A.........rriving at Glacier Park Lodge

Our relaxing train ride took about 27 hours from Columbus, Wisconsin, to East Glacier, Montana. Even though I had been to Glacier before, I was delighted (and the others were amazed) to be greeted by a red shuttle bus that transported us to beautiful Glacier Park Lodge. A carpet of flowers lines the way from the depot to the Lodge. It was also a joy to see the mountains again. The week before the weather had been cold and rainy, but we were treated to sunny skies and warm weather. More pictures of the Lodge and Glacier Park will follow in a couple of days...stay tuned!

T.........raining it!

Last week, dh and I began a new adventure. We traveled from Wisconsin to western Montana on a train! My daughter snapped this picture of us boarding the Amtrak in Columbus, Wisconsin, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. As it was a 27 hour trip, we chose to travel in what they call a "roomette". The seats were generous and comfortable, and as you can see, had a bunk that folded down into a bed as well as the seats making a second bed at night. Our sleeping car attendent greeted us with champagne and escorted us to our cabin on the second floor of the coach. All of our delicious meals were served in the dining car, and we also had a wine and cheese party there on the second day. The motion of the train rocked us to sleep at night. We've decided that "training" is an ideal form of travel for us!

P.........resenting: memoriesforlife

Scrapbooking has always been one of my favorite past times, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover the etsy shop http://memoriesforlifesb.etsy.com/ ! Edi creates all kinds of unique scrapbooks in her studio and they're perfect for the beginning and expert scrapbooker alike. Her "word" scrapbooks, such as the one on the left are stunning. Each chipboard letter opens a new page with perfect spaces for your pictures. She'll even make custom "name" books.
My favs are her "pet" scrapbooks. Even Kirby and Katydid wish that I had known Edi before I made their scrapbook.
Her work is quite professional and she does some work with real power tools! (My family gets nervous when they see me with a scissors and a crochet hook!)
Please visit her delightful Etsy Shop to see more of her great work and perhaps order one for yourself. They also make great gifts!

W.........onderful "Hay Fever"!

Although our actual summer vacation begins next week, we've been luck enough to take several "short" vacations as well. Last week it was our annual trek to beautiful Spring Green, Wisconsin, to visit The American Players Theatre where classical and semi-classical productions are staged all summer long. On a perfect summer night we sat with my daughter and son-in-law under the stars to see a delightful version of Noel Coward's "Hay Fever".

The photos are of this theatre in the woods, and a close up of one scene from the play that features nine characters: four zany members of the Bliss family, four guests they invite separately without telling anyone else, and one unflappable housekeeper. The merriment that ensues in their English country house in the first half of the 20th century is contagious.

What a perfect mini-vacation. Who knew that hay fever could be so much fun?

M.........ega Giveaway!

You could win one of these twenty five items absolutely free! Through August 14, the Etsy Bloggers Team is hosting this offer in honor of our second Anniversary. All you need to do is click on http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com/ and follow the directions for one or more entries. I've highlighted two of the items below: a darling pair of earrings and a photograph box that opens up to provide room for your photos. good luck!

T.........ea Party

Tea parties are for big girls, too! Yesterday, one of the members of our Red Hat/ Mah Jongg group hosted a spectacular tea party for us at her home.
Everything was perfect, from the decorations, to the food and its presentation, to the tea cups themselves! Each table had its own flower arrangement in a creamer or a sugar bowl with flowers from her fabulous garden. At each place setting was a menu, a place card, and a card with "tea trivia" for us to share. Each cup was one she had bought as a special item, many from her travels as is the lovely cup featured here that came from Norway.
The tea table featured five different sandwiches such as the cucumber hearts, smoked salmon pinwheels, and chutney chicken salad pictured here...all with edible herbs and flowers as garnish. It also included raspberry mini muffins, and walnut, golden raisin, with fennel seed scones. These were accompanied by Lady Grey Tea. The desserts followed: Mini Angle Food Cakes topped with jasmine Cream, Lemon Tea Cookies, Key Lime Snaps, Walkers shortbread and Carlsbad Oblaten with lemon, all accompanied by Pineapple Mango Tea.

Wasn't this a party fit for a queen??

G.........lass Glories

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to win in a blog give away from the fabulous Dorset Hill Beads, a fellow blogger and EALer. It was extra special as I had admired her lamp work beads for a long time. When the package arrived, I was excited to see a lovely bead with copper wire on a cell phone charm. I actually plan to use it as a zipper pull on the new, black, zip cardigan that I've ordered. I've also selected another of her focal beads to show here, adorned with glass summer flowers. Please take a moment to visit her Etsy shop at http://www.dorsethillbeads.etsy.com to see this lovely creation, and the wide variety of beads she has listed. I also enjoy her whimsical "littles". Thank you, dorsethillbeads for the stunning cell phone charm, and stay tuned for the making of a new pine needle basket that features another of her beads!