A SweetTart Surprise!

A couple of months ago my friend Trish, the Heavenly Maven from The Katnip Lounge (and Mommy to THIRTEEN of the most entertaining and engaging kitties you will ever meet!!!) mentioned that they had their own lemon tree in their yard (they live close to Las Vegas) and that she uses her food dehydrator and makes dried lemon slices. "Oh, that sounds yummy!" I said.

Last week, in the mail I got this wonderful package of lemony goodness!  I haven't had time to try anything but a nibble of one - sufficiently lemony flavor.  Can't wait to come up with ideas for their use!

Thank you Trish!



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Taking a break in the Caribbean from the cold wintery weather

A co-worker and her husband recently celebrated their anniversary on the island Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean  - her pictures were so pretty, I asked her if I could share them with you - especially for any friends on the east coast - spring is out there somewhere.....

Beautiful tropical beaches

George, Gracie & Bella liked the picture of the burds just lined up like a buffet

Miles of beach, and hotels....

I wonder what it was like before?

Beautiful shells

And other kinds of fauna...

Just as beautiful under the sea

Remember the warm sandy feet when the cold winds blow. 

Hope you enjoyed these pictures of paradise  -  Have a great week!

Ya got-ta have friends.....

Well, this post has been a while in the making - first, I watched a video on "Dear Prudence" where a woman's IRL (In Real Life) family berated her for having real relationships her on line friends (ie - "They are just "on-line" people, you don't even know them)  So, I was ready to write something about all the wonderful "on-line" friends that I have, when my modem stopped working.   - Well, let's say it stopped working consistently - If I saw the "on line" light working, if I hurried, I might be able to read an email or two, but that was about it...

Well, thinking that this might be a good time to do the computer upgrade I had in the works for a couple of months - I started that process, but then I realized that my Carbonite backup could not do it's job, BECAUSE MY MODEM KEPT STOPPING - and it didn't download any of my files INCLUDING ALL of my PICTURES!  OK, I'm freaking out now - 

(And then on top of all this computer stuff,  it was time to get ready for vacation & our trip to Eugene Oregon for the Black Sheep Gathering.  NEWSFLASH!! We didn't bring any 4 legged's home - however I did buy some nice BFL/Tussa Silk blend wool to spin :-) 

So, I froze my Carbonite so it wouldn't back-up over my empty files (although I found out that they keep your recent back-ups separate, or something like that, so you do have access to them - I love Carbonite - it is always there, working in the background - Best $70 a year I've ever spent - And after I got my NEW Comcast modem (that includes it's own WI-FI  router so my new printer will work (once I get THAT hooked up) with a little help from the "Oh-so-nice" tech guy from Carbonite - all my files are back where they are supposed to be- etc, etc.  This is the second time I've used my Carbonite restore program - and other than the modem problems, which were outside of it's realm, it is just "easy-peasy" as the old saying goes.  

Miss Gracie

So, here I am, over a month later since I posted the last time - And the other problem has been my inability to see clearly what I'm typing, etc. on the screen.  I finally got fed up with not being able to see out of my left eye and made the decision to raid my 401k and have the cataract surgery done.  This is happening tomorrow (July 2)  in Mt. Vernon, WA with a cataract specialist recommended by my regular eye doc.  It is not happening without an element of risk as there are issues with my cornea and with the shape of my eye in general.  But this young Dr.'s passion is doing mission trips all over the world to bring vision to the poor and he has literally done thousands of cataract surgeries.  He said my eye was "bad" but not the worst he'd ever seen - I will be his last patient of the day, so he doesn't feel rushed and can take his time - If you are reading this and it is before my surgery (supposed to happen sometime around 3-3:30 Pacific Daylight Time) send good thoughts out to Dr. Saipco - we want him to do the best job he's ever done, right? Wish me luck...


