Mid Something Summer

Here it is the middle of July and we still have wildflowers.  These are Prickly Poppy.

I was driving by and had to take a picture of these - Composite.  It's been such an unusual weather year.  It was muggy again today with late afternoon clouds and thankfully, so thunderstorm activity. 

At the same time we're getting early rabbit brush flowers, which means that I need to start thinking about whether or not I'm going to have them in a dyepot.  Hey time - stop crowding me!

I decided that I need to take some downtime and follow the example of my dogs.  It's been a busy spring.  I'm very excited though following our guild board meeting on Friday.  I followed up on the suggestions and met with the library managers since the library was right on my way home.  We have a for-reals weaving outreach event in the spring that the library has adopted and will advertise for us.

In the interim, I've had some grandchild knitting to do.

Thinking

I finished the three scarves on my warp and as I suspected, they're much too firm.  I honestly felt like I was beating lightly.  There is a recent group on Facebook called 4-Shaft Weaving so I posted my frustrations there along with a picture.  I got a lot of helpful comments, but the one that struck a chord was from a woman who said her weaving instructor cautioned - don't squash the bug.  I need to try it again and save the bug.

I thought these looked really cool while I was weaving them but they really aren't all that interesting.  I'm going to make small purses out of them, add some beads and long kumihimo straps
so it's not a total loss, but I obviously have a long way to go before I get then hang of scarves.

I had a little warp left at the end so I sampled with some of my handspun yarns and I have to tell you that I'm not excited about the results.  I especially didn't like the thick and thin yarns in the weft - again, not that interesting for the work invested.  It's been a day of self corrections.

I woke up this morning with the realization that I have three months before the three-day McQueen Craft Fair in October and I am nowhere near ready to fill a booth.  I laid in bed for while, mulling over my options.  I finally got up and emailed the program contact, opting out.  I'll get a 50% refund for $83 and the other half will in essence be a donation to the high school band program and I'm good with that.  I had no idea what a huge relief that would be.  I celebrated by reading on front porch all afternoon and it was a perfect day for it. 

Meanwhile, I made soap on Monday and cut them into bars today.  I'll cut these in half to hand-soap size before they finish curing.  They've been commissioned as wedding favors for an August wedding.  Kelly, bride-to-be, has purchased seed-impregnated paper for the labels.  When her guests plant the labels, they'll have a living memory of the wedding.  Is that not the best idea or what?!

I decided to be safe that I'd make a second batch today.  I'm very excited about this as Kelly is my running partner's daughter.  I met Pam b.k. - before Kelly.  Pam got divorced, we moved and life moved on and even though neither of us run anymore I've only had one running partner. 

Ian and I are invited to the wedding barbeque.  We're going to pass on the wedding.  It's being conducted on a peak in Yosemite. I'm excited.

Playing Catch Up

I hate it when I make things harder for myself than I have to.  I've been trying to figure out how to make art yarn.  After spending the past ten years making all my yarns uniform, I want to shake it up.  I've read a couple of articles and I've tried several techniques, but it wasn't until a couple days ago that I realized that I had this book in my library.  I'm sure it's been there for ten years and it's never been opened.  It's fantastic!!  Reading it could had saved me so many hard lessons.  And she's a weaver so talks about using art yarn as weft.

Varney suggested knitting your yarns into samples.  She was thinking like keeping a notebook, but these hats are my samples.  I've been pretty random in my fiber blending and have used varied spinning techniques.  I still have so much to learn.  The huge hat in the center bottom was from my Lexi Boeger class at conference on super coils.  I think it's safe to say that is a technique I probably won't repeat.  It's heavy.

Since I really want to use my yarn in weavine, I was anxious to get a warp on and weave some practice scarves.  I'm having a hard time understanding how to enterlace different grists of yarns in weaving. It's bidirectional so not quite as simple as knitting.  A couple of years ago a woman contacted me and said she was no longer weaving, did I want some of her stash.  Well, duh.  I met her at an agreed place and she gave me tons of undyed cones of yarn.  This warp is from that stash.  I don't know what it is.  It's about the same grist as my 8/2 dishtowel cotton and it's shiny.  The warp is a variegated thick-and-thin cotton someone gave me to get it out of her house.  Hmmm.  I'm using a M and W pattern and I don't know how it's going to wet finish, but I suspect it's going to feel like a dishtowel around my neck.

So the second scarf on this warp.  I don't know what it is either.  I bought it from a friend who was selling at the conference tailgate market.  She said needed to destash.  Does this sound familiar?  I bought four cones from her at $5 a cone.  This is one of them and I think it's rayon.  I have a feeling that after wet finishing, it's going to feel like a strip of upholstery around my neck.  I hope I'm wrong because it's pretty.

