10 Of My Favorite Books From 2011

•  Over the Edge: A Novel by Brandilyn Collins This is the first of this Christian authors books I have read 
• Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon WestI read several of Stanley Gorden West books he is a Montana author writing from real life
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein you have to love a book that the main character is a dog.
• Sing You Home: A Novel by Jodi Picoult I think I have read all of her books some I love some I don't.
• Still Alice by Lisa Genova Power book really enjoyed  Left Neglected also.
• The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh  A poetic book well done.
• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech  This is written to a Jr reader, I had listened to it the voice of the gal who read it was great. The story has a  strong message.
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand   It is really hard to put words to such a story, read it.
• Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan  Would highly recommend this.
• Dreams of Joy: A Novel by Lisa See  LOVE Lisa See

History lesson

Montana became a territory in 1864

I had some other photos I wanted to share like the outside of the church but I am challenge and can not get them to load correctly.

Visited the St. Ignatius Mission in St. Ignatius, Montana. The catholic church has had a strong influence in Montana especially on Indian reservations. The Jesuit Priest came out to minister to the Native American population shortly after Lewis and Clark made there trip in 1804 -1806

Note the cook who had no formal training did the paintings! There is a church in Missoula, Montana that he also did the painting in. The church has a wonderful feel when you are inside,  I imagine on a winter day would feel bright and warm.

More Fall Decorations

Being Crafty

Decorating my Deck for Fall

Dog days of Fall

The weather has been warm which is wonderful. We are entering the "windy season" not so good, but it is normal.

Gardening

I have been busy harvesting. We picked our apples and probable only got a 1/3 from last year. I was excited to grow corn it is an heirloom seed. Peas and beans are finished and we are allowing them to go to seed. The raspberries produced for the first time. I always get carried away with the sunflowers. We have been have perfect weather since July after such a cold summer last year and cold June. Planted two new apple trees. Made Tomato Jam. The Chicks... raising an heritage breed on organic feed takes a long time. Cut Firewood. New Blueberry bed, I have been told I can't raise blueberry's here I hope he is wrong.

Getting Ready for Fall

 

My deck project

Little Jerusalem

Little Jerusalem is located by the Canadian boarder just north of us

Lots of contrasts here the harvested wheat fields, the white is an Alkaline lake

A little smoky from the fires in the State

Beautiful day!

Hike to Swift Current Pass/Fire Look out

Beautiful Day in A Beautiful Place, this fire lookout was built in 1936 and is manned

, very cool!

View from 8,436 feet

This is Swift Current Glacier you see this before you reach the pass

View at 8,436 from fire look out

Hike to Crypt Lake

It was easier going up then coming back down

Natural tunnel

Climb up about 8 ft to the tunnel

We have had so much snow makes for some really beautiful waterfalls

What a true quote

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great Water Feature

This was so cool but it was hard to photograph, I  had to stand in one place. the plants were perfect it had goldfish in it really nicely done.

July 4th

Montana traffic jam

The tribe has gotten some new bulls who refuse to be locked up.

July 14, 2011

Garden July 14, 2011 a good 2 weeks behind

Updated Dinning Room

Dinning Room Before

Sorry - Dinning Room Before

I used this scripture before and now

Made my drapes, reupholstered chairs

Changed paint color, the fireplace was in the basement exchanged the buffet for it, had the round table painted it black, Daughter painted the wall

Moved the light it was centered in the room but not above table.

Running a 1/2 Marathon

This song by JJ Heller entitled “What Love really Means” begins with these words.
He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please…Could you send someone here who will
love me?”

I first became aware of Western Montana Youth Homes because our daughter works for them. I have seen her be the answer to a child’s prayer to be loved. The services that Youth Homes offer is of course about therapeutic care, teaching skills, proving a safe and secure home and finding forever families; but also it may provide the first person to love that child.
Each day Youth Homes serves over 180 children in shelters, group homes or foster care homes.
When I discovered that I could run to support this organization, I decided to try it in 2011. I need to say I’m not a runner. I wish I was and maybe someday… I did participate in the Missoula ½ Marathon last year and found training a hard mental game. These kids work SO hard to deal with their wounds, the least I could do is get out and run. How hard is that in comparison?

Tragedy

While we were shopping and getting our new little chicks our neighbors life's were being drastically changed.

Cicks

We decided to raise Buff Orpington chickens, we picked these girls up on May 14th. Our plan (we really don't know what we are doing) is to raise all but 2-4 of them to butcher. They are all pullets so they aren't goring to get real big but we are ok with that. I decide I wanted to go with a heritage breed and from what I read Buff Orpington are good for butchering and laying. I know when it comes to butchering them it will be hard, they are so cute. We found organic feed from so that is  Organic and local and they can free range when they get a little bigger.Should be an adventure, stay posted.

Be the kind of women who, when your feet hit the floor in the morning the devil says oh no, she up.

Mother's Day Weekend

My Asparagus is up!

Worked up the garden, adding sheep manure. Planted the corn, beans, potatoes, carrots, and lettuce have a few more things but a start. We covered them with the row covers to help with the ground temperature.

Gardening Preperations

What a difference a week makes. Easter Sunday we had time to unpack the straw from the blueberry and garlic beds. The Chickens were excited to have new digs.

Garden April 23, 2011

My garden April 23, 2011

Spring

Outside, this little guy is up on a snow drift and has been eating from the bird feeder.

Inside, this beautiful Orchid Cactus is showing its stuff.

Spring

This is my garden spot, April 18th. Need I say anything?

38 below

Last week we had a day that was -38, burr. I have this waterer in my unheated Hen house made by Farm Innovators "All-Season" Heated Plastic Poultry Fountain. I don't know what the temperature inside that coop was, very cold I am sure, the water did not freeze. I was impressed, it advertises to keep water from  freezing until 0.  I think it out did it self.

 Here are a couple images of what "cold" looks like.

Then and Now

It was 10 degrees with a wind chill making it -8. Tomorrow will be a high of -2 low of -20. I would like to think about starting seeds but I think that is all I can do is think about it for now. Summer come again soon.