As promised!

It is a beautiful rainy (much needed!) day today and I'm so grateful to have today off from work (since last week was wonderful...but full on)

Here are some more photos of my birthday trip up to Glacier Park...it is a stunning place and we're doing so much better this year in making time to visit it at least once a month. (and yes Lynn, sadly you were no where near my corner of the state during your visit, but you know you're always welcome!)

I don't think I'd like to have my back scratched with this guys nails....

yes...that's a large snow field in the middle of July...they don't call it "Glacier Park" for nothing!

As I catch up today on rest and projects around the house I hope to take some photos of the projects that I've been working on, as well as some of the hand dyed fabrics that I did yesterday as a part of of Ellen Ann Eddy's class at Glacier Quilts this past weekend. I have high hopes! :)

What a perfect day to rest and relax, with the sound of the rolling thunder and the strong life-giving rain outside....May you all find your own much needed drink of water this week.

More to come....

Since we've spoken last time has blown by on strong winds and the days feel like clouds, passing over the sun for a few minutes and then gone....

I've celebrated my sweetheart's birthday, (and started of a new year in my own life as well) and have begun the prep for the summer theater tour that I will be performing in next month.

I'm currently in a weekend full of classes with thread artist Ellen Ann Eddy (you might remember her from some of my first posts on my blog--and the fish that I created with her technique). This time round I'm learning a different process as well as learning how to dye my own amazing fabrics, threads, and other speciality cloths. I'm very excited, and I promise more photos will follow.

The photo above is from our trip into Glacier Park on my birthday....we were treated to a Mamma and baby Moose, Mamma and baby mountain goat and a host of other wonderful creatures who allowed us to to take a quick gander as they wandered past on their way.

(again...more photos to follow)

I hope you are all well, and I can't wait to spend some time checking in with you blogs soon.

Blessings!

M

Where my heart is....

Sister Kathy...this one is for you! When I found this heart while watering I immediately though of you and smiled...Thanks for the calling card! :)




(even hummingbirds need to rest now and then)!

Life continues on at its own pace and there are days when I feel like I'm on a wild ride, and others when I'm able to sit back and enjoy the float (which by the way I DID a few weekends ago...the water was a bit cold, but the warm sun kept me nice and toasty!)

Today was a day off from most of my endeavors (although I did manage to work on a few of my 'to do' items. Now I'm watching the clouds roll in for what I hope will be a lovely rain tonight, while I watch and listen to two eagles across the river high up in the trees. The sounds of crickets in the flowerbed outside my window brings a grin to my face and feeling of some residual dirt under my nails reminds me of my time outside nurturing the beautiful collection of plants.



Imagine a soundtrack of crickets, the river rushing by, and glorious bird songs as you wander through some of my recent photos...


and may you find your own moment of bliss in your world today too...

blessings!

Balance

Even the moon appeared to be in balance this week...as I gratefully accepted a time of rest from the stress of last week.

I wanted you all to know that life has either calmed down a bit here in my world (and those of my friends)--either that or we've all just decided to relax a bit more and enjoy the ride on the rapids!

The past few days have included some beautiful and blessed rest, fun, work and peace.
I thought I would share a bit through some snapshots at least...even if the proper words don't come.

McDonald Lake in Glacier Park with evening sun on fresh spring green.


Clouds playing across the landscape of mountains never fails to calm me....sometimes I swear I can hear the rocks humming.

then again....maybe it is the bees I hear as they sing out in celebration of blooms and nectar from the trees bursting forth.

The river overtakes the large rock outside our house...in the fall and winter it is possible to walk out and climb up on the rock...as the snow melts off the mountains our little river rises hard and fast and the sound and power (as well as the view is stunning).

During a visit to Glacier Park, we were able to get further up the road (most of the main road is still closed due to snow pack that needs to be cleared). Here was a little stop along the side of the road to enjoy a picnic dinner with my sweetheart and my chosen sister.

Here is a mighty tree, long since fallen from it's standing in the forest...but now the roots create a dance or a tangible look at the weave of life. There was a bench placed in front of these roots. At first I thought "why would you sit and look at an upturned tree?" then I sat, looked, and understood.

I hope you find a bench to sit and ponder on this week. If no one is kind enough to remind you...I hope you choose to sit on the ground and just look up.

Blessings!

Strong Currents

Yesterday I was able to make it to part of the Wild Mile kayak competition near where we live. It's the same little river that flows by our house, at times with strong currents and at times wide open and gentle...but you get this place on the river and it's rapids all the way.

