Wednesday, September 24, 2014

FIber Festival 2014

The competition part of the Festival

A guilds Challenge to make the same pattern . . .

Raw wool competition


Shearing demonstration but the sheep were quite bloody.
Beautiful wool roving to spin into yarn or to needle Felt with

Beautiful wool

Alpacas all in a row.
  The Fingerlakes Fiber Festival is held annually.  Folks who love wool, yarn and felt come from all over to attend this event.  There is competition in many categories- raw wool, skeins and knitted or felted garments.               
                         I go to this on an irregular basis . . . This year I was able to go with a friend who had never been before.  It is really something to be surrounded by all this fiber and color.
                    When you stop to think about what goes into a hand knitted item,  it is really amazing.   First the sheep farmer has to raise, feed, shelter and shear the sheep.  The the wool is washed, prepared carded into wool roving, then it needs to be spun into yarn.  The the knitter has to buy it and follow a pattern to create whatever item they are doing. I am leaving out  many steps in each of the 3 areas - sheep, yarn preparation and knitted item.  There are just to many things to mention them all.
      There are a number of these Fiber Festivals around the Northeast- they vary in size and activities but if you have an interest in any of the areas- Sheep raising, Spinning or knitting/Felting- try to get yourself to one of them, it will be great fun and Inspirational.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Cats . . . just pictures . . .

Oren

Oren & Sol

Sol
Maggie

Maggie
Oren

Maggie

Maggie
The three independent minds of the house that keep us hopping!   This one of many posts caught sitting in Drafts . .. .

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Just Thinking . . .

"The more you are grateful for what you have the more you will have to be grateful for"
Zig Ziglar

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Baby Quilt #1 of Three . . .

Missing just 2 pink blocks, have 2 extra blue Blocks . . .

The planning . . .

1/2 square Triangles - my favorite.


So, I am making 3 baby Quilts for November and trying to get ahead of the game a little before I start this new job next Monday . . . . This is one, I just love 1/2 square triangles as they go together very easily and have many possibilities.  You layer2 squares then draw a line or make a crease down the center of one.  Then you sew a 1/4 inch on either side of  the line and cut down the middle- press them and you have 2 half square triangles.   I do not know if it is a girl or a boy so trying for a gender neutral quilt.  The mom to be likes whales- which are primarily blue . . . also Flamingos and found some on a bright turquoise so there are both of those.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Garden Color Delight!!




 So much color this time of year. The Sun is slowly fading as the daylight hours diminish faster then we want them to. I think I saw that the sun sets at 7;12 right now and of course by Mid- December it will be close to 5 pm - hate those long dark days. So for now I will relish every sunny bright day we can get. I will enjoy the zinnias and Marigolds in there bright splendor and the bright fresh tomatoes.   We are starting to get fresh local Apples - such a treat.  Apple Cider, Apple Crisp, Apple Pie - all so yummy!  Enjoy the shorter but brighter days for like the leaves they are fading fast.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Just thinking . . Sept. Full Moon setting

Harvest Moon setting on Tuesday Sept. 9, 2014 
This moon has been so beautiful both at night and in the early morning when it is setting.


"The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others."
Albert Schweitzer

Well from when I first went to put this up and now . . . I have listened to the Funeral of a Fallen Police Officer in the line of duty in our city.  This quote honors him and the tireless work in the community to serve, & protect others while putting his own life at risk.   May his family and co-workers find peace in the days to come. 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Labor Day Camping 2014

Bald Mountain

Our lovely very waterproof home away from home


Our Noah Tarp keeps us nice and dry!
Fall Beauty

Fourth Lake

Just perfect end of Summer photo don't you think?

Lovely Sunset with Loons calling on the water
This Blog has been eating Blog posts . . . I have written more than you have seen.  I am not sure quite what to think of it but trying to not get to frustrated by it.

 Obviously this trip was about 10 days ago . . . but it was a lovely albeit short getaway to the ADK for a little respite with Nature and friends.  This trip left at least 18 hours after it was supposed to- we were just not ready and it seemed to make no sense to get all stressed out over something that should have been restful.  So we took a little more time to get ready with less stress but it made for a short trip.  Of course the rain on Sunday also shortened it up quite a bit.  Heavy rain does not make for friendly mountain climbing/hiking. So we packed up and hit the road for home. Looking back at the images- it was so very lovely in so very many ways!
         We enjoyed the view and Friday evening the Loons on the Lake were so very talkative it was incredible.  We went hiking-on Saturday and visiting with friends. Our campfire on the cold night- Friday was the campfire that never happened- as we talk about it because the wood that we got was fireproof wood- it would not take off and burn for any thing. Hot tea on a cool morning, the quiet of the Lake and Forest are so restorative.  You can see we are among the minority and are still tent campers.  Driving around the campground it was readily apparent that tent camping is dying. So many campers and RV's. While tent camping although not always comfortable it is certainly simple. Although I still applaud those with RV's that are getting out and spending time in Nature.
        I think that spending time in nature is so very important and whatever way works best for you is great!  I think it is the simple aspect of camping in general that appeals to me. Time to do just one thing at a time. Less multitasking that has become the everyday of this busy world we live in. Time to sit, to think , to watch and listen.  Time to be.   May we all find this simple time of being,  somewhere in someway in our lives.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

26 years ago . . . .


September 3, 1988
We said "I do"  In a morning wedding with afternoon reception.  It was a lovely late summer / early fall day like today is in Western NY.  We had so many good friends and family present.  All our college friends from New England, some we have not seen possibly since then, but still in touch. Our Best Man, met our Maid of Honor at our wedding and then 3 years later . . . they were married!  Life could not be better.
               I made my wedding gown and would make it completely different if I had it to do all over again.   I also think about - Who do I know now that I did not know then but that I would invite to a wedding today.  That is kind of an interesting concept to think about.   So, no big plans for today- a nice dinner at home is all besides all the regular house chores and work etc..

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Just Thinking . . .

The more you are grateful for what you have the more you will have to be grateful for.
Zig Ziglar

Monday, September 1, 2014

Late Summer . . . .







Late Summer the shadows start to fall in the afternoons, the leaves of the Horse Chestnut and English Walnut are falling too.  The Thistle is in fluff, the Hops have formed and are curing on the vine before we can harvest them .  The Kale is coming into its fall beauty, the fields are a gorgeous brilliant golden hue.  They are especially beautiful in  the  early morning light. The crickets are singing non-stop night and day.  There can eb a chill in the air late night and early morning and things are starting to die off.  It seemed like a short summer in the North east.   We had a hot sunny June but then a rainy July and cool August.  It has been a wet summer up until just now.  Today I am watering a few things as every thing is dry dry dry. I am not sure that I am ready to change seasons just quite yet- need some more of summers beauty and charms- roasted corn, sweet peaches, mouth watering tomatoes.  Are you done with summer yet?  What does late summer look like where you are?