A Quick Jaunt to South Dakota

I've had a little road time this week for sure.  As you know, I shuffled off to Buffalo on Tuesday.  That was a mighty nice day.  Then late Wednesday, after our Lenten Service at our church, we drove up to my Mom's place just a few hours from here.  She had agreed to put us up for the night as the next day we made a quick trip to South Dakota.

We were going to Rapid City for a meeting Mike planned to attend.  I wasn't working so I went along for the conversation time with Mike.  It was such a beautiful drive!  The weather was unseasonably warm and it was absolutely pleasant.  I got to spend a few hours shopping for yarn, always a fun time for me.

Of course, I took some photos to share...

We were only there a few hours then back to take my Mom, sister and nephew out to dinner.  After that, we headed home again, enjoying this beautiful sunset on the way.

A Wyoming Woman's Thoughts: Families, Genetics, and Me

This is my Aunt Michelle's blog debut and you are invited...

A Wyoming Woman's Thoughts: Families, Genetics, and Me: I've been working on a Family History scrapbook/photo album and it has made me think about all the people that went into making me. That sou...

Be Still and know: mpola mpola

Be Still and know: mpola mpola  I love this blog and this post.  I think you will as well.

Comments About Commenting

I want to address a problem some people have been having with my blog.  For some reason, there are people who can't leave comments for us all to read.  A few have told me that was the case for them even before I changed formats.  I've double-checked and I have it set up for anyone to comment so I'm not sure where that glitch is occurring.  However, I do know that a few may be having trouble figuring out how to comment since I switched formats.  I know this because I had trouble figuring out how to comment back!

So, here's the deal...

Of course you first have to click on one of the little windows to read a post.  I've noticed that sometimes it takes a try or two to get it to open up.  I don't know why.

Once a post is opened, it looks like this...

Do you see the little slide bar on the right side?

Use that to go to the bottom of the post.  Now you can see where to click to view comments.

The trouble is, when you click that it seems that nothing happens.  I expected to see comments at that point. Finally, I noticed that when I clicked "view comments" that little skinny slide bar moved upward.

I then had an ah-ha moment.  If you just slide that little bar down again, you can see the comments as well as add one of your own. 

Again, I am aware that it isn't working for everyone.  So, if that doesn't work, you may send a comment to my e-mail (onlythemanager@yahoo.com) and I will add it for you.  I know, that's a lot of trouble.  I will also keep trying to figure out the problem.  Until I do, though, I hate to miss the interaction!

Ok, that's all the comments I have about commenting.  

Any comments?

One last thing... if you are someone who has never blogged but would like to, check out this link.  It is easy to get started!  (This means YOU, Michelle!)

Wyoming Rose - Vintage Oval Earrings

Today I am featuring one of our vintage finds.  Maria and I are often out hunting for the quaint, the delightful, the beautiful or the fun.  Cordelia is our apprentice!

These Vintage Oval Earrings are really pretty.  Maria spotted them with her artistic eye.  She has good instincts, doesn't she?

Hugo and My Sewing Machine

I delayed posting this review but I didn't want to forgot to tell you, Mike and I went to see Hugo last week-end.  Have you seen it?  It is a Martin Scorsese film but absolutely family friendly.  I know! Who would've thought?  It is high tech and very cool.  It is touching and sweet.  It is exciting and action-packed.  Mike and I both really liked it.

The premise is a young boy becomes orphaned but manages to live in a Paris train station.  He takes over taking care of the giant clocks when his drunk uncle doesn't come back to work.  Hugo is very good at fixing broken mechanical things and gets satisfaction from having a purpose in life.  That lesson, a reminder that having a purpose brings joy, is worth the price of a movie ticket!

During the course of the film you will learn things about Paris, train stations, people, and early movies.  You may also become more fascinated with mechanics.  That sounds weird, I know, but this movie will make you really respect all that goes into the making of machines.

I happened to need to oil my sewing machine the day after I saw this movie.  I started really noticing all the parts and pieces that work together to help me sew a seam!

 This particular sewing machine was my Mom's before it became mine.  All those parts have been working together for about 40 years!

My Mom sewed professionally so many, many people wore clothes prepared on this machine.   I've often thought of my Mom's skills and creative talents that went into all those clothes, including men's tailored suits, lingerie, formals and even my own wedding dress.  I don't believe I've ever pondered all the parts of the sewing machine, though.

