All The Colors Around

Sometimes a story begins a long time ago, in the midst of another story, like a Barcelona adventure. When I was a Chicken Abroad and very out of sorts about jet lag, Euros, and being so far, far away... Delia and I stumbled upon a little shop that introduced me to the sensory delights of colored, carded wool batting. Mom and I could not get enough, and we bought enough wool to stuff into every gap and nook of our carry on bags.

We had no idea what for. All that wool. But we share a passion for colors. Beads, fabric, flowers, and wool.

It took more than two years, but Maria and I finally figured out one thing we could do with wool: make bracelets. So we made a couple of woolly bracelets. And we made more bracelets with Amira and Janice, and Suki made some dreads for her hair. I even rolled some felted balls, which was amusing, and then sort of addictive, then slightly obsessive... hahaha

Anyway. I love looking at Maria's creations, and this collection of woolen orbs of color, which feel really neat. And no, by the way, I have no idea what their higher purpose is, but I am ok with this. I love thinking about where this stuff came from, about my adventure with my Mom, and looking at what's come of this part of the journey, and marveling at the paths, the twists in turns in life, and where they bring us. Mom, we should go back, and get more wool. I now know what to do with it.


And now Soap. And S.U.D.S.
Gretchen, are you and Joanne still making soaps? I found one last bar of great smelling Apple Jack soap, and decided to add one more woolly tutorial to my skill set... felting a bar of soap. Still, have no idea what the ultimate and/or higher purpose of this activity is, but I can confirm that felting wool over luxurious, good smelling soap is quite pleasant. Maria and I were both delighting in the sudsy joy of wool and soap together.


Ta-Da!
It's woolly-groovy-wavy, colors all around soap.
I think it's going to feel nice while in the tub, on the feet, and elbows.

Questions: will the wool continue to shrink with the dwindling soap. After many uses will I have a funky little wool glob?

No tutorial addresses this practical line of questioning...


Of course, after rolling fifty little spherical wool confections, I can hardly be the sort who is too concerned with practical answers, now can I?

Got Eggs

Quiche. Made it up. Just in case they like it, I did think about what I was doing, so maybe I can replicate it or tweak it. I figure, baking with enough cheese and eggs, anything will taste good, right? I sauteed leeks, and added spinach too. It's cold. It's November. It's Saturday. It's quiche time.


Four hens are laying these days. Every day is an egg hunt. One in the empty flower pot. Two in the enamel basin where the chicks sleep. One or two in the bedraggled remains of the tomato bed.


Hello, Zelda.
Thank you for the eggs. I baked a quiche. It's delicious.


Hello, Zoltar.
Thank you for the... for... thank you for being handsome, and a protector.


Yes, very handsome.


Of the six chicas hatched in August, I think at least three of them will be hens. Maybe? Hopefully.

And how many of them love me and trust me, and recognize me?
Answer: Not a stinkin' one. Ingrates. Dodos. Knuckleheads. Chickens.

But I love them.


Homer loves them too. Roasted, broiled, bbq'd. Homer loves c.h.i.c.k.e.n. And he even understands when you spell it out loud.

Back to the quiche. Geoff says "Write the recipe down." We have a winner.

{this moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
:: Inspired by Soule Mama ::

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Carried Away

I may not be here tomorrow.
I may get blown off course.
Or perhaps
on course.

I am carried away by the wind, and a mood
and a terribly
attractive thing called...



From East
that Wind has returned.
The leaves drop,
crackle
blow.
I Pin snow covered barns, cozy nooks, crochet edged pillowcases.
All dreamy
all order and ideal.


My nightcap: blanket stitching a fat quarter.
Red
Cotton
Perle


Then slipping thread over hook...

I am carried away
by the wind
to Pinterest.
To daydreaming, blog hopping.
To wishful thinking and sighing deeply over glimpses of alternate realities, and other seemingly endless possibilities.


And until I can build my tree house, and make a laundry room look like a four star hotel suite, I will be teaching myself how to crochet edge a fat quarter with red cotton perle.

Lifted from NorCal Katie's Pinterest Board:

Source: 28.media.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

I am, always, adjusting my sails.

October 32nd... The Second Day of Halloween

Happy Halloween II!

Actually, I hadn't counted on posting all five days of The Five Days of Halloween. I am so ready to shift gears and embrace the new month, and a new focus. I love OctoberNovemberDecember... it is my favorite time of the year, and I am all excited for the days ahead.

But first, a little reflection, because our Halloween has been too creepy and creative and full to skip over.


The fashion blogs always detail ensembles, top to bottom.

Hat: St. Vinnie's, Willy Street, Madison Wisconsin
Dress: Passed to us by Aunt Holly
Boots: Target
Wool bracelets: home made
Crows: craft store
Fangs: dime store


As soon as our Bird House was decorated with The Birds, for Halloween, Maria decided every last detail of her Halloween costume. And she loved to breathlessly describe it to anyone. Fast, and lilting, with her hands motioning, she would explain, "I'm going to have a fancy white hat, fancy white dress and crows all over. And scary teeth." And if you did not pay very close attention you would not understand a bit of it. But she understood exactly what she had in mind.


It was actually rather sophisticated, and truly unique. And, creepy... until she smiled, or spoke with those silly fangs in her mouth.


Before trick-or-treating, before closing the doors, or leaving the house... if you have kitties, especially black kitties it is a good idea to get them safely inside. None of us could have any peace of mind until all of our family was safely accounted for. And naturally a kitty pursued and begged, is a kitty aloof and uncooperative.


Chango turned his back on the crow ghost and the plague doctor.


And he led them all over the yard. Sun setting, fog rolling in, and precious trick-or-treat minutes ticking away...


In the end, it was a Happy Halloween after all, and everyone made it home safe and happy. Treats were shared, and memories recounted.