So, getting back to my original thoughts about friends -
Thanks to my loyal readers who I do consider my friends -

I've included a very nice poem/prayer that was in a recent "Angel" newsletter authoredby my friend Mary Ellen  "Angel Scribe"   If you are in need of comfort, I hope it brings you comfort, if you are in need of being buoyed up, I hope it brings you joy.  

Hopefully I'll be back on the computer in a day or two with a "report" on my surgery - Til then, have a safe & happy 4th of July! 

- Friends -

by Mary Ellen "Angel Scribe" and her Angels

Friends touch the heart
in such a special way!

It is as if they open a secret little door
and move into your heart.

Nestled inside of you,
they create warmth and love
and cause your heart to expand.

Your attitude melts and softens
as snow on a warm sunny day.

Friends enrich your life and give it
a greater meaning...
they give you support
they give you honesty
and they give you courage
when yours is lacking.

Friends to
walk with
talk with
laugh with
cry with.

Friends are your cheerleaders
through life.

Friends are the rays to your sun,
the treasure in your jewelry chest,
they are the sparkle on the ocean waves.

They ground you when you need it
and they guide you when you want to fly.

Friends are a rare and special find,
a gift from God.

Treasure your moments
together.
AMEN



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A Momentous Occasion

 It's not often you come to work and see your name on the reader board -

For all to see -

"Congrats Tina 

on 20 years

with SSNW"

It's not often anymore that someone actually works for the same company for 20 years!

But I work for a good company -

We have one employee who just hit 40 (yes FORTY) years working for this company.


Many of the employees who work here weren't even born when Dean started to work for Jim. Where were YOU in 1973?  The next guy down has worked there for 28 years - me at 20 -Three guys coming up behind me at 18, 17 &; 16 years - and I think, there are 5 between 10 &; 15 years.

Like I said, it's a good place to work.  

 When you've been there for 20 years, you get a pretty bouquet of flowers - (actually, I got flowers at 10 years too...)

(Don't look at my messy desk) 








 








And you get balloons (which went home with a co-worker for his little girls)















 And a pretty basket of African Violets from an old co-worker -

 

 And you get to throw a pizza party for your co-workers - (the boss bought the pizza)  - 6 of these 12 inch pizza's disappeared like "poof" - and there was a big Caesar Salad and three dozen cheesey balls to boot - Whoosh - watch out for the stampede!   Not a bite left! 


 




And there was cake too - Thanks to my co-workers Nina for picking out the cake and the flowers and Drew for playing Susie homemaker and cleaning up before we left, so I didn't have to.

All in all, it was a Momentous Occasion!

The next party?   - I'm thinking 5 or 6 years - will be the retirement party.  Whoopee! 



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Wonderful Woolies Farm Sale, 2013

What happens when you get about 13 farms & "fiber related vendors" together to sell fleece & fiber on a Saturday in April?

It rains.

It blows,

It SNOWS?





Yes, you know that's the day for the Wonderful Woolies Farm Sale!!!  

Destined to bring out the worst in the weather, but the best in fiber & fleeces - and I forgot to take a picture of the fleeces!  There were about 90 some CVM/Romeldale & llama fleeces outside the barn under a large tent.

But, as I told The Shepherd on our way there Saturday morning, rain, hail or snow - might stop the postman, but it won't stop a fiber addict when they know there  is a barn full of yummy stuff - yes, we even had people drive 90 miles up from Seattle, where there was 1 1/2 inches of snow on the freeway!

The sale is hosted by our friends Yvonne & Doug of Spnner's Eden Farm - Here is their display of CVM wool and mill spun yarn -  click on the picture to biggify and drool. 

And here is The Shepherd (our fleeces are behind him)  

There was mohair and mystery batts -

And my personal favorite - Kathy Green's Ferndale Fibers Potluck Roving.  (I'll show you later this week what I got!)

Other than the weather, it was a very worthwhile day.  We had to leave for a bit to go to a memorial service at our church, but others kept and eye on our stuff.

All in all - a great day. 

