Knotty Animals

Last summer during one of our day trips we discovered these creatures along the main street of Red Lodge.  According to my one minute of research, these creatures were made from fallen Rocky Mountain Junipers gathered at the base of the Beartooth Mountain Range.

As you can see from the last photo, the name of the business is Rocky Fork Juniper.  After visiting their website, www.rockyforkjuniper.com, I discovered some of the other goodies that they make including furniture, mantels and this planter that I thought was neat...

Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order. 

                                                                               -Virginia Woolf

Cheery

Elizabeth attended her first cheer leading game last Saturday.  I did my best with the photos but my camera uses two batteries per picture so this is the best I could do!  

The girls did really great despite several coaches calling in sick that day leaving the squads with substitutes who weren't quite prepared resulting in several looks of confusion and some misplaced poms.  Oh well...

And now...the videos!!

Buck That!

Last night, we attended the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo in Billings.  Once we arrived to purchase tickets, we discovered that is an annual charity event.  Upon further research, here's what I found out about the event:

- The Chase Hawks Memorial Association Story -  In September of 1994, a six-year-old Montana cowboy named Chase Hawks was killed in a tragic accident.  Family and friends gathered to form the Chase Hawks Memorial  Association (CHMA) with the goal of finding hope for others facing crisis and possibly easing some of their own heartbreak.  The Association keeps Chase's memory forever in the hearts of many while bringing the comfort of much needed assistance to many more.  CHMA is simply neighbors helping neighbors in the cowboy tradition of community spirit.

So sad :(  On top of it being a charity event, the Marines were also there gathering donations of cash and toys for Toys for Tots.  It was a great event which included Bareback, Saddlebronc and Bullriding only.  Most of the riders had just come from the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last weekend which, for us, meant we were in for a good show; and we were not disappointed!

Rimrock Auto Arena (aka The Metra)

Minus the balding head in the shot, 

this was a nice action shot!

The rodeo clown, Crash.

Awww :)

 

Although these photos turned out fairly well, the best shots we got were with the video function on our camera so here are the top three videos we ended up with....very exciting!

 

Apparently you need buns of steel for this job!

Yikes!

This video needs no comment.

Needless to say, we had a great time and look forward to the next one :)

Go, Fight, Win!

For those of you who don't know yet, Elizabeth has decided to take cheer leading which is offered through one of the churches here in Columbus.  The season only lasts about a month and a half and they will be cheering for the alternative group of basketball players.  So, on Saturday we went to the church for her uniform fitting and a packet of information including the cheers and motions she will need to learn.  Although initially she was having second thoughts about going, once we got there she saw several other girls from her class and got more excited once she put on the skirt!

Sorry it's a little fuzzy; had to take it with my phone because, as usual, I forgot the camera :)

Getting Crafty!

While digging out the Christmas goodies, Elizabeth found a "sew-your-own-ornaments" kit that I had purchased for a million percent off after last season so we decided to dig in!  Although I thought we may give a few away, she is determined that they will all be hanging on our tree by Christmas :)

One down...nine to go!!

Birthday Wishes!

I know that this is my second blog post today but I wanted to pay homage to my bestie!  

So, enjoy some of these beautiful pictures of her as I say...

Happy Birthday, Karen!

Digging for garnets in St. Maries, Idaho

I know that she isn't fond of this photo but it's one of favorites 

because it shows off her fun-loving personality!

Halloween 2010

Karen and me during last year's Halloween party. 

The Pirate and the Bumble Bee...sounds like a kids book!

 

I am so proud that my bestie has an Elementary Education degree

and blessed that she was able to be my daughter Elizabeth's preschool

teacher two years ago.  This was her first graduating class! 

Elizabeth's birthday dinner September 2010

(P.S. Made a personal sacrifice to post this picture).

Karen with husband Chris (aka H2)!

Showing off her fun-loving side again at the

American Cancer Society's Relay For Life 2011.

Chris and Karen with Karen's mom Rusyl and step-dad, Kirk.

They are wonderful people :)

The beautiful bride with her sisters Dawn (left) and Kaycee!

Halloweens past...

Karen and watermelon friend Verity!

Halloween 2000. Dawn, Ansel and Karen.

Proof of our undying love for each other...and cocktails!

Karen with 4-H steer, Opie at the 1996 Lincoln County Fair.

Karen showing her crafty side :)

Chris and Karen at our wedding October 2003.

I could literally go on and on with photos of my bestie but I think you get the picture (no pun intended).  Karen is fun and spontaneous, hard working, creative and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.  So, Happy Birthday, Karen!  I miss you and wish I could be there to celebrate but it'll just have to wait a couple more weeks!!

   

Happy Halloweeeeeeeeen!

On Monday, like most other families, we prepared for the traditional "begging for candy".  Unlike year's past, however, this year did not include a trip to the usual decorations, punch recipes or a trip to the liquor store!

Our Halloween kicked off with a party at school which I helped out with.  I was in charge of a game so I made a pumpkin face and some noses and had the kids play "Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin".

Not bad for free hand, huh?

The kids also playing the mummy game where they wrap each other in toilet paper!  Elizabeth broke out of hers while I was replacing the batteries in my camera (stupid camera) but I managed to get a photo of her wrapping up her friend Sammie.

Eating rice krispie goodies, courtesy of me!

Elizabeth coloring her Halloween cup.

After the party, we went home, had some homemade chicken noodle soup, 

then headed out to terrorize the neighborhood!

While we were out and about, we discovered a fabulous house full of the Halloween spirit!

I know the video is a little dark but I hope you can see how cool it was!

Pictures of more uber-decorated homes!

Yo Ho!

 

Dancing?

We met at least three cats during our outing...no black ones though :)

Once we got home, Elizabeth and I posed for a picture in our costumes

then took inventory of the booty!

Rare picture of the photophobe butterfly with her witchy captor!

Plenty of candy for all three of us to be sick :)

All in all, it was a fabulous evening of tricks and treats!  

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!