Sipping tea on a wet (and I mean wet) spring morning is a lovely way o spend an hour. Shortly I will have to get up and go put a roast in the slow cooker for supper and start in on the next batch of yarn for my 25 hour project, but for the moment I am allowing myself a few minutes of down time before all hell breaks loose.
All hell has broken loose.... the dog has started barking vigorously which means someone has arrived.... sigh!
Phew! Nothing serious.... just the neighbours using my driveway to turn around....
I will be leaving on Thursday to head over to Terrace for Synod which is the Anglican's version of a really big conference. A day and a half of driving to get there and a day and a half of driving to get back home with two days there which means five days away from the family. I am not looking forward to it. The secretary at the Diocese office heard how busy I was and thought that Synod would be a lovely break for me away from all my work.... I'd rather stick forks in my eyes.... What it means is that I have one more thing to do.... I have more time away from the things that I want to do. Sitting in a car for three days and then in meeting for two is not woo hoo, frankly it sucks! But I have no choice. Someone has to do it and since our minister retired and I'm the next in the line of fire it falls to me to do the dirty deed.
I will bring with me a drop spindle so that I can do a little spinning at the meeting. I think I will bring something totally luscious to spin that way I can feel a little naughty while I'm among God's chosen.... (smirk)! I have some glorious aqua bamboo which spins llike a dream and I have some champagne coloured silk and yak, I have plain brown yak, and I have angora....hmmmmm....
Spindle spinning also is a conversation starter.... it means that I can talk about something with a total stranger and feel comfortable. When I spin I am in my element. That's a very good thing when you are among so many uncomfortable high falutin' people. Spindles make me less awkward. This is something to truly praise God about.
I'm just really hoping that it all goes off well. I've been having nightmares for the last few nights... and I'm not sure if that is the heat at night or the fact that I have this awful trip hanging over me.
Anyway if I don't get a chance to write before I go I will write when I get back and tell you all about it..... I'm sure I'll have a lovely time once I get started. Anticipation is so not good for me.....
See ya soon...
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Fire!
Dialing 911 after daughter #1 told me she had lit the woods on fire was not the way I expected to spend the day yesterday when the spinners and weavers came to spend the day at my house to learn how to use a Weavette. I had been pleasantly enjoying an afternoon of teaching bias weaving on a hand held pin loom when Daughter #1 came to me to inform me that she had been to her "Fort" (which is a few logs pulled together with a piece of tin over it and a circle of stones to signify a cooking pit) and caught the woods on fire. I looked out the window and witnessed flames shooting 40 feet into the air as the "fire" had spontaneously combusted up the side of a spruce tree and was threatening a grove of beetle infested dead pine trees...... ACK!!!!
911 was called in a jiffy and the spades and buckets made their debut in a hurry let me tell you. Marjorie (a gem) and Daughter #1 jumped to the frey and tried to put it out. Daughter #2 and her friend got buckets of water and tried putting it out too. With horror I watched and asked friends to move their vehicles so the soon to arrive fire trucks could reach the flames and slow the fast moving fire.
Suddenly sense hit..... what were my girls doing in a forest fire? I, in short time, got them out of there with a few good yells and grabbing a shovel I proceeded into the flames, myself. Keep the fire from drifting into the forest (the real forest) and keep it on our property where the firefighters could fight it was the game plan. Keep the flames out of the trees. Keep the flames in the grass and away from the paddocks and house. Keep us all safe.
The smoke was choking and the heat was awful. My face felt like it was going to explode. The spade put out the flames but there was nothing to be done about the smoke and then suddenly I was blind.... I could hear sirens wailing... they were a long way off. How to get out of the smoke. Move to the right..... turn back on to the smoke.... there.... out of the smoke.... choke, choke, choke....
I was never so glad to see firefighter in my life. I remember someone telling me to sit down and drink water. I remember directing trucks around the house and down to where the flames were burning their way through the grass and debris. I remember crying and hugging and then I had to deal with Daughter #1 who had hidden herself in the upstairs skeleton of our house. I wanted her to know that it was ok that mistakes happen and that everything was going to be ok. But I wanted her to know that this was serious. I wanted her to know that I loved her and I always would no matter what.
