Today on campus

(left) Secretary Robert McDonald & (right) Sen. Jon Tester

Charles was on campus today, working on a ceramic project (didn't want the clay to dry out too much before classes resume next week). He found out that there was a forum being held on veteran's issues and so he decided to check it out. US Senator Jon Tester and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald were on hand and answered a lot of questions from the great turn-out during spring break.

The secretary mentioned that in 1975 there were two million vets over 65. Projections are that in two years there will be over ten million!

Wesley's week unfolding

Wesley has resumed his routine following our reunion on Saturday! By the looks of things he is finding new places to nap, a far cry from the tiny place where we lived in San Antonio!

Another ceramics project

Just before heading into spring break, Charles' ceramics class spent the week working on the next project, an animal.  Charles isn't sure yet if his piece is a dog or a cat, it will depend on the next phase of the project!

Holy Week begins

Wesley recovers from the last night's home-coming!

Charles welcomes four new members to the congregation today

Our Girl Scout cookies have arrived!

Our Holy Week has begun and with it is a delightful spring day in the Bitterroot Valley!  A wonderful morning at the church followed by a restful Sunday afternoon, very much welcomed after the busy couple of days we had on Flathead Lake!

Flathead Lake experience

A robin enjoys the morning fog

Deer seen on our walk

A beautiful morning on Flathead Lake

Mission Mountains on Flathead Lake

We were at Flathead Lake UM Camp over the last two days at a meeting for the Yellowstone Conference 5-day Academy for Spiritual Formation.  The setting is amazing and the 5-day, taking place in September, will be a treat for everyone.

First Sunday in Spring

A beautiful Sunday in Stevensville

Supporting a medical mission team

 We enjoyed a delightful Sunday morning with our church family today.  We truly feel blessed to be here!

Cats ahoy!

First spring flower in the back garden

Do my eyes deceive me?  Is it really grass!

Belinda and Wesley enjoy some quality time outdoors

On a delightful first Saturday in spring, we took our Wesley outside for his first feel of grass under his paws since his night-time escapade last fall. He was actually a bit timid going down the steps perhaps wondering if he could really be outdoors again!

"Big Boy" enjoys the afternoon sun on Friday

Resting up is "Fluffy"

We've been visited in recent months by two neighborhood cats and while Wesley isn't keen on sharing space with them he does enjoy watching their activities from the safety of the kitchen. The male, whose tag reads, "Big Boy," is a big cat with a soft meow.  Very affectionate, he clearly hasn't missed many meals.  The other is a female long-hair with a sweet disposition even if she is a tad shy. We set up a shelter during the deep cold of winter and today was the first time we'd seen anyone making use of it.

A prayer in spring by Robert Frost

 

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

The week that is

Charles' first bowls are done!

Wednesday morning study group

Beautiful morning in the Valley

Lunch at the senior center 

Charles' first pitchers are ready to be glazed!

We're having a busy week and enjoying each day in the Valley!

St. Patrick's Day

St. Urho's Day

The week in review

First go at making bowls

First pitcher, handle to be added

Bowls with glaze awaiting first firing

Rain clouds over Stevi UMC this morning

It's been a wonderful week for us, tiring, but still a good week all around.  We've gotten a couple rain showers this week, always welcomed here in southwestern Montana!  

For Charles, Saturday was spent working on a term paper for his 20th Century Art history class, he's learning a lot and tickled that the papers are so short!  His ceramic efforts are slowly showing results, some of the other students have commented that they like his 'rustic' looking bowls!

Belinda spent Saturday retrieving a bag that had been left behind in Fairmont at the UMW retreat.  Not the way she wanted to spend her Saturday but it was a nice, quiet drive and so it wasn't a wasted trip.

A busy week to come (when is it not busy?!)!!!

Wesley's week!

Wesley has had a very busy week, moving from one resting place to another!  Ah, the life of a professional house cat!!!

Pi Day 2015

A delightful weekend

St Mary's Peak

81 UMW members and friends were on hand

It has been a busy, but still delightful weekend for us!  Belinda returned from her weekend at the UMW retreat in Fairmont very tired, but happy to have been with so many amazing women!

Missoula afternoon

On the way to Fairmont!

Charles first effort at making bowls

 A busy week for us and the weekend has just begun! 

Belinda is at a UMW event in Fairmont Hot Springs, close to Butte, for the weekend. She has been looking forward to this getaway for weeks.  

After meeting some of the group from our church that are traveling with Belinda at the Missoula Cracker Barrel, Charles went to the university to work on a ceramic project.  He's making progress on the wheel though there is still a lot of practice before the semester is done!

St. Piran's Day

Gool Peran Lowen!

Today is St. Piran's Day, the day that honors Cornwall's patron saint.  It's hard to believe it has been eleven years since we celebrated our first St. Piran's Day at RAF St. Mawgan!!!

Nice start to March

Belinda has fun with her class

Charles has fun with the foosball crowd

A wonderful March is underway with sunny skies and a great morning @ church!!!