Who Could Ask for a Better Time?

My, where has the Summer gone?
I guess I enjoyed the out of doors so much that I forgot my blog. Oops! Let me catch you up a bit on what went on outside of Drain.

We made a deck on the front of our house...it has been a wonderful addition since the moment the stain dried.

We had visitors who came and enjoyed our new deck with us. This is my beautiful and talented Best Girl Karen..



She and her family came our way on their camping trip. they stayed a few days...
They brought us this wonderful birdhouse.

As we sat on the deck enjoying our coffee one morning we were surprised by...first a bunny, chased by a weasel, followed closely behind by a blue jay....
If I hadn't had witnesses I am not sure I would have believed this story.....and...there were no animals hurt during this adventure! Just Fun!

Here's the Grand Dog, Texas and his Momma during their visit....Another great time!


Our gardening really paid off this year with plenty of delicious bounty. I still have some pesto to put up as well as tomatoes. The herb garden made enough to keep us happy and spiced for the next year.

We had a lovely time at OFFF (Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival) this past weekend...And now we are preparing ourselves for the next adventure....Our annual trip to Rhinebeck New York.
I hope that you all had a great Summer and are ready for a great Fall. Enjoy it in all it's splendor...that's what I intend to do.

Summer is The Best!!

I know, it's been way too long since I posted. I just couldn't until now. I love my blog.
I would go back to the blog...read things and have the best of intentions...but nothing would come through.
It's time do another blog post.

It's been a really Good Year! So Far, so Good.
The shows have been good to us. I feel great. We've been working on our place....and it's looking good. I say Thank you for Everything..I have no complaints what so ever.
Heck...I'm glad to be here!! Feeling Good!

Soon it will be time to go to Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF)..But we have another month and a half before that arrives.

Right now I choose to enjoy our garden and the beings that inhabit the property with us.
We have a squirrel..named Earl. Many chipmunks...bunnies (they are very good at math).
Michael's garden is coming right along. I have planted a few things myself.
Last night we ate the first batch of green beans and boy were they tasty!
The tomatoes are coming right along. I am sure that we will be doing a lot of canning this season.

It's absolutely beautiful today....Oregon at it's brightest. I think I will go outside and pick blackberries. Perhaps a cobbler....yumm!

Boo Hoo Hoo!!

It's raining and raining and raining....I hear that this is the truth many places on the West Coast and that there is loads of cold, cold and/or snow lots of other places.
It's only the end of January and I am already for a week in the SUN!
I know that I am grateful that I am not in Haiti cleaning up the problems that the earthquake there caused...my heart goes out to the beautiful people. I am so pleased to see the help that is coming through for the cause.
Thanks to all who have come to the rescue!!

But what about Me? Here's what the sky looks like at 8:50 am today. This sky does Not make me want to get up and get things done!
I know that most can relate to this nonsense..."it's winter"... but I am a Sun girl and I don't care for it. I should live in a place where it rains...hard even....for...hey, I'm up for 24 hours straight....and then it clears with blue skies and sun!

I mostly want to curl up into a ball..watch a lot of TV...knit socks...and of course eat loads of carbs...including chocolate.... Anything.
Really...the fact that I have not fallen into this is an amazing feat!
Even Buddah...though he's too cool to say it...is getting tired of the muck.

I don't want to go outside....
I don't want to do any of the inside work that I have to do....
My mind wanders off into the land of icky subjects and tries it's best to settle there....
I'm constantly trying to find my way out of the land of icky subjects.....

I would love to hear what you are doing during this gray time. If you are one of the lucky ones who live in the SUN....can I come visit?....Only joking...sort of.

We are off to Madrona Winter Retreat in a few weeks. It's always a lift..for many reasons!
We then are off to Stitches West in Santa Clara, CA....and a chance of seeing the SUN!!
If you are out there...please check in and say HI....You will brighten MY day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

So much to wish for on this first day of a new year...
It holds such promise.

May all of those I love know how much.
May I be forgiven my failings.
May I always feel loved.
May I exhibit the best parts of me.
May I be happy, secure and healthy.
May I be granted new, exciting and wonderful adventures.
May I allow the vision and direction of my life to be filled with Gratitude and Grace.
May I find peace, acceptance and understanding for myself and others.
May I enjoy each day of this new year....
And you as well.

I get pretty sentimental this time of the year. I miss those people who have left my life. I try my best to accept that it's for the best and a lot of the time I can...but I still miss them...the promise of what could have been. The time spent enjoying their company...
This song represents the longing I feel...

I close my eyes, ignore the video and listen to Mairi Campbell and my heart....
I hope that you too will enjoy this beautiful rendition of this lovely poem by Robert Burns....put to voice.

Happy Day....Happy Year!

OH JOY!

Somehow it's time to start humming Christmas carols again...It truly is a wonderful time of the year.
I am usually uplifted when I change the calender to read December.

I Love all this.....

Birthdays...Friends and My Own at the beginning of the month.
Wonderful Customers who buy our work to gift to others for Hanukkah and Christmas....I love getting to be an elf.
Holiday cards from friends and family...Yes... even the sometimes bazaar letters inserted in them.
Friends and Family Get Togethers...My favorite part really.
The holidays themselves...Of course....And....
This year a few days after Christmas Michael and I will celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary....
Then on to another year ahead.... 2010....Quite something!
I send on Happiness and Love to each of you
I wish for PEACE for each of us on this beautiful planet!

Who knows what's just around the corner

Oh My Where to Begin?
(This is what has kept me away from my blog for so long...well that and a lot of other things as well
I had been feeling rather lack luster....BUT...I seem to be getting my luster back...yahoo!)

We went back to Rhinebeck last month (ie NY Sheep and Wool Festival).
It was a treat....AGAIN...Sunday was rainy and rather cold and still great!

Amongst some of the friends that I hadn't met in person before was Annmarie. Lucky for us she was in the market for a Orifice Hook to go with her new spinning wheel.
(thanks for loan of the photo Annmarie...I hope your new wheel is home with you now)

They moved us to Building One this year...whenever you move at a show you feel a bit misplaced....not knowing if the space will be as happy place...we loved the loft that we were in last year. I am very pleased to say that we were well received in our new "home"


We were greeted with more room, new customers and customers from last year who were directed to us by the good folks of the show. Lovely.

Amongst the Many Fine Vendors was Tom and Diane Golding.
I am pleased to say that Tom bought one of my buttons and transformed it into this Drop Spindle....and then sent it to me to try out....what's not to like about that arrangement? Nada thing ;D

We are working on a collaboration....keep your fingers crossed...and I'll keep you posted!

Hey, I'm back!

Photography during the Summer time is so rewarding. For one thing, when the Sun is shining it makes the world light up...then I tend to want to check things out from a fairy's point of view.
Here's 2 of my favorites so far this season....

The one on the left is of a garlic flower...each one of these little bobbins would turn into a lovely garlic...beautiful and yummy too.



Petunias....ahh, what's not to like. They come in a great variety of colors, shapes and sizes... with just a little bit of care they go on and on...





These are our newest addition to Ernst Finely Crafted Glass Family....our Scarf Needles. They are 6 1/2 to 7 inches long (approximately). Truly unique...no 2 pairs will every be alike....similar, perhaps...like sisters from another mother, as different as night from day.
Just long enough, and light enough to make a scarf special...from start to finish.
I will be figuring out a way to place them on the site soon...just couldn't help showing them off.

Thanks to all who wrote in to say Hi! I am pleased to know that I will be seeing you at Sock Summit....coming right up now.
See you there ;)<