Taos Sunflower

Thirteen more sleeps...

2012-02-15T09:40:00.007-07:00

until I return to California to be with my family there. I'm in wrap-up mode here, building a pile of things that will go back with me and finishing projects so that I have somewhat of a clean slate when I return to NM again in May.

Work in progress

It has been nice, having these weeks to be with my family here. I spent the first 5 weeks spinning a lot (more on that later), knitted and shipped off a box of sweaters, socks and hats for donation to school children in Afghanistan, and purged the pantry shelves of ancient food stuffs, including two bags of special flour I brought home from Ireland in 2001, thinking I would learn to make their wonderful brown bread (really? Did I think going to Ireland would make me suddenly want to learn to bake??). It feels really good to have these things done; so much went to hell in a hand basket, as my mom would have said, during those years I was working full time. And, as usually happens, I was once again reminded that the doing was not nearly as painful or time consuming as the years I spent dreading the tasks. Why do we do this to ourselves???

I think I've already mentioned that my dear friend Monte McBride of MyMixMix.Etsy.com

Not the best photo, but you get the idea!

has been gracious enough to sell my hand spun yarns these last months (she hosts a showcase there for visiting fiber artists). It has been a big gift for me that she's willing to take her time to do this, because I haven't yet come to peace with whether I want to figure out how to manage my own Etsy shop while living in two states or just close it down (it's "on vacation" for now). Monte and I worked together in the yarn shop all the years we were open, and for a year or more afterward, and her offer to do this makes me feel like we're collaborating (creatively speaking) again, and it gives me a renewed joy in my own spinning. Her shop specializes in bundles of commercial novelty yarns and small quantities of specialty hand spun yarns which are probably primarily purchased by those who felt, make jewelry, or other surface design concepts. What's cool about this is that I don't have to worry about making skeins long enough for a knitting project (such as a scarf or hat), so I can really sink my teeth into making each and every one of these little skeins as full of life as I can without having to die of tedium trying to keep it going for well over 100 yards. It's like making a bunch of small paintings instead of one big one (not that I'm a painter, mind you). Oh...and the small skeins end up taking up as much time, if not more, than the longer skeins because I get so fussy and involved. It's OK...I do it for the love of it. As most crafts people and artists well know, it is a rare occasion when you really make an honest hourly wage for your work.

And now, I'm off to drag my 25 year old serger out and see about getting some hooked rugs finished before I depart...I'm on a roll!

Behind the scenes

2012-02-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Life here in our little part of the forest is generally pretty busy, but I don't share most of what goes on for fear of boring you. In the background, while our own lives are percolating right along, our resident friend, Michelle (I call her Ani in most posts) Mueller has a hand dyed fiber business that is operating at a full tilt most days, right here under our noses. I've told you a bit about her before, but it's time to do it again.

We met years ago here in Taos...a kindred spirit and fellow spinner who was living in solitude on top of a local mountain in a yurt, spinning her days away and selling her yarns at the big consumer trade shows (such as the well known XRX Stitches knitting conferences). We discussed the possibilities of growing old together one day, never probably suspecting we might actually live together years later.

Roll forward a lot of years. Ani left her piece of paradise and all her worldly possessions and went to India for fives years, where she was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. In late March of 2010, she returned to the U.S. and has been here with us since, sharing her love with our cats and dogs and her wicked sense of humor with Roger and I. It has been a blessing I don't have words for. Oh...and one other thing...I get to pick through the goodies as they come out of her dye pots. What more could a good fiberholic wish for???

And this is just what I was doing last week when I found these two stunningly beautiful rovings. I couldn't help myself...they were happily waving around on the drying rack, whispering my name. I need more wool like I need another 40 lbs., but yes, I'm weak, and I admit it. They're 85% Blue Face Leicester wool and 15% silk, over dyed over a mixture of dark and white wool, and while my photo doesn't do them justice, let me just say they have a sheen that is very seductive, if not obvious in my photos. (The one with blues and greens and purples remind me of feathers on an exotic bird.) I will spin these, but they would be equally beautiful used in felted projects, or pulled into strands and used in hooked rugs, and when all else fails: they are beautiful just as they are, like little pets you can admire and fondle that don't need any special care.

Where can you find these? Well, Ani has an Etsy shop, Widdershin Woolworks, but more recently has started her own web store, also called Widdershin Woolworks. For those of you who sell your own work, you know that while places like Etsy are a wonderful opportunity for small sellers, at some point, it's a lot nicer if you're selling from your own site so you can save those fees that host sites collect (which truly add up over a month's time, and we all know craftspeople never make what they should for their hard work and love).

So stop by her shops, and if you want to see more, you can visit her group on Ravelry and see what's being made with her gorgeous wools...and now, I'm headed upstairs to fondle that beautiful wool.

At last

2012-02-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

When I first read that a book about Doris Eaton's work had been published, I rushed straight to Amazon to pre-order it. Months and months and months went by and they could never get it for me, so I gave up. I knew I could order it from Canada, but the postage would be prohibitive.

But wait! Amazon finally has it and so do I. I am beyond excited. I got up early this morning and spent an hour lovingly reading the beginning of this beautiful book. I love that she uses recycled materials (hard to find in Taos) and I love that she does her own designs; while I've done other people's designs up until now, just to get some hooking and color practice under my belt, I want to design my own work from here forward. Because of my years long love affair with historic and contemporary tapestry weaving, I am eagerly hoping to find a happy medium between weaving and hooking, in terms of my own designs.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend this book. Lucky you who live in Nova Scotia and may have studied with this great woman!!! If you have, I'd love to hear your stories.

Thinking about creativity

2012-01-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

Years ago, my friend Patty shared something she read in a magazine about how those of us who create things go about our learning paths. I cannot recall if I've shared this with you before, so if so, forgive me. It seems like a good time to revisit this, given what I've been doing the last month.

The writer suggested there are two types of creative learners: horizontal and vertical (picture this as a grid, and then imagine all the tangents in between, if you will). A horizontal learner (that would be moi) starts out learning a new craft with a huge burst of enthusiasm which includes buying all the books on the subject and devouring them. Next comes buying as many of the tools and supplies as possible because of course, this time this is IT, the love of your life, and you're going to create in this medium until your dying days. That is, until you slide along that horizontal path a little farther and find the next great thing, and all of a sudden, you are in love all over again...and the story keeps repeating itself. I think the word dilettante fits in here somewhere; just sayin'.

Then there's the vertical learner. That person finds a stop along that horizontal line and behaves much the same as the horizontal learner, but with the following exception: she/he sticks with that craft/art and takes it to heights not visited by Ms. Horizontal. Worse yet, the vertical learner is most likely to stay with that endeavor and not go flitting off and falling in love with something new every few months/year/couple of years (you pick).

Any of this resonate with you? I've spent a lot of time thinking about this since I've been back in NM. I'm trying hard to grasp that at almost 62, perhaps it's time to settle on just a few things and really focus on them instead of adding more to my list and wondering how the heck I'll ever have enough time to do all I want to do. It's frustrating, because I love learning new things. It's also getting to be quite burdensome (oh, if you could only see all the "stuff" I have amassed living this la la life of mine).

Do any of you feel this way?

A parting note about the left brain/right brain message...I found this on Judith Dallegret's great rug hooking blog, Just Go Hook It, and she's been kind enough to let me share it with you. I'll leave you to ponder it with my only comment being that I need to share this with my husband.

LEFT
I am the left BRAIN .I am the scientist.A mathematician.I love the familiar.I categorize.I am accurate.Linear.Analytical.Strategic.I am practical.Always in control.A master of words and language.Realistic.I calculate equations and play with numbers.I am order.I am logic.I know exactly who I am.

RIGHT
I am the RIGHT Brain.
I am creativity.A free spirit.I am passion,Yearning,Sensuality.I am the sound of roaring laughter.I am taste.The feeling of sand beneath bare feet.I am movement and the urge to paint (or hook a rug )on an empty canvas .I am boundless imagination.Art.Poetry.I sense.I feel.I am everything I wanted to be.

Snip, rip, snip some more

2012-01-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

At least a year ago, I posted about my sticker shock when I went looking in thrift shops in the San Diego area for cottons for quilting (as I had the year before for wool clothing for rug hooking). I received a few messages from readers about all the wonderful things that those thrift stores do with the money they make (which I was already very aware of) and why it was those prices need to be so high (which worried me, wondering how people in need could afford to shop at those prices). In the end, I came to understand most of why it is what it is, but pretty much gave up my searching; frankly, if I'm going to spend $6-8 dollars on a shirt to cut up, I'd rather spent the same or a dollar or two more to buy an entire yard of new fabric.

This past week in Taos, I gave it another try, and scored, so I've been having fun washing, disassembling, and folding up pieces of my new found treasures. Yesterday I found men's shirts for .50 each, so I bought the stack of blues/whites and the wonderful Indonesian cotton shirt was also only .50. The kilts I found for $8.00 each, but once they were completely returned to yardage, I got well over a yard of wool from each, less than half of what I would pay for brand new wool yardage. Cool!!

Question for my rug hooking friends: these kilts were obviously brand new (from Scotland, no less) and in pristine condition. Should I wash the yardage and dry it or just use it as is? It's a bit lighter than some of my wools, almost a shirt weight. Would washing it and running it through the dryer give it a little more grist for hooking?

Spring cleaning

2012-01-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy month since I posted last and while I think of you each day and want to share what I've been doing, it seems I'm stacking up my good intentions and doing little with them. I'll try to catch up over the next few postings.

Spring cleaning, you ask? Yes, I know it's not spring, but I'm in the mood. In my "new life", splitting time about equally between NM and CA, I'm trying hard to make sure each trip to each home includes time for some special projects (read that: things I've long procrastinated on). Since Roger's on travel for approximately 3 weeks, I'm using some of this time to knock some of those tasks off my NM list, beginning yesterday with my kitchen.

Since I love how some of you share your wonderful homes in your own postings, and in case I haven't done this before, I've decided to give you a peek at my kitchen (only a peek...it wasn't all photo-worthy today). I have always dreamed of living in an old home and never had the opportunity, so when we built this home, I tried hard to make some of that happen here. I have always loved antique kitchen utensils, and wanted a wood cook stove (which there wasn't room for along with the gas stove), so I chose a reproduction stove from Canada. I found my sink for $40.00 in a junk store, and my pump for well water is one of my favorite scores...it is not a real pump, but functions as a regular faucet would if you lift the handle. Years ago, someone who saw photos of our home in The New Straw Bale Home book by Catherine Wanek liked this pump so much it earned us a photo shoot and inclusion in an issue of Natural Home Magazine. Who knew!!

Anyway, I digress. Yesterday I took my beloved set of antique pots off the shelf and they are headed off to storage until I can find a better home for them. After 20 years of use, I have decided to join the 21st century and bought brand new anodized aluminum cookware. I also cleaned all the goo that accumulates off my antique ladles, and today my task is to clean out the old spices (some of which have been here for too many years to mention). It feels good to do these things, and, as usual, I find that the pain of procrastination is much worse than the hour or two it takes to get these things done.

So, my friends, just why the heck do we do that to ourselves? Anyone else have that problem?

PS If you know someone interested in buying my antique pots, let me know, I'll make a sweet deal for the lot of them...there are six pots, four lids, and two of the pots fit together to function as a double boiler. Sweet!

Piecing it all together

2011-12-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Front

As are most of you, I'm trying to figure out just how the heck this last year passed so quickly. I remember my son saying that to me when he was in his early teens: time just keeps moving faster. And as my mom would say to me each year, I would reply: you ain't seen nothin' yet.

So here I sit. The first part of the year was really rough, with my sister's end of life and subsequent passing. It is only now, nine months later, that I can even let myself think of her or say her name without bursting into tears. It's just how life is, fleeting and fragile. With her passing came a renewed sense of the importance of the everyday things, and family and friends; her final parting gift to those of us she left behind.

Quilting therapy

Balancing the sadness has been the great joy of our grandchildren, much more family time than I've spent in years, more time with old friends, and my new found passion for quilting. Along the way, my Etsy shop and fiber business has slipped into the closet, but I'm working on a way to work that all out soon; these last two years have been a bit of a sea change and I'm trying to find my new direction without rushing, as I have so often in the past.

Before I left California, I wanted to be sure and make a backing for the scrap quilt I made this fall, so when I return, it's ready to be assembled and quilted. This is my "memory" quilt, and I've decided it will be fun to make one at the end of each year with scraps from the year's projects, along with scraps from my other quilting friends. As an old song can transport me magically back to another time, I expect these fabric scraps will have the same effect. This particular quilt will remind me especially of my quilting friends Liz and Terri, and the many great laughs we had while visiting this year. That laughter was an important part of my healing process.

Scrapped back

A year ago this past week, I was so down that I thought to end this blog. I missed you, and came back. I'm glad I did. You've been a great support to me this year, through the sad and the happy. I only wish we could all just hang out for a day and catch up in person.

I wish you all the best for the new year ahead and look forward to sharing 2012 with you. Cheers!

Martie

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ornaments in San Francisco

It has been a transition again. We returned to NM about 5 days ago and the days have been spent readjusting to altitude (we're at about 8,000 ft.) and very low humidity. Naps with the dogs and cats have helped a lot.

The big storm that raged through NM day before yesterday went everywhere else but here. We had a beautiful, sunny (albeit cold) day, while the primary E/W interstate 40 was closed from the AZ border to the TX border. Go figure! We're fine with it; there's plenty of snow on the ground to feel like the holidays and yet the sun is out...as it should be in the winter here in our little part of NM.

Today some friends are coming for lunch. It will be a traditional meal (our tradition, anyway): green chile posole, home made tamales with optional red chile sauce, black beans, Spanish rice, and cranberry sauce. Mr. Sunflower is making apple crisp and Ani is making cherry pie, and I am pretty sure I saw a container of Taos Cow ice cream in the freezer to adorn them both.

So, my friends, I want you to know I'm thinking of you this day. I wish you and yours all the best this day. Maybe you be warm and safe and with those you love.

XXXX
Martie

San Francisco

2011-12-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful week in the city. I did make it to Britex, along with my step daughter Jamie, and we had a good time picking out some fun trims and petting fabric. Fortunately (or not) this is not a place to look for quilting fabrics, so the impact on the credit card was minimal.

While I spent most of the week in the hotel catching up on sleep, we did do a little walking around the area. I was just blown away by the beautiful window displays, my favorites being the sewing machines at All Saints and the origami horses at Hermes.

The city is just so alive! I had forgotten this, living in my two (relatively) quiet cocoons here in Encinitas and then in northern NM. I think cities may be more fun when you're young and vibrant and the energy in the air is almost palpable, or different, in any event. It was fun to see young people and their fun hair cuts and fashions. It brought back so many memories from my twenties and thirties when I spent so much time up there. We laughed to think we are actually happy these days to have dinner behind us and be back in our room by early evening, about the time we would have been heading out in the old days. It's all good. I'm content to enjoy the memories of those days and maybe, just maybe, enjoy these days even more.

