Friday, December 29, 2017

Memories from Manville’s Christmas Past




Snow at the cabin!  This was Bob maybe 10 years ago


It’s the end of the year 2017!  It has left me with a lot of memories both good and bad. I’m sorry I haven’t blogged more often to document some of them. I’m getting old and the short-term memories slip away more quickly!  I do love to go back and read the “so many years ago” memories on Facebook. This past week Kathi posted a blog from many years ago about one of our very memorable family Christmases on her Country Chicken Girl blog.


We were laughing about it and remembering some more recent Christmas adventures that should be documented! So I have decided to take a stab at it. Kathi wrote her story about her first Christmas with the Manvilles--kind of from a newcomers point of view. My story is about a more recent Christmas adventure. I believe it took place 2 years ago. We (at least me, Bob when he was alive, and whoever of our family that was coming for Christmas that year) always planned to spend it at “the cabin”. It was not a simple “over the river and through the woods” type of trip to get there. It is at least a 2.5 mile ride in on snowmobiles or other tracked vehicles through snow covered meadows, draws, several kinda steep hills, up in the trees, and across a creek that is usually frozen and covered with snow. We have to haul all our presents, food, clothing and sometimes gasoline in on sleds pulled by the snowmobiles. Oh, and don’t forget computers, and other electronic devices.

On this particular year, only 2 of Danny’s boys, Danny, Kathi and I were in Walden for Christmas. Danny insisted we spend it at their house since he had to plow snow at the bowling alley and do some other chores before he could get away. He figured he could only leave no earlier than 4:00 and it would be getting dark by 4:30. He did not want to try going in that late in big snow!  The rest of us insisted we could go up earlier with Chris’s new snowmobile and get everything in to the cabin before then and Danny could get whatever we couldn’t fit when he got there. He still insisted it was not a good plan but was out voted.

Chris, Colton and I headed out from Walden to the end of the plowed road about 2:30. We had 1 snow machine, some of the food and our belongings plus Chris’s Labrador puppy. It was cold with blowing snow but the sun was out when we got there. We unloaded Chris’s machine and he headed out to get the sled we needed to haul in our supplies. He took the puppy with him.  We kept a sled at the neighbor’s ranch which was probably 1/2 mile away. Meanwhile Colton and I organized all the things to get loaded. Oh, and of course there is very poor to no cell service up there. We could not see where Chris was and could not call town to see if Danny and Kathi had left either.

 So after about an hour and no Chris we were pretty worried but had no way of looking for him. Finally Danny and Kathi showed up with 2 more snowmobiles and all the rest of the stuff. We got them unloaded and Danny went off to look for Chris. He had been stuck with the sled. Anyway they came back with 1 sled and the dog and as predicted by Danny it was getting dark. We loaded the sled with the necessities for the night and sent Danny, Kathi, Chris and the dog into the cabin. Kathi had the sled and dog, I think there was another sled involved that they had to abandon so that Danny and Chris could break trail as nobody had been that way yet and the snow was deep and powder. They also left Kathi and the puppy stuck in the middle of a meadow about halfway there. They could break trail and come back for her.


Colton and I had no idea what was going on. At least we had a heated pickup to wait in. Meanwhile Kathi was out in the cold blowing snow in the dark wrestling a puppy that wanted to run in the snow but it was too deep!  None of us knew what was happening with each other!  There was nothing Colton and I could do as time marched on. Should we go back to town and get help from my nephews?  Should we stay put?  We couldn’t call anyone so we gave them until 8:00 PM  and then we would go back to town!  Yes, it was several hours ticking by!  Colton took a nap, I was reading my book, and Kathi was still sitting out in the meadow after 1 1/2 hours not knowing where they were! 

 Finally about 7:30pm  Colton got a message from Chris that they had just made it to the cabin!  They had to go back to get Kathi, the sled and the puppy. Then they unloaded the 1 sled and came back for us and the rest of the stuff. As I recall they had to leave the other sled where it was until the next day but had to go out and get everything off it. It was close to midnight by the time we got everything there and got some dinner!  Needless to say, we will probably listen to Danny before we ever attempt a late afternoon expedition to the cabin again. Bob also always tried to get us to be smarter but some of us never learn, I guess. I say this because there are several more Cabin Christmas adventures that need documenting but they will have to wait.

*Note:  This year Skyler and his wife, Kara, Danny, Kathi and I were the only ones here in Walden for Christmas.  Skyler and I talked about going up to the cabin but decided not to even mention it to Danny!  We had a nice quiet fun time at Danny and Kathi's house. 

Digging out the snow machines and sleds!

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Meemo's back in town!


Finally I've found a home for the
 afghan one of our hunters' wife
 knit for us many years ago!
I’m a Townie, again!  Well for the winter anyway. As many of you know by now, I moved into the mobile home park about 2 months ago. I am living in this cute little single wide across from the park, behind the swimming pool and kitty corner from the school. It’s a great location and it is just right for a little old lady who loves to cook and sew!  Oh and I also love to socialize so please stop in for a visit when you are at the pool, school or just in town for groceries. My coffee pot is ready and I do have tea as well!
My cosy living room.  I love the flooring!
I’m really not used to sitting at home not doing much, although I have done that for a couple days at a time but it just isn’t me!  Here is what I think is a fun thing to try. I know several ladies who are really into quilting and we have decided we need to get together to share what we are doing and to maybe learn some new things from each other. Our plan is to meet in the basement of the Community Church to do this. So far we haven’t picked a day or time but I will keep you posted. Now, here is the snapper!  As many of my Casper friends know, I am not a true quilter!  Yes I have made some quilt tops in classes and even taught a couple classes but they were truly learning experiences for me.


Free motion quilting.  Carla and I took a class to learn how to do it.
This was one of Carla's practice pieces she did in class and then colored.
Mine, on the other hand, was not worthy of coloring or even being photographed!






















My Casper and Wendover friends know I am a machine embroidery enthusiast and most all of you know I love to teach and share all my sewing knowledge with others. So, if you have a sewing machine (or not) and want to join us to learn new ways to use your machines or just to have a great visit, let one of us know and we’ll keep you posted on when we plan to get started!




This is an Advent Calendar I made.
The red and white pockets hold the
25 ornaments I embroidered to hang
on the tree during advent!

This is more my kind of quilting.
 Also known as embroidery and
 applique

I have to tell you about a time when I was teaching on the reservation in Nevada. There was a lady living near there that was a dedicated quilter. She taught a quilting class every quarter through the Community College in Elko. They used my room at the school so I felt obliged to join them. I had never made a quilt before then. There were some ladies from the tribe and some from the nearby town of Mountain City and some ranch ladies living in the area who attended these classes. Our teacher was great and we had a lot of fun!

My kind of quilting!  In-the-hoop quilting
done on my Babylock Destiny machine 
These are more my speed!  I love using
 my machines to make gifts and fun stuff
like coasters, dish towels, baby toys and
towels, purses and much, much more!
 The thing I have to share is how the older ladies from the tribe used their time at our meetings. They made beautiful quilts at home and brought them to class to show us. Then they got together in a corner and visited with each other in Paiute or Shoshone.  I never knew which it was but they joked and laughed and had a great time while the rest of us worked on our quilts. I really got a kick out of them!  They were a fun bunch of ladies!

This Nativity scene was a Christmas
 gift several years ago.  I love it!
This storage unit Jim bought and
 assembled for me really classed up
my cosy little house!  Thanks, Jim
 and Carla!



That's it for today!  I have to get cracking making Christmas gifts!  Hopefully I will have another blog before Christmas.