Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

It's always amazing to me the people I meet while I'm traveling and teaching, and the lessons I learn from them along the way. This past weekend I was in Farmington, Utah teaching... — Updated 5/2/2023

This week I'll be traveling, and for the first time in a very long time (three years to be exact), I'll be "heading home." I'm excited for the trip and the opportunity to spend... — Updated 1/24/2023

Everyone has a talent, whether they realize it or not, and there are so many different ways to express ourselves. There are those who create art with a paintbrush while others have... — Updated 11/17/2021

It’s been a busy couple of weeks with travel, in-person shows and getting ready for upcoming holiday shows. Throughout all the hustle and bustle, however, it occurred to me how... — Updated 11/3/2021

In this last segment of my repeating history series, I’d like to point out a few things about our recent history, within the last ten years or so, and how all of our history is... — Updated 10/20/2021

Our world today has me thinking a lot about our past, and how little we seemed to have learned from it. I see us repeating our history in a couple of different ways and thought I... — Updated 9/29/2021

There is a lot going on in the world right now. Good, bad and otherwise. But the one thing about this time of year, in my opinion, is the time to look at it all, reflect and reset.... — Updated 9/22/2021

Last week may have been all about giving grace, but this week there’s an apparent need for setting the record straight on a few things… First, when has it become acceptable to... — Updated 8/25/2021

I’ve been on quite the whirlwind of adventures this last month. I’ve traveled to Idaho, Whitehall, Alaska, Eureka and recently just down the road from my house to this past... — Updated 8/18/2021

Do you ever have those people who you know you can just be you with? You know, the ones you talk over plans and dreams and kick around ideas you’ve been mulling over in your own... — Updated 8/11/2021

Some of you may have noticed the absence of a column from me last week. I was finally traveling with family and close friends (after a year’s postponement) to Alaska to fulfill my... — Updated 8/4/2021

I’m just returning from two back-to-back weekend shows where I taught and had a booth selling my fiber-wares. I’d forgotten how much work these shows are; in the preparing for t... — Updated 7/21/2021

This past weekend we celebrated America’s 245th birthday. For some, this meant having a three day weekend, barbecues, and family gatherings. For others, it meant road trips and... — Updated 7/8/2021

Over the last several years we seem to have gone from being a society of people, as a whole, working together and working hard for what we have, to having a larger part of society... — Updated 6/30/2021

We all have a family. Some we are born into, and others we find along the way. Sometimes the family we’re born into isn’t the family we spend the most of our time with. For... — Updated 6/23/2021

In recent weeks I’ve had a lot of people ask me where I come up with the ideas for this column. Usually, my response is something to the effect of “just things I think about,... — Updated 6/16/2021

Has anyone else notices the slight yet growing cost of everything lately, or is it just me? Everything from food prices and gas prices to the ridiculous cost of building materials... — Updated 6/9/2021

This past week I had to say goodbye to my canine companion and best shotgun road trip partner. It was a tough few days, especially those leading up to her appointment. I can’t... — Updated 6/2/2021

Sometimes, circumstances, differing opinions, actions from others and even our own actions, call for conversations in order to clear the air, make things better, and convey our... — Updated 5/19/2021

There are several things in life that are personal in nature. Some remain private forever, while others are private things you talk over with close friends and family. Politics, rel... — Updated 5/5/2021

If the last couple of weeks kept me busy preparing and this week has been all about recovery, then I’m here to tell you, moving forward has me really coming to terms with things... — Updated 4/14/2021

It’s often said gardening clears a person’s mind, puts them in touch with the land and relieves stress. I’ve gardened pretty much since I moved to Montana, but what if... — Updated 3/31/2021

One day, I’ll get it all together… I say this every year about the time I get ready to file my taxes. And each year, I do have it a little more together than the previous year,... — Updated 3/23/2021

People have often said that there are always two sides to a story. In actuality, there really are at least three sides to every story, especially in stories containing two people an... — Updated 3/16/2021