Friday, December 31, 2021

2021 Button Report

From a 2014 art project

The second year of the pandemic once again yielded a low tally of new buttons, but those that were recieved were accepted with great appreciation. 85 buttons were added to the collection, bringing the tally to 8,660. One new donor joined the list bringing the number of contributors to 224.

The collection is broken down into eight major categories (with numerous sub-categories): Businesses, Causes, Holidays, Miscellaneous, Music, Pets, Politics, Sports, and Tourism.

The 2021 Donor List
1 Alkula, Charles 2,163 Family
2 Alkula, Dale 1,354 Family
3 Alkula, Belinda 1,334 Family
4 Condell, Joan 734 Band of Gold
5 Alkula, Jackie 393 Family
6 Alkula, Joe 276 Family
7 Wilkowski-Galle, Laurie 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 104 Army - UK
13 Alkula, Jody 99 Family
14 Jungk, Heather 87 Navy - JMF
15 Hall, Jeannie Patterson 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 58 Family
20 Weston, Sue 56 Largo, FL
21 Goffe, Carol 44 Stevensville UMC
22 Chase, Gary 26 Chevy Chase, FSB
22 Johnson, Torrey 26 VA - San Antonio
23 Winston, Tova 25 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
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 Harrell, Nancy 16 Texas
32 Stickley, Russ 15 FUMC - Sidney
33 Herritt, Donna 14 WTS
33 Kipke, Jeannie 14 Boulder Art Assoc.
33 Prather, Marcia 14 Stevensville UMC
33 Stickley, Lucy 14 FUMC - Sidney
34 Barlow, Bob 12 Family
34 Broadhurst, Lorraine 12 Stevensville UMC
34 Fish, Paulette 12 Navy - NHCL
34 Ronge, Mollie 12 UCC
35 Alkula, Staci 11 Family
35 Diers, joey 11 Stevensville UMC
35 Rodd, Jacque 11 Family
36 Harpster, Jean 10 Christ UMC
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 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 Davis, Kristen 5 Navy - JMF
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 Gordan, Pam 4 Chevy Chase FSB
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 Missouri
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
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 Adams-Trembath, Susan 1 UMC
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 TX
45 Daulby, Marie 1 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 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 Cornwall
45 Marshall, Cheryl 1 Chevy Chase, FSB
45 Matos, Anthony 1 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
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 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 Cornwall
45 Wylie, Bonnie 1 Winside UMC

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Annual Studio Report

Working on the final canvases of 2021

It was an solid year, production-wise, for Charles in the studio with forty-two paintings completed! Eleven of these were part of the series that was executed for participants in the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies.

Charles was also thrilled to take part in fourteen exhibits including one that was offered virtually.

Wesley's year

Portait of a great kitty

Taking in the autumnal afternoon

Ah, naps!

The "look"

Watching football with Charles

Wesley continues to excell at his role as a professional house cat. It is a full-time job, the monitoring the stream of Zoom meetings, taking in the wildlife that frequents our yard, and racking up the hours in his napping log.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Year in review: July - December

We're back in person @ St. Paul's

July: Another art exhibition; Our church returns to in-person worship; Charles does more painting at the church; A little skunk hangs around the backyard.

For a good cause

August: Charles takes part in a charity golf event in Denver; We drive to Lyons for cherry juice; Charles does painting at Wesley House; Deb Wacker comes for a visit. 

We go places with our Zooming

September: Our church goes back to wearing masks; Belinda takes part in the virtual International P.E.O. convention; Our atumnal tree goes up; We continue to do a lot of Zoom meetings.

We love bazaars!

October: We get our booster shots; Belinda's tenure as Conference UMW Spritual Growth Coordinator comes to an end; More P.E.O. fun; Belinda's birthday week. Charles conducts his first funeral St. Paul's UMC (the second in Colorado).

Franciscan Center in COS

November: Another project undertaken at the church; Another art show; A light dusting of snow; Taking in the P.E.O. bazaar; Charles heads to COS for a retreat; It's a Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving; Taking part in another blood drive; Our 24th anniverary; Decorating the church for Advent. 

Wesley is in the Christmas spirit

December: Charles presents paintings to members of the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies; Charles' birthday; Gifts from P.E.O. sisters; Christmas at home; Hurricane-force winds and a devastating fire leaves hundreds of destoryed homes and thousands of displaced people in Boulder County.