She took it all well though I know in her heart she is horrified by what she did. It was a valuable lesson with a small cost.
Life has returned to normal.... there is a big black patch out my living room window. The yellow wagon that Daughter #1 received as a Christmas present when she was one year old and which she had been hauling rocks to her "Fort" in, melted in the fire. Daughter #1 retrieved a melted blue wheel with an axle in it and a whole lot of pine and fir needles in it. It is charred beyond recognition and Daughter #1 laments for it. My spinners and weavers, I'm sure, will never forget their lesson on the Weavette..... I'm glad we are all safe.
911 was called in a jiffy and the spades and buckets made their debut in a hurry let me tell you. Marjorie (a gem) and Daughter #1 jumped to the frey and tried to put it out. Daughter #2 and her friend got buckets of water and tried putting it out too. With horror I watched and asked friends to move their vehicles so the soon to arrive fire trucks could reach the flames and slow the fast moving fire.
Suddenly sense hit..... what were my girls doing in a forest fire? I, in short time, got them out of there with a few good yells and grabbing a shovel I proceeded into the flames, myself. Keep the fire from drifting into the forest (the real forest) and keep it on our property where the firefighters could fight it was the game plan. Keep the flames out of the trees. Keep the flames in the grass and away from the paddocks and house. Keep us all safe.
The smoke was choking and the heat was awful. My face felt like it was going to explode. The spade put out the flames but there was nothing to be done about the smoke and then suddenly I was blind.... I could hear sirens wailing... they were a long way off. How to get out of the smoke. Move to the right..... turn back on to the smoke.... there.... out of the smoke.... choke, choke, choke....
I was never so glad to see firefighter in my life. I remember someone telling me to sit down and drink water. I remember directing trucks around the house and down to where the flames were burning their way through the grass and debris. I remember crying and hugging and then I had to deal with Daughter #1 who had hidden herself in the upstairs skeleton of our house. I wanted her to know that it was ok that mistakes happen and that everything was going to be ok. But I wanted her to know that this was serious. I wanted her to know that I loved her and I always would no matter what.
She took it all well though I know in her heart she is horrified by what she did. It was a valuable lesson with a small cost.
Life has returned to normal.... there is a big black patch out my living room window. The yellow wagon that Daughter #1 received as a Christmas present when she was one year old and which she had been hauling rocks to her "Fort" in, melted in the fire. Daughter #1 retrieved a melted blue wheel with an axle in it and a whole lot of pine and fir needles in it. It is charred beyond recognition and Daughter #1 laments for it. My spinners and weavers, I'm sure, will never forget their lesson on the Weavette..... I'm glad we are all safe.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sun Glorious Sun!
It's a brilliant day! The sun is shining and the weather looks terrific. WOW I'm stoked.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Soup
It's still snowing. I'm disgusted....
Yesterday, I made lentil soup. I haven't made lentil soup for a long time. I thought I would try something different. It turned out really good. Even Hubby went back for seconds. Here is what I did...
2 boneless chicken breasts
2 - 3 c red lentils
2 cans of tomato soup
1/2 c cream
4 coarsely chopped tomatoes
1/2 c rice
minced garlic to taste
onion powder to taste
I also used a Thai spice mix that I have in my spice rack
Cube the chicken breasts and in a four litre stock pot and brown them in a teaspoon of oil. Add a litre of water and the lentils and bring to a rolling boil. Lower heat to simmer. When the water is reduced to about half add two cans of tomato soup and the tomatoes and rice. Raise the heat slightly and bring to a rolling boil again then add all spices. After about 15 minutes reduce heat and add cream and simmer for five minutes. You may have to stir it to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
I served it in bowls with croutons and a slice of jalepeno havarti cheese on top which slowly melted and it was a really nice soup for a cold snowy spring day. Give it a try. Bon appetite!
