What we expect vs. reality

The television has spoiled our sense of time.

Martha makes fluffy cheesecakes from eggs she gathers at the beginning of the show from her chicken hutch encircled with a fence she's thrown together from willow-branch-prunings in a kitchen where the perfect pan is always available (and clean, no less!). Extreme Makeover bulldozes the old and builds a new home in 54 hours or some ridiculous time. Home Depot (secretly becoming Home Despot, as in wielding tyrannical power, in my heart) sings the siren song of "you can do it, we can help."

So that when we begin to work on our own spaces, we expect huge, wondrous, miraculous changes without despair, wailing or gnashing of teeth. If you will then indulge me further, I beg your forgiveness. Please forgive me for being proud of this kitchen countertop. I think it sets off the "hand placed 2 and 1/4" plank by 2 and 1/4" plank by yours truly and My Good Man's Excellent Friend hardwood (think: hardwon ) floor excellently.

This, as my blood blisters from mis-directed hammers and snugly clamped boards attest, is hard-gained, but OH, so satisfactory. And my 47-man camera, grip and costume crew so nicely stayed out of the picture!!!
And while I was hammering, what does Artistic Child do? The dishes at our house. With the aid of creative eyes and a camera, the painful task is ameliorated. (Sorry, use of unusual vocabulary words is becoming a competitve sport about the abode).


Well, maybe you had to be there to find Joy in the Process....

Blue skies!

Progress (or another step closer to fiber)

I will, I Will, I WILL get back to fiber content on this page one day. Thanks to each of you who have kept on reading, and commenting, and forgive my lack of responsiveness as I trek yet again to the lumberyard....

For now, you can see the progress of the new kitchen.


This is bar none the most amazing thing...to make improvements to a house BEFORE you move in, that you will enjoy before passing it on. How novel a concept. Every other home I have owned has been retrofitted and spiffed exactly one week before selling. Not quite sure what that says about me.

I think it speaks more to the fact that I was raised in the military, so I have this need to rearrange my living room every six months, just to feel "at home". The military life as a kid teaches you lots of things, such as:

The immediacy of friendships--be kind now, tomorrow you may be moving.

Happiness is where your people are--housing is something to keep the rain out.

Travel light--memories weigh less than possessions.

So do forgive if it seems odd, but I feel like a princess or editor of a home improvement show or even like someone in a magazine makeover layout. But the opulence of doing something just for me and mine to use and enjoy--call Webster's: there is a new definition for decadence.

Blue skies!

Early Wedding Gift

My Good Man has given me an early wedding gift. Remember how I told you my company had been sold again? I have been thinking of leaving and starting a fiber-related business of my own.

To ease the transition from full employee to full-time business, I looked around for something more creative and found an opportunity where I will write web content, marketing materials and catalog copy for a company in the paper crafting industry. Think rubber stamps, altered books, a new box of crayons in essence.

The opportunity is part time, and the early wedding gift I am getting from My Good Man is the encouragement to take it. Three things:
1. I will be covered on his insurance after the wedding.
2. I will have time to pursue my fiber-related business. (As my kids say, does it begin with an 'A' and end with a 'paca' Mom? Smart girls!)
3. My Good Man is creating a fiber studio in our new home for my use. If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.

I only have one question:

How do you wrap undying gratitude?

Blue skies!

Meet Meadowlark

I want you all to meet Meadowlark.Yes, this is a picture I pilfered directly from the Majacraft New Zealand website. But since she began life there, I figured they wouldn't mind. I can't find my digital camera amidst the construction zone right now, so this is as good as it gets.

She joined me in spirit the weekend I was in California, meeting alpaca ranchers and sheep farmers. Her name is after the meadowlarks which have such sweet evening song out here in the west country. She arrived last week, but has not yet been out of her box.

She spent the first years of her life on a sheep farm, owned by a lovely woman, Sherry Carlson. I had the very distinct pleasure to meet Sherry in February on a visit to her farm. If you want to see the most AMAZING sheep, visit her website http://www.wensleydalesheep.com/index.htm

Unfortunately, her fleeces are sold, but she does have a waiting list and I am officially on it.

There will be an end to the construction. There will be an end to the wedding planning, culminating in a day of great joy. And then there will be time for me to listen to Meadowlark's song. Blue skies!

What HAVE you been doing, hmmm...?

That's a most excellent question.

First, no knitting to speak of. Well, not true, I've actually redone one short row heel three times on a sock. Just can't seem to get it smooth enough to suit. I am sure it CAN be done, but maybe just not by me.

Second, preparing to take this lovely little creature, our Bay Black suri alpaca Stella, to the show in Denver. That means:

- wean from mama

- train on halter


-make arrangements for transportation, lodging, registration, etc.

Look at that face! She is STINKING cute, stinking I tell you!


Third, been helping settle teens into registration for summer and next fall, planning for summer adventures (one is off to Montreal for an immersion experience with a multi-lingual friend. She's to be their nanny for ma petite chou Angelique, a darling 6 year old). The other is off to paint with Judgie in Florida (my father trained at the Art Institute of Boston in Watercolor).

Four, oh yeah, remember ordering the kitchen post? Well, it's here. And there. And pretty much all over the house. Picked paint and lighting fixtures this week. Installation begins next week.

Five, remember I will have to prep my house for sale or rent to raise it to the standards that pretty much anyone else would require at a minimum, she snorted.

Six, the place I work has been sold AGAIN. Fourth name change in five years of employ, no stress there, none at all, she snorted again!

Seven, lest we forget, we need to squeeze a wedding in somewhere here. Okay, how does the 23rd of June sound? Great. Where? What time? Who officiates? Guests, attire, yard work prior....

My life is full AND wonderful AND happy. Pass along some love to someone you know today. Heck, just smile at a grocery clerk. It's spring, the sun is out, life is good.

Blue skies!