Winter Walk

The wind is howling around the house, shaking it with great gusts. Drenching rain is supposed to move in later tonight. Already the creeks and rivers are swollen with runoff from melting snow and recent rain. Rather than look at our dreary rain sodden place in the world I’d like to take you on a walk through the snow that we had two weeks ago.

Walk one block east and a block south and we’re standing in the main part of this small village which is at the bottom of Grandview Ave hill, a most excellent sledding run, until the sander comes along but for several days the sander had too many roads that were more important.

Turn east and head up Crooked Finger Road towards the county park. Crooked Finger is the only road leading up into the Cascade foothills from town. It is a major road with many people living along the ten mile stretch.

The beautiful flowering plum trees lining Crooked Finger up to the park were savaged by the snow and ice.

People attempting to come down Crooked Finger had to go around many barriers. Several carried chainsaws and removed trees and branches as they came. We are at a far end of the county, not exactly a priority for county or state departments.

Turning off Crooked Finger at the pole we walk through unbroken snow down to the creek.

An ice encased world.

Faith was enchanted with the snow.

I have been doing a bit of dyeing, started and finished one knitting project and some spinning here and there.

Autumn Walk

It’s not Wednesday but I didn’t get the chance to post yesterday. I have to copy a couple dozen of my spinning dvd for orders. It takes almost 9 minutes to burn one dvd. Kind of like tending to the toddler in the bathtub. May as well post a few more pictures.

We’ve had a glorious autumn with cool nights – a couple of mornings down to 32F – but warm sunny days with only a few days of rain sprinkled about the weeks.  Sadly business work and fiber stuff tends to keep me inside most of the time but last Friday while babysitting the grandkids we went for a long walk to pick a couple apples and visit the horses down the lane.

“Where’s my apple?”

“There it is!”

“Hmmm”

To the horse!

Don’t forget to leave a comment telling what you think my DH, Ed Jenkins. listens to through his headphones while he works (See previous two posts) to get your name in the drawing for a pair of his #7 32″ Circular Pink Ivory knitting needles. These needles are perfect for knitting lace as well as any other types of knitting!

Autumn Bounty

We’ve had such a lovely autumn I long for the days to slow down so I can thoroughly drink in the colors, the smells and the sun before the long grey days of winter settle over us.

We’ve been putting up food for winter. I’m running out of space and still have beets that I should can tomorrow. (I’d rather weave!) And the lady at the farmer’s market told us that she’d be bringing in her next harvest of pole beans next Saturday so there’s still more to come. Umm, we love home canned green beans!

While we’ve put up some food from our garden this year most of it has come from other local sources like the two corner produce stands. Ed drove by last week and saw heaping piles of broccoli. Huge bright green heads of broccoli for $1.50 each. The heads each averaged 3 pounds. We froze about 2 dozen bag fulls. MC came over one day and helped with a marathon canning of green beans. We spent another hour dreamily wandering around picking up nuts and crabapples at her place.

And there’s the corn. For years we were spoiled with an abundance of corn selling at 12 ears for a dollar. I can’t grow it that cheap! But about three years ago it was 8 for a dollar. This year we were dismayed when we realized no one was going to offer it for more than 4 ears a dollar. Yet we understand the farmers have had to fork out huge amounts for fuel and labor this year. And we love having local farm families providing our produce so we gladly support them.

Last Saturday Ed, Aurora and I headed to the Salem Farmer’s Market. Aurora had been singing its praises for several weeks and we were in search of good carrots to can.

First we strolled around to check out prices and offerings.

Can you believe the size of this green pepper? Perfect for stuffing. (That’s my left hand which though small has a good span from years of violin playing – it seriously has a wider span than my right hand.)

Aurora can’t resist the leeks.

We found carrots and spent the afternoon canning them. Ed peeled all 20 pounds. 🙂 The back porch is set up for canning with the two pressure canners a perfect fit on the large propane camp stove in the background. (No we don’t fire up the woodstove on the porch.)

Mandy’s sister got married last Saturday evening. We cleaned up and headed up the hill to the Meeting House where Justin met us with Wesley. Faith and Mandy were in the wedding but this time I wasn’t asked to help with Faith so we sat at the back where I could make a quick escape with Wesley if needed. Justin thrust Wesley at me saying that due to afternoon commotions preparations for the wedding, he didn’t get his nap. Four months old need their naps, desperately. So did a 23 month old big sister. When the processional music started so did Wesley’s cries. I tried to muffle them with a bottle but as everyone stood for the bride he cranked it up another notch. I was grateful for the short length of the Meetinghouse. Quickly gathering up car seat, diaper bag and grandchild I scurried out as soon as the bride reached the prayer rail.

