Winter

 So winter is officially here.

We had a very mild and lingering fall.  Until it wasn't.

The day of my mother's memorial services it was very blizzardy and cold, but we got both my dad and mom interred in their final resting place.  There had been an ice storm and some snow, so everything was covered in almost an inch of ice and a bit of snow with a stiff wind.  

After that the weather moderated a bit, but last week we got another ice storm that turned into a wet snow event that shut down roadways and work.  I only made it to work on two days last week.  Roads and interstates were closed and the weather was miserable.

Pictured after that storm is a view going out our drive.  All the pine trees are very heavy with ice and wet snow and a huge mature deciduous tree that went down during the night.  It had three different trunks and they all went different directions. 

Daughter Leah took these photos.  She braved the cold to see what the aftermath was.  This is a cow that was out finding a bite to eat.  The rest of the herd was down along the trees staying out of the wind.

The next morning she went out to talk to the horses and see how they were doing.  The snow was knee deep on the flats and many drifts around sheltered spots that caught the blowing snow. 

The son in law gets to fight the drifts and cold and machinery to take care of the animals.

So now this week, we are on another winter weather event.  We are now in the deep freeze.  it was actual -19 degrees F yesterday with wind chills in the -40 or worse.  Today it is only -12, but the wind is still blowing.  The interstate has been closed for the most part of 2 days, and there is no travel advised.  

The heavy snow and ice from last week is still hanging on all the trees and buildings, so the trees continue to break from the strain of the weight and the wind.

This morning my shower drain was frozen, but I was able to get it going again with only a little work.  We are burning copious amount of firewood to help the electric heat keep up with this inefficient house, but my bedroom is as far away from the heat source as you can get.   Makes it hard to get out from under the covers in the morning!

As far as weaving goes, I'm trying to put in some time, but it seems I get to do all the ending details in regards to my parents' life.  I just received notice that I am "in" at a large vendor show in March.  I've got some weaving to do!  Not only to get inventory to sell, but also to make a dent in the stash of salvaged materials that have piled up ~ literally ~ in my weaving space.

My biggest joy these days....   Mr Jhett with Santa.  He was maybe kinda ok with standing next to him, but it was a big no with the sitting on his lap!  Love my little cowboy :)

All for now,
JULIE

Unmoored

 My apologies for the lack of posts this past year.  

The final decline and passing of my father this summer had taken al ot of time away from my time at my weaving activities.

I always had in the back of my mind, if not immediate thoughts, were of my mother and how I could help her.

Yesterday was a hard day. My mother has joined my dad in heaven after only about 3 months apart.  Her health has always been a little iffy - breathing and heart issues as well as kidney function lately.  We had been working on getting her breathing back to normal the last month or so, so she could go visit the grandkids in Canada, but she had a quick decline that would have needed a ventilator, but she made the decision to receive comfort care instead.  Her condition made it very hard for the doctors to keep her comfortable without impacting her ability to breath/get oxygenated and maintain her blood pressure.  So it was one or the other.  She was aware and her spicy self thru the pain and struggle and when she realized she couldn't handle the struggle until my brother and her sister got there, she made the decision to let go.  After the pain was relieved, she was able to rest peacefully and quietly slipped away.  My sister and I, along with my 3 kids were there with her.  My brother didn't get there in time, and neither did my sister, but we are glad her suffering was over. 

This picture is of my parents and one of my girls at one of the last events that dad was able to attend.

We will miss them both, but are happy that they are together again in their new heavenly home. 

I will probably be a little unmoored for awhile as we navigate thru final arrangements and the new day to day without them in it.

All for now,

JULIE

An Apprentice

 Yesterday I had the pleasure of being the supervisor of the young man.  Mom and Dad were weaning calves...

I don't do bunches of production work on weaving during the summer, but there wasn't much I could do with a busy little guy needing most of my attention.

What to do, but grab some denim strips and start cleaning the strings off!

I don't usually do this as a separate step, I usually just grab a 'dirty' strip, clean it off and sew it to the previous one at the sewing machine.

I figured this was something I could do with a busy little guy underfoot.

Jhett had a ball unloading the clean strip tote and carrying the strips around.

Mom came in to check on us and take a bathroom break and found us being productive.  Thus the photos.

I have 3 vendor events left for the year. I have enough inventory, but  I feel like I didn't weave enough this summer.... some colors and size choices are slim.   I'm making it a goal for this winter to weave up as much as possible so that I won't feel the need to weave much at all next summer.  Ya know, get enough inventory for all the shows I normally do. 

