Crazy Daughters And Their Crazy Friends On Crazy Sundays

The Chicken girl is here. And the Daughters are nuts. I have one that is up-side-down on the settee and the other is gurgling instead of talking. She is argueing that she is diagonal and the other is complaining about her cheap vinyl shoes from Jasper which she thinks are awesome and leather.  How do you know it is Sunday afternoon in the Nichols house.  We are all really bored and this brings out the crazy side of our personalities. The cat is now hanging over my head.

I think this is enough stupidity for one afternoon...

Hope your day is not as boring as ours and that craziness is only minor in your house. 'Cause it's really taken ahold in ours!!

Simon and Garfunkel

Most people will look at this photo and will know who these two gents are. I can't remember a time when Simon and Garfunkel weren't a part of my life.  As a girl my sister learned how to play piano (I couldn't or didn't because I had no thumb on my right hand) but I could sing and did I! When my sister turned 12 she was given a songbook of Simon and Garfunkels hits. She learned how to play many of them but the one I remember the best is Bridge Over Troubled Water. She would play and I would sing and my grandfather loved it.... so much so that he recorded us on a really bad cassette player and we still have that cassette (but no player to play it on).

I was tickled this morning to learn that Paul Simon has just turned 70 years of age.... and he keeps on truckin'.  He has just come out this year with an original album and recently he has come out with an album of previous hits. That to me is just awesome.  Now I realize that a lot of people out there will say that Graceland was Paul Simon's best album ever but I disagree... I just love Rhythm Of The Saints. The Daughters and I will groove out in the living room listening to that album fairly regularly.  So I am looking forward to listening to these new albums.

The other evening I went for a walk with Teapot and on reentering our driveway I was truly impressed with two trees standing sentinel over the driveway and house in the full moon's glow. One tree is a Pine tree that so far has been able to withstand the onslaught of the Pine Beetle and the other is a twisted and gnarled spruce tree. They have been standing over the driveway since we first moved into this house and somehow in the moonlight of the other night they made me feel like I was coming home to two good friends. So I named them.... they are... you guessed it... Simon and Garfunkel.

Teapot thinks I'm nuts....
I think you should just "Slow Down You're Movin' Too Fast...."  and check out the trees or smell the roses... it's all the same.

"Feelin' Groovy"

Tick Tock... Time Goes On

Tomorrow morning will mark the third anniversary of Ye Olde Batt (the blog). I have been looking back on the last few years through the many posts that I have completed.  A year ago I had decided to remove the Followers List since I knew that the list was not a true reflection of those who were following along with the blog (it all seemed to add to the idea that blogging was a popularity contest and I certainly wasn't interested in that).  As time goes by, I have gained some new followers and I have lost some of the old ones. Meanwhile there are a few who remain steadfast and true followers.... and to those I give a heart felt thank you.

I have enjoyed, over the years, writing for this blog, and while sometimes my writing has been funny and entertaining, sometimes the mundane parts of life have affected me and my writing has reflected that. Through it all, this blog has remained a way for me to keep track of the events of my life and the lives of those around me. It has given me an outlet to talk about and keep track of this little farm and my business which waits patiently to become one.  It has also given me a way to keep track of the joys and anguishes of becoming a Master Spinner. Always it has been a reference for my life.

While I don't share everything in my life (sometimes things are just too close to the heart to share with anyone, let alone with everyone) I have tried to share the more interesting parts. In this fast paced life where Blackberries and iPhones rule, where staying "in touch" is the norm, where computer screens rule, and social media have become the foundations for relationships, where face to face conversations seem to be on the decline, blogging has provided me an opportunity to meet new people and connect with old friends and family with whom I have lost contact. Through it all, my blogging has allowed you, the reader, into a part of my world.... and I hope you have found something to enrich your world too.

When I first started my blogging life I had heard from a friend that she had started a blog and I thought, well, if she can do it so can I. I wasn't really sure though if I could write about interesting things enough to make it worth my while. I had no clue about how to actually work a blog and the whole thing seemed a little daunting. So I decided to jump in and treat it like it was a journal with entries as often as I could manage. And so here I sit three years later still trying to write cohesively, coherently and responsibly.  I hope that I have managed to achieve that....

