Back at it.

I think it is about time I got back to blogging. 
With all the problems I've had with my eyesight, it just wasn't comfortable, but things are improving tremendously, and I think it is time.

 I have been dying fiber again and having a grand time.  I attended a fiber show recently where I bought a fiber blending board, and I'm having a lot of fun blending colors.  I will be coming up with some new yarn designs as a result.

Which is a good segue into the Burien Farmer's Market.  This is a sweet little market, about a 10 minute drive from my place.  I will be vending there and am so happy to be part of a Market again.  Terry will help me to set up and break down.  That was always the part that exhausted me.  He has been working so hard to help me get ready.  He's made new weights for the tend, washed and waterproofed the tent top, and helped me to make a new sign.  

The market is on Thursdays, from 11am to 6pm.  Opening day is May 1st and it is forecast to be 79 degrees.  That should bring the people out.

 Last week we made a quick trip to Lopez Island and took our friend April with us.  Is this the sweetest little church?  I wanted to take pictures of all the churches, but I forgot my camera or it was raining too hard.  That didn't keep us from digging clams and doing some island exploration.

 The Tulip Festival is in full swing in Mt 

Vernon, and here are some fields we passed on our way to the ferry in Anacortes.  These are fields where they are harvesting the flowers.

Last but not least, here are some of the clams we got.  We  wash the shells really good, then steam them, saving the nectar.  I then squeeze the contents of the stomach out of the bug ones, cut them up, and then we freeze them in a quart container.  Enough clams and nectar to make enough clam chowder for at least 4 people.  Next trip to Lopez, we will be going after Dungeness Crabs.

A Funfilled Weekend

I had another wonderful weekend in Seattle with my Terry.  I took the bus down this time and it was uneventful.

I took this picture of an old shipwreck on my way home today on the train. 

Aren't these just amazing??

Last Week, Terry had noticed these mushrooms growing in the garden of his parking lot at work.  I got all excited and insisted on a bike ride there to collect them.

No, don't get excited.  I'm not going to eat them,

Look at this amazing color.

Here's all 4 types we collected.

I'm going to dye fiber with them!!!

Here are those big guys bubbling away in my crock pot.  Yes, this one is dedicated to dying fibers.

I'm going to get as much color out of these as I can, and then try some fiber in the pot tomorrow.

I didn't have time today because no sooner had I gotten home, the power went out!  It was out for 4 hours.  By the time it came back on, I was wearing about 5 layers of clothing and wrapped up in an alpaca blanket, napping in my glider.

Alas, I still had to deal with these.  Remember I just put all my canning gear away?  Sigh.  I just can't stand to see produce go to waste.  These are from my fields, grown by Growing Washington organic farmers.  There are three colors of beets buried under there also.

The carrots are going to be beautiful pickled.  I like the many colors they come in.