It’s October– time for Lambtown and OFFF!

Oct1

Fall Fiber Fairs are Fun! 

Sometimes it’s cool enough to have us thinking wool! Sometimes not quite that cool but we can feel it in the air and we can see it in the leaves of the trees! Stores are done with Halloween candy and stocking up on Christmas! lol A sure sign it’s autumn.  Apples are ripening and it’s time to make pies and can applesauce for your winter oatmeal. But hey! we’re almost ready and it is time to start weaving your gift list.

  

We’re heading to Dixon and Lambtown in a couple days. I have 10 weavers joining me for a class on Friday. It’s my first all day class so something new to look forward to. We’re going to have fun! I hope! The scarf is just the start! We’ll be real Scotsmen before we’re done! and almost immediately after that it’s Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Albany, Oregon so if you can’t make Dixon I’ll see you at OFFF!

 

 

 

 

Must be fall, the poison oak is turning red!

Sep14

 

And while the bush beans are about done, the pole beans are just hitting their stride! I’ve already canned around 120 pints. Now I’m bagging them to take to the local Food program, along with some cucumbers which are also turning them out. And he just picked 4 lugs of pears and says that not all on that tree and there are two more trees! lol This is kind of funny in a way as in the past few years we were lucky to get 6 pears off the three! But I have pears in the dehydrator now and will be canning pears and making pear butter. They are ripening rapidly. I had two for breakfast. Delish, I have to admit. I just wish canned pears were as tasty as fresh.

And just out of curiosity, I looked up the nutrition comparison between apples and pears. It appears they are a lot alike but pears seen to have just a bit of an edge. They have more fiber and only just a few grams more sugar. I always thought of pears having a lot more sugar but at least the ones they tested did not seem to. These are Bartletts that Grandfather planted many years ago. But speaking of apples… They are about ready to pick, too. I want them to be ripe but we have to get there before the bear does! I’m surprised they haven’t hit the pears yet. Maybe because this has been such a productive year, they are finding plenty of food elsewhere. I hope so!

One of 4 lugs I have to deal with!

Other than that I am working on my class stuff for Lamb Town next month. Took Cat to the vet so get him the rest of his shots so he could spend a week or two in the Pet Motel while we attend the last two shows of the year. If you are in the area we’ll be at Lamb Town in Dixon, CA. and also the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Albany, Oregon. I had intended to let him just live outside as he’s used to doing but there is rumor of a lion in the village so I guess that wouldn’t be fair. He is pretty good at hiding in the snow but stands out pretty good in green grass. And I think that’s probably true even if you only see in black and white as I understand some/most animals do. He’s not going to like it but I doubt he’d like going to “dinner” with the lion, either!

Speaking of Cat, he was getting bored with his toys so I got the Cat Burglar out. It was a favorite of past critters and was a hit with Cat, too. He went from his pink Tribble to the cat burglar and had a great time! The stuffed squirrels that you can see under the dining table have lost their place for awhile!

          

So meantime I am trying to keep Sis cheered up after her knee surgery. It isn’t much fun for the first couple days.  I haven’t heard yet this morning and am hoping that means she’s getting some good Zzzz’s. Mine is still working and hope it will continue doing so. I have been able to lose a few pounds this month which ought to help it some.

Okay, I guess I’d better get back at it. Hope your September is not too hot or too wet! It’s pretty nice here in the Trinity Alps!

August- is it just me or is autumn in the air already?

Aug4

The trees are not turning, The geese aren’t flying over head but it just feels fall-ish to me. But it’s pretty much mid summer. I have the canner going with green beans this morning. Tomatoes and zucchini to go into the dehydrator and relish to make tomorrow. That’s summer for sure! I guess I am just anticipating. Not that it’s been such a painfully hot summer this year. We did have a spell of “Arizona summer” earlier but it’s been pretty moderate lately and no (knock knock) fires so far.

Himself is tending the garden and is doing a nice job of it this summer. He has a healthy crop of carrots, something we haven’t had any luck at growing so far. And the corn is tall and fat, too, so we’re looking forward to some nice roasting ears in the not too distant future!

