An Angel in the Sky

I illustrated a book!
Its called An Angel in the Sky by Sheila Booth-Alberstadt
Yes it was a long time ago but it is now back in print with a few changes.
For those of you who want to check it out click on the link below.
http://sbabooks.com/library/

Montana Landscape

This 4"X6" oil on board is one of my favorite miniatures . The scene is typical of the landscape of rural Montana.
I used rich earthy colors as a contrast against the blue sky peeking out behind billowing white clouds.
The big Montana sky reminds me of what I see out of my window every day as I look at the farmland below my home.

If you want to see more of my Art go to http://artstringsgallery.blogspot.com

Potions

Hey, I'm headed out to boot camp on Saturday. It really doesn't start until Tuesday but I'm going early.
Watch out! I will come back with lots of new witchcraft and wizardly potions for you all to try.
A few are of them are: bio feed back ,PH balance, EER Program, and Masji. Sound like Greek?
It does to me too. Some day I will make oilizers of you all.

An explosion of berries

Well, it is Summer time at its height in Montana.
My raspberries are exploding with yummy goodness.
Unfortunately they are a few weeks late so my family were not able to experience them when they were here.
I am preserving the memory of the plump red fruit in little jars of almost seedless jam.
They (my family) will have to come visit to get some of the coveted jam.

I love to pick raspberries.
It gives me time to think, and ponder and be thankful for the bounty the Lord has given me in all aspects of my life.

The Best Ever Lemon Pie

One of my students brought the best ever (to die for) lemon pie to our last painting class. It was made from scratch with fresh lemons that she brought back from her trip to southern California. I just had to give it a try. Here are the results.

Outstanding flavor, beautiful peaks, and my always excellent crust from the Lion House recipe cook book.

The trick to the beautiful meringe? Add the sugar 2 T at a time.
I think I will keep this recipe! Ummmmmm!

Wash Day

There is something about hanging laundry from a line in the open air that is so pleasant for me. I feel so domestic. I find myself searching the house for laundry to wash and counting the minutes for the washer to finish it's cycle. The fresh smell, the stiffness of the clothes, and the feeling of a job well done. Call me crazy, but I love my retro clothes dryer.

Mothers Day.

On Mothers day we naturally think of our mothers. Mine has been gone for 4 years now. My mother in law has been gone for 22. I really miss my mother especially on Mothers Day. I have very fond memories of both my moms and also all the women that have adopted me as thier daughter through the years.

Today has been a great day. Thanks to all who participated or will participate in my memory present. I love it. Thank you Sara for putting it together and coming up with the idea.
I love all of you
Mom and Grandma

Coming up--news of the first Moss Family Reunion !

China Life

This is part of the kitchen of a home in China. We were able to go into one of the local homes and to see what it is like. They fed about 15 of us dinner. This family happened to be well off because they owned their home and their own court yard. Mrs. Wong was a very beautiful woman. She had retired from working in a tea house to take care of her mother. Taking care of all the generations is very important to them. Many times we would see grandparents with the young children while the parents were working.

The beginning of the dinner they fed us. Everyone drinks Coke or Beer over there. We had to ask for water. We didn't eat much that night especially after we saw the snake wine on the counter with a real snake in it.
Almost everyone owns washing machines but not dryers. This is an example of a apartment building with the wash hanging out side. Even the nicest apartment buildings would have laundry hanging out.
More Laundry in Shanghai

This is what the public toilets look like. Most of the time this is what they have in their homes. Some of the older communities have only a public toilet.. The first time was an interesting experience. Tip for travel in China: Bring your own toilet paper and make sure you have it with you at all times.
It sure is good to be home.

This is Kim, Simon our guide, Me and Pat our friend. Simon was once a High School teacher. He taught English. Every morning on the bus he would teach us a couple of new Chinese words or phrases.

