Wyoming Breezes

ten Tavern Blues blocks January 2017 Once the fabric was cut, I selected pieces for each block (26 total) and began sewing. Lots of pieces for each block - 57 to be exact. Since the fabric has marinated for nearly five years, I'm not going to be in a rush to finish them. Ten completed, and all 12.5 inches square.

Sixteen inches of fluffy snow from two storms taken January 2, 2017 Winter has been busy in central Wyoming - three back to back storms have dumped large quantities of the white stuff: 29 inches since Christmas Day. The latest storm dropped 9 - 10 inches, a record amount of snow for January. Typically, the snowiest month is March, so there is more to come. taken January 23, 2017 Winter's work kept me busy - shoveling and shoveling. taken January 24, 2017 I hated to leave the piles in the street, but I needed to clear a path to get out of my driveway.  street looking toward my house taken January 24, 2017 Riverton is a small town (10,000 population) and has a small snow removal budget. The city plows the main streets in town, but leaves the neighborhoods to fend for themselves. Needless to say, I didn't venture out much a couple of days after the storms. A seventeen hour power outage (January 7, 2017 - January 8, 2017) in-between storms made life eve...

Both my maternal and paternal grandparents were immigrants. They became productive members of the American society, learned the language from their children who learned it at school, and became American citizens. They had strong work ethics which they passed on to their children. Their descendants served in the military and worked in white collar and blue collar jobs. They were proud to call America home. Today's immigrants are no different - they want a better life, and they want their children to have a better life. America should not discriminate on those who want to start a new life, attend school, or have their family here. Today's immigrants or their descendants may become inventors, doctors, nurses, teachers, professors, farmers, business owners, etc. By turning them away, America is denying their dreams and possibly America's own prosperity.  Update: This issue is not about illegal immigrants, it is about those who have already been vetted, issued gre...

Cemetery Misawa, Japan Autumn 1979

Hook Book by byScratch Saturday, Jeni ( byScratch - etsy link) brought two crochet hook books to the Fiber Guild meeting. She was working on a prototype several months ago, so I asked her to bring a one to a Guild meeting when she had some made. Jeni brought two, and I bought both - one for me, and one for Sue. inside the Hook Book slots for hooks, and a small flap for miscellaneous  and a bit of felt for a sewing needle As a knitter, I have a few hooks, and I wanted a place to store and organize them.

finished Hitchhiker Beyond January 2017 Last month, Julie gave Cheryl a gorgeous shawl/scarf - a Hitchhiker Beyond. Unlike the asymetrical  Hitchhiker, this pattern is triangular and the "teeth" are the straight, neck edge of the shawl. I was intrigued and purchased the pattern on Ravelry. Hitchhiker Beyond was an evening project, and I listened to audiobooks while knitting. After two weeks of knitting, it came off of the needles last week. I haven't blocked it yet, so I'll post another photo when that's done. Pattern: Hitchhiker Beyond (Ravelry link) by Martina Behm Needles: US size 6 Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select (African Grey) 4 oz/114 grams Notes: Trust the pattern: the designer knows what she is doing! The notes on the pattern advised weighing the yarn before beginning; when a 1/3 of the yarn has been used, the decreases begin. I weighed and calculated and began knitting. I had 2 grams remaining. Weighing the yarn is important - d...

box of scrap sock yarn from Kathy E January 2017 A couple of weeks ago, Kathy ( Kathy's Fancy Stitching ) sent an email. I hadn't heard from her in a long time, but we soon were chatting about the changes in our lives and crafts we have in common - knitting and quilting. Kathy hasn't posted on her blog for awhile since her life has taken a different path: she is now a minister and has little extra time to post. She asked if I would like another box of scrap yarn. I accepted her offer to make baby hats for Public Health. Several years ago, Kathy sent me a box of sock yarn scraps that I used to make short-cuffed socks and many baby hats, shown here , here , here . the box contained a bounty of sock yarn scraps After winding the loose yarn into balls, I couldn't resist casting on and knitting.  one of many baby hats from Kathy's scraps One hat is finished and another one started. I think there is enough yarn for about 18 or 19 baby hats. The nurses a...

Tavern Blues fabrics were cut for blocks January 2017 Last week, I decided it was time to begin the Tavern Blues quilt. You may remember an earlier post about the fabric I amassed for this project. I am happy to report that I didn't purchase an overabundance of dark colors since the pattern required 13 different dark colors. these fabrics didn't make the cut Most of the fabric that will not be in the quilt are mediums and lights. While they will not be in  Tavern Blues , they will be put to use in other projects. I don't know why I delayed so long in starting this quilt. Sewing has begun: photos will be posted later this week.