There was so much going on the week after we got back from vacation.  We had to drive into town to return the rental car and buy some groceries.  The next day we had to take my car into town for service, which is why we took a rental car in the first place.  I forget how fracturing those trips are - always have to allow two hours road time.   I had an email on Monday from my old running partner, asking whether or not I was going to be able to make the brunch on Friday?  I didn't realize we had one, but yeah.  My head is still reeling.  Four of us who were friends from 30 years ago sat and talked forever.  We had belonged to a tight group of several dozen and then life spontaneously changed and we all went our own ways, many of us out of state.  I was exhausted after I left but I felt really good.  I was thankful that I had scheduled lunch with my favorite woman on the planet - my daughter!

I needed some steadying fiber karma.  I've dabbled in getting a towel warp on Maudie Mae and realized that I was hung up on the final step.  I like to lash onto the front beam on a wider warp, but  I hate pulling through the lash across all the bouts. I realized that if I use a bobbin from my Kumihimo kit, I can wind all the lashing cord onto it and reel it out as I move across.  I was done in a couple of minutes.  Zounds Batgirl!  I'm awesome!!

And just like that, it started again.  This was about 1:30 yesterday and the fire appears to have started on Hwy 395, a north/south corridor between Reno and Susanville.  We are exactly halfway between both.  There were a couple of fire planes on it, but they seemed to think they were going to knock it down quickly with the absence of wind.

And they were wrong.  By late afternoon, we had a steady steam of fire planes flying over the house since we've also in the flight path to the Stead airport, home of the Reno Air Races.  That's another story.

With an unusual absence of wind, the fire crept down into the valley.  That's not two demon eyes you see.  It was an uneasy sleep last night.

I snapped this shot of a group of fire trucks at the base of the seven sisters.  That's why they call that formation.  I was overwhelmed by the support and took no more pictures because I'd be in the way.  There were semis on standby, having brought in the dozers that worked through the night to establish the fire line that kept the flames from our valley.

There were over a dozen more support vehicles, including sleeping units at the top of Red Rock Road.  I crept through the maze to get onto the highway and choked up as a firefighter waved me by.  I'm so grateful that they go out in this miserable heat to keep us safe. 

My DIL Missy is in town with my grandsons to help her mother post surgery.  We visited for a while, checked out some knitting, and played a rousing game of Apples to Apples - more goodness.  I left to see my doc and polished off the day by stocking up at Costco.  It was 102 when I left there and I got soon heard one of the disaster alert messages on the radio for flashflood warnings.  Huh?  I hadn't driven another five miles when the sky opened up.  It was like driving through a car wash.   By the time I reached our highway, my temperature gauge registered 66 degrees.  Welcome to the high desert.  I can image the fire crews were doing a happy dance.  The smell of smoke still lingers tonight.  Heroes?  You know my answer.

Black Sheep Gathering

I saw a post on Facebook while we were in Bend and realized that the Black Sheep Gathering was the following weekend.  By leaving Bend a day early and leaving Washington a day early, we were able to attend for the day on Saturday.  Ian found a room in the La Quinta near Autzen Stadium where the Ducks play.  It was in a little tucked away space near the park and amphitheater and away from freeway noise.   The staff apologized when we checked in on Friday, saying it might be a little noisy because of concerts.  We were on the third floor and by opening our windows, we got to hear live music.  Much better than freeway noise!

We came into Eugene on Friday because we didn't want to miss any of our favorite event - Judith MacKenzie judging the wool show.  There were more fleeces this year than in recent years and she ended up running an hour over because she wasn't willing to slight any of the classes.  Two of the last classes were Shetlands, a breed that she has raised and is clearly still partial too.  She said she still has plenty because they're so special to her, they were at her house and not her warehouse when it caught on fire.

All the time she is judging she is also instructing, and questions from the floor are welcome.  There aren't many because most of the audience has some experience with sheep, but she takes her time with them as she does everything else.  I got so excited listening to her talk about Shetlands, that I decided I'm going to process some of our bright white dual-coated boy myself.  I was surprised when she said that white is rare, and also that it's hard to find a shearer for Shetlands because of the roo line where they naturally moult.  Most shearers don't want to mess with it, because you have to decide whether to go above or below it.  In fact, I looked at one bright gray fleece in the wool sale and decided against it because the shearer had cut below the line and it was slightly felted along the shear line.

There were more vendors this year than I've seen before.  A couple dozen were set up outside and it was rather overwhelming.  Many of the booths were selling similar items, roving, silk and fluff to spin.  It didn't seem like people were buying.  I know I wasn't.  I can buy from Mim or use what I have.  I did buy a large Bolga basket.  I'm not sure one can have enough of them.