Of course the movie isn't really just about machines.  It is about our need for one another, the strength of the human spirit, the creative drive and so much more!  I hope you will get a chance to see it and if you do, let me know what you think.

An Afternoon in Buffalo

Yesterday was lovely.  The weather was beautiful, absolutely wonderful.  I drove to Buffalo, Wyoming to meet up with my Mom, an aunt and a cousin.   We met for lunch and then went to visit my great aunt.  It was an afternoon of hearing old, old family stories.  I loved hearing about my grandparents' romance, "Red was crazy about Rose from the first time he saw her."  Although they'd both been planning to marry others, they married just 2 months after they met.  

I heard about my great grandma's strength as a homesteader, "She was amazing".  She raised her children so far out in the country most of them did not see town until they were old enough to go in to board for their high school years.

I looked at old photos and could easily see my youngest son, Sam, in the young face of the man who became my Grandpa.  That made me happy.

My great aunt. Elsie is in her 90's but still living alone.  She looks a lot like my Grandma Rose... so much it made me a bit teary, missing my Grandma.  She had the same dimple I loved seeing when my Grandma smiled.  I always wished I'd inherited that dimple!

 I enjoyed the chance to get to spend an afternoon at her apartment.  I loved listening to the conversation and was so glad for that opportunity!  I did remember to pull out my camera for a photo of Elsie but she didn't feel she was looking her best so I promised I wouldn't put it on the internet.  I will tell you this, though, she looks much younger than her true age.

I have always loved Buffalo, Wyoming.  The drive there was windy but clear and bright.  The scenery was fit for calendars and the town is charming.  I took some photos so my readers could enjoy a bit of the beauty of this lonesome state.  Enjoy!

On the ride to Buffalo I was thinking about all the places in the world that I'd like to visit.  I LOVE the ocean, I enjoy tropical places, I want to see Alaska and I'd love to explore more cities.  As far as where I live, though, I love the West.  I love the open spaces and I love the casual lifestyle. I'm pretty adaptable and could live most anywhere, really, but I'm grateful that I do life in the West.

Mall Lunch

Recently our son, Ben, called to chat.  I love it when he calls as he lives far away and I get lonely for him.  When he asked what I'd been up to I told him I'd just returned from Mall Lunch.  He claims that I've always just returned from Mall Lunch.  That's not true but we do, as a family, attempt to meet at the mall for lunch about once a week.  Is that weird?

Wyoming has long winters.  This hasn't been a bad winter at all, but it just isn't good picnic weather.  In fact, even when it is warm here it is sometimes difficult to find a good picnic day because it is often windy.  Anyway, somewhere along the way we started going to the mall.  None of us are really big shopping kind of people.  It's funny, though, to take Cordelia somewhere makes everything more fun!

Usually Maria, Cordy and I are the first to arrive.  Sometimes we let Cordelia play at the indoor playground (AKA germ pit).  Sometimes we wander through Bath and Body Works to "smell stuff".  We also frequently find ourselves at Target looking at pretty little dresses for Cordelia.  She prefers the twirly kind.  If you are female, you know what I mean by that!

Eventually, we head toward the Food Court and watch for the arrival of Mike and Sam.  We all get our lunches from the fast food of choice and meet around a table for lively conversation as we fill our bellies.

We've also carried our people-watching skills to a new level.  Maria and I started noticing one lady who is almost ALWAYS there. She is always alone and very quiet.  Even when I attempt to say hello to her it seems to make her uncomfortable.  That's OK.  We still look for her each week.  We've even given her a name.  I suppose you think that is weird, too?

After lunch we wander around a bit and look for little adventures for Cordelia.  Grandpa often leads the parade for this part of the day.  Often they head toward the pet store.  I forbid myself from visiting the puppies with them.  I have a good reason for that but I covered that in another post.  Sometimes we wander through campers that are on display or visit the little arcade room.  Our mall is not too big but we always manage to have a good time.  Do you suppose it is just because we enjoy being together?

                     

I'm really grateful and pleased when someone wants to share my posts or photos. Please just remember to link them back to my blog. It's the right thing to do; you know it is.

A Sweet Sunday Stroll

Uu

Our weekly Bible verse for the ABC's of Bible Memorization begins with the letter "U".  Remember, anyone who lets me know they've memorized all of the verses will be offered a handmade prize!  Woo Hoo!

Psalm 119:116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope. 

Save Those Legs!

