First Flights-www.jillrutanhoffman.com

Check out this website....Our daughter-in-law, Jill Rutan Hoffman, recently published her second book and it is wonderful. We are all so proud of her. If you love flying, and who doesn't, you will love these stories. Many of them keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how they will end. Jill and I are both wives of Air Force Test Pilots and we have lived through some pretty exciting times. I'm sure that we weren't always told the "whole story" by our husbands, but sometimes that was a good thing. I encourage you to purchase and read this fantastic book and if you have children who are interested in aviation, perhaps they could someday be reliving some of these stories.

I've been busy cleaning the Pinetop home this week and will soon be sitting down in my studio to solder away. I want to finish some earrings I'm making for a friend and then I will be starting a cuff bracelet. I am waiting for my silver order as I type so maybe it will arrive tomorrow and I can begin.

The weather up here is delightful. It is certainly better than the 112 degrees we suffered through in Green Valley last week - whew!! I don't know how people can stand that heat full time.

I guess I've rambled on long enough - not much to report. Have a great week and don't forget to check out Jill's blog at www.jillrutanhoffman.com. Cheers, Sally

Hello Out There

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged since May 15th. It has been a busy summer and I am having a great time. I just returned from a wonderful trip to Idaho where I attended the wedding of my cousin. It was in a beautiful setting at a resort ranch, Wildhorse Creek Ranch in MacKay, Idaho. I was also able to spend some quality time with some of my cousins that I hadn't seen in almost 18 years, Where does time go? We all agreed that we would do better at keeping in touch with each other and even spoke about organizing a Wallace family reunion next year. It will be such fun getting this generation and our children/grandchildren together - some for the first time. Unfortunately, since the last Wallace reunion in 1990, we've lost many of our parents, aunts and uncles. We miss them terribly but will always remember them with big smiles. The Wallace family is always full of smiles and laughter so I look forward to getting this reunion on the road. I also spent time with my best friend from high school and the maid of honor at my wedding, Joanne. We never seem to change and I think that is about as good as it gets. She drove me all around Boise and I was able to take pictures of my previous homes - they looked as good as ever too. John and I are planning a road trip in our Airstream in August to go back to Idaho and enjoy the great outdoors it has to offer.

We've been very busy with the Pinetop house renovations this summer. John has been working right along with the contractors on the new decks, patios and stonework on the front of the garage areas. It is beautiful and we will be enjoying it for many years to come - soon. He has no trouble keeping right up with the 30 year olds so that makes him smile alot.






I had a terrific garage sale recently and made enough to purchase my last 2 big tools I've wanted for a long time - a Foredom Flexshaft Power Tool and a Smith Little Torch unit for soldering. Now I need to get busy and create some wonderful pieces of jewelry from all of this luxury. Can't wait.

I'd better sign off for now but it feels good to be back. Hugs and good soldering to all of my silversmithing friends and hugs to all. Sally