A Different Kind of Project

The fellows here have been working to get the snowblade hooked up and able to maneuver not just up and down but angled left and right.  It's been quite a project, and there are still a few bugs to figure out ... before the snow flies.  In the meantime, I have been working on enclosing the front of the machine for them to try to keep the snow and cold out as much as possible while they are out clearing the roads.  I designed a vinyl window/door that is attached with industrial strength velcro.  Sewing vinyl is always a bit of a challenge, but I found that the little Wonder Clips you can get for holding your binding on a quilt while you sew it down worked great!

http://www.connectingthreads.com/tools/Wonder_Clips__DWonderClips.html

This is my Father's World

It is so awesome to take in the beauty, the diversity, the ever changing world that God created and blessed us with.  Each place, each season has its own beauty.  Living here at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains we get to enjoy nature up close and personal each day.

The rest of the Cinderella package for Bailey

Today I made the nightgown that will be going to Bailey, along with her Cinderella dress, AND, a letter from none other than Cinderella!

My Clever DH

Saturday Scenery

As I was prepping one of the lodges for guests today and doing my daily hot tub check I looked out over the valley, below the lodges.  Today was the prettiest day so far as the leaves turn their glorious autumn hues.  

It's definitely that time of year to keep the camera handy and the memory chip NOT full. How do I know this?  I was out in our yard this afternoon taking some shots and got the message it was full.  Mind you, it is a big chip - lots of pictures can go on it.  Guess I haven't emptied it in a long while. That will soon be remedied!

Okay, break time is over.  Time to get back to the sewing machine. I'm making a Cinderella dress for my granddaughter and I need to get it done and in the mail to her soon. October is almost half over already. Where does the time go?

OCTOBER ... that means ...

We got a good start on stacking the wood. Now to split the other 2-3 cords that are waiting. We are enjoying our wood stove, which once we figured out the various ways to control it, it is very efficient and can warm up our house nicely.

The leaves are starting to turn to their autumn hues -- such a lovely time of year with such rich, varied, and vibrant colors!

The deer are looking around this morning for where the party is. They heard it is someone's birthday....

... it's ME!  WooHoo! Today is my birthday and I'm excited.  I LOVE birthdays, mine and everyone else's. It doesn't matter that I am now 59, that's just a number.  Inside I'm as excited about birthdays as when I was a child. I think there are some things that it is good not to grow up from.  DH made me delicious Apricot Sour Cream Scones for breakfast, along with a hot cup of Chai Latte Tea.  Yum yum. What a great way to start the day.  He's working on one of my favorite desserts for tonight. It's his first time doing this one, and (with just a little bit of help) it is turning out fabulously.

If you want to celebrate with me today, have some of your very favorite type of chocolate.  I certainly plan to!

First sales?

This weekend my friend Stephanie is participating in a Craft Bazaar and was kind enough to allow me to put some of my Thread Painted pictures in her booth.  I don't know if I will sell any (of course I hope I do).  It will be good to hear the feedback she gets on them. This is my first baby steps into seeing if my art will sell.

DH and I have been busy with projects here at the house, in our yard, and with the Retreat.  This week Shane and his family moved into the other staff house. He and DH will work together on the projects around the Retreat. I'm learning the ins and outs of the guest relations and office here as that is becoming my main job. I got my first "smart" type phone. I need it for the job.  LOL - talk about a learning curve.  Actually I'm catching on to some of it fairly fast, but there is much to learn.  Saturday will be a major training day for me -- hope my brain can absorb it all. 

The big pile of wood is to be split and stacked this weekend (hopefully).  We borrowed a splitter, which will make the job so much easier.  We should have about enough wood for winter now ... I hope. I'm loving the warmth of the wood stove -- it's been a lot of years since we've used one for our main heat source.