Early Morning at the Ranch

We were shipping on this morning. It was before the cold weather and the changing of the leaves. I think it is a great picture of the lane. I just love the rose hips when they are changing colors. Did you know you can make tea out of rose hips. My Uncle Jerry could.

Waiting for a new baby!

Here we sit waiting patiently for a new grandbaby to arrive. I could be any day now.... Lots in the family know what kind of baby it is going to be. Steve and I don't so it will be really fun to find out girl or boy and the rest of the details.
I haven't blogged for such a long time. I have finished a few quilts, just small size. One is for the bingo night for the Ladies Club. The next, the one I worked on at the Ruby Valley retreat, and the third a cute watermelon quilt. Can't wait to get them back from the quilter, and get the binding on them. I have also just about got a fall pillowcase for a body pillow completed. I need to sew on 54 small red berries on it and get it sewn up and insert pillow. Hopefully this afternoon and evening.
Baby shower planning is going great, we have a day and time finally set so it's a go. Sara W. from the refuge has agreed to let us give her a shower. There are so many babies being born now. Sara, Meghan, Nancy, Erika in December and probaby more, but not here in the valley.
Just gave Tyrel a haircut, and now I'm all prickley. I don't know why 37 years ago I thought it would be a good idea to give the men in my familly haircuts. I really don't want to, don't do a very good job, always at a strange time for me. What was I thinking. Today's wasn't that great. for some reason I left a little Mohawk place on the top of Tyrel's head. He gave me the what for and went and fixed it himself. Maybe he will do his own cuts from now on. He is headed to Winnemucca tomorrow for a rodeo.
I finally won. My name was drawn yesterday at the moving group. I didn't have many tickets in there, but after many months of nothing, my name was finally drawn. I picked a gift card from Cucina Fresca out of a bag for my prize. I'm so excited to go peruse the store for something I need. Maybe chocolate??
I've been checking prices for fake christmas trees on the internet. I don't think I want to put a real one on my new carpeting. Steve is not quite sure about the idea. What will he have to complain about. I will have to get some good smelling pine scent for the house though. We'll see what happens.
It was good to see Dennis and Pam in Elko. They were out for Dad's 78th birthday. They are looking good. Just got back from Lousianna visiting Lacey and family. We did get to see some videos of Lacey's and Gina's kids. They are sure cute and growing . I don't know why kids have to grow up so fast. '
We voted, by mail, not the same as going to the community hall and visiting with the election workers and casting my vote. Was sorry to see that Harry Reid pulled it out again. I thought sure he would be defeated this year. Steve wrote a wonderful letter to the editor. He didn't type it though, so didn't get it published. I think that's the reason. I''m surprised at the number of republicans that endorsed Harry Reid.
We started sewing and project day at the church again a few weeks ago. I have been getting some project a little farther along with an uninterupted day at the church. There has been lots of visiting going on too.
The weather has been lovely. The rain was great. The sunshine a warmth the last little while delightful. Maybe some nice calm snowstorms in a little while will be the frosting on a great fall, and start to the winter.
This has gone on and on now, so I think I will stop. Maybe some pictures next time.

Quilting Retreats

I can't believe it has been over a month since the last blog. I have been busy, but don't know what doing. For the last two weekends I have had the opportunity to go to some quilting retreats. They are so much fun. Lots of good company and lots of sewing on quilts or handwork, and yes, some shopping when in the city. The first weekend was the Wells guild retreat in Twin Falls. This last weekend was at the Ruby Lake Refuge with people from Fallon, Battle Mountain, Elko and Ruby Valley. Terry has been the organizer with sister Lisa's help. We all made quilt blocks to trade with each other and also a surprise block or two for Terry to make her a housewarming quilt from us.

Grandkids Visit

We have had a fun couple of days. Saturday we all loaded in Tyrel's truck and headed the back way to Eureka to a team branding. It was a lovely day. The branding team did really well, and we got to see lots of folks we haven't seen in a while. We did get back late Saturday night early Sunday morning. Steve and I are getting too old to keep late hours. Sunday Evening Cassidy, Meghan and the kids made it to our house to spend the night. Monday, Cassidy and Meghan took off early in the morning to go and look to buy a new truck. The kids spent the day with us. They went haying in the morning, Morgan lasted longer than Dana and Casey, but she got to drive the rake tractor with Uncle Lance. In the afternoon we all went swimming. Everyone practiced their swimming skills and got really really cold and pruney. A snack and a nap and everyone was ready to go again. Cassidy and Meghan got in late monday night, but with a new truck, so the trip was good. Hopefully no more breakdowns on the way to someplace. We sure were glad to have them stay with us for a couple nights.

A quiet sunday

This has been such a peaceful day. Not for Tyrel and Steve though. Tyrel went to pump water for the cows this morning that are out on the flat, and the pump wouldn't work. He came back to the house for a few minutes and then decided he had better try and push them down to the other well in the field so they could drink. They wouldn't have any of that, and wouldn't move for anything. Tyrel then came back to the house and Steve was back from his checking the pivots. They are now out pulling a pump from another well and are going to install it. Hopefully they will come back happy and smiling (any chance of that?) so we can resume the quiet sunday. We do still plan to grill later on in the day and so all may not be lost. The well driller man is supposed to come out today and do something more to the pivot pump that has been down since early June. He had not been there when Steve went out this morning. I guess if it's not one thing it is going to be another. I'm not sure if that seeding on the pivot is going to come back if we ever get water on it or not. Time will tell. Tuesday the man that measures for carpet is going to come out and measure, then we can order and it won't be long until we get some new carpeting. Lots to do in the meantime. Move furniture and decided what to do with tv cables, computer cables and everything else stuffed in this room. It's time to clean some stuff out. Bookcases, cubbies and all sorts of things. It should be fun to see what we have that we have forgotten.