I think this is a bit how life seems to be working lately too. All around me, my loved ones (friends and family alike) are headed down their different paths and for some reason they all seem to be in rapids right now. Each choosing how much to fight and paddle to forge their chosen path or just fighting and paddling to keep from being turned upside down in rough waters. It's hard to have so much stress in the lives of those you love...hardest I think because there is nothing you can do to change where they are. You have to be willing to let them work it out and have an extra paddle on hand in case they lose theirs. (Personally I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and warmer waters and simply 'tubing' down the water's current myself....but we have a few weeks before that is likely to happen!)

I'm grateful that even in each stressful moment, there is still cause for joy and contentment abounding right now. Flowering trees and the garden plants beginning to grow. Birds of every shape and color visiting our feeders each day and some that have taken us up on the offer of a new bird house the Bob built this winter. Bob's family ages (3 to 93) here for the weekend to spend time together, chat and check in with each other's lives...

It's good to remember how much love surrounds us, even when all we focus on from time to time is the fear of the rapids ahead.

I hope you all are enjoying a lovely weekend, be it on your own, with your family, or remembering those who were a beautiful part of your family.

Blessings!

Spring has finally arrived here in the mountains of Montana (although we're still frosty in the mornings)...the landscape is turning to that neon shade of green, and what once was barren is now lush and full. It's a good time of year to remember that life ispresent even within the woody sticks of winter. While there has been much to grieve in my life (and the lives of those close to me) lately, there is also much to celebrate...and the metaphor of Spring is a welcome way to continue growing and enjoying the pure fact of being alive.

I know I've been remiss in posting...I've started countless times, but could not find words or focus to actually write anything. Thank you to those who have sent encouragement and small notes letting me know I was missed. What a joy you all are!

After my visit to my Grandparents (and their comments on the quilts I was working on then) I decided that I would make them each a small lap quilt to help keep them warm when they needed it. As well as feel as I could be useful even after I had to return home. My Grandmother was so frail when I was there, and certainly the idea that she might not be with us much longer was on minds of many people, but I was pretty sure I recognized the spark still within her, and I'm pleased to say that while she is still struggling a little, she has really made some good recovery! It is so much fun to call and hear her voice stronger and her fiestiness back in full swing!

Since she is also a fan of Chickadees (as am I) I made a traditional quilt but took photos of some of the little birds that visit my feeder and appliqued them on to the quilt (using the photo printing fabric that I love so much!) Here was the result!

I called it Chickadee Garden and backed it with flannel for extra warmth. She loved it!

For Grandpa, (who loves wildlife and the outdoors) I made this quilt--also backed with flannel for those colder nights.

And then for Mother's day, I got a hold of a beautiful project that my mom had started years ago, and did the thread work and quilting for her...It's hard to tell in the photo, but there are also some three dimensional petals and leaves on this piece as well.



Currently I'm doing my best to translate a black and white photocopy of a historical mosaic tile floor from a Church in Bethlehem into a wall hanging for consignment of mine. I've struggled with starting for a while, but I think I'm on a roll now....I'll try to post some progress photos by next week.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! I promise to be back soon!

Peace,

More thanks are due

I've fallen a bit behind with my 'focus of thanks' to those artists who participated in the One World One Heart event this year. My goal to is give a note of thanks to each of the artists that I was fortunate enough to receive something from. And as tempting as it is for me to group some together in one post, I want to give each their due separately. We all need recognition for the work that we do, and frankly, anyone who sends their art out into the world (especially to strangers) is a friend of mine. (it's one of my favorite things to do!)

So that said, tonight I write in praise of Cathy at Hazelruthes's

Cathy has a love of creating art, but also collecting items that not only have historical value, but frankly can be seen as art themselves. (she's got some amazing old thimbles for sale right now too!--go to her blog and check them out!)


I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful little sewing caddy and a CD with vintage sewing images on it. While I haven't giving myself the chance to play with the images yet (I do have some fun ideas mind you!) I have used the little sewing caddy many times in the past few months...most recently when I traveled to Eastern Montana to help take care my Grandmother. I have always enjoyed having some 'busy work' to do while I'm off any away, and I took three quilts with me to hand stitch the binding down on while I was there. The little sewing caddy was perfect to have along!

Cathy, thank you so much for being an artist, and a generous one! I hope that everyone who reads this post will stop by your blog and let you know that as well!

It's so good to be thankful in this world!