Fudraiser for Jennifer

This week I am busy working on a silent auction to take place at a fundraiser for my friend Jennifer. You may remember I've mentioned her on this blog before, but here's a short version of what's going on. She has leukemia in a bad way. She's in Seattle getting the best care possible, but that is expensive. Things are hard. No way around that. She doesn't complain much, but I understand that she is weak beyond my own comprehension, she is almost half way done with chemo, but it takes it's toll on her. Her family is with her, but that means her husband is not able to work his business her in Montana, leaving much to his brother to take care of. Their daughters are with them now, but it is unclear how much of the care for them Jen is able to give - although I know they are an encouragement to her for sure!

So, a group of us put together a fundraiser for them. As you all know, insurance does not cover everything. Plus maintaining their Montana home (mortgage, etc) and paying to live in very expensive Seattle is not something they budgeted for. And, yet to come, assuming all goes well with obtaining remission, is a bone marrow transplant, which searching for a donor is not covered by insurance. So, this family that has been so financially responsible for years and years now needs a fundraiser. And lots of prayers!

I am amazed at the generosity of the folks in our community. As I am putting together the list of items for the auction, organizing how they will be displayed, and getting all the paper work ready I am overwhelmed. There is some great stuff! One woman put together a vintage fourth of July package, with antique chairs, rugs, pillows, umbrella! It is amazing. We could auction off her talent at decorating as much as we can the items. We've got the outdoor stuff too! A spotting scope, fly fishing gear, river rafting stuff, gardening stuff, and home improvement stuff. Plus, lots of kitchen stuff too - including a handmade recipe book by my friend Elizabeth Wickland (you can get to her blog by following the link on the upper right of mine).

So, this is what I am busy with. Hopefully some baseball this afternoon - finally got weather that means it just might happen. I'll be back later with a baseball report. And maybe some sneak peaks at the items for the auction!

Blooming!

Just three days of warmish weather (like low 70's) and we have blooms all over the place. Even the grass is blooming:

That is our front field, where the part Andy has not already cut is about 2.5 fee tall. Today he made a maze in it and we had races through the maze. Now how many weirdos do you know who do that kind of silly stuff? Hopefully in a couple of days it will all be cut down. I love it long, but Andy really feels best with it short. Here is a place where the wife can submit. I mean, it's just field grass, right? Besides, the blooms in the grass have him really stuffy and congested this year, so getting it all knocked down will be good for him.

And, at long last, the lilacs are starting to bloom. Throw in a clear sky sunset with the glow bouncing off the clusters of fushia, and this is what you get:

So, how'd you like those blooms?

First Float Trip

Our friend Charlie took Andy and Jansse on a Father's Day Float Trip on the Madison River. It was Jansse's first ever float trip, and he caught the only fish - a big white fish, pictured below. The water was high and muddy, but they had a great time! Take a peak below.



So, looks lake Jansse got pampered even though he wasn't the Father. Fun was had by all!

No fab pics, but good times!

We went back to the Missouri River Headwaters State Park with some friends (remember we were there last week for a family field trip). This time we had a picnic with two other families from church. It was a great afternoon/evening, and lots of fun, but my photos are not all that great. Well, now, actually, they aren't even all my photos - some were taken by my husband. But, anyway, I thought I'd share a little.

That's it for today! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

So Many Photos!

Yesterday was a huge photo day for me - at least that is how if felt to me.

I took my camera on a walk/run with Andy and played with the manual telephoto lens. It is an old lens from my traditional camera, but it works on my digital slr as well - but I'm still working out some kinks. Sometimes it just won't work. I'm not sure why, but the shutter just won't open when I press the button sometimes. But, a little adjusting of the zoom and suddenly it will work again. Weird. Still using it I got the following photos:

I know, these are not my favorite plant either,but this is beautiful! God made it for a reason, so when it's in somebody else's yard, I'm just going to go with it!

This photo makes it appear we live in Scotland or something. All green and lush with sheep. Montana is supposed to be dry and full of cattle!

Meet our new neighbor! Not sure if it's a he or a she, but adorable is an adequate name for now!

Shot this while waiting for Jansse at camp. Just because.

And, I did use my regular lens when shooting Jansse on the zip line at camp because I am just not a fast manual focuser. It kept me from getting close-ups, but oh well. I wanted more photos, but this was the last photo before the battery went completely dead. Didn't have time to change that before he was done with the ride. Oh well, glad to have this shot!

He had a great time! You can see how wet it was.

Now, after rain and snow for the past ten days, three canceled baseball games, and lots of frustration, today it is sunny, and supposed to be in the 70's. Hopefully that is the forecast for the next few weeks. We need some spring and summer here in a big way. People are starting to get a little depressed from the lack of sun!

I keep hoping for an opportunity to get down in my craft room and scrap, but not yet. I have some big obligations for the fundraiser for my friend Jen over the next week, so chances are looking slimmer. However, I note that sometimes when I'm the most committed to something like that is when the unexpected opportunities come up. We'll see.

I'm also really hoping to get into the garden this weekend because frankly the weeds are dominating and the flowers, which should start to bloom in the next couple of weeks are lost. I want to be able to see the blooms, so I have to clear out the 24" high field grasses that have invaded. I'm way behind here!

"Summer" Camp????

We'll just have to trust the calendar on that one!

Before the snow, back a week or so ago, when we had some nice weather, I noticed the Mule's Ear were blooming an the side of the hill near the entrance to the canyon where Jansse's camp is located. I wanted so much to get photos of it because I have fond associations with these flowers, and they don't last long. So, this is what they looked like yesterday, and I don't think they will recover well.

On another "nature" note, while hosting Bible Study at our home last night a little miracle happened. A momma deer gave birth in the field behind our house. I couldn't get a photo for you of it because I don't have a large enough lens, but we (all of the Bible Study folks) watched the doe and fawn through the spotting scope for awhile. That is the second baby (both of the mule deer variety) born in that field since we moved here over five years ago, and it is just amazing! Love it!

Catching up a little!

I didn't get to scrapbook yesterday - just didn't happen. But I've got some layouts from a few weeks ago to share. I'll post the journaling just below each one.

Journaling: It was a sure thing that Stacy was the right girl for Daniel when she hopped into the truck with no seats and drove while Daniel pushed (no engine either). Perfect match.
Journaling:Sledding with the Walkoski family was fun for all. But at 3* it was cold! We went for a hot soup dinner once we were done on the sledding hill.
Journaling reads: These are some of the couples we Bible Studied with for years. They are so special to us - like family! We love our trips to Flathead Lake with them each year at Labor Day. It is a time of fun, playing in the sun and on the water. God gave us a very special gift when he connected us with these wonderful couples!
Journaling: Jansse has the most wonderful smile. It lights up my whole world every day!

A grey and cold day (frost on the ground and snow squalls expected through out the day), but we've got lots of activities to do (camp, Jenboree meeting, Bible Study to prepare for and attend). So, I although I'm really hankering to do more scrapbooking, it just isn't going to happen today. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see.