And now it's time to wrap up my visit here in Encinitas and prepare to head back to NM on Wednesday. I hear we're getting another storm there today, so it seems we'll definitely have a white Christmas...yay!

On the road

2011-12-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

The historic St. Francis Hotel in foreground

I woke up in downtown San Francisco this morning. Here's the view from our room.

This trip has been in the works for quite a while, but I've been flat out with my grandkids and sewing and pretty much ignoring this trip until Sunday night, when I had to pack. An easy flight to Oakland and a BART ride to the city yesterday, and we're here (I met Roger at the airport in Oakland...he had just flown in from NM).

I'd like to tell you about all the great tourist things I did today, but frankly, other than breakfast in the hotel dining room, I slept a large portion of the day. We're headed out soon to chase down some old memories in places we used to haunt, back in the day.

Tomorrow I'm walking over to Britex to check out their fabrics. After all these years and countless visits, I have never ever let myself walk in the doors of this legendary institution. Stay tuned.

Bits and pieces

2011-12-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

In spare moments here and there this last month and a half, I've been working on a quilt for my grandson, who turns 6 a few days before Christmas. For the last year or more he has been enraptured with Johnny Depp's character, Jack Sparrow, of Pirates of the Caribbean fame. Last summer, Riley Blake came out with a great line of pirate fabrics and I snatched them up.

I didn't want to cut them up too much and obliterate the graphics, so I chose an easy block pattern. I was really not liking it much until I got it put on the backing and starting quilting it, and now that it's finished, I like it a lot. My only concern at this point is whether or not he has outgrown pirates since I started this; I'll find out in another week or so when I give it to him.

I've continued to work on my scrap blocks as I find small blocks of time (no pun intended). I now have 64 and have put together a top using 48 of them; the remainders will be put into the backing in some fashion. I hope to have something to show you on this later this week; I'm trying hard to get it finished (up to the machine quilting part) before I return to NM just before Christmas.

While all these other things are going on, I have kept this small stack of Rocky and Bullwinkle fabrics here on the table, trying to decide what I should make with them. Place mats are one thought; I don't think I have enough to populate an entire quilt without losing them. Or...maybe losing them a little bit is OK? Whatever; they are yet another date stamp of my time period and loves. You're never too old to be a kid, right?

Top Five Regrets of The Dying

2011-12-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Top Five Regrets of The Dying

For some reason, after linking you to this article in the posting I just did, it didn't work when I double checked the link about posting. I am suspicious that perhaps there has been such a large response to this article that perhaps the site has crashed. In any event, I'm using the link from the bottom of the article (which was still on my computer from yesterday, when I first read it) and hoping this works. If not, I apologize. I've saved it in (at least, I think I was able to) PDF format, so if you e-mail me at martie@taossunflower.com, I'll send it to you directly.

It's worth the trouble!

In response

2011-12-04T14:02:00.001-07:00

Rather than just comment back on each of your comments to my last post, I feel that another posting to discuss your comments might be in order. First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond. It was comforting to know I'm not the only one wondering what's OK and what's not to blog about.

Cathy, I love what you said about needing to give yourself permission to say what you really feel. If you knew me in real life, you'd know that I rarely seem to have a problem blurting out what's on my mind and probably often at the expense of sounding utterly tactless. For some reason, though, I worry here when I write that I will hurt someone's feelings. What's that all about????

Kim...I love how you let it all hang out. A while back you did a posting about someone who cut you off in traffic and I just loved it. Sometimes it's those things that seem so pointless on the big scheme of things that irritate us the most, and knowing that I'm not the only one who feels like that is comforting.

Courtney and Lesley Ann...yes, it's the honesty of day to day living that is sometimes easiest to report on; our successes, our failures, our disappointments and our delights. I love them on your own blogs and feel you've all given me permission to be a little more open about my stuff. I'll try not to take advantage of that.

Ter'e...you crack me up. Thanks for being who you are, my cyber twin.

Holding hands with Maddy Rose

Grateful Heart...thank you for such a warm and thoughtful response. I guess, in the end, we all just resonate with certain people and love sharing their worlds. You are one of the reasons I came back to blogging...your message to me when I thought I was bailing out really meant a lot to me. Thank you from my own grateful heart.

So now, at the risk of this posting getting ridiculously long, I'd like to share something with you. It came to me on Facebook this week. If you have a moment, I'd like to share this list called "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying". More food for thought going forward.

And now...I'm off to try to gather my marbles into one bag, so to speak. It has been a gloriously busy couple of months and I've taken the liberty to stake out today and tomorrow as days I will not see anyone, not get in my car and go anywhere, and possibly not even get out of my pajamas. I need to recharge my batteries!

Blogging

2011-11-28T10:30:00.001-07:00

Stormy sky on a recent morning

While I don't post very often these days, it seems I'm running a continuous dialogue in my head of posts I would make on any given day. Then I get too busy, or I think you might not really be interested. Blogging has provided me with a format for sharing thoughts, pieces of my life, and a sense of community beyond my own, but I'm never quite sure why anyone follows along. This, then, causes me to think about the blogs I follow, and why.

I have a list of probably 30 or more blogs I try to keep current on. Within that list I have a hard core group of you that have become friends (as much as we can be, with the miles between us). There I learn about your days, your projects, your family, your holidays, what you're reading, and much more. I love those things about your blogs, and that I feel a (corny alert here) closeness with you that has been built over time. I share your happiness, successes, and sadness. When I thought I would stop blogging last year, and tried, I realized I missed being part of your circle.

I follow blogs about rug hooking, quilting, dyeing, spinning, knitting and weaving. With the exception of weaving, which seems to have fallen by the wayside, I am still actively enjoying these other crafts. I post on some of what I work on and do a lot of things you don't see (like my donation knitting) because I wonder if you would be bored. I have learned that I dislike (and will not read) blogs that go on for what would be many pages long if printed out. I am just not a person who can spend that much time reading on line; I get edgy and want to get busy doing something else.

To end this rambling, I wonder: what DO you really like to hear about? Why do you follow my blog? Since my postings don't focus on one particular topic, like quilting or rug hooking, I often wonder who is popping in and what keeps you coming back. Just nosey. Indulge me if you feel like it. If you don't want to leave a comment here, please leave one on my e-mail address attached to this blog if you feel like it. This is sort of like my own little survey with no prize at the end.

Thanks!

I love speed

2011-11-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Juki TL-2010Q

When I decided to fulfill my many years long fantasy of becoming a quilter last year, I bought a sweet little Janome Gem 3/4 size sewing machine. The price was extremely attractive (well under $300) and I know these are the workshop machine of choice for many quilters. It has beaten its little heart out for me without asking much in return (except a new foot pedal).

Then, earlier this week, I was at the local quilt shop, watching the owner happily sewing a diaper bag, which had many layers of thick fabrics to negotiate. Her machine just flew right through them like they were butter. This brought back fond memories of the years I sewed on an industrial machine, which had the ability to crank out thousands of stitches per minute and buzz through multiple layers of thick fabrics without even skipping a stitch. I found my heart falling seriously in love with Kim's machine and spent one feverish night dreaming about it.

After researching the next morning, low and behold I found the newer version of her machine for a seriously marked down price. Yay!!! Guess who now lives with me? Here she is. I love her madly. I can free motion quilt at high speeds now. Oh...and allow me to share with you that the one provision I had to agree to with my DH before buying it was that I promised not to sew through my finger.

I can live with that.

Busy weeks

2011-11-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

My works in progress

Things have been flying past on full tilt boogie lately. I think about posting but it doesn't always happen. I also admit I'm currently about two weeks behind on reading those blogs I normally check daily...so please know that if yours is one of them, I've not forgotten you, and will be back soon. I have, frankly, just been ignoring my computer for the most part.

One of the things that I've been back to since posting last is sewing. Last week I spent several nights with my friend Liz at her wonderful home in the mountains (where I was lucky enough to be for their first snow of the season). While I really love it here on the coast, I found myself heaving a huge sigh of relief as soon as I got out of the crazy city traffic and on back country roads; even better when I hit elevation and saw the forest. I guess it confirms it...I'm just a mountain woman at heart.

Love the sofas

Anyway...we hung out for three days, sewing from early morning until later in the evenings, punctuated by meals in or out. It was just a blast. Liz likes to quilt with the many diverse fabrics being printed for the modern quilt movement, and my tastes are still slowly crawling away from calicos and florals. Being with her was great for me, to learn from her and expand my horizons a bit. She generously shared her fabrics with me and I actually came home liking things I would never have dreamed I would. I've posted some photos of some of these fabrics in action. The cartoon block will always hold a special memory for me...because after 51 years of sewing, it was while making this block that I got distracted and actually sewed right through the end of one of my fingers. That's another story I'll spare you...but a lesson hard learned!

Proud mom

2011-10-26T09:27:00.000-06:00

The Success

This past week has been spent transitioning...from one house to another (where'd I put that???), to another climate (grey, damp, cool), and a little bit of time difference (OK, so it's only an hour, but any excuse to sleep in). The best part has been being able to see my daughter in law, who I adore, and the grand kids, who seem to grow hourly. They fill me with a love that is so special, sometimes I feel I could burst.

A 132 lb. Grouper

My son is at sea right now, and will be through the end of the year, most likely. He's the owner operator of a sport fishing boat here in San Diego. It's darned hard work, one that takes his entire family to support the business. He is definitely a Pisces; I have long suspected he is truly part fish. He is a man of the sea and isn't happy for long if he's not connected to it in some way. One of his great loves is free diving and spear fishing; he does this as often as he can on his days off. (Please note: I respect his love for this but not being someone who eats fish, would just as soon they keep swimming out there.)

This morning these photos came my way, via Facebook. The last few years, he has taken on a second season after San Diego's ends, one that takes him down into Magdalena Bay in Baja California. Mag Bay is known for being a destination for the whales that head south every winter to calve. There are some tiny villages there that are literally off the beaten path, with no hotels or restaurants. There he takes charters for both sport fishermen and fly fishermen; they go out for several days at a time.

My boy, all grown up.

When he headed down to Mag Bay this trip, he took a charter with him: a group of professional surfers and photographers, shooting for an international surfing magazine whose name I don't know. I guess it was an amazing trip. Here are some photos I'd like to share of my son and his boat. It all seems so warm and tropical after having been freezing here for the last week. I'm thrilled for him to have had some fun along the way.

Thanks for indulging me. I couldn't help myself.

Post post script

2011-10-20T08:49:00.001-06:00

Sorry I've left some of you hanging on the bear story. He/she never came back again, which more than surprised us. Needless to say, we are grateful. I hope it manages to find enough food to hibernate this winter and grow up to be a strong and healthy bear in another summer...a summer that is more fruitful than the one we've just finished, that is.

I've been busy relocating again these last few days. I brought two huge suitcases of spinning fiber with me this time; I will post on that soon as I can find my camera. And now...off to fight the early morning geriatric crowd at the grocery store (that would include me, BTW).

:0)

The morning after report

2011-10-16T08:56:00.000-06:00

Well, it seems our little visitor wasn't easily discouraged. About 10:30 last night, Ani called us from her place and reported he was back, peering in her window. This morning we've just learned that he/she returned, snuffling on the windows, about every two hours. At least it didn't try the skylight.

So...in answer to your question, Shawn...I don't know what we'll do. Hope it stops on its own, although it's clearly starving. I don't think it has many options this close to winter. It's just heart breaking.

I really don't want to call Fish and Game over this and have them "relocate" or worse. I've heard there have been so many incidences this summer they're just killing them. I couldn't live with myself after that. It's a youngster...based on Ani's experience, we guessing about two years old, so I don't know if they even consider relocating youngsters. Not to mention there is no place better to take it...the whole state is in crisis.

Sad, sad, sad.

Guess who came to dinner

2011-10-15T21:46:00.001-06:00

Picture this on your kitchen table!

Because of our severe drought this summer, it's been a horrible year for wildlife having to encroach into urban areas searching for food. I suspect that the lucky ones (meaning the ones that are tranquilized and relocated, versus killed) don't always have such a great story to tell once they find themselves suddenly plopped down in a new territory, either. It's a sad scene, all around. Tales of bears and coyotes killing chickens and pets abound this summer, and no trash can shall go unturned.

This past week, our two dogs have been on hyper alert during the night, barking wildly when they can smell or hear coyotes or bears in the yard. I'm sure it's as frustrating for them as it is for us. They want to protect, we want to sleep. After the first two nights, I stopped catapulting out of bed in hope of seeing a bear out the window. I'm SO over it. Until tonight, that is.

After we happily finished watching Part II of the Martin Scorsese documentary on George Harrison, I walked Ani to the door, wishing her a good night's sleep. Suddenly she started yelling for me...I stepped outside, and from our porch, we could see through the screen door into her room. There it was, ursus americanus, in living color...climbing around on her kitchen table looking for snacks.

What ensued was probably something that should have been filmed. Ani and I grabbed pans and utensils to bang on them with. Roger grabbed an air horn and a monster spotlight. Together we marched up to her room, unsure of our plan, but knowing we had to do something (it was after 9:00 p.m., and since the sheriff's department is probably off duty on a weekend night or wouldn't respond anyway, what to do??). As we banged on our kettles, Roger honked the horn and pushed the screen door open with a broom. After a few moments, we crept up and peeked inside; it turned out it had come and gone through a window that it had accessed by climbing up on the roof of the dye studio. Our next concern was finding Ani's sweet little cat, Badger Baby...who was hiding in the bathroom sink. Total loss appears to be a bowl of cat food. Seems like we caught it early in its exploration.

Meanwhile, back at the horn...Roger was shining the light and blasting the horn around the other side of the building. It turned out the bear was still hanging out on the roof, so he "guided" it with the light and watched as it took off across the yard and down into one of the big arroyos. Suddenly I got creeped out...we were all three outside, not knowing who else might be around. Have I mentioned how dark it is up here at night without a full moon?

So that's our story, and I'm sticking to it. Our poor dogs...they missed all the excitement!

So early!

2011-10-09T10:19:00.000-06:00

From the kitchen window

I don't recall ever having snow fall at our elevation so early in the fall. This is what we woke up to yesterday morning; it is, for the most part, gone here at our place this morning (except for some patches on the ground). It was a good drill...we learned a thermocouple is out on the water heater that heats our floors, and the firewood has not been brought up to the porch yet. All fixable, but reminders, nonetheless.

Facing south...the Pecos Wilderness

Facing southwest towards Georgia O'Keefe country

Monday, Monday

2011-10-03T09:03:00.000-06:00

The sale on Friday was a moderate success, given that there isn't much money floating around for discretionary spending right now. It was fun to see some of my former customer friends and blog readers (thanks for saying hi in person, that was awesome to know someone has hung with me that long). Best of all, I got to spend the day hanging out with my buddy Monte (of MyMixMix.Etsy), and Anila (Michelle of Widdershin Woolworks.Etsy) and Monte's daughter Shelley, who is relatively new on the spinning and dyeing scene but is doing some great fiber bundles and handspun yarn that makes me want to lose my cool and starting buying and stashing again (Shelley can be found on HeadleyGrange.Etsy).