Year in Review: January - June

January snow
January: We begin the New Year hoping for relief from the pandemic; First snow (3") fell on the 10th; Wesley has his portrait painted; Charles takes two online seminars from Redlands University; More paintings.

The geese discover the backyard

February: Gallery shows; another big (8.5") snowfall; online Ash Wednesday; wildlife in the backyard;

At work in the studio

March: One year mark of the pandemic; two feet of snow; Belinda begins her tenture as (P.E.O.) Chapter JI president; Belinda gets vaccinated; mass shooting at our neighborhood supermarket; Charles sells a painting through R Gallery. 

Doing our part

April: Second Easter during the pandemic; Charles plays golf for the first time since October 2019; 7.5" of snow; Charles sends six paintings for a benefit auction in Montana; Charles gets vaccinated.

Such a beautiful sight

May: Belinda takes part in the P.E.O. book club; Charles conducts his first Colorado wedding; our chokecherry trees explods with blossoms; More projects completed at the church; a coyote in the back yard.

It's official!

June: Another virtual Annual Conference; Charles takes part in a plein air event; more projects at the church; virtual P.E.O. convention; We're reappointed to St. Paul's for another year.

Sunday, December 26, 2021

A colorful morning

With Dan Daniels at church

Coming home

Out for lunch

Charles continued our Christmas celebration (which continues to January 5) by wearing an outfit that Belinda had gotten for him some time ago. The outfit got rave reviews from those in worship this morninig (Charles wasn't leading the service which is why he wore this today). Belinda of course was consulted before wearing this colorful garb in public!!

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Christmas Day @ the parsonage






We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas morning and are blessed to have such a wonderful home to share it in!

Friday, December 24, 2021

Birthday week - Christmas Eve

The birthday boy

Wonderful treats

Keeping an eye on the birthday festivities

In keeping with tradition, we celebrated Charles' Christmas birthday tonight between services with treats and a toasty fire!

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Birthday week, day #5

There are only two more sleeps before Charles' big day and the weather here along Colorado's Front Range continues to be baffling. It was 62° today and narry a snowflake in sight!!

Goodies at the front door


We went to Northglenn today to pick up our Christmas meal from Cracker Barrel, and when we returned home, a plate of holiday treats from one of Belinda's P.E.O. sisters, Debbie Yates, was waiting on the table by the front door!

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Birthday week, day #4


Charles has enjoyed his birthday week with some exciting football, courtesy of his present from Belinda in the form of ESPN. Matches from England and the Netherlands has made for an enjoyable week!

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Birthday week, day #3

Looking festive just days before Christmas

A warm December breeze

Hard to believe it's December

It's been said before during this month, but this may well and truly be the final round of golf Charles gets to play in 2021. Today, it was back to the Flatirons Golf Course here in Boulder, the first time he's played there since October 2019. 

It's a P.E.O. Christmas!



Some of Belinda's P.E.O. sisters were in the holiday gift-giving mood today, stopping by the parsonage with some wonderful surprises!!
 

Monday, December 20, 2021

Birthday week, day #2

As part of Charles' birthday week observances, we went to the Red Lobster in Longmont this afternoon where the waiter brought Charles a dish of ice cream with a candle in it!

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Birthday week has begun!


We began Charles' birthday week in church this morning for the festivity known as the choir's cantata!

Friday, December 17, 2021

The many faces of Wesley

Nap time
A new place to hide

The cat is not amused

Checking on activity downstairs

Catching a football match 

Wesley has been quite busy of late, finding new places to nap, and in general living the life of a professional housecat.

Monday, December 13, 2021

The last round in 2021?

A beautiful day for golf

The Snow-capped Rockies loom over the Front Range

On the approach to #18

Charles took advantage of what is perhaps the last warm day (59°) we're likely to see for the rest of the month to get in a round of golf at Colorado National in Erie. An 82, his best of the year, included 10 pars!!!

Sunday, December 12, 2021

A thought for today

God who intervenes in human form, during this Advent, may we come home to you with this deep knowledge: we are your children. Amen.

from Advent devotional for Dec 10, 2021
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Advent Devotion series