Change is in the Wind

It feels like the weather is changing...hmmm What's new about that?
No it really feels like the season is changing. Flocks of birds line the overhead wires and tops of trees, leaves seem to be showing up on the lawn (which is still crispy) and the temperature has dropped (a little).

Life is changing...hmmm What's new aboout that?
I think it really is..a life season is changing and I need to think about what that means.  Some of the signs are there and if I choose not to notice them someone always seems to point one out.
If rain falls I go inside or stand with the door open and watch.  I can't change it. I just feel what it's doing and wait to see the result. 
No harm in that.

Tomorrow the sun will shine and I will see that too. And drink in the warmth if I can, if I'm ready.
I'm watching.
Hmmm What's new about that?

90 degrees seems alot cooler than it used to!

It is still too hot to spend much time outside. (As in more time than it takes to go from one air conditioned building to the next)  The temperature has dropped into the 90's with heat indeces hovering around 100. I am grateful that it is cooler less hot!
It would be nice to go fishing...in Alaska!

I promised some more photos of the mountains and am hoping that they will bring at least a mental breath of cool air with them. Thank goodness for air conditioning!

The first herd of elk we saw must have had at least 100 in it. It was near the summit in Rocky Mountain National Park. As we came out of the park there were other herds but not nearly so large-the elk were bigger but the numbers fewer!

These quilts were on display at the Art Museum on campus at BYU.

I didn't know we weren't suppose to take pictures-I even looked for some notification...so until I used a flash which had the unexpected result of producing an usher/security guard-I snapped a few. There were other quilts that were more notable in the display but I thought I was going to get a photo of all of them and wasn't really paying attention to the order I took the photos.

As you can see in this 'detail' photo, the applique and dimension to the quilt is from men's ties! It was quite clever.

'My, how you've grown since we were last at the condo' :)

A familiar phrase around there but this is just a little trick photography.

These aren't-he really is doing pull ups on the loft floor!

Down to the valley floor from the condo was sort of a temperature shock but as we climbed up into the Uintah's we all gave a collective sigh of relief...except Dad-he complained that we were freezing his ears off when we rolled down the windows!

This wasn't the lowest the temperature got on the way to the cabin but Mr. College Freshman chided me for taken pictures of the temperature :)

Who cares?-it's digital!

The week at the cabin begins!

From Sweatshirts to Sweat box

It was true...I couldn't take any more stuff with me...and somehow I guess we couldn't bring home any less! We dropped off stuff for one college student, picked up the stuff from another (there was a little bit of exchange there-but not much) one bike off the roof, another back on. We had to add in camping gear and food so we bought moving boxes to conserve space...who knew how much that would help! The amount of stuff we could pack in, I mean...not the amount of visibility! 

We spent the first week getting the car repaired :) doing things on campus and then spent a couple of days at the condo with my dad and family. It was hectic but enjoyable. 
We had a wonderful time at the cabin! It was great to have temperatures that barely made it into the '80's during the day and stayed below 60 at night.  Compare that to the heat wave at home and we were doubly blessed! The day we left for the cabin the temperature was close to 90 degrees in the valley but as we got to the higher altitudes the temperature kept dropping....we passed patches of snow along the sides of the road.

We celebrated a birthday,

 cleared land,

 played games,

 got dirty,

 went fishing,

 hiked,

went to the shooting range,

 got dirty,

 painted rocks,

 ate,
 played in the fire,

 took pictures,

 got sunburned (and dirty)...

 the guys made a screen door to help keep bugs out of the cabin


We did indeed have more craft materials than could be used in a week!

More than enough to get dirty :)



We roasted hot dogs,

we played pioneer games,

 we read the scriptures and prayed together.

We talked, we laughed and sometmes even cried a little.

We watched a slideshow of 'the good ole' days'  (that weren't really) and reminisced about who did what when...and tried to figure out who in the heck some of the people were in those slides!

4GB of photos later I have lots to choose from...

"Oh, ye mountains high,
where the clear blue sky
arches over the vales of the free.
Where the pure breezes blow
and the clear streamlets flow,
How I've longed to your bosom to flee!"
Hymnal page 34-'O Ye Mountains High'

(especially when it feels like 120 degrees here at home)

It did sort of feel like Zion...I can't think of much better than to be in a beautiful place surrounded by family!

I'll post more pictures as I sort through the virtual stack!

I can't take any more!