A moment of Silence -

 A valiant kitty friend has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.  Perfectly Parker is a blog about a family in O-Hi-O that I have read for several years.  Parker was a sweet loving kitty who always had fun things to say.  She lost her sight due to cancer, but never lost her "vision" -

When one of our kitty friends make the trip to the bridge it brings back the memories of those who have come before, and makes my heart ache and my eyes leak. 

 

May you Rest in Peace, Parker

Sharing Their Sadness -

Our friends Kathy & Ralph from Sheep Thrills Farm in Arizona have lost their friend Ziggy. He was a grand old man of about 16 years old, having come to their home as a stray (they are one of the people who have that invisible "Stray Cats are Welcome Here" sign in their driveway).

He had been loosing weight for about a year and pretty sick for a couple of weeks now - Kathy & Ralph had done everything that they could think of to help him regain his health, but it was not to be.

I am so very sad for them, as, like many of you out there, we have lost a kitty who was such a character that he left a permanent imprint on our hearts. When I look through my photos for "Looking Back Sunday" the older ones are so full of Neelix pictures. Sometimes I can look through them, sometimes I just can't and feel like we really should have tried to do more - to push the vet to do more tests - but, it's a "could-a, should-a, would-a situation at best. Nothing I can say or do will bring him back.

Because they have "connections" I asked our friends Karla & Miss Peach to alert the members of the Cat Blogosphere that Ziggy had crossed The Rainbow Bridge. This group, like no other, can offer sympathy that is so heart felt and meaningful. I hope their words of condolence will help K&R get through this hard time.

Our friends Karla & Miss Peach also wrote a beautiful poem for us the weekend when Neelix went to the Bridge. It still "makes my eyes leak" but I'll reprint it here in honor of Ziggy.

For Neelix (and his "mom & dad") -

Close your eyes now, my longtime friend,
and let this time of suffering
come to a peaceful end.
We'll walk together soon, I'm sure,
as winter turns to spring,
when snow gives way to budding leaves
and birds begin to sing.
The gentle breeze shall call your name
along the water's edge.
For what we shared and what you meant
shall never be forgot.
Your friendship spans the years behind,
your memory ahead.
You'll always be there next to me,
companion and good friend.

Keep an eye out for Neelix, Zig - I'm sure he'll show you all around -

New Year's at Nancy's

Every year on New Year's Day our friend Nancy has a brunch for friends - It started out being a bunch of us who used to hang out at a little restaurant called the Cookie Cafe. When it closed, we no longer saw each other on Friday nights - so what better way to get together - music and food.







Now, we have added new friends and even our neighbors come out - (how is that - go half way across the county to see someone who lives two blocks away!)











Since the start we've had a preponderance of old "rock and rollers" but now there is a contingent of great bluegrass pickers & singers - nothing could be better -














This year a couple of us brought our spinning wheel. Ellen's husband is one of the bluegrass players - I brought my wheel too - everyone was very interested in what we were doing -












And it gives us all an opportunity to bring our best dishes or try a new one.

I have traditionally made Aebelskivers - which are a little round pancake made in a special pan. But when I do that, I don't get to visit with anyone, because I'm in the kitchen making them - so I decided to bring a hot dish similar to a strata - Apple, Bacon & Cheddar Bread Pudding. It was very good. I doubled the recipe (as shown is the regular recipe) except for the apples and only used them in the middle - I think it would have been nice to have had some warm maple syrup or some hollandaise sauce to give it a little bit of "oomph" - Here is the recipe:

APPLE BACON & CHEDDAR BREAD PUDDING

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

4 cups cubed firm bread

1 pound bacon, cooked, drained and chopped

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

2 1/2 cups milk

1 tbsp Dijonaise (or other Dijon style) mustard

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

5 eggs

1. Grease 2-quart casserole. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook apples in butter 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Stir in brown sugar; reduce heat to low. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender.

2. Layer half each of the bread, bacon and cheese in casserole. Add the apples. Repeat with remaining bread, bacon and cheese.

