Hello February

We went to the Nevada Historical Society on Saturday to hear Eric Holland talk about his Frederic Delongchamps installation.  He was a prominent architect in Nevada history, responsible for nine courthouses and many old respected buildings of his are still in use. 

This is the Wadsworth School in Wadsworth.  Eric reminds me of a Nevada Wayne Thebault.  If you're familiar with the popular 20th century artist, I'll bet you can see why.  This painting was marked sold.

This was my favorite in the exhibit.  It's of the old art deco post office, right on the river.  Eric painted it several times but this one spoke volumes to me.  The building was recently purchased by developers and will be preserved as a commercial venue.  We're all pleased to see it rescued from the fate of so many buildings past their prime.

Ian was really pleased that his friend John MacDonald drove over from Grass Valley to spend the weekend with us.  They used to work together in the reference department at the main library and have many MacDonald/Campbell jokes between them, if you're familiar with the history.  If not - don't bother.  It's bloody.

We had our first ever Super Bowl party on Sunday, most retired library folks, but it was a fabulous first, even if our chosen team didn't earn rings.  I obviously forgot to pull out the camera.  Marian - yes, the librarian - makes insane BBQ.  She comes from a long line of the tradition and brought what she learned from her daddy.  She started preparing it three weeks ago.  Is that possible?!  I thought I didn't like BBQ, too greasy, too sticky, too sweet.  Wrong!  I was wrong.  She says she's going to bring it to The Gathering this Labor Day.  I'm already counting the days.

I didn't know John and didn't meet him until the Nevada County Fair last August.  Ian and John visited for hours.  It was confusing since Ian was meeting up with his old friend John MacDonald and I was hooking up an old school chum, John McConnell.  Thanks to Facebook, we've made these reconnections.

Sunday morning John and I were chatting, and realized we're both children of German immigrants.  I know he's passionate about genealogy and suddenly we're ferreting out where my dad's grandfather came from - same place as John's.  And they came to the same county in Iowa as John's - I know he's sniffing on this trail.  We might be related.  No, no, no.  I'm not going to take up genealogy.  But it's interesting. 

I managed to finish the baby blanket yesterday.  I thought the shower was last Saturday and when I realized it was this upcoming Saturday, I did my best to weave it off.  It's wider than my shoulders like and I struggled with the 16-treddle pattern.  Chrissie bought baby clothes yesterday and was going to overnight them today.  I was motivated.

There's so much behind the scenes stuff in weaving that I'm most people don't think about but you need to cut the fringe.

You need to twist the fringe, and thanks to the battery operated Conair braid twister, a blanket this size only takes a little over an hour.

Then it gets a trip through the washer and dryer.  This tweed yarn is a cotton/acrylic blend.  It will launder beautifully over time but hand weaving always looks a little raw at first which why traditionally weavers have the final task of "wet finishing."  It's where you iron the wet product dry.  Groan - very loud groan.

This is where I tell you now much I LOVE my mini mangle from Singer.  I haven't used it much since I bought it but the time I save in finishing one project makes it worth it in my eyes. 

Today was one of those all-day in town days.  I left here at 9:00 in the morning and got home after 10:00.  I won't bore you with the details but one thing I came home with was this.  Jimmy Beans has loaned me this Cricket knitters loom from their inventory.  They now carry the Schacht Cricket rigid heddle looms and have asked me teach a class next month.  I'm so excited.  Melissa and I Facetimed on our iPads yesterday and she showed me the three scarves she just finished on her's.  I think this is an excellent gateway for knitters who think they might want to weave.  I hope so!