Carrots! He’s thinned them now and they are out-growing their shade cloth!

As for the looms and weaving, I’ve been working on the class for this fall and projects to go with it. I have classes scheduled at both Lambtown and OFFF. Check then out. I really haven’t done much other weaving this summer so have nothing to share. I just got a little payment from Little Looms who are republishing my Evergreen Hat in a new Ebook so if you missed that issue you can find it now on the Interweave site.

My youngest sister came down from Oregon in July and spent a week with me and we played with dyes! It was fun. Randy set us up a table and a portable gas stove in the yard off the kitchen and we mixed and matched! I dyed some yarns for one of the class projects and she had a lot of her handspun that she dyed, too. It was the first good visit we’ve had in almost a year. I really enjoyed having her here.

So I guess that about covers it for this time. Can’t think of much else. Cat has been hunting Lizards which has Randy upset. Some cats are hunters and I guess this one’s stint at having to feed himself last winter has encouraged that trait. He gets plenty of food now but I guess I need to fatten him up more!

Okay, looks like I’ve just won a contest from Harbor Fright for a bunch of tools and a heck of a lot of money from Publishers Clearing House. Pretty good for someone who has never entered any contests, huh? lol It always amazes me how anyone can fall for these things!  Ah well… I’ll just hope I never reach that state. Meantime, he does buy a lottery ticket now and then! lol

Okay, gotta go tend a pressure cooker full of green beans! Hope your garden is producing heavily, too!

Yarn fun!

Jul14

Well… Sis is  on her way home after a couple of fun days. I don’t count the day she arrived or left as they weren’t full days and today was not really all that much fun waving good bye! But on a brighter note, we are already thinking of the next time! That will be at her place.

But did we play?! You betcha! There’s more but she took a bunch home with her, too, and , as usual, I got so involved I forgot the camera! That’s almost unheard of in these days of cell phones, huh? I guess it comes from not having one of those little devices! But now I Have Ideas! It’s going to be more fun playing with my new colors. I’m thinking of making Art with those paper towels we dribbled tests on! lol

 

And Sis sent a photo of her part of the pretties! All hers is handspun. Most of mine is commercial.

Dh is busy bringing in the early fruits of the summer squash. So it looks like I’ll be getting the dehydrator ready a little sooner than I figured. Everything else is starting to bloom so it won’t be long. I see some fruits on the winter squash and fancy pumpkins. The green beans, the peppers, the okra… the peas are putting on another go just in time for the 100+ summer heat. Off we go.

So now its back to everyday stuff and staying cool. It looks like the extreme heat is going to be fairly wide spread so I hope you can all manage to stay cool. Reasonably so at least! And spend your in-door time with your looms!

Hazel

It’s July– already!

Jul9

And what a month it has been. It started last month! But that’s all water under the bridge. speaking of which, the “spring” run off is still running off! It’s been a good spring and early summer for water. Still snow on the north sides of the peaks, haven’t seen that in July in a long time! The yard and garden loves it. And the weather has had a couple hot spells but mostly has been pretty temperate but it looks like that may be coming to an end. This morning’s forecast threatens us with up to 110drgrees f. this next weekend! Yikes!

Sis is coming down and we’re going to play with dyes. I was hoping to talk her into a longer stay but I’m pretty sure that won’t fly once she hears about that! She thinks 80 is hot! Ah well..

The people at Lambtown want me to advertise my class this October on my social media. Does a blog qualify for that? If so I hope you will think about joining us if you are within reach of Dixon, CA. They always have bus service from the bay area if you live down that way. We’re going to be weaving Tartans!  The scarf is one of the simpler projects you can use your tartan designs for. Can you imagine weaving your own kilt?! Me neither! That’s something like 35 yards of fabric, but we’ll have useful and wearable projects you can weave. This class is mostly about how to take a floor loom woven pattern and translate it into a useable pin loom pattern. We’ll be using the Quilt Weaver Looms. mostly 12 inch and 14 inch squares, tho I will include the 10.5″ and even some that may work with the 7″ square. It’s going to be fun!

