I'm Not Going To Talk About It

I realize the weather is what people talk about when they don't know what else to say. But really, sometimes the weather is just down right interesting. OK, so I won't talk about it. I'm just going to point out that we aren't yet halfway through September...

Grandmother's Flower Garden

I have something to show you...

It is a quilt top made by my great grandma. That's what we called her, too, was just Great Grandma. 

My Grandma Rose (whom we called Big Grandma when we were little kids) gave this to me to finish.  She'd heard I was enjoying making quilts and she thought I'd enjoy finishing this one.

I was so excited when I received this gift! I'd never done real quilting, mostly just patchwork quilts. My experience did not extend to hand stitched quilts such as this one. This was going to be a big project for me but I really wanted to do it!

Well, my life got busy and years passed by. Every time I looked at that quilt top I'd think that soon I'd have the time to learn how to do it right. I kept putting it off, though. Then one day this summer I went to Facebook and I saw this posted by my cousin, Diahann.  

(Yes, I totally stole this photo from Facebook without permission.)

She'd just completed this quilt. Is it not beautiful?!  It must have taken a lot of talent and a lot of time and patience. I instantly knew who needed to have Great Grandma's quilt top! I wasn't as instant about actually sending it to her (it has taken 2 months for me to get around to it) but this week I finally shipped it off . Mike asked if I felt sad about it. I told him it was kind of like when you find a dog that you really liked and had for a bit but then its real owner was found.  Yes, I know I no longer have this precious piece of history at my house, but I am most certain that quilt top has found its way to the correct great-granddaughter. 

And, as long as I am stealing photos, this one came off my Aunt Michelle's blog, A Wyoming 

Woman's Thoughts.  It is my great grandma (the one who made the quilt top) in the teal dress, surrounded by her daughters. Grandma Rose is the one in red.

What kind of family treasures do you have tucked away in your homes?

Yep, More Wyoming Photos!

Mountain Photos

My photos seem inadequate for showing you how very beautiful the mountains were when we were there Saturday. We were with good friends, had great weather...couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

I wish I could share the smell of it as well!  Yes, there was a beautiful mountain smell but as we were hiking along a stream I kept smelling a new smell. It was very, very strong but it wasn't unpleasant. When I finally mentioned it, one of the men told me it was from the Elk. We'd seen a place where elk left their tracks and where they'd bedded down. I guess they were leaving their scent for us as well.

I'd never ridden in a vehicle like this.

Our friend, Mary

Our friend, Jim

I love watching hawks as they soar above.

Do you know what you are seeing here?

Now?

Mike by the shell of a burned out tree.

Do you suppose it was hit by lightening?

Aaaaah, I just wanted to soak in the day.

 Mike and our friends, Bob and Jim...

Men talking about manly stuff.

 Simple Beauty

There were a lot of ponderosa pine.

Even as they end their life cycle, there is beauty.

It was so peaceful.

This flower is definitely past its prime, but still caught my attention.

We did a lot of hiking.

We could have done a lot more hiking.

There was a spring that bubbled up and made a little stream.

I wasn't the only one taking photos.

Celia

I really, really like this photo of Mike.

 Ponderosa Pine

Jim and Mary followed in their own Razor.

Yep, about two more weeks and the aspen will be breathtaking.

We think that was a turkey vulture up there.

Sometimes we'd come out of the thick trees 

to see a beautiful expanse of prairie. 

Don't you wish you were there?

The trees were sooooooo thick!

 Can you see the sage hen there?

Or is it called a prairie chicken?

 There were so many different kinds of trees up there.

Our friend, Celia

You'll be surprised to know that I took an over abundance of photos.

More tomorrow!