Kim trying to haggle a price for some coins. He drew quite a crowd. We found out that the coins were knock offs. The owner of the booth wouldn't give him his money back. We had to settle for a bracelet. I love it. Word to the not so wise. Don't give them money and expect change back you might get counterfeit. Make sure what you're are buying is real. If it sounds like a good deal it probably isn't.

This is the grand canal. The Chinese started construction in 480 B.C. It was finally finished in 610 A.D. They call it the Venus of the East because Marco Polo thought it reminded him of his home in Italy. Most people in China hang their clothing out t0 dry. Very few of them have dryers. Our guide said that that was their national flag. The canal was originally lined with tile and built with slave labor.

Another view of the Grand Canal. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

My thoughts on China

Tiger Hill Garden View

Well it took a few days to get over the Jet lag.
We are glad to be home.
We did have a great time though.
Our days were packed with things to do every minute.
So tired every night that we just fell into bed.

I thought China was a country of extremes.
Very rich and very poor.
Very beautiful and very polluted.
Very old and very New.
Some arrogant but mostly very friendly.

It was a photographers and artists paradise.
Great business opportunities and free enterprise very much alive.
I never saw so many bikes and scooters in my life.
People everywhere.
I wish you all could have been there to share it with us.

I will be posting some of my favorite photos over the next few days. I hope you will enjoy them.

See you in Beijing

Well, the bags are not packed but we are almost ready to go. It doesn't seem real that we are going to China.
I remember as a child trying to dig a hole to China with my friend Kristy. Of course we knew we couldn't do it but it was something to do down by the tree house fort on a summer day. Every child should have a tree fort. My Brothers built ours, but we tried to decorate it and put in a brick path to the tree and of course dig a hole to China.

The great wall of China here we come.

A Change is as Good as New

Well a change is as good as a new room. I was tired of the old look. I wanted a change. So a friend of mine came over and we brainstormed about what to do. Its funny I can go in to other peoples houses and tell them what they need to do but when it comes to my own home I go blank. I knew I wanted an accent wall. So my assignment was to paint and Phil would be back in a week. After painting we just moved some things around and even tho it doesn't seem like a big change it feels better just to mix things up. The accent wall really brings the wall closer which I wanted and now seem more cozy. I need to add some pillows to bring in the blue green of the print in the couch. This summer I will paint the wall with a solid color but much lighter than the accent wall. I want to do a few more changes because I am always moving things around til I am satisfied. But hopefully you get the idea.

Office Redo

This is the office before.

Basically it was Taylor's Bedroom but he hasn't used it for years. It has just been a catch all/ office that I hated to go in. So consequently I did my bookwork on the kitchen table. This photo is after I cleaned it up, de-junked and moved the desk from under the window to where it is now.


Here it is now almost done.




I just have the trim to do. It didn't cost much and it works for me. I actually enjoy going in to do bookwork. I keep my lap top in there and now I have a place to do my LSA readings.
I am using grandma's antique chair behind the desk until I can get a office chair.

Count down to China

Count down to China is
2 days
Word of the day
Tie-gway-La (spelled phonetically)
Definition: To expensive

How was Prom????

I just thought you would like to know Taylor's first prom was this last weekend. Taylor's date is Mary Kate. They ended up going to Jags for dinner with friend Ricky and his date. They saw a lot of people they knew at the restaurant and most of their friends were at the Prom.
In answer to how was the Prom? "Great!"
Senior Prom King was Justin J and Queen was Larisa W. Both from our ward. We have great youth in our ward that set a good example for their peers. Since we are definitely the minority here that says a lot for their strength.

It's melting!

It is melting!

"IT" being the snow that came 5 months ago and never left. I feel like we have been in a deep freeze forever. Thankfully it has been raining and that melts snow fast around here. It will be nice to see anything but white and gray. I definitely feel that spring is here.

I am getting the gardening bug like my daughters. However I will not be able to plant for at least two months. They will be harvesting by then. It will give me time to get the garden plot in shape after sitting for several years not being used.

