Two short days

Today I'm procrastinating with you instead of working or cleaning the house. I've been a little off track and not really getting much done other to enjoy life, which is important I know, but getting yarn made is really important as well. Two short days I'll be back in Portland where there is less distractions and a lot more reminders that I have a thriving yarn business

This is Alexandra spinning Chocolate Cashmere for Textured yarn, while at GLASG spinning guild meeting


Ummm fleece, how to skirt and wash a fleece was the program which had really good information. When I asked Jen what she learned about fleece is that she doesn't want to "DO" one. Wisdom, know what you like and you don't like.


Although I smelled the sheep faintly while I knitted away, it didn't make me as sad as it might have. Jan and I have just had a really good visit and I'll be seeing her on Wed. when she picks me up from the Airport.

Talking about Jen, this is her front yard garden in Lakewood! We often car pool to GLASG guild meeting, isn't it lovely? She also has chickens. I really want to do this in our front garden and hopefully Mike will look at this picture and fall in love as I have



After we dropped Jen off, Alexandra and I tried a new Dominican Rep. restaurant. She had Dominican Stew with rice and Avocado and I had a combo plate. I finished my baby hat in Multnomah Falls in SW Merino, and started on socks to match the hat.......


Sunday I joined my family to celebrate Erik Joseph Andersen graduating from Cal. State Fullerton! I'm so proud as we all were. The Graduation started at 8:30 am but somehow was continued at 10:30 which is the one we attended (even still it was an early morning AGAIN)
I took my knitting of course and knit on the socks while all the smart kids received their diplomas

Before we even hit the tent we hit Starbucks, while standing in line for some much needed caffeine, BIL (John) points out what's on the rack......


Erik graduating!


I'm not sure who was smiling more him or his parents or Aunty Trish! PS he's the one on the left


Proud Mom and beloved SIL Cinti wearing her hand knitting scarf that she just bound off (Newport Rocks in Cashmere), her first knitting project since childhood! She's already in withdrawal for more yarn (when are you coming back? Why didn't you bring more yarn? I need it.... I really need it.....)


Danielle is knitting! Niece Danielle (sister to Erik daughter of Cinti) is a knitting whiz and has started a scarf ! It was a knitters dream, all my SIL's knitting away talking about knitting and yarn. Janet (another beloved SIL) feels left out and wants to knit too! So she will be getting some yarn and a book soon..... (ummm my evil plan is working!!!) Roxanne (yes another SIL) has been back to Knit Affair so much I think she has her own parking place, and my MIL has had to wait while endless rows are completed!! Sock Summit here they come!


All the BIL's are groaning about knitting, all the Sil's are addicted (just one more row, just one more) and now the it's effecting the next generation with Danielle and Becky, a family's addiction isn't it a shame.... all because of one terrible pusher... ME! hehehehe watch out I'm coming to a yarn shop near you........

More information

Taco Meat Gladys style;
One Boneless Butt or Shoulder roast large (Turkey or Chicken breasts work well too)
6 Tomatillo's (large, more if small)
6 Anaheim Chilli's
6 Pobalno (a large Bell peper like chilli but can be spicery and darker green) Chilli's
2 Large Yellow Onions
2 large heads of Garlic
2 packages of Taco Seasoning mix
One large bunch of Cilantro

Roast Chilli's and remove skin, seeds and core ( I have roasted Chilli's on Electric, Gas and BBQ but be sure to have all the windows open if you do this in the house, you can be certain of setting the fire alarm off, don't answer the phone at this point either as your chilli's will be burnt when the skin bubbles place chilli's in a plastic bag for a while and it will help remove the skin!). Remove paper and quarter Tomatillo's (These are an important ingredient, you can get these canned sometimes if you don't have them fresh in the grocery store, if you really can't find either e-mail me and I'll send you some they are that important) cut coarsely Onion (our friend Dan hates onion so I used to tell him I omitted them and he was thrilled and again non the wiser, those who knew that Onions were in it claimed he would eat the most Taquito's, 12 at one sitting) Cilantro (Ms Audrey hates Cilantro but always loves this meat it is an important flavor, however by the time all these things are simmered over night you just have a broth and no one is the wiser) and Garlic. Wash Roast or Breasts removing any bone fragments.

Place Roast into large Dutch Oven or Stock Pot add all other ingredients cover with water bring water to just before boiling then cover loosely and simmer over night (or place in slow oven 325 for many hours) until meat falls apart. Take meat out of stock pot and let cool slightly (cool enough to touch) Remaining liquid needs to be reduced, begin by turning up the heat until liquid in just under the boil and stir frequently. While stirring and reducing liquid, remove any unwanted bits from meat, (IE Grizzle, connective tissue or if you haven't used a boneless roast now is the time to remove the bones.) pull remaining meat apart until you have strings of meat, return meat to the liquid and reduce until meat is slightly moist but not running with juice. Cool and put into freezer containers or use right away. This is a base meat product and can be used in Tamale's, Burritos, Taco's/Taquito's and Enchilada's. It is better the next day or after freezing, which works well if you want to make ahead and use for large knitting/spinning gatherings. It is a labor of love and almost a full afternoon of roasting chili and cutting ingredients but if you make enough you've got the week covered for dinner!


