A bit here, and a little bit there.

I know, it's been so long since I have posted.  I've been busy, but had a setback with my eyes, and I'm a bit discouraged.  I will be seeing the surgeon on the 12th, so I will just take one day at a time until then.  He's the best in the State, so worth waiting for.

I just returned from a visit with high school friends at Hood Canal in Allyn, Washington.  Oh, it is so beautiful there.

This is the view from the deck.  They are rebuilding the bridge over to Treasure Island.  The weather was so completely nasty, we didn't get any time on the beach this trip.  But, the girls will be back in June, and watch out world.  They will be spending some time here at the farm with me, too.

One of our favorite hangout's there is Myra's Fancy Image Yarns in Shelton.  She hand dyes all of these yarns, and makes kits and patterns, and we have a wonderful time there.  The store was closed the two days we were there, but she let us come, and we took lunch in to share with her.

Here is Myra winding some yarn I bought to make a sweater for my Grandson, Cadel.

Here are Kris and Lynne preparing a very healthy dinner for us.

I had taken a short nap to get over the whirlies caused by my eyes.  When I got up, I went to pour myself a glass of wine and this is what I found:

A corkscrew was not to be found, so they used a potatoe peeler.  Very resourceful, I think.

After Lynne and Chris headed home to Laramie and Denver, I spent the night at my friend Kris' house in Olympia.  Kris lived 4 houses from me growing up on Mercer Island, and we also shared an apartment in college.  She is a great friend and so much fun to be with.

From her place I took the train to Seattle, where Terry picked me up.  Then he drove me home.  I'm so lucky to have so many friends who help me out during these times when I can't drive.

Now that I am home, I am enjoying having the organic farmers here.  I spend a couple of hours a day talking and sharing with them.  Hopefully, I provide them with a good deal of animal husbandry experience, which they are just learning.  They do a lot of research, but nothing beats hands on.

One Sunday they brought over two nanny goats they had rescued, and I taught them how to milk.  Poor little girls had not been milked in days and were in pretty bad shape.  They are enjoying life now, getting milked daily and having nice green fields to eat and play in.

AND THEN

A friend of one of the farmers had been looking for a plot to lease to raise his heritage vegetables.  He found out I needed someone to prune my ancient, huge apple and pear trees, and offered to do the job in exchange for some land.  I honestly cannot afford to pay someone to do this work, and he grew up working in orchards, so this is a great arrangement.  Plus, he is giving me vegetable starts for my own garden.

Now, I don't want to sound old, because you know I am not, but God has really blessed me by bringing these young people to me.  I enjoy having them here so much, and we are all benefiting from the relationship.

I've been busy spinning, so stay tuned.  I will have my new creations on my next blog.

The Organizers

Yesterday, I had the Penny Pinchers over to help me get my place cleaned up and organized.  They specialize in garage and estate sales.  They buy storage units and clean them out.  They have a store in Bellingham where they sell everything.  The greatest thing is that when they help you sort through your things, they are cleaning and organizing.

This first picture is of my studio.  Doesn't it look ready for a knitting group or spinning lessons?  It used to be my store, but I won't be running that anymore.  I will just be selling at the Bellingham Farmer's Market.

Here is a shot from the other side of the studio.  I wish I had before pictures, because this room had become horrendous.

Here is my storage area.  We converted a two car garage when we built the store/studio, and this is the other half.  You could barely walk in here, there was so much junk.  What a change, and my dear little bike will have a nice dry home when I'm not riding her.

Meanwhile, I'm having so much fun with my electric Hansen Mini Spinner.  Below are two skeins of boucle I have made.  I'm pretty excited with them.

I didn't think this skein would be very nice since I was practising on the mini, using all colors, but it came out rather nice.

I wish I could say these are my yarns.  They are dyed by Fancy Image Yarns in Shelton, Wa.  Myra is very creative with her colors and with her kits.  There will be much more to come, since I bought enough from her to become part owner, hahahah.

Here are a couple of hats I finished while I was "at retreat" with the girls.

Today I am going to rest up.  I am literally exhausted.  But first, a visit from the vet.  Josie has not been feeling well.  In vet terms its called ADR.  (ain't doing right).

I have buyers for all of my alpacas, and they will all be gone by May.  I've been very weepy the last couple of days because it finally set in.  I've been so businesslike and practical about it all, and reality has hit me like a sledgehammer.

The alpaca business is something Alan and I built together, and is a symbol of what a wonderful parnership we had.  I guess this is a huge part of saying goodbye, not only to the pacas, but to him.

The Healing Power of Friendship

This skein of yarn says it all.  Smile again!

I just returned from a week at Hood Canal with friends.  Two of them were great buddies in High School, one I have known since I was ten.  The other two I met two years ago and instantly bonded with.  Then the 6th member is owner of a wonderful Yarn shop in Shelton called Fancy Image Yarn.http://fancyimageyarn.com/.  Myra dyes her own yarns and makes up kits using them with an assortment of fun and funky novelty yarns.  I loved her shop, since she loves the color and textures the same as I do.  I think I now own stock in her company, I bought so much.  I will share pictures of her products tomorrow.

I first met Myra when she arrived with these.  The girls call them Tall Fruity Drinks, so that's all I can tell you.  They sure pack a punch!  Myra stayed with us Sunday night, and then asked to stay another night, we were having so much fun.  On Monday, we stayed in our jammies until almost 1PM, when Kris arrived.  By then, Chris and I had pulled on some clothes and had dug some clams for that evening's appetizers.  Dug isn't the correct term to use.  I could have gathered them with my bare hands, but we scratched the surface of the beach with a little claw.

This is what we woke up to each morning.  Across from us is Treasure Island, a magical place, that is about a mile around.  That little bridge is shared by cars and walkers.  I felt like I was in a different world, so quiet and peaceful.

Here's the view in the opposite direction.  We had bright sunny days and spent them enjoying the local scenery, knit shops and artist galleries.

For breakfast one morning, we had build your own omelette.  First you put your eggs in a freezer zip lock baggie.



Then you add any of the cut up goodies you have found in your refrigerator.

Seal the bag and put it in boiling water with the others.

I was impressed!  It was delicous!



And

here I am modeling my hat that I bought from Snooter Doots.  It's me, don't you think?

I will post more pictures and stories as the week goes by.  I have much to tell you, and yarns to show off.