Tying up Loose Ends

sunday

2011-09-12T07:56:00.000-05:00

Glimpses of a day to complete nearly-finished projects

knitted wire bracelet

pine needle and crochet basket

crochet cotton tablecloth

wet wool dripping on the clothesline

So i had this dream this morning....

2011-07-30T08:01:00.000-05:00

So i had this dream this morning....

i was at a house, a big house, lots of rooms....and lots of people...Everyone was there for a fiber arts weekend,,,lots of materials in tow, color and texture everywhere. right in my comfort zone......but there was nowhere for me to sleep...all the beds and rooms were taken, i ended up on the floor of some childrens room,,, not sleeping and I was there to teach the next day...and i wasn't getting any sleep.. i did not want to let anyone down by not teaching, but i ended up leaving in the middle of the night, with a whole carload of wool and art stuff, (did i steal that stuff? was it mine in the first place?) and went home..

So what is this all about? random dumping of anxiety? and why was it so vivid and disturbing? maybe it was the spicy supper I had last night,,,,,,you think?

July 1

2011-07-01T18:57:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we were int the north woods. Our cabin is in Marinette County, known for waterfalls. And trees, and wood ticks, but that is another story.We read in a guide that there was a rapids that was easily visible from the road, so on the way to town for groceries, we took the time to see the rapids.

Really nice.

Easy to find.

Nice photo op.

The guide book mentioned another waterfall nearby...one we had not visited yet....so we decided to find it.

Down a very narrow dirt road.

We followed the sign

A nice path

so, a little roadblock....

Dave said "C'mon"

Yes, I am still on the path, if you want to call it that.

Struggling to keep my balance, this is no place for and old, fat woman who has both knees replaced, short legs and $100 sandals....

A bird poops on my shirt! Where is the trail? I am sweating bullets by this time...

I consider turning back, but I can hear the falls now....

Dave is already there.

I was too shook up from the ~~walk~~ trauma to take any decent photos, but the falls was beautiful.

That's my foot , by this time I had abandoned the stupid sandals.

About that time, I realized that I had to get back out the way I came in!

Only slightly less traumatic....
I think I will stick to the falls that are easy to get to from now on....like Strong Falls in Goodman Park.

Spring Spinning

2011-05-28T19:36:00.000-05:00

Birds and blooms

2011-05-17T19:48:00.000-05:00

Blooms first.

I knit this shawl this week.The pattern is Revontuli, Northern Lights. Not very reminiscent of the aurora in this colorway, but done in purples and pinks and blues...maybe then.

The yellow brings dandelions to mind.

We have a huge field of them behind our house...I think they are lovely. Spring has been elusive this year, so we have to enjoy each little bit of spring as it appears. Including dandelions.

And the birds.

These are more stuffed birds on my porch.

My bird making compulsion has ended,the aviary is complete, at least for now.

Tonight I am enjoying spinning on the deck, and the dandelions.

Doing it all again

2011-04-29T19:35:00.001-05:00

I'd like to blame it all on the eagles...you know, the Decorah eagles...those eagles that I watch every chance I get...

The eagle viewing lead to the stuffed bird making. If only it were true..then I could point to the source and say "this is why I am compelled to make birds." But it's not true.

I found a pattern in my sewing room for a little loon Christmas ornament. The pattern is dated 1982...I made multiples for gifts that year. 1982! I was making birds 30 years ago! What does this say about creative growth? Or the lack of it...

Anyway, there was one lone loon cut out but not assembled..Here it is. 2011.

21st century loon

a pink ladybird

And I made this little pink bird last week.

And I made an owl today

just the body

legs and eyes, no wings or ear tufts

feet

ready to take off

My bird frenzy continues,,,30 more years?

thou shalt not covet thy neighbors flannel

2011-04-27T21:14:00.000-05:00

Birds. I feel the need to make birds. Do not question why. I know not why. I am just following creative instincts. There is no plan. Resistance is futile. I am obsessed with making birds. No, that is not accurate..I am obsessed with the idea of making birds....the actual construction is yet to be seen...I have made a few...but I am constantly thinking about it....perhaps I need an intervention.

a peep

a peep, a wren and a concrete goldfinch

Yesterday Betty was doing some ironing at the shop...she irons for people...earns a little cash and she loves to iron..( maybe Betty needs an intervention) She was working on getting the wrinkles out of this lovely, heavy cotton flannel men's shirt.....I was eying the shirt with birds in mind...Oh,,,,a 2X, lots of usable fabric, nice dark red.....it was all I could do to resist....Luckily, Betty told me NO in a firm voice and I backed away from the ironing board.

back of the owl

owl sitting on a coffee cup

Resisting the urge to cut up the shirt, I went home a dug up some bits of flannel from my stash and made this owl. Not my best work, but it's a start...He is sitting on a coffee cup because his little wobbly legs won't support the weight of his body...hmmm............. sounds familiar.......

Easter in photos

2011-04-25T19:12:00.000-05:00

we set the table

the two youngest guests

egg hunt begins

whose are these?

up high

the creek

bubbles

water fascinates

Clay naps

lovely day

Falling in love again

2011-04-21T08:29:00.002-05:00

Oh, I have been so crabby lately! Without intervention, my natural tendencies have me viewing the whole world with a nasty eye. Negative, distrustful. Seeing all the dark sides of every situation first. Joy and hopefulness are there, but hiding behind mountains of bad juju...

What to do about this? Every day I try to remind myself of a good thing before I go back to the dark side... even a small thing... and the good stuff is all around me. My mood has me focusing on the negative, but my world has not changed (that much). All the things that are there when I am happy are still there....for example....

I am falling in love again! With an inanimate object...a set of knitting needles!

These beauties are made from carbon fiber, incredibly strong. Smoother than silk, so very light, perfect points, and they even have my name engraved on them! Where did I find these little gems? I got them from my friend Linda P. (affectionately known as "Box Linda")....
Linda's husband, Robert, made these needles. And some equally wonderful circulars...Linda and Robert plan to manufacture these needles and sell them at my shop! Available very soon, but not yet. Soon.

I have fallen in love, I tell you! Even the name of this line of knitting needles makes me swoon.... "Ravens"

Is it possible to be ever so crabby and "in love" simultaneously?

Not what was expected,

2011-04-18T19:34:00.001-05:00

It just goes to show, you never know....

Our first trip north to the cabin was planned for this last Saturday. The weather was predicted to be cold, but that fit into our plans with cleaning the cabin the only thing on the agenda. Spring comes late in the northwoods, and in April there is not even a hint of green anywhere. Outside activities don't start in earnest until June..Still, before we left home on Saturday afternoon, we phoned our neighbor up north to ask about the weather, and he reported flurries, but the snow was melting away immediately.
Imagine our surprise when arrived at our destination and found 4-5 inches of fresh new snow everywhere! AND it was cold! 24 degrees at 8 pm.And dark, not surprising, but it explains the poor quality of the photo.

In the morning we awoke to a winter wonderland. On April 17th. Ugh.

Pretty, yes, but it remained cold all day and the snow stayed all Sunday. Ice covered the lake...

Later that morning we heard from some local folks that last Sunday they had some exciting weather in the form of tornadoes. The neighboring community of Armstrong Creek was struck by a F1 tornado, just a week before. Cleanup efforts were continuing as we drove around in the affected area.

To read more about the damage, follow this link.

As the newspaper says, tornadoes are unusual in this area, luckily no one was seriously injured.

Seeing snow covering recent tornado destruction is also kinda strange.

The snow remained on the ground when we headed for home this morning, with 6 more inches predicted for tomorrow night.

I am glad to be home. I hope the weather is better the next time we go north, but you never know.

Single, and staying that way

2011-04-15T20:10:00.000-05:00

After almost a two month absence from blog land....I am returning!
Wait, slow up, we better not rush into this...a subject matter not too exciting, I don't want to explode upon reentry.
.
.
.
.
Upon reflection, there really is nothing too exciting happening in my life that would stir things up at all. And I like it that way..

Today I tidied up my craft room. "Tidied up" is a euphemism for "clearing a path through all the junk".. My craft room is where all the stuff that doesn't have a specific home gets deposited. Or where I dump stuff when I want to "tidy up" the more public areas of our house. Kinda like a room sized version of the "junk drawer" in the kitchen. The clean-up has been a long time coming..today was the day...
I found lots of things that fit into these categories:

Don't need this.

What is this ?

Why did I keep this?

I've been looking for this!

and my favorite

I forgot I had this!

Among the things that fit in that last category are 4 single hand knit socks.

None of these socks has a mate, and the prospects are not good..

I do NOT intend to make the second sock. Why? Because I don't want to.

Bored...

Anyone have an idea what to do with these single socks?

I also found three other socks that were almost finished, those got ripped out and will be made into something someday...or not.

Among the singletons, this pair was lurking...I made these socks at least ten years ago...and just a few seasons ago, they developed a hole, and they were banished to the craft room. Today..I darned them and tonight they are keeping my feet warm against the cold and rain.