A short time later Justin brought Faith down to our house asking if I could keep both kids for the night! Poor Faith was so exhausted she was too tired (and crabby) to eat. Her crying woke up Wesley and his wails joined hers. One advantage of being a grandma, we know these little crisis will soon pass. I found it rather amusing since the week before I’d offered to keep the children but was turned down. Once they realized food was warm and good, and they settled down, we had a sweet cozy evening. We made Faith a nest on the living room floor and tucked Wesley into a portable crib affair for the night. With the exception of two night feedings, we all slept hard after such a busy day.

A Wedding Tale

Last Saturday the daughter of a close friend became married. Em was 3 when we moved here and started attending the Friends meeting in town. Now she’s schooled, grown and married. She asked our daughter, Aurora to be a bridesmaid. Our son’s wife M was the Matron of Honor and Faith the ring bearer. Em and Ry know a gaggle of young girls but no little boys.

The outdoor setting for the wedding was just down the road from J & M’s place so wedding preparations were staged at their house. M managed to host the rehearsal dinner, provide dressing space for the women of the party (and the bride’s family), kitchen space for her sister who catered the wedding, apply Em’s make-up and take care of two month old Wesley. Friday afternoon Aurora and I went over to help with the kids and general tidying up of the huge wrap-around porch before whisking Faith home to spend the night with us.

By the time we returned at 4 in the afternoon on Saturday the house was bustling with people eating and getting ready for the 6:30 wedding.

Aurora was minding nephew Wesley. (our grandson)

Faith was bathed and dressed in a sweet white dress. I was bidden to take care of her during the bride & bridesmaid’s picture taking. This should be a straightforward task except Faith was overwhelmed by all the people in HER house (who are these people?), a bath way too early for bed, (but doesn’t a bath mean bedtime?) and then going to a place where the thick grass buried her feet (why can’t I pick handfuls of soft grass?) and she was expected to be a good little girl. In other words: Very Grown Up. Ninety minutes is a LONG time for a 21 month old to be in waiting with no more than a water/juice bottle, beloved stuffed doggy and pacifier. That’s what happens when Grandma doesn’t plan ahead better and bring a few books and a bit of finger food. Shall I tell you of the big mishap? Hmm, maybe not.

Don’t you think the Sunset colors look lovely? The flower girl sisters were very cute.

Oh, you do want to know about the mishap. Very Well…

While wandering the huge gardens of the wedding place, yet staying close to the bridge leading to the private photography yard to be available when they called for Faith’s picture, I let Faith wander at will following closely to keep her out of mischief. (that means keeping the pure white dress clean)

Faith was drawn to the small landscaped pond. Grandma intervened, gently redirecting her. Two bored young girls stopped and chatted with us. A look of horror crossed the older girl’s face. Somehow Faith had managed to find the only piece of mud in the thick grass blanket, picked it up and clapped it in the other hand then not liking the feel WIPED IT ON HER DRESS. Both hands. Swiping all across the front of the white dress. Oh the heart stopping Horror! Did I mention that I was holding her bottle, beloved doggy, pacifer, my bag (with essentials such as tissue, gum, wallet, and ahem, socks on the needles) and oh, by the way, the plastic bag holding two boxes containing the Rings! With hands thus laden I needed to immediately restrain her hands and carry her to the nearest water. (No! not the pond, though it was a fleeting thought.) Do not drop the ring bag! We hustled to the restrooms. (Oh NO, M has seen us. She’s coming.) M intercepted us and gasped at the ruin. She fumbled out her cell phone dialing J who was still at home with grandpa and Wesley and asked him to bring the back-up dress. Good mother – a back-up dress.

Faith is stood on the lid of what turns out to be the only women’s restroom toilet, (what? only one for women in a wedding place designed for 400 people? there were about 200 that evening, fortunately this was all taking place about 5:30) remembering an old tip to work from outside the stained area in towards the center of the stain to keep it from spreading and doing more damage, I gently and carefully yet firmly dab at the smears with a paper towel dampened with cold water. Miracle! The mud is coming out! (Do I have the rings? Check, tucked in my bag.) Five minutes in and women started knocking at the door needing to use the facilities. M ran crowd control while I continued cleaning and consoling Faith who decided this was something worth crying over. Bless her heart, M took it all very sweetly. She not once scolded Faith, or me! Her voice maintained a calm, almost cheerful note in reassuring Faith.

