rainbow1

rainbow1
Originally uploaded by jsquire9

Just an example of the talented photographer who happens to be my son! Love this photo, so I thought I'd share it with you (whoever you are!)

I'll grow into this sweater

I'll grow into this sweater
Originally uploaded by squirealma

I knitted this sweater in November, for Sasha's Christening and knew it would be a little big! BOY IS IT BIG!!!!! She is quite small for her age and this sweater is for someone who is much older!!!!! She may wear it when she is 2 or 3...maybe 4 or 5! Oh well, I tried! It was my first attempt at sweater knitting, and now I have knitted three more sweaters and am working on my 4th and 5th!!! This is the year of the sweater.
You may have noticed, that I don't post very often, so when I do, boy do I post! A lot has happened since the last time I sat her to post, so bear with me!!!!! Also, I often have a lot to say!!!!! You who know me know how I do!!!!

My first swing! Love it!

My first swing! Love it!
Originally uploaded by squirealma

Jay and Sasha sharing a special time in Ohio! It was the beginning of April, and Jay would soon turn 60 years old, so I surprised him with a ticket to Ohio to visit the kids, and surprised the kids with his arrival at midnight!! What a great time we had...he was able to stay for a few days and I was able to spend a whole week with the Ohio Squire family. Wonderful, wonderful memories were made!

At the park

At the park
Originally uploaded by squirealma

Here is Sasha during her first trip to the park at the beginning of April 2008. She went on a swing for the first time and loved the feeling! Her grandfather was able to visit from Montana as a surprise for Jonathan, Tracy and Sasha, and take for her first Park visit. I was already in Ohio to help care for Sasha while her daddy was training for a new job. It was a very special time for us all!

Mother's Day in the Mountains

Well! Yesterday was Mother's Day and I had a wonderful day, even though my children, children -in -law and grand daughter live in other states!

My morning began with a call from Jessica, who just moved to Boston. She had arranged with her father to get a gift certificate from a local spa for a massage! The Mother's Day Massage is a gift from both daughters and is greatly appreciated!!!!!

The best part, though was just being able to sit and talk to Jessica about her new job and new life! She is doing very well and is adjusting to her new home beautifully! She is an amazing woman and has a wonderful job and wonderful new life. I know she will do well!

As I was visiting with Jessica, our eldest daughter called and spoke to her dad, so as soon as I hung up with Jessica, Jay passed the cell phone to me and I was able to visit for quite a while with Shannon. She too has a great life and is living and thriving in Portland Oregon. She co-ownes a yarn and craft store in Portland and is doing very well...much better than anticipated for their first year in business. She is married to a wonderful man named Stefan who I love like a son! They are perfect for each other and lead a very content life and both love Portland and will probably stay there for a long, long time. Children are great and mine are the greatest!

As soon as I hung up with Shannon, Jay and I went to our neighbors/friends/families down the road and celebrated Mother's Day with a brunch, some champagne punch and lots of hugs and kisses from all! There are 4 little boys who are children of these friends and family and we love them to pieces!!!!!

Last but certainly not least, we visited via web cam with our son and daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Ohio! ( Jonathan, Tracy and Sasha) Sasha is now 10 months old, and is walking, so we were able to actually see her in action. She was very busy with all of her toys and stuffed animals, and kept leaving the computer to travel down the hall. She must have left something very important in her bedroom, because she kept going there and then Jonathan or Tracy would go get her and bring her back into the dining room to visit with us over the computer! What a wonderful world we live in that I am able to actually see my babies over the internet. Tracy is 5-6 months pregnant with their second child and our second grandchild, so we are able to see how her baby belly is growing.....she and that belly are georgeous!!!!!
I think we were visiting via internet for about an hour, so got to see a lot of activity and shared lots of laughs....it was wonderful.

So, you can see that Mother's Day in Montana is wonderful and just as great as all of the other Mother's Day's around the world. Of course, mine was very special and I am blessed to have such a great family and extended family and friends. And I do live in the Mountains of Montana, and they say that if you are lucky enough to live in the mountains, you are lucky enough , and I for one wholeheartedly agree!!!!!

