Trying New Things

For the first time we went to a Renaissance Festival. It was bigger than I expected, more shops than I expected, and I probably won't go again. Its not the era I belong in and apparently a lot of other people do. I was surprised at how many people came dressed in costume. The highlights for us were the animals. From the raptors to the elephants, my children can't get enough close-ups with creatures of every kind.

This really is the year I've become a quilter. After all these years, go figure. MyMike keeps saying, I thought you didn't like to sew. Well for the first forty-plus years of my life I didn't too much, but I find its like scrapbooking on steroids and I'm loving it. There is more fabric than colored paper and putting them together to create something useful makes me happy. I finished the second of five sampler table runners I'm making. I added a star binding to this one and liked that better than the original binding so I'll probably add it to all the rest. I still need to steam-iron it so it lays flat, then its all done. I really liked making the bear's paw pattern in the center. Curves are more challenging but I'm glad I learned how. I have three baby quilts I really want to make but I'm disciplining myself to finishing these first before I start on those. Most of these will go to my quilt guild's annual fund raiser in October. The baby quilts will go to my grandchildren . . . someday. As I started these blocks six years ago I thought I'd better get a start on things.

Happy 25th

25 years ago I was married. Here. In Southern California. To MyMike.

I can't find a lot of photos of us today. This one was taken by one of our kids three years ago on the 4th of July, but I think its a fitting photo since today is a day of celebration. Unfortunately, as sums up too much of our marriage, once again I am sick. With a bug, that is making me feel like a truck ran over me. From the beginning this has been a challenge we have faced, over and over, sicknesses of one kind or another. There have been other challenges too, but somehow we just keep forging forward and along the way there have been great celebrations and joy and happiness too.

For a couple that loves and was introduced through music, we realized a few years ago that we didn't really have a song what was "ours." So, we both thought about it for a couple of days, and came up with a couple that we agreed are "us." This year I'd like to add Nat King Cole's, "Our Love Is Here To Stay." Today we remember how good it is that we found each other, and  recommit to "forever and a day. . . for our love is here to stay."

The Climbers

The past week LittleBuddy has been gone with our neighbors from Maryland. With all the fires, plans were changed from hanging around here all week to them taking our boy to Moab, UT. They had a great time climbing the rocks around Arches and Canyonlands while we were home.  I was quilting, organizing and trying to stay sane . . . just one of those weeks.

One of the highlights was finally capturing this photo of a bluebird, perched on my roof. Love this color blue and am happy every time I see them.

So, after leaving last Tuesday, they all came back yesterday, wearing their souvenir tee-shirts and hats. The last two days they spent at Rocky Mountain National Park, thus their shirts proclaim, "I Made It To The Top."

To finish our neighbor's Colorado vacation, we showed them our much smaller scale red rocks at Garden of the Gods. LittleBuddy had called me up during his trip and told me he now loved rock climbing as was "an expert," his exact words :-)

At the Air Force Academy he got himself a snow hat, so he's now wearing that constantly. My boy and his hats . . . makes me smile. Just being himself.

Pretending to be holding up Balancing Rock.

Finding new places to explore.

They kind of disappeared from view for a while. This is what we saw instead - a cute mule deer just walked in front of us.

The boys were up and down, exploring, and being boys, and feeling the joy of being out in nature. Glad to have him home again but glad he had a great week too!

Oh, and I thought I had a picture of the quilted table runner I made, but alas, No. But, I have four more waiting to be finished, so I'll be making more and take more photos later.

Happy Fourth of July

July is a wonderful month, full of celebrations. It starts with Cowgirl's and my Grandpa's birthdays, on the same day as Canada Day, moves right into the 4th of July, adds another celebration with Mike's and mine anniversary on the 17th and rounds out the month on the 29th with BigBuddy's and Uncle Dennis' birthday, again on the same day. In between are Aunt Jan's, Cousin Jill's, Aunt Debby's, and my brother, Steve's birthdays. And, we just finished remembering my brother Rob and Cousin Jennifer, also on the same day in June. Seriously, its the party time of the year with lots of shared opportunities to celebrate too!

Miss this Cowgirl always. She got to go to the rodeo to celebrate her birthday. I love watching her grow up into such a great woman! She's fun, beautiful, and a great friend. I think she's been catching the news on the fire more than I have, just checking up on all of us. What a week its been! Good news is, the fire's almost out, and it rained a lot today, for the first time in a long time. Our fasting and prayers have been answered. Hopefully the fires by her will be out soon too.

I love America. MyMike loves America too. This is the Library of Congress, right next to the Supreme Court. We spent a lot of time visiting all the places back East that were and continue to be important to this great country while we lived there.  In 1776 it took a lot of Divine Inspiration to create a nation out of farmers and merchants. Without His help, they wouldn't have made it, and neither will we. My wish for the 4th is that as a nation, individually and collectively, we will be more humble, and seek His will, not our own.

We tried some new things this past week when we whisked our dad away on a little mini-vacation. First up was National Jr. Drag Racing.

Notice how empty it was. These were only qualifying races, but fascinating to watch.

The boys had fun nicknaming the cars and rooting for the ones they named.  We saw speeds over 100 miles an hour,.

The next day we went tubing down a creek near downtown Golden.

It was a hot day outside and cold in the creek, and we loved it. Even I joined in the fun. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get photos where the rapids were but its a memory we won't soon forget, and hope to repeat again soon.

After picking everyone up at "the spot," we'd tie on the tubes and drive back up to the top.

What a great way to spend a hot summer day, hanging onto each other's tubes.

This was the final exit spot, though I didn't make it this far. The next bridge up was where most of us exited, but it was so picturesque around here.

 

We were soaked to the bone, but loved every minute.

Not much creativity this past week, but the week before I made a handful of cards. These are among my favorites.

There's always a reason to celebrate this month. I'm going to need to make some more cards soon.