So my return to blog land is secure, socks are definitely not an exciting subject. Who knows what I will find next?

Stick it in your ear!

2011-02-22T19:12:00.000-06:00

Anyone remember the 1982 movie "The Wrath of Khan"? This Star Trek movie had a memorable scene where the villain unleashed an "ear worm" to eat the heroe's brain. The worm is placed in the ear and the viewer watches as it burrows it's way in......UGH. It still gives me the shivers to recall that part of the film..

Yes, that is Ricardo Montalban...........Khaaaaaaan!

While at the doctors office today, I had a similar experience. No worms involved.

The nice doctor injected some steroids directly into my ear drum! A shot in the ear! And I am going back tomorrow for another.

It sounds worse than it was, actually, it sounded kinda bubbly and gurgly, to be descriptive.

A few weeks ago, I woke up with diminished hearing in my "good ear". Today the ENT doc called it Sudden Sensorinal Hearing Loss. Steroids have restored hearing in some patients, thus the shots in the ear. The chances are not overwhelmingly good, but it is worth a shot. (Baaad pun) If the shots don't work and the hearing loss is permanent, another hearing aid is in my future.

So if you think I am ignoring you when you speak, it's only because I didn't hear you....No worms involved...

Circle

2011-02-22T09:00:00.012-06:00

Spinning my wheels. Round and round, getting nowhere. Some days, weeks are like that. Frustration sets in.

I try harder, still getting nowhere.

Maybe I need to concentrate on the getting there, instead of the goal...refocus on today...what to do to make today productive....

today is all I have...all anyone has. a simple concept. why do i need constant reminders of this?

Today's effort, I am pleased.

Do you live under a rock?

2011-02-21T08:50:00.001-06:00

I don't discuss politics at my business, but this is my PERSONAL blog. Most of you who know me know that my ideas run to the left, liberal, Democrat....but I try to think before I speak, and not swallow the party line without some serious thought. Unless you have been in a coma, you have heard of the issues facing the Wisconsin Legislature. And, the backlash of Scott Walkers proposed fix. And some folks response to that fix.

Let me say right up front, I have no easy answers, no quick resolution to suggest. That's my point in writing this blog post. In my opinion, this is a complicated matter and it requires a complicated resolution...Not something rushed into law, but the situation does need addressing.

This past week I have heard LOTS of opinions and ideas at my business, in print, and in the media. Most of them simply down party lines, swallowing the whole thing, hook , line, sinker. And boy, are people passionate and polarized! For me, IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE.

The polarization, either far left or far right is dangerous, in my opinion. Folks get caught up in the fight itself, and forget what they are fighting about. People get angry and do rash things when they are backed into a corner. "My Way or the Highway" is rarely the answer. The need to be the winner is strong, and foolish. We need to talk and make concessions.

That said, I am so grateful to live in a state and country where peaceful protest is allowed and encouraged. We have the right to state our opinions, and respect the opinions of others. We have the right to disagree.

Let's agree to disagree and then work together for the common good.

Don't stop protesting, just remember what we are trying to accomplish.

A solution that is positive for all.

Snow day. Again.

2011-02-20T19:06:00.000-06:00

Another blast of winter struck today. Snow and freezing rain. 8 inches in the driveway.

A good day to stay inside and cuddle up with a blanket,

or two.

Or three or four or NINE!..We have been putting afghan squares together for charity. All the blocks were donated and have been crocheted together to make some warm blankies. Of course, not all nine were put together today. This was a long term project, VERY long term. Nine completed, one more to go.

Some of the afghans turned out wild and crazy, and quite colorful.

Some a a bit more coordinated.

Some are really loud.

All are cozy and warm, just ask Nick.

A Sliver of Sunshine

2011-02-18T16:40:00.004-06:00

The sun is shining today, and there is a taste of spring in the air. No, it's not warm, and the wind is wild, but there is something about the angle of the sun coming through the kitchen window....the worst of winter must be over.

For the first time since last fall, I feel the urge to take a trip north to our cabin. The woods are lovely in the spring. Oh, but spring and the cabin are truly about two months away.

For now,I can enjoy this winter/spring sunshine on my little terrarium that I received as a Christmas gift from Lynda

At Lynda's request

I brought some moss back from the north woods in October. She made this dear little terrarium with some of it.

A stone, and moss and sunshine.

Simple.

It's almost like being there.

Happy Valentines Day !

2011-02-14T14:42:00.001-06:00

Stream of consciousness

2011-02-12T08:54:00.001-06:00

Stream of consciousness, or as I call it "one thing leads to another"..all connected in my little brain:

I heard a snippet of a song and it stuck...I like the song, but it is much better played by an orchestra than by my brain. The song is In the Hall of the Mountain King. Yes,yes, you know this song, listen.....

I like the build up to the frenzied ending....I have almost no knowledge of Edward Grieg, the composer of this great piece of music, or of Peer Gynt, the play. But..this song brings a feeling of adventure and fantasy and playful danger. (Playful danger- an oxymoron?) The title "in the hall of the mountain king" brings to my mind fables of kings, beanstalks, trolls......OH, Trolls!

A few weeks ago we took a weekend trip to southern Wisconsin and we drove past a sign that said Mt. Horeb, Troll Capitol of the World. Imagine my delight! I love trolls, and so does Emili. See this post for proof. Well, specifically Emili loves Russ Trolls....but this love has lead to a interest in all kinds of trolls. Since Em was not along on this trip, we did not stop, but plan on making it a "troll adventure" this summer in Mt. Horeb.

Emili and her mom and her brother went to see a troll related movie last night. Okay I know,,, gnomes are not trolls....or elves or brownies or leprechauns * ..........but this is stream of consciousness , remember?

So we saw Gnomeo and Juliet, in reality, some of us saw the movie, someone was busy running around the lobby, while someone else was busy chasing the first someone... Em and I saw the movie, Gael and Lauren got some exercise. Gael is not ready for movies just yet, I guess. Even though Elton John songs are featured in this animated film...I advise waiting for rental..

Oh, Elton John, I love "Your Song"

I hear this song and I am young, wearing bell bottoms, and my heart on my sleeve.

Time to stop, I must go to work...Old, stretch pants, and my heart much more guarded.

* for the curious

Gnomes: A gnome is a legendary creature characterized by its very small size and subterranean lifestyle.

The word gnome is derived from the New Latin gnomus. It is often claimed to descend from the Greek gnosis, "knowledge", but more likely comes from genomos "earth-dweller".

Often featured in Germanic fairy tales, including those by the Brothers Grimm, the gnome often resembles a gnarled old man living deep underground who guards buried treasure.

Leprechauns: In Irish mythology, a leprechaun (Modern Irish: leipreachán) is a type of male faerie said to inhabit the island of Ireland. They are a class of "faerie folk" associated in Irish mythology and folklore, as with all faeries, with the Tuatha Dé Danann and other quasi-historical races said to have inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Celts.

Trolls: Are a fearsome member of a mythical anthropomorph race from Scandinavia. Their role ranges from fiendish giants – similar to the ogres of England – to a devious, more human-like folk of the wilderness, living underground in hills, caves or mounds.

Christmas Rocked!

2010-12-27T10:01:00.000-06:00

Youngest to Oldest, Christmas rocks!

tis the season

2010-11-30T21:17:00.000-06:00

Tis the season to be creating!

Knitting and crochet are year round sports for me, but at this time of the year the needles must fly! I make gifts, and I make things to sell at the shop. Some years making the things to sell can be a chore, just another thing to get done. Not this year, I am in the spirit, the mood is here, I want to create. ........Mostly monkeys.......

Yes, I am making monkeys, sock monkeys...Not exactly the traditional sock monkey made from men's hosiery, but mini crocheted monkeys to hang on Christmas tree, inspired by the traditional sock monkey. So far, I have crocheted 13 little simians. A whole troop. Did you know that the collective noun for monkey is troop? As in "A troop of monkeys invaded my kitchen and ate all my bananas!"

Speaking of bananas, my friend Linda P. found the cutest miniature banana pattern to go with the monkeys. I haven't actually knitted a banana yet, but tis the season!.....hmmm, I think I'm channelling Jimmy Durante......yes, we have no bananas!

Too silly, time for bed! Goodnight.

no turkey

2010-11-27T22:09:00.000-06:00

I've roasted many turkeys over the years. Brined, basted, trussed, stuffed. This is the first time I have made a Thanksgiving dinner, at my house. Turkey and all the rest,,, It went well.

Except that I was too busy putting food on the table to take any photos. I did get a snapshot of the CANNED cranberries on the pink dish.

And a photo of my kid's favorite, pickles and olives.

Here is my grandson Gael sitting with Lisa. Lisa is new to our family.

Dave put up the first Christmas tree today....outside our front window. It's starting to look festive around here.

Lisa's kids, Liam and Rion

Hey you two!

2010-11-22T12:36:00.001-06:00

This blog has TWO faithful readers. This post is for them, and if anyone else actually reads this post, count me as shocked.

