Charles birthday observance

Wilbur loves Christmas

Belinda sports her new scarf

The birthday bear has spoken

Wesley enjoys the post-birthday present opening fun

 With our participation in church activities at an end, it was time to return home and open Charles' birthday presents! 

A whirl-wind weekend

Friday with the DIBS crew

Prepping bags of treats

Belinda & the Sunday morning choir

Tonight's Christmas Eve service

It has been a whirl-wind of activity for us in the days leading up to Christmas! 

On Friday, we started off with a Bible study, getting ready for Sunday, and shoveling snow.

On Saturday, we took to the road to Hamilton to secure the items needed for Cincinnati Chili (Charles' birthday meal) and then spent time preparing bags of treats that were to be delivered the next day to businesses in Stevensville open on Christmas Eve.

Today, well, it is Christmas Eve after all which meant worship services in the morning, delivering the aforementioned treat bags, and this evening's candlelight service!

Winter arrives

The first full day of winter arrived here in the Bitterroot Valley with a steady snow and falling temps. After a rather mild autumn (for the most part) it looks like we'll have a white Christmas after all!

This morning we enjoyed two reminders of the season, a rafter of turkeys was hanging out in our backyard, and a gathering of church ladies enjoying Christmas crackers!

December birthday!

Birthday boy

Some of the UM's present today

High school choir shares holiday music

We joined the community today for the monthly celebration of birthdays at the Stevensville Senior Center. As Charles' birthday is this month he was presented with a special treat!

An early Christmas gift

One of our dear ladies from the church, Ginny Mellgren, gave Charles these carved figures this past week. She was moving into a retirement community and needed to downsize her home. What a lovely reminder of our time here in Stevensville!

The past few days

Genesis House tree

Clothes Closet elves at work

Lisa's birthday dinner

Reminders of a dear lady

It's been a busy few days for us with meetings, school wrap-up, and church activities keeping us moving!

On Thursday morning, Charles wrapped up his next-to-last semester with a review of his paintings by his painting professor. A rave review was offered and three of this semester's painting were recommended for next spring's BFA show.

Thursday evening saw us at the Genesis House Christmas party before going to the church for the monthly Ad Council.

Friday was end-to-end busy for everyone! Charles led a Bible study in the morning and provided a 2 1/2 hour family counseling session in the afternoon. Belinda's Friday was largely given over to judging a speech event in Hamilton involving area high school students.

Belinda was back at it Saturday from early morning to late evening. UMW in the morning was followed by nearly four hours helping at the Stevensville Clothes Closet's kid's shopping day. A bit of rest was followed by both of us attending a birthday dinner for a church member.

Today was busy, but not as much as a normal Sunday as the children's program led the church service. We did receive several Christmas items from Mary Lyon's husband, Bill, part of a number of such items Mary left before her passing last year.

The final critiques

 

 

Charles' final two projects were critiqued today with good results for both.

In Ceramics, Charles was part of a group project creating a dinnerware set, in this case, a sushi dinner. Charles' contribution got good comments for style and glazing.

In painting, his painting, his largest to date (48 x 60) was well received with nice comments regarding the complexity of technique and glazing.