So here's the ridiculous thing...I was so tired from the build up all week to the sale, I never even made it the 15 miles down the mountain to attend the Wool Festival. Boy, I must be getting old. I also admit to being a little jaded about what I think the festival has become over the years, and, as things often happen, as a result of having been a board member and a vendor there for a lot of years, I think I just got burned out on the political end of it. So the moral of the story probably is that if you love something a lot, don't look behind the curtain or get too involved or you might end up spoiling your fun.

My photos this morning have nothing at all to do with this posting. They're from a super lunch my friend Terri treated me to, just before leaving CA last month. Steamed mussels and clams, sweet potato French fries with Chipolte Ranch dip, and a crab salad. What isn't shown is the loaf of fresh, hot, sour dough bread we ravaged with lots of butter...all of which is making me swoon right now, because I'm going on week 5 of watching my food again (as in counting points and trying to lose weight) and this is the point where I am starting to lose my resolve. Ah, for that bread and a plate of pasta...

Starting the new week

2011-09-26T14:58:00.000-06:00

I've been far more industrious than usual and can now happily report that I've gotten two sets of book cases emptied, cleaned, purged, and restocked. If you see a glow in the sky tonight in my direction, it could just be my halo.

The sale is taking my time these next few days. I've been going through all the books left over from the shop and have been pricing them. Next will be the needles and notions. The yarns I want to sell are mostly down at the old shop building, so that will be Thursday's work, sorting and pricing. This is all priced to sell, well below wholesale; I know there's not a lot of money around right now and I'm more concerned that people who will love this stuff get it sooner than later.

I have a question: do any of you understand the Amazon book selling system? I've been selling books (occasionally) over the last few years but have had something happen this time I don't recall happening before. That is, I price a book, and within a couple of minutes another bookseller underbids me by say, maybe, two cents. I played with some of my listings yesterday long enough to decide that there's something hinky going on. My husband suspects maybe these larger sellers have some sort of bots watching to keep underbidding the new listings. I can find nothing on Amazon that supports this theory, for either the hobby level seller such as moi, or the pros. It is annoying at best. I seem to recall something like this happened to eBay sellers long ago (foggy memory based on no particular evidence). As a result, I've pulled most of my listings for now. I already don't play well with others, but when I think someone's doing me a dirty, I'll step out of the game for sure.

And now, a gratuitous photo of Bob (in the left corner, weighing in at around 20 lbs.) and Haus (in the right corner, weighing in around 110 lbs.). My boys; lovers both.

It's the economy, stupid

2011-09-22T11:22:00.004-06:00

My excuse for not exercising

This 1992 slogan from Bill Clinton's campaign is ringing in my ears these days. As probably happens to many of you, my stomach churns each evening while watching the national news. I hear this slogan when I hear stories about my hard working friends who are barely hanging on, and I hear it when I see my friends and family struggling to pay astronomical prices for health care (not to mention the ones who just can't pay for it at all). I hear it when I hear stories about what's happening to internet sales, and I hear it when I see how many businesses have had to close in our little mountain town the last couple of years (including my own). I hear it when the homeless people I see now are no longer only disenfranchised mentally ill people and alcoholics who are down and out. It is, quite frankly, haunting me. I wonder, sometimes, how things will ever get right, at least in my lifetime. (Please note: I don't profess to have any big answers, and I try hard to keep my politics off this blog...usually.)

Just a sampling of what's getting purged

So having shared my angst with you, I'll proceed to babble about some other things in progress. After returning to Taos a week ago, I decided it was time to purge more of my mess; this time starting with knitting books. When I had the yarn shop, just about every book we ordered came home with me (she said, greedily). Now that my knitting projects are mostly for donation, and simple patterns, I've decided to clear the shelves. This week I listed over 20 books on Amazon, sold two promptly, and then this morning, checked my listings page: all but about 3 of my listings have been plowed under by newer listings, in some cases cutting my asking price in more than half (it's the economy, stupid). Books that were considered collectible a couple of years ago, and sold for big bucks, are now being dumped for next to nothing (ditto). I am starting to think that I'd be better off re-shelving the most precious and donating the rest to the library. My primary concern is that these books end up in the hands of someone who will love them. What to do???

In the meantime...Monte (MyMixMix.etsy.com), Anila (Widdershinwoolworks.etsy.com) and Shelley (HeadleyGrange.etsy.com) and I have decided to stage a "porch sale" at my former shop location in Arroyo Seco next week. They'll be selling their gorgeous hand spun yarns and hand painted fibers. I'll be trying to sell the last of my shop inventory, which includes commercial yarns, needles, books, notions, and lots of free patterns. If you are in the area or know of someone who might be in town for the Taos Wool Festival, please share this information:

Porch Sale at Taos Sunflower
Friday, September 30 from 9:30-3:00
located in Arroyo Seco behind the Doug West Gallery
(our same old shop location)

Well, back to the shelves. If you look carefully, you'll see the tiny face of my enemy lying in wait on the floor...alongside my other enemy, the duster. Wish me luck.

The face of the enemy

2011-09-14T11:26:00.000-06:00

Today is my day to wrap up my stay here in California. Being the Princess of Procrastination, I always save all the good stuff for the last minute, including house cleaning.

This morning I decided that instead of waiting until mid-afternoon to tackle these tasks (and get all weirded out because I let it wait so long), I'd try something new: get it done really early while I was still a) partially asleep and b) getting my morning caffeine load on. It seemed to work. I had two bathrooms scrubbed from top to bottom, everything dusted, but alas...I fear I have stalled out part way through my least favorite task of all...vacuuming.

Luckily, we have one of those built in systems, so all I have to do is drag a long hose around the house, but I still just hate it. I've watched those programs on Oprah about people who have OCDs and can't vacuum their homes enough. Boy, I wish there could be some middle ground here. Maybe I shouldn't have fired the housekeeper whose only talent seemed to be vacuuming...

Local excitement

2011-09-02T13:24:00.001-06:00

Lately the big stories on the local news have included an almost daily sighting of a dorsal fin of a Great White shark recurring in certain areas of San Diego waters, causing a few beach closures this past week. A couple of days ago, it got a little closer to home (like a few blocks...one of two of "my" beaches), in the form of this surfing shark.

The photo was caught by a local man who claims he didn't even realize he had captured the image of the shark Wednesday until he was looking at his photos that evening. Get this: local lifeguards tried to pass it off as a surfer, merely swimming back out on his board. Well...I'm no shark expert, but the one they consulted says this was probably a 10-12 foot Great White. The locals who were out in the water that day and learned about it later thought it was good publicity for the shark..proving that not all of them (indeed, few) are looking for human munchies just for something fun to do.

Score one for the sharks.

Have a good weekend...!

Photo courtesy of KFMB Channel 8 on line

Another piece of history

2011-08-31T14:23:00.000-06:00

Some months ago, my neighbor showed me this quilt that came from her mother in law's home last year. She has no idea who made it, nor when; another reason it's important for us to put signatures and dates on our work.

I was fascinated by the block design. I have photographed it today in hope that one of you may recognize it. My other hope is that perhaps one of you may be skilled at dating based on prints. The quilt is tied, and was sewn on a machine. That's about all I can tell. Any help or suggestions are appreciated!

PS I've asked Deb Rowden (Thrift Shop Quilts) for help. If she knows the answers, or if I get them from anyone, I'll let you all know.

Another try

2011-08-27T12:28:00.000-06:00

OK, I've just spent some time investigating some postings about problems others have been having with Blogger lately. I am boggled by all the information; it has to do with cookies, third party cookies, blah blah blah. One thing I could read and understand was this: I've changed the comments form to the pop up window instead of it just going below my posting. One site says this should/could solve the problems of being able to leave a comment. I hope.

Anyone out there with any patience left for this? If so, please try leaving a comment and see what happens and let me know at martie@taossunflower.com if it's still screwy.

I am SO sorry about this. If it persists, I may move my blog to Wordpress (not my first choice, but in an act of desperation).

Thanks for hanging with me.

Leaving comments on this blog

2011-08-27T10:26:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been (just barely) getting word from many of you that leaving comments on this blog is difficult, if not impossible, in some instances. Needless to say, this is infuriating for me. I have checked and rechecked my Blogger settings and don't understand why this is happening. In fact, I recently set Blogger to allow anyone to comment (even anonymous readers) and hopefully, with as little trouble as possible. It turns out this may have backfired.

This is what I'd like to do to Blogger right now.

As of this morning, I've gone back and tried to re-create what I am trying to recall my settings were before I "opened them up". Here's where you can help, if you have time: please leave me a comment on this posting and let me know your experience. If you are having difficulty, please e-mail me at martie@taossunflower.com and if you would be kind enough, explain to me what the issues are that is making it difficult for you, if not impossible, to leave a comment. I want to try to get this resolved as soon as I can, if at all possible.

I miss hearing from you and appreciate those of you who have already left me word about this problem...thanks for fighting through the tangles to let me know I have this problem!

XOXO
Martie

Staying busy

2011-08-25T08:54:00.000-06:00

The days are, as always, just flying. I'm working on some projects I can't share with you, because they are or will be gifts; some quilting, some embroidery. I have only spent an hour or so rug hooking since I arrived, and soon I'll be packing up my cutter and shipping it back to NM.

After I left here for NM back in 1993, some changes happened in my neighborhood. A commuter rail station and a bus transfer station were installed one block over, just up from the coast highway. At the time, the meetings the residents were invited to got quite contentious, and I must say that few of us were on board for the project. It turned out, however, to be a wonderful thing, and really didn't disrupt our neighborhood anymore than the increasing automobile traffic has.

Sunday afternoon, I treated my grandson and myself to a train trip to downtown San Diego. I thought we'd walk around the harbor and visit the ship that was used for some of the filming for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (The Star of India). However, once we got down there and my grandson discovered his favorite sea food restaurant had a presence down there, the tall ship lost precedence to a kettle of steamed clams and mussels. He has been eating them since he was a little baby; it always floors the wait staff when he orders them. I just love it, to see someone so young find so much joy in an unusual meal.

PS: Don't ask me why I am including the photo of the old lamp post. I just liked it.

Surprise!!

2011-08-21T07:44:00.000-06:00

My original logo

I just discovered I now have 50 official followers. It apparently happened a couple of weeks ago, but I've been pretty distracted (as you know, since I haven't been posting often). Anyway, I've decided to have a little surprise for number 50: turquoise moon!

So...turquoise moon...if you're out there, would you please contact me privately? I tried to e-mail you from blogger but it wouldn't work.

Happy Sunday to all...I'm off for a day with my grandson!

Words to live by

2011-08-11T11:38:00.000-06:00

Happiness is...

2011-08-05T09:31:00.000-06:00

Watching my five year old grandson leave for his first overnight fishing trip.

Taking a walk to the beach with a sleepy granddaughter.

Appreciating one of the remaining old eucalyptus trees and the beauty of its being.

Having a new grocery store at the bottom of my street where I can find organic products and know that the store stocks as many products as it can that come from local, small owner, businesses.

I am truly blessed.

Studio visit

2011-07-29T09:12:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I took the morning to visit my dear friend Monte. Many of you may remember we worked together all those years in the yarn shop, and have had many adventures together since.

On the wheel...

Off the wheel!

Time to visit is at a premium these days, between her being so busy with her business and my being gone so much. Because of this, I knew that while I'd be there, she'd be busy spinning away for her Etsy shop, MyMixMix. Her yarns are elegant and fun, at the same time. Many of her skeins are shorter, so they're perfect for embellishing projects, needle felting, and whatever else you can dream up. They'd also add that perfect little je ne sais quoi to a knitting, crochet, or hooking project. I have a collection of her yarns I am hoarding for that morning I wake up and have *the* perfect project in mind for them!

If you stop by and visit Monte, please be sure to tell her I was bragging about her and her work!

The countdown

2011-07-27T13:07:00.001-06:00

Driving home from town yesterday

Only six more sleeps until I fly back to CA. The days have been full and happy here, so I'm torn about leaving and knowing it will be fall when I return. I don't recall if I've mentioned this before or not, but in our little corner of NM, July 4 is considered the middle of summer in many ways. The aspens in the mountains start turning colors in September, and you can sometimes smell that crispness of fall in the air as early as late August. I adore fall and think it's my favorite season here in the mountains.

The monsoons are trying hard to give us their blessings. We've had a wee bit of rain, but not nearly what we should be having at this time of year. It's just wonderful to see the clouds building over the mountain in the afternoon, hearing a bit of thunder, and smelling the few showers we have had. It has been enough to cool down our evenings, which is delicious. This morning it was under discussion to put the down comforter back on the bed...a good thing.

In and around other things the last few days, I've been dyeing up some wool for my next hooking project. I guess because I've been working with such gaudy colors, the appeal of muted colors was too big to pass up. It has been slow going, though, doing only a couple of pieces at a time, and maybe only four small pieces in a day. I have photographed a few to share with you. I also over dyed some plaids and checks I had hanging around, also fun. I think I've decided that I should probably wait and not do any more until I actually have my pattern in hand...otherwise I might just get lost in dyeing up lots and lots of colors I may never use. It's addictive, like making magic, and almost as much fun as dyeing spinning fibers.

And now...off to start packing, so I can spend some time hooking later this afternoon when I'm finished.

Eleven more sleeps...

2011-07-21T07:02:00.000-06:00

until I return to see my grandchildren in California. My time here in Taos has just flown, and as usually happens, I have not done half the things I wanted to do. I feel so fortunate, though, to have more things I want to do than time to do them. I have known people who get bored and I will never understand that. I don't think there are enough hours in the day!

While I was in town last week, I popped into Taos Adobe Quilting and thought I'd just take a peek at her florals. I fell in love with the giant hydrangea print and while I have no clues what I will do with it, I knew I needed it (a favorite word when I'm shopping). Next thing I knew, I had a stack of goodies on the counter that ended up coming home with me. They're getting packed to go to CA to meet the rest of my stash.

My other acquisitions for last week are some new iron on embroidery patterns. I love to embroider, but am often at a loss for just what to work on. I found this great site through a story on Etsy: Sublime Stitching. Her trademark: This ain't your gramma's embroidery. I had so much fun, I bought three sets of patterns and am looking forward to starting something soon as I return to CA. Check them out, if you love to embroider, and have some fun while you're at it!

Photos from my hood

2011-07-18T17:15:00.000-06:00

I remember that to live in NM was an unattainable dream. Then I remember having it happen, and a euphoric feeling that all but kept my feet from hitting the ground, for months into years. Then, as may always happen, my life settled in and while I still adore NM, 18 years later I find that I don't always stop to enjoy those special things that caused me to want to live here.

This morning I was down in Arroyo Seco (the nearest village to my home, where my yarn shop used to be) and had a few moments alone with my camera. I thought I'd go look for beautiful flowers, but alas, in this drought, they were not to be found. Then I looked up at the beautiful clouds in the sky over the old church behind our building, and thought it has probably been years since I've shared photos of it with you. It was a ready reminder of why so many people come here to study art and paint the local scenery. I'm sorry there aren't any flowers for you, but hope you enjoy the rest.

