New Towels!

I don't know what happened to November. I don't know why I said yes to 12 towels before Christmas.  Just starting the warp...16 1/2 yards long and 380 threads will make 16 towels so I should have 4 left over for sale...And I have another customer who wants a scarf...will probably tell her I can't...and a brother who wants a shawl for someone special...omg...I haven't mailed (or wrapped) gifts to go to HI to my son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter...A tree?  Presents?  Cookies?  I need to practice saying no.

In any case, I love making these towels...my crayon towels...Strong, beautiful, happy colors!

And the sun is shining! 

Time to tie up this warp and transfer it to my loom for winding, threading, sleying...

Might get to start weaving tomorrow...

And hopefully get a walk in today!

Look where the old barn used to be!!!

And Noah being funny and Alex trying to ignore him just before they took off after Thanksgiving...

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful!

xo

Finishing the barn

 Building a run-in for the horses so that when I get another horse it will have plenty of space to get out of the bugs and/or cold.  The main aisle is on the left and the new space is on the right.  We haven't opened it up yet but Noah and Gary have been working for days and I had a friend's twin 15yo boys shoveling tons of dirt as well.

All boarded up...

With plenty of room for equipment as well...

Inside the new run-in

We are getting there!  And looked at a horse the other day down by Binghamton, NY.  He was very adorable, sweet, willing, 15 years old and friendly.  So just waiting to hear from his vet.  

 Kota

Hope everyone's long weekend was wonderful!

xo

Post Italy...

OK everything is now either before Italy or after Italy...I need to go back.  Seriously.  I felt so healthy over there.  Walking, eating, drinking wine, listening to Italian.  What more can you ask for?

I know...I missed the entire month of May...and maybe even most of April.  I've become fixated on the quickness of Facebook (or addicted, as Noah tells me).

But back to Potsdam.  We had three graduations...Alex from Clarkson with his Masters in Engineering, Victoria (Alex's significant other) from SUNY Potsdam with her Masters and Noah from Skidmore with his Bachelor degree.  Alex has a job down in Groton, CT starting when he passes his security clearance and Noah is still debating his options...I am beyond proud of them both!

Noah with Sofia

AND Django came to stay!  Here he is relaxing with Duke standing guard.  Such a life!  He is truly a treasure.  Curious, friendly, sweet...all this plus good looking!  So I found a friend, Sandy, to ride Duke while I ride Django.  Sandy is taking lessons with me as well though Duke would rather eat and chill.  She has never ridden before, is newly retired, and this is something she always wanted to try.  Sometimes the stars align!  I had my confidence shaken by Miss Ellie and I haven't ridden in 1 1/2 years so I needed someone to keep me company.  I'm getting my legs back, working on my hands, cues, stamina.  And getting to know this amazing horse.  He is responsive and lovely.  Plus now I have someone to ride out in the fields with.  And his original owner came and stayed for a couple of days and helped tremendously with the transition.  So all is well on the farm...

And my sister (Faith) is coming for a visit soon.  I can't wait!!  Oh and I turned 65 in May.  OK that's all the big doings around here.  I have not been weaving very much because the barn beckons and the weather is amazing after a very long winter...I'm waiting for my creative spirit to kick in...anytime now.  Meanwhile, I'm riding!

xo

We have a Date!!!

We have a tentative date, anyway...April 13!!!

This gives the weather

a chance to moderate somewhat,

the snow to melt,

the sun to dry the land.

I'm telling Duke tomorrow.  He is so quiet

and seems so lonely even though he

never got along with Miss Ellie.

Speaking of Miss Ellie...she is doing fine

over at a barn nearby and the owner/trainer

is going to buy her.  She actually seems happier

there probably because they are so at ease

with b*tchy mares.

And maybe because she has mare friends

and Duke isn't kicking her.

My Alex went down near Albany for a job interview

which went well and he is expecting to

get and accept this job.  My mechanical engineer...

Noah will be home tomorrow for a week

from Skidmore.  Hopefully when he

graduates this spring he will get a job fairly

close as well.  This letting go is a little

difficult.

Yes another reason to fall in love with this horse...

And I sold this scarf already!

Just have to weave off two more!

Enjoy the weekend!

xo

Empty Nest, Fiddling Party and More...

Had a party for the boys going away.  Alex off to his first apartment with Victoria and Noah leaving Sunday for Skidmore and his senior year.  So some good friends, some music, good food, some wine, 

some dancing in the kitchen.  Bittersweet.

Noah on fiddle, Mark on bodhran

 (Fay trying to get out of the picture).

Alex and Victoria in their Potsdam apartment!

Still feeling creative.  And Katie still helping me weave.

A lot of finish work to do...twisting fringe, tagging, 

photographing and loading onto Etsy.  Not yet.

Too early for fall yet.

Ellie had a lesson tonight.  Sunday she will have a lesson

with her saddle on...Soon we will ride.