I realized as we were leaving that I hadn't taken photos all day.  I ran around snapping like crazy and was glad Linda walked out at just the right time.  She came down from Portland and Laura came over from Prineville.  Doris, Virva and Sharie drove up from the Reno area.  Doris has been raising sheep for 20 years at least but since she retired, she's gotten very serious about developing her breeding stock.  She said what turned her sales around was coating her sheep.  She also bought a new Merino ram last year from Janet Heppler. 

She entered five fleeces in the competition for the Black Sheep Cup.  This award acknowledges the finest small flock entered in the show.  Doris won it!  Ian and I enjoyed spending the afternoon with our five friends and watch Doris sail around on cloud nine. All her sheep are crosses but she credits Janet's ram with bringing new life to her flock.  By the time I stopped for the photo, all the fleeces had sold and Doris was gone. 

Okay, I did buy something.  I went with Sharie into the vendor area because she wanted to take a peek at Ken Ledbetter's booth - KCL spindles.  I looked at the spindles but I told him that I have cops on two spindles and because I hate to ply, I don't know when I'll get them off.  He reached underneath and pulled out this goodie.  He's just started making these lazy kates.  This one accommodates his as well as Goldings, but he's going to make a smaller one for just his spindles.  It's perfect.  The mess and disaster that I used to have when plying from spindles is no more.  I really don't need more spindles.  Since when does need have anything to do with anything?

This was my wheel after Spindle Camp.

I had a package waiting for me from Village Spinning and Weaving when I got home from Oregon with my replacement parts and also a new 1 1/2 yard Ashford nitty noddy.  John from Village Spinning and Weaving was at BSG and I talked to him briefly about changing these bands.  He told me that the secret is to get a square screwdriver tip from the hardware store and put it in my battery operated screwdriver.  Ian already had one and it made the change a piece of cake.  Don't mix up the screws!  John told me that in the future, when the bands get yellow, they're on their way out.  Good to know!

Sky Time in Grays River

We left Bend a day early for Washington after I realized that Black Sheep Gathering was the following weekend.  Everyone was back to work and we realized that we could squeeze in a visit to the wool show on our way home by leaving a day early.  We were off to Rosburg, Washington to visit my sister-in-law Georg.  My brother Bob lost his battle with cancer five years ago, I make this visit a priority.  My mom knew Georg in high school!  I feel like I'm tagging up to the base.

Bob was an aggie from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and used his skills to turn an abandoned farmhouse into a working sheep ranch and bed and breakfast.  He and Georg weren't new to the B&B world, having had a successful one on Bainbridge Island.  He planted just about everything that grows here.  Granted, the 100" of rain a year has made the place verdant, but at the same time, that same rain has wreaked havoc.  They've been flooded several times and raised the house and bunkhouse, now guest rooms, 18" to be above the flood waters.  Still during a flood this winter, Georg lost nine sheep.

Their property is situated on the Grays River which drains into the great Columbia River from the north.  It's a tidal river and also where Bob's ashes were scattered.  I'm reminded of the nursery rhyme, when it's good it's very very good but when it's bad, it's horrid.

Ian took this picture of the eagle in one of Georg's trees.  It's right on the river and every year we see an eagle in this tree.  One year there was an osprey in an adjacent tree - he hunted for fish.  The eagle is interested in ducklings and field mice.

It's wet here.  While driving in I had to pull over to the side of the road due to a torrent of rain and hail that obscured all vision.  Yet we enjoyed a gentle rain during our visit.  I'm not the only one captivated.  Robert Michael Pyle wrote Sky Time in Grays River, which I've read and treasure.

Georg has a flock of eight adult sheep.  She's still breeding and selling locker lambs, and in fact has ten lambs almost ready for market.  Her only dedicated moneys is from social security, and she is an absolute genius at creating income .  I forgot to take photos of her - she is still beautiful, of our trip to Raymond, the Willapa Hills Sheep Ranch, and the Goose Point oyster shed - I had my first fresh raw oysters.

Now I get what people rave about.  Ian hadn't shucked oysters in a while and it took a bit for him to get his oyster mojo back.  I always order oysters when we're there, but cooked.  I had no idea what a treat was in store for me.

Jared is Georg's grandson.  Years ago he lived on the farm, a lost young man.  Bob is stern but fair and taught him a ton of stuff.  It was a turning point in Jared's life.  He comes once a month and takes care of his grandma's "honey do" list.  I let his girls draw on my iPad and they delightfully took turns. They were an absolute joy.