To some it may seem like a little thing - the coining of a phrase to describe falsehoods, but I draw the line when that phrase is being used to defend a person who is officially speaking for the American President. The position of White House Press Secretary or Presidential Spokesmen should not be taken lightly, and the words spoken at an official press conference at the White House should be the truth, not lies or falsehoods or "alternative" facts. The American people should demand the truth be spoken at that podium EVERY SINGLE TIME. The press corps' job is to ask tough questions, and it is the Press Secretary's role to answer them truthfully. Trust is built on credibility; credibility, on the truth. I admire Chuck Todd for holding Presidential Spokesman, Kellyanne Conway's feet to the fire on Meet the Press . Every American citizen whether they supported this president or not should be outraged when anything less than the truth is presented by President ...

monk school Bangkok, Thailand December 1979 Last week's photo prompted some questions about the young monks, so I checked my travel journal to see if I had written anything about them. According to our group's tour guide in 1979, every Thai male was required to become a monk for three months. They were also required to serve in the military for three years. I don't know if these are still requirements.

Road Less Travelled  Quilt of Valor 60 x 70 inches Scraps from earlier Quilts of Valor were used to make the blocks for Road Less Travelled . The block arrangement reminded me of Robert Frost's poem. The Road Less Travelled by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And ...

Worlds Without End by Greg Olsen When a flat package arrived in the mail, I was puzzled because I hadn't ordered anything. I'll admit that I had checked out the website a couple of weeks before that, but my finger didn't hit the "Order" button - not yet. I planned to order after Christmas. The gift package was a complete surprise, and I pondered who the mystery buyer could be. I saw a large print of the painting at the Nativity Walk that I attended with Sue in early December. I marveled at the image and sent a photo to Kristi ( Thankful Me ) when she commented that the Nativity Walk sounded a lot like the one her church hosts. Kristi told me the name of the painting and the artist, which is what directed me to the website  where my finger hovered over the "order" button. Pondering who sent the mystery gift, I came to the conclusion that it must be Kristi since she is the only one who knew specifics about the painting. After I thanked Kristi in a...

Zombie BBQ socks I keep a project in my Tuesday Night Knitting bag: an easy project that doesn't require a lot of attention, so I can chat. Currently, my project is using the Zombie BBQ yarn that Ellen gave me last March . Since I only work on the socks on Tuesday evenings, they aren't progressing very fast, but they are fun to knit. Thanks again for this fun yarn, Ellen!

two favorite quilt block patterns I don't like reinventing the wheel and wasting time trying to find block patterns on my laptop or iPad even though both have an extensive selection of patterns. If I like how a block looked on a quilt, I usually add it to my Quilting Sketchbook. quilt layout  I also sketch layouts that worked for feature blocks. block that works for a Quilt of Valor Last week, I cut several red, white, and blue scraps for this block to make another Quilt of Valor. Since this is a 10" block when finished, I made 21 with red and white scraps and 21 with blue and white scraps. a finished block Because the pattern worked great for scraps, I added it to my Quilting Sketchbook. I'll use the pattern again when the scraps get out of control. Do you keep a book of notes for the patterns you like and may use again?

young monks Bangkok, Thailand December 1979

Liberty 57 x 70 inches Quilt of Valor Liberty was made with the final patriotic panel in my stash and the end of the patriotic "cheater" fabric. Since I didn't have enough of the star border fabric, I added white blocks to the corners. This is QOV #109 Liberty was awarded to a Vietnam Veteran (Alex C.) from Montana on March 29, 2017. Sharon L. of the Lewis Clark QOV group said, "Alex was very moved and ask me to thank everyone associated with QOVF. He said we have made his day, week, month and year." Alex C. and his Quilt of Valor awarded March 29, 2017

Standing: Oscar Lund, Nils Gabrielsen, Barbara and Bob Rohn, my Mom, Harold and Alma Schmidt, Linda Keldsen, Art Rohn. Seated: Karen Gabrielsen, Naomi Lund, and Lydia Rohn December 1970 or 1971 Last week, I posted a photo and some memories of the Circle K Extension club . Today, I'm sharing a more recent photo (probably from the early 1970s) of a Christmas dinner the group held at a local restaurant. These couples were neighbors and friends for many years. Oscar and Naomi Lund owned the grocery store in Kinnear for many years. At the rear of the store was the local post office, and Oscar was the postmaster. Naomi worked at the store and also gave piano lessons. Oscar was quite a jokester and had a booming laugh. Nils and Karen Gabrielsen lived down the hill from my Mom and also had a dairy farm. Nils parents Gabe and Mary lived there before Nils and Karen took over the farm. Both Gabe and Mary were deaf, but Mary and my Mom visited often by "finger writing" on ...

Maple Leaf Peace Cowl January 2017 I'm gradually working to reduce my yarn stash. I enjoyed knitting the Project Peace Cowl so much that I made another one from some multi-colored sock yarn. Eight grams of yarn remain: I'll add it with the i-cord yarn to knit a baby hat one of these days. Pattern: Project Peace Cowl  (Ravelry link) by Christina Campbell Needles:  US 6 Yarn:        Pagewood Farm YUKON (Maple Leaf)        Cherry Tree Hill Sock (Teal)