Thursday, December 31, 2020

The year in review: July-December

Zoom meeting in the studio

July: The crazy world of the pandemic in America continues; Lots of Zoom meetings; Painting the outside of the parsonage; more projects completed at the church.
A lot of rock!

August: We co-led a district UMW retreat via Zoom; the dog days of summer are upon us; We completed a big project at the church, clearing more than 2,000 lbs. of brush; Charles had paintings accepted into exhibits in San Diego, California and in Lakewood, Colorado; the addition of five tons of rock in the front yard.
A lot of branches down in the backyard

September: A late summer snow in Boulder dumped 4.5" on us and broke a lot of branches at the parsonage and church; The final outdoor project of the summer at the church and parsonage was completed with the painting of the front porch.

Halloween Eve eve
October: High winds cause more downed branches; Belinda contributed a lot to the Conference UMW annual meeting, leading the opening and closing worship; Charles leads a memorial service for a friend's son in Denver; Heavy snow brings some fire relief; Charles has a painting in an exhibit at the Museum of Boulder; Happy birthday to Belinda!
From the Family Series
November: Our Thanksgiving Tree goes up; Lots more Zoom gatherings; Charles completes production of the series of fifty-two family paintings;  Two snowfalls; We celebrated our twenty-third anniversary; an unusual Thanksgiving; We distribute the Advent gift bags to the church family.


December: Charles takes part in his second show at the Museum of Boulder;  two snows, gone by Christmas; a most unusual Christmas; Happy birthday to Charles!

The year in review: January-June

Taking care of UMW business
January: UMW office for Belinda; Charles takes part in art exhibits; Lots of geese in the neighborhood.
Wesley savors a quiet winter morning

February: Lots of snow; Maddie's first birthday; Malo family visits from Montana.
First day of spring in Boulder
March: Charles goes to Colorado Springs & Cheyenne; a new art exhibit; Snow on the first day of spring; The pandemic arrives in Colorado; Worship goes virtual @ St. Paul's UMC.
Worship goes virtual at St. Paul's UMC
April: A virtual Easter; More spring snow; Hunting for T.P.; Charles leads Conference-wide devotional via Zoom.
Masks are a part of every outing
May: Life during Covid-19 continues; More art is being made; Wesley's 8th birthday.
Getting the job done
June: Virtual Annual Conference; Multiple work projects at the church and parsonage.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Annual Button Report

As with much of life in these pandemic days, it was an unusual year in the button room with 69 buttons being added to the collection, bringing the tally to 8,575. Four new donors have joined the list bringing the number of contributors to 223.