Today is a dreary day with lots of rain, not complaining, cause we really need the rain, but it is a little easier to feel sleepy and dopey!

Spring time in Montana

April in Montana is a beautiful time of the year. We can expect almost any kind of weather and usually get a little bit of everything. Just last week, it was 76 on the 14 of April and 37 on the 19 of April!

We had a 60th birthday party hear at Squire Country for Jbird and had a wonderful time. Our daughter, Shannon and her hubby, Stefan flew in from Portland Oregon, and we had about 30 local friends/family to help celebrate. A great time was had by all, and some work actually got done as well.

Our son-in-law, Stefan loves to cut trees and help us, so he did a lot of cutting in the back of our property, and graded the driveway, with a little help from Jay. The photo above is the result of all of his cutting, a large slash pile which we burned on Sunday after the party the night before. I think that Stefan was probably hurting a little by this time with all of the physical labor he did! We sure love those kids and were so happy that they were able to come.

UPDATE:

I have not posted for quite some time, so have a lot of stuff to tell!

On April 4th, I travelled to Ohio to help take care of our grandaughter, Sasha, while her father, trained for a new job. It was wonderful having time with our little one!

Jay flew in the next day and surprised the kids! It was a wonderful surprise and he was able to stay until the next Tuesday and got lots of grandpa time with Sasha!

I have just finished my 3rd knitted sweater of the year and plan to begin my 4th very soon. I am also working on a pair of socks for Jbird and have a large stash of yarn for more socks, sweaters and afgans! Not enough time in the day to do all of the knitting I want.

SOCK BLOCKERS:

Our oldest daughter, Shannon has a yarn store in Portland Oregon, and asked Jbird if he could design and make some sock blockers, since she and a lot of her customers are avid sock knitters.

Well, Jay went to work and designed some and we have already sent two orders to Twisted in Portland, and have orders for a few yarn stores here in Montana. I will put a photo of these on this post, if I can figure out how to do it! They are at the top at the right. Knitters use them to get the correct shape and size of their socks.

Jessica, our second daughter, just moved from Portland Oregon to Boston Mass.!!! What a long way from us, but she is now closer to her brother, sister-in-law and neice! She is very excited about the move, and has a wonderful new life ahead of her. We wish her well, just wish that Montana and Boston were a little closer to one another. Oh well, thats life and we are in it!!!!!!

I'll close for now, but will try to post more often. I love to share my life with those of you who are reading, if anyone! Anyway, it is a way for me to clear my thoughts and remember some of the wonders of my life....My children, grandchildren, nature and so on.

Monday in Montana

Well, what a wonderful weekend we had here! Friday evening, we had a " going away "party for a friend of ours who is moving to St. Louis. His fiancee flew in on Friday, to travel by truck with him to St. Louis. We had about 20 adults and 4 children here and a good time was had by all. The theme of the pot luck was Oriental, and what a wonderful array of food we had.

The above photo is from last year, when we could actually see green grass. Today, the grass is under a few feet of snow, but I can see this view in my minds eye, so thought I'd share it with all.

Saturday, we cleaned up the party mess and worked in our basement on some of the trim for our recreation room. It is shaping up nicely. Late in the day I travelled with a friend to my first contra dance! What fun it was! It is a lot like square dancing and is very fast paced. Lots and lots of spinning around....got very dizzy at times. Note to myself,,take towel to dry off sweat and take ginger tablets prior to going again to help combat the dizziness. We were out very late...about 1AM really late for yours truely!

Sunday, my husband worked on some sock strechers for our daughter's yarn store in Portland Oregon and I worked on the left sleeve of his sweater. Just one more sleeve to go and he will be wearing the sweater. I will post a photo when it is complete.

Today is a beautiful day and is supposed to get as warm as 52 degrees! Spring is definitely on its

way!!!!

I will be going to Ohio to help take care of my grandaughter in about a month and am getting very excited. I will be working on my son's sweater by then and will be able to have him try it on so that I get the body and sleeve length right.

Well out to the beautiful views!

Alma