I hope most of all that my life will continue to offer a little humour, a little knowledge, and a little bit cheer into your life and I hope you will stick with me as I try to continue to do that.

The one and only thing that I would add,  is that I would ask you, the reader, to occasionally drop me a line in the comments as it really is encouraging to get an occasional comment and I do try to respond when I can...

Oh and by the way... here's a statistic or two for you... I have written 742 posts over three years which works out to approximately a post every second day.

In the meantime stay tuned as tomorrow I will be back with an update on my level 5 homework which I once again am attacking. (I have a really awesome Bamboo sample that I just took off the wheel...)

And so it goes.... tick tock... time goes on.

Thanks Giving

Canadian Thanksgiving day.

I am sitting here alone in the quiet waiting for the Daughters to get up. Teapot left an hour or so ago to go with his brother and nephew for another day of hunting in the back country. They haven't been able to see anything worthy of their hunting efforts yet. It is a coolish morning with a nip in the early morning air. A normal fall day. The leaves have almost gone and actually around my yard there's hardly a leaf to be seen.  The sheep and Honeydew have departed for their new home almost a week ago now. I do not miss them, though the first night they were gone, I dreamed that they were having difficulty adjusting to their new home. Weird dreams abounded that night... but since then I really haven't thought of them much... probably because it has been so busy with the gallery show and preparing for that and then company for the weekend and now that things have settled down I find I am quite used to them not being there.  Mishka, on the other hand, seems to miss her companions and now looks longingly at the boys on the other side of the fence as though she wishes they were a little closer to her. The ram paces back and forth wondering where his flock of girls have gone. He will be moved to his new home soon too.

Meanwhile I am having a easy time caring for the rabbits.  I didn't realize how well this would work. They love being groomed and hardly move an inch as I comb their long locks. I will give them a good trim in a week or so... closer to the cold weather but not so close that the shorter hair will be an issue for them as they try to stay warm, and then I will not trim them again till early spring.  They are easy to feed and easy to catch and once they have been caught they hold quite still and enjoy a cuddle or two before I brush them out. I think the bunnies and I will get along just fine.

I haven't been able to get my mind off the gallery show.  It was great... in no uncertain terms.  I was so surprised that I sold two pieces right away.... It will mean a little income before Christmas.  I hope that some of my other items will sell but there is no guarantee. I came away from opening night feeling that all the work of the few days leading up to the show were well worth the effort.  I finished the scarf that was still on the loom yesterday and I will keep it for another occasion. I am also carrying on and working on the two shawls that never made it in to the show. I have several pieces on my diamond shaped loom finished and will keep going with that since, with some pretty beads, I think it will make a beautiful, though heavier shawl. But the hot pink shawl will become an alpaca blanket and I will play with the colour of that one a little so that it is not quite so hard on the eyes. Maybe tone it down a little. We'll see.

With a wee pooch at my feet, and a Turkey in the oven beginning to sizzle, the sounds of Thanksgiving surround me...

I am so thankful for family and friends who have supported and uplifted me throughout the year... its great to know that I am cared for and loved.

I hope you have much for which to be thankful too...

Now... those Daughters of mine are stirring and after breakfast they will want a shower... I'm running low on water in the cistern so I had better go deal with that... a visit to the parents place to fill the water tank should do the trick and I'll have a nice thanks giving coffee and toast with them too...

See y'all soon.

Fine Marnin' For A Lot Of Stuff

So we have company for the weekend.... sort of. Our company came and then they went and then they came and then they went and now they're here. Sort of...

 I know it is all confusing but suffice it to say that Teapot brother, wife and son have been visiting. The son lives in FSJ and works as an apprentice linesman. The brother and wife arrived on Thursday while I was in FSJ putting up the show. They stayed for supper and brought it with them and then left. They went to FSJ to stay with their son. The next morning Teapot's brother showed up early in the morning for a day of hunting. Teapot having a day off  from school was happy to oblige. That evening Teapot and his brother got home in time for us to go to the opening of the show. (More on that in a minute... ) Then Teapot's brother left and went back to FSJ. So in essence our company only comes during the day and doesn't stay for the night. All this too-ing and fro-ing is kind of making my head spin. And for a Newfy it feels really weird that they keep bringing food and I can't feed them.  I realize they they are trying to make a little an impact into our lives as possible and while that's thoughtful, for a good Newfy who likes to feed everyone up it just feels plain weird. The wife is in the kitchen as I am writing here making chili.... like, I could have done that... and what's worse is they brought their own food... Maybe they think I can't cook. It, quite honestly is freaking me out!