The collection is broken down into eight major categories (with numerous sub-categories): Businesses, Causes, Holidays, Miscellaneous, Music, Pets, Politics, Sports, and Tourism. Donor List:
1 Alkula, Charles 2,163 Family
2 Alkula, Dale         1,354 Family
3 Alkula, Belinda 1,283 Family
4 Condell, Joan            734 Band of Gold
5 Alkula, Jackie            392 Family
6 Alkula, Joe            276 Family
7 Galle, Laurie W.        250 Band of Gold
8 Alexander, Linda    185 Galluadet Univ.
9 Boda, Sandy            154 Family
10 Storkson, Anna    117 Stevensville UMC
11 Swaar, Warren    114 Navy - JMF
12 Davis, Kristen            109 Army - UK
13 Alkula, Jody             99 Family
14 Jungk, Heather     87 Navy - JMF
15 Hall, Jeannie P.     82 Sheriden, WY
16 Clark, Judy              79 UMC - NE/MN
17 Fritschel, Don             66 St. Paul's UMC
18 Hammitt, Mo             61 Family
19 Alkula, Mom             57 Family
20 Weston, Sue             56 Largo, FL
21 Goffe, Carol              44 Stevensville UMC
22 Chase, Gary             26 Chevy Chase, FSB
23 Winston, Tova             25 Stevensville, Montana
24 Chang, Helen             24 Galluadet Univ.
25 Kelch, Vicki             22 Chevy Chase, FSB
25 Trapani, Tony             22 Navy - MAG 12
26 Dulaney, Denise     21 Band of Gold 
27 Grice, Dee             20 Navy - JMF
28 Baumbach, Don     19 FUMC - Sidney
28 Lynch, Julie             19 Band of Gold
29 Bailey, Diane             18 Stevensville UMC
29 Hatch, Stacy             18 Chevy Chase, FSB
30 Swaar, Kathy             17 Navy - JMF
31 Stickley, Russ             15 FUMC - Sidney
32 Herritt, Donna             14 WTS
32 Stickley, Lucy             14 FUMC - Sidney
32 Prather, Marcia     14 Stevensville UMC
34 Barlow, Bob             12 Family
34 Broadhurst, Lorraine   12 Stevensville UMC
34 Fish, Paulette             12 Navy - NHCL
34 Ronge, Mollie             12 Chadron, Nebraska
35 Alkula, Staci             11 Family
35 Diers, joey             11 Stevensville UMC
35 Rodd, Jacque             11 Family
36 Harpster, Jean             10 Christ UMC
36 Harrell, Nancy     10 Grosbeck, TX
36 Kilmer, Mary Ellen     10 UMC- Nebraska
36 Roylance, Bertha     10 UMC - YAC
37 Condell, Shirley          9         Band of Gold 
37 Gable, Brian              9         Chevy Chase, FSB
37 Pillsbury, Norman     9         Largo, FL
37 Speak, Kathy             9         Chevy Chase, FSB
37 Tucker, Terri             9         Odessa, Texas
38 Dye, Judy             8         UMC - Nebraska
38 Hanford, Sue             8         Navy - JMF
38 King, Stacey             8         UMC - Montana
38 Muckle, Pat             8         St. Paul's UMC
38 Sparks, Craig             8         WTS
39 Alkula, Dad             7         Family
39 Edgar, Cammie     7         Stevensville UMC
39 Krans, Glen             7         Navy - NHCL
39 Rowan, Dan             7         FUMC - Sidney
40 Alkula, Jason             6         Family
40 Freeman, Clay     6         Stevensville UMC
40 Hult, Dennis             6         St. Paul's UMC
40 Kipke, Jeannie             6         Boulder Artist Assoc.
40 Quick, Austin             6         Navy - NHCL
40 Wilhite, Neil             6         B-SC
40 Wilkie, Clark             6         Osmond UMC
41 Akinwale, Judy           5         Chevy Chase, FSB
41 Chang, Terry             5         Galluadet Univ.
41 Drapper, Rilla             5         FUMC - Sidney
41 Hansberry, Bill            5         Navy - JMF
41 Moshier, Gail             5         Stevensville UMC
41 Sheldon, Keri             5         FUMC - Sidney
41 Thies, Vickie             5         Osmond UMC
42 Boyd, Sean             4         WTS
42 Dupree, Tim             4         Chevy Chase, FSB
42 Gordon, Pam             4         Chevy Chase, FSB
42 Johnson, Torrey     4         VA - San Antonio
42 Kelley, Jennifer     4         UMC - SWTX
42 Kephart, Roy             4         McCamey FUMC
42 Pua, Ria                     4         Chevy Chase, FSB
42 Schaffer, Kathy     4         Navy - JMF
42 Schuttler, Kevin     4         Osmond, NE
42 Townsend, Charles     4         WTS
42 Walton, Ruby             4         Winside UMC
43 Anderson, Wanda     3         Christ UMC 
43 Balfour, Carrie     3         FUMC - Sidney
43 Baumbach, Edie     3         FUMC - Sidney
43 Brown, William     3         Navy - MAG 12
43 Ferrell, Ed             3         Christ UMC, MD
43 Flading, Verla             3         McCamey - FUMC
43 Gatewood, Tim     3         B-SC
43 Green, Stephanie     3         Navy - JMF
43 Harn, Anne             3         Stevensville UMC
43 Kenyon, Betty             3         Chevy Chase, FSB
43 Koelling, Marvin     3         UMC - Nebraska
43 Krans, Faye             3         Navy - NHCL
43 Matthews, Steve     3         St. Paul's UMC
43 McElmurray, Jean     3         Christ UMC, MD
43 Rogers, Maggie     3         UMC
43 Smith, Hazel             3         Stevensville UMC
43 Troop, Dot             3         Army - DC
43 Witcher, Mary             3         FUMC - McCamey
44 Browne, Mary             2         VA - San Antonio
44 Byrd, Helen             2         Christ UMC, MD
44 Cat, Nick the             2         Family
44 Craft, Dolores             2         Stevensville UMC
44 Daulby, Peter             2         Navy - JMF 
44 Faciolli, Jim             2         Chevy Chase, FSB
44 Fish, Cameron     2         Navy - JMF
44 Forbis, Josie             2         MO
44 Hansen, Lori             2         Winside UMC
44 Hodson, Luella     2         Osmond UMC
44 Hunter, Bob             2         WTS
44 Johnson, Carol     2         B-SC
44 Mellgren, Ginny     2         Stevensville UMC
44 Petty, Norma             2         Stevensville UMC
44 Ross, Allison             2         Navy - JMF
44 Saussey, Carol     2         WTS
44 Schrock, Ava             2         Stevensville UMC
44 Shaver, Mike             2         Band of Gold 
44 Thaxton, Becky     2         2-Year Academy
44 White, Barbara     2         Navy - JMF
44 Wiegert, Betty             2         Osmond UMC
