Not all fun and games!

After starting my day with a little bit of humorous play, I actually got some things accomplished.  

It took me a bit to get going - I'm not used to this being home all day!

Some weaving got done - still doing tablerunners...

Some blue jeans got rough ripped - and yes that is a dvd player.  A person needs some entertainment while doing this highly technical job, LOL.

And, no, I'm not even close to being done rough ripping.  

Not even halfway thru the jeans I have on hand.

And I just got in from blowing away some pretty good sized drifts.  And I mean, BLOWING away.  I just had to throw it up in the air and it was gone.   As you can tell, the wind is still blowing so my guess is that this drift will be there to greet me in the morning again!  Ugh... It's supposed to be -25 by morning.

It's good to be inside and warm.  

If only I had someone to share the evening with.

Snow day and a little fun!

So today we are having a snow and wind event, AGAIN.

I busted my way out to work, and turned around and came back home again after checking in there.  Why did I go in to work?  Once on this road you are committed and by then I was almost there-  From the amount of snow and wind I knew I best get home.  Glad I came when I did.  Not even an hour later and it was hard to tell anyone had come thru and there were a couple of hood high drifts already to bust thru.


 I really should be weaving, BUT,  I felt the need-

Time for a Fashion Show!

Cooper modeling the latest in recycled sweater couture.  This is a nice warm sweater that he rocks!

.... this one may be a bit small.

Cooper expressing his feminine side....

This sweater would be good for casual Friday's at work...hmm?

Geometric!

Classic!

 And that is all, folks.  There were more sweaters in the pile, but someone must have sent over the wrong size.  Too small!

And then I thought maybe the cats would enjoy the added warmth and got in touch with Harry to have him try them on...

Not impressed.

This won't come undone....

like housework, laundry, snow removal, cooking, etc etc etc!  :) 

I think that is why I like making things.  Once it's done, it's done.

I finished putting the binding on tonite and it's finished!

Kinda pretty to be covering up with a comforter, isn't it?  But that is what I'm gonna do - good chance that in the warmer seasons I'll have a place to hang it in the room, but I built it to be a warm blanket.  Those don't have to be ugly, do they?

I also like that I used stash materials. It's weird that it seems like my box of fabrics isn't really a whole lot smaller, I even used stash material pieces for the back side!  I'm sure I'll do another stash busting quilt again in the future. 

But not right away...  I need to get busy weaving!

An old picture today....

My sweet little Buzz...  Photo by daughter Leah from last winter.

I've had two sets of twins in my life.  My human daughters Leah and Lexi.

And my dear sweet Buzz and her little sissy who didn't survive her trip into this world.  Buzz has always been a tuff little bug.  Her "real" name is Docs Honeybug Bueno.  This was gonna be the name for either a boy or girl pony and barn name would be Honey for a girl and Buzz for a boy.

It didn't take long to figure out that "Buzz" was the perfect fit for her!

 

Well, here it is Wednesday

and I want to say something.  I just don't know what it is yet... :)

I would show you a picture, but I don't have anything to show.

I actually didn't run the snowblower today.  That's interesting, right? 

I got my red-white-blue quilt quilted Monday night.  Trimmed it tonite, but don't feel like figuring out the binding.

Wove two runners - same color, different sizes.

Cut some more strips for more runners.

It's warmed up a bit...



It's been a long day.  I didn't sleep well last night.  Lots of rolling and turning.  I'd wake up all tangled up in my sheets with my nightgown wrapped up around me, too.

By 4 AM I was awake for good.  I just got up and decided to start the day. 


Not sure exactly what my sleep problems stem from. 

Actually, to be truthful, I think I do know.

I'm just not sure how to fix it. 

Playing hooky

Well, not really...

After arising at 5:45 this morning and spending a strong hour running my snowblower, I was able to go to work.  I was a little late, but I wasn't about to go in to work all sweaty and exhaust/gasoline smelly.

In that hour I managed to clear out the "northern" 1/3 of my drive where the drifts were the smallest.  The last few days we've had high winds from the south, southwest.  That means the drifts grew from the south edge out.  It was a little warmer that it has been - hooboy! it was 20 some degrees out! - and with the wind the drifts were HARD.  As in, this big old girl could walk, and stomp, all I wanted all over this big old drift in my drive.

Anyhoo,  I got to work all whipped and noodley from the exercize and got to work.

