As we contemplate our full tables, surrounded by family & friends, there is so much to be thankful for. So many things, I’d be afraid to list them in fear of leaving something out! However, one HUGE thing I’m thankful for is this blog, and all the wonderful people who interact with me through it! I’m rather driven by the need to DO something (note: this is never exercise…wish it were, sigh!), so I don’t take lots of time to visit with people  via phone calls, a cuppa tea at the local Panera, a girls night out to the movies or what have you – I get too itchy! What started as an intense need to see awesome visual art via reading others blogs has become a way of communication. I find it easier to stop and think while reading and responding to the blog-o-sphere.

I know that part of that is because of the nature of the computer; it’s always around (usually) and doesn’t mind when I leave it mid-sentence, it’ll be there when I get back. So I can take the time to think and respond in the dribs and drabs of my day (admittedly probably too many dribs and drabs…my husband needs a bit more attention, WHEN he’s around to receive it!) A perfect example: In response to a question on Megan Rhodes’ blog the other week where she asked how people were living their dreams I wrote:

Although I have pie in the sky dreams that involve a never empty bank account, when I cut right down to what really matters, I AM living my dream! 2 awesome kids, a wonderful husband and a dog that makes me happy. A dayjob that I love with a pretty darn nice schedule to boot. Time and supplies to pursue my artistic passions. A supportive online community that grows larger every day (like I just found you via alamode Linda!).

All in all, if only my house were what it was worth the day we bought it over 5 years ago instead of ~$100K less, we would have just about the perfect life. So we try not to dwell on the $$$ stuff…but it does get in the way at times!

Indeed a wonderful post, it did the trick, making me realize how much I HAVE and how LUCKY I am…thank you!

See! She made me stop, take stock, and realize how awesome my life is. Thus, when I launched my new website I wanted to say thank you to all my friends I make online with an big giveaway. I ended up having 479 entries, 21 short of being able to give away the grand prize BUT I did choose 5 luck folks who can either have a either a Habotai Scarf or 1/2 yard of fabric dyed in one of my 22 color palettes. And without further ado, they are:

Sue who wrote: I just love your new site. The Aurora combination on the scarves appeals to me! The colours you put together are so crisp and refreshing. I follow your blog from Down Under.

Melanie Kiser who wrote: Earth & Sky – gorgeous!

Judy Liebo a new Facebook Fan

Sarah Hayden who wrote: I love the simple but powerful colours in Burnt Fire. I am usually drawn to earthy tones but the red/grey combination is very strong! I have added your blog to my bookmarks (and I found you through Pink Chalk Studio). Congratulations!

Katy who wrote: Beautiful = all of it. Sunsets are my favorite and so is the scarf

I’ll contact you all later today, and need to hear from you by next Monday, please! I’d like to thank ALL of you for all your wonderful comments…and although I can’t send EVERYONE a scarf, I CAN offer you all a discount!

Now, I’ve gotta sign off and get cracking on the setting of the table etc… We’ve got a 26 pound turkey in the oven (yes, it’s THAT big..barely fit in the oven!). We should have 11 folk for dinner, then an extra 10 or so for dessert. So, what to you think, 9 pies for 21 people – is that enough? Maybe we’ll have an extra piece or two , you’re welcome to come and indulge!

Hello little blog-o-sphere, I’ve missed you! We’ve returned from a very long vacation: Visits with family in Sandpoint , ID and Missoula, MT with family, then 8 nights of camping in Yellowstone National Park. 3500 miles of driving. 8 nights in a tent – luckily the air mattress didn’t pop, but it gets COLD at nighttime up there…which is fine, until you contemplate going to the bathroom.

I saw some amazing things and took 6.5 GB of pictures. I’ll be a long time processing the pix, and I’ll be sure to show you some of the best, but it’s going to be a slow process. It took me a couple of days to work my way through the mountain of laundry, and recover from sheer exhaustion, because although this vacation was fun, and FULL of awesome visual stimulation, it was in NO WAY restful for me. My hubby caught many fish, Liam was happy 95% of the time:

and Logan was happy 80% of the time,

so it was a great vacation.

Today I thought I’d share some of the pix of wild life I took. I’m lucky to have a decent zoom lens, so these close-up pix were taken from a safe distance away. I can’t believe how many people ignore the rules about staying far away from the animals…2 people have already been gored by bison this summer alone!

We had many chances to catch a glimpse of an elk from afar:

but on our last day, we came around the corner of a walking trail and who did we come upon but a young elk loving some big fat juicy leaves:

This is as close as WE got to any large wildlife, and it made us a bit nervous, but not overly so, because of the fence and the age of the elk.

We did see one grizzly bear on this trip, and this one was well photographed…there were 50 cars backed up in both directions because this guy was digging for grubs on a hill right next to the road. There were 3 rangers there directing traffic, and doing there best to keep the people who had stopped their cars and walked back to see more (what are they THINKING!?!) I had plenty of time to snap 30-30 pix out the window, and move along! People, this is a GRIZZLY bear, not YOGI bear!

Most amazing of all is how cavalier some people are bison. You always know when there are some bison or elk around, because you’ll see the “bison-jam” – here’s a small one:

One the western park of the park, we mostly saw random single bison (probably 1-2/day)

However in the Hayden Valley on the Eastern side of the park, we came across a HUGE herd of them, this is just a portion of it:

We had a couple of experiences of Bison vs. civilization too. This group decided that the path from Old Faithful to Daisy was the perfect place to hang out. Here, there was a ranger keeping people back at a safe-ish distance, and answering questions.

The most bizarre was to come out of the Old Faithful area “general store” to see this guy at the tree next to the gas pumps:

Remember, I’m using a TELEPHOTO lens…please note the idiot biker in the background, he was later joined by another friend, they stood within 5 feet of this guy. Although ultimately, adults are completely within their rights to be idiots, one park employee told me about 2 different instances of small kids being injured by bison because of their parent 1) making them stand close or 2) putting them ON TOP of the bison! One day we came around a curve in the road and were able to slow down for 2 kids crossing the road to meet their Dad who was beckoning them…as we finished the curve, we saw that there was a bison literally 5 feet away he wanted to take a picture of. Yes, there was a fence, but the fence is only a couple of pieces of wood, and if the bison charged, they all could have run from the bison into the road to be struck by a car. ARGH!

Here endeth my lecture on keeping a distance from wildlife.

And, now, I’ve got some making to do!

We had a great visit with family in Sandpoint, Id.

My Stepsister Pam lives there, with her awesome hubby Tommy, and her cutie-patootie son Max! Looking through my pix for this post, I realize I don’t have a picture of my Mom & Stepdad, who also were visiting Sandpoint! Oh, well!

I had a little trunk show, that a bunch of her friends who work at the Coldwater Creek main office came to. Believe it or not, all this stuff fit in 1 and a half Rubbermaid totes!

Showing off my journals for the 1st time: 

Pam & Me!

Me and the boys – Logan needs to learn to stand still for a picture!

Of course, I forgot to take pix during the event, but a lot of fun was had by all!

Liam spent each day fishing with my husband in the nearby streams. Logan, Max & I got a short visit to the beach at Lake Pend Oreille.

Tommy & Max (Hold your horses ladies, he’s happily married to my stepsister!)

Logan having fun:

Max is NOT so sure about the beach!

We then got to visit with even more family, we spent the evening with Andrew’s sister & brother-in-law in Missoula, where I finally have normal speed internet.

But NOW…it’s off to Yellowstone, land of NO INTERNET! Wish me luck! AAAHHH – 8 days without blogging, reading blogs, twittering…whatever will I do???