Tourist Traps I Say NOT

On a recent visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield, we concluded our visit to the park by stopping at a "Trading Post" just outside the exit. I can remember when moving to Montana years ago it was always fun to stop by St. Ignatius, MT Trading Post when I happened to be headed to Missoula, MT for more adventures. These memories caused me to say to the kids, "let's stop here" for you to have a look see at what treasures might be inside.

My husband immediately piped in "tourist trap". I did somewhat agree with him as I remember family trips to the Smokey Mountains as a kid and my parents saying the same thing.

I found the scenery inside and out inviting at this "tourist trap" and my daughter did get to purchase a little tote bag with a zipper on it that she is using on a daily basis to hold her hand held game system. So my camera came out and I played tourist at this stop. Hope you like the views we saw that day. And me personally, I would recommend everyone stop in and take a look see if you are ever in the area.

Trying Something Crafty New

I am always trying to make a stop at Goodwill in Great Falls, MT when I go "to the big city" for errands, shopping, and supplies. I joke and tell my husband that I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder (or at least what I think she would have felt like) when making these trips almost once a week. While at the thrift store, I usually get lost in the used book section and if you visited our home you would see the fruits of my many visits. I love the quilting, crafting, and embroidery books I find there. One recently combine applique quilting and embroidery. So I have been trying it out and also using fusible paper backed web for the first time. I think I may be hooked on this technique. Here are some photos of my first project from the book.

Here are some photos of the second wall hanging I just finished that needs to be quilted. I have three more projects in the works from this book and am somewhat surprised that I have actually used patterns and projects from the book as usually I just get ideas and then throw in my own variation - now writing that, come to think of it, the border on these are my own creation!

Chocolate Chips

Ever want to spice up some pancakes. My kids are now loving the surprise I did here recently in mine. So instead of plain or blueberry, they now ask for chocolate chip pancakes. I just use regular batter and then place the chips where I want them while cooking in the pan.

And always remember:

Feels Like a Snow Day

Yes, it is May 27, 2012 and after almost no winter, Spring sprung and here we are in Fort Benton, Montana having a snow day. Hopefully this will set those wonderful critters called mosquitoes back a bit. They have been eating on my family for a few weeks now.

Forgot how bright the snow can be. I am not fussing as I know this is short lived and there is green under it. I know locals flower gardens and vegetable gardens can't be thriving with this freezing temperature for the past couple of days.

So glad I have been slow in getting some flowers put in around a planter in the back yard. We got our commercial size flag pole set in concrete and some dirt spread around the planter circle, but only purchased the flowers yesterday. Now they are sitting in the house keeping warm with the family. Guess we will stay inside and enjoy the scenery inside and out.

From Here to the Moon

Okay call me obsessive about a few things. I simply love this song by Dolly Parton after renting and watching her in the movie "Joyful Noise". My family has been hearing me playing this link from Youtube at least 5 times today. Hope you enjoy the song. Simply click on these words: From Here to the Moon and Back.