Ten minutes of frantically working as fast as possible and the dress looked almost as good as new with nary a smudge to tell the tale. A warm sun and gentle breeze quickly dried the dampness. The bag with boxes with the rings was handed to M. I’m still not sure what ever happened to beloved doggy. He was not to be found when Faith had had enough standing still beside her mom and the bride and she ended up on my lap.

The ceremony was wonderful.

Remember the Blueberry walk?

On the fibery front I have decided to weave the vest for Ed. There would not be enough for crochet which takes a great deal more yarn and I’m not fast enough to knit a vest in time for Ed’s birthday. Besides, there’s more fiber that wants to be part of Ed’s vest. I’d purchased 2 ounces of merino/tencil roving at the same time as the corriedale and camel. Off and on I’d spindle a bit of that lovely stuff but on Wednesday I sat down and spun up the remaining 1.3 ounces on the wheel. Thursday it was plyed and yesterday I set the twist. I wish we didn’t need to attend the 30th anniversary celebration tomorrow of friends we’ve known for 30 years, I’m hankering for an afternoon with the loom.

Page Minder and Meetings

Getting ready to celebrate the friend’s 50th birthday I spun a bit of fiber. (Remember the Tour de Fleece? Yep, still spinning along.)

7 Yards at 22wpi, a size 6 crochet hook, and a couple beads did the trick. A Page minder:

Making page minders from fiber to finish is a quick, satisfying project. Just what I needed during the long slog of plying the corriedale/camel yarn. No, it isn’t finished yet! Other things have demanded attention.

After returning from the beach it was hard to change gears from very relaxed to almost total engagement in high. Our Jenkins Turkish Delight Spindles are a big hit among spinners and orders have been flying in. Ed completed a number of orders which were packed and shipped by Friday, for I am away from home most of this week.

The annual Yearly Meeting of Northwest Quakers is taking place at George Fox University, so the other representative from our small Scotts Mills Friends Meeting and I are staying in one of the dorms and attending sessions and workshops. It’s been a great week so far, with wonderful meetings with Tony Campolo as the main speaker. Of course there’s the usual business sessions occupying the entire mornings. Excellent knitting and spinning time. 🙂 I completed spinning one color sample on a Turkish Delight, wet set, and measured out 26 yards. Who needs a niddy-noddy with a handy 18″ towel rack? And I’ve been knitting a small silk scarf. Pictures later in the week. I’ll be escaping for an hour or so tomorrow to take an order of shuttles up the valley and over a ridge to Carlton, home of Woodland Woolworks.

A couple weeks ago Faith was entranced by a baby bird that poked its head out of the bird house.

I owe emails to several of you which I hope to be able to attend to before this week is over. Please know that I love and appreciate all of you!

Safe / At the Creek

The Family of Four (see post below) were rear-ended this morning while stopped during road construction. A young man wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see that traffic had come to a standstill. J saw him barreling towards them and stomped on the brake hoping the impact wouldn’t send them into the car ahead. It did. Their Honda was accordianed, babies strapped into car seats in back, J&M in front. M’s seat buckled and broke. Miraculously no one was seriously injured. J&M are getting more stiff and sore as the hours wear on but we’re all so extremely thankful the babies and parents were unharmed.

The WeeOne at fourteen days.

And Feathers, who was enthralled with “helping” me warp the loom.

Sad to say, I’ve made little progress beyond this stage. The plan is a linen warped, weft faced rug – my first.

Walk With Me Wednesday and gaze at Butte Creek , taken just around the block from our house.

EDITED:6.19 I hadn’t realized that the youtube video had lost the sound, and the picture quality was poor. Will try again. In the meanwhile will a couple pictures suffice?

After taking the mail to the PO I wandered on down to the creek for a moment’s reflection and saw these ducks only when the female stood up and flapped her wings. Running back home I snatched up the camera. By the time I returned they’d settled down and the colorful plumage of the male had faded with the shifting sun.

Moseying on upstream a ways I was slightly astonished to see these and ran onto the bridge for a better shot:

Little did they realize who’s peace they were about to disturb.