Just where does the time go?

Hello one and all, It's me your blogger friend who hasn't been doing a very good job of blogging lately. So why today? Well it's hot and I just don't want to be outside very much. So when I last left you we were home from our outing in the San Juan Islands, I was doing special things for the upcoming quilt show. And I had actually been out with the horses a few times. And also out with my bike... Well things haven't changed much....I am still riding with the girls group. What a special bunch of ladies and all about my age too. The horses have all be a delight this year. Everyone is healthy, and working well. We are so fortunate to have 4 really good animals to ride that aren't scary. My problem is keeping them all exercised and in good shape. Our one mule, Dehlia, was sent to mule school this past month. She was a wee too fat for us to use very hard and she needed some more training so someone can possibly use her next year. We have only used her as a pack animal and it was time to get her going in a whole new direction. This her in her "packing" clothes.

She will be home for good on August 4th. I guess you know I went back to Weight Watchers this spring too. I truely wish I was one of those people that could eat anything and not worry about my weight. No such luck. I have been blessed with my family's curse of being on the pudgy side and watching everything that goes in. So far I have lost 25 pounds but still a far cry from where I should be. Slow and steady wins, I hear...guess maybe it will take a year or so but it will come off. I have been faithfully attending my weekly meetings. Great leader and wonderful friends there too. We had some wonderful visitors the end of the month of June too. I got to spend a few days with Jaclyn, my daughter-in-law, and my cute granddaughter, Hadley. Poor Hadley was miserable while she was here. The day she arrived she was hot with a fever and cranky. We ALL thought she was in the middle of teething and tried every which way to console her. Baby aspirin, teething rings, nothing seemed to relieve her pain. For being so sick she was still a very good baby. After they left and arrived home a quick trip to the Dr it was determined she had infant foot and mouth disease. Some sort of virus picked up at their local pool, the week before they left. Nothing to do but wait it out and let it run it's course. Thankful she was okay. Now I hear she's sporting that new tooth and never complained once. Here's my little sweetie pie!

So we had a very quiet July 4th at home. Neither Craig or I are huge fans of fireworks. Hamburgers on the grill and TV movie we were good. It was too hot to do much anyway. So mid July is busy time for me. I signed up to help at the quilt show. But first I had to do my own thing. Monday, I took 7 ladies on the Trail of the Hiawatha on a bike trek. Another fabulous 17 mile bike ride in the Montana/Idaho mountains. Tunnels and train trestles and some killer chipmunks that thought our small lunch coolers were their own special playgrounds. No crashes and just a real fun day with some really nice ladies. I met up again on Wednesday with most of them when we rode horseback. Wednesday is ride day for these gals and they don't mess around. They post where the ride is that week and the time to be there and you need to be there on time and ready to ride. 15 riders this day and we rode Coyote Coulee. So now it's Thursday and time for me to don my work clothes and pitch in at the quilt show. I had to take my entries and then stayed and help hang quilts. Friday and Saturday was the actual show and I was there both days handing out door prizes to lucky winners. It was a god show. Out of my 7 entries I won one 1st place. Remember the fabric challenge from last blog...take 2 pieces of fabric and make something. Well here is what I made and got a 1st place with..

I have been having a little bit of fun making toys...for no specific reason other than I want to come out of my own comfort zone. Here are more.....

I also took a class this past week on my Bernina...It was an embroidery mastery class. After owning this machine for a year it was time to learn just what it can do...I have created a monster. but it is a good one and will keep me entertained this winter when the weather is frightful and I can't get outside. I don't sew much in the summer. I am a summer sort of gal and would rather be outside than sitting inside. So the embroidery will have to wait. At least it doesn't scare me as much. Oh yeah somewhere in there we got our hay put up too..It was amazing and the fastest I have ever seen our haying completed but it has been so very hot. Craig deserves a medal of accomplishment. My job was to ride along beside him and watch the baler until he was sure it was working properly. Cut on day 1, raked on day 2, baled on day 3, stacked on day 4, covered on day 5 with not a drop of rain. I figure there is approx 17 tons all ready to feed our livestock this winter. Now Craig needs to put the baler away. Right now it is the driveway ornament. This past week we ran away from home for a few days. It has been so hot here at home we headed for the mountains. Monture Creek trailhead offers shaded campground and mid week we can usually get the corrals for our horses. We had a to wait but a couple left shortly after we arrived so two of the corrals were empty.

The trail is so pretty this time of year. The water very inviting. We took several breaks along the route to let the dogs swim and the horses rest.

So today was getting all the laundry done from the camper and home too. All the saddle pads were cleaned too and ready for our next ride...Horses all need new shoes before we can really take off on our next big adventure. Craig is making noises about doing an actual pack trip into the Danaher in Septmeber. Oh boy, one of my favorite places to be. Now I am sitting here while the air conditioner pumps out cool air. I am not a fan of the heat and when it's over 90* I quit. But I turn it off at night and open the windows. I don't really like the a/c and prefer open windows and fresh air but I really don't like it when it's over 80 in the house. I will never again have a house that faces West. Don't know what the week will bring but it should be another exciting one. Hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying their summer.....be nice to one another and have a great week! Julie