I have the house to myself today. Dave continues his hunt for the elusive deer. The weather in the northwoods has been icky and they have not even seen a deer...maybe he will come home tonight, but today the house is empty. And quiet, except for the noise of my choosing. I choose the radio station, on loud. Christmas music, on loud. Living with a hearing deficit, I tend to have the volumes at levels that can be a bit irritating to those in the house that have normal hearing.

Radio on, knitting on the couch. I made yet another sock monkey ornament (#11) and a headband. Before the knitting I decided it was about time I cleaned up my "nest". My spot on the couch becomes very nest-like after a few days of projects....here is a photo of the nest-cleaning in progress.

I have no idea how all that stuff got into the living room in just a little while, I blame the cats. They must be working on Christmas projects, I guess.

I received a gift this week. My Aunt Jean has given up housekeeping and gave me this lovely dresser set.

This set belonged to her mother (my Grandma), an engagement gift from her husband. My Dad was born in 1925, so this set dates from the early 1920's.

It might be Bakelite, do either of my two readers know how to identify bakelite? Ann? Flouride? Anyone?

Weekend wrapup

2010-09-06T19:49:00.000-05:00

Lichens

We went north for a short visit after I closed the shop on Saturday. Here are my usual photos of nature and stuff.

Chippy on a rock

Lichens

Trees just starting to turn colors

Dave and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary quietly, just sitting on the porch, watching Sunday float by.

Me and my shadow

We motored to the cabin in my new-to-me set of wheels. Getting a new car meant cleaning all the junk out of my 16 year old car.....I am such a pack rat, in the trunk of the old car I found some cotton yarn that I had forgotten. This weekend I turned it into a bag. Lots of different crochet stitches.

Here is the bag in progress. The bag is draped over a cool, vintage case that I got at a garage sale for a dollar. Interested only in the case, I was surprised to find that it contained an old clarinet!..Anyone know something about clarinets? Should I keep it or toss it?

Here is the finished bag at home

Surprise! I lined it!

Linings are not my thing.

This has been a rambling post, but that was the way the weekend turned out....Rambling and disjointed,but very relaxing.

Driftless

2010-09-02T06:59:00.003-05:00

The term "driftless" indicates a lack of glacial drift, the material left behind by retreating continental glaciers.

The Driftless Area or Paleozoic Plateau is a region in the American Midwest noted mainly for its deeply carved river valleys.

Viroqua, Wisconsin and the surrounding countryside is part of the greater "driftless area". While In Viroqua last weekend, I bought a book here, Bramble Bookstore. Actually, I purchased several books. At the top of the pile is Driftless, by David Rhodes, set in the driftless area of Wisconsin.

I did not simply read this book. The book sucked me into a world so familiar yet new and exciting, I could not stop reading. Driftless is, by far, the best book I have read in a very long time, and I read alot of books.
A synopsis from goodreads.com :

The few hundred souls who inhabit Words, Wisconsin, are an extraordinary cast of characters. The middle-aged couple who zealously guards their farm from a scheming milk cooperative. The lifelong invalid, crippled by conflicting emotions about her sister. A cantankerous retiree, haunted by childhood memories after discovering a cougar in his haymow. The former drifter who forever alters the ties that bind a community. In his first novel in 30 years, David Rhodes offers a vivid and unforgettable look at life in small-town America

These characters are people I know, with stories I know. Stories I have lived, yet not so pedestrian to be predictable. The author is masterful at surprise. There are a few places in the book that I gasped audibly at the next lines, the turn of events.....
If that isn't enough, this book is funny. And presents an opportunity to look at life's big questions.

Get this book. Read it. Let me know what you think.

Lynda-----in my opinion Driftless is head and shoulders above The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle......

End of summer

2010-08-30T20:31:00.000-05:00

Each year we celebrate the end of summer with a liitle road trip with Emili.

See here for last year
And Here for 2007

I guess I didn't blog about it in 2008.

This year we went southwest to Viroqua and Prairie du Chien.

Here are a few photos.

At Wyalusing

Two grandparent feet and one granddaughter foot

Three Chimney rock fromation at Viroqua

Westby

Mississippi River at sunset

Em on the tracks at historic home

She is taller than me!

Cool mushrooms

I know that kids grow up fast, and I hope this is not the last year Em wants to do this little tradition with us. This year we made it to Iowa and Minnesota, we may have to up the ante....................

Viroqua pics

2010-08-28T21:50:00.001-05:00

just for you, flouride

It all starts with a book

2010-08-22T21:14:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year I picked up a few novels at a church rummage sale, including one by Annie Proulx. Having enjoyed her novel, The Shipping News , I looked forward to reading this one titled Accordion Crimes. Here is a bit about the book:

The protagonist of the novel and, significantly, the character that survives longest is an accordion, crafted in Sicily and brought to the United States by its maker. When he is killed by an anti-Italian mob, the accordion passes to a black Louisianian, who is also murdered, then to a German immigrant who has settled in Iowa. Later it goes to Texas, to Maine, back to Louisiana, then to Chicago, Illinois, and to Montana.

It's a good story, actually a series of stories all involving an accordion...Not nearly as good as The Shipping News, but good.
Thinking about this accordion, I thought about what I know or how little I know about the instrument. Accordion, button box, concertina, all synonymous? I still wonder, anyone out there know?
Growing up in Wisconsin, I heard a lot of polkas, accordions are a required element. Mostly, I think of the big piano accordion, the kind with a keyboard..

I remember a couple of small accordions in the attic of my home as a child. They

belong to my Dad, who grew up in that same house. I visited him today and he told me that he played the accordion in his Grandpa's bar as a boy. His uncles played and sang to entertain the customers.

My Dad just got up from a nap

The dog is in the background.

He no longer plays, but the music boxes still make a nice sound...a happy sound.

Do you have an accordion story or info to share?

Challenges

2010-08-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

~~Being a basically lazy person, I don't challenge myself often.~~ Oh, so not true...it seems like every day brings a new challenge, but not often of my own choosing.. Mundane tasks are a challenge for me. This week I have been doing a lot of mundane tasks, things that must be done. Lots of useful, utilitatian stuff.
So as a reward, from me to me, I took the time to have some fun and make this little free form sculpture.

front

The challenge was to create something from the contents of a zip lock sandwich bag that came in a box from the estate sale mentioned in an earlier post...not adding anything except inspiration. There were some crocheted balls, tassels,wooden buttons, cording, thread and a peculiar ring-type thing with a handle or something.

Back

Limiting the amount of materials is really fun for me...hmmm....let's see what I can do with this........I love having no rules and making objects that are not utilitarian. I have no use for this bit of sculpture, but Bringing It Forth from a bag of junk makes me happy.

Is it fall yet?

2010-08-18T19:00:00.003-05:00

Oh, at long last we've had some cooler weather. Fall comes to mind, school shopping, raking leaves, picking apples, all those cliched activities. It's been many years since I raked a leaf, picked an apple or sent a child off to class, but I still feel that urge to nest....and get ready for the start of a new season..
Really a new year, my internal creative calendar starts with September. It's the whole wool thing, I think....spinning,sewing knitting,felting, it all really begins in earnest as the weather cools.

So what am I planning for the cooler season? I need to sew some mittens to sell. Dye some handspun.Button jewelry.Get started on some secret Christmas gifts. Freeform embroidery. Make a few Santas. Finish an afghan. Collage. Clean my studio room. (REALLY THAT SHOULD BE FIRST ON THE LIST) Bind a few journals. Wash a fleece. Felt some slippers....

But, alas, I just heard the weather forecast....hot and humid tomorrow. hmmmm..

A walk in the woods

2010-08-16T19:20:00.001-05:00

Come take walk in the woods with me.

Ride along, if you prefer.

We aren't looking for anything specific..just looking

We find blueberries

Yummy

And Black Raspberries, just a few. Notice that we are not alone on our walk.

Now Blackberries

Not the same as black raspberries.

Some nice folks eating blackberries

I digress, lets get back into the woods via this trail....

Passing a stream

We find mushrooms

lots of kinds of mushrooms

another path leads to

A big pink rock.....Very heavy

my hero loads it up and hauls it back

to the cabin

From there, we had such a good time that I did not take any more photos until

we had to say goodbye to the nice folks and the berries and mushrooms and rocks and deer and the northwoods.

Summer hiatus and aging and stuff.

2010-08-13T19:27:00.000-05:00

Summer,,,hmm

almost over

way too hot

way busy

very wet

It's been a blog free summer... no time to write, and and not a lot of creative fodder.. Just enough time to keep treading water, not really getting anywhere. I cannot say if I will maintain the blog any better this fall, but I hope to..

Speaking of autumn, I say, "Bring it!!". Never having been a big fan of summer, this one has been long enough for me..I am ready for cooler, drier weather. I know lots of people who prefer hot to cold...but you can only take off so many clothes without offending people's sensibilities. In extreme cold, no one complains if you put on another sweater. And cold weather is good for business, if your business is knitting.

Summer needlework projects have been sporadic. A few pairs of socks, lots of crocheted bags, some yarn dying... a bit of this and that, nothing consuming. Take along projects mostly.

