This and That

Etsy is a dangerous place to go window shopping ! There is too much fun stuff to look at and it's very hard to resist sometimes as evidenced by this purchase of Tencel "Prairie" from Exclusively Linda Lee



Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.

Max Eastman

The dog lives for the day, the hour, even the moment.

Robert Falcon Scott

What a life ! Betsy is such a snugga puppy. Here she is cuddled up to Marc. She makes me smile ! Actually they both do !


Anna, looking lovely ,heading out for a wedding.


Dave and Trella came out this morning to take away some firewood for me and afterwards we had a little jam session on our nyckelharpas. I hadn't played mine in several years so was pretty rusty to begin with. It's a very unique instrument which I should start playing again. For more information on this check out the American Nyckelharpa Association

















Spun up BFL roving for an Allspunup Ravelry Spin along. Would like to learn how to Navajo ply this.
I don't know why I can't get going on any knitting projects. What is wrong with me ?








Katie was great enough to organize a "Knitters for Obama" fundraiser. Inga is helping me carry the message

Melancholy

My little red house with the Carl Larson accents on the porch which I hope makes this look at least a little Swedish.


It has been quite painful to look about my home of late and try to decide what to do. It's been a part of my life since 1984, loaded with many memories both good and bad. Can I afford to stay here, do I have the mental strength, can I take care of it ? First in order is to fix it up in either case. Lots of conflicting emotions. I wish there was an easy answer................


Your heart says stay and battle the pain, but your mind says leave for all this isn't needed, broken into pieces for that one an only. But follow your heart because the heart can only take so much.

Jamila M. Allen


Hired friends Cindy and Tim to start chipping away at the many, many projects that need attending to.
When Cindy tore the overgrown plants away from the foundation these were still there, fragments of glass and char from the fire when the firefighters smashed windows and burnt wood tumbled from the roof. It was so horrible to watch it going up in flames. We ended up with a nicer house but what a way to get it.


The kids have been helping with the dejunking and yard work. Marc got carried away with the pruning here ! It was a 20 year old overgrown honeysuckle. He got tired of using pruners and started hacking away at it with a Civil War reproduction sword. Oh my, that was a shock to come home to !


Mia staying cool in the shade. Quite a head of hair !!



I have many things to be thankful for and need to remind myself at times like these.
Caring family, friends, and coworkers, loving children who make me laugh when I don't feel like I can anymore, a roof over my head, a wonderful job which I wouldn't trade for the world, and so much more.

We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet on the way. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling, don't overlook it.

Source Unknown







I am drawn to this pair of Latvian mittens from the exhibit. It's faded appearance evoking thoughts of times past.














Purchased this lovely Jacob/Romney fleece from
Katie who was having a little destash sale.

Sunday Fun

Sunday was spent with Karen and Katie first at the Museum to see the Latvian exhibit before it closed the next day. That was my fifth time! Every time I went I noticed something new. Afterwards we went to the Fiber Gallery for some fiber therapy. Of course I didn't need anymore yarn but I couldn't resist Lavold's Silky Wool in a stunning red color.
On another note - thanks Katie for your fundraising efforts for Obama !!

Click on pictures for a closer look






Later Karen and I went to see "Mamma Mia" which was hysterical ! It's so campy it's fun. Some of the singing was pretty bad which caused us to break into a fit of giggles every time this person opened their mouth. You'll have to go see it to find out who !

Fiber Heaven

Last weekend I went to a three day workshop on Spinning for Aran, Gansey, and Fair Isle taught by Carol Huebscher Rhoades. I loved it ! It was my first such one so I was rather nervous about my lack of experience. It was a pretty relaxed atmosphere so nothing to worry about. I loved hearing all about the traditions, histories, breeds of sheep, and techniques. Some of the lovely samples knit from her handspun.
















Carol also handed out wonderful fiber samples which had me drooling. As one of my classmates said it makes you want to jump into a swimming pool full of wool - without the water of course !

The dark is UK BFL and the white US. Heavenly soft.



4 samples of Shetland. Other sample fleeces included Cheviot, Scottish Mule, Galway, and primitive Shetland.

