In Love with Lilacs

Montana has been flooding the past few weeks due to rain and more rain. Also, snow melting from the mountains and running into the rivers causing the banks to overflow and dams and reservoirs being at capacity are other causes of the flooding.

Spirits of the peoples and natives in this state have been down and staying home has become a regular time passing state due to the rain. The local news and newspaper are filled with more and more stories and pictures of areas of concern and devastation. One article in today's paper says the governor reports 8.6 million in damages so far. Then other radio stories say from his office for farmers and home owners not to expect help from the government.



One happy thought and visual I see around town here is all the purple on the bushes. The blooms on the lilacs are spectacular this year. Had to grab my camera and snap some photos of the bushes in my back yard. I love the combination of the colors of purple and green. When I was a little girl and people would ask what my favorite colors were my reply was always dark purple and dark green. That has never changed for me even to this day.



I also got to work with our youngest on learning how to use the lawn mower on the front yard and was pleased to see the enormous tree in the middle of the yard is sporting some green -- the leaves are returning. I love them now, but just wait till they start falling and swamping the front yard in the fall. That will be another article with a different tone in the writing!!!

Fall Colors Are Flying By

I started taking pictures of the gigantic tree in our front yard. It acts as an umbrella to us during the summer months keeping the hot sun off our house and picture window. The tree is also a haven for us to sit under in a two seater swing or at the picnic table (not once did I use our colorful umbrella this year).



I have fallen in love with the branches and how intricate and woven they appear to be. So standing underneath with my digital camera, I started snapping photos. My husband thought I was a little on the crazy side of life at the time, but let me have my whim.



Then I started taking photos when the leaves changed and also noticed that this year in Great Falls, Montana we seem to have been blessed with a real season of Fall. Last year, it just blew through the neighbor hood and weather beat upon the leaves making them crash to the ground and become a swamp we could not even wade through.



I felt I had an angel appear from out of no where with a contraption I had never seen before and he vacuumed my leaves and I helped him empty into big yard sacks -- only asking for a donation -- "Any small amount will do," he said.

This year, the leaves have fallen a few at a time and been more manageable in raking and removing. I look at the tree and see it bare but am not depressed for winter will come and hopefully go quick enough that I can begin to enjoy the green and shade once again. Don't get me wrong, I do love all the seasons but will admit to being more partial to some than others.



Hope you are enjoying your colors, cooler temperatures, and the changing of the seasons.

Except for the Mouse -- Christmas Creation

Here is the finished embroidery wallhanging I started a month ago. I just needed to get in front of the sewing machine and get the machine quilting and border completed.

I am getting more and more in the holiday spirit as the Halloween decorations are in full swing on the front picture window.



Also, I just spent 2 1/2 hours outside in the front yard working on the "swamp" of cottonwood tree leaves. A very nice elderly gentleman pulled up to work on a lawn across the street and came over and helped me. He has a wonderful machine called a Billy Goat that sucked up the leaves in a bag. He then dumped them onto my driveway for me to get into big heavy bags while he played with his machine on the lawn. It took 10 bags in all to complete the job.

This man was so sweet and would only take a cash donation from me. I hate that when people just say for a donation as I always want to give more. In the end I could only scrap up $8 in cash from around the house, but he was happy with that and worked very hard with me.

I think he was really "an angel" who came to help me with a very big task. Hope you have an angel to help you out today or when you need it most.

Oak Leaves Quilt Pattern Must Have

In browsing one of my favorite sites for inspiration and future projects. I came across this beautiful oak leaves quilt pattern photo and must make one.

Right now I am almost done with my Aunt Grace Log Cabin/Embroidery Borders quilt top. Just a few more borders to stitch!

Also, I purchased even more fabrics at JoAnn's yesterday as I need to create some tops for my two sons bedrooms -- still getting adjusted from our move cross country. Since we are in Big Sky Country (I call Wilderness Country), I am going for a grizzly bear outdoor theme for them. Wynston, my 11 year old, has approved the quilt choice and fabrics.