Some old loves have resurfaced in my life lately..... no, no,,,, no old flames or anything like that...although if an old flame did show up, I am sure the emphasis would be on the OLD part. None of us are getting any younger, Dave's 61st birthday whooshed past us this July without any fanfare, not even a cake....it was a particularly busy week..

.
.

Oh yes, old loves, that's it.....many years ago, I actually enjoyed cooking....some of that has returned this summer.. I have been making more meals and liking it. And I have done some canning this past week. Zucchini jam for Dave and corn relish for me, both new recipes to me, they seem to have turned out quite well. That little popping sound when a jar seals is so satisfying... I plan to can some salsa and pickled beets, but the tomatoes are not ripening very well, despite the heat and rain.

Another old love that is beckoning is embroidery...Many years ago I did some crewel embroidery.. at least 30 years ago... I would like to explore the medium now,with emphasis on freeform work...but where to start? Just jump in and start, I guess, but as I get older I seem to have more and more self imposed rules that stop me from taking the leap. Anyone else have this problem? Greater expectations and all that.....boils down to fear, I think.

Oh, yeah, fear. Last week I went to an estate sale like none I had ever been to before. An entire tent full of craft supplies. Many multiples of the same items. Boxes and boxes of unopened spools of macrame cord. Miles of rickrack. A bedroom FULL of costume jewelry. Another tent held boxes of unused Christmas ornaments. All very clean and tidy, but the sheer amount of stuff was overwhelming....My blogger profile does say "packrat", but this sale intimidated even me.

I bought a few things, but mostly I walked away with a nagging fear of becoming consumed by my possessions...

Among the things purchased is a bag of thimbles,,,111 thimbles to be exact. All kinds and a few even fit my finger. What to do with the rest? I am open to suggestions...be nice...

This is good, watch it----------

Winner!

2010-06-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

If you are the writerof this comment:
Anonymous said...

I check your blog EVERY DAY!!!

KnittingBarb

May 13, 2010 4:53 PM

You win!!! Please come forward and collect you prize ( I know several Barbs that knit)

Thanks to all for commenting, it was fun!

One day left!

2010-05-30T15:24:00.000-05:00

Just one day left to get in on the drawing for some nice hand knit socks. See this post. Never mind that it is 90 degrees today, you can wear the wool socks in January and your toes will thank you.

We saw these cool little bugs on some sedums on a rock wall, while visiting Clay's house today. Masses of tiny bugs.

Other wildlife included Clay's dog

Chloe

Two of my favorite men deep in discussion about manly things.

Clay's garden, all corn.

Family words

2010-05-28T16:16:00.004-05:00

Did you plant a garden this year? We did. Yesterday I spoke to my parents about their garden plans and I got this answer----
"We are going to make garden today. " Make garden....My folks use these words to describe the act of planting and marking the rows. Present tense, I guess ....Making garden happens only once a year, and after the fact, they say....."we planted a garden this year." Language used in my family only?

My Nana had her own vocabulary, some examples include
Davenport ----sofa or couch
Petticoat----- slip
Nightdress------pajamas or nightgown
Icebox--------refrigerator
Soda Water-----7 Up
Pocketbook---------her purse
Goods---------fabric
Her Man-----that person's husband

My favorite of my Nana's phrases was the word "Possible" for part of a woman's anatomy......when asked why she used that phrase,,, she said simply "It's important to wash up as far as possible and down as far as possible.
My Nana, she was great.

a lazy sunday

2010-05-23T20:55:00.001-05:00

poppies in the backyard

Round and Round

2010-05-21T17:47:00.001-05:00

It's like I am 12 years old........all over again.........Listen

North

2010-05-17T21:11:00.004-05:00

It was a short visit to the cabin, but the northwoods never disappoints.

Spring is in full bloom,
the woods are carpeted with trilliums.

A wild strawberry

Young ferns among the rocks.

The weather was lovely for walking

Knitting

And toasting our toes by the fire

It was a short visit, but it was glorious!

Is anyone out there?

2010-05-13T08:15:00.004-05:00

In an effort to motivate you, the reader(s),and motivate myself, I am announcing a contest/drawing! Want to own a cool handknit pair of socks? enter the drawing!

Notice I said PAIR of socks? That's the motivation for me. I will finish these socks before the contest ends. One is finished and the other just needs the foot and toe, but they have been hiding in a pile of UFO's since last fall.
To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is COMMENT on this or any other of my posts before May 31. Commenting is easy, You can do it Anonymously....no need to sign up for blogger. I will draw by comment number and then post the winning number on June 1, so you will need to check back to see if you are the winner. That way there is no need to leave your name.

I will send these cool socks to the lucky commenter. Keep them, wear them, give them away. Heck , you can even tell people you made them yourself, I don't care.

Socks are a lot of knitting time,why am I doing this, giving them away, possibly to a stranger? Because it feels like there is no one reading my blog. I am just wanting to see if there is anyone out there?

Let the contest begin!

Fish Sketchbook

2010-05-12T06:56:00.008-05:00

Drawing fantasy fish is a relaxing pastime. Here is my fishbook.

unfinished

Needle in a haystack

2010-05-07T17:19:00.002-05:00

The idiom "a needle in a haystack"

a needle in a haystack
something extremely hard to find ---It's pretty much a needle in a haystack because these fish are extremely hard to find.
Etymology: based on the idea that it is to almost impossible to find a thin sewing needle in a haystack (a very tall pile of dried grass)

I am constantly misplacing items, every day. I am not an organized person, and I have a lot of "stuff". My stuff is often missing, but eventually found, mostly when I have given up looking.

Last week, my son and my dad were undertaking the annual task of burning the dry vegetation off the asparagus patch. They used an old, old bale of straw to get the fire started.

Years ago, my folks operated a dairy farm and grew oats to feed the cows and used the straw for bedding. I was always happy to work with the straw bales, packing them in the barn, because straw bales are much lighter than hay bales. We would put hay in the mow for weeks, so when the short straw season arrived, it seemed so easy...It was one of those straw bales, left in the barn since the 1970's that was to start the fire on the asparagus patch.

As my son opened and started shaking out the old bale, my dad spied something red and shiny falling amongst the straw. It was a red crochet hook. Mine, I am sure. I do not remember losing it, But I do remember crocheting in the barn while waiting for the next loads of bales to arrive.. 40 years later..........hmmmmmm.

Eyes of a child

2010-05-01T07:58:00.003-05:00

The first thing that my 16 month old grandson does when he visits my house is search for the "kitties".. He is a busy, busy, boy. Small for his age, he can get into tiny spaces where the cats like to hide.

After the cats have been harassed a bit, he looks for Grandpa. He really loves his Grandpa.

Invariably, the next thing he wants is "ousside". We have a big yard and he is an explorer. "Ousside" is a favorite word.

Last evening, just as it was starting to rain, before the storms, he was determined to be "ousside", asking over and over. I explained that it was raining, we needed to stay inside. Well, he is sixteen months old, the word rain means little to him. Finally I decided to take him onto the deck "ousside" and show him the rain, thinking that he would want to stay inside then.

He stood there, very still, letting the drops fall on his head. Then he turned his face to the sky, and let the rain fall on his face. He crinkled up his eyes when a drop of rain fell into them. A HUGE grin appeared..the the giggling began. He said "agua" and laughed and laughed. So did I.

Feather in a pickle dish

2010-04-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

The day before yesterday, Friday, was lovely day. Today, like yesterday, it's raining and chilly.
On Friday, Dave and I took a short drive and visited a friends garden, and her sheep. Here are some photos.

This shrub is flowering quince, as mentioned in a previous post. We dug out a bit for our own garden.

I told you there would be sheep!

And lambs.

Upon our return home, it appeared that a bomb had been detonated just beyond our neighbor, the Tag Center.

It was only a controlled burn on the Horicon Marsh.

I found this pretty feather on the lawn. Anyone know what kind of bird it is from? I do not.

The feather looks equally pretty in my new pickle dish. Dave and I had earlier stopped at Bargains Galore and found some good stuff. Among other things, a jadeite pickle dish and a good, used recliner for naps on the sun porch.

Guess who used the recliner first? The chair was meant for cat naps, I guess.

Florida envy

2010-04-23T07:03:00.004-05:00

I have a little bit of a tiny problem. I have Florida envy. I admit it. I know I could not live there, but another visit would be nice.
Yesterday, my daughter, Megan posted about having difficulty concentrating when she could see the ocean from her office. Then, last night, my faithful friend/customer/knitter/legal-go-to-person, Ann, reminded me that her annual trek to Florida is coming up soon. I have serious envy issues.
Isn't envy one of the seven deadly sins? I am done for.

Done for. Does everyone use that phrase? Or is a local/ family phrase? I am "done for" means-------that's it-----------finished-------fatal-----------

I digress. To combat Florida envy ,all that needs to be done is to take a look at Wisconsin in the spring. And spring is here! With gusto! Winter is done for.

Flowers from my friend Carolee's garden. Flowering quince. And many kinds of daffodils.