Meantime, the garden is the main topic. The peas are blooming again and we picked the first summer squash this morning! There are lot of green tomatoes, some peppers, the beans are starting to flower and we have little cucumbers! Going to be a busy canning season, too!

I hope you are all having a great summer!

It’s June!

May31

I don’t need a calendar to tell me when June arrives!

My roses know!

The iris are more about mid May.

They are still going strong but their reign is nearing the end for this year. I have marigold, nasturtium, sunflowers. zinnia, another whose name eludes me at the moment. Some planted some just in seed trays. But these are the summer flowers coming up quickly. And according to this morning’s weather forecast, just in time!

Himself has the veggies garden under control. He is putting in a sprinkler system that can run off timers when we are on the road for a week or so. It’s a modified version of my sisters system what he admired. It has to have some special changes for our situation but it looks like we won’t have to have a garden ‘sitter’ this summer!

Meantime, I am canning soup today. My favorite lunch. It’s just my version of a ‘dump’ recipe. Tomato or V8 if I have it, chicken broth, veggies broth, and whatever veggies are available fresh or canned. Beans, split peas, and  lentils, barley. A good hearty soup! And the bread is in the machine, the weekly regular loaf.

I know this is like posting a photo of your dinner, but I was delighted to get a full canner, 16 pints, and still have about 3 lunches worth left in the fridge! It’s not real photogenic but I like it! lol

But I have not abandoned weaving. I have the squares woven for my scarf and am going to start assembly today in between these other projects, and some shop work. Maybe. That might have to wait a day. I am also working on a couple tutorials for fixing weaving problems  after the fact. What to do once they are off the loom. A neighbor gave me a link to a editing program she says is “easy”.  I plan to give it a try but, well, she is much younger and used to internet apps and programs. I saw the things she was doing with her teaching videos for her glass works and, frankly, I am just a bit intermediated!  But I’ll give it a try. Maybe you can “:teach an old dog new tricks”!

Meantime, if you are having problem with assembling, you might want to check out this blog. Even if you decide these methods are not for you I think you’ll agree they are creative!

   Have a lovely spring!

 

 

April in Trinity

Apr18

It’s been beautifully sunny and warm this last week. The “glacier” on front of my kitchen is disappearing rapidly, bulbs coming up and blooming, trees starting to bud, birds and animals coming out of hiding!  This morning at 28 degrees there was new snow on the deck! Not much, but just April making sure we know it’s not May yet! But the sun is up again and that white is melting rapidly.

A crocus, reluctant to open in the frosty lawn and one of the first primroses blooming under a budding mini rose.

     

We are getting ready to leave for the Great Basin Fiber Arts fair in Utah next week. In spite of all that has come together to make this as difficult as possible I am actually looking forward to going. The latest disaster, in case I haven’t mentioned it, is his truck. The one that pulls the 5th wheel, is in the shop. It’s brain dead. It’s computer died and has had to be sent off to a company in New York that rebuilds/programs these units. We were told a month. I didn’t want to disappoint weavers there who’ve signed up for my classes so we’ve rented a U-Haul van and an airBnB and are going anyway. It is going to be an interesting trip!

I haven’t gotten a lot of weaving done this month, most has been more mundane stuff but things that needed to be done. I did work on some rectangular stuff, nothing finished or ready to be shown. And made a couple scrubbies for the house. Stuff like that. Did I mention the Cat?

I must have. I still haven’t been able to find his family or anyone who can give him a home.  He seems to be happy asking to be let out when he needs to answer nature. That’s fine as we really have no place to keep a littler box. We have been planning to take him to the shelter in Weaverville if I cannot find another home for him. At my age I really don’t need a cat under foot, and he is really good at the ankle twining cat thing! But it looks like we may end up keeping him after all. Randy talked to the temporary animal control person and was told that they are at capacity for cats and can’t take anymore. I’m not going to dump him or let him starve. He’s a very loving guy, also quite handsome and well mannered. He’s also a long haired white cat. So far in this cold weather, he has not been shedding but that’s one thing my last white cat did in abundance, I still find her “angora” on my black coat and stuff like that! But we’ll see.