Yesterday, I made lentil soup. I haven't made lentil soup for a long time. I thought I would try something different. It turned out really good. Even Hubby went back for seconds. Here is what I did...
2 boneless chicken breasts
2 - 3 c red lentils
2 cans of tomato soup
1/2 c cream
4 coarsely chopped tomatoes
1/2 c rice
minced garlic to taste
onion powder to taste
I also used a Thai spice mix that I have in my spice rack
Cube the chicken breasts and in a four litre stock pot and brown them in a teaspoon of oil. Add a litre of water and the lentils and bring to a rolling boil. Lower heat to simmer. When the water is reduced to about half add two cans of tomato soup and the tomatoes and rice. Raise the heat slightly and bring to a rolling boil again then add all spices. After about 15 minutes reduce heat and add cream and simmer for five minutes. You may have to stir it to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
I served it in bowls with croutons and a slice of jalepeno havarti cheese on top which slowly melted and it was a really nice soup for a cold snowy spring day. Give it a try. Bon appetite!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Tubular Man!
Wash your face with snow in May and all your freckles will go away. Here it is snowing in May and I mean snowing. The ground is white and all the trees have a coating of white and it looks like Christmas not the Queen's Birthday. Hubby jumped out of bed this morning with a grin on his face and headed right out the door to take pictures of this winter wonderland. He thinks that this late snow fall is 'like totally tubular, man'! His co-workers headed down the river this weekend with their tents expecting a great weekend fishing, drinking and telling stories. He thinks this snow is terrific since it will give him one more thing to tease them about. Nothing makes me grouchier than someone who is cheerful about snow in May..... mind you he does have freckles!
I am driven to distraction with level 2 homework.... I started what I thought would be my project but lay awake half of last night worrying that I was not happy with it. I started the wristlets for Dad and discovered that the fibre I wanted to use is crap. I mean.... well.... not crap, just not top notch quality fibre and a project of this caliber should be the best of the best. So I will finish the wristlets but not as my project. I sat up till quite late last night perusing my binders looking at all the blended yarns I have spun this year and I have to say I am very proud of my work. I finally decided to blend a Rideau Arcott/Merino wool with silk for a fibre that I can use to make a doll shawl and even a purse. I was thinking that if it turned out nice I might do a real one (human sized) for sale. The thought of actually getting time to spin to finish a project is like totally tubular man!
Anyway, since it is such a nasty snarky day and we can't get outdoors to do anything even remotely fun I thought I would do some writing on this blog.... I might even update the NPSW blog.... now that would totally be tubular! I've come to the conclusion that getting depressed over the weather is pointless since we are in the grip of Murphy's law and we don't have a lawyer. I expect the weather to suck until our house renovations are done or we have run out of propane and we freeze our arses off. Either way that won't be before June so I might as well put a smile on my face and a sweater on my back and sox on my feet because the earliest that the summer temps. will be here is late June some time. I think it is important to keep your chin up at such times because how can you face the tube when your not watching where you are going. Totally tubular man!
This is the kind of day when even the birds want to warm up by the fire. We had a late snowfall a few years back and Hubby was out burning brush (snowy spring days make a great time for burning brush). Anyway the poor birds were gathered around the fire trying to get close enough to thaw out their wee bums. Sparrows and Finches, and Juncos and Chickadees all half frozen. It was totally tubular man!
Well I'm off to 'chill man!' and prep fibre for the PROJECT.... totally tubular man!
'Totally tubular man' brought to you by your neighbourhood surfing Californians who don't freeze their arses off in spring or any other time of the year.... maybe I should move to California!!!! Totally tubular.... man!