Hmmmm...I think I need to join a gym or something.

I am realizing that I have been doing nothing but weaving

since last fall.  Uh oh.  My riding is going to suck...core strength?

xo

I Bought A Horse!!

Woooooo Hoooooo!!!  I bought a horse...a very young Appendix mare with front shoes...I know, I know I said no mare and no shoes but sometimes you have to give a little.  And she is only 5 and hasn't always had shoes so I feel confident that she will be able to go without.  Oh yeah...I said no mare.  Well...Duke will be very happy.  Maybe too happy.  Might be hard to separate them but we'll just have to see.  Duke, by the way, has always been sort of stand-offish but lately he has started coming when I call him and liking some attention.  That will probably all stop when the girlfriend shows up.  This horse looks so skinny to me, too.  Especially since I'm used to chunkos.  I better work harder at my diet so she doesn't collapse under the weight...

So all of a sudden we have to do some work around here...like getting electric to the barn and fence.  Picking up stones...fixing some boards in my outdoor arena...and the gate is hanging from only one hinge out there.  Going to be a busy weekend.  And I don't really know when I can get her here...have to talk to the hauler but I'm sure it will be next week sometime.  I am so excited but it is coming out in a crabby way...

They called her "Dressed in Chanel"
and her barn name is Elle...but we will call her
Ellie

And Noah called!!  He has landed in NYC and will be coming home tomorrow sometime!  YAY!  Haven't seen him since January when he left for Australia.  Such a nice gift for Mother's Day!

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!
xo

Early Dawn Table Runner...

Finished up a runner for a customer today.  She wanted one like the Early Dawn scarf but wider and shorter and thicker.  It actually turned out wonderfully well.  She wanted 14" x 68" so I put on a warp 16" and wove 78".  Then I washed it in hot water and set it to dry.  When it was almost dry it was 14 1/4" and three inches too long so I threw it in the dryer.  Then I cut out some of the weaving for a couple of inches and twisted the fringe and it is PERFECT!  I'm so happy!  I love it when a plan comes together!! :)

Cutting out some of the weaving

Twisting the fringe

Washed, dried, twisted and done!

Plus we had a chat with Noah in Australia the other night.  We skyped for 1 1/2 hours.  It was just like having him at the kitchen table!  There wasn't the usual delay where your mouth moves and then several seconds later the sound comes out.  And I sat far enough away without my glasses on so I couldn't really "see" the mini me in the corner (very disconcerting that mini me).  Gary and Noah solved all the world's problems so that is taken care of and I totally enjoyed the visit!  Now we have to set up to skype with Adam and Alicia and Ava.  Or maybe just Ava.  That would be good.

Meanwhile Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  We are having a quiet night at home...Project Runway is on so...

xo

Spring Morning Scarf...

I know...I changed the name of the scarf.  Actually wove three of these.  One for the local gallery and two for Etsy.  Gary actually did the video.  I'm so proud of him...he was nervous.  Usually his pictures from my camera come out totally blurry.  I think he moves when he clicks the shutter...I don't know.  He swears he doesn't.  I took the stills...

Gary's Video!

Totally warm today.  Snow sliding off the barn has the horses spooked! and I have to bring in soups that have been left outside to freeze.  Looks like I'll have to clean out the fridge to make room!

Noah is going to skype tonight!  YAY!  Can't wait to see him!

xo

Nemo Aftermath...Noah Update...

Well, time for the plow guy...Not as much snow as the last storm but the drifts are way over my tall barn boots!  At least Gary shoveled a path to the bird feeder and the horses.  And the sun is shinning and the world is beautiful!  

The fires are going and we are all snug.  Off to a dinner/dance for the Arts Council tonight.  By that time we will be able to get out of the driveway!  

Oh update on Noah...there are jumping fire ants, land leeches and huge huntsman spiders which are, in his words, "everywhere."  They went to a Buddhist retreat for two days and were sitting outside trying to meditate while "millions" of mosquitoes were biting and leeches were crawling on his ankles.  Not conducive to a trance I'm thinking.

Almost finished my scarves...maybe today I can get them off and wash them.  Yesterday I did nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  Bliss.  Followed by guilt.  What is up with that?!!

xo

Bye, Noah...sniff, sniff...

Brought Noah to the bus station this morning for a 6:15 bus to New York City.  He is staying with his girlfriend and her Mom for 5 days and then he is off to Australia for a semester.  A semester.  As far away as you can get on this planet.  A place suffering from 120 degree heat.  Tasmania is on fire.  We are having 5 degree weather and tonight in the minus.  A place that has alligators in the swimming holes.  Poisonous everything.  Big spiders.  Snakes.  Lethal jellyfish.  Killer waves.  

Really, Mom?

 OK, how did this happen???

sigh...it's going to be a long winter...

Bye, Noah

xo