First Sunday of Autumn

"The Bill of Rights"

The last of the summer harvest?

Potluck time!

Potluck time 2

Mo's new wheels

We've had a wonderful Sunday here in Stevensville with a full morning of activity at the church.  We had thought about going to the Stevensville Founder's Day event at the Mission (the 173rd anniversary of the arrival of the "Blackrobes") but decided to stay home and rest ahead of another busy week to come!

Autumn has arrived!

Autumn in the Bitterroot Valley is underway with overcast skies and temps in the upper 50s.  To get the season underway we hung on our front door the welcomed banner given to us by a church member.  Welcome fall! 

Cooler weather at last!

Enjoying autumn on campus

Stevi HS band's parade practice

Cooler weather approaching from the west 

We're hoping that the last of the summer heat is behind us with approach of the weekend!  Now it's feeling like autumn may well and truly be upon us and we are so glad!!!

First day of autumn

Autumn has come to UMT!

Critiques underway in 3D FOundations

Choir practice tonight

The first day of autumn was a warm day for us here in southwest Montana.  It looks like a couple more warm days before we settle into temps in the 60s!!!

Charles got a good review on his first sculpture piece (as seen in yesterday's post) and is also making progress in his painting class. Lots to learn and process!!

We enjoyed the last of our harvest from our garden, some lovely squash and zucchini tonight with our supper.  We've enjoyed what we got from the garden, now the veggie beds can rest for the winter.

Our week is underway

Belinda enjoys lunch in Hamilton

Wesley supervises Charles' art project

After another weekend behind us we launched into our week with a full Monday of activity.

Charles had an early afternoon funeral in Missoula for a 90-year old WWII vet.  It was a unique service with American Legion and Masonic components making up the bulk of the event.

Belinda had the opportunity to enjoy lunch with some of the ladies from the Stevi UMC UMW (United Methodist Women).  The ladies were in Hamilton for a tour of mission sites and when they were done it was time for lunch.  What a great group to hang-out with!

This evening Charles was touching up his latest sculpture effort and was supervised by Wesley!

Fall is in the air

Birthday treats at the Senior Center

Wednesday evening study group

items from the church for a UMW mission project

Our Chokecherry tree

It's been quite a week for us with lots of activity taking place every day!  We've had school, work, choir, meetings, civic events, church events, and still managed to enjoy the trees in our neighborhood changing colors!

On Friday Belinda went with another member of the Stevi UMC to the district meeting of the United Methodist Women.  They took four boxes of school supplies and other items to be shared with the Blackfeet UM Parish (on the Blackfeet Reservation).  It is wonderful to have such a caring congregation.

A new look

Late summer rest

New look from the back yard

Wesley finds a place to hide

New look in front

Our week is underway and with it another chance to be glad we live in the Valley!  Two men from the church came by today and finished the touch-ups of the painting project and put everything back in place.  We really like the new look!

Wesley in the meantime appears to be glad that the commotion of the past week is over!

It's a wrap!

Belinda leads a discussion group each Sunday morning

Belinda warms up with the choir

The church's book club met tonight

What a week it's been!  Now for a bit of rest before we launch into another exciting adventure that is our life in the Bitterroot Valley!

Parsonage painting project

Sunrise this morning over the Sapphire Mountains

Wesley keeps an eye on the backyard crew

Bella (the dog) monitors the front yard crew

Sharing pizza under the apple tree
There was a great turn-out from our church today as the painting of the parsonage was undertaken.  There is still a wee bit of touch-up and some of the window trim in the back to be done but the house looks amazing already!

Charles' week at school

3D projects being created

Charles' self-portrait (second from the left)

Professor Kevin Bell leads the project critiques

Charles has had a good week in the studio classes, first by making good progress in his 3D-foundations class project and then by presenting a passable self-portrait in the painting course.  The 3D class project entails creating an armature (a form using chicken wire) and then surrounding it with burlap and plaster.  

The painting class has been creating self-portraits based on distorted reflections (using brass or other reflective surfaces).  Charles says he has a way to go yet but the teacher said Charles has already come a long way!

The week thus far

Parsonage prep work

Early prime/paint look

There has been a definite cool-down in the weather this week and though there may yet be another flirt with 80s it appears that the change in seasons is already underway in the Bitterroot Valley. This morning as we left for work & school the temp was only 32F and there was a dusting of snow on the peaks to the west of town.

The prep work continues on the parsonage and it looks like the prime coat will go on today and the painting will begin on Friday.

The week begins

Sunset over the Bitterroots

The work on the parsonage painting project began in earnest this morning and will continue throughout the week.  It is going to look really nice when all is said and done.

Our weekend

First sign of fall on our apple tree

Belinda leads the Wired Word class 

Wesley takes an early afternoon pause

"How much is that kitty in the window?"

A beautiful day is unfolding here in the Bitterroot Valley!  Hope that wherever you are the day is just peachy as well!

First Friday in Stevensville

Music on Main St.

Belinda chats with our vet's staff



Kendal Norris performs at the library

Dave & Connie (SUMC members) and Charles visit on Main St.

Belinda and Kathy visit by Valley Drugs

By Still Waters perform at the Morning Star Coffee

We had a rare first Friday of the month free and were able to take advantage of the opportunity to take in some of the events taking place in Stevensville as part of "First Friday."

We did a whirl of Main Street, taking in several of the musical offerings and doing some window shopping.  We also met several Stevi UMC members.  One never knows who will be seen along Main Street!