Blue Angels Soar

I almost forgot to post about getting to see the Blue Angels perform an air show here in Great Falls, MT at the end of July. It was a great way to end our week long vacation. The only thing that could have made it more perfect for an outing was a slight drop in the high temperatures we have been experiencing. Many drinks of tea and pop were consumes while watching various aircraft perform before the main event occurred. We sat out in the sun from 11:30 till 4:00 that day. I don't think I did too bad in getting some pictures on my mini-digital camera. Couldn't really see at the time if I was capturing anything or not!!!

Covering Graffiti

The Great Falls Tribune wrote a piece recently on some very eye pleasing artwork now seen on Central Avenue.



I couldn't help but pull out my digital camera and take a walk with my youngest son to capture some of the colorful views. It was very interesting to get up close and see how pictures and poetry had been included in 10 different artists work.



Avery (11 years old) was a good sport and poised in a way to look like the fish was about to eat him. He is funny as he would do this for me very willingly, but when going to the local ball game, he will not stand by the mascot for a picture. I have even told him that I will stand on one side and he on the other, but no sale.



My favorite artwork was being worked on while we were snapping pictures. I love the swirly characters this lady has created.

One can only hope the artwork will not be tampered with by some unsightly graffiti that was on the temporary walls of this burned construction area.

A Bird's Home

At the local Farmer's Market there is a new vendor this year and I simply love her items. I have never seen any birdhouses shaped or painted like these before. They are too cute to put outside to weather and fade in my opinion. I haven't purchased one yet because I haven't decided which one is my favorite. My daughter has her favorite in mind and she also says there is one of the dogs that has "sad" eyes that she likes.



All I know is the person that creates the shape of these has a creative vision and the painting is one of the best -- a true artist.




The name of this booth -- Lakeside Decoys by Jim & Chris Linn-Hatcher, http:/www.lakesidedecoys.com out of Helena, MT

Presidential Flare

Recently I read a local newspaper article about some new statues here in Great Falls, MT. They have been placed in front of the local Scheel's store at the Holiday Village Mall. The mall is not usually a place I visit and have been maybe 3 times with my family and a little bit more with the girls from the group home I work for. It is a place I like to rush into and get out of as quickly as possible. To me shopping at a thrift store is not wasting money as much as walking the mall and making purchases on things I hadn't planned. With a thrift store, you can find "deals" and it is never the same each visit.



Still with hearing of new statues, I made a special trip with the family -- in the rain no less and snapped a few photos. My husband had to have his picture with them as well. I love all the detail included on these. Wonder if they will keep polished or if the weather will be the one to maintain them only.



Interesting history of the Scheel's Store is found below:

Three acres of potatoes were the seed for the first Scheels store in 1902. Frederick A. Scheel, a German immigrant, used the $300 he earned from that first harvest of potatoes as the down payment on the first Scheels, a small hardware and general merchandise store in Sabin, Minnesota.

Over the years, Scheels opened in surrounding communities, including Fargo, North Dakota, where the Corporate Office and the second Largest All Sport Store in the World are now located. Reno-Sparks Scheels became the World's Largest All Sports Store in September 2008.

Firmly planted in the hardware business, Scheels started adding a small selection of sporting goods to their stores in 1954. Customer interest grew, and more and more sports lines were added with athletic shoes and clothing being introduced in the Scheels' product mix in 1972.



Scheels' first All Sports Superstore opened in Grand Forks, ND in 1989. Today, Scheels is a 23-store operation with stores in 8 states including North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Nevada. Providing Scheels' customers with first-class customer service and the world's largest selection of sports, sportswear and footwear are the priorities throughout the organization

Explorers at the Portage

Last Sunday in the midst of snow/sleet/rain the family went out for a drive with me behind the wheel. After running a few errands, I didn't let anyone know of my plans to stop by Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat for my birthday. From there we headed to a statue that I had not photographed here in Great Falls, MT. This is located at the Welcome Center off 10th Avenue South. Also, found there is the large flag that can be seen from the interstate. A local radio ad says it costs over $10k yearly to maintain the flag and donations are being asked for currently.






I will have to make another trip to the Welcome Center when there is more time and better weather so I can walk a steep paved trail up to a gazebo that is part of the scenery. There is also an indian statue to photograph that I missed.




Another statue has been spotted at the new Federal Court House by the Missouri River here in Great Falls and I will have to pick a Saturday and explore it more.

On of my favorite photos was taken at Giant Springs with my 11 year old walking across the bridge with his father. He is now over a head taller than anyone in the house!!

Happy May Day

Happy May Day - maypole
Big Big Paint Book
Whitman Publishing, 1936

Isn't this a cute coloring picture! Had to send it out to celebrate today.

It is my birthday and the family and I have been outside between rain/snow/slush showers visiting parks and statues snapping pictures.