And then we noticed.  The wind was now coming out of the north.  And it was snowing.  I figured I'd make it til noon and see what the situation was as to whether I'd stay home for the afternoon.  By 11 I had decided I better 'git' while the 'gittin' was good.  Headed for home and glad I did as the drifts were now building from the north.

So I ate some lunch - and then spent the afternoon working on getting some snow moved.

I'm still not done - I'd like to clear the area to the gate you see in the background.  But I just couldn't do it!  This dang drift...  It was a good 20 feet across and 30+ feet long and at the south end a good 4 feet deep.  And hard enough I had to use the spade to break off pieces before I could use the snowblower to move that outa there.

Ugh...

My front yard is full of snow and the road is drifted over.  This snow is a good 5 feet deep if not more.   I can't find my water meter! :)

The sun peeked out for just a bit this evening - almost didn't know what was going on!  Hadn't seen a nice sunny day for so long - So I grabbed these photos.

 Quilt night tonite.  Hoping to get my quilt onto the long arm quilting machine and get it quilted.  I just want to get something finished that will STAY finished.

Last Saturday I went to a Winter Show.  I actually had a good day- one of my stronger days lately.  Sold 7 rugs, 4 of which were denim.  I am down to only 6 blue denims on hand, so I desperately need to do those next.

Me? Not organized?

From a text the other night from my daughter... 

"Mom, my friend 'D' wants a denim blanket like me and 'E' (my sons girlfriend)....

I replied that I had one for sale :)

But when I said to look on my facebook page for a  picture, I found I didn't have one! 

Egads!  You mean to tell me that I'm not totally always on top of things???  lol

So here's the picture of the denim blanket that I've had for awhile. 

 This denim quilt/blanket is a "use it up" pattern.  The pinwheel blocks were from another project where I just wasn't liking them within that current project.  There were diagonal pieces, and small 4 patches, and a 9 patch and even just chunks of narrow blocks in a long row.  I started laying it out and kept building pieces and filling in spots until I got to this.  It is machine pieced and quilted with a plaid flannel backing and binding.


I've been dragging this one around for awhile trying to sell it.   I've had lots of lookers, but when they check the price they lose interest :)  I think my price of $100 is rather low for the time it took to put this together.

I seem to live in an area that doesn't think a person's ( a woman's ) time is worth much in $'s....

Something is calling me

This is an old drawing of mine... I use it on my calling card. I used it on my business card from when I was doing riding lessons and couldn't bear to pack it away.

I've been hearing the whisper.

The call of the paper and pencil.

It's been so long since I've opened myself to this way of expressing myself... 

not sure if I'll be able to let it flow.

It takes letting go and being free, 

and I think I've forgotten how...

Today,,,

Today

Today is a half day at the JOB.  I work only 1/2 days on Friday.  I am sooo ready for this work week to be done! 

Afternoon will bring errands that can't be done during the rest of the week, and packing up rugs and such for a winter show tomorrow in the neighboring town 45 miles east.

There's gonna be changes with my rug sales situation, too.   My friend who has the store - where I sell my rugs?  Found out 2 days ago that she has to vacate her storefront by March 1.  Holy Moley.   Now what?

Hoping the thermometer moderates a bit so it's not so miserable hauling in and out tomorrow morning but I'm not holding my breath!

Gotta go - don't want to be late for work :)

It is (&%()$*)#ing COLD!

I am sitting here gritting my teeth.

My toes are coming back to life and if you've never had almost frozen toes come back to life, you don't really know how bad that can hurt.

Got a call just shortly after work from my neighbor... my horses were out.   sigh

Appears someone tangled with the temporary electrical fence (no electrical to it at this point) and it came down so everyone decided to head to the other neighbors. 

It seems to always happen on the coldest, or the darkest, or the mostest something or other. 

I didn't have a problem luring them home.  They came pretty willingly, but when it is -10 actual temp you get cold in a hurry.  I was dressed for the cold, but I guess I should have taken time to put some heat packs in my boots.  I fixed the fence, watered the damn things and gave them some grain for being good girls and coming home when I called. 

Times like this I struggle with the old feelings.  Why does it have to be like this?  I shouldn't have to be dealing with this kind of thing at this stage of my life.  I worked and scrimped all my life only to have to start all over.  If only, if only, if only.  

Guess not much I can do, other than to keep working on the starting over.

White white, everywhere

The predominant color in my world these days is white...