44 Witcher, Jim             2         FUMC - McCamey  
44 Young, Brigham     2         B-SC
45 Alkula, Alex             1         Family
45 Alkula, Joshua     1         Family
45 Anderson, Howard     1         Navy - JMF
45 Armbruster, Julie     1         FUMC - Sidney
45 Austin, Kendrick     1         Navy - JMF
45 Baldauf, Julie             1         Family
45 Barlow, Sean             1         Family
45 Barrett, Rhonda     1         B-SC
45 Beaber, Jerry             1         St. Paul's UMC
45 Beck, Sarah             1         Hamilton Fed. Church
45 Bickford, Lisa             1         FUMC - Sidney
45 Bird, Lois             1         Christ UMC 
45 Black, Berry             1         B-SC
45 Boykin, Becky     1         Stevensville UMC
45 Bronson, Karen     1         TX
45 Cavanaugh, Shelly     1         NC
45 Chicott, Emma     1         CA
45 Clausen, Amanda     1         Cornwall
45 Collins, Piper             1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Cook, Sandi             1         St. Paul's UMC
45 Counts, Dave             1         TCU
45 Curtis, Tim             1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Damwitz, Britta     1          San Antonio, TX
45 Daulby, Marie             1         Newquay, Cornwall
45 Dinkel, Bea             1         FUMC - Sidney
45 Dougherty, Guy     1         NC
45 Eiichberger, Eileen     1         Stark Valley UMC
45 Escobedo, Theo     1         TX
45 Farrar, Lydia             1         NC
45 Fisher, Gail             1         Stevensville UMC
45 Garner, Peggy             1         FUMC - McCamey 
45 Garner, Shirley     1         Osmond UMC
45 Gebhardt, Debbie     1         ELCA - Dallas, TX 
45 Gonzalez, Elba     1         TX
45 Hackett, Molly     1         Stevensville UMC
45 Hancock, Helen     1         Winside UMC
45 Hansen, Marsha     1         WTS
45 Harcus, Missy             1         Navy - JMF
45 Hayes, Robert             1         Marshall U. president
45 Howells, Layouna     1         NC
45 Janke, Rose Ann     1         Winside UMC
45 Jenkins, Ada             1         Christ UMC, MD
45 Jessen, Brenda     1         FUMC - Sidney
45 Johnson, Lea             1         Osmond UMC
45 Kelly, Claire             1         Stevensville UMC
45 Kennedy, Shareese     1         WTS
45 King, Anastasia     1         Largo, FL
45 Kirkley, Ed             1         B-SC
45 Lang, James             1         DC
45 Lawton, Dennis     1         WTS
45 Lee, Jeannette             1         MA
45 Leifer, Jane             1         DMIN
45 Levin, Ashley             1         CA
45 Lunn, Jennifer             1         Padstow, Cornwall
45 Marshall, Cheryl     1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Matos, Anthony     1         Largo, FL
45 Matthews, Sheri     1         San Angelo, TX
45 McDonald, Lisa     1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 McKelvey, Shirley     1         Stevensville UMC
45 McLarnon, Sharon     1         Friend of the Family
45 Meschko, Melinda     1         Waitress
45 Michaels, Jami     1         CO 
45 Milord, Fabian     1         NJ
45 Minnini, Silas             1         MA
45 Moise, Dorice             1         MA
45 Nansen, Tyler             1         UMT - Missoula
45 Nelson, Karen             1         San Antonio, TX
45 Nelson, Mike             1         WTS
45 Odom, Gloria             1         FUMC - McCamey 
45 Paddie, Shay Lynn     1         Stevensville UMC
45 Paulson, Connie     1         Eldbrooke UMC - DC
45 Petty, Chuck             1         Stevensville UMC
45 Phelps, Dorothy     1         Christ UMC
45 Prince, Paula             1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Quarles, Duke             1         Navy - NHCL
45 Reed, Kelly             1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Riegler, Mark             1         NJ
45 Robertson, Tana     1         McCamey, TX
45 Rowan, Marilee     1         FUMC - Sidney
45 Schneider, Bev     1         Stevensville UMC
45 Schrock, Dusty     1         Stevensville UMC
45 Schultz, Kevin     1         Osmond, NE
45 Stone, Sam             1         McCamey, TX
45 Thayer, Shirley     1         Osmond UMC
45 Thompson, Pat     1         Navy - JMF
45 Underwood, Betty     1         Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Vecchio, Bob             1         Navy - JMF
45 Vernon, Verla             1         Stevensville UMC
45 Walton, Mary             1         Jacksonville, NC
45 Weindel, Julie             1         Stevensville UMC
45 Wiley, Rob             1         Winside UMC
45 Williams, Nancy     1         Mission Valley UMC
45 Wright, Tim             1         Newquay, Cornwall
45 Wylie, Bonnie             1         Winside UMC

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Wesley's year

The winter that went on and on
The studio cat at work
So many Zoom gatherings
Time for another nap
Looking for presents

Wesley has had an active year - observing the busy life passing by on Gillaspie Drive, supervising Charles in the studio, keeping tabs on the goings on in the backyard, taking part in numerous Zoom meetings, and finding an unending variety of places to take naps!

Monday, December 28, 2020

2020 Studio summary


It was an incredible year, production-wise, for Charles in the studio with 103 paintings completed! Fifty-two of these were part of the family series that were shared with our extended families. In addition to the paintings, 375 ornaments and nearly 300 switch plate covers were completed. 

Charles was also thrilled to take part in sixteen exhibits including four that were offered virtually and his first participation in a museum show!

Friday, December 25, 2020

A special Christmas at home

Santa has been here
A yule fire
An assortment of walnuts with treats

A Tonka truck for Charles!
Wesley loves his toy mouse (somewhere under the paper)

We had a wonderful Christmas morning with everyone, including Wesley, enjoying the blessings of hearth and home and the special gifts each of us recieved.