This is where it all started

Actually it started the season before (I know they spelled my name wrong). We were working as bartenders in different lodges in Alta. I was at the Goldminer’s Daughter and Gary worked at the Peruvian. As you can see from his pass Gary had been in Alta for a few years (1998) I spent a season up there in 1997 and to make a long story short we had a mutual friend (Johnny B) who thought we would be good for each other. You see my aunt Laurel had given me tickets to a film festival. I ran into Johnny and figured he was harmless because he had a girlfriend at the time who was in Spain so I asked him if he wanted to go with me and he turned me down saying that I should ask Gary that he would really like to go with me. So I took Johnny’s advise and asked Gary to join me and the rest is history. Johnny is still proud to this day that he was such a successful match maker. I always remind him that we owe it all to him.

We celebrated our 5th anniversary on Saturday. We spent our first night without the wee one and ventured north to Lava Hot Springs. Turns out Ellie had a better time walking and talking with Grandpa and Grandma McKenney. Our experience in Lava well… lets just say we wont be going back and yuck pretty much sums it up. We tried to make the best of it.

Back to the important stuff though, Gary and I have had 5 years of joy, love, tears, laughter, stress, companionship, and all that makes up a good marriage. Over the last 5 years we have lived near the mouth of Little Cottonwood in Sandy, at the Entrada Ranch outside of Moab, in the “Slanty Shanty” in old town Park City, and now here in our little cabin in Timberlakes. We have had some good times and some hard times in all those places. I am looking forward to what lies a head of us and the many more adventures we are going to have together.

10 Things

Once in a while my favorite Momma Blogger will make a list of 10 things she is loving; my sister did this a while ago as well. So, I thought I’d follow suite and make my own 10 Things List of what I am loving at the present time…

1. Lavender– Our lavender plants are in full bloom and they smell sooo good. Yes, I totally have a thing for lavender…

2. CSA Veggies– Every Wednesday we go to Park City to pick up a box of fresh local grown veggies. So far we’ve enjoyed a variety of lettuce, chard, peas, radishes, green beans, aragula, mizuna, yellow and green zucchini, spinach, tat soy, and mustard greens. It’s fun to be surprised by what’s in the box it’s different every week and helps make the meal planning interesting

3. Fabric Markers– I have had these projects in my head for a while and I finally found these pens last week. I will admit I borrowed the “La Petite Monster” idea from a vendor at the Park Silly Market, she has the cutest onsies and such.

4. Alba Botanicals– I went to dinner with some ladies a while ago and they had nothing but good things to say about the Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask so I thought I’d give it a try and they are right. It kicks butt. I also love the lavender sunscreen I always buy some in the spring and love using it all summer. Gary even likes it 🙂

5. Our Columbines are in bloom. Gary took these pictures the other night. My favorite flower hands down.

6. Ellie waking up. Here is a cute video G took a week or so ago. I know we post way too many videos of the Wee One but she is so cute can’t help it. She melts our hearts.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuQNRkOmW-g[/youtube]

7. Tschu Tschu photo. My sisters latest photographic fun and adventures. Love the color love the words love the artist…

8. Favorite Quote

“Hatred does not cease with hatred; only by love that is the eternal rule”…Buddha

I found it here

9. She and Him My new favorite ear candy. Even the cd cover is precious. I love her voice and the tone of the album good stuff.

10. Yoga– Just signed up for a gym membership and starting some yoga classes. I practiced quite a bit my last few years of school at USU and I’ve missed it a lot. So here we go again…

What are your 10 things?

More DtB Stuff

Gary here. Ok are you sick of my Donna the Buffalo posts yet? Sorry, but I can’t resist. They remind me so much of my homeland, and the people, that I am addicted to their music and vibe. And lifestyle…

A favorite college professor of mine way back when used to use the term “Gestalt” a lot… From the Wiki page on Gestalt Psychology…

Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt of the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies; or, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That, my friends, is Donna the Buffalo. When you’re at a show there is MUCH much more there than just an audience, instruments, musicians and music.

Enjoy this tribute MySpace TV vid on Donna the Buffalo’s 20 year anniversary, and their new record “Silverlined”..

DONNA THE BUFFALO – SILVERLINED

Previous DtB posts include:

• A classic from Jeb
• Herd of ‘em?

Waiting on Button Holes

Here is my latest attempt at sewing.

It is a shirt for Ellie when she gets a little bigger. I am so in love with the material. It’s a print from Heather Ross. I found it here. I was afraid to cut into it but then just took a deep breath and went for it. I will admit I did struggle making this. It’s hard to work with wee sizes. Attaching the arms and the cuffs were the big challenges. It will be easier the next time around though. I have the material all planned out already. This pattern came from a thrift store shopping trip as well. It’s so retro I love it. Straight out of the 70’s.

It is not complete though, needs button holes. I’m a little intimidated by this task although I’m sure it is a simple thing but I think I will wait until my Mom can bail me out here with her skills. I’m just afraid of putting a hole in the fabric because once you do there is no returning. I have actually made button holes before. I did it on a couple of skirts and a shirt and I did it the old fashion way with out the use of the button holler sewing machine attachment. In fact I think I prefer this but it is tedious to say the least and I’m not so sure how it would turn out on a wee shirt for Ellie.

Here is a look at my next project…

It’s a pattern by Oliver + S. I was directed here by the Chicken and the Momma. I love that the patterns can also be used as paper dolls. Brilliant!

This is the material I’m going to use for the top. Another Heather Ross print. Lovely! Wish me luck because I’m afraid to cut into this one as well. I’m thinking of using an old pair of brown cords of mine for the shorts.

Human Thing

Here is an inspirational song/video from The Be Good Tanyas that I found on one of my favorite blogs. I really like the animation, the quilts on the line, and the couple dancing with the mountain scene in the background. Those are my favorite highlights…oh and the song isn’t so bad, either. 🙂 Don’t be afraid to check out “The Littlest Birds” as well.

Enjoy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1Ie370rHk[/youtube]

Something to Share

I love magazines! I’ve never been one to sit down and read a book I always tend to fall right to sleep about two pages into it, unless it’s and excellent book that really captures my attention but that is usually a rare case I guess I’m a picky reader. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I’m a visual kind of person I love tactile stuff and eye candy I need pictures to keep me alert. So when one of my favorite bloggers SouleMama put up a link to Small Magazine I quickly fell in love with the concept. It’s an internet publication featuring boutique shops like the ones found on the Etsy site. They have little stories/interviews with the artisans that contribute and interesting and lovable photo sessions as well as illustrated fashion features.

“Small is a magazine of creative work on a small scale and for the small sized. Although primarily for children’s products and designs it is also about small-scale productions. We are looking for people that are interested in play, children, childhood and the child within and who produce high quality work and independent products and design on a small-scale.”

Plus they provide bonus material like a pdf for paper dolls. So cute! It’s a great way to channel some artistic inspiration and meet some of those fabulous Etsy artisans. Go ahead and subscribe you wont be disappointed.

Other things to share… checkout the “I like your style” blogs over yonder under the blogroll as well as the new link to this gem of a site Trailmix.com.  Have fun getting lost in the fabulous internet vortex!