Meryl Streep as Julia Child

Meryl Streep as Julia Child, originally uploaded by eatwellguide.

Meryl Streep as Julia Child

The remarkable Meryl Streep plays the equally remarkable Julia Child in the film adaptation of the bestselling book Julie and Julia.

A prime example of new media bringing food culture to the spotlight, Julie and Julia is itself an adaptation of a popular food blog!

Savannah Rose and I went to see this movie tonight and loved it.

Meryl Streep is so amazing as well as Amy Adams in the characters they draw you into.

I loved the weaving of the two ladies lives together on finding their joy and their determination to see each of their projects through.

Visit with Nature

Yesterday, the boys and I had the privilege of going on a fishing outing to Lewis & Clark State Park and Fish Hatchery with a group from Eagle Mount.



Eagle Mount Great Falls provides new adventures for very special individuals. Infants, youth, adults and seniors with disabilities can explore recreation based on their abilities. Their smiles are priceless as they realize dreams do come true.






It was a pleasant day and there were many smiles to go around. My youngest, Avery, tried his hand at fishing for a while and then wanted to explore or just "hang out". I left Wynston (soon to be 12) with the Eagle Mount crew and he had fun learning about fishing and is now talking about going again and working with the staff person from Eagle Mount to learn more to help volunteer on fishing trips.




Avery was thrilled to feed the fish at the fish hatchery from a 5 cent feeding machine. He kept telling me that "you are the best mom ever" for bringing him to this place.

I kept wishing I had better photography equipment to capture the birds on the water, but I think I didn't do too bad with my digital camera as I am providing this picture of what I was enamoured with:

Quilting Humor

I have been holding onto this comic piece for a really long time and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

My husband is really sweet about my many hobbies and interests. I am blessed to have his support, but I can imagine him making this statement if I forced it on him!!

Top 5 Places to Retire

This is a scan of a recent article found in USA Weekend, July 24 - 26, 2009. Interesting choices for #1 and #5 -- Montana.

You can click on each photo to have a larger picture appear on your screen to read.

A Cheery Quilted Tote Bag

It all started with Savannah Rose (my daughter, age 15) wanting to embroider a flower. She picked out the pattern and the color of her threads. She tried to stitch one of the outer petals in the pink but this project did not last long for her and her attention span issues.

Her embroidery hoop lay on my sewing table for months and I asked her several times if she wanted to pick it up again. Her idea was to maybe choose another picture pattern. I let her do this and she came up with more involved pieces as far as stitching goes. I will eventually get her fabric ready and help with that down the road.




So, I could resist no long and completed her flower. When stitching I was thinking what should I use this in for her . . . a doll blanket, a pillow patch, an apron for her dolls . . . then it hit me!!! I could make a TOTE bag for her to carry all her goodies in when we go on outings. (This is always an event for her to get everything ready and loaded on outings.)

Last night was the grand finale on getting my vision completed. Even though I was up till 3 a.m. doing the free hand machine quilting, it turned out beautifully.




Savannah was so cute as she was up with one of her not sleeping nights. She said, "Mom, this is beautiful. I bet you could sell these at the Farmer's Market next year. Maybe for $5 or $10." A business woman is behind those young eyes, but I think I might have to raise her prices on items for sell.

I included something in my machine quilting for her to carry with her in this piece. I hope she knows it always . . .

First Grade Logic

A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1.
Don't change horses
until they stop running.

2.
Strike while the
bug is close.

3.
It's always darkest before
Daylight Saving Time.

4.
Never underestimate the power of
termites.

5.
You can lead a horse to water but
how?

6.
Don't bite the hand that
looks dirty.

7.
No news is
impossible

8.
A miss is as good as a
Mr.

9.
You can't teach an old dog new
math

10.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll
stink in the morning.

11.
Love all, trust
me.

12.
The pen is mightier than the
pigs.

13.
An idle mind is
the best way to relax.

14.
Where there's smoke there's
pollution.

15.
Happy the bride who
gets all the presents.

16.
A penny saved is
not much.

17.
Two's company, three's
the Musketeers.

18.
Don't put off till tomorrow what
you put on to go to bed.

19.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and
you have to blow your nose.

20.
There are none so blind as
Stevie Wonder.

21.
Children should be seen and not
spanked or grounded.

22.
If at first you don't succeed
get new batteries.

23.
You get out of something only what you
see in the picture on the box

24.
When the blind lead the blind
get out of the way.

25.
A bird in the hand
is going to poop on you.


And the WINNER and last one!

26.
Better late than
pregnant

Special Moments

special moments, originally uploaded by kellsterstamps.

Take Time To Cherish The Special Moments --- I love this card's message.