 Maybe I can enjoy some riding and fun stuff next summer then?\

All for now, 
JULIE

 

Been awhile

 It sure has been awhile since I sat down and thought I should post a few thoughts...

This summer has been interesting... My "plans" (or the things I said I wanted to do) didn't really get to happen.

Summer is always busy - mowing, gardening, work, etc etc...

Not much time riding - my daughter and I had said we would do a weekly haul to the local arena and ride the young ones, but not once did that happen.  

What happened was my father took a turn, and went to the hospital and then nursing home.   He has now left us and is in his heavenly home awaiting us.  I spent alot of time with my mother during this period of time.  Driving her to whichever facility he was at, and then trying to work on final arrangements and details.   That is still ongoing, not sure how long all that will take!

The usual summer events, like 4-H Achievement Days with my club,  local team roping events where I was the 'little cowboy wrangler' and a few other summer type activities still went on and got through. 

Weaving took a back seat, good thing I was working on denim rugs.  They are kind of no brainer rugs...  Just weave until the length I want is achieved and start another one!

Here are a dozen finished rugs that are right at 2 x 3 foot.  My most popular size in denim.  Good thing I've got these done as I have a show this weekend, and another in 3 weeks.

Also have restocked some tablerunners, especially the patriotic ones.

I was struggling with the camera and the editing function on the computer, but decided it is what it is and left them with all the mess surrounding :)

Update on the yearling babies.  Not so babyish anymore.  They are in an awkward stage. 

JH RumbleBee  barn name Hemi at about 14 months.  We haven't been supplement feeding them, this is just on the available graze in our oddball spots that we throw up an electric fence.  They've put a little extra cover on since these pictures, but we think we need to start giving them a little grain before winter.  They are currently full of cockleburrs that are a never ending battle in these random spots.  This picture was immediately after a hoof trim.  These guys are doing great considering the minimal handling we've been able to give them.

JH Lil Cricket Bug   barn name Cricket at about 14 months.  She is just a bit shorter than her brother and she's a bit finer boned, too.  Her mother is a twin, so I'm not surprised that she is a bit smaller.  That saying, these two are pretty close to being as tall as their mothers... They are being baby sat by their great aunt Queenie who is 23ish?   The mare moms are at the stud pasture - soon to be picked up and brought home.  Hoping for two more nice colts just like these next spring. 

All for now, 
JULIE

Tying up loose ends

 This weekend has been a catch all kind of weekend.  Lots of little projects that needed finishing...

I got the last of the garden in.  The beds are overfull, but I decided to see how things would turn out even squished together.  I added 3 turned tractor tires this year.  One has strawberries and the other two went to squash and pumpkins.

My asparagus survived its first winter and we had one small meal from a cautious picking and the rest will grow out in this second year.  Next year, depending on its winter survival, we should be able to eat all the asparagus we want!

The rhubarb seems to have taken well, too.  I haven't harvested any yet, but will soon.

Next weekend is my first outdoor event of the summer.  I took the time to tag and measure and price all the finished items.  Now it will be just gathering everything up and hoping for decent weather.

Here are a few of the last of the brown and green warp rugs...

We finally seem to be over winter.  Had frost in spots last weekend, but today it's been hovering at 85 degrees.  We had about 24 hours of 'spring'.   LOL

On the looms next - both of them - will be blue.  Blue denim rugs and all kinds of other blue rugs and runners.

All for now, 
JULIE

Not enough time, energy or money....

 Seems to be my life lately!  LOL

Not enough time to do what wants or needs to be done....   At least mowing season hasn't started yet, but it will this week.  We've had a terribly cold and wet spring - if you can call it that.  Horses aren't really even shedding out yet.   Today was a sunny day without crazy wind, so daughter and I messed with a couple horses.  Mostly beauty shop - aka scrape some mud off and pick out the winter cockleburrs.   The grandbaby went with dad to check fences with hopes of him taking a nap.  

Not enough energy - that's me -  I have big hopes and lists of what I want to do, but usually run out of steam before I get anywhere near to what I want to do.

Not enough money -  anyone know how to win the lottery??  LOL

Everything we want to do takes some dough.  So much around here needs fixing or updating.  We can't work enough hours to get the $ we need to do the updates which would end up saving us time.   Sigh.  Oh well, eventually! 

Today I found a few minutes to take pictures of finished rugs and runners.  

Had a little photobomber tho.

Eight months old.  Trying to walk...  He's on the move constantly. He has decided he likes human food better than baby food.  We are struggling to find the formula that works for him.  But I guess that's a common thing these days.

Here's a picture of some colored denim rugs I think are kinda neat.

More finished projects are on my facebook page.  renew.rugs.

