Three Pines

This book may change the way you
think about trees.

After reading this fascinating book earlier in the summer I began wondering about the ages of the three majestic Ponderosa Pines in our yard. With a bit of Internet research I found a formula for estimating their ages. My son-in-law, who has math skills far beyond mine, did the measuring and calculating while visiting. The biggest tree (on the far left) is the oldest at about 240 years old. It was "born" in 1779, when the Revolutionary War was in full swing and the area that would become Colorado was home to Utes, Arapaho, Comanche, and Shoshone.

We've named our home "Three Pines"
in honor of these trees.

Back to Blogging

Rocky Mountain Columbine

I've been away from my blog for too long, and I hardly know where to begin. It's been an
eventful summer with lots of visitors and more to come. We've taken two camping trips -
one to Steamboat Lake State Park and the other to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, both
in Colorado. We hit the columbine jackpot on one of our hikes where we saw hundreds
in bloom. Rocky Mountain Columbine is Colorado's state flower.

Our porch is my favorite place to read, work on the computer, eat, and chat with friends
and family. A pair of house finches are raising a family of five in one of the hanging
geranium baskets. We enjoy watching their comings and goings. The babies are well hidden
beneath the geranium leaves.

Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine

Several years ago I purchased a Singer Featherweight sewing machine at a quilt show. She is a beautiful, sturdy little machine, weighing in at 11 pounds, so is the perfect sewing machine to take to classes, workshops, etc. Mine was made in 1956 and lovingly maintained - she sews like a dream. I, like many Featherweight owners, have given her a name - Alice Ruth - after my grandmother and great-grandmother. My husband thinks it's odd to name a sewing machine - he doesn't get it.

I recently joined a Facebook group of Featherweight enthusiasts and I frequently visit The Singer Featherweight Shop website, getting inspiration and useful information from both sites.

Alice Ruth has been packed away in a closet since I got my fancy Husqvarna Viking machine but I'm going to lots of sewing group meetings these days and Alice Ruth is so much more portable. I'll clean and oil her later this afternoon so she'll be ready to go

Designing With Fabric and Thread

Dresden Neighborhood finished quilt top ready for quilting and binding.

At our recent Estes Valley Quilt Guild Retreat, I spent most of my creative time working on a small wall quilt. It's a Dresden Neighborhood design suggested to me by my San Diego quilt and travel buddy, Linda. Her design was an inspiration for my version. It's been challenging and fun working on it and I've finally finished the top which measures 30" by 30". Now I have to ponder how I want to quilt it. I'm usually a hand quilter but that won't work on this piece (too many layers of fabric). I haven't been particularly successful with machine quilting but I guess I'll give it a go and see what I can do.

Dresden Neighborhood in Process