Wyoming Breezes

August 2021 All of these projects have been stuffed in my knitting bag for months, and the scarf on the left was started nearly two years ago. Two years! How does that happen?!  Complexity is not the reason for their abandonment because all are mindless knits. I’ve simply lost interest in knitting. Perhaps if the projects were more visible, I would pick one up and work on it. I’ll leave them out of the bag to see if that helps.  How have you dealt with stalled and abandoned projects? 

Karen’s Star 60 x 74 inches Quilt of Valor #207 In July, Karen M. from IL sent the pieced star along with some fabric with the intention it would be used to make Quilts of Valor.  I mulled over several ideas for using the star and decided on the Villa Rosa Designs pattern of Star N Stripes. Thank you, Karen for donating the pieced star for a Quilt of Valor.  Update : March 2022 Awarded in Idaho - March 2022

dead tree on Albany County 31 August 2021 Standing alone on the side of the dirt road, this tree has a commanding presence. Large rocks are placed around its base as if to protect this unique landmark.  I’ve always found dead trees beautiful pieces of art - each one tells a story of struggle and perseverance. 

Gemstone Stars 61 x 76 inches Quilt of Valor #206 I added a small white frame around the stars and then a black star-studded border to bring the quilt up to QOV size requirements. The black border fabric was donated by Karen M. In July. 

stopping at WYCOLO  August 2021 Sue and Bert (friends from Riverton) invited me to accompany them on a Poker Run (a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research) hosted by the Laramie Eagles Aerie. We followed the group in a vehicle and had a lot of time to visit.  Along the way, we stopped at the WYCOLO lodge, Riverside (for a picnic lunch), and Centennial before returning to Laramie. It was a full day, as we left Laramie at 10 AM and returned around 4PM.  The group raised $1,250 from the poker run and raffles, and the Laramie Aerie pitched in a $1,000 and the Auxiliary $300; thus making the total donation $1,550 for Alzheimer’s research.  Many good things happen in our communities every day, and we seldom hear about them. 

Remember the little Coppertone girl in the ads?  Maybe the company should try a new approach! 

Wildflowers  in the alley between Third and Fourth Streets Laramie, WY The newest mural in Laramie is definitely one of my favorites, and just seeing it as I drive down Third  Street makes me smile. It’s an explosion of wildflowers on the back of a medical clinic. note how the doors blend into the mural The side of the building portrays the Wyoming state flower - Indian Paintbrush, as well as the ever present sunflower.  It’s delightful to see such beautiful artwork in the community.

August 2021 For the last month, nearly every street corner in my neighborhood has a Detour sign pointing left or right and some streets are blocked off completely. It’s construction season in Laramie, and at times I feel like I need a map just to go to the grocery store or to fill the gas tank. Even my life has been filled with detours: a few weeks ago, the senior center started opening its doors for in-person activities for the first time since March 2020. The Mexican Train Dominoes group was anxious to start again, and permission was granted on July 19, 2021. The group met on the 20th and again on the 27th before the center was closed once more because several staff members tested positive for COVID. This week, the center is opening for a limited number of in-person activities - the domino group being one.  So . . . I’ve started wearing a mask in public again. University students are returning to town this week. The positive COVID cases in the neighboring county are increasing rapidl

Gemstone Stars August 2021 This set of stars has taken a long time to complete not because they are difficult but because I just haven’t felt like sewing. I’ve worked on them during sporadic FaceTime calls since June, but at least they are finished and sewn together.  The star points are made from Jenny Beyer scraps leftover from Kismet . The fabrics I used for the star points remind me of topaz, amethyst, sapphire, and emerald, so I named this quilt Gemstone Stars . I need to add a frame and border before it is officially finished. 

photo from County 10 website taken by Marty Brammer July 2021 Flame finds a way to beat the oppressive heat (temperatures over 100 degrees F) last week in Fremont County, Wyoming. 

orphan pinwheels July 2021 I spent Saturday adding labels and binding to two Quilts of Valor that arrived from Kathy B. in CO on Thursday. They are now washed and ready to send to Idaho for awarding.  As I tidied the sewing room, I decided to work with some orphans that have been hanging around in bins too long. I found a pile of pinwheels and hourglass blocks and made plans to sew them together into a more useful size. These larger blocks may eventually become pillows, table toppers, or doll quilts.  Before I start any new projects or cut into any new fabric, I need to use the bits and pieces remaining from previous projects. 

Mountain View Cemetery Riverton, WY July 2021 Last week, I took a long, delayed road trip to the area of Wyoming I will always call home because it is where I was born and raised. Other than visiting friends and familiar areas, I stopped at the local cemetery. Because of the pandemic, I haven't made my yearly Memorial Day visits to place flowers on my parents and my brothers' graves, so I felt compelled to stop and tidy the area around their gravestones.  The cemetery was peaceful and pleasantly cool on the 100+ degree day due to the towering pine trees. The pine trees have grown so much that they provide a thick canopy over the narrow road separating the grassy sections.