Landscaping

For years we have been unable to grow grass in our shaded yard.  Then we ended up paying for maintenance on our 'dirt' lawn.  This year we resolved to correct the problem, not just add another patch.
We contacted three professional landscapers and decided on POPS for the job.  I am talking major landscaping.  We cut down our Leland cypress and had new ever greens planted along the back property.  This is a small cluster home, so there isn't much land.

On the side we added a path and dry rock bed to control the erosion and mud issues. 

In the backyard we added the rock path and plantings.  What a difference.  Mike had mulched the entire backyard two years ago and we have had no charm at all to the backyard. 

It's hard to see, but there are all new shade tolerant plants under the tree and throughout the yard. 

We are very pleased and think POPS did a great job.  They were great to work with and the results are awesome. 

Christmas prep

Merry Christmas to all.
I am playing with my new iPad toy. What a joy. Not much shopping for gift exchanges, but I have enjoyed getting my iPad all decked out. Speaker, cover, and apps, oh my!
Gilly is nestled all snug in her bed (our couch).

Photos are added using the pc laptop, but taken using the iPad.

This table topper was painted by my sister (in-law), Lori. We used a pattern from last year's Quilting Arts. I am so impressed with how it turned out. 

I will be making an effort to blog more. Come back for future posts. I also have some older drafts regarding my vacation that I never finished. Once I get the photos added to them I will post those also.

After Yellowstone

We certainly did enjoy Yellowstone.  We were there Wednesday through  Friday.  We then had a day traveling to Jackson Hole. There were some photo stops along the way.   This is a typical photo stop.

Here is some of the scenery we were shooting.

 I was surprised that we really did time it to hit the autumn colors.  The colors are more yellows and less reds.  As you can see the sky has had fantastic clouds and wonderful weather. 

Jackson Hole was a two night stay where the 'billionairs are pushing out the millionaires".  On the second day we had a raft ride on the Snake River.  Some of the mountains behind us were the Tetons.  This is a nice shot, but some of the hill were smokey because they were having controlled burns. 

This is one of the three American Eagles that we saw on the raft trip.

That night we went on a wagon train ride to a barbecue in the woods.  There were about nine wagons in the convoy.  There was a small show as part of the evening and the guy that played the fiddle was a champion fiddler.   I couldn't believe that someone of that caliber was a part of this production. 

Stay tuned more posts to follow. 

Remember the opening scene of Northern Exposures?

Anyways as I was saying we had looked all over for elk and didn't see any on route.  We checked into the Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge and the elk were everywhere.  People complained that they heard the male 'buggleing' for it's 'harem' all night.  I slept quite comfortable all night. 
So in the mean time the entire tour group is getting use to the masks...
Everyone is checking on us to be sure we are keeping up with the mask photos. They are all offering to take our picture.

Back to the hunt for wild life...  Bison are every where.  Here are bison rolling in the dirt and playing by butting heads.

The colors of nature has just been awesome.  The springs and fumaroles have such vivid colors of minerals.  The landscape changes with each corner we turn. 

Well before I sign off for the evening one last photo op for Mary. Mike is being quite a sport about these photos...

Good night Gracy...

(I know it is Groucho nose, but the Gracy line seemed appropriate.)

... and the trip goes on!!!

This is for Mary

Two days in Yellowstone without TV or Internet was quite a feat.   The first night was in the notorious Old Faithful Inn.  It had the ominous of an old inn with a grand lobby.  Old Faithful was right outside the front door.  Mike and I woke up at sunrise to watch it.  I am glad we did it, but it was an ordinary sunrise.  We saw geysers, hot springs, fumarole, elk, bison and lots of gorgeous sights to amaze the mind.  We are seeing more sights and having more activities than I can keep up with on the blog.  This is a bison we saw at sunrise in Yellowstone.   There were tons :) of bison through out the park. 

The group kept looking for elk and we couldn't find any all day.  The second night at the park there were elk and bison.  Well you will need to wait to see the outcome.  I can't upload the photos and it's late.  More to come tomorrow. 

National Parks Vacation

It has been a long wait and a lot anticipation getting to this vacation.  We arrived in Rapid City Saturday, Sept 24th, after an uneventful (meaning everything went well) day of travel.  I had to visit a local quilt shop and the local Pumpkin Festival when we arrived.  We settled in and attended a 'meet 'n greet' orientation.  Sunday is when the real excitement began. We went to Crazy Horse first.  It is a rock sculpture to give tribute to the indians.

 Here is a photo of Mike and me at Crazy Horse.  The visitor center is so far from the carving that the size perspective is totally lost.   The carving is a spec in the background and isn't visible in the photo with us.  The masks are courtesy of my buddy Mary.  She wanted to give us something for our vacation - thanks Mary....

We then traveled to Mt. Rushmore.  I enjoyed this more because I was able to get more of a feel for the size.  All four images of the Mt Rushmore sculpture is smaller then the head of Crazy Horse.  Of course we needed to continue the Mary photo ops.  I hope Mary is enjoying these photos as much as our fellow tour travelers are enjoying these photos. 

thread bear

It has been a long time coming, but I am back to blogging.  The East Cobb Quilt Show is over and  am off on my vacation.  (More about that later.)  thread Bear has been given the Octoberr blocks info and Janet will carry on in my abcense.  Here is a sneak pick at the block to come. 

Carolyn's New Digs! - exterior



Side View of home front to back



Back view of duplex
No that is not a pond.  It is called detention.



 This is Carolyn's new digs.  I am practicing creating a "blog" and thought her home images would be an interesting posting to share.  Wish her luck in her new home. 


 

Front view

Living Room - wall unit has been removed



kitchen

master bedroom

walk-in closet

Gnarly???

To blog or not to blog: that is the question.  I see so many people blogging and it seems to be easy for them.  For me, I couldn't even pick a sign on name.  My sister once said (20 years ago) that I looked "gnarly".   I didn't know what it meant then and now I would love to be gnarly again.  I figure if no one else says so I can pretend I'm gnarly. 
I have so many opinions and thoughts that blogging seemed like a venture I wish to try.  I always say "I may not have the answer, but I always have an opinion". 
I am also a wanna be photographer.