My Mom is a lovely person, a kind mother and my friend.  You know how there are "givers" and "takers" in this world?  Well, my Mom is most definitely a "giver".  In fact, she is among the most givingest givers ever!  That is a fact.  I wanted you to know that before I tell you about her dark side.

My Mom is famous for mailing packages late...sometimes very, very late.  The truth is, I think she really hates mailing packages.  Sometimes she just never mailed them at all.  One year, when we lived several states away from her, she gave us all our year's worth of birthday presents at once... in July!  The thing is, she would buy the gifts in a timely manner, it was just that post office bit that threw her for a loop.

Actually, it was quite entertaining to us.  Sometimes it was a lot of fun because packages would arrive when you least expected them, maybe on a day one of us really needed a lift or something.  We tease her but it is just one of her characteristics we find charming.  In fact, I apparently thought it was such an endearing trait that I've been working for years and feel I've done a pretty good job of perfecting it in myself.

Recently, I received an unexpected package from Mom.  It was addressed to me and I did have a birthday in February so I thought maybe it was a birthday present.  The odd thing was that Mom and I had traveled together to Minnesota in February and she had bought me some really cool presents already at that time.  Also, we've kind of phased out of that mode of buying gifts all the time because we all have so much already.  My concern with the package was that I thought maybe Mom had forgotten all that.  I was wrong.

When I opened the little package I laughed out loud.  This is what I saw...

You see, when Mom and I were on our trip she learned about how deeply cheap I am.  One day I came out of the hotel bathroom looking for a band-aid as I'd cut myself shaving.  She was rather appalled when I told her that usually happens when I start with a new razor.  I just buy whatever is on sale, pretty much always looking for the cheapest deal.  As it turns out, all razors are not created equal. Who knew?  Mom gave me a little lecture about buying better razors.  I believe I was planning to follow that advice, but not until I'd used up the whole bag of cheap razors, of course.  Well, Mom knows me pretty well so she just sent me the new, improved razors.

Isn't it pretty?  And can you believe it, there are 5 blades!  Best of all.... NO BLOOD!

Thanks, Mom!  I promise I will throw out the vampire razors!

Giraffe Teapot!

Recently my friend Nicole was in a thrift store.  She said she saw something that had my name on it so she had to get it for me.  Nicole and her daughter, Letty, brought this to me at church.  Thank you so much, guys!  I love him!  Not only does he look cool, but he sounds cool.  When the water is hot he doesn't whistle a high pitched whistle like most tea pots.  He has kind of a low, tenor kind of whistle.  That's how I knew he was a boy!  Thank-you!

Wyoming Rose - Perfectly Pretty Poncho

This sweet Perfectly Pretty Poncho is one of my favorites.  I really love how it turned out.  I found this yarn in Great Falls, MT last Summer and I knew I had to make something out of it.  The yarn itself has a gentle bulkiness but is so, so soft!  It has enough variety of color I can see it being worn with yellows, golds, mint, burgundy or others.  I think it would look especially great with jeans... but then I think everything looks great with jeans, don't you?

I used a double crochet for most of the poncho but I decided to switch it up for the bottom rows.  You can see that it gave it a bit of intrigue without making it too busy.  Because it is a poncho, it will fit most teenagers or adult women.  That is one of the nice things about ponchos, it is easy to choose a size!  It is also washable and machine dryable, although I'd recommend a gentle cycle to keep it beautiful.

I put many hours into  this poncho but it is available at Wyoming Rose Boutique for only $35.  It would make such a nice Spring gift but I think after you feel it you'd have a hard time giving it away!

Thank you for Inviting Me!

Earlier this week Maria invited me to join Cordelia and her at the local library for story time.  I've done this before but it has been awhile.

Story Time at our library is interactive.  There is jumping and dancing and clapping and lots of fun.  Previously, Cordelia just watched as all those other children participated.  Well, things have changed!

When I arrived, the girls were waiting for me just inside the door.  Cordelia hugged me and excitedly said, "Thank you for inviting me!"  She had that a bit backwards but I got the idea.  She then took my hand to lead me to the children's library section and said, "We will keep you safe!"  AAaaaaaahhh....

Here she is, watching with her Momma as the story lady gets things set up.

She really loved the dancing the best.

Her cute little boots were rarely still but I managed one shot between all the kicks and bounces.

 She really liked the hands on her hips movement that day.

Sometimes she just needed a moment with Momma.  She also had to keep checking on Momma's purse.  Apparently the little toddler next to them looked suspicious and Cordelia wasn't confident that Maria would guard her own purse.  Cordy finally had to pick it up and move it between me and Maria so she could relax.

