A Mini Vacation

I had a meeting in Billings on Saturday and Bill had a saddle to be picked up in Sheridan, WY, so we made a little trip out of it.  We left on Friday and did a few errands in Billings (always errands) and then on to Sheridan before King's Saddlery was closed.  They had fixed on Bill's saddle.  It was fun to look around and see things we haven't seen in our travels here.  I wished I had taken a picture of one of the last saddles that Don King made.  It was beautiful with lots of leather stamping.  I was thinking to myself, "Wouldn't that be a wonderful gift to give Cowboy and surprise him!"  WRONG!!!  The price was $45,000.00.  Note the zeros!  Yikes!!  We would have had to insure the saddle and then would Cowboy ride it???  Probably...but still...

We had fun and bought a few things.  Bill was intrigued by some small hand-painted glasses.  He saw them when he took his saddle down to Sheridan.  They were pretty, but I don't want to break one and you know how glasses are!  He had some gift certificates that were getting moldy (mine never get a chance as they burn my pockets!) so decided to buy the hand-painted glasses and then some wine glasses.  He could not see buying the hand-painted wine glasses too--his own frugal nature stepped in!  I love towels and found some with brands on them and also a hand towel that said COWBOY embroidered on it.  I got those for Bill. 

I have been looking for several years for a barometer and thermometer.  I found one at King's and had Cowboy pick out the picture on the top of them.  I was so excited.  We got the thing home and I got on line to find out the barometric pressure to set it...yes, you are right, it was broken and wouldn't work.  They should have received it in the mail by now.  Hopefully, the new one will work when it comes!  

Pretty, aren't they??

Western all the way...

When I got this towel home, it said COWGIRL!!  So the one that says COWBOY is coming with the new barometer!  That is what happens when I am in a hurry!!!

One look could have told us it wasn't working!

If you did not already know, Bill likes knives.  By that I mean, "good" knives, well-made and good steel.  This is a Tree Brand Classic and is made by Boker of Germany.  It could be a birthday present, but it probably won't get wrapped!  ha!  

I could do a blog on knives.  Don't let Cowboy see you cutting with one of our knives on a plate.  Use a cutting board and scrap off with the top side.  Our knives are kept SHARP, so be careful when you visit and are helping in the kitchen.  I don't slice veggies against my thumb if that tells you anything...

This is a humorous story to our trip.  When Bill checked in at the motel, they asked if he had any discounts he wanted to use.  He said no.  He asked what the discount would be.  The clerk told him the room price was $99.00 for us and $99.00 if we had a discount, BUT without any discounts we were given a $20.00 certificate to use for breakfast.  Those people with discounts were NOT given the breakfast!  Go figure...!

Alas!  Look what I found when I got back to Billings.  I won't have to guess how big or little to make those aprons for the girls!!  Remember a couple of them asked me on Cookie Day if I could make them aprons too.  They just pulled my old heart strings!

It was fun picking!

I am just hoping they don't all want the same one! 

Enough of the pictures!  We had a little time to spare, that is why I was able to go to the quilt store before my meeting!  Imagine that!

We met Cari and Joey and Bill got to see the condo and then we went to supper with them.  Much visiting and good eats!

Spring Break and Travels

Tristin came to spend her spring break from Bozeman with the grand folks and we were pleased!!  She had not been to the ranch since June of 2008, so she said she was ready to be "at the ranch."

Wasn't it only yesterday that I was at Bozeman?  You know the phrase 0-60?  That must mean age.  I did it!!!

Amy was as glad to have Tristin around as we were!  She (the dog) wants us to walk, but...you know, the mud!!!

We are off to town!!!  

Tristin got a welcoming to good ol' Montana mud!!  She got her car stuck when she got too far off of the gravel driveway.  And Cowboy pulled her out instead of saying, "Well, you could stay home."  Young girls want to go "hang out" with other young people, so off she went!

I wanted to take a picture in "mud" boots before she got on her way...

