Loy Kratong 2014

I arrived home from our roadtrip in time for what will probably be my last Loy Kratong.

The Road Trip to Yellowstone:

 I love our Road Trips!  Last time Kim and Mary were here, he headed down to Moab and the National Parks in that part of Utah.  This time, sadly minus Mary, we headed north to Jackson Hole,
the Tetons and Yellowstone.  Above, is one of the four arches leading into the center square of the city.  Each is made entirely of elk antlers.  Jackson boasts probably the largest reserve area for wintering Elk in the nation.  Come Spring, the Boy Scouts are allowed onto the reserve to collect the antlers dropped during the winter.  They are then auctioned off one weekend each summer with the Scouts getting a portion of the proceeds.

Happy Halloween!!!!

OK, these are from a couple of weeks ago, but Halloween was just a few days ago, so it counts, right?

Allison and the kids invited me to go to Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake for the annual Pumpkin Boat

Races.  They are sponsored by the group that grows the big ones  Hard to believe that they float in the first place but even harder to believe that people would actually want to get inside and paddle across the lake! 

The day was beautiful and we sat in the sun for
a bit waiting for the races to begin.  The costumes alone were worth the wait and the watch.  No one capsized!  Again, hard to believe.  Below, is my granddaughter, Livi standing in front of the lucky one that didn't get carved up for the races.  I think it came in at around 1300 pounds.

Livi's birthday is on the 19th and she always wants to have a Halloween costume party for the family to celebrate.  Below are three of my guys:  Roger is the wolf, Jason, my CPA, is the Punk Accountant
and Evan my lawyer and river guide looks way to much like his Mom....scary stuff.

 Here are the Johnston's all ready for trick or treating.  Poor Rob was rather embarrassed but was a good sport to wear the costume his wife ordered for him on-line.

Livi wanted to be a "dead" bride and she looks "lovely" doesn't she.  I'm not too sure about the groom. I hope everyone had a fun day.  I spent my Halloween in Houston at the Quilt Show.  More on that later.

Finish the Trip:

This blog is starting at the end and jumping forward.  Such is my life in the world of blogging.  Above is a photo of the Stitchin Post, a "bucket list" entry that I have now checked off.  Sisters is the home of a fantastic city-wide outdoor quilt show put on  the second Saturday of July every year. This has been going on for the past 39 years and started by Jean Wells, owner of Stitchin Post as well as a well known artist and author.  July couldn't happen for us, so as we were putting together our trip to the great Northwest, this was put on the "to do" list.  It didn't disappoint.  I discovered a great fabric designer by the name of Marsha Derse and bought a few pieces from her line.  As nobody in Utah carries it, I just may have to make a return visit one of these days.

Trip to the Coast:

This summer has been a fast one and while we have done a lot of things, it has been awhile since we took more than a weekend away.  The kids are now in school so the roads are less congested and hotels have vacant signs and with perfect weather we decided to head to the coastline of Northern California.  As we were leaving SL we spotted double and triple full rainbows.  Twenty minutes from home and I am already making Roger pull over for a photo shoot.  Worth it!!! 

Cabin, etc.

We've been updating the cabin a bit; new deck outside, new paint, satellite TV, and some new furniture, below. inside.  With all of the improvements, it is feeling more and more like home, so I decided that a more permanent sewing space was in order as well.  I commandeered the loft area off the upstairs bedroom and planted my sewing machine on the small table we have there.  I still need to bring up a standing lamp and another table for ironing and cutting and I am good to go.  Get a fire going in the great room below and I can settle in for some long winter days.

 



Annual Lunag Prabang Festival

Our trip to Luang Prabang coincided with the annual large market and boat race.  People from all over the area attended the market.  I spotted these lovely sunshades which I thought would provide marvellous cover for those of our party who were feeling the heat.