Headed next weekend with Dad, to his sisters family reunion. It is a day long thing they invited us to. We are picking up Joan in Tooele and heading out.

Quilt finished

A good friends son is getting married soon. Terry and I thought he and the bride should have a new quilt. This is a picture of the finished project. It is queen sized. Terry and I chose the fabric. We sure hope they like the same colors as we do. The pattern was layer cake friendly and went together really fast. I hope I can get it to the wedding, I may steal it first for me and go into my quilt stash.

Playing with Friends

For the past 2 afternoons, I have been down the valley playing with friends. We have been building things out of old doors. One is to be a silent auction for the fair board at the Ranchers Ball at the fair this year. It turned out so cute. A few things left to finish, but Terry is going to handle that. A few coat hooks, and a mirror and it will be ready to go.

The one on the right, Val made for Holly as a potting bench. I am not quite sure yet what to do with my door, so it didn't get made. I think maybe the downstairs bathroom, with a mirror and shelves to hold towels and I don't know what else. It depends on what kind of junk I can salvage. Always looking for some good throw away stuff.

A Flower

This is the first picture I have been able to upload to the blog. I'm so thrilled, I finally figured it out, I think. This is one of the pretty iris' that grew this spring. There are some more flowers, and I hope to get pics of them too.

Fourth of July!!

What great fun we had on the Fourth of July. We went up camping to Brighams Canyon with the Jensens for the annual campout reunion. We missed Cassidy, Meghan and their family coming. Car trouble is the pitts. It is good to know they just camped out in their front yard since they were all loaded up and ready to go. I took my camera, but did not take one single picture. That's the way it always goes with me. I'm trying to get some pictures taken earlier in the month to upload, but it hasn't happened yet. I'm still a newbie at this blog thing.

Summer Road Construction

Isn't it great when summer comes and the road construction starts? I love to drive on nice roads, and don't mind the construction, up to a point. If they are really working and you can see progress that is great. When you a single lane road for over 7 miles and they are working on one tiny section, not even a quarter of a mile long that is goofy. I know putting out all of the signs on both ends must be a hastle. 5 different road constructions. 2 for the wonderful deer crossings north of Wells. 5 different light changes to get through HD Summit. There were maybe 2 or 3 semi's and cars going through at a light change, and about 30 cars and semi's waiting for their chance. It was a great trip to Twin. The sale was good. The list was taken care of and now we are home sweet home.

Missed the motorcycle jamboree

For the umpteenth time, I have missed the motorcycle jamboree in Elko. I usually make it to town on the Thursday before. They are closing streets that day to bring in the porta potties, set up stages and do all the prep work. Even after all of those portapotties being all along the streets, the paper listed all of the people that were arrested for urinating in public. It costs about $450 to do it in the street.
Why did all of my sprinklers break at just about the same time?? I had 4 really nice sprinklers. One by one, they all bit the dust during the last week. I had a really nice conversation about sprinklers at the Home Depot today, trying to find some replacement heads. She didn't have a clue, and was working in the lawn and garden section. Go figure.
Busy week, last night was quilt guild. It was great. Show and Tell is always awesome. I really gets you inspired to get busy and get something done. Today a day in town to visit at Home Depot. Tonight is book group. I am glad we are watching a movie. Tomorrow, Steve and I are going to Twin to take a load of yearlings to the auction. I have a list for shopping in Twin too. It should be a fun day. Not to much to do, but just enough to fill the day.

Some nice days

Some nice days, at least 3 in a row would be a welcome treat around here. My poor plants are not doing very well. The tomatos are wondering what happened to them. Not so much sun and a lot of wind. I would love to throw open the windows and air the place out for more than just a morning or afternoon. When it is sunny it is absolutely beautiful. The fields and around the house are so green. Mostly it is weeds around the house. The lawn is mowed again. I got that done last night, but the mower is still running rough. maybe it is just feeling it's age. I know I am. We had a great visit from Meghan and the kids. Morgan, Dana and Casey are growing so tall. When we don't see them for awhile they really seem to shoot up. We have lots of projects here on the ranch that are in progress. Water tanks going in, heifers and steers videoed today to go on the sale in July. Flower beds to get the weeds out of. Quilts to make. House to clesn. The list is endless. Hopefully this summer we will also see some new carpet put in.

traffic??

I went to town today and was amazed at the traffic. Bumper to bumper in quite a few places and it wasn't even the busy time of day. Downtown, the street lights were backed up for a block and a half to 2 blocks. I can't believe the traffic is that bad now. There was a cute little lady in Wal-Mart. She kept getting away from her granddaughter. The grandmother could really walk out and kept loosing the granddaughter. Grandma was 90!! I hope I am that agile and active when I get to be 90. Also got a new odometer for my bike. Now I can really track the miles for our moving group. Sierra won the gift card again last night. That is 2 in a row. Maybe next month my ticket can be drawn. I need to get more tickets in there. Out weather is still really crappy. Maybe tomorrow will be sunny, warm, and not windy.

Off and running

In order to comment and enter some contests on the blogs that I follow, I needed to start a blog of my own. It might be interesting what comes up, or out of me. Today has been a day of quilting and house touring. Friend and neighbor is moving into a new house, and wanted some input on a new kitchen. There are so many possibilities it was kind of mind boggleing. Now off to enjoy the sunshine and do some more quilting.