Day 379: 50th Anniversary Gift

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Bird Song


Today I spent the day turning my latest stitchery into a finished bolster pillow. I had to do this whole thing by the seat of my pants since I didn't have any directions for how to do it.

This pillow was inspired by some of the needlework blogs I read. Some of the artists out there have a great sense of putting various fabrics together. I wanted to give that a bit of a try. I found three flannel prints that worked well together.

1. The border around the stitchery has little polka dots and ladybugs. The dots mimic the musical notes and the colors balance the birds.

2. The back of the pillow and the "jelly roll" ends are a blue fabric with white clouds. This way the birds have someplace to fly.

3. The inside of the "jelly roll" ends is a blue and white stripe. I've turned the end back a bit on the left side in this photo to show it off.

I sandwiched some small pompom trim between the layers of fabric on the ends. Again, the pompoms echo the shape of the musical notes and polka dots.

Finally, I tied bows to form the "jelly roll" with some narrow picot-edged satin ribbon.

I'm really pleased with the way this pillow turned out and can't wait to give it as a gift tomorrow.

I recently reconnected with my favorite college music professor. He and his wife will have a party tomorrow to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. I haven't seen Duane and Pink in over 25 years! So this is quite a treat.

Duane still sings barbershop. His group is here for the party and I'll get to watch them perform. I'm so looking forward to it.

Dale washed and shined up his convertible and is letting me take it for the day. The party is about a 1-1/2 hour drive north, near Sandpoint, ID. I've not been up that way in quite some time, so this will be a nice adventure for me.

Plus, I bought myself a new outfit and the sexiest shoes I've had in eons. I generally don't care much about shoes, but these make my legs look amazing (if I do say so myself!) I may just have to post a photo.
:)

WIP: Bird Song [4]

The stitching is now complete! Tomorrow, this will become a bolster pillow. Jodie and I found some fun and colorful flannel fabrics to use to make this into a cozy pillow you might even want to sleep on.

Looking forward to seeing the finished project!

Day 378: Dancing Flower

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Ballerina's Tutu

When my daughter Julie saw this image, she exclaimed, "That looks like a ballerina's tutu!"

Ah. So it does.

Days 376 & 377: Daylily Dalliance

It's catch-up time again! I added two new photographs to Creative Journey in my Photography section. The first, Padding the Lily.

I like the way this fly is making himself at home, bright green against the poppy colored daylily.


The second daylily is titled Lemony Thicket.

Dale came up with that name! Love the play on words for the author of some of my favorite children's books, A Series of Unfortunate Events.

A Favorite Photo Site

I don't recall if I've ever mentioned this site before, but even if I have, it's worth mentioning again! I love to stop by Yahoo!'s The Week In Photos.

Each week a dozen photos are posted that depict various world events. They are stunning and thought-provoking. Really worth a weekly visit!

Day 375: Field of Clover

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Field of Clover

The neighbors were looking a bit askance as I tried to get this shot. I was down on my belly again in "Circle Park" ... sort of a green area in the center of something that resembles a biggish traffic circle.

Day 374: Street Fodder

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Gumball

Momma always told me not to pick up gum that somebody dropped in the street.

I didn't always heed when I was a kid. After all, what's a little grit in some gum?

I didn't heed today, either. This sunny gumball was hiding under some leaves by the curb. Grabbed it right up on my 2 mile walk this afternoon.

Mmmmmmmmm! Orangey!

WIP: Bird Song [3]

Slow but steady progress going on here. Bird #5 is done except for the black and backstitching.

Day 373: Marching Forward

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Comes the Summer

This photos marks the end of my "catch up" phase and puts me one day ahead! Nice change of pace, don't you think?

What says summer more than a fresh patch of daisies. I'm putting this photo up in honor of my sister Eleanore. The daisy is her favorite flower. I carried bouquets of them at her wedding back in the 70s.

Perhaps I should give her a call. We haven't chatted in a while. What a fine idea for a Sunday afternoon.

Day 372: Seasons Change

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Spring Fades

The last of the rhodies are in bloom. See how the edges are starting to wilt and turn brown?

Still, these are some of the most gorgeous flowers around.

Maybe my mother-in-law can teach me how to grow some ... once we remove some of our trees, have a sprinkler system put in, replant the lawn and clear a garden space.