Happiness

2011-07-12T19:32:00.000-06:00

Single rainbow

We've had heat and are in the worst drought in NM history, but when I watched the national news this evening, my heart went out to so many of you who are truly suffering horrible heat indexes (along with your own drought and fire situations).

I remember someone telling me years ago that if we all took our problems and threw them into a pile, we'd probably end up taking our own problems back after seeing those others have. I think of this often when I find myself on the verge of complaining about something.

Double rainbow (partial)

This evening, during dinner, a small miracle occurred...not only did we have a thunderstorm with some showers, but the sky put on a show that I want to share with you.

Another reason I love NM so much...our skies are special, I'm sure of it.

Hooking the hens

2011-07-11T09:46:00.004-06:00

Because of the hot and often smokey days of this past week, I've had quite a lot of time to hook on the rug I started a couple of months ago. It's a design from the Las Rancheritas hooking project in Mexico, so I've been trying to keep that south of the border feeling to it. I blew up the original pattern to make it quite large, and added a border; the side borders I'm doing in hit or miss with as many scraps as I can possibly use up. It has been fun. A couple of days ago, I decided if these girls could have pink lips (beaks), they could also have striped stockings. I'm trying to get this finished before I return to the coast early in August. So...off to hook.

Have a great week, wherever you are!

The smokey mountains

2011-07-06T10:04:00.000-06:00

Well, we made it through July 4 without someone starting a fire up here with fireworks. In New Mexico, it is not legally possible to place a ban on the selling of fireworks, but the recent spate of wildfires (at one point there were 7 burning in various parts of the state) had our governor begging people to stop selling and stop using them. I heard a report on the radio this morning that one of the primary causes of these wildfires has been the use of heavy equipment sparking. I know there have been drought years when I just gnash my teeth when I hear people riding dirt bikes and four wheelers up here in the forest. Arrogance knows know boundaries.

Here are a couple of photos I took of the big Las Conchas fire while driving back from Santa Fe yesterday. The residents of Los Alamos were allowed back into their homes several days ago, but the fire rages on, now burning approximately 131,000 acres. It is officially the largest in NM history. The smoke at our place hasn't been quite so bad the last few days, but it's still here. We are praying for the monsoons to start this soon and bring us enough rain to help the firefighters (and hope we don't get more fires from lightning strikes).

Rags to rugs

2011-06-30T11:18:00.000-06:00

Before I left CA, I was able to finish the first crocheted rag rug and start a second. I found the fabrics for the second rug at a discount fabric store up in Anaheim, and was able to get these fabrics for a fraction of what I would have paid elsewhere. I'm going bright this time and it's a lot more fun to work on.

I have to stop here and say that my hat really goes off to all the women who have or still make these rugs from scraps. It must take an eternity to gather enough pieces of clothing to render into enough strips to make a rug of any useable size. Years ago, I remember reading about the itinerant rag weavers, a story that has stuck with me. These weavers traveled the countryside with their looms in their wagons and went from house to house to offer their services. In exchange for weaving the family's supply of rags into rugs, they received room and board. While I'm sure this was a hard life, it sounds pretty idyllic these days, compared to long commutes, office politics, or worse yet, unemployment. I have always loved the idea of bartering.

A great tip for stripping those long pieces of yardage into 2" strips...snip the width of your fabric every two inches, then hand one strip to your five year old grandson and let him a) either run like a wild child around the house while it rips or b) wind himself up in the fabric as it rips. Technique b) comes with another fun part: turning him into a top as you unwind the fabric afterward.

Fires

2011-06-28T19:48:00.002-06:00

Raging Fire Moves Closer To Los Alamos

I returned to Taos yesterday afternoon. This fire started Sunday afternoon, and as of this afternoon, they estimate it's up to at least 61,000 acres. There are several other fires here in NM; we are having a horrid drought year and have had high winds for months and months.

We aren't near any of the fires, although the air quality is poor because of them. I feel so sorry for the citizens of Los Alamos...many lost their homes eleven years ago, the last big fire that struck them. At least this time everyone was prepared, and evacuations went smoothly. The local area shelters are taking as many animals as they can, and in addition to temporary shelters for evacuees, I hear there are hotels and motels offering special rates for those who wish to stay there, instead. I love the way New Mexicans step in to help others when times get tough.

The Wrecking Crew

2011-06-26T10:15:00.001-06:00

Back to my getaway last weekend. When I arrived, I was greeted by Nelson, the ~~somewhat psycho, ADD~~ young, high energy dog who can't even stand still long enough to be petted, and Ellie, his 17 year old companion, who is extremely mellow and appears to be trying to ignore him most of the time. Oh...and Valerie, the hen. Named after my late sister (who also had auburn locks), she was quite the conversationalist, and we sat and had a very heartfelt conversation on the doorstep.

On Friday, I availed myself of the inviting front porch. I have always longed for a porch and have yet to have one, in my thirty odd moves over the years. On Friday, I managed not one, but two naps there, feeling cozy behind the veil of the lush greenery that encompasses it. Between naps, Laurie gave me a tour of downtown Ojai, where we had a great lunch and visited a couple of really nice thrift stores (I was good and didn't buy much...no room in my bags).

That evening was the big event: a screening of a film called The Wrecking Crew, a documentary about the group of studio musicians who became THE go-to musicians for much of the most important music of the 60s, 70s, and upward. If you are a musician, a musician at heart, or lover of music, please check out their website. They are touring this film on a donation only basis, trying to raise enough money to purchase the music rights so that they may eventually take this film to the public in movie theatres, sell the DVDs, CDs, etc. It is an important piece of music history, woven together with interviews and archival footage. I hope I get to see it again one day.

Thanks Laurie and Charles, for making this possible for me. I love your world.

P.S. Fond regards to Valerie.

Busy times

2011-06-24T10:55:00.001-06:00

Man's way

Nature's way

There have been a lot of good things happening the last weeks. Last weekend, I was invited to visit my niece and her husband in Ojai...which is a very special part of the world, just north of Los Angeles and inland a bit from Ventura beach. I decided to take the Amtrak, save myself the trouble of driving, and have all those quiet hours on the train to relax and enjoy the view. More on the train ride later; my visit will be my next posting...I have something I want to share with music lovers and musicians at that time.

As I was waiting to board my outbound train last Thursday morning, I couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition of man vs. nature in the layers of the earth cut to accommodate the lowering of the tracks and the ramp up to the station.

On approach to the big Los Angeles station, we wound through some areas that conjured lots of memories from my youth, among them the old Sears tower building where my mom worked. On boring summer afternoons, when mom was working there, I would sometimes take several bus connections from our home to go hang out there until she got off work. It is just mind blowing today to think of how dangerous that would be for a pre-teen girl to do such a thing. Ah...the fifties. There were some good things about them, I just have to scratch hard to remember sometimes.

And then...the El Pato building. Don't remember it as a kid, but hey, I couldn't help but take a photo...the food of my people, as I like to joke. Yum.

So back to the train ride: I won't bore you with the entire story but let me say that people using their cell phones in public have really become a nuisance, in my humble opinion. I had a guy across the isle from me, conducting all his business on his cell phone, using it on speaker phone...and that is only part of the story. I have decided I won't take public transportation again without ear plugs or noise cancellation headphones, lest you end up reading about me going postal and hurting someone!

More about Sue

2011-06-13T16:49:00.007-06:00

I did my last posting about the Sunbonnet Sue blocks and then sent the link to it to Deb Rowden, telling her I'd love it if she or someone she knows would like to have these blocks.

Here's her reply:

Lawrence, Kansas is no place to send Sunbonnet Sue blocks! We do terrible
things to them (see this blog entry:
http://debrowden.blogspot.com/2011/03/sue-makes-appearance.html

send them only if you dare!
deb

So here's where you find out what a sick sense of humor I have, in case you hadn't already guessed. I hit the link and before I knew it, I was laughing so loud the neighbors probably thought I had finally lost my last marbles. In her posting is another link to a quilt index. I went there and laughed more...and more...until my sides ached. Truth be known, I find Sunbonnet Sue annoying, at best, so to discover someone else shared my feelings and took it to a next level really made this day!

Thanks to Deb for letting me share her posting and this photo, which I copied from her blog without asking.

I think my Sunbonnet Sue blocks are now headed for the chopping blocks...or is it cutting boards...LOL... of some of those wickedly talented quilters in Lawrence, Kansas.

Preserving little pieces of our histories

2011-06-11T16:58:00.007-06:00

About ten years ago, I worked part time in the little mercantile in Arroyo Seco. I "rescued" some old, hand pieced, quilt tops, along with many hand pieced blocks that had never been assembled into a quilt. I'm guessing, from the fabrics, that most of them are from the 30s and 40s.

One of the tops I rescued had been pieced onto papers from the Daily Oklahoman (1942). I didn't realize it until I got it home and unfolded it...it had just been in a small wad, shoved in a shelf, and I knew it needed to be taken home. All these years later, I have finally found the perfect home for it...and sent it to Deb Rowden, in Kansas, whose blog I've followed most of this past year. I couldn't be more delighted.

What's next? I have a set of 22 of these hand made Sunbonnet Sue blocks. Judging from the fabric, they may be the same era. I am going to find a perfect home for them, as well...and keep these historical items in the hands of those who appreciate them.

I had to laugh this week when I saw that Cathy at Orange Sink was musing about what to do with some blocks that are so similar, they might have come from the same maker. I guess it's spring cleaning time, for sure!

Stopping to smell the flowers

2011-06-09T08:15:00.006-06:00

Somehow these last three weeks here in California have not given me enough good quality time with my grandson. A couple of days ago, we walked around our neighborhood. There are so many flowers blooming at this time of year that it's hard to go far without the scent of flowers in the air. The colors are wild and wonderful. We love stopping to discuss plant names, colors, and bugs. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to view all these things with fresh eyes...those of a child.

A great read

2011-06-05T10:53:00.007-06:00

Everyone couple of years, I remember how much I love listening to unabridged audio books while I do my hand work. This week it was "The Help"...a best seller by Kathryn Stockett (Penguin Audio). It's been out at least a couple of years, so perhaps you've already read it.

One of the last of the Oprah shows was one celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders and their efforts to break the back of segregation. Her studio was filled with as many of those brave people as she could locate. There were many first hand accounts of their actions, along with old videos and a discussion of how those protestors were well schooled in non-violence before embarking on this journey. One young black man, who had escaped a burning bus, had been severely beaten by a white man. Oprah's show actually reunited these men, and gave the attacker a chance to apologize. It was a powerful hour. While I lived through this time period, I admit to being a very self-absorbed teenager, and because matters of world news were never discussed in our household (not much of anything was), my knowledge of these events comes from things I've seen or read. Once again, I was blown away by the ugliness of prejudice.

Fast forward to this week...if you haven't read it, "The Help" is a fictional slice of life as a black domestic in Jackson, Mississippi during the sixties. I didn't grow up in the south, nor were we a family of the means to even consider hired "help"...so this book was not only an eye opener for me about life with household help, it was yet another indictment of how people could treat each other, in the worst sorts of ways, through the veil of prejudice and ignorance. It was also uplifting, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The movie is going to be released on August 12, and after seeing the trailers on line, it looks like they've done a good job with it (although I almost always prefer a book to the movie). If you haven't read the book...I highly recommend it. In fact, the readers on this audio (which is 15 CDs) were so perfect, it's even hard for me to imagine having read it in print, something I would rarely say.

What do 15 CDs equal in terms of handwork? Lots of hand quilting on my blue and white quilt, and a decent start on this Karen Kahle pattern called "Sentimental". It was a great break from the reality of everyday life; and now, to find my next "read".

Productive weekend

2011-05-30T13:52:00.010-06:00

Except for a quick trip to Los Angeles yesterday, I've been holed up here in the house having a blast.

Inspired by a quilt I saw on someone's blog, I picked through my stash of 30s-40s reproduction fabrics and selected colors to start a quilt for Maddy Rose, our new grandbaby. Talk about easy...I cut a selection of 10" blocks and laid them out in a checkerboard fashion on the rug (I don't have room for a design wall). Then I cut and sewed on little blocks of different colors, leaving 1/4"-3/8" raw edges, so once the quilt is finished and washed, all those edges will fray out and look old and well loved. At least...I hope they will. If this project is a big bomb, at least I had fun doing it. I finished the top in only two days and hope to get its back made and have it all put together by the end of the week.

Thursday brought the UPS man, and my new hooking frame. I think I mentioned the other day that I missed my hooking out here in CA on my last trips, so now I'm set up to hook here. I have a linen pattern ready to start this week, and wool and my wonderful Bolivar cutter, which will have to travel back and forth with me because it's too expensive to buy a second one. I found this frame on Etsy, although I think the makers primarily sell from their own website. I'm really pleased because it can adjust to be tall enough for me (I'm 5'10" these days) and the top can tilt so I don't have to hover directly over it, which kills my neck.

Last, but not least...before I left Taos, I saw a blog posting about someone making a "toothbrush" rug. I immediately looked it up and decided I'd love to learn to do that. I ordered the instruction booklet and the tool, but for the life of me, couldn't figure how to do it from the booklet (I learn better by watching someone). So...off to YouTube I went, to search for videos to help. Along the way, I found a couple of good videos about crocheting rugs from rags...much easier for me, since I love to crochet...so now I've been madly ripping up some of that fabric I've dragged around for too many years and am making a rug with it.

I just wish I was this passionate about exercising. Hopefully I'll get inspired this week...you know... new month, new plan, new diet for summer...ha ha ha...

Hope you've all had a beautiful Memorial Day weekend!

A recipe for perfect day

2011-05-27T20:08:00.005-06:00

Ingredients:

one great friend
perfect weather
great lunch

Procedure:

Meet your friend, go for a walk along the boardwalk, have lunch at a fun diner. Season with great conversation, laugh a lot, and keep counting your lucky stars you get to have this life. It's a guaranteed success.

PS: If you get lucky, you might meet a local like we did today.

"The woman on the path"

2011-05-17T08:38:00.004-06:00

Some of you will already know this is the name of this mat pattern, purchased a couple of years ago from Deanne Fitzpatrick.

I just loved working on this piece; it gave me lots of time to think about the women in my family and in particular, my mom. While we didn't live in the Maritimes, she adored the Pacific ocean and it was her greatest joy to be able to live there the last years of her life. I remember when head scarves were always worn...whether to protect one's "do", keep warm, or cover up those ghastly curlers once common in most of our bathrooms.

Seems the older I get, the more I see one or both of my parents in myself. Today it is my mom, anxious to return to the beach and see the grandchildren. And now...off to pack so I can get back on my own path tomorrow.