My special moments this Summer have been:


1. Going to the Happel Gathering on 7/5/09 in Bozeman, MT
2. Enjoying the small town of Great Falls, MT 4th of July Parade
3. The paint outing with the kids and the Great Falls Art Association at Gibson Park flower arch
4. Feeding the ducks, geese, & swans at the Gibson Park Duck Pond
5. Walks around the neighborhood (might seem boring to you, but a treat after being scared in Nashville for so long)
6. Playing bounce the ball/hit the ball with Wynston in the driveway most everyday
7. Watching the kids swim with the Eagle Mount crew on the last day of summer day camp
8. Seeing my husband come out of the Great Falls Airport with suitcase in hand after being gone on both trips for nearly 2 weeks each time
9. Hearing Grandma laugh at "The Golden Girls" t.v. show in the evenings
10. **Trip to Kalispell -- to see my Aunt Marie and old girlfriends

**To be happening this coming Labor Day weekend -- taking the kids along to explore Whitefish Beach, Whitefish Mountain with hopefully a gondola ride up the side of it, Glacier National Park, and hopefully visits to old favorite eating places if they are still around

I have also enjoyed talking with 2 very important special friends in my life from Tennessee this summer and hope to be able to continue to do so for years to come!!!!

WATERMELON AND EGGS Art

These are truly incredible. You'll love the cool watermelons,
but you'll be blown away by the eggs!





These egg shells were cut with a high intensity precision Laser Beam. This gives a very good idea of what can be achieved with a Laser Beam. This gives you an idea what laser surgery performed on one's eye is all about. Is it any wonder how one's vision can be improved in just a few moments? Science is sometimes wonderful, and it's still on the frontier of gaining new knowledge. Incredible what can be done with an eggshell and a laser beam.

There's A Bear Under My Cover!!!

I have been working on a new quilt top for my son, Wynston who is about to celebrate his 12th birthday.



He chose this bear under the covers with quilt blocks called "bear paws" included in the pattern. The bear face, arms, feet, and claws are all appliqued'.



I am almost finished, but need to put my hands on an additional piece of the fabric that goes around the border. Walmart has told me they will be getting more in. I will probably have to also check with JoAnn Fabrics here locally to see if they have some.

I found the face to be pretty easy to make, but the claws were literally a pain. I ended up zig zagging black thread through them individually to give it more of a rugged look and feel in them.

Wynston is thrilled to have this project almost completed and so am I!!!

Illusion Art

Do you see two pictures in one with this photograph?

Besides the flowers and butterfly, there is a woman's face. The two upper leaves make up her eye and eyebrow. The butterfly is her nose with the flower her lips. Quite clever this artist was in protraying beauty both ways.

As they say "Art is in the Eye of the Beholder". I hope you are having a wonderful day where you are at.

The wind is blowing fierce outside my picture window. The branches of the juge cottonwood tree in the middle of the front yard are flopping around as if in some intense dance. My two seater swing may be overturned for a second time within these past couple days. Our temperature has dropped quite a bit and is between 56 and 68 degrees -- feels like Fall is in the air around here. As I type this thunder is rumbling, so the computer will be shut off post haste. I love rain, it makes me want to crawl under covers and snuggle in.



Fred has been in Kansas City since this past Monday and will be returning home close to midnight this coming Friday, the 21st. Yesterday, he called after an adventure to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in a city about 50 miles away called Independence. Being the history buff, he said he really enjoyed some of the exhibits a lot. At least this training he is getting is totally new and exciting to him. He has also warned me that he is destined for more training as he received an email from his supervisor who has been in meetings in Dallas all this past week. He said the email was short and not specific, but read something like. . . "be prepared for lots more trainings to attend in the very near future. . . will explain more soon." I am glad he is in a job where he is learning and doing new things. He is happier and greatly enjoying himself.

Snail Kite Male with Snail

Snail Kite Male IF with Snail, originally uploaded by DMF Photography.

In Loxahatchee NWR, Boynton Beach, FL

What a bird! He looks like something to NOT mess with. I love looking at nature pictures and this one struck my eye. I would love to be able to see this one in the air.

It might be worth a trip to Florida to view.

Fabric - Housework Whenever

fabric - housework whenever, originally uploaded by bookwormbethie.

Housework Whenever! by Sharon Yenter for In the Beginning Fabrics 2009

This fabric is for the true sewing enthusiast. A recently new contact friend of mine on flickr.com found this in a fabric shop in a nearby town close to her.

I might just have to do some investigating online and see if I can find me a little bit of this.

Could be an apron or a sewing machine cover -- just a couple of thoughts that come to mind right at this moment.

The sun is out but it is COOL in temperature here for the moment. My husband has a beef brisket smoking on the grill outside. Music on my playlist.com is going (Bonnie Raitt -- Let's Give Them Something To Talk About) and yet I am not really doing anything creative or constructive.