Uh ... we may not get all that done this year, but it's a good dream to hold on to.

Day 371: Back in the Saddle Shoes

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Wiggle Room

A couple weeks of transitioning from the school year to a summer schedule had really knocked my exercise routine off track! A couple days ago, I tied on my trusty Dr. Scholl's, grabbed my CD player and camera, and headed out the door for my two-mile walk.

One of my California friends was wondering what my walk is like here in north Idaho. He imagined plenty of crisp fresh air, open spaces and woodland beasts.

Well, I get a few squirrels and quail as regular co-walkers — especially if I take the route through the neighborhood park. But usually I just walk around my suburban neighborhood. Track homes, mostly. But so many of my neighbors have the prettiest gardens that I use them for photo fodder.

I decided to drop off the beaten path a little on this walk. A shady green belt runs behind one row of houses, then pops back onto the sidewalk. I love the way the pavement wiggles over the rolling landscape here. No need for straight lines while meandering through a neighborhood, right?

Day 370: Father's Day

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Infestation

We had quite the busy Father's Day last weekend.

All three daughters remembered to give Dale a call ... I didn't even have to remind them! Those girls sure are becoming fine young women. I'm awfully proud of my daughters.

Then Dale and I went over to his brother's house. It was Dennis' last day in Coeur d'Alene ... he moved to the Seattle area for a new job. We sure will miss him.

While waiting for the party to start, Dale and I took a tour of the yard. Dennis' yard is connected to Grandma's yard. My mother-in-law, Joany, is responsible for the gorgeous plantings. That woman has the greenest thumb I've ever seen! I took a number of photos of the gorgeous flowering plants. When I downloaded the photos and zoomed in on this rose, that's where I learned I had some models! Photogenic, aren't they?

Around 9pm, Dale and I went to pick Jodie up at the Spokane Airport. I've always envied the folks that had someone greeting them with a sign, so I made sure to make a big "I [heart] Jodie Davaz" sign to welcome her home.

Jodie was both pleased and embarrassed when she saw me holding it up. It's such a Mom groaner thing to do! And I was the only mom there that did it. That was fun.

Jodie had a GREAT trip ... and is suitably worn out and sick now that she's home.

Day 369: Best Food In Town

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Grumpy's BBQ

OK. So this isn't the most exciting photo I've ever posted. But it evokes some really fine memories, so I'm using it anyway.

Our trip to Montana was utterly casual. We barely packed a thing ... even forgot to pack toothbrushes and hair brushes! So we were dressed fairly causally. That limited our choices for dinner.

One of the guys helping with our remodel told us about a really great restaurant called Spice of Life. The menu looked fantastic, but we just didn't have the proper attire. Instead, we cruised the strip a few times, then decided on giving Grumpy's a try.

Grumpy's is a small family oriented place where you order the food at the counter, the menu on blackboards hanging overhead. They have ribs ... dry or wet.

Huh?

Dry means without the sauce. Wet means they come with the sauce already on them. Then you get a couple sides ... I chose the bbq beans and the red potato salad. It also comes with a giant slab of corn bread and some homemade peach cobbler.

OH. MY. GOSH.

That was some of the yummiest food I've had in a long time. A regular portion is way more than I can eat ... and I'm a decent chow hound! And the people are extraordinarily friendly.

Since it was such a nice day, we sat at the picnic tables outside in the waning light, tried all the varieties of bbq sauce, and enjoyed the simple atmosphere.

The rest of our trip was equally low key. After buying the supplies we'd forgotten to bring, we headed back to our jacuzzi suite, splashed around in the water for a while and enjoyed each other's company. The next day we toured all the little towns in the area before heading back home.

If you ever need a quiet and restful weekend, I sure can recommend one like this.

WIP: Bird Song [2]

I had some time to stitch and catch up on some Tivo'd shows. Almost completed the green bird. He just needs the rest of his backstitching done.

This is a fun project to work on, now that I'm using the correct equipment.

I usually just stitch "in the hand." This piece is large enough, though, that all the extra fabric was getting in my way.

So next I tried using my floor frame. That worked a bit better, but something still wasn't right.

I finally found my 6" Q-Snaps. It's the exact right size. Each bird can be stitched in the snap without having to move the fabric around. I also brought my daylight floor lamp in to the TV room (it usually lives in my studio), and that's made a world of difference.