And my favorite weed/shrub. It smells so nice, sweet and spicy, I love to bring it inside. Even a small bouquet makes the whole house fragrant.

Take that, envy!

Spinning in the dark

2010-04-20T20:11:00.002-05:00

Turn! Turn! Turn!

The Byrds and The Bible

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

As I age, I note the turning of the seasons prompt activities that repeat themselves year after year. I like to spin in the spring. I am almost compelled to make yarn.

Spring's evenings find me on my little porch, spinning away while the sun goes down. The light fades, but I keep spinning, my hand and feet working with the wool, no need for much illumination. Maybe it's instinct or just lots of practice, but I keep treadling and drafting. Making yarn, just spinning in the dark.

The dark doesn't stop us from going on with our lives. If we just practice in the daylight, when the light fades, we find the Light within.

signs of spring

2010-04-19T22:40:00.003-05:00

Blogger doesn't seem to want to allow me to move my photos, so ,,,,,here are some signs of spring in no particular order.
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Emili with her annual safety poster,,,,,see here and here click on the links and scroll down to see how much she has changed.
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Grandmas hugging little boys when all the little one wants to do is get free and explore spring!

Ducks on the marsh

Muskrats, lots of them

Get ready to work

2010-04-15T03:32:00.002-05:00

To fully experience this blog post, participation in required from the reader....... Go back,,in you imagination ,go back in time to 1973, don your bell bottoms, hum The Piano Man. Just for a second, be Billy Joel. click this then hit the back button to return to this blog.

Okay,,,here is my version.

Sing with me now

It's 4 o clock on a Thursday morn,
The regular crowd is asleep,
There's an old man snoring next to me,
And I'm thinking, He's just a creep.

He said, Wife, please just close your eyes,
I'm not really sure how it works,
But it's good and it's sweet and you'll fall right to sleep,
Be sure to take off your clothes....

La, la,la, di,di da,
la, la, di, di dum

Sing me a song, I'm the sleepless girl.
Sing me a song tonight,
I'm in the mood for a few hours rest,
And I want to dream the rest of tonight.

So, I just reread this great parody and realized it sounds kinda dirty,,,not my intention at all....I just can't sleep, just insomnia, and some silliness seemed the thing to do...........I am going back to bed now..i am quite sure I will regret this post when I wake.

a new day

2010-04-07T06:47:00.005-05:00

Life is good, each day we get a chance to make new choices, decisions, and clean up yesterdays messes!

Today, I am starting again. Yesterday was not wonderful for me. Downright discouraging. Stuff went bad, nuff said.

Today I am starting the day with this Easter egg for my breakfast. When we were kids, we dyed eggs every year and every year, using tape or a crayon, I made an egg that was supposed to resemble a watermelon. It became a tradition. This year my sister made the traditional watermelon and put my name on it. A simple gift. The best kind.

I ate the watermelon egg for breakfast, today WILL be a better day, it has already started.

Sunday

2010-04-04T21:45:00.003-05:00

Some days are made for making, then chasing, bubbles. Catching bubbles is not the point. The fun is in the magic of creation and then watching them drift away. A lesson taught by a one year old boy.

some things you never forget

2010-04-02T19:37:00.002-05:00

Some things we never forget. Some are universal. Most people remember where they were major news happens. I was in second grade, in a two room schoolhouse when I heard of the assignation of JFK. It was a lovely, clear day in Wisconsin on September 11, 2001. These moments are imprinted in our brains, we don't forget.

Good things are remembered, also. Like my first kiss, I was 14, but I'm keeping his identity to myself. Holding a grand baby for the first time. A favorite car. We don't forget.

Our bodies have memories that our consciousness's do not. So many times, people have told me "I knit many years ago, But now I don't remember how." I just put the needles in their hands and give them some tips and encouragement and Voila! the hands recall what the brains do not. Humans are made that way, we remember.

So, today I remembered how to do something that I thought I could not do. It has been at least 30 years since I rode a bicycle. It was a bit wobbly at first, but my old body still remembers how to balance and pedal at the same time....maybe all that time at the spinning wheel helped. I won't be biking long distances soon, but it sure was fun. It all came back to me, just like riding a bike!

surveying the kingdom

2010-03-12T07:46:00.004-06:00

A walk in my muddy kingdom. Most of the snow has melted and revealed a few secrets.

Could it be an early spring?

What did you miss?

2010-02-27T07:13:00.002-06:00

What did you miss because of my lack of blogging? A trip to Florida. a short trip. Just 3 days. Oh, but those three days were Joyous! That's what I miss. My daughter sitting on her futon bed. ( she gave us her whole bedroom)

Pink Lichens! who knew?

Emili enjoyed the pool the most, I think. Yes, it was warm enough to swim. Outside.

On the air boat at Myakka State Park

Walking on the beach at Longboat Key.

What's that smell?

2010-02-17T21:13:00.002-06:00

Burnt eggs. I started a pot of eggs to boil and then left the house. NOT SMART. Upon my return I found the house filled with smoke and burnt, exploded eggs. I was only away for an hour and a half! :(

I neeeed a vacation. Eggs, kettle and all in the snow, cooling off.

Another week flies past--------------

2010-01-31T18:50:00.003-06:00

Whooosh and another one bites the dust. Another week. Another week of a month that went so quickly, tomorrow is February already. The worst of winter is behind us! Just to prove spring is near, here is a bad, bad photo of a good thing....look really close at the little blob in the center of this photo,, it's a robin! A pair of robins were visiting us on January 25th! I took the photo through a dirty window and several screens, from the comfort of my kitchen,, the robins may want to be in the yard in January, but I do not.

I would rather stay inside with the kids and play.

Here is Gael playing with a duckie that Flouride gave to us, He love pulling things around, now that he can walk. He also has a mouth full of puff-corn. He is one active little dude! Saturday night Grandpa and I babysat and I was simply exhausted when he went home.
Here is Em, I am so proud, she got a perfect report card again, straight A's! I am sure she inheretied her academic talents from me. :)

Sunday entertainment

2010-01-25T21:11:00.003-06:00

The next time I complain about one of my kids, someone slap me, okay?

Yesterday my daughter and her children took me to the Milwaukee Art Museum...

We had such a wonderful time despite the crummy weather.

I really enjoyed the art, I have never been to ANY art museum, and I was surprised to find such wonderful stuff so close to home.We did get to see a lot, but Gael didn't appreciate the art very much... he liked the open space to run around. This photo is blurry, but it captures him well. He moves fast. Here I am next to a Monet (or was it Manet?) I was so busy looking at it all and the kids, I didn't take any notes. (It's Monet....I looked it up)
Em wanted her Auntie to see her in front of this Warhol work...This glass sculpture seems to be springing from Emili's head

This was my favorite painting, I felt like I could step into this landscape...the colors! Does anyone know whose work this is? I would like to see more......If only I had taken notes along with the photos.

Speaking of color and beauty, how about these roses? They are tiny (tea?) roses that I got from Delores for my birthday.

Today is........

2010-01-23T06:01:00.004-06:00

2 parents (still living) and 2 grandchildren and 2 siblings
3 children
5 years in my current business
7 significant pets (for the curious-Shorty, Goober, Bugle, Ferdie, Boomer, Thunder, Nick)

9 age when received my first sewing machine (thanks to my parents)

11 age at which I realized I would never dance like a ballerina

13 really good friends (at least)

17 years since I realized that I was (still am) in love
19 my age at first marriage
23 always a good day in January
29 people who love me
31 age at divorce
37 age at current marriage
41 stopped working as a nurse
43 age when I knew that there was life after raising children
47 first new knee
53 years old today

All prime numbers, and things that have made my life what it is today, absolutely prime!

My Boom

2010-01-19T17:45:00.001-06:00

My Boom

" My Boom" is a phrase I came across recently whilst surfing the web. It's a phrase the Japanese use when describing a current fad, or something that one is obsessed with at the moment.

From time to time, my boom is words and word origins, so naturally I had to investigate this phrase. Luckily, I have 5 relatives that speak Japanese, a convenient source of information. I asked one of them, and was quickly told the correct pronunciation.....Say it with me....My Booom-uh... not Boomer, Booom UH.

So, I guess the Japanese borrowed the word boom and made it their own.

I like it.

I use it.

I get blank stares.

What?

Your What?

My Boom is confusing people by using the phrase "My boom"

What is your Boom?

Another----today is

2010-01-19T10:54:00.002-06:00

omg, the day is almost over but it is...........

2010-01-17T18:58:00.004-06:00

Is it a metaphor or is it a simile?

2010-01-16T16:38:00.001-06:00

Photos of the last day, in no particular order..... Walkway across the tunnel to Monona Terrace

That's me having breakfast, that I did not cook or clean up.

Last night at the rodeo

The view of Lake Monona from our room......

We also ate some great food, did a little shopping (books and art stuff) And we saw this show I am still laughing, live radio can be hilarious!

In the middle of this adventure, I am enjoying a few quiet moments. Dave is elsewhere, doing something. I know not where or what....Actually I have a general idea his activities, but I am not concerned.

