Monday, July 30, 2012

Family Time, Montana Style


Sustainably Sadie
Family Time, Montana Style


We’ve been trying to jam as much family fun into this summer as possible.  Tight time and financial budgets keep the extended vacation at bay; our summer travel has to be close to home.  I’ve spoken before about the benefits of a “Stay-cation” and the richness of our great state provides constant family entertainment. 

So far, we’ve hiked, floated, barbequed with friends and family, played in the river, and went to a car show.   We were in Ennis for the 4th of July parade, we did Lewis & Clark caverns and this past weekend, a first for all of us—Crystal Park.  Located just past Maverick Mountain Ski area and Elkhorn Hot Springs on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, the rock hound haven provided hours of entertainment for our family.  Time flew by as we dug in the dirt and searched for shiny, geometric shapes.  We ate a picnic lunch up on the mountain.   

From Twin, we drove there through Dillon in the morning and then came home through Butte.  At the end of a long, fun (but tiring) day, we had made a great big loop and many family memories.  Crystal Park is maintained by the Butte Silverbow Mineral and Gem Club and the Forest Service.  30 of the 220 acres are open to the public for hand excavation at $5.00 per day use fee.  I think the next time our family takes advantage of this wonderful resource, we will camp in one of the many camping spots in the area.  At 7,800 feet elevation, it was a great way to escape the summer heat. 

I had printed off some pages from an internet Google search on Crystal Park that we brought for our daughter to read on the way to the park.  It was helpful to know the rules of the Park ahead of time.  Please, pack it in, pack it out!  Keep Montana beautiful!

Share your family “stay-cation” stories at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or sustainablysadie@hotmail.com. 



Twin Bits

The Twin Bridges Public Library archives all Madisonian newspapers.  The TB Public Library, however, is missing the January 27, 2011 edition.  If anyone out there has that particular copy, please consider donating it to the TB Public Library to help keep their collection for our community complete.

Floating Flotillas and Fish Fantasies in Twin Bridges is Saturday July 28.  Activities include 3 on 3 basketball tournament, River Parade, Kids Games, BBQ and more!  Better start designing your float, the River Parade starts at 11 am.  Contact Aaron Griffin with any questions, agriffin@twinfalcons.org or 596-0187 cell.  The river parade theme this year is simply, Fish Fantasies.  Ask Aaron for a parade registration form and you better start planning those floats!!

Sheridan Festival & Car Show is Saturday July 28 and Sunday July 29.  Activities include BBQ, art show, quilt show, great music and more!

River’s Edge Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday thru Saturday.

The Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday 9 am to Noon.  The Hutterites will return Saturday July 7th and, for the rest of the summer, will be at every TB Farmer’s Market.  

 Coree Martin has stepped down as Twin Bridges Farmer’s Market “Market Master.”  In the interim, the TBCA is looking for TBCA members, as well as nonmembers to "adopt a market day".  Duties would include: putting out signage on Friday afternoon, being at Main Street Park at 8 am, on Saturday, to greet vendors, help with set up, document vendors, collect fees, & to help with break down at noon. The task is relatively simple but as there is not one person to do it all, we would greatly appreciate a donated Saturday.
Volunteers are needed for the following dates:
July 21st, 28th (4Fs)
August 4th, 11th (Fair), 18th, 25th
September 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd. 29th
If you are interested in hosting a particular date, please contact Paula Kinoshita, at The Old Hotel (684-5959) ASAP, as we would like to get the rest of the season sorted out.

In addition, we are looking for a new Market Master for Summer Season 2013. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact Paula K. for further details.

Jackson’s Garden in Sheridan has a new VISTA summer associate who is coordinating activities at the Garden including Volunteer work days, the Kids’ Club program and the Thursday night Farmer’s Market.  Volunteer work days are Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm.  Thursday Farmer’s Market is 5 pm to 7 pm at the Main Street Park, corner of Main Street and Mill.  Jackson's Garden is sponsoring a summer Kid's Club, a youth led organization open to all kids of the Ruby Valley, ages 6 to 12 years old.  The Kid's Club will plant, tend and harvest vegetables from their own plot as well as experience preparing and tasting healthy foods.  Art projects and having fun at the Garden are also planned. 

The Kid's Club will meet the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10am to 12pm at the Garden.  July 11 is the date of next Kids’ Club.  Snacks will be served and parents are encouraged to attend. Please contact Janet Marsh at 842-5888 for more information or Check out Jackson’s Garden website, https://sites.google.com/site/jacksonsgardeninc/home and *Like* them on Facebook. 
I’m here to help promote Ruby Valley events and spread community information.  Post comments at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com, email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call 406-531-1422 and send snail mail to P.O. Box 491, TB  59754.  Thanks for reading and sharing, Sarah Miller. 




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