Mixed Media Daily Postcards August 24 - 31

Scraps in Strips

I had my scrap box out to make the potholders and seeing all those scraps inspired me to try using some of them up.  I really enjoy sewing strips together randomly and seeing what I can do with them.  I cut all the blues I could find in my scrap box into strips of varying widths.  These range from 1" to 2" wide.  Now to begin sewing them together.....

Wrapped Up and Ready for Bingo Night.

While I was messing around with the potholders, I decided to go ahead and just get them ready to put on the prize table next month.  I rolled two potholders together and tied them with ribbons.  Now I have five prizes ready to walk out the door with me for September's Iris Club meeting.  The next few weeks will be very busy so I am really happy I was able to get this project finished well in advance.

Iris Printed Potholders

 Here are 8 of the potholders and hot pads I made for Iris Club bingo prizes.  I started out making them with black and white fabrics, but then I decided to use up some colorful scraps.  I think both ways look great.  Who doesn't need potholders?

Iris Club Bingo Prizes - Hand Printed Potholders.

 

Big Sky Iris Club has monthly meetings and our September meeting is when we play "Iris Bingo".  Everyone brings prizes that are related to iris in some way.  This year, I decided to make some hand printed potholders for prizes.  I dug around in my scrap box to find some hand dyed fabrics on which to print the iris image with black ink.  Then, I colored it in with fabric markers.  I sewed some strips around the sides, in a "quilt as you go" style - everything was all layered when I started adding the strips - so the quilting was done as each strip was added.  Then, I did free motion quilting around the iris image, trimmed and bound.  I made 10 of these, and finished them up well in advance of the next meeting!    

Dill Pickles!

 I don't try raising vegetables at my place on account of the deer - they will just eat everything up.  But my daughter, Elizabeth lives in town and has a nice little vegetable garden.  She has been saving up her cucumbers so I could make some dill pickles.  Grandson Airus loves dill pickles and my mother has a really terrific recipe for them.  I have not canned in years, but it seemed like a good thing to do on a rainy day in late August.  I made 13 quarts! 

I will get the recipe posted up on my food blog sometime soon and let you know when it is there.

Rained Out!

 We have planned for months to do a 29 mile / 4 day backpacking trip as a family this past weekend (August 21 - 25).  The weather forecast was for snow and highs in the 40's for the Beartooth Mountains, where we planned to hike. 

We  made all the preparations, but we canceled our trip due to the weather.  This gave me some unexpected time at home - where we have received 3 inches of rain over the past couple of days.  Over the next few posts, I'll show you what I have been up to.....stuck in the house, but keeping occupied!

Mixed Media Daily Postcards August 18 - 23

Family Reunion Group at Georgetown Lake

We had 33 people attending - all related by blood or marriage to my parents who are in the front row on the left.  They are in their mid 80's and in good vigorous health.  We know we are really lucky to be able to gather this way and have everyone there!

Home Made Ice Cream

 

When we were growing up, we had a milk cow and thus an abundance of cream.  It was a summer tradition to make ice cream with the hand crank.  Most of the grandkids and great grandkids had no experience with home made ice cream, so my mother  brought her old hand crank and all the supplies.  It made for a fun afternoon activity.  And a delicious treat that evening!

Paugh Sisters

 I have 5 sisters.  I am the second oldest.  We thought it was interesting that we arrived on Friday wearing matching colors as you see in this picture.  No planning was involved.  But we could not resist the photo op!

Water Fun at Georgetown Lake

 The kids really enjoyed riding the tube behind the power boats.  There were many hours spend doing this.

Nephew Pablo caught a nice sized Rainbow trout from the dock!  Awesome!

Georgetown Family Conversations

 We all really enjoyed the spacious vacation rental at Georgetown.  It had many different 

conversation areas inside and out.  The basement was a great place for the kids to be 

making as much racket as they wished.  This big room with the big coffee table worked 

really well for all ages to gather.

Morning at the Family Reunion at Georgetown Lake

 Dawn at Georgetown Lake looked like this from the kitchen!

 Mom and I went down to the lake to fish before breakfast.

 Nephew Clint cooked the bacon and eggs on the deck with this fabulous view of the lake.

 My sister, Shirley and my dad chatting over breakfast.

Mixed Media Daily Postcards August 10 - 17

Reunion T Shirts

 Our family gathered at this fabulous house on Georgetown Lake for 4 days / 3 nights.  The T-shirts were distributed to everyone under the age of 20 on the first night.

T Shirts for Family Reunion

 In anticipation of our family gathering at Georgetown Lake, my niece, nephew and grandson contributed artwork that I combined to create a Thermofax screen.  The kids helped me dye the shirts, then I did the printing over a period of several days. 

Clay Butte Ridege Hike

 This photo was taken from the highest point on Beartooth Butte.

More Pictures of Clay Butte Ridge Hike

Clay Butte in the Beartooth Mountains