Tristin is frosting Vermont maple cookies while Angus is afraid to tear his eyes away!!  They had a good time together after Angus had his morning with Cowboy PopPop.  He came to us with his cowboy boots on and dressed in wranglers with his stetson on backward.  His Dad told us that is how he likes all of his hats!!  We loved having him and he wiped my kiss away when I kissed him on the top of his head!!  Ah, little boys!  Aren't they special?!

We didn't stay home too much.  On to Miles City to visit as much family as we could squeeze in.  Liv put on her dance costume for us, but was too shy to pirouette.  They are all growing, growing!!

Javon, busy, busy, busy...  Most of the pictures I took of her were blurry as there is no holding her back!

I am told that Liv LOVES to change her clothes!  Could it be?

What a fitting end of the pictures!  Tristin is taking a picture of PopPop with the "younger" girls!  Liv, PopPop, Javon (see what I mean about moving all the time?), Kamryn, and Jentry.  They were busy little girls dressing up and playing and enjoying one another!

We managed to get two batches of cookies baked, pants and tops mended and hemmed.  We were so busy doing that, I didn't have time to take pictures!!

Tristin left Saturday afternoon, so Saturday morning we were busy measuring and kneading flour for a double batch of cinnamon rolls.  Tristin got in on the whole process, especially kneading and rolling out and lathering the dough with goodies!  She learned how to make the "goo" that goes in the pan before the rolls.  I did have to have a sample and she did a good job!!  I forgot to mention that she brought LOTS of washing home to do here too.  Our time was crammed and we managed to get in some Rummy with Grandma Margaret and a couple of evenings with Scattagories.  We did some Skyping too!  I really like seeing the loved ones on the other end of that camera!!

Enough!  I will post about the pancake supper on another blog.  Tristin got in on that TOO!  Like I said, busy, busy!!

Sewing Projects And Then Some

I have been ready to post these pictures for some time, but I keep going back and working on some quilting projects that have been started since September, the 2009 Shop-Hop quilt for one.  I have been asked to show some of my "stuff" so for those that aren't interested in sewing, skip this blog!

 

This is called "Cheese and Crackers" and it is of 30's reproduction fabric.  I saw it and just loved the look of it.  It is more like a lap quilt.  No one in mind for this one.

 

This is "Cowpokes and Woolly Chaps" and the lady that quilted it for me, Laura, designed the quilting design for this quilt.  She put Cowboy's brand, S monogram S in it, but I had told her wrong and she wanted to fix it.  I said it was okay, as there were 16 brands to rip out and she was adamant...so it went back to her.  The results are following.

This is just a close up of the picture.  The next picture will have the brand.

Cowboy was pleased and they really turned out well.

This is a table runner I spotted in a quilt shop and picked up the kit.  I finally got it quilted and bound.

Striking comes to mind.

 

This was left over from the kit and of course, "waste not, want not."  Therefore I have a small table topper for a gift or one of the favorites...

 

My quilt group from Roundup, the Cross Country Piece Makers, is doing two different block-of-the-month blocks.  These are quite large and there will be one for every month to display.  You are looking at Jan. and Feb.  Many of us are using our scraps of material from other quilts.

This one is windy March.  Can't you see the kites flying with their tails swinging in the wind?  I can remember flying kites as a kid and I loved it.  We flew a few when the kids were little.  I wonder if they remember?...

I don't want to be left out, therefore, I signed up to do the "other" block-of-the-month club too!  I drew purple out of the "hat" so I was relieved as I have many purples.  These are the first two blocks.  

There are others too, that are doing both projects, and it will be fun to see the end results.  Our goal is the quilt show in 2011.  That gives us a little time to get it put together and quilted.

This is the third block done with two different colors.  I didn't think there was enough contrast in the left block, but with the picture it does.  Hummmm... I will have to decide which to use, so will keep them both for the time being.  I really like stars anyway, so am enjoying this.

Wayland wants a Mariner's Compass, that will be the challenge.  We need to find striking material!!  I told him it can't be a quilt just to throw around.  It will be one for the looking mostly...I think I need to teach him to quilt.  Ha!

Enough for now.