Look out Mr. Galvin!
Your neighbor is making great plans. In my dreams anyway.

Welcome Family and Friends!
We are also looking forward to company this summer. Grells, Turners, Jase and Jess, Janessa, and Lukey Luke. Anyone else that would also like to come our way you are welcome.

"Changing your mind is a woman's prerogative"

I heard that quote somewhere once and I believed it. I use it all the time and my Hubby just rolls his eyes and goes with the flow.

Anyway, I changed my mind. I'm not staying home. I am going to go to Mesa, Arizona to visit my Daughter, Son and Daughter in-law next month. I also have good friend that I am going to see and stay with for a few days while I am there.
How can you pass up good air fares when they stare you in the face?

My Hubby and I have also signed up with the local Chamber of Commerce to make a trip to China this April with three other couples from our ward. About 100 of us are going from our town.( 3 bus loads) I never thought in my life time I would get this chance. It was also too good to pass up.

Other trips on the list: at least two trips to Utah this summer and one to California for our first ever Family Reunion this next Thanksgiving. We plan to meet at Disney Land. Some of us are excited and others are trying to get excited.
Smile daughter no.1.

January in Montana

A couple of weeks ago we got so much snow that we all just had to stay home. Which wasn't bad. We just broke out the food storage.
If you live in Northern Montana you are use to all this snow and you just suck it up and enjoy it.

Snow up past my knees. Commander C took this picture. He was afraid it would go up to his arm pits and he couldn't get out.

T- man had to shovel all this snow before he could go play.
We got about 24'' in about 36 hours.
These pictures were taken after some of it had blown away.
January in Montana!

Paint, paint, paint! We Love to Paint!

I started my Tuesday watercolor class.
I love my Tuesday ladies.
We have so much fun painting and visiting. They think I'm a great teacher and I think they are the ideal students. The truth is they keep me on my toes to stay one step or a half a step ahead of them.
Jackie is the careful realistic painter, but she keeps us laughing with what we call her Jackieisums.
Barb is always happy and loves to paint loosely.
Chris loves to be challenged and usually paints with bright colors.
Rainy is the newest but has great natural ability so she fits right in.
MaryAnn is on vacation. We miss her.

I think I will do a painting of my Tuesday ladies someday.

By the way don't call me on Tuesday afternoons.

I'm staying Home!

At least that's what I have been telling myself all day.

We have been going 9o miles an hour since November. For Thanksgiving we drove to Portland to be with our three adorable grandchildren. (10 hours) We then drove to Missoula (10hours) and the next day flew to Las Vegas (2hours) Then we rented a car and drove to Bakersfield, CA (5 hours because of traffic) to visit our three other adorable grandchildren. We drove back to Vegas to spend time with family and experience Cowboy Christmas, shows- Ka and Phantom of the Opera. Flew back to Missoula and drove home to Kalispell. (2 hours)
Enjoyed Christmas and New years here with Family.

We left again for Heber City (12 hours) and 5 days later returned home( just last night).
Now I am playing catch up.

To tell you the truth I loved every minute of the last few months but I am staying home for a while.

Motel Madness

I cant believe what we just did. With in about 4 days we refurbished two rooms at the motel. It was non stop madness. Everyone pitched in and worked really hard. Every night we fell into bed wishing we could sleep forever. The shows on HGTV with time tables don't even compare to the short amount of time we had to put these rooms together. But we got done and Martha Stuart would be proud. Would we do it again?

hummmmmmmmmmmmm No!

We are hiring it out next time.

So many Santas!

I sure got on a Santa kick this year. My friend wanted to make paper mache Santa's. Little did I know that they would take so much time.

I started with Styrofoam cones and piled on the mache shaping the features and beards as I went. I then had to let them dry for about a week. Clear acrylic spray to seal, paint, and hours later, spray again, and then antiquing over that. It seemed like it took for ever. Last of all I did the glasses and bells.

What am I going to do with all these Santa's? I don't know. Maybe someone will take them off my hands