These are my hay bales.... can you tell?   :)  There is a car hiding in there, too.

Large volumes of snow.  If there was any hint at warmth anywhere, I would be worried about mud.  But there is not an unfrozen droplet of water anywhere.  The air glistens with frozen moisture when there is a bit of sun.

I have to admit there is a kind of harsh beauty in the Dakota winters.  The morning moonshine this morning was amazing.  The color of a full moon night in winter is impossible to describe.  I tried photos, but, eh... just couldn't capture it.

As much as I kvetch about being tired of winter, I can still appreciate the sun diamonds on snow, or the wind sculptures in the drifts or the moonlit blue nights.

It's just the bone chilling cold!

Tonite I pulled the Structo back out from the corner its been in for the last month.  I had warped a scarf to demonstrate on back in the early days of December.  After that I haven't looked at the thing.

Guess what?  MORE WHITE!  lol
Once again, I'm learning as I'm doing.
First attempt at a twill weave.
First time using angora rabbit yarn.

I've learned ... I need to learn about floating selvedges.  I should probably use thicker yarn... this fine stuff takes forever to show progress!   And I really should keep at things because I really lose interest if I set it aside for this long.

I'm not terribly impressed with the looks of this scarf on the loom.  I keep reminding myself it's gonna change a bunch when I wet finish it and it'll probably be a nice little cuddly warm scarf.  I need to get this finished!  ha!

Well, there ya go....

I can say I got something done tonite!

I should probably go lay it on a bed to be sure it's big enough since I didn't use a pattern or follow any directions!  lol~

Not a piece of material purchased, or a thread or pattern.  

Stash busting at its best.  All bits and pieces and leftovers. 

Now I'm a gonna dig to see if I can find what to do for the backside.

Talk about dig - gonna have to do some of that outside. 

Drifts again - and COLD... COLD... COLD.

I am just a little tired of winter...

and that's an understatement.

quilt update

My first impression of the day is that I didn't get alot done. 

Why is it I think I need to be productive every day, all the time? 

I took this update pic of the quilt I'm doing tonite thinking - 'that's all I got done today... I should have finished piecing the top."

I manage to scrounge enough dark blue to do lattice work between the blocks.  Too bad I don't have enough to go around the outside like I would like to.  Instead I'll have to figure something else out!  Sounds like work, so since this is supposed to be a fun project for my own use, I'm going to let it slide tonite and pick it up tomorrow or later.

I should have been working on the sheetrocking that I got going yesterday - or painting the entry way - or cleaning - or weaving - or etc etc etc. 

But instead I put down what I was working on and drove over to see my friend Kay - I hadn't seen her since her husband's funeral.  We had a nice visit while sipping some wonderful tea.

I think I made the right choice.  For her.... and for me.

Change of pace

Saturday and I didn't have a job to go to, a craft fair to attend, or one of the kids' events either. 

What to do?

Worry not - there is always something to do -  today was Block Party Quilters day!  I belong to this group of ladies who meet once a month to have show and tell, socialize, and on occasion learn a new tip or "do" something together.  

Originally today was going to be a shop hop.  They were going to spend the day making a loop into North Dakota to go to a quilt shop or two and enjoy the day.  The weatherman made them change their minds about getting on the road - wind and snow.  Again.  So instead we spent the day together working on our own projects.

Remember the quilt class I told you I had helped instruct at?  I dug out that little project and managed to get enough blocks put together today.  Planning a dark blue lattice between all the blocks. 

I promised not to buy a sliver of material for this quilt. I would only use scraps and leftovers from other projects.  I started with a box of red, white, blue and gold fabrics. The blocks aren't always a "true" representation of the traditional block I started out making, but it'll be fun when it's done.

Maybe I'll get some of the lattice work done yet tonight.  We'll see.

I didn't just have fun today - I also did some sheetrock mending in the dining room and did some laundry.  You know?  I don't know when I would find time to be bored...

Maybe a keeper

This runner just might be a keeper for me to use... 

I have this collection of old timey kitchen utensils with the green painted handles. 

I'll just have to find those pieces- 

and see if they match.

Someday I will be ready to unpack my kitchen decor....

Yet another runner!

I'm partial to this one.  Love this color of yellow!

recently completed

One more of the recently completed tablerunners. 

This one in a solid green with end stripes made outa that bird tablecloth.

Still snowing here.

Had to run the snowblower just for the accumulation.

