Still Closed. It looks like the Hummingbirds and the rest of our feathered friends are going to have to wait awhile for the weather to get a lot better around here before they can find a free meal.
Things start to melt but as soon as the sun starts to go over the hill, the drips start to freeze. I can see that I am definitely going to have to get started on the plans for the green house if I want to see any results in my hostas for early spring.

The "other roads" of Montana

The picture above was taken yesterday morning and on the left of the photo is a trail under the snow that a mouse was making. As he tunneled near me he realized I was there and took off at full speed on the top of the snow, the tracks on the right, running (or swimming!) as fast as he could back to where he had come from. What a funny sight that was. I suppose everyone has their favorite mode of travel around here. And no, I haven't seen him since.
We drove into Hamilton yesterday afternoon to attend our first meeting of the Montana Pioneer and Classic Auto Club. We meet a lot of very nice people with several beautiful classic cars in the parking lot. I think we are going to enjoy this group of people.

I shot the above picture of an old church as we drove around town. I found it very interesting and colorful.
This picture is of the same church...sorry I tilted the camera! But I just thought this building was very attractive. Our drive to and from town was filled with beautiful sunshine so we wandered around quite a bit looking at different neighborhoods in the area.

Good morning from Montana,USA

I captured this beautiful scene of our sunrise from our back deck this morning. What a wonderful way to start my day. The sun is now shinning and our temperature is almost 30 degrees with NO wind. Another great day in the Bitteroot valley of western Montana.

My right hand seems to be healing well and I am able to do just about everything except write. But I must say, even though I am right handed, I am doing a pretty good job writing with my left hand. If I go real slow JW can read most of it.

I am back on my treadmill and really enjoying it. It feels wonderful to be moving again and knowing I can walk a couple of miles at a time without being out in the cold air and wind does keep me encouraged. JW and I are planning to attend my 40th class reunion this summer in Washington state so I want to look good for that! Oops, did I say 40th....WOW! How is it possible that 40 years have gone by so quickly? It's amazing that my friends from high school are still my friends. 40 years...that's a lot of wonderful living.

Don't believe everything you see!!!!!

I really don't believe that the temperature was actually 55 degrees!!! But the sun sure felt good this afternoon but that slight breeze sure was cold. And that warm sun shinning on the thermometer certainly must have had something to do with it!
I caught this picture of our cat lounging on our bed today. She has a look that says "Can't you keep them off of MY bed????" Sorry "YOUR HIGHNESS!!"

14 degrees BELOW ZERO!!!!!!

Okay, it's getting terribly cold here in Little Ole Darby Montana! But gee, it's already 11:00am and the temperature is already up to 4 below zero! Whahoo!! a wild heat wave!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course the sky is a brilliant blue and so full of sunshine. In fact, a bright moonbeam woke me up in the middle of the night shinning in through the sky light. And oh the stars! I can't believe how many fill the clear skies here. No smog, just crystal clear clean air. The news did state this morning that a city east of us was 33 degrees below zero last night. No, that doesn't make -14 sound any better to me!!

I have decided that I want the bedroom rearranged in a different design so JW and I started that project this morning. But because of my wounded hand we could only keep at it for just a while. So JW is over at his shop getting some work done and I will curl up in front of the TV for awhile and give my hand a rest before we finish up the bedroom.

I had planned to pass this on to all of you at New Years but time has gotten away from me. So this is to all of you for the New Year.....

May Peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips.

May your clothes smell of success and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.

In simple words....MAY 2007 BE THE BEST YEAR EVER!!!!!

ANOTHER SUNNY DAY IN MONTANA

When I awoke this morning I wondered what can I put on my blog today? I plan to try to do my postings every morning before the day consumes my time and I am to tired in the evenings. So I grabbed my trusty camera and headed outside. Of course it took me only a second to realize the wind chill factor was about 17 degrees below zero!!! But I wanted a new picture so I pulled my collar up close and off I went. There was a herd of 8 deer just across the road but I have posted several pictures of that subject. I did find several plants that have sprouted new green foliage and I can't imagine how that is possible in this weather! But that wasn't what I am looking for either. Then I heard a racket above my head and looked up into the beautiful blue sky and there above me was a large flock of Canadian Geese heading south.
I truly do not believe that they were not heading "south for the winter" but they are a flock that lives here in the wide Bitteroot Valley the entire year. What a beautiful site...I am so glad that I ventured outside and looked up into our beautiful big Blue sky! I hope you can make out their "V" formation in all that blue.

Cold weather is coming....pull the covers up tight!!!

Apparently we have an Arctic Freeze coming our way. The weather man is calling for the temperatures to be as low as 17 degrees below zero during the next few nights!!! Wow! But as you can see the wind is blowing the clouds from our valley which is giving us beautiful sunny days. But the wind also is causing some very low wind chill factors too.

As the picture above shows, we still have very little snow on the valley floor. But the giant mountains around us are finally getting their winter blanket of snow. And as you can guess, the skiers are thrilled!!

JW is enjoying his wood stove in his machine shop and ventures there everyday. I think getting back to his work routine makes him much more comfortable and happy.

We've brought out our drawings of our house and yard and have begun planning ideas of what we want to do with the yard. We still want a picket fence...A Wilson Pickett Fence of course!! Those of you who knows us personally can get the true meaning of that comment!!! And there is my greenhouse and a shade house for my big hostas. Even designing the front walk will be an adventure and I am trying out different ideas for which plants to put where to help frame our house so it looks cozy and comfortable. I even enjoy this stage of the planning. To be creating something with our own ideas and plans is so much fun! Of course, we will post pictures as your wonderful yard progresses throughout the spring and summer. But for now.....KEEP WARM!!!!

OLD MAN WINTER HAS MADE HIS APPEARANCE!

Yes, old man winter knocked on our door today...okay, he banged on our door today!!!! During the high winds we experienced last night it began to snow. And the snow drifts were piled up against our porch sliding doors! The poor cat wouldn't even try to climb over the drift to get outside. It has continued to snow throughout the day and there seems to be no end in sight in the immediate future. The picture above is not really blurry...it's my attempt to take of picture of it snowing! I stepped outside and took this picture for the front of our house while it was snowing pretty hard.

We had to drive the 70 miles into Missoula yesterday but had blue sky and sunshine the entire day. How fortunate for us! I had an appointment with the joint specialist to check on my progress on the surgery on my right hand. He seemed pleased and said I wouldn't need to return for 4 weeks. Of course that does mean that I must wear this splint cast till then. But he did okay me to take it off once in a while as I was watching TV as long as I kept it very still. And boy does that feel good!!! We are planning to watch the Seattle Seahawks play the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs tonight on the TV. Yes, our Seahawks made it to the Super Bowl last year but we aren't holding our breath for it to happen this year. Darn. But I had better keep the cast on because I do tend to get a little excited during the game!!

Keep warm and stay safe.