But never fear -- Laundry is calling my name so I must head to the clothes dryer and get back to "work".

Enjoy your day!

Stitching Busy Fingers -- Embroidery

I purchased a big lot of cloth hand towels and have been busily stitching away. Here are some photos of the first few I have completed.

I am thinking about putting a few more patterns on a towel and then using a fabric backing and some quilt batting to make a table centerpiece/runner.

I find some of these comical. They are of a vintage flare and one of my favorite online sites is flickr.com where a ton of patterns can be found for your stitching fun!

Montana Shakespeare In the Parks & Renaissance Faire

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a wonderful theatrical company that performs all over Montana mainly and some surrounding states will be in Great Falls this coming week. Unfortunately, my husband, Fred, will be out of town (in Kansas City) for 11 days and we will miss the performances this year.

This got me to thinking about the Shakespeare time period, costumes, and activities. One thought of mine leads to another which transported me to ask whether or not there is a Renaissance Faire in Montana also.



Nashville always has a wonderful one each weekend during May. Our family enjoyed it several times over the years with all the costumes, knights jousting, camel rides, food of the time period and so much more.



I luckily did find that Missoula, MT has one in early November for a weekend. I hope the snow is not flying too much and I can make arrangements to attend with the kids this year.



While exploring on flickr.com, I did a search for "renaissance" and found many pictures from festivals across the USA. I fell in love with some of the pictures of the Twigs, Fairies, and Sprites. The costuming and make-up are wonderful. I have put one of the pictures on our computer as a background screen picture.



Wikipedia provides this bit of history and description of my topic for today: "A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, usually held in the United States, open to the public and generally commercial in nature, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, others are short-term events in fairgrounds or other large public or private spaces[1]. Renaissance fairs generally include an abundance of costumed entertainers, musical and theatrical acts, art and handicrafts for sale, and festival food. Some even offer camping, for those who wish to stay more than one day[2]. Most Renaissance fairs are set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Some are set earlier, during the reign of Henry VIII, or in other countries, such as France, and some include broader definitions of the Renaissance which include earlier periods, such as the Vikings, or later, such as 18th Century pirates, and some engage in deliberate "time travel" by encouraging participants to wear costumes representing several eras in a broad time period. Renaissance fairs encourage visitors to enter into the spirit of things with costumes and audience participation. Most tolerate, and many welcome, fantasy elements such as wizards and elves.[citation needed]

Chicago journalist Neil Steinberg said (of the Bristol Renaissance Faire), "If theme parks, with their pasteboard main streets, reek of a bland, safe, homogenized, whitebread America, the Renaissance Faire is at the other end of the social spectrum, a whiff of the occult, a flash of danger and a hint of the erotic. Here, they let you throw axes. Here are more beer and bosoms than you'll find in all of Disney World."[3]"

Hummingbirds -- Are you in Great Falls, MT?

Hummingbird On Penta_CUS04471, originally uploaded by DansPhotoArt.

I have been wondering if Great Falls has hummingbirds. I put out a feeder and the liquid has disappeared over a couple weeks.

I, myself, sit perched in front of the big picture window usually stitching away and looking outside regular, but have yet to see a hummingbird this year.

On a scary note, we have had two birds on different days crash into the picture window. They have not died as I have tried to check on them and they hop away and make it up a tree.

In finding this very strange and also telling my husband about it, he put clues together and has determined these birds have been eating some type of berries (they look like small apples) off a big tree in the back yard. Some of the berries must be fermenting and making the birds drunk. He says that he saw this many years ago in his folks yard with some birds "getting drunk".

That was a new one for me and I now know that the birds don't know when to "JUST SAY NO".

Well, in conclusion, I am going to fill the hummingbird feeder up again and patiently wait to see if the hummingbirds will come.

Have a wonderful day! Take time to sit -- listen -- and look at the birds.

Hearts Delight

Heart mobile up close, originally uploaded by Prints Charming Original Fabrics.

This arrangement of embroidered hearts is enchanting and delightful to me. I look at these and think -- I could make that!!!

I am including information for the person who came up with them in case you want to work from a kit. They have them designed for a mobile to hang in a child's room, but I still see "ornaments" on my Christmas tree or maybe even keep the tree up and make a Valentine's Day tree. Won't the neighbors look twice in my picture window with a tree still up in February! But, then again, I have to think of my husband. He loves to give me grief about my many decorating notions from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

Here is the information for the kit: Our latest Prints Charming kit for the kids bedroom (or elsewhere really!)

Make your own mobile with these hand printed motifs. Embellish to your hearts content.
blog: http://www.printscharming.typepad.com/