I'm beat - time to head to bed and get horizontal.

About time

I'm making myself work on this project tonight.  I've been in this house for 15 months already... It's time I have a proper floor and stairs. 

The floor is almost there - just the little landing /first step up left to do.  I have a few more pieces to get cut and then I can get them stuck down and hopefully grouted tomorrow or the next night. 

It's just a little bit different than my fiber pursuits :)  My hands don't like the work, tho.  It dries me out horribly! 

I'm really feeling it in my calves and shoulders from last Saturday's snowblowing.   Unfortunately, it has been snowing steady for well over 24 hours here again.  Not much wind, so no blizzard, but eventually if it ever stops producing, I'm going to have to break out the blower again.  But I think I heard someone mention the other 4 letter word.  Wind... 

I get tired just thinking about it.

As you can tell from the pic - I will still need to do the stair treads, risers and door and other trim.  Still quite a bit left to do in this room.

Another runner

Check out this fancy table cloth  ~ Wow~  is all I can say!  I do like the colors, but...

I guess you're looking at the backside of the thing, but you get the picture :)

What I'm in the process of is cutting this round cloth into rag strips for another table runner.  I eyeball about 1 1/4 in to 1 1/2 in wide and get to cutting in a spiral fashion.   This technique works for oval and actually will on squares and rectangular ones too, if you are willing to round off the corners and loose that material.

Actually, I got two nice size runners from this tablecloth.  It would have be REALLY long if I'd used it all on one.

Quiet and melancholy day here today.  The last college student has gone off back to classes and I'm hangin' out alone again except for the pup and the fur balls cats.  It was bad enough I couldn't help myself and made some raisin bread pudding.... comfort food.  Not good as the office crowd and I decided tomorrow is "THE DAY" to get serious about this weight issue we all seem to be having.

For the birds

A funky tablecloth... 

with an impressive stain that wouldn't come out has now become....

Tablerunner!

No new pictures

 I've got no new pictures for you guys to look at today... but my daughter does.  She started her own blog at the beginning of the year, and it's all based on photos.  If you wish, take a look!  She has always had an eye for photography and I enjoy her unique views that she captures.

 http://leahbohlander.blogspot.com

I've been crazy busy this week with work and doing end of year paperwork for the rug business.  Leah and I did end of year inventory last night and I did the state sales tax reporting and check writing.  Now that's done and ready for when it's time to take care of the federal ones...

I haven't woven in a few days - I always miss it, but I tend to treat it like my horse riding.  I love it so much it feels like entertainment.  Problem is I was raised to do your work before you go off and do the "fun stuff".  Makes it difficult to really enjoy because I've learned there is always WORK to be done.  I've also been doing the ceramic tile floor in my entry - I'm short on some of the materials, so am on hold for a bit.

Tomorrow I'm leaving work mid morning to attend the memorial service of a wonderful man.  The husband of a former boss, turned friend, lost his fight with ALS.  Too young - 57 - leaves behind the love of his life and a son who is in jr. high.  Oh how I ache for my friend Kay and her son.  It will be a sad day - Kay is determined that this will be a celebration of his life and I'm going to do what I can to help with that.  She has already asked if I will help her turn his clothing into rugs.  She doesn't think she could bear to give them to the Salvation Army or throw them away.  I am honored to help her with that when she is ready.

Anyway, this is all for me tonite - don't forget to check out the pics on Leah's blog  (I'm a proud mom, can't you tell?)

aftermath

We had quite the blizzard...

The weather started mid Thursday and continued on until the sun came out Sunday noon.

Of course it waxed and waned some during that time, but man was it icky!

Check the drift behind the windbreak.  That's the deal with this flat country.  Wind.  And wherever there is a "break" the snow gets dumped. 

Somehow these pictures just don't quite show how much snow there is here...  These are chest high drifts - Leah dug a pathway out from the water spigot to carry some water to the horses.  They chose to go without pretty much the entire storm - they chose to stay out of the wind instead - they drank good today.

Here's a pic that might help with the total effect.  Can you tell there is a car there?  Behind the post?

Leah and I dug out a hay bale and got the horses a good feed - They will need it tonite.  It's gonna be cold.  Thank goodness the temp stayed up during the worst of the wind.  It would have been REALLY bad then.

I spent more than several hours out with the snowblower.  I got us out to go to town to refill gas cans, and just get OUT.   Didn't clean it up perfectly - but this chica was TIRED.