Bob was fanatical about trees.  This tree grew from a branch that Georg brought home - a gift from from a European trip - I won't out her and tell you where it's from, but needless to say, he was delighted.  The giraffe is from their import enterprise from the years they lived in San Miguel de Allende.  She shrewdly has kept a finger in that pot and has an active store on eBay, giraffes included.  I feel Bob everywhere when I'm here and it's good. Our visits are always too short.

Our Week in Bend

We spent the first week of our vacation in Bend Oregon where both of my sons now live.  They were able to take several days off so we didn't do touristy things, but just hung out.  It rained most of the time we were there so we managed to turn eating into an activity. 

Our first lunch out was at Worthy, a recently opened brew pub.  They've decorated the floor with beautiful mosaic tile work and this is on the entryway floor.  Bend identifies with their brew pubs.  It's big business because the water is so pure.  We went to Logan's baseball game Thursday afternoon and the talk was about Worthys - was it worthy, or not?  The food was reported to be bad the first few weeks but Matt wanted to give them another try since they'd had time to get their kitchen sorted out.

Matty ordered ribs and he got ribs - probably a couple pounds of ribs.  I got a Reuben sandwich that had to be three inches thick.  I could only eat half and best of all, the slaw was good.  Few restaurants made a good slaw.  It's a good thing I only visit Bend.  I gained five pounds in that one week!

It rained Thursday night so we waited until Friday to go to the Bend Elks game.  This is a summer collegiate league and I love their games.  Bend does too!  Julia and Matt are both wearing Bend Elk hats they bought that night.  Bend loves their team and it's a huge family event.  I'm so pleased for Matt and Julia.  They moved to Bend to start over.  Jobs here hadn't panned out.  My grandson Logan moved into his brother Evan's room and gave them his - the entire family wanted them to move.  Matt said it took a grand to pay for the move, but the gamble paid off.  They both got jobs right away that they like and are committed to making Bend their permanent home.  I miss them here but I think they are in the right place to build their future.

It was an absolutely beautiful night for a ball game and the forecast held - no rain.

We drove to the top of Pilot Butte which is near to the downtown and very close to the elementary school where DIL Missy teaches.  This is a shot of Broken Top and Three Sisters, all volcanoes in the Cascade range.

One of the things that makes Bend unique is that they celebrate their downtown, where so many towns of this age have abandoned it.  They host several races and craft fairs throughout the summer months. I was struck again by this when we drove home through Susanville, a town that has a beautiful but derelict downtown.

Art is everywhere.  You can install a yarn bomb here with impunity.

 

All the roundabouts have sculptures in the centers and business are also eager to participate.  I think my boys are in the right place.

Matt dug out his clippers from storage.  DS Josh is shaving Evan and the cutest picture of all that I was too late to catch was Evan shaving his daddy's head.  We even squeezed in a game of Apples-to-Apples, sitting in a circle on the deck.  The boys both love that game which makes it extra fun.

Missy is on summer break but still gets up to meet friends each morning for a run.  We pretty much all looked like this by Sunday night.  Monday was a workday and we left Tuesday for Washington to see my sister-in-law, Georg. So that is our week in Bend in a very small nutshell.

Good to Know!

I know, I know - two blogs in one day but we're leaving in the morning and my laptop is not.  Ian and I talked about renting a car when I was at Spindle Camp.  Two things I learned from my cabin mates.  Barbara Sue us asked if we knew that we can go through Costco for a rental.  None of us did.  Hermi said to make sure that we're not paying the airport pick-up tax.  We didn't know about that either.  Ian arranged a rental through Costco at Budget rental and at a site away from the airport.  With Costco we saved $75 and not paying the airport tax was another $60.  Good to know!  We chose a midsize, they said "like a Dodge Avenger" but what we picked up this morning was a Kia Soul..

A ferocious thunderstorm came through on Sunday with plenty of lightening and thunder and it sparked a fire in the south end of Red Rocky Valley.  The crews stayed on overnight to tend the hotspots, including a helicopter.  In the afternoon, a second system came through.  It soused us with blessed rain and the fire guys were able to go home. 

Last year I blogged about a fire abatement program we participated in, offered through the Fire Safety Council.  They brought in Bobcats specially equipped with a "masticating" apparatus on front.  They chewed up much of the sagebrush around our house and planted native grasses while they were at it.  This spring the area where the sagebrush was has filled with a weed called tumble mustard.  We wondered if it would be equally flammable.  You can see in the photograph above that the lightening strike was above Tamara's house to the right.  You can also see where she had the fire abatement done.  That area is a neat square.

This house didn't participate in the program and it's thanks to helicopters and hand crews that they didn't lose it.  The winds accompanying the thunderstorm and the winds generated by the fire were horrific.  I'm a believer.