3. Mix all remaining ingredients; pour over cheese. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Heat oven to 350ºF. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

I fried up my bacon bits the night before (on New Years Eve - woo hoo) and had planned to put together the dish so it would have overnight to sit - but the fridge was still full of Christmas ham, and other assorted leftovers, so, I got up early to make it on Friday a.m. - so it only sat about 1/2 hour before I put it in the oven - it was OK - (I mooshed it a lot with a big spoon) Using the packaged shredded cheese saved me a lot of time too - it's premeasured to two cups - oh, and I didn't peel the apples either - just chopped them up in 1/2 inch cubes...

I "Demo" spinning at the NW Washington Fair

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from "Marcia" who said she was the superintendent of the wool barn at the fair and my friend Nancy (who was going to demo on the loom) had suggested she call me - she was looking for spinners to "Demo" in the Wool Barn at the fair this year. It seems that all her "regulars" were busy - could I come out and do that?

I talked it over with The Shepherd, as it would not be feasible for me to go out by myself - He was actually wanting to go to the fair to see the draft horses - they always give a great show before the grandstand acts come on. So, I called Marcia back and said I could do it.

I took a half day off work so we could go out a little early. The Shepherd shuttled me up to the gate where Marcia met us and helped me carry my bags in. I have figured out just how to get my Ashford Standard wheel to stay on my luggage rack - with a bungee cord holding it tight - but I needed help with all my "stuff"

By the way, we have 9 gorgeous 6-horse hitches in Whatcom county! Almost too many to run the Crazy 8's any more - but The Shepherd really enjoyed watching them perform.


If I was going to do this "Demo" thing, I decided that I needed a "Story Board" to show people some of the aspects of the craft.

I decided that "How wool goes from Sheep to Sweater" was the story that I wanted to tell - and because I have heard that so many "townies" seem to think that in order to get the wool off of a sheep, you have to kill it, I tried to dispel that myth with a picture of one of our sheep getting her hair cut last spring.

Then some samples of raw wool, roving, top and batts, and some yarn samples and a little swatch of crocheted "Luna" wool - I was all set.

It must have provided just the info that people wanted to see - I had a lot of people reading it.


Nancy G. and the loom were inside the barn, but it was WAY too hot and stuffy in there for me, so I ensconced myself out on the ramada - with a bench to lean my story board on and a spot to put my water bottle, I was all set.








Plus, for a couple of hours, I had the delightful company of Nancy B., the owner of NW Handspun Yarns. She was showing off her talent on the sock knitting machine. Wow, she could really book on the thing. She made several pairs of socks while she was sitting there. Amazing machine to watch. It made me really think about how the "industrial revolution" affected making clothing. All of a sudden, instead of having to knit night after night to make socks , the owner of this machine could make pair after pair in just a few hours! Amazing!


Here are some of the sweaters and items in the wool barn. I only got a few pictures taken before my battery went dead, and boy when this sucker goes dead, it goes DEAD.

My demo went well, I got to see bunches of old friends and made a few new ones.






And, I got this bobbin filled - it will be for yarn for another vest for The Shepherd.

Well, gotta go make a salad for our church "Secret Pal" tea that is happening tomorrow at noon. We don't hold services during the summer (we decided that god trusts Unitarians to take the summer off - ha, ha) It will be fun to see all the ladies.

Men in Skirts!

