NWSS Photo Journal, and then some!

Our boots, standard foot attire for the National Western Stock Show in Denver CO

Thursday night we went to "An Evening of Dancing Horses".

There were many kinds of horses doing all types of movements in every discipline from reining and dressage to trick riding on a Clydesdale.

Mom, Grandpa, and I did an incredible amount of walking. Our hotel had a complimentary shuttle, thankfully, so parking wasnt an issue.

Grandpa really enjoyed looking at all the equipment and machinery. He's got the pamphlets to prove it!

This Rambouillet ram sure was a pretty guy. I've never seen horns this long on a sheep before. A little red headed boy came up and informed us this was HIS sheep. He seemed very proud!

The Highland bull show was great! Imagine seemingly gentle giants with wispy hair and lumbering gaits...This guy was the only black bull and took top of the class. His "mom" really loved him, she gave him a little kiss on the face when they won.  The WORLD Mini Hereford show was being held in the same arena at the same time. Interesting to see the difference between the two types of cows.

I think my most favorite part of the whole weekend was watching the 2 up draft pulled working wagons. There were over 20 entries! These wagons held a lot of history, I loved the way they rattled and clattered around the arena.

The NWSS is a massive event, held in three different buildings. The history of these massive old buildings is still shown in the stadium seats at the Events Center. Have to admit, they weren't even that uncomfortable!

Aunt Leelee's Loveys

Farmer Xander's lovey, "Mina", inspired these handmade creations.

Little boy lovey for Amanda's new baby boy. The back is lime green cow print Minky. How cute is that?

Little Girl lovey for Sister's coworkers baby girl...Sister asked for a super girly one so I made a yoyo for one corner and embroidered Cute E Pie on the other corner. LOVE the pink and brown paisly Minky!

Winter inspiration

Friday was a *bla* day for me...

...see I have the itch to take pictures but lack inspiration.

My coworkers and I decided I just need to get out there and see some of the beauty of the barren winter branches. We live in a very gorgeous area where the Palouse River runs all wiggly squiggly, hither and yon (it actually starts somewhere in the St Joe National Forest and runs to the Snake River below Hooper, WA **details, details**) Anyway!

Here's what my little river road trip found for me

I took this between Colfax and Glenwood.

The river was RUSHING about all whooshy and tinkly. I wish you could hear it.

 There was a fine mist in the evergreens on the opposite hillside. Reminded me of the way smoke from a camp fire drifts around in the trees. The leaves and grasses smelled like .... well ... wet leaves and grasses, but in a heavy good way. I wish we had smellavision!

You gotta do this blog hop!!!

Are you a scrapbooker or crafter? Do you sigh over paper and coordinating embellishments? Do you stop by Paper Pals on a regular basis? (Even if you don't) YOU HAVE GOT TO DO THIS BLOG HOP! Not only are these some talented ladies with amazing ideas, you can win FANTASTIC prizes!

Here are the links, my friends...

Paper Pals Design Team Blog Hop

Angela's "Mom-e-Memoirs"

Kristy's "Kaydub"

Anita's "The Cory Connection"

Judy's "A Little of This, A Little of That"

Leah's "Confessions of a Scraplifter"

Suzy's "Life at the Big Red Barn"

Each one has a little variation on how to enter so make sure you do your reading!  GOOD LUCK!

Thumbs up for you

I've had one of THOSE days. 

I desperately need someone to throw me a thumbs up-

 BUT not just any old thumbs up....FOUR thumbs up!

These are just too good to keep to my little ol' self...

4 THUMBS UP for you, Sister. You need it too.

Hey Mommacita, can't forget you! Here's 4 THUMBS UP for you too. Can't WAIT for Denver!

Angela, Mandy- you get 4 THUMBS UP to share with your Mom and Amy...no fighting!

Linda and Laurie ( I know you two are out there...) 4 THUMBS UP each! Awww, heck, double it!

Carol, Jacqueline, Leila, Aunt Sal, Suz, Janet, Stacy, Peggy, and Diana- You each get 4 THUMBS UP for following me publicly...OH and Kevin, who ever you are...thanks for following too! The ten of you also get one set each of 4 THUMBS UP to share with whomever you choose.

And just in case there are any anonymous followers... Here's a bunch of extra 4 THUMBS UP! Share the wealth!

Sastruga

A fine example of Sastruga from 2009's snow storms.

It's like a wave of snow in my very own front yard!

sastruga \SAS-truh-guh\ noun
: a wavelike ridge of hard snow formed by the wind -- usually used in plural

Example sentence:
"Over the sastrugi it is all up and down hill, and the covering of ice crystals prevents the sledge from gliding even on the down-grade." (Robert Falcon Scott, Journals: Captain Scott's Last Expedition)

Aspirations of 2010

As·pire
intr.v. as·pired, as·pir·ing, as·pires
1. To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly
2. To strive toward an end: aspiring to great knowledge.
3. To soar.


-I aspire to take two times the pictures I already take, use the techniques I'm starting to learn, and maybe someday make a few sheckles at it
-I aspire to remodel my upstairs and do some of the nifty projects I see on other blogs
-I aspire to ride my horses until my legs no longer ache and my 'seat' is fantastic, 'til my horses turn and run to me with excitement, 'til I have to feed Skipper grain because I'm riding all his weight off (trust me, that would be alot of working out for Skipper!!)
-I aspire to live in my house and treat it as my own personal retreat
-I aspire to plant purple potatoes, weird green broccollis that look like funky little trees, watermelon radishes, funny shaped carrots, and other interesting varieties of plants in my garden (suggestions are welcome!!) so that people, upon eating a meal at my home, would exclaim with delight at the funky fresh feast before them
...to be continued

Processing jeans for quilts- a photo journal