In the studio

Charles hasn't stopped his artistic output just because he is finished with his BFA at the University of Montana!

This week saw him working on an abstract sculpture, "666 Fifth Avenue" which utilizes a 6x6x19.5 (11.4 lbs.) piece of lumber overlaid with coats of acrylic paint.

Right side (laid out on the floor)

Left side (on the floor)

On Wednesday, we went to the Blacksmith Brewery (on Main Street) to determine how much of Charles' paintings will be on display there in September! Charles has a lot to choose from and curating the show will be a challenge

A week in cats

Morning watch in the basement

Afternoon watch in the Living Room

Peek-a-boo!

Supervising in the studio

Patch does his thing on the deck

The cats seem to have forgiven us for being away last weekend and are back to being cute 24-7!

More from the garden

The one thing we really seem able to do in our garden is to grow tomatoes! Charles harvest a large number today. Now all we need to do is find someone to help us eat them!

Snow in August?

Could there be some snow in those clouds tonight? NOAA says a very good chance of snow starting at 7,000’ and and “many inches” above 8,000’

Summer vacation - day 4

Community UMC

What a pie!

A delightfully cool day with rain on the way made for a nice Sunday by Flathead Lake.

Our morning got off to a tasty start with a fabulous breakfast at Pocketstone Café which has the most amazing cinnamon rolls! After breakfast, we made our way to the Community UMC for worship. A friendly, welcoming congregation led by Dr. Kelly Addy.

This afternoon, we set out for Whitefish to see what was happening on a Sunday afternoon. Along with some enjoyable browsing at the many quaint shops, we made time to stop at Loula's Café and are we glad we did! We had the best piece of pie, a huckleberry & Flathead Cherry pie, wow!

Summer vacation - day 3

Village Greens GC - Kalispell

Whistling Andy's Distillery

When In Rome

Our third musical!

Our restful time in Bigfork continued today as everyone got in some rest and recreation!

Charles made another trip to Kalispell to play golf, this time at Village Greens Golf Course. He was playing for the third day in a row, a first for him! Charles also paid a visit to Whistling Andy Distillery, just outside of Bigfork. This was quite a surprise to discover and well-worth the stop.

Belinda made supper reservations for us at When in Rome which had the best pizza in Montana, or so said the folk at the Food Network!

Finishing the day was our third musical, The Little Mermaid!

Summer vacation - day 2

A quiet moment on the golf course

The Swan River in Bigfork

Worth the stop

Charles' treat

Where the magic happens

We had a restful second day on our August holiday with something for everyone! 

Charles returned to Kalispell this morning for a round of golf at Northern Pines Golf Course (a links course) and had a fun time playing alongside a couple from Calgary.

Supper tonight was at the Flathead Lake Brewing Co. which sits on the shore of Flathead Lake in Bigfork. Afterwards it was back to the theater for "All Shook Up" which was based on Elvis Pressley music.

Our summer vacation

On the links in Kalispell

Enjoying the view

Ready for the show

We set out for Bigfork today on our end-of-summer vacation. Charles got an early start and made it up to Kalispell for a round of golf at Buffalo Hill Golf Course (he shot a 90).

Meeting up in Bigfork, we attended the final performance of "Singin' in the Rain" at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse!

Wesley goes camping

Wesley finds ways to stay busy during the "dog days of summer!"

The sign of the times

It's been a hot, smoky week here in the Bitterroot Valley as the fire watch sign by the Forest Service office shows.

Newest creation

Belinda spotted Charles unloading a couple posts this morning (that he was going to use in an art project) and suggested he make some "pencils."

A stop at the hardware store and Charles was at work in the garage, turning the 8' posts into "#2 pencils!"

Staying cool in the summer heat

Wesley keeps cool on a hot summer day

Our basement is rather cool, even in the midst of the heat wave we're going through this week. Wesley can often be found downstairs, enjoying the view and the cool!

Newest painting

“The breaking of the ice on the Oulu River"

Acrylic on canvas, 24x36

The title is taken by a work by Jean Sibelius and can be heard at this link.

From the old country

A couple from our church, Tom & Nilda Bishop, were visiting family in Finland recently and brought back for Charles a Bible in Finnish that was printed in 1916.

Lazy summer afternoon

It's Creamery Picnic time!

We enjoyed the 106th Creamery Picnic today with lots of fun being had by one and all. Charles helped out at the Senior Center (by watching over the parking lot) and riding on the float from the church! Belinda was among the throng watching the parade and cheering for our float's first prize award!

Clear skies!

Smoke on Tuesday

Clear sky on Friday

 The haze which hung over the valley this week, the result of fires in California and Utah, was quickly ushered out today by a cool front. Just in time for the 106th Creamery Picnic here in Stevensville.

A nice cat day

Patch enjoys a cool drink

Wesley catches an early morning nap

Patch and Wesley make the most of the nice summer weather we've had this week to catch up on their rest!