 I think maybe her shy days are behind her!

I love that you stopped by to read my blog. I'm really grateful and pleased when someone wants to share my posts or photos. Please just remember to link them back to my blog just because it is the right thing to do.

Outsourcing Discipleship

This question is to my Christian readers... Do you think of yourself as more of a church member or as a disciple? 

The workshop that Mike and I attended in Phoenix focused on discipleship.  That is just not a word we use much anymore, is it?  I don't know any other word that adequately replaces it, though.  I went to Merriam-Webster and found this simple definition:   "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another".  That seems simple enough.   Read it again, though.  I think that a "member" of a church maybe aligns with the first part of the definition, but perhaps not the rest.  I myself have been guilty of making comments such as saying that I like a smaller church.  I feel comfortable in a smaller congregation.  But, it is not supposed to be about me, is it?  We aren't supposed to be working to get a congregation just how we like it.

The workshop's main presenter, Michael Foss is author of two books I like, Power Surge and The Disciples Joy.  I know he has written others as well.  He spoke of how our society views the word, membership.  He spoke of members of places like Sam's Club as having certain privileges but no particular responsibilities to the club.  In a similar way of thinking, some feel being a member of a congregation means you have a place for weddings, funerals, etc.  He hopes we can move beyond that way of thinking and start realizing what we are actually called to do, that is to be disciples.

Membership is not a bad thing, it just isn't ALL there is to this church deal.  Joining a congregation, or becoming a member, is important.  It is like a public commitment saying that you want to live together in faith as part of that Christian community.  But we aren't to just stop with that and settle in to enjoy ourselves.  Discipleship within a Christian context MUST contain the second half of the definition above.  That is to say, discipleship constitutes "spreading the doctrines."

One thing I heard at this workshop was that we had no right to keep this to ourselves.  If we are truly trying to follow in Christ's ways, we aren't just trying to get our own little lives set up all happy and forgiven, we are trying to help others attain that same joy.  We serve the God who calls us to CHANGE THE WORLD!

He talked a lot about how to build people up and allow them to do their ministry without always being tied down by committees and such.  He spoke of developing leadership skills and utilizing the talents of everyone, not just the same few.  He gave ideas of mentoring people as well.  One idea I got from that was perhaps I need to offer to mentor new Sunday School Teachers so that others may enjoy the fun of that as I have.  He spoke of committee leaders as well.  A good committee leader will look for other leaders, train them to take over, and then perhaps move on to lead in a new way.

Most of all, though, I think we were being encouraged to think outside the box, to find new and better ways of being a church.  This may mean we have to let go of some of the control we hold onto. It occurred to me that the "box" may be the church building.  We are called to think outside that box.  Rather than putting all our focus on our congregation or building, we are called to go out to the world and share the gift we've been given. 

When he spoke of inviting others, he said that may not be enough.  Think about it, church is unfamiliar to many.  It may seem downright scary!  Maybe we need to offer to pick people up, sit by them, whisper explanations in their ear during the service if necessary. 

Additionally, we MUST speak of our faith.  Seriously.  How are others to know if we are silent?  I know, it is hard!  I'm not talking about being weird or pushy.  I am just talking about making a little statement such as, "I prayed for you this morning."  That may be all it takes to open a door...just a few simple words.  

Another thing Michael Foss said was that pastors are overly burdened.  As a pastor's wife, I can tell you that is an absolute truth.  Few realize the burdens my husband carries alone.  Why is that?  Why aren't more of us sharing that burden?  A thought crossed my mind that when churches started hiring pastors, some took it as though they were outsourcing their own discipleship.  Think about that.  Do you think there is truth to that?  It is easy to get in the mode of thinking "leave it to the professional."  

I would just like to recommend that you purchase one of the books above (also available on Kindle).  We are each called to discipleship.  We maybe just need a little reminder now and then.

Grandpa is So Much Fun!

Grandpa, come over here.

 Sit right here by me, Grandpa.

 I'm waiting for Grandpa.  I just want Grandpa.

Whoa!  Grandpa got me, Momma!

 Grandpa is making me kick you, Momma!

 Grandpa is sooooo much fun!

I love that you stopped by to read my blog. I'm really grateful and pleased when someone wants to share my posts or photos. Please just remember to link them back to my blog. It's the right thing to do; you know it is.