This picture is JoJolands Swirl Shawl, I want to make this out of some TFC yarn.... I understand it's not a beginning project, but can't you see this in Newport Rocks in Cashmere? Ummmmmm

Let the sun shine in.....

I worked inside while the men worked outside...Mike was painting boards, Steven was helping Mike and there were men all around, working

Here are a lot of old termite homes


You can't hear all the termite poop running to the bottom of this board but it sounds like one of those "rain sticks"


Termite damage


Daylight not in a good way


This man is replacing the wood at $2.97 a linar foot, look he is measuring $$$$$$


Star Jasmine in full bloom, although the Pink Jasmine is finished. Every roadway in Lakewood smells heavenly as this is planted along almost every roadway. The smell is a much deeper floral scent then the Pink Jasmine (this is my distraction as Mike walks around and around saying "this isn't good, it's not good)


Lemon Tree with more lemons for Curd


A view of the garden


Apriums! This afternoon's haul, most of the one's on the ground were really not good anymore


Steven and I left the depressing scene and went to the Farmers Market and found Apriums for sale! We didn't buy any though, but did get Artichoke Hummus, Corn on the Cob, Avocados' and fresh eggs. We then went to get "really" groceries and found another display and bought some, I was there yesterday!!! WOW


Tonight a very strange thing happened. Steven and I went to visit my Grandniece in the hospital and got terribly lost inside trying to return to our car, 45 minutes later we finally found the parking lot, (at 10:30 pm in the very dark and lonely parking lot) When a little lady starts to yell my name! Gladys was hailing me from across the parking lot.
Gladys use to babysit and clean house for me 20 years ago. She was so kind and good to my children and a pleasure to be around. One day (long ago) I asked Gladys to teach me how to make her Taco/Enchillada/Taquito Meat. Now my famous Taco/Enchillada/Taquito meat!

She was so happy to see me and I was astounded to see her, especially since Becky and I had just talked about her this weekend. We hadn't thought about Gladys for years and low and behold there she was standing in the hospital parking lot at 11:00pm, not even the real hospital parking lot, some back, behind, far away from the hospital parking lot. We stood chatting for a long time. She said I've not changed a bit (it was dark) and she said Steven was the same but way bigger, he is 6' 2" the last time she saw him he was under 4 feet tall......
How strange to have just talked about her this weekend in Seattle (Gladys use to "let" Becky help her with the cleaning jobs, this thrilled Becky and make Gladys smile) and find her again in Long Beach Memorial Hospital parking lot.... She has a super recipe for Chille Rellano but she said she wasn't going to share that recipe she'd just make it for me!!! I look forward to the Guatemalan (not like the "lazy" Mexican way) way of making Chille Rellanos........Can you believe it?

Return trip

I've just returned to California from Oregon for a University Graduation and a Funeral, I'm so proud of my Nephew and so sad about the funeral. Jimmy North was one of my FIL's old work mates, and hasn't been in good health for a while, but it's another reminder that life is so short.

Cleo was very glad to see me and I her. I have to leave her here until next month when I'll be home more.


Our house here in Los Angeles is getting a new roof. Men have been clopping around since 7:00 am this morning and uncovering terrible termite and dry rot damage, so the price of the job is going up by the inch!
This is a picture of the garage roof, what you can't see is the daylight on the back side. They are going to start on the house on Tuesday....


Aroma Therapy is blooming big


This was our breakfast on Monday, all from the Pikes Market in Seattle....


Yesterday I got a tour of Becky's work! This is the entrance

True words


These are the wetlands that the company are re-habituating behind the plant


Aren't these Hosta's huge? They are in the entry way for the plant


The Aprium Tree is dropping fruit everywhere so this afternoon I'm going to be harvesting fruit. I somehow have to make several skeins for production and get dates firmed up for the next 5 months. Seems odd to book things for November when we haven't even had June yet but it is important to plan things (who is saying this?)

My Sil's are knitting up a storm and I have been trying to knit a hat, I think I've managed to cast on (for the third time) the right number of stitches and with the right size needles, but was so disappointed to not have an almost made garment by the time I left the plane yesterday..... I'll probably be in Indianapolis during the first weekend in June, Black Sheep Gathering the weekend of June 19th, then Knitterly the last weekend in June, then Loops in Tulsa OK July 11th! I'll be posting a calendar so everyone (my family) knows what and where I'll be! Hope you can join me soon in some knitting fun!

Super wonderful and beyond!

Today was a celebration of food. Food Food and MORE Food. New friends and laughter.