I am driven to distraction with level 2 homework.... I started what I thought would be my project but lay awake half of last night worrying that I was not happy with it. I started the wristlets for Dad and discovered that the fibre I wanted to use is crap. I mean.... well.... not crap, just not top notch quality fibre and a project of this caliber should be the best of the best. So I will finish the wristlets but not as my project. I sat up till quite late last night perusing my binders looking at all the blended yarns I have spun this year and I have to say I am very proud of my work. I finally decided to blend a Rideau Arcott/Merino wool with silk for a fibre that I can use to make a doll shawl and even a purse. I was thinking that if it turned out nice I might do a real one (human sized) for sale. The thought of actually getting time to spin to finish a project is like totally tubular man!
Anyway, since it is such a nasty snarky day and we can't get outdoors to do anything even remotely fun I thought I would do some writing on this blog.... I might even update the NPSW blog.... now that would totally be tubular! I've come to the conclusion that getting depressed over the weather is pointless since we are in the grip of Murphy's law and we don't have a lawyer. I expect the weather to suck until our house renovations are done or we have run out of propane and we freeze our arses off. Either way that won't be before June so I might as well put a smile on my face and a sweater on my back and sox on my feet because the earliest that the summer temps. will be here is late June some time. I think it is important to keep your chin up at such times because how can you face the tube when your not watching where you are going. Totally tubular man!
This is the kind of day when even the birds want to warm up by the fire. We had a late snowfall a few years back and Hubby was out burning brush (snowy spring days make a great time for burning brush). Anyway the poor birds were gathered around the fire trying to get close enough to thaw out their wee bums. Sparrows and Finches, and Juncos and Chickadees all half frozen. It was totally tubular man!
Well I'm off to 'chill man!' and prep fibre for the PROJECT.... totally tubular man!
'Totally tubular man' brought to you by your neighbourhood surfing Californians who don't freeze their arses off in spring or any other time of the year.... maybe I should move to California!!!! Totally tubular.... man!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Life Is Returning To Normal.... Except For The Snow!!!
The mess is starting to get better. The living room is looking better.... the bathroom... well, I've given up on that.. that will always be a mess. The kitchen.... better, not great but better. The paddock they're coming.... the deck...ugh.... lots of work there. Best of all Level 2 homework has progressed. I have now finished two of the three remaining questions. In addition I've gotten my Bibliography done and printed reams of pictures of women with spinning wheels and pasted them into my binders, which are becoming works of art really.... at least that's my opinion.
The only thing that ticks me off right now is the forecast. Sunday we are going to have snow. Daughter #2 has her birthday on Saturday and so we are heading into FSJ for a shopping trip since her last pair of jeans are about to lose the knee. Her runners are about to fall apart and her toe is out. She is truly in a sad state of affairs. Size ten feet and Lard only knows how tall.... she outstrips me in height. The towering offspring.... that's what she is!
Daughter #1 is coming with us and I have laid down the law.... the first fight and we are turning around and heading home. Mostly they are pretty good but Daughter #2 gets on Daughter #1's nerves that's because Daughter #1 has inherited a quiet nature.... while Daughter #2 is exuberant.... this causes much conflict. We shall see....either way we are off today to shop....shop... shop... with brunch at Humpty's....I'll blog tomorrow about our purchases.....
The only thing that ticks me off right now is the forecast. Sunday we are going to have snow. Daughter #2 has her birthday on Saturday and so we are heading into FSJ for a shopping trip since her last pair of jeans are about to lose the knee. Her runners are about to fall apart and her toe is out. She is truly in a sad state of affairs. Size ten feet and Lard only knows how tall.... she outstrips me in height. The towering offspring.... that's what she is!
Daughter #1 is coming with us and I have laid down the law.... the first fight and we are turning around and heading home. Mostly they are pretty good but Daughter #2 gets on Daughter #1's nerves that's because Daughter #1 has inherited a quiet nature.... while Daughter #2 is exuberant.... this causes much conflict. We shall see....either way we are off today to shop....shop... shop... with brunch at Humpty's....I'll blog tomorrow about our purchases.....
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mess
I'm a mess. My house is a mess. The yard is a mess. The animal paddocks are a mess. Life is a mess.
