TRIBUTE TO GENEVIEVE

She is old and tired. A bad heart, failing joints. She still loves her favorite couch, but we have to carry her up to it. She still fakes having to pee, so she can get biscuits as reward. Of course, we fall for it on purpose anymore, because she is old and tired, and does not have long to live. She is our Genevieve, Christina's dog, our stepchild. Our funny dog, who has made us laugh, and made us run after her many times when her acute sense of smell overpowered all of our commands. Her time left with with us is short, so we honor her for having been part of our family and our lives. JIR

BIRDS OF FALL...AND WINTER

Pine Siskin on the edge after drinking water

The fearless bandit, the Chickadee, constantly in motion,

but steady in his resolve to gather as many black

oil sunflower seeds as it can

The red-breasted nuthatch, and his cousin with

the white breast, chirp as they move about
the rough-surfaced trunks and branches as if these

were made of smooth plastic

We never cease to be amazed by our sturdy winged friends who manage to stay in this frigid winter country, rather than head south like many of their fellow birds. Maybe it's the long flight, or the risks along the way. I think it may be that they are comfortable and content in this pristine environment, that offers them all they need to make it through.

OCTOBER IN MONTANA

We arrived at our mountain hideaway as the stormy cold front greeted us with the chill that makes for frosty mornings and wilted plants. Canadian gueese flying south, a sure sign of natural transition.The rain turns to a blanket of snow above 4,000 feet. Jackets and sweaters come out of dark closets after their summer slumber.

Lively roses now adorn our kitchen, the plants being covered with insulating mulch, protecting them from those deadly frigid days and nights still to come.

The furnace churns as the arctic air penetrates every crack, and defeats the most eficient insulation. The hot tub is filled and conforting, the AC is off.

Fall in Montana, a short season to be enjoyed and appreciated. Winter will soon follow, amazing us with its own uniqueness and awe-inspiring moments.

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHT-SARA AND CHRIS WED IN HELENA, MT

We enjoyed the sharing of friendship and love of the gang that stayed
at our home in MT during the Labor Day weekend- Lindsay, Christina,
Nate, Don, Peter, George and Danny

Like father...like son

What's on your mind Linds...mischievous look

The cutest couple of the bunch

Beautiful girl

Danny reads the unforgetable poem he wrote to his best friends

Sara and Chris exchange vows

QOV

A Quilt of Valor.
This was a 'mystery' quilt, in other words, I didn't have a clue how it would look when it was finished. Although I am also doing a scrappy red/white/blue in this pattern, I wanted to make a second one, one that would be very up lifting. So I picked out colors that I thought would 'wow' me when I finished it. Again, remember I couldn't know how it would look, the directions come each week, so you can only pick the colors and hope. I picked the colors on their merit alone which made for an interesting but exciting way to choose fabric. These colors worked; the yellow jumps out, the blue and green scream at you, and the orange moves you all over the place! I'll post the red/white/blue when it is finished.
This QOV is going to a Captain, I hope he can find some comfort in it. It will be sent with wishes and prayers he recover quickly.