We started out early and headed for downtown Seattle for our food tour. We ended up having our first cup of tea in a cute coffee house, this is the key to the ladies room!


The Hammering Man in front of....


SAM Seattle Art Museum


We met our tour group inside SAM, took a quick photo of the marble Ram's in the foyer


Our first stop was at the TASTE which is SAM's Museum restaurant, we had some great flat bread with Smoked Salmon and an explaintion about all the sustanable and local produce served there. They were having a special dinner presenting the farmers that produce Salmon Safe produce. I made a reservation on the spot (IE without checking with Becky or even thinking about the fact she may not want to go). The next stop was to Pike's Market and a Crepery. Here is a Nuttella-Banana Crepe


at the I Love New York stand we sampled Hot Pastrami sandwiches along with a potato Kniche (spelling here) and a fresh dill pickle


Fresh fruit from the Corner Fruit Stand


The famous Gum wall, yuck


Slipper making young man, from Whiby Island holding my new slippers


Look at these wonderful artichokes


Becky buying cheese

The Cheese Festival


We kept seeing this sign (Where are we Mom, I don't know Becky but look there's the pink Elephant again) and it was funny as we had consumed a lot of wine


These are Becky's favorite kettle potato chips


Then we went to our special dinner. It was more than great. So many interesting people along with the farmers and such. I can't say enough about the wine pairings along with top taste treats prepared by expert chief's



Oyster Bill talking to Becky whom expressed an interest in shucking Oysters and never had consumed a raw Oyster, so Oyster Bill got one from the kitchen and showed Becky and made her eat it




Desert......


Back to the hotel and to another blissful nights sleep

Home and Happy

It's lovely to be home again, even though I'm hardly home at the moment. Today Becky and I went to Seattle WA. We are here for the Cheese Festival at Pike Market for a little Mom's Day treat. Today we take a food tour of Pike's Market, yesterday we had a leisurely drive and went to the Seattle Museum of Art, they have a Pollack! Getting ahead of myself though so back in time we go to Tuesday......
Mike took me to the airport and Jan picked me up. She had washed and detailed my car and put some Lilac's in the vase from her garden. This is Jan's new mower attachment for her tractor. She and my friend Ann have really neat tractors...


Part of Jan's flock. I love these lambs, yes most of these sheep are lambs even though they are incredibly large. Every sheep with a coat on is a keeper, the ones without...... note the lovely mowing on the grass.....


Most people ask me if I have sheep, I answer sort of. Although I had to give up having sheep since I'm on the road so much making pet ownership too challenging (Cleo is with Mike at the moment) Jan named this sheep "Trish" aka "My" sheep! So here she is the belle of Spinning Ewe Farms, Jan remarked that she is the loudest as well as being the first one to the feed...ummmmm. If you are lucky enough to make it to Black Sheep Gathering meet Trish as she is going to be there as well!


With so many sheep (mostly brown) Jan has her fleece carded into interesting blends, this is her dark brown sheep's wool along with Sari Silk waste, ummm


Jan does have some white sheep, here is some blended with Sari Silk waste


More roving



These next two are brown wool with Silk Noil blended into it. The picture below is a fine fleece and this one is a medium fleece



Here is my favorite Alpaca "Ming" blended with dyed Bambo


Here is brown sheep's wool carded ready to spin! Soft ummmm a spinners delight


After a pleasant evening with good dear friends I ambled home to see everything in bloom, Here is our Dogwood Tree


Blue Bells


My little piece of heaven the front porch......and beyond relaxing spinning


The rest of the week was spent plying, beaded yarn. By Friday I was ready for a break so I spun up some SW Merino in Multnomah Falls to knit a pair of sock for myself on my trip, but Becky got mad and said this was a fun Mom/Daughter trip, I was upset not to have drying yarn and the prospect of a new pair of socks.......
On our way to Seattle she produces THESE SOCKS knit out of Multnomah Falls by HERSELF! The thing I will miss the most about my Mom is the pair of socks I could count on for every birthday and Christmas... no longer, so Becky taught herself to knit socks off of YouTube and Wikipedia! She missed Mom as well but heard her voice encouraging her to keep knitting. These are Becky's first socks, which nearly made me wreak the car I was so over come with delight!


We had to stop and I tried on this one, perfect fit! Multnomah Falls!!!


After a long day walking and driving around Seattle we went to the only restaurant I know there. Pasta Freska, it's a surprise dinner, they just bring you things and you eat them. One of our surprises was this bottle of wine, I asked for a glass of Riesling and got this..... it was good especially toward the end of the bottle. The only unpleasant surprise was how much this bottle cost!


When we got to the hotel it was overbooked and we had to take a king suite instead of two Queens, but we received ANOTHER BOTTLE of WINE and free breakfast! We are supposed to be getting ready to go to our Market tour so I'm off for more fun. Becky slept like a rock and I tossed and turned, but we are ready for FUN! See you tonight!