All for now,
JULIE

Spring colors in hopes of spring

 Spring in South Dakota is never early enough :)

We keep getting snow... dreary, cold, windy.

Some colorful tablerunners help just a little bit....

Fourteen runners came off the loom to be finished in preparation for this weekend's vendor event.

Got a few rugs, too

The last two pictured, the fringed ones, have sold already to a local customer.

So this spring thing...  where I live it truly isn't spring until end of May, so there is some time left for the cold to still be around.

All for now,

JULIE

Win tickets to attend

 

I don't do this type of post here on blogland often as I assume most of my readers aren't close by.

This time it's because I have been given 2 free tickets to attend this event to give away.  

If by chance anyone reads this and is close and wants to attend...

Send me a message and I will put you in for a drawing ---  pick up at the entrance of the event.

I will be drawing morning of April 6, so get it to me before then!  

Would be fun to meet someone new!

All for now, 
JULIE

Getting ready

 Tonite I'm wrapping my head around what all needs to be gathered up for the first vendor show of '22.

I've got new signage and new biz cards....

I need to refill the little basket office I take to events....

And I need to pack up these piles of newest product....

These will be traveling in wheeled suitcases.

I've found it keeps my items clean and safe in the pickup bed that it takes to haul these heavy things around.

Rolling them along is way easier than carrying!

I always have to tell myself to chill out in the last few days before I show.

I tend to want to 'finish all the things'!

I will NEVER finish all the things, so just get busy and take what is done! LOL

ALL FOR NOW,

 julie

End of the Warps

 I finished up the blacks colorway warp.  It seemed to keep on giving forever :)

This isn't all of them...  Just some of the more colorful ones!

I've got both looms rewarped and weaving.  Union loom has green, brown and tans in the warp so should work for quite alot of the accumulated weft materials in the piles.

The Fairloom has natural, gold, salmon and burgundy.   It's working very well with some of the more colorful bits of weft materials that weren't working with the last warp I had on.

First show of the year is next week...

I've increased my prices on all new pieces, upgraded and replaced my signage and invested in some not home made biz cards.  I should be ready come Friday night when I pack things up.

All for now,

JULIE

PS

I recently started a new instagram account for my rugs.  Find me at renew.rugs

Color for the winter months

 I have so much fun making tablerunners.  I can usually put on a warp that will work with many different colors of 'rags'.

These finishes have some fun colors in them...

This was the end of the warp on the Fairloom.

I have spent some time giving the loom a once over... it had gotten a little loosey goosey, so some bolt tightening was in order.   Soon I will put on the next table runner warp.  I've got a tote full of fabrics that I felt needed a lighter warp than what I had on, so it is time to start playing with warp colors and deciding on whether I will put a pattern in the warping, or what exactly to do with that.

Just finishing up on the black/charcoal warp, too.  That loom will get browns/greens/ tans on to do a run of those colors.   

Then blue.... The order changed up on me a bit, just because I felt like it :)

All for now,

JULIE

New Year Planning

 So the holidays are over and the new year has begun.

The grandbaby has now been going to daycare for a couple of weeks, and you would think I would have a little more time to weave!  LOL

What I have time for now that the day care issue is resolved, is to go to my own job.  I'm back up to pre baby number of hours.  After work tho, I seem to always run an errand or two for the parents before I head home.  Usually I barely beat the daughter and baby home.  

If I do get there first, I first eat a meal (I don't take a lunch break at work), feed the fire stove, do any calling or taking care of business that needs done during business hours. 

I've been getting in a little weaving in the evenings.  With the early darkness, and my penchant for early mornings, I tend to want to go to bed at around 8 PM.   I still have managed some finished rugs. 

These are mens khaki type pants made into two rugs that are matchy matchy.  I managed to use up the last of that stash.  On the hunt now to build it back up again.

Here are some corduroy rugs.  I used ALMOST all of my stash except for a bright blue piece and a weird foresty green. I just didn't think they mixed well with the others.  I guess those two will be the seed to grow into the next stash.

The majority of rugs on this warp are black denims. They are a staple that I like to keep on hans so I make multiples.  

Planning for vendor events is ongoing.  I'm going to try a few new to me locations and see how that goes.

In my last post I alluded to an elimination diet I had started.  The last few years I have been having autoimmune type symptoms and my blood pressure was climbing.  All I got when asking for help to find cause or manage those was more drugs and specialists....  I finally found a dr that is trying to help instead of sucking $ out of my wallet.   

Since Dec 2, I am down 29 lbs and most importantly, my blood pressure is too.  Goal is to eliminate those meds all together.   First revisit is coming up this week so will find out whats next!

All for now

Julie