Catching up

2011-05-14T12:17:00.003-06:00

These last weeks have been hard and wonderful at the same time. I am still having a difficult time letting myself think about our recent losses, yet I've found peace here in these mountains to help gather my thoughts for life, going forward. Whereas last fall I was conflicted about wanting to leave the grand kids and come back to Taos, I believe I have now found myself embracing the balance of both worlds. On Wednesday, I'll return to San Diego for approximately six weeks. So many changes in the kids since I was last there...my grandson starts kindergarten in a few months, and my granddaughter is now laughing and rolling over. I can barely wait to get some hugs, laughs, and kisses.

One of the things I really missed being in California last year was my rug hooking. Because of this, I'm taking a pattern, wool, and portable frame to set up to hook out there as well. Here I hook on a very large quilting frame, which I purposely wanted for larger pieces. There I can do smaller pieces. Along with getting back to my quilting, my trip back there next week holds the promise of starting a new mat. If there's anything I'm great at, it's starting new projects (please do not ask how many get finished).

After finishing the lotus mat, I decided I didn't want to wait until I had some big creative idea for a next project...so I decided to hook a pattern from Rug Hooking Magazine, one they gave as a freebie, a design from the La Rancherita project in Mexico. I haven't been hooking long enough to feel confident in my colors, so it's somewhat of an easy project because it calls for bright colors and in the spirit of the La Rancherita rugs, just about anything goes...purple pigs, pink chickens, you name it. Now, to let myself be free enough to enjoy this fun.

Lotus mat

2011-05-05T08:10:00.005-06:00

I finished it yesterday. Well, that is, except for finishing the edges, which may or may not get done anytime soon (it may join a couple of others that need to be done and commiserate with them, first). In the end, I really like it. The colors don't seem as washed out, thanks to your support for me outlining in teal. I had fun doing the background, using up oddments of colors. I am content to add it to my short list of mats I've hooked as part of my beginner hooking process. Today or tomorrow, I'll be happily exploring what I'll hook next. That's as much fun as finishing something.

One of the fun things that happened to me when I wrote all of you for advice on the outlining was a comment from Shawn at Island Sweet in Newfoundland. She recently took a great trip to San Francisco, and commented that my colors were "San Francisco colors", based on all the beautiful, old, painted Victorian homes she saw there. Then, while hooking, I realized that the border design on my mat looked like little houses...and that the lotus in the center, a symbol of survival and renewal, could represent San Francisco's amazing history since the great earthquake of 1906. Thanks, Shawn. You helped give my mat new life!

Comfort in the familiar

2011-05-02T16:43:00.004-06:00

I've been mostly housebound this last week and it has been absolutely wonderful. Spring in New Mexico is not my favorite season. We've had consistent winds for weeks and weeks (sustaining at around 51 mph a few days ago) and then yesterday, what I didn't want to see but know we need: snow.

One good thing about icky weather is not feeling guilty about hanging out indoors. I've been hooking most every day, and continuing to weed out things I am pretty sure I'll never live long enough to need. I've also been watching "How to Make An American Quilt" (1995), which I captured off the satellite some days ago. It's one of those movies I could never see too many times. I feel like I always learn something new from the stories of those women, as they reflect on their lives through their quilting: stories of love, love and loss, love and forgiveness. I love the cast and the home in which much of it takes place. I rather envy the idea of having the sense of continuity that these women have in the form of their years' long weekly quilting group. I love at the end of the movie, when Sophia says to Finn "I was a diver." In those few words she reached out to let Finn know that she had once been someone else, someone young, vibrant and talented, all before she had let her life be overgrown with pessimism. Cut to one of the last scenes: Sophia, inspired by Finn, taking a dive off the high dive. She had it in her all the time...just like the good witch Glenda told Dorothy. Something for all of us to remember.

Shop sitting

2011-04-29T10:05:00.006-06:00

While I've been busy ignoring my own Etsy shop this last week, I've been having fun shop sitting for Michelle at Widdershin Woolworks. It's great fun, diving through her wonderful fiber stash, filling orders, and knowing how many people will be so happy to get their fibers in a few days. Talk about having all the fun without the work.

I think I've told you about Michelle before, so at the risk of repeating myself...she is a long time dear friend who went to India, was ordained (by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, no less) as a Tibetan Buddhist nun, and continued living there for around five years to continue her studies. Last spring we were lucky enough to be able to convince her to come live with us here on our little piece of the mountain, so I now have the joy of her being in my life on a daily basis. We get to spin together, knit together, watch movies, swap books...and she is the loving nanny to our dogs and cats, not to mention a great gardener with no fears about planting at 8,000 ft. Life is good!

Here's a photo of her harvesting a rogue beet that grew, unexpectedly, in our greenhouse last year. The other photo was taken this morning as I was filling an order for her shop. SIGH. It's hard to keep my hands off the goods!

Hooking

2011-04-25T19:32:00.006-06:00

Today I finally gave myself permission to sit down and start hooking on the mat I started last winter, before leaving for California for so many months. It is fabric that my friend and I bought that is a wool/synthetic blend of some sort, so when we dyed it, we didn't get very dark colors. In fact, most of what I ended up dyeing looks remarkably like Easter eggs. They're pretty, but not necessarily colors I'd have picked if I had purchased them.

I decided that since I'd made the investment (both financial and in dyeing time), I should suck it up and make something with it. I drove myself crazy, figuring out square footage of fabric and trying to calculate what size rug I could hook with it. I eventually decided on something much smaller than I had fabric for, and drew it up myself. I think I even showed you the photos of it after I started it last spring (too lazy to go back to find that blog post, sorry).

Anyway...while happily spinning yesterday afternoon, I finally opened and watched the video I purchased from Deanne Fitzpatrick last winter. It was, as I expected, just wonderful. It was like having a visit with Deanne in her studio (only I didn't get to chat with her and eat some of those delicious oat cakes she baked for us when I was there a couple of years ago, sigh). Her use of colors and textures just makes my heart soar. I love how free she is.

Meanwhile, back to my little mat...after watching the video, I decided I pretty much couldn't stand what I started and wished I had the courage to take it off the frame and give it up. I slept on it, and decided this morning that what it needed was something that popped...so I found some 100% wool in a lovely teal color and started outlining. I think I helps...what do you think?

If it's green, love it

2011-04-19T15:06:00.006-06:00

Depending on where you live, you may or may not know we are in a state of severe drought here in NM. In fact, I heard that AZ, NM, TX and FL are all off the charts for fire danger. It's no secret that Texas is under assault with wildfires right now, and we have a few of our own here in our fair state.

My heart goes out to all of you living near or in the path of a fire. I've been close, and I know what it feels like. Living here in the forest, we're always just one idiot or lightning strike away from the same fate. I say idiot because there are, unbelievably, still folks who think it's OK to burn their brush and/or trash in this area. Never mind that our local fire department trucks say "Learn not to burn". I fear this is yet another sign that my fellow citizens may not always read .

Anyhow. As I was coming in from the dog yard today, I found this little dandelion plant. I raced back into the house for my camera. What's so great about a dandelion, you ask? Well...for one...it's a sign of life that is persisting despite the dry ground (see photo I took in our yard this week...we seem to have skipped mud season). The flowers alone brought me pure joy. There are few signs of new life up here except for the lilac and rose bushes, which seem to carry on despite the worst of situations. To find these bright little flowers was like someone sending me a sweet bouquet of smiles. Never do I recall being so happy to see a dandelion.

As a kid, I grew up with my father nurturing a front yard full of dichondra "grass". Only today, after searching the internet, did I learn this pesky stuff was not even a true grass, but rather a perennial herbaceous plant of which there appear to be several species. He babied that "lawn" like it was solid gold. Heaven help you if you fouled and set foot on it, and this wasn't always easy for a kid to manage. I grew up with great disdain for the idea of a lawn, or worrying about being so fussy about Bermuda grass (his arch enemy). My attitude: if it's growing, and it's green, and it's not dangerous...love it.

In thinking back about dad and that "lawn", I can picture him still, standing in the middle of it, hand watering with the hose and sprayer, and a transistor radio plugged into his ear as he listened to Vin Scully and the L.A. Dodgers. I get it now...he needed a place of his own, somewhere to go to get away from the rest of us, a sanctuary. That's a lesson, right there, to learn to find your peace where you can.

Dad, if you happen to be editing my writing from wherever your next life has taken you, I hope you read this post and accept my apology.

Remember Me

2011-04-16T09:20:00.005-06:00

Not to repeat myself too often, but one of the wonderful things that has come from all the sadness of these last months has been the opportunity to reconnect with family. Some of those hours have been spent discussing what each of us knows about our family's history...much of which has passed on with my father, and now, my sister.

I was digging through my bookshelf this week and found this book, purchased long ago. I opened it, and to my delight, found carefully reconstructed histories of seven women, and the stories surrounding their friendship quilts. I knew nothing of the history of these quilts, and am now inspired to create one of my own; not a swap with friends, but one to remember each of our family members, living or not. I think it's a rather ambitious project (my tendency), but it will be a gift to leave one day for future generations. If you are a lover of quilts and their histories, I highly recommend this book.

When I read stories like theirs (mostly surrounding the Civil War period), I feel so close to those women and their hard lives, I often wonder if that was something I did in another lifetime. When I started spinning years ago, my hands knew immediately that it was exactly what they were supposed to be doing, like some sort of muscle memory. My many other fiber pursuits have fallen into place in much the same way, but not with that same feeling of familiarity.

Once, many years ago, someone told me I must be an old soul. At the time, I had no sensitivity to things of these matters, and filed it away for future consideration. Then this summer, while walking the tide pools with my niece Laurie, I was telling her that I think my grandson is an old soul...and a few feet later, look what we found in a tide pool. How's that for timing???

PS Photo obviously snagged from Amazon...my photos of the cover weren't as good!

Getting back in the groove

2011-04-11T09:59:00.006-06:00

It's Monday morning, and after a few days of seriously hibernating, I've decided that today is the day I must restart this great life I have. If I've learned nothing else these last months, I've once again been reminded that each day we have truly is a gift and not to be wasted in any way.

Last week, before things went down the dark tunnel with Meika, I was able to get out in the dye room and start dyeing some roving again. It was great fun! I have found that dyeing while listening to audio books is the perfect combination of activities. I listened to Anne Dillard's last book, The Maytrees, and happily painted Polwarth and BFL wool.

The feast of colors after the wool has been rinsed and dried is always the best part. While I know I need to start photographing and reopen my little Etsy shop, I couldn't pass up the chance to pick a couple of 4 oz. hanks of BFL and see what they'd look like spun up. The one on the bobbin wasn't quite as bright as the photograph (blurry, sorry) of the one I haven't spun yet. Because I'm spinning it so fine, the second one will most likely mute out quite a bit, as well. It's great to be back at the wheel after all these months; spinning is truly one of my favorite things to do.

Saying goodbye

2011-04-07T07:53:00.005-06:00

Meika Sue Von Rottenweiler
Nov. 13, 1999-April 6, 2011

A true friend who graced us with 11 years of unconditional love, friendship, and protection. While we love our other dogs and cats, I doubt she can ever be replaced. May she play in heaven with all the big dogs.

And now I'd like to take a moment to thank all of you for hanging with me these last few months. I plan to resume posting on a more regular basis, focusing on things of a much happier nature. It is time to start enjoying spring and the season of renewal!

A passing

2011-03-11T15:47:00.006-07:00

Those of you who have followed my blog these last years may remember that my older sister had open heart surgery in September of 2008. While it may have repaired her heart in some ways, she really never fully recovered. Suffering a series of cruel maladies, including dysphagia, she has slowly dwindled down to a shadow of who she once was.

A little over a month ago, she was admitted to her local hospital for pneumonia. At that time, they inserted a feeding tube in her stomach, to try to get some nutrition into her and see if her body could once again thrive. It really wasn't successful (she was down to a mere 87 lbs.). After weeks and weeks of ups and downs, she lost her battle with life in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

She was many things to many people. She was my parent's first born child. She was a big sister to two sisters and a brother. She was a mom to two sons, a wife to her husband for 52 years, an aunt to her nieces and nephews, an educator, voracious reader, avid birder, and champion of all things related to protecting wildlife and habitats. She loved sailing and spent many years, along with her husband and sons, breeding, selling and racing Siberian huskies. She was, unlike yours truly, very shy.

Yesterday I told my 5 year old grandson about her passing. He asked where she will be now. I told him she lives on in our hearts, and is watching over all of us. I know there may be more questions later, but for now, he is content with that, and I must be, as well. I think it will be some time before the reality sinks in after all these weeks of extreme worries.

She leaves behind a loving husband, many nieces and nephews, a heart broken sister, and her dog, Max. While we have to know her passing was a relief from her horrible suffering, it's not easy. It will take a little bit of work, but we'll have to all start focusing on the good times and keep her spirit alive with smiles and laughs.

I know she wouldn't want it any other way.

Checking in

2011-02-14T05:49:00.003-07:00

You've all been on my mind a lot lately. I've found myself missing you, but I've needed this rest. Life has been moving quickly, and I've been experiencing the joy of a new life and the sadness as another is probably nearing its end.

I'm thinking a compromise will be to post again, just not as often. I see I got caught up in the self-imposed pressure to post more frequently, and I understand now that I should only do that when it comes naturally.

And now, I wish you a happy Valentine's day.

XXX
Martie

Celebrations, beginnings, and endings

2010-12-27T12:20:00.003-07:00

It has been a peaceful holiday here in the mountains. Some snow, some friends, some family, and lots of good food. What more could we ask for? December 31 will mark our 18th wedding anniversary; the marriage that surprised many folks who had known us the 15 years we had shared each others' lives before quietly eloping to Santa Fe. What amazing years these have been...all 33 of them. My folks were married 67 years when my dad died...I'm thinking it's a bit optimistic we might live that long, but it's certainly a great goal!

This is always the time of year for personal reflection, and I've certainly been doing my share. It's like mental housecleaning, thinking about the past, planning for the future. I've made a decision to spend lots of time in California, visiting my grandchildren. I want them to grow up knowing grandparents, since I didn't. I want them to know and remember their Opa as the kind and loving man that he is, and their Mimi as the loving and fun person I want to be. I want to be around like family, and not company. I want to be there for them during the subtle changes as they grow. I definitely feel I'm embarking on a new phase of my life, and I couldn't be happier about it. It is reminiscent of that same feeling of excitement I used to get just before school started: a new adventure, learning new things and meeting new friends.

As for endings...well, along with leaving one decade and heading into the next with all the rest of you, I've decided to leave this blog for now. It began in spring of 2006 as a link and marketing tool for my yarn shop. Over time it has evolved into something much more personal, and I've taken your friendships and caring so seriously, I've even hesitated to use it much to promote my little Etsy shop. I've loved being able to share my world with you, and have greatly appreciated your advice and feedback when I've asked for it; it does, after all, take a village sometimes. Having the viewpoints of so many others has often helped me change my way of looking at things, and that has been invaluable to me; for those many gifts, I can't thank you enough.

However, having said all of that: I haven't felt terribly inspired to post lately, so I'm paying attention to that. I love writing, and have often dreamed of writing on a more serious level; I am allowing myself to imagine that maybe, just maybe, by not posting here, I will use that energy to write privately instead. Who knows? I only know that I feel like this blog has, for now, run its course. I am not ruling out posting again...just not in the near future. I need some time to, well, "marinate" on some things. Sort of like starting with a blank canvas and wondering where to start, I am both a wee bit nervous and a lot excited.