We’re never going to be Vegans but I’ve been trying to be less carnivorous.  It’s much easier for me than it is for Himself but he rarely complains. He did comment on an article he read saying people need to eat less red meat, saying, “That’s not a problem around here.” I just agreed! lol It’ll be easier once the garden gets going again and we have lots of fresh veggies. Winter is hard since produce is limited and the grocery store is an 80 mile round trip. I can as much as we have for it in the summer but it’s starting to run our by this time of year. We’ve planted onions and peas. He’s says he had to replant some of the onions. I think it’s the jays who pull them up. Everybody is looking for fresh greens this time of year, he put wire over the pea row, just in case!

Well, looks like I’ve been a bit chatty this morning so it’s time to say Have a Nice Day! and get to work on the days chores! Hope you’re seeing signs of spring where you are!

 

 

 

Dish Towel on the new 14″ x 28″ loom.

Mar22

This is  our new Dish towel loom that weavers have been asking for. Several are making gift sets to give or sell. I used some peaches and Cream, called Ocean Stripes. This 100% cotton yarn is a bit lighter weight than the Lily Sugar and Cream I usually use but I only had plain colors of that on hand and wanted something more varied. I worked a single crochet around the edges because I thought it might help to stabilized the diagonal drape of this rectangle.  It has quite a bit of draw up before the fulling was done & I think no matter what, the diagonal is going to effect the final size/shape. I did not use this towel gently. It was hot wash, cold rinse, and full cycle in the dryer since I figured that would be the way my normal kitchen laundry would be done.

     

It works fine as towel in the kitchen. It feels quite soft and is as absorbent as the dish cloths made on larger looms and fulled the same way.

It was challenging for me to weave as it is a larger loom than I generally like to work with and I ended up weaving it much too tightly. I used one of my painting easels to hold the loom and set it on a dining chair so I could weave from my chair. I tired it on the dining table but it was too high there for me to reach well whether seated or standing. It took me three days to weave, not an average! I just worked at in by fits and starts as the saying goes. But all in all I am pleased with it.

 

More snow…

Mar5

…Another 10″ this morning. This is the trail to the mail box.

And Himself likes feeding the birds but he doesn’t use a bird feeder just tosses it on the deck and in the snow. The towhees and Junkos were missing in this photo as was the little tree rat, the pine squirrel. He’s better stay missing! But the greys and the Jays were there for breakfast! You can tell that He’s generous with the expensive bird feed, too! Ah well, they are entertaining. This is our deck, by the way. Getting deep around the edges! lol

Hope you are having fun with your looms and staying cozy this rather chilly March! Traditionally it comes in like a lion (tho I’d vote Polar bear this year) so let’s just hope it goes out like that lamb!

 

I’ve been showing you the deck side, the “pretty side”.  Thought I’d give you a view of my kitchen side. That’s my car, the shop behind it. The white area to the right of my car is the tarp that helps keep the snow out of the wood shed behind it. The path he’s shoveled leads to the porch and kitchen door. The 2nd picture was taken from the kitchen door though the snow boards which keep the snow off the porch. For the most part. Snow did a lot of melting today but there’s more scheduled for this week.

   

My 2nd for the WAL

Mar3

I finally finished her blue dress and the jacket. I’m not sure the blues are a perfect fit but i am quite happy with both. I especially like the jacket. I used some yarn by Universal yarn company called Uptown worsted. It is 100% acrylic and wonderfully soft but still holds stitch definition well and is just nice to work with. I turned the neckline out on this jacket to give it a bit of faux collar. I’m not sure about the sleeve length, I may go back and work a little edging to make them a bit longer.

   

 

Some Weavers have ask about the SweetHeart blanket Heart Valentine Block.  That is basically a woven design that you can put together into a blanket

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This is mine.

This one was made by Penny Tennerman and given me by her daughter.

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