I am sitting in a lovely hotel room, with my feet up and simply being in the moment. How very Zen of me! :)

I might not ever come home, but my favorite rodeo cowboy might be there when I do! How can I stay away?

Sometimes I think, life is like a rodeo,

the trick is to ride, and make it to the bell

--Rock and Roll Girls, John Fogerty

Some Silly Stuff

2010-01-13T21:50:00.000-06:00

Ideas come to me at the most inopportune times. Times when implementing or at least recording the ideas are impossible. Lately, I seem to have flashes of inspiration while swimming laps at the pool... when I get out of the water, whooooosh, the idea is gone.

Before the holidays, I would have great gift ideas come to me while backstroking, the perfect present for my Dad,,,, UHH,,,,,what was that again? It's January and I still have not remembered! (We got him a coffeemaker)

In the summer, my mind is filled with possibilities while I am riding the lawn mower. I get in that zone, and I suddenly become super creative. As soon as the engine is turned off, I forget most of it and what I do retain, now seems dull and/or silly.

Speaking of Silly Stuff......people of my age may remember playing with trolls when we were children... do you remember? You know, short, naked beings with hair that sticks straight up, flat feet......

I was very fond of my trolls. My very first sewing project was a troll robe.. Designed it myself, I did.

I even had a troll house. Recently my sister brought my old toy troll house to the little house where I live now. I am not sure how the toy house came into her possession, I think it was in our parents attic all these years. I have it now, and guess what? My granddaughter Emili is as troll crazy now as I was in the sixties!

She asked for trolls for Christmas. She got trolls. Lots of them.....They have evolved a bit since the last century. No longer naked, there are theme trolls now. Skiers, beach bums, ballerinas, babies, etc., and your standard naked troll. My favorite is her hillbilly troll. It just goes with my troll house so well. Here is a photo of me with some of Em's trolls at Clay's house on Christmas Day. I still love playing with them. Do you think it's genetic?

Today is

2010-01-13T09:13:00.000-06:00

Soup to Nuts

2010-01-11T15:54:00.004-06:00

Soup is the perfect food for January, in my opinion.
The obvious reason is that it is warm and satisfying and a comfort food. If it is prepared with a little discretion, soup as a meal can help to shed that holiday weight gain.
In addition most soups feel like "everyday" food, after all the rich goodies in December, it is refreshing, almost virtuous.

I made soup today. Clean out the fridge soup. My ingredients included carrots, some slightly rubbery celery, leftover tomato basil egg noodles and stock...I cooked some barley, added that, and voila! It's soup! Yummy. And the fridge is empty of leftover this and that. I did leave one item off the list, an exotic (to me) vegetable lurking under the carrots in the crisper drawer. Any guesses?
If you look closely at the photo, the mystery vegetable can be seen, that is, if you know what you are looking for...
If you happen to be my younger sister, you are forbidden to guess or give away the answer, you probably picked this veggie yourself at the Good Earth Farm.
What does the correct guesser of the mystery veggie win? Satisfaction, I guess, unless you want some soup.

I found a nice book today at the thrift shop., Journeys through Bookland, published in 1922.

Inside cover
The title page reads
"A NEW AND ORIGINAL PLAN FOR READING APPLIED TO THE WORLD'S BEST LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN"
The book has lovely illustrations, but the content would challenge any of today's children...
Young readers, perhaps, but not for children. Were kids smarter back then? or just more studious?

---------------------------------------------
After the soup, I enjoyed cracking some nuts, filberts are my favorite!

Some thoughts on blogging

2010-01-10T12:57:00.005-06:00

Blogging has nor been a priority for me lately, but it's a new year, and I believe it is time to get back to the writing. If only I could come up with an idea worth writing about. Real writers call it being "blocked." Blocked is certainly what I am. Out of ideas. So today I decided to start posting again in hopes that the muse will visit and bring the ideas and the words.

So until then, I will just post some random thoughts and photos, and see where I am led.

Here is a photo of my husband, busily getting ready to go somewhere, from the looks of it, he must have been going to church, those are his "church clothes." He is busy, while my butt is parked on the sofa, probably knitting....

Speaking of knitting, I have started a project..I have made a goal to knit 50 hats. Stash reduction is the idea...Trying to make something useful from all the little balls of hand spun that clutter my studio. Hat number 25 is on the needles right now.. I have been taking snapshots of the hats as I go along, ans intend to post about the project when I complete all 50.

January seems a good time to organize and declutter. This photo shows some of the junk that I found at the bottom of my knitting basket.. See the little bottle of ink? I have been looking for that item for some time now, it was a small gift when it turned up.

More stuff for art journaling, on my table. Art journaling, in case you are unfamiliar with the term, is expressing thoughts, feelings and other stuff using paints, ink, paper, tape, and almost anything else in a journal... Maybe this is why I have not been blogging, some of my creative energy has been focused on this new pursuit. More info on art journals can be found here.

The days are short at this time of the year, althouth we have turned the corner.... I twisted soem twinkle lights around my headboard, I like the soft light they create.

MORE LIGHT !

In 1832 Germany's greatest literary light gave the world his last metaphor, this time unintended. As he sat in his Weimar house holding the hand of his daughter-in-law, Ottilie, Goethe spoke of the walks he would take in the warmer months ahead, made some reference to a girl of his youth, and breathed the name of his equally famous, long-dead friend, Friedrich von Schiller. But wanting another shutter opened to the morning sun, the author of Faust called to a servant for "More light!"

More Info on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe can be found here

2009-11-30T21:23:00.005-06:00

Okay, it's time to admit it, I have been unfaithful. That's right, I have been absent from this blog, squandering my little computer time with a new and exciting pursuit. Move over blogging, I have been seeing a lot of FACEBOOK lately.

Facebook is so laid back, requiring almost nothing from me, and offers so much in return. Enough said. There is room for both.

Little news to report, no news is usually a good thing.

Here are a few tidbits ......................

Dave returned from deer camp with what i called a "two-pointer", he called it a spike buck. Semantics aside, it sure tastes yummy. We had some loin steaks Saturday that rivaled any beef steak!

The grand kids and their mother all had the H1N1 flu, it was tough, but they are all well now.

My firstborn is returning to Wisconsin tomorrow for a short visit, it will be nice to see her again.

My computer died about a month ago, I am writing this from a new laptop and using Windows7

I like it.

A blog post needs a photo, so i am including a shot of Em and yet another diorama she has made.

News, or not

2009-10-15T06:19:00.000-05:00

Cold

2009-10-10T16:41:00.003-05:00

A cold snap has arrived here, and we had snow flurries all morning... Today was the annual pumpkin pick at Good Earth Farm.

Both Dave and my sister Mary Beth have worked all summer at this CSA, and we all have enjoyed their efforts. The pumpkin pick day is a chance for the families of the CSA to come to the farm and enjoy a little autumn fun.

Here is a photo of Dave and Gael at the farm, cold, but having a good time with the turkeys.

Here is Gael, all warmed up and happy on his Grandpa's lap.

2009-10-03T17:28:00.001-05:00

Fall color

2009-09-28T20:41:00.001-05:00

powerful voice

2009-09-17T07:59:00.002-05:00

A great loss.

Spending time doing nothing

2009-09-11T18:54:00.004-05:00

Recovering from surgery is often considered a time to take it easy, rest, and heal. I have been doing these things, but it seems I have been as busy as ever. Busy with good things that I often don't have much time for while I am working....

In no particular order........................................................ I have been knitting a blanket, using Noro Silk garden in several different colorways....mostly simple knitting using short rows for shaping the swirls

We spent Labor Day weekend at the cabin... I sat on the porch and enjoyed the quiet of the woods.

We took a day trip to Kohler Andre State Park to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary on the 3rd of September.

Our feet in the sand of Lake Michigan

Visited with my grandchildren while their mother..............................

cleaned my bathroom!
I have been going to therapy and doing my exercises, and results are showing. I have good motion in my knee, so I have permission to drive again.... Driving tires me, but the idea of being able to hop in the car and go is nice. Independence and all.

I have been back to the pool, and that is another pleasure.

I have been reading lots of books and I watched the entire first season of The Tudors series.
My art journal is expanding...I try to do a little drawing or something every day.

Today I worked at the shop for a few hours, then Dave took me out to lunch at the new Mexican restaurant that is down the street from the shop. I had the fish tacos.....yummy!

The down side is that I have not been sleeping very well....but I am sure that will get better with time.

I am looking forward to a quiet weekend at home coming up....and Emili's birthday is tomorrow. So hard to believe she is 9 years old! The year she was born it was COLD, so cold we had the furnace running...not this year.....the weather has been beautiful lately...and that makes my recovery time on the porch pleasant.

Back from the Brink

2009-08-23T17:39:00.002-05:00

I have safely evaded the reaper yet again! No, just kidding, it wasn't all that bad, but there were some moments that were hard to endure. You really don't want to hear about it, do you? Call me if you do, but trust me, it's a long and painful story.....