More about the gallery show....
I sold two pieces by the time I had left the show on Friday night... I was soooo stoked! Just like that I have made in excess of $150.00 wahoo... now why can't I do that all the time?

The show went really well. We were all so pleased that it was well attended. We all felt that it probably is one of the best shows we have put off.  Awesome. This is our fourth show and we wanted this one to look more arty than crafty and I think we pulled it off. Everyone was favourably impressed.

So the show will be hanging in the gallery for the next month and then we will be taking down and there won't be another for three years.  Still two of the ladies in the guild want to have a private show for the three of us.  So I am thinking hard on it. It is not easy to come up with enough stock for the show, especially when they want one of a kind pieces. I guess I will think on it.

I am off to finish a scarf that I didn't get off the loom in time to make it into the show. And now I have ideas abounding through my brain for other nice items to weave.... I've just got to get a bigger loom...
(sigh). I just wish that I was making chili instead of my guest.... weird!

Setting Up The Show

I spent yesterday morning sewing the last of the beads to the shawl that I knit last year. Then at 12 noon I headed off to FSJ to help hang the show. Tonight is the opening and if anyone is interested and is close enough to come by they will be serving wine and cheese. : )

Here's a few pics of the set up....

This is what you see as you are entering the show. But not the big easel on the right... that's part of the setting up.

To the right are creams and blands.

....moving into purples and ....

...mixed tones....

Then on to greens and blues.....

more blues with a beige thrown in....

...then you come around the corner and you are into reds and oranges and browns....

In the middle are collections.

We all really worked hard to make this an outstanding show.

You can see the plynth with the old boots and the hand woven/made shoelaces. Which was really cool.

Consultation on draping all the various shawls was an ongoing affair.

So if you are able to make it to our show which is called "It's A Wrap" we'd love to have you come... and bring your wallet 'cause that's what these shows are all about.  And if nothing else come and help us eat that wine and cheese. ; )

Work My Fingers To The Bone

So as per usual I'm thinking that I'm just going to have a poor showing at this show. I really wanted to have three shawls and 6 scarves and a bunch of shoe laces.  I'm going to have one shawl 5 scarves and a couple of shoelaces.  I lay in bed last night have heart palpitations worrying about my lack of getting stuff done but there comes a time when you have to admit that somethings are just not going to get finished. I'm at that point. I'm really liking the scarves that I do have done and I love the shawl that I finished last year but I would have loved it a whole lot better if my shawl was one of several.  Thank heavens our guild is big and we will have a good showing anyway.

I have a stack of scarves on the table waiting for the iron today. I have a shawl waiting for a few beads on the table and one of my scarves still needs to be finished which I will do this morning. And I'm tired.  I wish I had two more weeks. Then I would have a bunch more stuff done. Tomorrow I will go to town and help hang the show. Tonight will be the last little bit of time I have to get stuff done. The shoelaces still need tips so I have to find time for that today too.

Friday night is the opening. The show is called "It's A Wrap" and it is time to rub elbows and drink wine and eat cheese.  And hopefully a few of the things that we make will be sold. Then the weekend is here and I have family arriving for Thanksgiving. Teapot is off on Monday and Tuesday since there is an extra day given to those at our school because of busing issues and having to work later than the rest of the schools in the district.  I am happy to have him home. It will give us a chance to catch up on life and get back to normal. Then Wednesday when Teapot and the Daughters go back to school Level 5 homework starts in earnest. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm just sorry that my shrug from my level 4 homework is not back from my instructor yet since it was supposed to be in the show though not for sale. It's just not fair. : (

Meanwhile here's a few pictures of scarves and shawls.

A stack of scarves...

The shawl that needs embellishing....

Scarf that I will finish this morning.

Well that's enough for now... I had better get back to my spaghetti making.