I mean it...there will not be room in our car for any of the college stuff we are hauling if I try to squeeze in one more game/activity/craft! 
I now have an entire bin full of craft stuff to bring along with a box of projects! If the kids do all of these things they will never see the light of day! :) I am not plannng on bringing a lot of it home!
I hope it is as fun to make the things as it has been thinking about them!  :)

Craft Ideas and Supplies

Here is a list of craft and supplies. Please add your crafts to the list and the items you need and/or are bringing.  If you are bringing some of the items that others still need and are willing to share between crafts, please put a strike-through on those items and your initials.  For example: You need white glue for your craft, I see that you need it, and am bringing some so I would mark: white glue WD.  Keep in mind that you need to bring and/or make sure will be there, all the items for the crafts you are in charge of. Thanks everyone!

Crafts and Needed Items:
Bug Boxes WD: 
Yogurt Cups
Utility or Exacto Knife WD (I have one exacto, two utility)
Heavy Duty Stapler/ Staples (Staple gun CR)(regular stapler and staplesDP)I tried it on a yogurt cup and it works fine
Scrapbook Paper WD
Foam Stickers (letters and numbers WD)DP(few animas) (music notes/guitars CR)
Glue Dots glue tapeDP
Sharpies (some colorsCR)orange/black/silver/green/blueDP
Mesh Screening WD

Quilt or Flag Squares WD:
Cotton or Muslin FabricDP
Fabric Markers one red/onebox basic 8 colorsDP
Fabric Paint
crayons and wax paper will also work

Roasting Sticks WD:
-Roasting Sticks
-Acrylic Paints (Girly colors WD) (Black CR)
-clear coat spray (One partially used can--needed  for Rock People too CR)
-paintbrushes

Paper Lanterns WD:
Lanterns WD Do the adults want to do this? Put your initials here, if you would like to. CR
Paint WD
Paint BrushesDP(lots)
String of Large Christmas Lights (I don't have these- does anyone else? I am not sure if I can get these in July)

Flower Hair Clips AW:
Silk or Fake Flowers (very few WD)lotsDP
Fake Jewels or rhinestones (or I'll take real, too...) pearlized beads/lots of seed pearl beadsDP
Fabric Glue old bottle Gem TackDP Tacky Glue-CR
Felt, various colors WD
Scissors (two pair, kids WD)DP(3pr kids and 2 pr specialty edge)
Hair Clips (a few alligator clips CR)

Trivets DP
5 kits complete with drilled sticks/elastic and beadsDP
extra beads/elastic/some drilled sticksDP

RockPeople
smooth stones (I don't plan to haul these-every one will have to find their own)
acrylic paints
spray varnish (One partially used can--needed for Roasting Sticks too CR)
paintbrushesDP

Fimo beadsDP
old Sculpey clayDP (various colors small squares/large block white)
string
skewers
oven :)

Sock Puppets or stick horses DP
old long socks (mostly dark-if someone has old white ones it would help)
yarn
needles and threadDP
felt
buttonsDP
ribbonDP
rope/twine (can use blue and white cording for reinsDP)
batting or stuffingDP (some leftover battingCR)

Basketry DP
reeds and frame for 1 Basketry MeritBadge DP (Do either of the TW's need this?)
Basketry MB badge book

Bandana Bags CR (if I can find cheap bandanas)
Bandanas  (2 matching/person)
one red DP
Nature PlaceMats CR
clear contact paperDP
scissorsDP
colored tape?

Miscellaneous Craft Items:
Glue Gun (one WD) (one CR)
mini glue sticksDP
Wood glue/model glue/craft glue/scrapbook glueDP
roll of blue/white cordingDP
pinbacks DP
Sequin Assortment WD
Small Iron WD
Perler Beads and Shapes WD
Embroidery Floss WD/DP
Safety pinsDP
Markers(various colors washable)DP
Paper(scrap paper (printed on one side DP)
Notebooks
Paper Plates
Kite stringDP
notebook size paper cutterDP
washable white glueDP (school size bottle)
old Sculpey clayDP (various colors small squares/large block white)
49 3/4" round magnets/roll of magnet tape DP
masking tapeDP
rulers 4 plasticDP
holepunch and bradsDP
wallpaper sample squares (4x4")DP
stickers(lots)DP
foam beadsDP
popsicle sticksDP
roll of butcher paperDP
15? spring clothespinsDP