There is not one surface in my home that you can see. Every one of the surfaces are buried alive and you can almost hear them moaning and groaning under the weight of the mess. I'm a mess. Tootsie just jumped on me with dirty paws and messed up my nice white tee shirt. I was dressed and ready to go and vote but I'm now a mess. My hair is a mess because I didn't wash it this morning I just brushed it back in a pony tail and was done with it. Life is a mess because I stayed in my jammies until 1 p.m. like what is that all about? The animal paddocks are a mess with poo all over the place and no green grass because everything is covered in old hay from the winter. Right! Everything is a total mess.
What am I doing about the mess? I have no energy to even think about the mess. I'm too busy trying to not pee in my pants every time I have a coughing fit. Yesterday I had a coughing fit so bad that I had wetness at every nasty spot on my body. WTMI (way too much information??? Then read another blog. Get over it. I've got a cough and I'm not feeling all that great.... maybe that's why I'm in such a crotchity mood. The worst thing is.... I'm getting nothing done. With TC, TCMM, and TCH, not here this week I thought I would be able to get our lives back to normal.... at least a little normal.... clean anyway.... but there is still sawdust everywhere and junk everywhere. The saw dust is getting cleaned up slowly but the junk is the age old story.... what do I do with it??? There is no shelf to put it in and there is no cupboard to put it in and so on. The kids come in through the door and drop everything in the front porch and Hubby comes in and drop his stuff all over the place and all I want to do it lie down. I hate coughs!
What I want to know is why can't I lie down when I get sick but everyone else gets to lie down and nap and snooze. Mike got sick when he had his surgery so he had a perfectly legitimate excuse for staying in bed. Daughter #1 slept for two days when she got the flu. Me on the other hand..... I keep cooking and cleaning and doing and I can't stop.... so my cough gets worse until yesterday I collapsed and started to cry.... I was so tired I slept all day till four o'clock and the kids and Hubby had to eat canned soup for supper. Life is a mess.
But I swear I'm going to clean it up..... even if it kills me!!!!
There is not one surface in my home that you can see. Every one of the surfaces are buried alive and you can almost hear them moaning and groaning under the weight of the mess. I'm a mess. Tootsie just jumped on me with dirty paws and messed up my nice white tee shirt. I was dressed and ready to go and vote but I'm now a mess. My hair is a mess because I didn't wash it this morning I just brushed it back in a pony tail and was done with it. Life is a mess because I stayed in my jammies until 1 p.m. like what is that all about? The animal paddocks are a mess with poo all over the place and no green grass because everything is covered in old hay from the winter. Right! Everything is a total mess.
What am I doing about the mess? I have no energy to even think about the mess. I'm too busy trying to not pee in my pants every time I have a coughing fit. Yesterday I had a coughing fit so bad that I had wetness at every nasty spot on my body. WTMI (way too much information??? Then read another blog. Get over it. I've got a cough and I'm not feeling all that great.... maybe that's why I'm in such a crotchity mood. The worst thing is.... I'm getting nothing done. With TC, TCMM, and TCH, not here this week I thought I would be able to get our lives back to normal.... at least a little normal.... clean anyway.... but there is still sawdust everywhere and junk everywhere. The saw dust is getting cleaned up slowly but the junk is the age old story.... what do I do with it??? There is no shelf to put it in and there is no cupboard to put it in and so on. The kids come in through the door and drop everything in the front porch and Hubby comes in and drop his stuff all over the place and all I want to do it lie down. I hate coughs!
What I want to know is why can't I lie down when I get sick but everyone else gets to lie down and nap and snooze. Mike got sick when he had his surgery so he had a perfectly legitimate excuse for staying in bed. Daughter #1 slept for two days when she got the flu. Me on the other hand..... I keep cooking and cleaning and doing and I can't stop.... so my cough gets worse until yesterday I collapsed and started to cry.... I was so tired I slept all day till four o'clock and the kids and Hubby had to eat canned soup for supper. Life is a mess.
But I swear I'm going to clean it up..... even if it kills me!!!!
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