I am so grateful to be home and intact. My dear husband is taking such good care of me, I think he should have had a career in nursing. Today we walked to the end of our city lot, about 100 yards each way... doesn't sound like much, but on day 3 post-op, it is pretty darn good. The grass seems so much greener and the flowers are so vibrant. Hospitals need to be sterile and institutional,,,, but.........Home is good.

I did have some issues with pain control and my body's reaction to the drugs. Some drugs had no effect at all and other were so strong I hated it! You hear about people addicted to oxy-contin,,, I can't imagine that...I had one dose and felt like the world had turned upside down.....no more of that stuff for me. I simply cannot understand what might be "recreational" about that drug.

That's all for now, more later..........

Summer flying by

2009-08-17T20:35:00.003-05:00

Summer is flying past, soon the snow will deep all around and the memories of summer days will have to warm us. We spent the day today in Wisconsin Dells and despite a drizzling rain we had a good time.

Shopping for trinkets was high on Emili's list of things to do.

Bouncing on the bed in the hotel room was a priority, too

We have had lots of family gatherings lately. Anniversaries, birthdays and just hanging out/

Oh, and some family members have been put to work when they drop by.
Clay and his friends did a great job removing the roof. It just happened to be the only truly hot day of this unusually cold season.

Signs of fall are all around. The corn is tall, kids are planning to go back to school and I have been spotting flocks of blackbirds... I intend to enjoy every day that is left of summer.

Oh, but I do love Autumn......

August 1

2009-08-01T06:43:00.004-05:00

It's raining, just a little. It has been a dry and cool summer. Rain would be welcome, but I am enjoying the cool temps. Our little house is hard to keep cool most summers. Summer means the air conditioner runs almost every day. Not this year, only for a week in June and just an occasional day since then... should be good for the budget, too.

What have I been doing?

We went to the cabin last weekend, it was cool and rainy, but time spent there is always good for me, even if the weather is yucky. No swimming, but we did pick blueberries, and a few raspberries in between raindrops.

This weed grow in the ditch along the road at the cabin.. I identified it as "Fireweed". Beautiful.

A very cool coffee pot was hiding in the cupboard at the cabin all these years... I found it and tried it. The coffee was fantastic! maybe it was the north woods atmosphere, but still....

I became a coffee drinker in the early years of the MR.COFFEE phenomenon.. my parents drank instant coffee back then, and my Nana had her own way of making coffee. She would boil the grounds in a kettle and then pour in COLD water to settle the grounds...yum....I loved her coffee..

Over the years, I have owned drip coffee makers, and drank instant(yuck), used a french press, and now I have a fancy Kuerig that uses coffee "pods". I have never used a coffee percolator before.Except those huge ones used at funerals and such occasions when huge doses of coffee must be at the ready. (?)
I was fascinated by the mechanics of this little marvel. Being clear Pyrex helped, I watched as the water became drinkable coffee.... I literally stood at the stove and watched it bubble up and drip down... Maybe that is why it tasted so good... I am easily entertained. And it was raining.

I have been sewing mittens

And staying healthy....except for my used-up knee.

Where have I been?

2009-07-15T20:19:00.005-05:00

I have been here , there and everywhere, but not blogging about it... Emi was staying with us for three weeks. We packed a lot of activity into those short weeks. Here are a just a few of the things we did.

Slept when we were tiredEnjoyed nature

Made a garden sculpture

made a sock monkey

Stayed at the cabin

Made art . Lots of it

Walked to the pool every day. Early....very early.
Watched birds

More art

Ate good food

Gardened

Learned to knit, lying down

Relaxed, read, went to work. Got pulled over by the police, went to several birthday parties.
Laughed, cried, we did it all.........It's no wonder I am tired!

Making stuff

2009-06-20T20:41:00.005-05:00

So, I haven't written a thing on this blog in almost a month,, what a month it has been...

Running here and there and taking care of business and making stuff.. Making stuff like socks, bags, dinners, my opinion heard, and a cool doll.....I took a class with elinor peace baily as the instructor. Each student could choose one of elinor's many doll patterns to work with.I chose the Bead Merchant pattern. Here is the original doll made by elinor.This thing that looks like a penguin is the "stump" for the doll. That means that under her skirts she does not have legs, just bare feet. I made this first.Then I made the head. The head takes a lot more stuffing than one might think. After this, the photos get fewer, I was having too much fun making all the layers of clothing.This chick really believes in the layered look. She wears an underskirt, then a dress, a bodice drape, an apron, a coat, and a vest.

I didn't take any more photos until we arrived home.Dave named her ZORKA...

This is a rear view.

Her hat is not finished, it needs more beads.She has a bindi.
And bare feet.

Sunday at the cabin

2009-05-25T19:18:00.008-05:00

A crochet project in progress Same project on a rock

Cool moss and lichen near the rock
Same stuff

Dave is always working

A whole field of dandelions

One up close

Dave is still working

cowslips on the roadside

My version of a late afternoon cocktail

Here's to a lovely Sunday

Another week goes quickly by

2009-05-22T17:18:00.005-05:00

Another week gone, still I have little time to write...here are some highlights.

Emili was visiting and created this safety poster for the annual Quad Graphics poster contest. Last year she won first prize, see this post. This year's theme is distracted driving...... Her poster reads"don't get stuck in the web of distraction" and features distracting objects caught in a web.....coffee, hamburger, dogs, construction cone, etc.

I have been using up many small balls of crochet cotton. Making bags.

First, I made this huge tote, unlined, it is for me.

Then I made a smaller purse,

linedand then a drawstring bag, also lined.

I have the urge to make a few more, but I am almost out of crochet cotton.

What is this strange photo?

It's my slippered foot, and leg and belly. the wind was blowing too hard,

I was trying to photograph a project I am doing with oil pastels...maybe when it's finished.....that's all for now.

Gone Green

2009-05-16T18:03:00.002-05:00

Ferns

Foliage

Frog!A little frog hopped into a pot on my deck.

Lynda,,,, can you see him?

pHOTOS OF THE LAST WEEK or so

2009-05-11T19:41:00.004-05:00

This is my "needy" cat, Thunder

making lavendar sachets with an old scarf
My new favorite coffee mug, from a garage sale

Sunday morning's project inspiration

Same project on Monday afternoon

Em hiding behind her latest diorama

A full view of the creative child

Mother and Son, laughing

First oriole sighting

2009-05-01T14:38:00.002-05:00

I saw an Oriole while visiting my parents' farm today. My first this year.

Other people's blogs

2009-04-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

Reading blogs sucks up time...I can easily while away twenty minutes every morning looking at blogs.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a site I frequent, mostly for the luscious photos of food, in all stages of preparation. Check it out, I'll wait.

Today, The Pioneer Woman asks the question---------

What kitchen item can you not do without? (Or, for you grammar snobs: “Without what kitchen item can you not…do?” That doesn’t sound right, does it?)

At the time of this writing, there were over 14,000 responses!! We all have our favorite kitchen/cooking items, I guess. A broad, flat, wooden rice paddle is one of my favorites. I have a certain knife I prefer for peeling, and a specific roaster I like.

All of these items play second fiddle to THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM IN OUR KITCHEN, drum roll please,,,,,,,, Hilda's stainless steel mixing bowl!

You are thinking, who is Hilda and what is so special about that bowl? Hilda is my late mother-in law...she has been gone almost ten years and I miss her still. A wonderful woman, she was my mother in law for five short years. She had lots of good qualities, one in particular stands out right now.....

SHE BAKED.... every day, using this very bowl. There was always dessert aplenty when she was around.

The handle is perfect for vigorous stirring. And carrying fresh picked berries. And mixing meatloaf. Cake, cookies, bars, tortes, any dessert made using this bowl tastes fabulous. Of course, Dave does the baking, not me.

I believe Hilda's talent and baking spirit is in this bowl. Our kitchen would not be the same without it.Here is what Dave and the bowl produced today.... peanut butter bars anyone?

More Birding

2009-04-27T21:08:00.005-05:00

We have just returned from our cabin up north. It was a good weekend for spotting birds and other wildlife. Despite the wet and cold, we saw a porcupine high up in a tree.

A flock of American Pipits we feeding in an open area near the cabin.

At Lake Hilbert we saw ten pairs of Common Eider. This is a weird sighting, according to all the books, the Eiders are sea ducks, not found in this area. We had a good look at these birds and their identification was definite. ???????

A bald eagle was feeding on a deer carcass near the side of the road.

Lots of turkeys, loons, sandhill cranes.

One grouse.

One the way home we saw pelicans on lake Butte des Morts.

Our trip home was highlighted with a stop at the dam in Shawano, on the Wolf River.

Hard to see in these photos, the Lake Sturgeon were spawning. Look very closely at the photos and you can see dark triangles sticking up out of the water. These are fins from thousands of sturgeon.... quite the sight.. something I will never forget.

Birding

2009-04-24T05:51:00.005-05:00

Wednesday evening, near sunset, a flock of birds unknown to me was feeding in a shallow, flooded area of a plowed field. Of course, I had to stop, back up the car and have a good look. Because the light was fading fast, the birds' coloring was difficult to see. At least 50 of these birds were there.