This was held out in Preston at Suzanne Pedersen's house which is lovely and she provided such lovely meals and refreshments. Wish I had taken pictures of her home and garden.

The Latvian Exhibit is ending this Sunday. I've seen it four times and will be seeing it again this weekend ! I was given permission to take pictures which I'll try and post a few at a time. These textiles are stunning.







I can't describe how much joy these forms of textile "art" bring me no matter the country. The beauty, love, and care that seems to come to the surface when I look upon them and think of the generations that went before amazes me.

Summer Roses

Your hands hold roses always in a way that says
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes
In such kind ways,
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose
For a moment all that it touches back to wonder.

Richard Wilber



It is a quiet weekend. The kids left over a week ago for their annual 4H trip to San Juan Island. The sun has finally decided to shine more than one day in a row. The temp is perfect with a slight breeze. Went about the yard this morning taking pictures of some of the roses. If these roses can grow in this very neglected yard with little care they have to be some of the hardiest ever for this area.





Inga still makes me smile. She was in the shop for some major overhauls but she sounds and drives alot better. Between two cars there has been around $7,000 (choke) in car repair bills in the last six months. Just when you think there can't be any other major thing to go wrong it does :(
Driving around with her I've had people flash peace signs, honk and wave, call her a classic. With the "Slug Bug no hits back" when kids see her they start pummeling each other, here in the driveway or out on the road. I have never named a car before but here she is. People at work think she's very cute and ask about her almost daily. Just had to buy this license plate holder at the museum. I'm nuts over Sweden !


Mari, our eleven year old Lab/Whippet mix. I picked her up at the pound when she was around six months old. She was emaciated and shivering in the corner with her sad brown eyes. The vet figured she'd been abused,abandoned, and had resorted to eating manure to survive. She was very sick. I used to say she would be the best dog ever if no one came to visit. She was very nervous and unpredictable when anyone came around. She has mellowed quite a bit the last few years. It took almost nine years for that to happen. She loves "her kids" and is ecstatic when they wake up in the morning or come home from being out and about. She still plays like a puppy despite the gray around her muzzle. She takes after the Whippet side, certainly not the Lab side. She's very ladylike and water is only fit to drink, not to play in. Her silly names are - Mari Woof, Martita, Mari Woofer Woof, and Mars Bars.

The latest skein using BFL from :) Kristin.
I was up at 7AM and after making coffee headed right to the wheel !

I have not done much knitting. I am so embarrassed by all my UFO's that one day will pull them all out and count to perhaps, shame me into finishing them. My next life I'm coming back as an organized person

Finally

It's been the dampest, chilliest June I've ever remembered. A few weeks ago the news said it was warmer in Siberia than it was here ! Finally it's beautiful, sunny, and warm. The sunlight shining thru the leaves in the garden gives the plants a wonderful bright glow.

I was contacted by Pam Allen, now at Classic Elite Yarns, about some pictures of Sirkka Könönens work I had sent her while at Interweave. She loved the colorwork, as do I. She sent me some samples of their new Fall yarn "Fresco" created especially for colorwork. It's a blend of 60% wool, 30% baby alpaca, 10% angora and will come in 35-40 colors ! It feels wonderfully soft and I can't wait to find just the right project for it. It's my favorite shade of blue and natural.
Thank you Pam !!!











Thank you Barbro for arranging to buy and ship these books for me. I seriously have a problem here ! You are my personal Swedish enabler !

All things fiber

An idyllic scene of Freisian sheep grazing in the pasture.
A few weekends ago an afternoon was spent at the Fiber Frolic at Gretchen's Wool Mill.
Women spinning on the back deck, the whirl of wheels, the exchange of gentle conversation, and the sharing of ideas all made for a lovely day.














A month ago my two fleeces arrived from Wee Croft Finnsheep As soon as I opened the box I dove my hands into the lovely lanolin fiber and the scent made me miss not having sheep.


They are GORGEOUS. I love the silvery bits in the light fleece "Lilac"
"Sadie" is the other.





















It's hard not to be self critical of my early attempts at spinning. Don't look too closely ! I'm not usually an orange person but I was drawn to this cherry/orange combo from Allspunup