Wyoming Breezes

Christian and Stephanie M. dye eggs with their Aunt Brenda at G-ma's house 1992 I hope that all the eggs hidden in the yard or in the house were discovered and collected. After all, nothing is worse than finding a hard-boiled egg a week or more after Easter. Easter Blessings to you and your family

view from Glover House aka Madame Butterfly 's House Nagasaki, Japan April 1980

The Western Region Oddball Knitters have been busy. Below are the blankets that have been finished since January on which I had the honor to knit a section. Raindrop started October 2012 Peacock started October 2012 Northern Light s started November 2012 Fruit Smoothie started September 2012 Naptime started October 2013 Winter Storm started December 2012 Love You Baby started July 2012 Little Explorer started October 2012 The Sky's the Limit started September 2012 Sunsets started August 2012 Back to Nature started June 2012 Snow Cone started July 2012 Baby Oh Baby started September 2012

Sand Box Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started March 2013 Size 8 needles, using 126 stitches Caron Simply Soft (Bone) Box stitch Update : September 8, 2013 Update : January 5, 2014

Brenda and Marilyn M. (my niece and sister) standing in the Oregon Trail Ruts near Guernsey, WY circa mid-1970s In 2009, I wrote about the Oregon Trail winding through Wyoming. In my opinion, the most preserved section of the Oregon Trail is in Southeastern Wyoming near Guernsey. The ruts at that location are carved from solid rock as the wagon trains made their way over the hillside. Dwight, Marilyn, and Brenda M. (my nephew, sister, and niece) circa mid-1970s In the 1970s the ruts were accessible via a cement path straight up the hill. Today, the Oregon Trail ruts are easily accessible, even to the handicapped, via a meandering cement walkway wide enough for a wheelchair. Alongside the current pathway are benches so weary visitors can rest. It is still possible to stand in the ruts and to feel the rock that was steadily worn down by wagons and carts from 1836 - 1869. Oregon Trail ruts south of Guernsey, WY circa 1978 The photo above gives a clear view of the h

Deep Blue Sea Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started March 2013 Size 6 needle, using 118 stitches Caron Simply Soft (Oceana) Checks and Ridges stitch Update : July 14, 2013

Sign at Todaiji Temple Nara, Japan April 2012 Sheila's photo illustrates that the Japanese allow pets on the grounds of the Tadaiji Temple , but dogs must be carried and not on a leash. Sheila mentioned a wooden column with a hole through its base and that it is a popular belief that those who can squeeze through the hole will gain enlightenment. Sheila was adventurous and made it through the tunnel.  Sheila's other photos can be seen here .

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,  places to play in and pray in,  where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~ John Muir ~ Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful;  for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament.   Welcome it in every fair face,  in every fair sky,  in every fair flower,  and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ How do you define Beauty?

Apple of My Eye Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started December 2012 Originally, I planned to knit a red section on this blanket, but when the blanket arrived at my house, it didn't seem appropriate. Red would have been too much for this precious blanket, so I played it safe and added a stripe of light green. Size 8 needles - 121 stitches I used Caron Simply Soft (Pistachio) for my four-inch section Stitch pattern: Checks and Ridges Update : May 7, 2013

Fern Bond Sixth Grade Teacher Pavillion, WY circa 1962 or 1963 Mrs. Bond was my sixth grade teacher. Actually, I think she taught every one of my brothers and sisters. She appeared to be a gruff lady; however, she was a softy once you got to know her. No one messed around in Mrs. Bond's class: she was all business. One thing that she pounded into our heads was the difference between "picture" and "pitcher" and how enunciation was important for communication. The picture of George Washington hanging on the wall behind her desk was often used to illustrate her point. Whenever I see that picture today, I remember her insistence in enunciation. Mrs. Bond was special to me because she went out of her way to help me when I was in her class. I broke both bones in my leg the summer of 1962, and started school that fall with a heavy plaster cast from my toes to the middle of my thigh. Mrs. Bond's classroom was on the second story of the brick building. Every

Ribbon Candy Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started November 2012 I knit the last section on Ribbon Candy. I used some scrap balls of pink, red, lime green, and white for my garter stitch section. Knit on size 8 needles and 126 stitches. Now, it's off to get a border. Update : April 1, 2013

Along the Nakajima River Nagasaki, Japan April 1980 These homes are on the bank of the  Nakajima River  in Nagasaki, near Spectacle Bridge. A previous post of this area can be found here . The rock wall is typical of those that surround castles in this area.

Wee Willie Wonka Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started December 2012 This Oddball Baby Blanket will have "chocolate" in each four-inch section. I decided to add a chocolate mint section, using Caron Simply Soft (Chocolate and Soft Sage). Knit on size 6 needles and 110 stitches Update : May 7, 2013 Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Frequently, I find some gems in my inbox. Dorothy sent the following last week, and while it was new to me, no doubt, it has been circulating the internet for years. If you've seen it before, my apologies. The essay is not mine, but the photos of abandoned buildings in this post are some I took several years ago. Sadly, many all of these old buildings are no longer standing. Abandoned shed near Provo, SD June 2011 Every time I
 am asked to
 pray, I think of the old 
fellow who
 always prayed, 
'Lord, prop us 
up on our 
leanin' side.'
 

  After hearing
 him pray that 
prayer many
 times, someone 
asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.  Old barn and corrals north of Laramie, WY Spring 1976 He answered, 'Well, it's like this. I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone thru a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standin’.  Ol