Wyoming Breezes

Snow sculpture Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo, Japan February 1981

We were sitting on the cabin deck one evening, when I spotted this rather odd sculpture, and asked Maria what it was. She laughed and explained that's what happens when a can of foam insulation freezes. The can is visible on the right side of the photo. Note how the cap was broken from the impact of the foam escaping.  This "sculpture" was an oddity, but it resembles a piece of modern art.

Cabin Fever 67 x 83 Since the blocks for this quilt were made while staying in a cabin in the Big Horn Mountains, I decided to name it Cabin Fever . Previous posts about this quilt can be found here , here , and here . Cabin Fever was made from a kit I found in the Clearance Room at Sheep Camp Quilts at 50% off several years ago. I paid $33.50 for the complete kit (fabric for the top, the binding, AND the backing). The shop owner was practically giving the kit away at the clearance price: the backing fabric alone would cost over $50 if the yardage was $10 a yard, which many fabrics were at that time. My points are not perfect, and some pieces don't align perfectly; however, the quilt captures the memories of a Sisters' Sew-in perfectly. The quilt pattern is free online - Magic Pinwheels by Karen Snyder.

Hitchhiker scarf knit with Noro yarn July 2016 The Colorful Hitchhiker was finished at the mountain cabin a couple of weeks ago, and I'm thrilled with the result. The Noro yarn striped so beautifully. Colorful and lacy Noro Hitchhiker scarf July 2016 Knitting notes can be found here .

13 yards of patriotic fabric for QOV a gift from Mary H. Mary H. is one of my QOV elves , and she recently surprised me with 13 yards of patriotic fabric. The solid blue fabric is already being put to use, and the QOV will be featured here soon. Thank you, Mary for thinking of me and QOV. nearly 17 yards of backing fabric for QOV a gift from Marilyn Marilyn found some large pieces of yardage (for QOV backings) at a yard sale in Parker, CO, and purchased them for me. Aren't they beautiful? Thanks to Mary and Marilyn, my fabric stash has grown by nearly 20 yards.

snow sculpture Sapporo, Japan February 1981 Last week, I had several questions about the snow sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival. I thought a wooden frame was used for the foundation, but a Google search proved I was wrong. The sculptures are definitely solid snow - click the link for images of the construction process.

 twelve pinwheel blocks After the sixteen-patch blocks (see Tuesday's post) were finished, I worked on the individual blocks for the pinwheel quilt for the next two days. Once the small blocks were completed and squared, I sewed four of them together and created twelve larger units. I gave the large units a good press and packed them in the bin so I could work on the quilt top at home. Project number two was completed.

Marilyn and Dwight Dutch oven cooking Dwight planned all the meals for our week on the mountain and did most of the cooking and grilling. On our first morning at the cabin, he prepared a sausage, potato, egg and cheese dish in a Dutch oven. It was yummy. Other dishes included grilled pork chops, grilled chicken, pan-fried fish (caught by the guys), biscuits and gravy, grilled potatoes with ham, grilled brats, French dip sandwiches (prepared by Maria and Marilyn), teriyaki steak and rice (prepared by Maria), and of course, S'mores. Lunches consisted of sandwiches and leftovers from previous meals. The cabin had a unique appliance - a Sunbeam microwave, oven, broiler, and toaster combo that was the size of a regular small microwave. It worked perfectly and didn't take up much room in the kitchen. We ate well and plainly didn't want for tasty meals. Thanks for being our chef, Dwight

Sixteen-patch blocks The first two days at the mountain cabin, I worked on the sixteen-patch blocks. By the time I reached the bottom of the bin, I had completed 79 sixteen-patch blocks with only a lonely four-patch left for seed. Project number one was completed.

packed and ready to head to the mountains Last week, Marilyn and I had another Sisters' Sew-in, but this time it was at a cabin in the Big Horn Mountains, southeast of TenSleep, WY. I took three projects for the week - the four-patch squares , the pinwheel kit blocks , and the Noro hitchhiker scarf . Marilyn sewing in our Cabin Sweat Shop July 2016 near TenSleep, WY When we arrived at the cabin, Marilyn and I scoped out a place to sew. We moved the sofa and set up our sewing tables. my sewing station - complete with a homemade chocolate chip cookie. Marilyn made the chocolate chip cookies as well as a family favorite - raisin drop cookies that our Mom made all the time.  These photos were taken on a chilly mountain morning. Rather than use the fireplace, we wore jackets to sew. Marilyn working on her quilt blocks. The stack of blocks in the upper right are finished. Her project was more tedious than mine, but her finished blocks were beautiful...

Snow sculpture Sapporo, Japan 1981 The temperatures are heating up, and summer is here. It seems appropriate to share some photos the Sapporo Snow Festival. snow sculpture Sapporo, Japan 1981 Older posts can be seen here .

WRHS Faculty 1981 Front row: Ethel R., Sue O., Bev S., Margaret S ., Chuck G ., Bill H ., Sharon N.. Second Row: Alice N., Allen H., Jim N., Nancy J. Back row: Nancy S ., LeRoy S ., Jim N., Bert O., Kris N ., Louise O. After I returned from teaching in Japan, my next job was teaching Language Arts (English) and Journalism at Wind River High School. Even though I saw a LOT of principals come and go during that time period, the staff members were fairly consistent. In my opinion, it was the longevity and dedication of the staff that kept the school from imploding from the revolving door on the principal's office. For a period of time, we had a new principal every year or every other year and a somewhat militant school board as well. It was the staff that provided the stability the students needed during those years. This group of educators and support staff always put the students first, and I was proud to work with every one of them. Over the years, one by one, we retire...

Lacy Hitchhiker June 2016 For some reason my knitting progress has been minimal this summer, but a couple of weeks ago, I decided it was time to finish a couple of projects - Summer Socks (posted yesterday) and Lacy Hitchhiker. Both were finished on June 25, 2016. As I mentioned yesterday, Lander City Park was the site for my mini photo shoot. At the playground, I had fun draping the shawl around and on various play areas. The children there were curious and a bit amused. completed Lacy Hitchhiker Knitting notes can be found on the original post . The finished shawl/scarf used all but 5 grams of the 150 gram skein.

Summer Socks - completed June 2016 While in Lander last week for a meeting, I took a couple of finished projects to the city park for a mini photo shoot. The parking barrier rocks were perfect for snapping some photos. Summer Socks  are ready to wear and enjoy.

Old Glory Casper, WY May 2016 As you celebrate today, look around and find the Stars and Stripes proudly flying in your community. The flags may be large or even small, but I guarantee, they will be visible.  Heart Mountain - Japanese Internment Camp near Cody, WY Summer 2011 The American banner will be flying to celebrate freedom  and as a reminder that history should not be allowed to repeat itself. Misawa AFB Misawa, Japan Autumn 1980 It will be raised with great ceremony on military bases . . . Oscar and Jake Eberle (my uncles and WWII veterans) and Byron Eberle prepare to raise the colors at the farm near Pavillion, WY Summer 1988 and it will be raised with reverence at homes and on family farms.  Stars and Stripes held by members of the military at a Colorado Rockies game Denver, CO July 2010 It will be unfurled at sporting events throughout the nation. Today, the flag will be everywhere, so look up, stand proud,  and...

Five-tiered Red Pagoda Miyajima, Japan Spring 1980 Miyajima's Five-Storied Pagoda, or gojūnoto, is a vermillion-colored tower that stands 27 meters tall. It was first constructed in 1407 and rebuilt in 1533: the tower is dedicated to the Buddhist god of medicine.