A Charlie Brown Christmas turns fifty

Fifty years old and going strong

Another project underway

Charles has been spending time this weekend in the basement where he has an art studio set up. He's now working on two sculpture projects! 

One of the projects involves discarded wood pallets and is titled, "The next move is yours."  Stay tuned to see it develop!!

Ready for Advent

We're ready for Advent!

Elves extraordinaire!

In keeping with our tradition, Charles set up the Christmas tree yesterday (the Friday after Thanksgiving). We are thrilled to be celebrating our third Christmas in Montana! So far neither of the cats has attempted to climb the tree!

Sheila and Belinda have spent several hours following the trip to the Corvallis bazaar wrapping presents which will go into shoe boxes for children on the Blackfeet Reservation. Our church is taking part in that effort again this year and at last count it had gathered more than 70 boxes.

Back to the bazaar

With the friendly folk from Ugly Bunny Bakery

Meeting friends from the Stevi UMC

Searching for ideas

The old gym was packed!

On a morning most cold, Belinda and Sheila set off for the biggest Christmas craft bazaar around at the Corvallis school gyms!

Frigid Friday

We're having an early taste of winter here in southwest Montana. This morning Charles looked out of his office window and saw the resident rafter of turkeys making its way across the church lawn. It's moments like that which make living in this valley so special!

Thanksgiving on College Street

Clay tickles the ivories before the meal

Real mashed potatoes

Decisions, decisions

A good line to be in

Thanksgiving Day has been quite cold, it was 0° when Charles got out of bed. After a restful morning we made our way to the Corvallis UMC for their annual Thanksgiving potluck meal. Such fun!

Autumn in the Bitteroot Valley

St. Mary's Mission

The first measurable snowfall since last spring came with full-force yesterday afternoon. The result here in Stevensville was a couple of inches.

Another project done!

Charles is moving steadily toward the end of his fourth semester at the University of Montana and is really enjoying himself this term. His latest screen printing project shows good progress and the class critique on Tuesday offered some good ideas for the next project.

The snow started falling in Missoula about 11 am and by the time Charles left campus the snow was falling quite heavily. It made both his and Belinda's commute from Hamilton rather exciting!

18 years ago...

We had plans on going out to eat tonight but the first snow storm of the season cut short those plans. Perhaps we'll have another day to celebrate once the snow melts a bit!

It was a bazaar Saturday

Looking over the wares at the Eastern Star bazaar in Victor

Chatting with one of Belinda's co-workers

At the Bitterroot Craft Guild bazaar in Hamilton

The "Mitten Lady" had some amazing creations

After the busy week we've all had, a slow start to our Saturday was in order but we more than made up for it by taking in three craft bazaars here in Ravalli County!

A busy week

Friday night football with dad

Giving it the 'old college try'

We wrapped up another busy, chilly week today with more activity at home, work, and school. At 23^°, tonight's temp has given us our first real taste of winter.  Still only traces of snow but we'll take all the moisture we can get, in whatever form it may come.

Charles was in Missoula late this afternoon, wrapping up his current screen printing project. It has been fun learning new things this semester!

A wee bit of snow

Following yesterday's 50-70 mph winds we experienced a bit of snow here in the northern end of the Bitterroot Valley. Still not enough to break out the snow blower, but it was pretty to watch!

Blustery weather in the Bitterroot

Blustery weather is in store for us over the next few days which is why Sunday's view of St. Mary's Peak was such a welcomed sight Sunday afternoon.

Another project in the books

Charles put the finishing touches on his welding project this afternoon following his first-half football watching.

Last Griz home game

Here come the Griz!

First & goal

The view from the student section

First half action

Griz band was rockin'

Charles had some studio work that needed tending to today and so following the men's breakfast (at the church), he headed north to Missoula. It is nice to be able to get work done when it isn't as busy!

Following time in the printing studio (prep work for the next project) and in the sculpture studio (welding), he went to watch the first half of the Griz - E. Washington football game. It was exciting to be part of the action in the student section.

(Griz won, 57-16)

The week continues

Charles' office window sill is abloom!

Veterans Day assembly @ Lone Rock School

Belinda does her thing tonight at WOW

We have not had the snow we were expecting this week although tonight (Thursday) there is a thin blanket of white on the front lawn.

Before the snow

We'd heard that there had been a sighting of Trumpeter Swans at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge (just north of Stevensville) and today Charles made time to see them for himself. 

The swans don't stay but for a couple of days on their way south and so today was the best chance before the weather turns dicey over the next few days.

A hot time in Missoula

Readying the furnance

Ready to work

Molten iron being poured

Adding iron and coke to the furnace

Charles was involved in an "iron pour" today at the university as part of his sculpting class.  It was quite the experience!   

A white morning

We woke to the sight of a light snowfall.  Not enough to get out the snow-blower, but enough to look pretty!

First snow

Monty strikes a pose

Wesley hunkers down for a nap

The first snow of the season is falling this evening in Stevi!  It won't amount to much as it's only supposed to reach 23 tonight. The cats are setting the tone on College Street with lots of extra naps in order to prepare for the winter that is still to come!