Thursday morning, in the good strong daylight, I went back to see. I was surprised, about 10 of the LESSER YELLOWLEGS were still there. Easy to identify in the daylight by their size and the color of the legs. Migrating, I suppose.

I have never seen this bird before, and certainly not in such numbers. I am grateful to live so close to the Horicon Marsh, where such sightings are a part of everyday life.

the dawn patrol

2009-04-16T06:25:00.005-05:00

Getting out of bed before dawn (unless one HAS to) is a sure sign of aging, in my opinion. This being MY blog, the reader gets nothing but my opinion. In my youth, I could work effectively and creatively in the evening hours. A vivid memory of blocking a knitted garment at 1 AM sticks in my mind , of course I was 19 years old at the time. I would rise late in the AM and admire my work from the night before.

Now, I can't seem to get going after 6 PM. Simple tasks are all I can do. Unload the dishwasher, knit plain stockinette, fold laundry.

Today, I was up before dawn, awakened by a disturbing dream that I could not shake. I still don't get much accomplished for the first hour I am awake......except coffee and knitting, but for heaven's sake.... 5 AM, two days in a row? What's up with that? Soon I will be having supper at 4 PM and going to bed right after Jeopardy!

On the knitting front, I finished one sweater

And have 95% finished on anotherAll that bleary eyed, early morning knitting is coming to fruition. Every age has it's benefits.

In my Easter Bonnet

2009-04-12T08:46:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter!

Hope

2009-04-09T07:25:00.003-05:00

Hope is defined as:
1.A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.
2. Something that is hoped for or desired
3. One that is a source of or reason for hope
4. The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.

Hope is central to my life. Without hope, there is nothing to live for. Such an obvious and important thing, but easily dismissed as a cliche, or platitude. Almost every day I come in contact with someone who is really struggling with heavy burdens, and it seems so silly and small when I respond with a message of hope, an attitude that things will get better, keep trying, etc.

Hope has always been essential, but these days,
I think we need to be reminded.

A little bird reminded me this week.
With morning coffee in hand, I watched a little bird, probably a house finch, struggling to build a nest right outside our front door. This has been going on all week.
The cats love it. The nesting spot is behind a light fixture between the front door and a large window. NOT a good spot for a nest.....in my opinion. So the first day, I went out and removed the twigs that were the start of this home. I did not stop this determined and hopeful creature. Really not much room for a nest, either. That bird just keeps building. The new construction features a bit of felted wool.....

A scrap from my mittens....

This bird is just doing what comes naturally..... I think we humans should learn from this bird, and hold on to hope.

another post about friends

2009-04-05T16:35:00.003-05:00

This is my friend Betty, playing the piano. Betty is really good a LOTS of things, piano playing, knitting, singing, potato salad, sorting and organizing to name just a few.
Betty is learning to use the Internet, and in a little while, I am sure I can add "using the Internet" to the list of things she is really good at doing.... I am helping her learn.
I gave her an assignment for the weekend,,,,to find and read my blog......AND COMMENT.... Well, Betty, what have you got to say? A helpful clue ------you can comment as anonymous without signing up

Friends

2009-04-03T10:26:00.001-05:00

She's back!

2009-03-30T20:48:00.003-05:00

Monday's afternoons with my granddaughter are one of the best parts of every week. We were on hiatus since Christmas, because her mother was on maternity leave, but today Em and I were together again!

In celebration of our reunion, I let Em choose a craft to do.....of course, she choose to make a diorama...........

Last Friday, I instructed her to wrap a balloon with yarn soaked in white glue. She let it dry over the weekend ....Today she popped the balloon,

cut an opening, removed the deflated balloon

glued in some spring-like stuff

Voila! Is she an artist or what!

I wonder what we're gonna do next week?

I tried

2009-03-26T19:14:00.004-05:00

I spent today at my parent's farm. They have some peacocks that run around the place..... I wanted to take a photo.... I followed the big blue birds around an old corn crib.......
..

they flew over the woodpile, I walked around it......

another woodpile stood in my way

Can you guess what this is?.................... It's peacock feathers caught on a log.

I keep walking..............I am easily distracted by shiny objects.....

Bits of glass on the cow path. More than 50 years ago, it was the garbage dump.....

A dead tree, no peacocks....................

My bits of glass balanced on a old hay rake , I told you I am easily distracted!

.
My elusive prey...... the best photo I could get!

Sister and Brother

2009-03-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

Monday was a warm sunny day, Gael and Em were visiting me..... I wanted to introduce Gael to the creek, but it was windy, and he did not have a jacket along.

I dug out his Uncle Clay's jacket from 25 years ago.........and away we went!

I made this jacket in 1984 for my son, and appliqued his name on the front.......I must have had more time back then,,,,, were there more hours in a day in 1984?

Gael liked it!

You think you know someone

2009-03-18T06:50:00.003-05:00

You think you know someone, then suddenly they surprise you with a bit of info or an action that changes your perspective of them.

The person in this case is my Dad, who I have "known" all my life. (Not everyone can say that, so I felt the need to.) All my life is 52 years.

He is recovering remarkably quickly from a total knee replacement. Faster than I did, and I was almost half his age when I had mine knee done. After watching him walk on his first day home from the hospital I quoted my friend Lynda saying to him "You're a better man than I, Gunga Din." He was walking so well!

That's when he surprised me by reciting from memory whole paragraphs of the Rudyard Kipling poem! What? I never knew my Dad ever read any poetry! Growing up, both of my parents encouraged reading, but they themselves were too busy farming and raising children to read anything as 'frivolous" as fiction or poetry.

My Dad tells me he memorised "Gunga Din" during high school, not for any class, just for fun. Then he asked me if I had ever read "The Death of a Hired Man", by Robert Frost. I had not. Imagine my surprise when I discover the famous line------------- "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in.’------------------------ My Dad had memorised a lot of of this poem, too. And retained it since the 1940's!

I won't assume that I know ALL about anyone again. This revelation changed my perspective of my Dad, ever so slightly. It made me even MORE proud of him.

a busy time

2009-03-14T08:06:00.006-05:00

Life gets in the way of blogging. Here are a few glimpses of my life, in no particular order.

Preparing for our annual retreat. Teaching at the retreat. Partying at the retreat. SINGING at the retreat

Spending time with family and friends.

Helping out at the Farm, here's my Dad on his first day home from the hospital, ain't he cute?

Wildlife at the farm, including wrangling a stray calf, no photos of that.

Attempted to clean up my studio

Knit a PAIR of socks

Whew, I am tired!

2009-03-10T19:45:00.000-05:00

Our CSA

2009-02-26T08:38:00.003-06:00

Last year we joined a CSA, see here and here and here.. I loved it! We got in late last year, but we have signed up for another season already. Good Earth Farm is our CSA. If you are considering CSA, I suggest looking into it now........Our CSA offers a lower rate if you sign up by March 1st. Most encourage early registration. Plus, it started me "thinking spring" on a day when the forecast is for snow and ice.

Don't hate me

2009-02-21T08:15:00.003-06:00

Don't hate me because of my opinions. I have lots of unpopular notions, and opinions. One that comes to mind this morning is the fact I hate spring... no I don't hate spring, I hate the months that run up to full blown spring. The deep white landscapes of December and January are much more pleasing to me than the ugly brown and muddy thawing in February, March and some of April... Snow that stays and covers the ground until April, when spring is really ready, is what I want.

This morning the snow has returned. Don't hate me, I love it! It's pretty, simple as that.

A controversial opinion. Mine.

More tracks

2009-02-18T07:07:00.003-06:00

These tracks in our driveway indicate an early morning visit from a hot-footed visitor.

Making tracks

2009-02-16T18:44:00.002-06:00

Sunday seemed a good day to take the annual trek to our cabin to see what the winter has done.

It was a lovely sunny day in the woods.

This path in the snow is made by deer, and it looks like it is used frequently

More deer tracks, in deeper snow.

This track in the snow is somewhat puzzling, perhaps the wings of a bird brushed the powdery snow?

Any ideas?

Still cleaning

2009-02-13T20:11:00.002-06:00

We are SLOWLY still cleaning the basement, but this week I got a little knitting time.
I finished a sweater that I started in spring 2008.

Don't I look pleased with myself?The closure is a pin that I made a few years back after taking an embellishment class at Sievers with Anita Mayer.

I match my family room!

More Cheap Thrills, or Six Inches of Excitement

2009-02-06T06:45:00.001-06:00

THIS IS NOT A PORN SITE! Get your mind out of the gutter!

It's today's installment of:

Look what I found in the basement!

A six inch ruler that has the presidents of the United States printed on both sides.
The list ends with Johnson 1963- blank....... .............this is a 45 year old ruler! I mean measuring instrument,,,, Johnson was more than 45 years old old while he was in office.... I'm sure................ Ha! I am sooooooooo funny.

Looks like he doesn't get the joke.