So, dear friends...thanks so much for being with me all these years. I will continue to watch your own blogs, and am sure I'll pop in now and again with my comments.

May you all have the most wonderful new year, filled with love, happiness, and health. I shall miss you.

With love,

Martie

(and my editor, Bob, sends his good wishes, as well.)

Christmas in Taos

2010-12-22T07:43:00.005-07:00

Christmas in New Mexico has a definite feel all its own. In the early years of living here, I would try to get out and see the beautiful light of the farolitos, not to mention a few Christmas eves spent observing the celebration at Taos Pueblo. (Now I'm just as happy to stay home and cozy and not be outdoors with hundreds of people I mostly don't know, freezing.)

I've taken the liberty to copy a photograph of a painting I found on the internet to share with you. It is by local artist Jane Grover. It's a beautiful depiction of this magical evening. In addition, I'm going to share with you the description of this celebration, taken directly from the Taos Visitors Guide on line.

While Christmas is still a few days ahead, I send you my greetings now for a safe and loving holiday!

In the northern villages of New Mexico, ritual re-enactments of history by the Hispanic community — combined with medieval morality plays known as autos sacramentales brought to the area during the Spanish conquest — are faithfully re-created in distinctive Christmas celebrations.

At the Indian pueblos, Catholicism is intertwined with ancient American Indian beliefs. When the Spanish arrived in New Mexico in the 16th century, missionaries assigned a patron saint to each pueblo in an effort to convert tribal members to Catholicism. Because tribal rituals coincided with the saints’ days, these religions eventually merged.

A Taos Pueblo spokesman says that a large percentage of tribal members are baptized Catholic and that the church service is much like Catholic services elsewhere. The only difference, he says, is that the motifs in the chapel have native elements and tribal members wear blankets and moccasins.

On Christmas Eve, the northern pueblos celebrate this most important Christian holy day in a distinctive Indian way. Most moving are the vespers with bonfires and the procession of the Virgin Mary at the 1,000-year-old Taos Pueblo— a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The drama of the event unfolds at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, amid the orange and purple hues of a winter sunset. At sundown at the pueblo’s San Geronimo chapel, the archbishop of Santa Fe presides over vespers. As the sky darkens to a deep blue, torches are lit, and families build huge bonfires of ocote pine in the main plaza.

Orange flames illuminate the night sky, shooting up spires of smoke. Other smaller bonfires are scattered throughout the plaza and in front of homes. Residents gather on rooftops covered in snow.

At the end of vespers, the chapel bells peal. The archbishop and acolytes lead a procession out of the tiny chapel, followed by six men carrying a dais that holds the statue of the Virgin Mary under a billowing canopy. At the front of the procession, pueblo men carrying rifles shoot live ammunition into the air to announce her arrival. Drummers and members of the church choir follow, and the throngs of people there for the bonfires join in the procession. The beauty, mystery and power of the scene are profound.

The Taos Pueblo Community extends a warm welcome to their Taos neighbors and to all friends of the Pueblo.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-12-18T10:11:00.005-07:00

We woke up yesterday morning to about 7" of snow here in our little part of the forest. I think I'll never lose the excitement that a first snow brings, even if it does end up involving a snow shovel. The dogs really love it. Our oldest dog, Meika (who is a senior citizen at age 11), is the picture of pure joy when it snows. It brings a lightness to her step and her spirits alike. May we all know such joy.

These aren't great photos...I took them last evening with my cell phone...one is of the moon rising over the mountain behind us, the other from up above our house and the dog corral, looking down on the Rio Grande Valley far below. It was a ribbon of silver, had you seen it person.

I have been really down this week. On Tuesday morning, I drove past the scene of a fatal automobile accident. A young man was speeding to get home and lost control of his car. No alcohol...but no seat belt. It has rekindled the memory of our own Kara (a former Sunflower), who lost her life farther up that same road a few years ago. Senseless waste, so avoidable. My heart aches for these families.

Please have a great weekend, and stay safe. Remember that being in a hurry is rarely worth it.

Long time, no blog

2010-12-16T10:20:00.002-07:00

The weeks here are flying. I've shipped off a box of donation scarves to the Santa Fe Scarf Project, and knitted several hats and another scarf to stash for next year's donations. This project is in its 7th or 8th year, conceived and managed by one wonderful woman named Sarah Bienvenu. She collects donations from the local yarn shops (my customers used to donate to this project as well) and when they are all gathered, they have a wrapping party sometime just before Christmas. They are then delivered to the homeless shelter in Santa Fe (St. Elizabeth's) for Christmas presents. The population there used to be primarily men, but given the situation our country is in, you can well guess that there are also women and children in need of these gifts. It is one of the highlights of my year; I love donation knitting. As a woman I saw on television said recently (after donating approximately 700 scarves she made this last year, knitted, crocheted, sewn, etc.): I do it because it makes me feel good.

There's been some time to spin, which has been fun. I managed some time at the drum carder this last week so I could make some wool batts to spin over the holiday. We are slowly condensing all the "stuff" in what was once the yarn shop; this photo is about half of what remains in my "fiber department" and the amount of yarn left in inventory is now down to not enough to worry about for now. It feels good. I never dreamed it would take two years to get to this place.

For those of you who have been suffering these horrible winter storms...my heart goes out to you. Forgive me for whining that we've not had snow (although some is predicted for tonight).

Off now to take care of more piles of paper. Hoping you're all well and warm.

Do you have our snow???

2010-12-03T11:24:00.005-07:00

It appears that the predictions of a dry winter are true, so far. We've had gorgeous, sunny, days and if you didn't look at the calendar (or the thermometers), you'd think it was still fall. I know, I know...technically, it still is fall, but we should have winter snows by now, and especially considering our local economy is based largely on the business at the Taos Ski Valley.

A couple of days ago, Ani and I drove up to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We saw some beautiful snow along the way. I'm posting a couple of photos to share with you...nothing worthy of National Geographic, but enough for you to get a little idea of the gorgeous vistas we saw.

This morning I finally got my act together and reopened my little Etsy shop. I've taken the last week to photograph new inventory, edit photos, give some thought to pricing. It's always so hard with the pricing, especially with the hand spun yarns. They always end up being a labor of love, no matter how you look at it; but then, I spin because I love to spin, not because I plan to sell it. I sell it because I can never use all that I can make.

Hope you're going to have a great weekend...stay safe and warm!

Giving thanks

2010-11-25T10:18:00.002-07:00

After a beautiful two day drive across CA, AZ, & NM, I am now happily resuming my place in our little family and household. My job now is to get back to the business of simplifying my life in as many small ways as I can. The last two days have been spent facing down six months' worth of summer dust and cobwebs in my workspace...not to mention the piles of things I left, in a rather breezy manner, in May. I guess I forgot they'd still be here when I returned.

Sunshine this morning, and lots of it. We've had a few false alarms on snow this last few days. Dinner today will be at a lodge high up in the mountains (10,400 ft., to be exact). It has become somewhat of a tradition these last years and I must say I don't mind not spending all day in the kitchen to make a huge meal for a small household.

I have much more to be thankful for than I had ever dreamed. These photos are of some of my many blessings.

I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving today, wherever you are. May you have lots of good food, laughter, and the love of family and friends surround you.

XXXX
Martie

Back to the mountains

2010-11-19T09:28:00.004-07:00

Today is my day to tie all the loose ends, pack the car, and see my daughter in law and grand babies for the last time for this visit. As I write this, I'm savoring the sound of the clanging bell and horn of the train which is at the bottom of my street. Funny how I was so assaulted by noises at the beginning of this journey, and now I have adjusted. I wonder what quiet will feel like when I get home.

Have a great weekend, I'll be checking in again soon.

P.S.

I've been forgetting to share with you that I've received a couple of answers about the shells I posted here a little while back. The first answer came from a friend of a friend who is a professor (now retired) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography:

Hi Martie: From my colleague at the London Museum of Natural History: According to Jon Todd, the mollusk expert in the museum: "Almost certainly an Astraea (Vetigastropoda: Turbinidae)" Cheers, Elena Se also: http://www.pakistan-karachi.info/Vetigastropoda and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astraea_(gastropod)

The second answer, which is also correct, is from my spinning and blog friend, Shelly, who is a scuba diver in these local waters, so surely knows her stuff. She reported it as being a Wavy Top Turban Shell. Now that I've had these exact words, I've been able to locate internet information relevant to our local waters. Turns out people eat them, and report them to taste like conch (which I have never tasted). I think I am happier finding the empty shells along the shore and imagining that the prior occupant had to move into a bigger shell.

I also found this tidbit on line:

•

wavy turban snail/ wavy top snail (Megastraea undosa)

The wavy top snail has a large, heavy shell with undulating ridges spiraling along the outside of its reddish shell. The wavy top's shell can grow to 11 cm (4.3 in.) in diameter making this one of the larger snails to inhabit the lower intertidal and subtidal zones. Wavy top snails range from Point Conception, California to Baja California, Mexico. A similar species, the red turban snail, is smaller and ranges along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico.

Wrapping up

2010-11-15T10:27:00.002-07:00

It has been a very busy week since I last wrote. I've been trying to balance the business of getting ready to return to New Mexico with spending time with my family. I'm trying to focus on all the goodness and not on the fact that I won't get to see my grand babies again until January or February. I have jokingly said I have postpartum depression. I continually remind myself that I must look forward, not back.

I fully intended not to take any quilting back to NM with me, and leave that for my California visits, but I am starting to cave in on this decision. I have a blue and white quilt I am taking home to hand quilt, and since we're driving over in our truck, I will be able to take the enormous roll of batting and the quilt tops I need to put onto backs and finish. I have done a tally of my quilting accomplishments for this past six months, and I'm pretty pleased:

3 baby quilts
the sea life quilt for my grandson's bed
the Batik quilt for my kids
four donation quilt tops for the Bumble Beans Basics Quilt project
I machine quilted a top made in 1992 to its backing and took it to its new home
I finished hand quilting a log cabin quilt I put to backing in 1992, before moving to NM
I am almost finished hand quilting the double wedding ring quilt I showed you at the beginning of the summer
my scrap squares quilt top is assembled and ready for its backing and quilting (I am undecided if I will hand quilt it or not).

As much as I adore buying fabric, I'm going to try to put a brake on it until I return next time. I still have a big box of 30's reproduction fabrics I intended to use this summer, but never touched. (That was before I discovered all the gorgeous Westminster fabrics. Oh my.)

I've not been the only one busy around here. There is some spider I have yet to see that is happily setting up camp all over my big euphorbia plant in the front yard. It's a web unlike any I've seen before...it goes in little strips, and reminds me of the edging one gets from using a serger. Maybe I should remember this for a good machine quilting pattern; nothing like inspiration from nature!

Safe arrival!

2010-11-10T21:17:00.007-07:00

Miss Madalyne Rosemary made her entrance into this crazy world yesterday. Awaiting her safe arrival were her big brother, her dad, and a host of assorted aunties, cousins, and grandparents. It was truly a life altering experience for me, and I am now head over heels in love with a 6.6 lb. baby girl who shall be known as Maddy Rose.

To all of you who have shared this journey with me, I thank you for your interest, comments, support and love you have sent our way. It truly does take a village.

XOXO
Martie

Still waiting

2010-11-02T10:22:00.003-06:00

Not that many of you who read this are interested, but to my friends and family who are, there is still no baby as of this morning. So much for channeling the spirit of my dead mom to help out! (On the other hand...my mom had a huge stubborn streak, so maybe that's her gift to this baby, who is clearly biding her own time.)

Quick question...I've been finding these (empty) shells on the beach at low tide. Does anyone know what they are? I cannot find anything on the internet that looks like them and it's driving me bonkers. If you have any clues, I'd sure love some help!

More soon...Martie

PS These are not small...the largest measures 4" from bottom to top.

Bit and pieces

2010-10-30T11:39:00.003-06:00

We are all now in a holding pattern, waiting for the baby to make her entrance into this world. Her mom is more than ready for her to arrive, after long months on bed rest. Her dad is scheduled to leave on November 12 for his next jobs, this time far down in Baja California, with no easy access to transportation back here. I am scheduled to return to NM in a few weeks. We all thought she'd be here by now. As if we hadn't already guessed earlier this summer, this girl clearly has a mind of her own.

My mom's name was Rosemary...which will be the baby's middle name. I suddenly realized the other night that mom's birthday is Monday...November 1...and would have been her 100th birthday had she lived. I am harboring a hope that little Maddy arrives Monday, and maybe, just maybe, my mom is watching this all unfold.

Knowing I will leave soon, I'm trying to be extra productive with every moment that I have at home. I've been following a blog called Bumble Beans this summer, and one of the fun things that she loves to do is use scraps to sew quilt blocks. The method she uses is to sew the scraps to an old page out of a phone book, and keep building on that until you've covered the paper. I started out thinking I'd do a block a day, and then that old devil took hold of me and I obsessed until I stopped myself at 30 blocks. I'm hoping to have them in a finished quilt top by the end of this weekend...here are some photos of the works in progress.

Have a good weekend!

A summer love

2010-10-21T09:41:00.003-06:00

It started innocently enough...but then, it always does, doesn't it. I couldn't help myself; once I started to fall, I fell hard. I was once again a woman possessed...barely able to sleep or force myself to do my daily jobs. All I wanted to do was be with my new love.

First, I found the bird of paradise fabric on sale. CHEAP. I knew I needed it, I just didn't know why. Then one of my comrades in fabric crimes, Liz, started handing me the batik fabrics to go with it. Next thing I knew, I was spiraling out of control, combing remnant bins for batik scraps, shopping on Etsy for more. The anticipation was building...I soon had enough to get started.

Inspired by a Kaffe Fassett design, I started cutting and sewing. The piecing went pretty fast. Then I got to the juicy part...the machine quilting. Using some of the free form quilting designs from Leah Day's website, I began with her "rain forest leaf" pattern in the center of each block. I worked like a wild woman, every chance I could. I quilted from the center out, ending with her "bamboo" design on the border. I've included a detail photo of the back so you can see how that came out. I'm super excited.

Yesterday, after a few hugs, it was time to part with my love. It went to someone else I love, and will be loved there. What better way to end a great summer?

The miners

2010-10-13T15:25:00.008-06:00

Like many of you, I have been checking in hourly on the amazing progress of the rescue of those heroic Chilean miners. Listening to the CNN talking head earlier, I was reminded that those men were down there for an entire two weeks before they even knew if they'd ever be discovered, let alone, saved. Can you imagine????

It has been fascinating to hear the personal stories of each man. I was particularly touched by the story of the man who, from the beginning, had the presence of mind to keep a journal. The fact that they were able to set up their own little society and run it so efficiently is impressive, considering many of us can't seem to manage to get it together so well some days. These men could be role models for all of us, especially the politicians that have such nasty political ads running during this pre-election time. These men are the epitome of grace under pressure.