I'm not sure what the fabric is that I'm using. It was a piece that was given to me so was tucked away in my stash. I thought it was an evenweave. But now ... I'm thinking it's some kind of linen because, even though it does not have obvious slubs, the thickness of the fibers does vary. I was having quite a bit of trouble finding the right hole until I got my daylight floor lamp shining down on it.

Day 368: River Park

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, River Park

This post is full of images ... more than the "official" one for my Creative Journey. Just look at these images! What a pretty place to live!

River Park is a nice city park shared by people and a moose named Bruce. We didn't have a chance to meet Bruce, but there are signs posted all over the place on what you should do if Bruce decides to share your picnic lunch.

Here's a friendly bear to greet you as you step from the parking area.

If you walk down the path past the gazebo, you find another path that runs along the Bitterroot River.

Dale has some great stories about how he and his brothers, aged 5, 4 and 3, would walk single file down the road with some sticks over their shoulders and string in their pockets. They were headed to this park to go fishin'!

Understandably, my mother-in-law had a bit of a scare any time they'd meander away from the house. That's a pretty frisky river!

Dale and I decided to meander that way.

Still no Bruce ...

We walked along this path until it ended. Then we continued along a dirt path following the river.

We were rewarded with this view:

Anyone want to come for a visit and take a day trip with me?

Day 367: No Place Like Home

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Home Sweet Home

This was the first time Dale had been back to Hamilton, MT since he moved to Coeur d'Alene when he was six years old. I was impressed that he remembered his way around town!

He found his way to the old homestead quite easily. He said the house looks remarkably the same after 40+ years. The closed-in breezeway was the biggest change.

Oh, and that treadmill on the front porch was a new feature, too.

Day 366: A Fish Story

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Pike

We headed out last Thursday in the late morning. Sun shining. A bit of cloud cover. Top down in the convertible. It's only about a 3 hour drive from Post Falls, Idaho to Hamilton, Montana. We were footloose and fancy free!

We stopped for lunch in St. Regis, Montana ... just across the border. There's a nice touristy place called the Huckleberry Patch. They've got a little cafe with some of the nicest waitresses you'll ever meet. Good food, served quickly ... including some homemade huckleberry pie!

There's also a good-sized gift shop where you can get Montana souvenirs. I got huckleberry lip balm. Lips get chapped out there on the road with the wind blowing when you're singing at the top of your lungs to old Carly Simon tunes!

In the back of the gift shop is a series of large fish tanks holding examples of the aquatic population of the Clark Fork River. This pike sat up and smiled for me. :)

Day 365: My First Year Is Complete!

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,
Sunset Over the Bitterroots


Since Jodie was on her big adventure and the remodel was done for the week, Dale and I decided to head out for an adventure of our own. We took a trip east, over the Rocky Mountains and into Montana.

I'll tell more about the trip in future posts ... today I just wanted to share a memorable photo since this marks the first anniversary of my Creative Journey. How better than a sunset view, taken from the window of our hotel room?

Monnnnntana! BIG sky!

Day 364: New Front Door

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, New Entrance

Here's the result!

With a 3/4 window in the door and the new sidelight, there is a lot more light at the top of the stairs. This is a steel door. The decorative glass is between layers of tempered glass. Pretty brushed nickel door handle to match the leading.

The door and trim still need to be painted. We may add a kick plate, too. It's inspiring us to consider getting the house repainted. It's been 14 years, so things are starting to look a tad shabby. I love the color of our home, though, so we'll likely keep the light blue-gray with white trim look.

Now that the first year of my Creative Journey is over, I'm considering how I might change some things up. Not sure I'll post a new photo every day during the second year. I may do photo themes instead. I'm still deciding. But I do have several more photos I took this week on our Montana trip that I want to share. We'll see how many more I can post and blog about today.

Day 363: Sidelight Detail

I added a new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Sidelight Peek

The color on this photo is a little off, but the detail is great, isn't it?
The trim is really pure white. The leading in the glass is a brushed nickel.

This is a detail shot of the central motif in the sidelight, looking from our entryway through the window out onto the front porch.

This door and sidelight is an excellent combination of what Dale likes (rectangular shapes) and what I like (soft curvy lines).

The company that manufactures our door is called Jeld-Wen