Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I hate the leaving

I love the arriving.
Mary left for school on Saturday and we both tried not to cry, and I know she did better than I did.

We had been to Jan's on Friday for a farewell party for Mary and I tried not to cry there as well, but I didn't do as well as Mary. On our way home from the party we were very quiet, Mary trying to remember all the things to pack and me thinking of all the work we got done.

We made over 100 skeins, 4 new color-ways, a whole new production system, a calender system (both new things I've been taught to use). We are working on 4 orders and our huge order for Jennifer Knits Vogue Knitting Live is only 12 skeins away from being complete, deadline for finish Sept. 15th- we are almost 3 weeks ahead.

We have a new line of dyed silk scarves that we will lanch in the Fall.

I've been able to work in one place for all summer, a lovely warm but not too hot perfect summer of joy and productivity.

Steven comes tomorrow so the tremendous production overhaul will continue.

But time flows faster and faster, Ms. Audrey remarked the other day that life is like a roll of toilet paper the more you use the faster it goes.

Summer is drawing to a close. Steven is going to help me pack up the factory and haul it down to Los Angeles for the Fall where I'll be probably until November. Mike is working hard to at least have drywall up in the kitchen before I come down but talks about BBQ's and paper plates.

Lily and Cleo continue to prosper but are missing Mary as both are pressed against me at night, no bed hopping. Lily has become more affectionate suddenly, another milestone? Maybe taking lessons from Cleo? She is also enjoying being brushed which is new and welcome as she has sharp teeth and will use them.

I'm still coughing but not as much my energy level has gone up and things have been easier, with enough rest I'm sure I'll be almost 100% by October LOL it has been months and so slow the recovery that has me feeling every bit of the 50 + years I've acquired. Taking care of business I've been to the dentist and there is work to be done, several more appointments have been made and Dr. Grim and I will be good friends again.

I can hardly wait to show you the new color-ways but there is more development to be done before we reveal them.

Emma and Vadar Ryderwood are well and thriving. Mark and I had a really long conversation on the phone, he is old enough for a real conversation and has a wonderful imagination. He has embraced being 3 1/2 and looking forward to being 4 and has decided that his peddless bike is for babies and that he should have a pedal one. He's willing to pass his baby one to Abel putting the idea to Fairy Grandmother Trish is genius! Especially with Mom and Dad busy with contruction of massive dimentions coming with massive building bills.... genius pure genius.
Ms Audrey has also had dental work but Farmer Al continues to recover from his Pnemonia (same bug as I had just took a different path with Al).

Becky is pickling, harvesting, freezing, jamming, and drying produce of every kind. Jars and packages all ready for the dark days of winter. I've been helpping out by using things from last year....yummm Blue-Barb (Blue Berries with my own Rubarb) with Greek Non Fat yogurt. I've been enjoying pickled Green Beans too! This year all the pickled green beans will be from Becky's garden. Potato's are taking over her yard and I'm looking forward to smashed potato's.

But for today Mary has left and both Mariel and Mary are getting ready for the last year of school. Steven is getting to leave LA and stressing about packing, but I'm looking forward to his arriving, I love the arriving!



Sunday, August 07, 2011

Sweet

This is the El Diablo at Tango in Seattle Washington the most wicked of desserts
Any one that has been at my house has had a cup of tea (at least it's been offered) Jan is also really into tea as well so we brought back a huge haul from Canada
Back from vacation Mary and I began work.
Long days and short nights have worn out Mary and Cleo
NW Autumn in Merino/Angora/Cashmere
A day at our County Fair
This is a great idea for added yield for a garden cucumbers up and lettuce under
plants for sale
It's a Day to dye for! A dyeing party hosted by Mary and I left to right Kirsten, Linda P, Jan and Becky Rose
Shelia (of Glass needles fame)
Linda Kirsch
Now we work
Shabori scarves
Cari with a finished scarf
Linda and Shelia working on their scarves
Scarves drying
Lindsy made a great Chocolate cake
Mary taking her scarf off the bottle
Meanwhile Emily bought this new car (remember Emily one of the interns last year? She drove so many miles in my car last year I guess she wanted one herself)
Cari with her yarn and scarf
Mary with a finished scarf
Next day we went to the Canterbury's Faire in Silverton and saw jousting
Becky wearing a mask
in the next week Jan took Mary, Linda and I to Timberline Lodge
Craftsmanship of the CCC
Most everything was hand woven at Timberline lodge this is a sample of the weaving
The loom
A display
What a room looks like at the lodge
I loved the details that define this landmark
A lot of "Glens" on this shelf
Mary getting ready to jump on the chairlift

There was so much snow but peaking through was a few flowers

Smokey and Mary
Lunch at the lodge
After a long day we stopped for a break at Voodoo Doughnuts
Mary, Gina (Loops in Tulsa came to visit) and I went for a visit to Lantern Moon and came back with this
Meanwhile Cleo takes another break
And Steven learns to knit at Jennifer Knits
Our livestock feeds on the peach trees
Then Mary leaves to go to Alaska with her parents and I go to Becky's house to try and rid myself of the virus that still is lingering since Black Sheep. I took this picture of soap. The same soap I had purchased in Canada during my trip with Blair in 1978, good times
This is my recovery room at Becky's house I sat here for a whole week

Found this in a local shop, yes we went all the way to Canada for it and it is right here in Silverton
Umm I saw this in Silverton and wondered how much this driver really wanted a passenger......
A visit to Silver Grille and our good friends Jeff and Naomi
Then it was Sock Summit and here is my sheep, Trish's lamb sheared having donated his fleece
Recovering from the excesses of two days at Sock Summit and still not recovered Lily and Cleo makes sure I stay in bed
The deer have eaten most of the lilies that I have but here are some of the ones that escaped

Do you know this door? It's one of my favorite places
Cottage Bakery in Long Beach Wa.! A picnic for Mark's 1/2 year's Birthday
He got a Kite and while we waited for the charcoal to get ready Emma and Mark tried it out
Snacks and work
After lunch a walk on the beach and what a walk thousands of birds were feasting on something really good
As far as the eye could see there were Brown Pelicans, Gulls and Terns
Mark having his Birthday treat
Abel got one too Look at how happy Don is, this is Abel's last clean outfit
Meanwhile another picture of yarn
Mary came back! And as a special treat brought her parents to Tanglewood and we went to Silver Falls

The next day we went to Ft. Vancouver and saw these wonderful flowers
The garden at Ft. Vancouver
A visit too short we delivered Mary's Parents to the airport and then another visit to Voodoo
I'm much improved and we are counting the days to Mary's departure for good. I'm dreading the day and trying to get all the work done we can. Steven comes to help me pack up Tanglewood for a couple of months in LA. We are almost ready for VK Live and ahead of our schedule.
I'm now caught up and in the present. We've got a busy week ahead and then I'm without Mary........