I hope Time Magazine considers using them as their "Men of the Year" this year...they deserve that title, and so much more. My heart goes out to all of them, and their loved ones...and how wonderful it has been to turn the television on and hear some good news for a change!

(Photo courtesy of L.A. Times.com, please please please don't come and get me for using your wonderful picture...I couldn't help myself!)

Sea changes

2010-10-11T09:58:00.004-06:00

Sorry to be so long between postings. Things have been moving quickly around here. Mr. Sunflower was here for a much needed one week visit and our tenant of seven years moved out...so I was busy cleaning and making that space ready for my friend Konny to come and visit for a few days.

Her visit last week was wonderful for both of us. The tides were quite high and conversely, quite low. We walked on the beach each of the three afternoons she was here, combing the reef and tide pools, collecting shells long since vacated by their owners. The tide pool in this particular photograph had not only the sea anemones, but if you look closely, little snail shells that were all occupied by busy little hermit crabs. It was just magical.

Walking the reef those days, it was hard not to compare the experience of those tides with our own lives, and the changes that come, no matter what we want. I've now been here almost 6 months, the baby is due within weeks, and yet again, I see changes in myself I never dreamed I'd see. It's all very wonderful.

Welcome to fall

2010-09-24T19:42:00.004-06:00

I'm sitting here, scratching my head, wondering how it got to be September 24 already. I returned to CA from Taos a little more than a week ago, and the days have just flown. Two days after returning home, my DVR committed suicide (digital video recorder, for the uninitiated) and I could not watch television at night...so I bought myself this sunflower jig saw puzzle. That was great entertainment until I realized that I was completely possessed by it, and losing sleep, so on the third evening I just stayed up until the wee hours to get it finished. So much for the idea of having it just be there to work on here and there...but then, doing things in moderation has never been my strong suit.

I also decided to wash all my quilt fabrics, instead of just using them as is. That was great entertainment for several days: washing, pulling off wads of threads, folding, stacking, refolding, restacking again...kind of like the hours I spent playing with crayons as a kid. Then I spent some evenings reading blogs about quilters who are using men's shirts from thrift stores for their fabrics. Ta da! What a great idea. Lots of stripes and plaids (which seem in short supply in quilting fabrics), plus the fun of cutting things up to reuse them. How could I go wrong?

First stop: my local hospice thrift store. Bingo! A great rack of men's Hawaiian shirts, most in size 3XL, so more fabric for the buck. But wait...the price tags...$8.00. $8.00 for a shirt in a thrift store? I can buy yardage cheaper than that. Must be the shop. Next plan: find the Salvation Army store in San Diego.

Well...that's exactly where I went today. I am still fuming from the experience. The men's shirts on the racks there were anywhere from 5.99-8.99, and let me assure you, they were nothing to write home about. But wait! I saw another spot with more men's clothes, more in the center of the store. Off I went. Guess what it was? The designer shop! Not truly designated as such, but it quickly became apparent, by reading labels. What about the prices? Well...the shirts there were starting at 20.00 each and many were in the 32.00 price range.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT??? I don't care if it IS a designer label. I thought these stores were there to help people who need to shop on limited budgets. As a former shop owner, I'm the first one to understand the costs the customers don't often consider, beginning with rent, employees, and the horrendous liability insurance costs, to name just a few. However...I feel like I'm missing something here. I thought, when I donate to these organizations, I'm making things that are in usable, if not great, condition available to folks on limited budgets. Will someone please help me understand this?

It reminded me of a year or two ago, when I started rug hooking. Following the advice of other hookers, I decided to cruise the Taos thrift shop for wool clothes to dismantle and use. One trip to the thrift shop there gave me the same feeling I had today...after find a not so wonderful wool coat on the rack for the not so thrifty price of $45.00. I was so disgusted, I have not donated to these folks again...preferring, instead, to take things to the town free box, where the folks who need things can "afford" to shop.

If you have anything to tell me to calm me down on this matter, I'd sure appreciate another perspective.

Life is just a bowl of...

2010-09-13T07:56:00.003-06:00

Well...today, it's tomatoes. Anila has an heirloom tomato plant that's cranking out these babies in our greenhouse. I have two bowls of them and need to do something to save them today. Thinking I'll just stew them up and freeze them. Any suggestions? I'm down to the wire...I only have this afternoon. Fast is good. No time for canning, or I would (actually, not enough to bother with for all the trouble).

Tomorrow I fly back to CA. It has been a great three weeks. Project Decrap is finished, for now, and it feels just great. I even managed to get some stuff weeded out here at the house. Now I'm all organized so when I return later this fall, I can get right to work on reopening my little Etsy shop.

Only five more weeks until our new family member arrives. From the perspective of the person who is not pregnant and not lying on my side all day, everyday, 24-7, it seems like it has passed rather quickly...and I know these next weeks will just fly. Awesome!

Christine

2010-09-10T09:45:00.003-06:00

A few nights ago, around 9:30, my car horn start honking repeatedly. I was up here alone, and wasn't sure if I should grab a Rottweiler and go investigate, or hide in the house. I chose the second option. Then, at 2:15 a.m., it started again. I was starting to get creeped out.

Closer inspection the next morning showed no bear paw prints, nor little critter prints, so I went on about my business. During the course of the day, it lovingly honked at me as we did our rounds in town, and again, while I was washing the windshield. I was starting to worry it was the spirit of someone trying to get through to me. (grin)

A trip to the Santa Fe Toyota dealer solved my problems yesterday, it was a sensor going beserk. On my drive down there, I got excited to see this trailer full of fresh chile ristras, headed for someone's home in the future, whether to be eaten or for decoration. It is another harbinger of fall; I remember my neighbors in Chimayo telling me they hung them in their attic space to dry and store during winter. YUM...nothing like good Chimayo red chile sauce.

And while Oprah would have admonished me for using my telephone camera while driving, I decided this bridge was too cool to pass up. I apologize for the quality, I was driving into the sun when I took it. This was one of several art projects that happened with the Indian pueblos redid the roads north of Santa Fe some years back. I love that they celebrated their culture with art in a public place.

Have a great weekend!

Heavenly scent

2010-09-05T12:00:00.004-06:00

In town yesterday, I was surprised at my good fortune to be able to catch the end of the chile roasting season. I took these photos to share with those of you who live afar and have heard me rattle on about this in past postings.

You purchase your gunny sack of chiles in the grocery store, and included in the price is the cost of having them roasted in the gas fired rotating cylinders outside. Then, according to your individual experience or tradition, you take them home and put them up for use all winter. There are probably as many preferred methods for doing this as there are varieties of chiles. My preference is to load them in a black plastic bag fresh from the roaster, and take them home and let them sit for a while as they continue to blister a bit more. When completely cooled, I put them up in small quantities (4-6 chiles per bag) in freezer quality sandwich size zip bags and freeze them until they are needed. I have found it's just as easy to peel the remaining peels off as they defrost as it is to do them all before freezing them.

Having said that...my first fall in NM, in a little village called Chimayo, I was under close supervision and much help from my neighbor, who assured me I shouldn't have the chiles roasted at the store, but should do them at home on my own gas grill. Well...that was an experience to remember. After inhaling the fumes all day, somewhere during the peeling and bagging process, my hands started feeling on fire from the chile juices. It was just insanely painful. It was never quite clear to me if she really did them that way also, if she had Teflon hands, or if she just had a good laugh on the new neighbor's expense. Whatever the case, while I love to smell them roasting in town, most years, I just buy them already cooked, frozen, and chopped at the grocery when I need them!

Decrapping report #1

2010-09-03T17:32:00.004-06:00

Well this has been a great week. A pack rat at heart, I have had more fun than a barrel of monkeys going through things. I've made piles: one for the thrift store, one for recycle, one for relocation to the California house (this would be fabrics), and a pile for the dumpster. I'm feeling a bit ruthless at this point. Two days ago, I got rid of Christmas, something I've longed to do. Gone are years' worth boxes of decorations, baskets, and all kinds of other holiday tchotchkes that once had a place in my life but no longer do. I feel powerful. I can part with things! The end is in sight!!!

Yesterday I baked banana bread and put corn up for winter. This would be the corn that Anila grew in our newly fenced in garden. No small feat at our elevation and short growing period, she managed a crop of munchkin corn stalks that produced a hearty crop of mini-ears. They are so adorable...averaging 3-4" in length, I was able to put 4-6 in a one quart bag. Not that this will feed us for long this winter, but it's the principle of the matter.

Oh...and the other great fun of the week...Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works is having a great sale this weekend...go check it out! (I say this happily, as I've already put in my stash order...sigh.)

Have a great weekend!

Plan B

2010-08-31T08:10:00.005-06:00

Life this past four months in California has been devoid of the years' worth of, well, accumulation of stuff. Day to day activities seem to feel a bit more light-hearted when I'm not seeing all the things I have to do, haven't finished, or should have parted with years ago. You understand, probably. Most of us have a little of this stuff hanging around.

I made a pact with myself at the beginning of 2010: I would use the entire year to absolve myself of all the stuff I don't really need to have anymore. That clearly fell off the calendar. Yesterday I started Plan B. I am referring to this plan, lovingly, as decrapping. This term seems to give me a certain freedom to be a little more liberal in getting rid of things. I'm thinking about submitting it to the next Oxford English Dictionary, a term reserved for those of us who, well, treasure things a little longer than most. What do you think?

Plan B is a multi-phase plan (please know I'll be creating the plan as I go). Phase I began yesterday down at the shop, where the detritus from the yarn shop still lurks. Notebooks full of things no longer needed, a pile of one page patterns that didn't sell, drawers with oddments of office supplies, old files, notebooks, and boxes full of yarn company samples need to be dealt with in one way or another. I have two drawers full of brand new knitting needles, a box of leftover knitting books and audio tapes, some knitted shop samples, and yes, there's still that pesky matter of the yarn that's left.

Yesterday was spent down there beginning Phase I. I am headed there again this morning, and plan to spend as many days in the two weeks I'm in here Taos working on this project. I'll pretend it's the spring cleaning I didn't do before leaving for California. It'll also be really great to come back, later in the fall, and not have to face such a monster mess.

And speaking of spring...I was stunned to come back last week and see my rose bush is still cranking out the blooms up here at almost 8,000 ft, right on the edge of fall. Who would have ever thought? Oh...and I love the reflection in the kitchen windows...saved me taking a cloud photo for you!

More signs of the times

2010-08-27T16:45:00.003-06:00

I arrived in NM a couple of days ago, and found myself driving back to Santa Fe yesterday morning. At 11:00 a.m., I took these two photos from the plaza area downtown. One, the St. Francis Church. The other, the native Americans who sell their jewelry under the portal at the Palace of the Governors. What's wrong with these photos?

There's hardly anyone around. Even though it's the week after the big Indian Market, it is still summer and I have never seen the plaza in Santa Fe so devoid of tourists at this time of the year. This is what I would expect to see later in October, or early November. A sad picture(s), to be sure.

More evidence as to why Taos is suffering from the lack of tourists...I'm sure glad I closed the shop when I did.

Unconditional surrender

2010-08-24T12:25:00.015-06:00

A couple of months ago, we went to lunch down at the harbor in San Diego. There is a new museum there (new since I moved to NM), on the retired USS Midway aircraft carrier.

Nearby stands this sculpture, a 25' tall recreation of the very famous photograph taken at the end of WWII on the streets of NYC.

I was quite taken by it, and took many photos. It's only recently, after all, that the nurse in the original Aug. 14, 1945 photograph passed away (the sailor was never identified and her identity was unknown until around 1970). There are several other sculpture installations in this park area. One is a bronze statue of Bob Hope, speaking to a group of (bronze) soldiers and veterans. There is a recording of his voice and comedy routine that plays there, and lights on it at night...you feel as though you are really there for one of his many, popular, USO shows..

Anyway. It turns out this statue, known as "Unconditional Surrender", is scheduled to be removed at the end of August. It is on loan from the artist. It is made of foam core with a urethane outer coating, and was never intended to withstand the outdoor weather. There is a movement afoot in San Diego to try to see if there's any way to have this duplicated in bronze, to remain there forever...and of course, as always, there are those who would like to see it go away.

I hope they can find a way to acquire a permanent version of this piece; it is, after all, a scene that still occurs frequently enough in this military town. What more fitting place than this?

Giveaway at Canton Village Quiltworks!

2010-08-21T11:32:00.004-06:00

This just in...

Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works is having a giveaway of an AccuQuilt GO block cutter, courtesy of the AccuQuilt folks. If you check out her blog, there's information there on how to register for the drawing. While you're there, check out her awesome fabric collections...and do some stash building!

Good luck!

Home

2010-08-20T10:29:00.007-06:00

I was awake a lot last night, thinking about what home means...to me, to you, to so many who don't even have one. The moon was blasting in my window, urging me to get up and write. I declined.

Now, in the light of day, it doesn't seem as pressing as it did at 2:3o in the morning, but I know it is. I have now been here with my family for almost four months...months that have flown past. I spend part of my time staying at the home of my son, so I now have the feeling of a new home to add to my list. One of you generously offered to me a few months ago that home is where the heart is. You are so very right.

In the little downtown area below my house, there are some non-traditional homes I've long wanted to share with you. I can't recall the history of how/why they were built just now...lo siento. Perhaps in another posting?

Spare moments this last week have been spent starting quilts for homes for folks I'll never know. I have found some wonderful quilting blogs this summer, and am once again reminded of the enormous heart and generosity of folks in the fiber world, joining together to do hand work to help others. My current focus is using up old quilt blocks I got in a swap back in 1992 (yes, they've been waiting all these years to be used). I have twelve blocks, so I have assembled them in groups of three, to border four separate smaller quilts. I am going to donate these quilts to a project called BASICS, started by quilter and fiber artist Victoria Findlay Wolfe when she learned of the needs of a community based group in the south Bronx (BASICS/Promesa) that is helping disadvantaged Latino families. She designed a simple house block and asked bloggers around the world to donate a block if they would like to join in. She received 550 blocks and to date, has generously assembled 50 quilts with them, some of which will be auctioned off in a fundraiser in early September if you are in that area. Victoria's quilts are then quilted by Jackie at Canton Village Quiltworks. Entire quilt donations are also being accepted...of all sizes...if you are interested in helping out, be sure to visit the BASICS website and check out the specifics on what they're looking for before you get started.

I plan to spend all of today working on this quilt. While I'm sewing, I'll count my blessings that I have so many homes in my heart, so many friends and family I love so much, and the opportunity to help others feel as secure as I do. I wish you a good weekend!

Signs of the times

2010-08-11T13:40:00.005-06:00

It has been busy here, in a very good way. There was a pretty serious scare about four weeks ago, but mother and baby are doing well now, and we are counting the weeks to a safe arrival. We are hoping for another 10 weeks, and if they go as fast as these last four have, that time will pass swiftly (easy for me to say...I'm not the one on 100% bed rest).