2009 Skagit Highland Games - Spindrifters Sheep to Shawl - - -

We had front row seats from the spinner tent - the pipers were on the left and the games were on the right with the Celtic stage right in the center. There were some great guitar and fiddle music acts on the stage until 2:30 when the pipers started. We are in range (within 60 miles north) of some of the best pipe bands IN THE WORLD - I didn't go to our Bellingham games this year, so I was glad to hear them -


We were all settled in our "spot" when look who showed up! Our friend and friendly wool mill mistress, Gretchen from Gretchen's Wool Mill in Monroe. It was so fun to sit and visit with her while we were spinning. She even wore her clan sash over her pretty summer dress! Turned out the the woman across from us was a new customer of Gretchen's and another one of her customer's stopped by for a visit (and to sit in the shade of our tent for a while - whew it was hot! - about 85 degrees!) We all forgave her coming to the games and not spending the day in her mill -








They were supposed to use one of our Shetland fleeces that had been provided especially for the event, but after putting together the warp for the loom in blues and purples, the committee decided that it wouldn't look good with the brown fleece - so they will use our fleece for the sheep to shawl that will happen at the NW Washington Fair in August. I suggested that they put out a call for greens and golds for the warp yarn - they would look good with the brown.




So we used a white romney fleece that Deb had purchased at Black Sheep last year.

People were picking and carding this floofy wool into batts that we were spinning from -

I'm mad at myself that I didn't take a picture of the yarn that I spun up - it looked really nice and I got some very nice compliments from some of the other spinners.







They said that it takes five spinners to supply one weaver.










So, while the wool was being picked and carded, spun into singles and plied, other ladies were warping the loom.











There was really a lot of interest in the spinning - both from men and women. I think the men like the "mechanics" of the wheel - lots of questions about why there were so many different types of wheels, etc.

Kids liked feeling the floofy batts - and since I had brought along some Shetland to work with in case things got slow, I'd give them a feel of the Shetland too. Personally, I thought the romney was pretty easy to spin, but very scratchy. The kind of stuff that gives wool a bad name.....


The weavers wove their magic and look at this - a beautiful shawl is taking shape - we sold raffle tickets - the funds will probably to towards speaker fees for our 3rd Annual Spin-In that will happen in the fall.

Even with the heat, it was a beautiful day - there was a bit of a breeze blowing through the tent and that kept things a little cooler.

The Shepherd bought me a steak and mushroom pie for lunch - yum, yum, yum. I don't know how they make those things but they are delectable!

The worst thing was that the breeze brought the enticing smell of Kettle Corn - about every 20 minutes or so! But I'm happy to report that I was a good girl marched right by the Kettle Corn tent and didn't buy any. (although it might have had something to do with the fact that I was headed towards the Porta-Pottie on a very important mission...ha, ha, ha)

I guess I'll just have to make plans to go to the fair so I can work on that pretty brown fleece.

Hair today, gone today

Sinda has heard that the vishus sheeps were getting their furs clipped today - she has come out to snoopervise.









Life as you know it is about to end H.B. - you will suddenly be a scrawney looking rascal.








Whoa, I was right!











Our friend Margot came with her son William and daughter Emily, who is our goddaughter.









Marsha Adams has been shearing our sheep for many years. This was her last shearing for us. She is retiring. We are sorry to have this happen. She has become a good friend.




Margot is trying out her new video camera while the kids looked on.

It was really sweet, when Marsha was shearing Moni, who is very pregnant, she stopped and asked the kids if they would like to feel Moni's belly. She thought the baby/babies had been kicking at the sound of her shears - but they apparently had stopped - just soft and warm tummy to be felt.




While The Shepherd was otherwise distracted, our friend Diane, who had also come to watch, snuck into the feed bin and offered H.B. a little handful of sheep kibble. He gladly accepted - she now has a friend for life.






















Marsha is showing off Violet's fleece. It is really beautiful and incredibly soft.

Eight fleeces - two of them are pre-sold. Pearl & Luna were just 6 month fleeces, so they were very small and will be combined with the rest of the white alpaca that we blended their fleeces with last fall. Taylor's fleece will be featured at the Spindrifter's Sheep to Shawl at the Skagit Highland Games in July and Moni's fleece was sold last fall at our spin-in.


Danny's fleece will be blended with an fawn colored alpaca cria fleece that he bought last fall from our vendor neighbor - they are very close in color and it should make for nice spinning.





Hope you enjoyed your little slice of a "day on the farm"