Definately Winter

I would stay in today, except it's the local Christmas Activity Day.

My 4-H Club is decorating a tree at the auditorium.

Hope my pickup starts - she is usually a bit cold blooded!  I would plug her in, but no block heater...

Later will check the horse waterer but seems to be working as the horses are off eating and haven't seen them up here searching.

After that, some crafty type stuff-

No update pictures of the kitchen remodel.  Boring stuff like all new electrical is going in now. 

All for now,

JULIE

Officially winter, I guess

It happens every year, so why does it seem like a big deal?

The older I get, the harder it gets :)

I think it's pretty and all.  It just makes everything harder.

Driving to work - or anywhere for that matter.

Taking care of the horses.

Planning anything.

Running a snow blower.

More gas, more fuel, more electricity...

wah, wah, wah. 

I'm done whining now.



All for now,
JULIE

Never enough time to blog...

Or weave for that matter! 

The full time day job sure cramps my style - that's a given.

But it seems I always have some chore or project that needs doing RIGHT NOW.

Right now I'm doing this...

This was my kitchen this morning...

Here it is tonite!

Yup.  Remodeling :)

I've been waiting on my contractor neighbor to come back and finish my entry way so I could get started on this dang kitchen.   I've been living here 3? years with a non functional kitchen.  I've had the fridge and a sink and a wall oven from 1960.  It was kinda erratic.

No stove top - the one time I turned it on it smoke so bad I had the power cut to it and never looked back. 

I had not planned on having to wait this long to redo this room.

I FINALLY cut the cord with the neighbor and found a new guy - that was available.  That's been an issue.

Sunday when I called him to say I thought his estimate was fine and I was ready to rock and roll on this thing, I asked him when he could start.

He said 'Tuesday or Wednesday?'

After I caught my breath, I squeaked out Wednesday and frantically started to pack up my kitchen and find places for all my 'stuff'

I'm thinking he was available because no one else wants to be without a kitchen and with a mess this time of year.

No Thanksgiving feast for me this year, and maybe not even a Christmas goose!  HA

I don't mind - At least it's getting done!

All for now,
JULIE

Spotted~

The other morning on the way to work - in the predawn dark I might add - my headlights swept past some birds on a prairie pothole.  Not unusual around here, but there was something not quite ordinary it seemed as I kept on going toward the days labors.

This morning, I saw them again.  This time I slowed and I thought... 'are those swans?'   I don't know if I've ever seen swans in the wild around here -  Then on the way home, I really took a look.  There were bunches of them! 


So I went home, gathered up the Cooper dog and my camera and headed back.

He gets so dang excited when we go for a ride.  Check out the blur of his tail :)

Pretty sure these ARE swans.  Some juveniles included.   Unfortunately, many of them had left - maybe to feed somewhere?  There were enough there before that at first I had assumed they were snow geese.  We get lots and lots of those around here during their migration.

It looked like only 3 family groups were there at this time.  Hope they are still there tomorrow, I'm going to try and remember to take my camera to work with me.   Never have it when I really want it! 

Anywho -  I've finished up some rugs lately.  Last minute for a craft fair last Sunday.  To reinforce this last minute rush that I usually do, about 1/2 the rugs I sold were the new ones just finished that morning...  sheesh.

I have  had 4 of these corduroy rugs finished.  Two sold already.  Still have a couple left in the pile of strips I think. 

Several rugs of this weft material sold - one squarish one for a table - Glad I have strips left of this as one buyer has called and asked if I could make a runner for her buffet.  Not usual that I have material left AND a narrow warp that is close enough colorwise to work for this type of situation.

This is a fun longer rug made from some vintage curtains.  I really like it :)

Closeup of the curtains brown rug.  Kinda cool IMO.

Must try and get some weaving done - Have about 3 different requests that I can actually do right now with the current warps and wefts, so I should do them and get them out of here and outa my head.  Would make me feel like I accomplished something!

All for now,
JULIE

Sewing. Sewing. And more sewing.

Oy.

Strips and strips and strips of corduroy.

I've been sewing all day, and just finished up this huge pile.

Now on to cutting them apart and trimming off the dog ears.

All this prep work is sometimes the pits.

All for now,
JULIE

Craft Fair Weekend

.... But not for me :)

This weekend I am attending a large craft fair with a friend.

She was in need of a canopy.   I was in need of a time away from all the chores in my world!  :)

Take a look at what this awesome fiber artist friend o' mine makes--

Here's a pic of the booth before the gates opened - Note my canopy and my floor tarp?  Glad for these as we had a wet morning.  The rain cleared off and turned into a great fall day at about 1:00...

Friend is a quilter, who combined her love of fabrics and art into these fabric vases. 

Believe it or not, these vases are all fabric... no metal wire, no cardboard, no nothing like that.  Just the fabric and some quilting innards that are a trade secret and lots of machine quilting.

I think she's amazing :) 

Funny from today -- someone asked if I was her daughter - ( I was bragging her up) - and I said, "nope, I'm her agent, and I'm gonna be rich when she gets famous". 

Anyone out there know anything about the pattern book business and how to go about getting published?

Tomorrow will be there again - the weather sounds delightful, and I spied something at another booth that is making me go HMMMM.....   I might talk myself into buying it.  

We'll see!

All for now,
JULIE

More.

More rugs finished and to the store.

Not sure what's got into me.

Seems like I'm getting more weaving done.

I used up some 'dribs and drabs' of twill pant strips by pairing them with the light blue sheeting that was too boring to use alone.

Some flannel sheets made into some soft comfy rugs.

And I finished up the warp and my tote of sewn denim strips.  Now must get busy sewing more of them.

And nope, don't need more jeans.

Drowning in them at the moment :)

Next warp is gonna be a bit more varied in finished rugs.

At least I think so at this point! 

All for now, 

JULIE