These are a couple of signs I wanted to share with you. The McDonald's sign in Chinese had me in shock...I saw this while driving to my sister's house in Los Angeles recently. The other sign, on the car, was in the parking lot at the hospital last month. It really cracked me up.

Just a little social commentary to ponder.

Big brother present

2010-08-05T23:09:00.009-06:00

In between other things, I've been able to work on and finish the quilt I will give my grandson this weekend. It was so much fun to do. I plan to do another just like it, with the leftovers, and save it for a present for another special little guy I know.

I've been following a few quilting blogs as time allows. Once in a while, if I have a few extra minutes (not often these days), I check out the blog rolls on some of those blogs and go exploring to find someone new. Somehow or another, I found the blog of a woman named Leah Day, who gave herself the challenge of creating and demonstrating 365 days of free form quilting designs. So far, she is on Day #207. Each of these designs is demonstrated in a video clip (also available on YouTube). She is professional, precise, and just a pleasure to learn from, unlike some (no doubt, well intended) YouTube tutorials I have watched that were either horrible to listen to, hard to see, or both. I think, frankly, that Leah and her designs just rock. After watching just a few of her video clips, I felt the freedom to go off and do my own thing on the whale quilt shown here, from bubbles in the ocean, waves crashing over the jellyfish, the rhythm of the sea grass, to the bubbles repeated again on the borders. Thank you, Leah Day. If you haven't visited her blog yet, I encourage you. She also sells quilting accessories to help support her efforts...I purchased my quilting gloves there, as well as some cool little Teflon discs that fit under my bobbin and have successfully stopped the back lashing and globs of threads on the back of my work.

I love the internet for all there is to learn out there!

Food, Inc.

2010-07-31T17:15:00.005-06:00

During the middle of the crazy busy week that just flew past, I finally got around to watching this documentary. I had seen small portions of it on television, and discussions about its importance, much earlier this year...so it's been around quite a while. Perhaps you've already seen it.

If you haven't, you might want to consider it. Some of what I saw was similar to information that was in King Corn (visit their website here). Some of it was about Monsanto, and how they have just about tied up our food from one end to the other, beginning with the seeds and including stories about private investigations they conduct to make sure farmers aren't saving and re-using seeds. It was a lot about how poorly many people eat in this country, either through lack of time, thought, education, or money. It painted, over all, a sad tale. It's no wonder there is so much obesity and illness. Our grocery stores are veritable mine fields of unhealthy products.

It's a cautionary tale, to be sure, and to my mind, one that needs to be seen be everyone.

WARNING: If you decide to watch it, it's probably not appropriate for smaller children, due to some fairly grisly footage taken in some farms, feedlots, and packing plants.

Owning myself

2010-07-26T12:16:00.005-06:00

Turning 60 this spring was quite a big deal to me, even though I have not stressed over any of my other "milestone" birthdays. For the longest time, I didn't even realize it was eating away at me, and it reached a crescendo just as I was recognizing it. Now I've decided I like it, and I'd like to stay here for maybe twenty or so years. Finally, I am starting to accept the person in the mirror (operative word: starting). I have long eschewed the term "age appropriate", and probably won't sign up for entire program just yet...although it's clear my bikini days are ancient history, and it's probably wiser for me to stay off the roller skates. Compromises. It's all about compromises. I'm just thrilled I'm a) alive, b) healthy, and c) have such a great partner and wonderful life, family, friends, and the freedom to enjoy them all.

There is a beautiful quilt blog I've started following this summer: Postcards from Panama. A couple of weeks ago, the author, Carol, posted the following paragraphs. The author is unknown, and this has apparently been viral for a while...so if you've read it already, you'll probably enjoy reading it again...and if you happen to know who the author is, that would be splendid, as well. We would love to give credit where credit is due. Feel free to share it, as I am. I think it speaks for many of us of a "certain age". Oh, and P.S.: if you're still lots younger, go for it, and enjoy all that you have now. All those years I hated having photos taken...I wish I'd had to sense to document that I didn't always look like I do now. Love yourself NOW.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don’t agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to overreact, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m, and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60′s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love . I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I have forgotten what the young are just learning and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet dies? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say “no,” and mean it. I can say “yes.” and mean it.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it.)

Learning to quilt

2010-07-21T11:01:00.004-06:00

I've been having a blast these last couple of months, playing with my old fabrics, buying new ones, and stacking them all over every flat surface available, waiting for them to tell me what they want to be.

I've also been the intrepid bargain hunter, and spending my fabric shopping time cruising the marked down fabrics at the Quilt in a Day store in San Marcos. They had a big sale in early July...30% off everything, including the bolts that were already marked down to $4 or 5 a yard.

One of those days, I found yardage designed by the Laguna Beach artist, Wyland, who is famous for his fabulous outdoor murals of whales. I found two other fabrics to accompany it...one that reminds me of kelp, one that could be loosely imagined as bubbles in water. I didn't know where to start, so I cut the one yard panel apart in three sections and have started adding these two fabrics in. I'll update when I come up with the final product. For now, it's all so new, I'm just treading in uncharted waters, hoping for a decent outcome. P.S. The four year old who will receive this quilt will have little to no interest in my piecing or quilting ability...a real bonus.

Molly and her nest box

2010-07-20T11:39:00.004-06:00

This spring, my friend Annie turned me on to a live camera that is placed inside a box, 15 ft. off the ground, in nearby San Marcos, California. By the time I started watching, Molly, the barn owl mom, had already had her eggs and they had hatched. I was able to watch as the babies grew, the parents delivered food, and finally, when they fledged. It was a mesmerizing experience and I only regret I didn't have more hours to devote to watching.

So...it seems Molly has more eggs, and we are all fortunate enough to have a chance to watch her raise another family. There are several options for watching her, I think...this is the one I've followed. Go to this link and on the upper right hand side of the screen, click on the link to visit the show page. Enjoy!

(PS Photo of Molly taken just a couple of minutes ago, as she rested.)

The spinning nun

2010-07-18T11:35:00.006-06:00

NO...not the flying nun...

I'd like you to meet Michelle Mueller. If you happen to know her already, or her yarns, then you probably don't need to read the rest of this posting. If you don't, well...she is someone you would love to know, and her yarns are some of the best you'll ever be fortunate enough to hold in your hands and knit with.

I met her years ago in Arroyo Seco, long before I had the shop. At that time, she was spinning for 10-12 hours a day in her yurt, high atop a mountain north of Taos in a location you'd practically have to be a scout or mountain goat to find. There she plied her magic on her fibers and left Taos only long enough to sell her yarns at the big consumer shows...Stitches East and West, to be specific...then back to her hideaway to make more.

Many of you may have heard of her yarns and purchased them at these shows under her business name: Widdershin Woolworks. Well, here's the good news...after a five year hiatus in India (where she became a Tibetan Buddhist nun), she's back, and has her dye pots going and her wheel flying. Instead of traveling to the shows right now, she has jumped into cyberspace with the rest of us...and has opened an Etsy shop to sell her wares. Please stop by and say hi to her, and cheer her on while she goes through this crash course in going from third world to learning computer skills, photography skills, etc.

In fact...she's having an introductory sale on her Etsy shop today...a great way to indulge in some top notch yarn at wholesale pricing. Go check it out!!!

There's a new wheel in town

2010-07-13T21:45:00.002-06:00

About 4 or 5 years ago, on the trusted recommendation of my friend Michelle Mueller (more on her in my next posting), I ordered a Jensen D-30 production wheel. It took me a couple of years to take the time to really sit down and bond with it, and once I did, it made all my other wheels pale by comparison. Because Mr. Jensen will make his wheels with the flyer assembly on either the left or right hand side, I was able to order mine with the flyer on the right, to accommodate my left hand draw. Also because of the placement of the treadles and the flyer assembly, I am able to sit comfortably and spin for hours without having to scrunch up or lean over and cause back and neck pain. As much as I love my Kromski Sonata, it turns out I am just too tall for it, and the length of my legs from hip to knee puts the orifice so far away from me, I end up ready for the chiropractor after a long evening of spinning...big bummer, because I love it so.

OK, so much on that stuff. Last year I got all sentimental about Mr. Jensen, and how I would feel if I missed getting another wheel from him before he retires from wheel making, yada yada yada...so I ordered another of his 30" production wheels...this time, the Ashley. It arrived last month and is every bit as gorgeous and dreamy to spin on as the D-30. The original D-30 is back in Taos for Michelle to spin on while I'm in CA, so the timing is perfect...Ashley is living with me, here on the coast. If you are lucky enough to own one of these wheels, you already know what I'm talking about. If you aren't, well...I suggest you give it some serious consideration, especially if you love spinning finer yarns. I bought mine from Lois at Bountiful, my long time source for spinning wheels, carder, and fibers...if you visit with her, please tell her I sent you!

Stash

2010-07-08T10:27:00.008-06:00

If you have any sort of fiber habit, you know what stash is. It's what happens when we're not looking...yarns, fabrics, and works in process seemingly multiply at night, and fill up our closets, drawers, and the ubiquitous plastic containers. It's what we do; we can't help ourselves.

This past weekend I was sorting through my quilting fabrics. I have now moved most of them here from NM. I found a stack of country prints I never used, things that haven't been available for years, probably. Pieces of yardage with replicas of feedsacks printed on them, panels to be framed in a quilt or made into pillows, and yardage with pictures of farms and cows happily grazing. They're pretty cool. I am, however, having to face the facts: I probably need to start letting go of all this fabric, and these are the first to go. If you have any interest, please let me know, or refer a friend to me if you'd like. I hope to be photographing them and listing them on Etsy this month, as time allows, but would rather sell them privately in one or two lots...cheap!

I'm still hand quilting the double wedding ring quilt. I got a bit side tracked when a new spinning wheel came to live with me, but am back on track now. I'm about half done. What's up after that? Not sure, but I found these antique Dresden plate blocks that need to be put into a top and hand quilted...

Beach combing #3: what remains

2010-07-03T10:49:00.009-06:00

The sea is amazing beyond words that I possess. It always reminds I am no larger or more important than any one of the grains of sand that guard it.

These are some things I found on my walk the other morning: remains of sea plants, remains of sea life, and a relic that was once a weight for a lobster trap. My son's grandfather, who did not live long enough to know my son grew into a knowledgeable waterman in his own right, was once a fisherman off this coast. A single man in his own, small, dory, he earned a living for his own family in these waters in this time honored occupation. Now my son free dives in these same waters to feed his own young family...one more of life's cycles.

I doubt the person who made this weight and used it ever could have imagined it would roll to shore and be shared with people all around the world one day...isn't that cool.

Beach combing #2

2010-07-02T08:57:00.006-06:00

Many of our beaches in this area are accessible only by staircases. The bluffs have become extremely unstable and there are stories about people who've lost their lives while merely sitting on the beach, folks who've lost their homes, or suffered serious damage as a result of living right on the edge. I don't recall anyone thinking about all this when I was a kid, although I know it was a reality.

What I DO remember is that the bluffs didn't seem to be leaking so much water as they do these last many years. I can't help but wonder if this isn't a result of people over watering their yards and the resulting seepage. I think lots of people forget that this is a desert, not Hawaii.

Over the years, many measures have been taken to try to stabilize the bluffs. I suspect these large rocks are one such attempt. I have a question, if there's a geologist out there, reading this: what would have caused these very regular marks on these boulders? I took lots of photos, there are many more such examples, not all exactly identical. I am intensely curious. If anyone knows, please let me know!

Beach combing #1

2010-06-30T12:54:00.010-06:00

Monday morning, Liz and I walked almost three hours along the beach, instead of our usual walk along the bicycle/walking lanes on the bluffs above. I had only my iPhone with me for photos, and wished I had had my Canon SLR.

I want to share some of what we saw that day. It may take a few postings. Today we'll start with the colorful public restroom at the top of Swami's, the local (and world renown) surfing hot spot a few blocks from here. Growing up, this was a mere dirt parking lot with ramshackle stairs and no hope of something as civilized as a bathroom or water fountains. I'm deciding that maybe some of these changes, over time, have been for the positive.

The tree overhanging is a Torrey Pine, the most restricted and rarest pine in north America. It is recognizable by its clusters of five needles. These tree is just a gorgeous specimen. Further south along the coast, between Del Mar and La Jolla, is the Torrey Pines State Preserve, where they have set aside approximately 2,000 acres and have over 8 miles of hiking trails in these magical trees. The seeds are edible and I have seen some amazing baskets made from their needles.

I was saying this morning how much more I appreciate these things at this point in life than I did as a younger person, and I feel fortunate to be in a place in life to be able to see and enjoy with new eyes and heart.

Growing in the mountains

2010-06-26T06:01:00.005-06:00

One treat this week, at home in Taos, has been to see things green and flowering. The flora and fauna were still in quiet repose when I left here on May 7. Anila (my friend who lives with us) has taken complete charge of all things related to gardening here at our place, which is no small feat. Amazingly, she has a garden flourishing outdoors, complete with corn. This is no small feat at our elevation of just a hair under 8,000 ft.

Early in the week, we discovered cutworms happily devouring the leaves of the Beet that Ate Taos. This is a volunteer that popped up last fall in our greenhouse, and was given no major attention all winter. At one point, Mr. Sunflower and I decided it was having such a happy time, we'd just leave it to see what would become of it. Well, this photo is the result. This big girl weighed in at 10.75 lbs.! I wonder what it could have been, had not the cutworms had their way with it?

Yesterday we visited Monte's house, down in town and in yet another one of our many micro climates. We discovered this Lamb's Ear plant gone haywire. These velvety stems reach to a good 5 feet into the air. This was just a wee plant she brought home from the nursery a couple of years ago. No one she has shown it to has ever seen such a happy Lamb's Ear plant. Any feedback from you on this one???

Last, but not least...I am headed back to California today, with a happy tummy full of green and red chile. I met my goal! Chile for lunch all five days I was here in Taos.

Life truly is good. Have a great weekend!

Some chile each day

2010-06-23T13:41:00.003-06:00

...keeps the doctor away (if not exactly true, I like the idea). My dad used to tell us that people who eat lots of good chile won't get heart disease (another fantasy). Wherever the truths lie, I love chile and have, for the most part, missed good old New Mexican style green chile while I've been in California these last 6 weeks.

It's not exactly the reason I've returned to Taos for this week, but it sure was near the top of the list. As I drove up from Albuquerque Sunday afternoon, I set a goal for myself: green chile for lunch all five days I'm here. So far, I'm three for three. Dad would be proud of me.

If you're ever in our area, my favorite green chile is at Abe's Cantina in Arroyo Seco (on State Road 150 just below the Taos Ski Valley). They are open for breakfast burritos and lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00ish weekdays (closed Sundays and only limited food service on Saturday mornings). Their chile is just chock full of (surprise!) chiles that they roast each fall when the new harvests come in, as opposed to the rather thin-sauce green chile from another restaurant I go to in El Prado for smothered cheese burgers. There, you see only the occasional piece of chile bobbing around in the watery base, and while it tastes good, it should not even be considered in the same category.

If you have a favorite place for green chile in NM, I'd love to hear about it!