Missed Birthday Celebration

We were up at the ranch this weekend, (surprised?) Curt thought that Kino and Bette and their families were coming so he ordered a pie from the Dude Ranch Cafe. Kino likes to take grandpa there and have the pie, so he thought that we could celebrate her birthday late! They weren't able to make it up, so we just couldn't let it waste... It wasn't the fave- gooseberry, but it was delicious strawberry rhubarb! So, Kino, happy birthday, your pie was wonderful! Maybe next time our timing will be right!

I also caught a few fall shots, it doesn't look like they will last long.
I'm glad I have a camera to record some of it.

Caught up

It's 11:26 pm on Saturday night. I got home around 7:00 from tending at Cresta's. I started cleaning and washing clothes to get caught up. I'm waiting for the last batch of laundry to get done so I can put it in the dryer and waiting for the floors to dry, so I thought I'd blog and post my two new paintings. I'm sure you are all probably tired of seeing what I'm doing, but it helps me to see them and helps me be more sure of myself when I put them here. I can't explain it, I just know that it is hard to let people see my work, and it's easier for me to put them on here and not hear the comments, than to do it face to face. I guess I'm a coward when it comes to rejection or something. It's also easier if someone likes what I've done, because I never know if someone is saying they like them just to be nice or if they really like them! This way I don't have to decide if they do or not. Cowardly again. Anyway, here they are. The bottle one is in oil, the cow, watercolor. In the bottle one, I was trying to depict candle light on the bottles. I did finish the cow while I was at Cresta's and I was watching Molly and her friend, Niki. They were having a sleep-over. Not much to tending two 11 year olds, so I painted between watching two teen movies and eating pizza and ice cream. (I gained back what little I had lost this week all for the love of my granddaughter and no will-power!) Anyway, the last batch of clothes are now in the dryer and my floors are dry. Sunday can come and the house will be semi-ready. I'm not all caught up, but at least I'm a little closer! I hope you all have a great week!

I changed the paintings... these are the new ones, I think they look a little better. Thought you might like to see the difference!

Treasure

Our treasure at the end of the rainbow!

We spent the holiday at the ranch. We had a lot of people come up and stay with us and it was wonderful!

Jeff and Lainey Gardner made us homemade ice cream two nights. They now have a following of ice cream groupies!

Alan and Jennys friends came up. The Witts are being adopted into the fam! They bring excellant food and good conversation and so much for the kids to do. They painted t-shirts this time. (It had to be between the rain storms, though!) Lou and Kathy Haslem from Ceder City came up and enjoyed the cold weather with us. We had been telling them all about the beautiful sky at night and how clear the stars were... they never got to see them because it was so cold and rainy. I guess that gives them all the more reason to come see us again. Lous brother Mark, his wife and three beautiful daughters came with them.

Later on, Kathys' brother and wife and daughter came too. They stayed in Malad at a hotel, but spent the day with us. Cresta, Chris and her kids came up and did some re-modeling on her trailer. Jim, Shauntae and Wyatt came up and helped alot! (Wyatt and Uncle Al drove the tractor!) Jenn, Alan and the kids worked the whole time there. Jenn helped with the great meals and we had a wonderful dutch oven dinner one night. I think Al and Lou are going to have to start a Dude ranch so we can have him come cook some more great dinners for us!

Kari had some of her friends spend the night on Friday. (Before the rain) You should have seen how dusty they got when they rode the wheelers! It was great to get to know them better.

We had a great long weekend. We got some more turf laid by the old house, some more shingles burned, fence posts put in, neighbors fences put up, four wheeling, hiking, eating, etc. etc. I won't be able to go for a few weeks because of other things going on. I'm glad I got an extra two days out of this weekend. I feel like I'm home there, and visiting here, which is strange. Maybe it is meant to be. It is so fun to have the family and friends share this with us... Even though we put them all to work!!!

When they talk about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they were describing this in our lives. It is truly a treasure that we are loving and having fun sharing!