We went to Giant Springs Park to look for the owls and owlets that have been reported there, but couldn't find them again this year. They may have already flown the coop headed onward as they don't stay around long. It was fun to walk around all except for tons of gnats (bugs) that swarmed around us at one point. I think I may have swallowed one because I had a coughing fit right after we fast pace left the area. I have even had a problem finding a great horned owl to picture here in this blog. Lord willing there will be next year to fulfill the quest of sighting and photographing one from me.




I ended my day by going out to eat at Chili's in Great Falls, Montana with my husband. One other experience with Chili's in Chattanooga, Tennessee a few years back found both of us talking all this time about going to the restaurant chain again. Wish I could say our memories were held to the test again this evening, but not the case. As a matter of fact, upon departure my words were that it has been taken off my list to do again. Tasteless is a word that comes to mind in my review of the experience of the food tonight.

On a good ending note of my day -- I won at Rummy against my son and husband.

The Ozark Club History

On a recent trip to The History Museum in Great Falls, MT, I marvelled at the information that was displayed over a jazz club/strip club that was a part of this towns history. All of the information was from old newspaper articles and advertisements. I like how they showed an illustrated sense of fun and happiness in those that entertained years ago.

One might remember the man pictured in this first advertisement here. That is Redd Foxx from Sanford & Son t.v. comedy in the 1970's.










Unfortunately, disaster happened to the business and also to the family that owned and operated it for quite a few years. Fire took the building. Sudden heart attacks, automobile accidents and even a questionable death are chronicled in print of the Lamar family that had the establishment. Then there is also the printed statement displayed about prostitution and gambling being run as side businesses. I guess every town has to have its scandal with a bit of flare to add to the excitement of the whole story.



One thing that is a tribute to them and also offers a fund raiser for The History Museum itself is a Jazz Night held at the facility each year. My husband is not into that style of music much, but we just might have to venture there one occasion and check out how Great Falls, Montana is for jazz.

Local Museum Free Admission Day

The entire family got out this past weekend and visited three of 8 locations that were open for free admission day. This I found out is a local promotion to residents of Great Falls, Montana to help promote our sights and attractions. When we have friends and families from out of town come, then being more aware of what our town has to offer is helpful.

One of the places my husband and I had wanted to visit was the Charlie Russell Museum. He is one of the claim to fame people of our town. The inside of the museum is beautiful and filled with his western and indian art. There are wonderful artifacts from his life in a glass case to view and read about. My husband and oldest son love the gun and rifle display room. The statutes pictured are on the outside of the museum.

We also went to the Paris Gibson Museum of Modern Art. I think my daughter and I will be visiting more this year to see some upcoming exhibits. We are fortunate also in that this museum has a sponsor this year and all admissions are free. Savannah Rose (my daughter) fell in love with a featured artist and I have included some of her artwork and information here.


Rachel Kaiser: Giving Way
Dufresne & Cobb Foundations Gallery
March 3-April 16, 2011

Giving Way will include new work created by Rachel Kaiser during her tenure as the Great Falls Public Schools Artist-in Residence, a joint program between the schools and The Square. The exhibition title is taken from the artist’s work that conveys a positive message about the value of generosity and it’s literal, emotional and spiritual impact.

Rachel’s diverse background and interest in the spiritual nature of art is evident in her work, which includes paintings, woodcarvings, drawings and shrines as well as murals and custom-made ceramic tile. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art at Viterbo University in LaCross, Wisconsin, and studied at the Vermont Studio Center. She is a co-founder of On The River, a multi-media art gallery and Juxtapoz magazine credits her and her partner, Jonathan Heraux, for initiating the underground art movement in downtown Honolulu. She has received several national and local commissions including a 4-foot tall hand carved wood relief, The Spirit of Healing, in the surgery wing of St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu and a 17-foot-tall mural spanning seven walls and totaling 1800 square feet at The Peak Health and Wellness Center in Great Falls, which depicts children playing in a natural mountain landscape.


Our final destination was The History Museum. Two our of kids were tired and stayed in the van, but my husband, oldest son, and I had fun exploring/talking about different items displayed there. My husband said this was the highlight of the day for him and he thoroughly enjoy everything about the place. One item of interest was a podium that was made for sole purpose of John F Kennedy to use on a trip he made to Great Falls, Montana back in the 1960's. I fell in love with all the information displayed about a jazz club that was big in the town in the 1950's. It is going to be another blog here real soon.




I posted an update on Facebook about our trip and a cousin in the Kalispell area said she wished she had known about the free admission day and her family would have probably come to visit for the day. Now that I know this is an annual event in early April, I will have to listen for the next one in 2012 and let her know so she can make plans to come.

We still have a few places we have not explored here in town, but I know we will get around to it hopefully some time soon!