Another Birthday!

What fun. We were in Alabama for Reese's 5th Birthday (dec 24th) and now we are in South Carolina for Grace's 5th Birthday. (dec 30th) That worked out perfect. Both of these children were surprises to their parents and to us. We all thought our kids were done having kids. Surprise! These two blessings were just waiting in the wings.

Reese being born on Christmas Eve will always have stories to hear. And Grace right behind him has her stories too. She almost was a New Years Eve baby, but couldn't wait another minuet. She actually was due on New Years Eve. Reese on the other hand was a week late.

Today Ron and Brian are taking Grace fishing for her birthday and then later more of Barb's family are coming for Pizza and cake and ice cream. I'm sure we will all have fun.

For Reese's Birthday we went to Apple Bee's and had a great dinner. He got his presents and played until we were all tired and had to go to bed to wait for Santa. Big day and night!

Later

In South Carolina Now

We drove all day on the 26th from Prattville, Alabama to Charlston, South Carolina. Really we are in Summerville, a suburb of Charlston. It is a little warmer here in the day time, but still very cold at night. I'm talking 30 at night and about 48-50 in the day time. To me 40 anything is not a high, that is definately a low. So, I am cold.

I have been knitting alot, but not as much as I thought I would. I have made a couple of pairs of socks and am working on a pair of handwarmers now. I haven't touched my drop spindle, but probably will soon.

On Sunday we visited the Citidel where my son went to College and went downtown to the market place. Very fun, but there were too many of us. 14 total. Didn't really get to shop, but ate some really good Chicken wings. That is the best part of this part of the country, the food.
Of course I will miss all the mexican food eventually.

Ron went hunting on Monday morning, but didn't even see anything, but he is loving the country side here. Lots of forrest here and in Alabama. Everything seems really rural to me.

Later.

Cold and Colder!!!

Today it was raining again. I had to go buy a jacket. I don't think I have had a real jacket in 20 years. I have sweaters, and sweatshirts, but no coat or jacket. I got something warm and water proof to a degree. It also has a hood. We also bought umbrellas. There is just too much water around here. I talked to Brian in South Carolina and it was raining there too. That decided it for me. I bought a coat.

The kids had their last day of school today. Everyone had parties and lots of goodies. Ron and I went to Walmart again. Then we had pizza tonight for dinner. Dana and I have been making cookies all night. Next we have to make gingerbread men. She is having a cookie decorating party tomorrow night. We make about 4 batches of sugar cookies.

I finished my sweater that I knitted before I left and got it all sewn together. Now I am knitting a hat to go with it. The plan is to go Christmas Caroling after the cookie decorating party tomorrow night. I know it will be cold. It isn't colder here at night, but it never warms up in the day time.

Spin on...............................Sheena

Alabamba Bound!

Well, for all who read this. We are in Alabama. It was raining when we landed (Monday night) and continued to rain all day Tuesday. For us that is a lot of rain. They take it in their stride here. I didn't see anyone worrying about the rain. I, on the other hand, feel like a drowned rat. It is clear and very cold today even by Ramona standards.

We will be here through Christmas and are really happy to be here with our grand kids. After Christmas we will move on to South Carolina to be with more grand kids. This is a great vacation with grand kids to boot!

Today we are going out and about while the kids are in school all day. I still have some final shopping before Christmas. I still don't know what to get Reese. He has changed so much and is getting so big. All the kids have grown including Rebecca who is so tall I didn't think she would grow any more. I think she is 5'8" now. Very regal and beautiful.

I brought along a few knitting projects and of course some spinning ones. I had to bring my drop spindles because I couldn't bring myself to buy another wheel for travel. I was very timpted but will hold off another year. I want a Joy, but don't really need one.

Spin on....................................Sheena

The start of the Holiday Season!

I love all the holidays, but the fall starts the real Holiday Season. I love Halloween just because and use to love to make Halloween Costumes for my kids. I also love pumpkins and really like to knit them. I have a lot and couldn't find them all this year. I'm sure I will find them when I am looking for Christmas Decorations.

This year I didn't make another pumpkin, well I did, but couldn't find my stuffing for it so it is still waiting for me to find some or buy some. Anyway, I made a pumpkin candy bowl and felted it. I love it , it came out so good. I filled with candy and It is perfect.

We spent Halloween at our church helping with games for the kids, and learning to line dance. It was a lot of fun and I think it was a big success. The kids all had fun and they were inside and safe.

Thanksgiving is next and I can't imagine right now turning on the oven to make a Turkey. We'll see, it is still so hot in the day time. The nights are really cool so that helps.

I have been knitting socks and spinning all different things. Some new sock yarn turned out really nice. I need to take a picture. Later

spin on .........................Sheena

Settling in.

These are beautiful dish cloths a friend wove for me. I just love them. I can't wait until I can do something like this. For now I am weaving other things and mostly with my handspun. I have woven a couple of scarfs, and now a bag

This bag is one of my first attempts at weaving a rug.

I decided I loved it so much I would turn it into a bag.

Last week I went to a friends house and she lined it for me.

Now it is the most awesome roving bag ever. I love it.

I have been spinning some sock yarn for myself, and knitting socks for a friend. I did three pair last week and two more this weekend. I have a bunch to do. So between working on this and getting my MIL to her radiation treatments we are busy!

Spin on..................................Sheena

Some Great Pictures

I have several pictures I have wanted to post for a while.



I have to share this picture of Panda
and Dude. They don't usually get near
each other. This day Panda's bed was
in the laundry so she went in and laid
in Dude's bed. He loves the closet. He
went to lay down and his spot was taken.
He snuck in on his tippy toes and laid
next to Panda. I had to get a picture be-
cause I knew no one would believe it.



This is one of Drizzella (the one on the far
right, looking right at the camera) She got
sheared the other day.
(Last Thursday) Anyway, I am
getting better and it is getting easier. You
wouldn't know that to look at her, but really
it is getting better. She looks kind of pitiful
and maybe a little embarrassed.


AFTER












I worked on my knitting machine a lot today
I haven't done much since last spring. It's hard
when I'm working. I am getting ready to
knit some wool socks for a lady and then will
get busy on Christmas presents.


It is really hot here today (104-officially, 107 on my
thermometer.


I am knitting a scarf a girl at MK taught me. Also still spinning on Amy's yarn.
Should be done by next week. I hope I get to take it to her.


Spin on..................................Sheena

And more garden pictures

I took so many pictures of the garden and am just now getting around to putting them up. Most of these were taken a week ago.

squash and "Heart beets"

feeding Ron something green

Ron and I washing beets.
Tess and her new puppy

"Rain" Black Lab, so sweet.

.

More gardening and canning pictures

Tony and Rhonda came over to help make pickled beets. Tony, always the artist, used a cookie cutter to make "Heart Beets" They are wonderful and pretty. We all had a great time and I couldn't have done it without them. We canned everything outside so we wouldn't heat up the house. I am still working on some stuff. Now I am dehydrating egg plant. I don't know what else to do with it. We have so much, no one can eat that much eggplant. I just had a friend tell me to merinate it in some olive oil and vinegar to use on salads later. I'm trying a small jar to see what that tastes like. I added some garlic just for giggles.

Ron's watermelon. It is so cool and it tastes

good too!

A look at the office

This is my desk.

Karalyn hard at work on my sweater. We are trying to knit a lace cardigan and I am not doing so well.

This is Deborah who sits behind me. We have taught her to crochet and she is doing pretty good. She has mastered the granny square and is moving on to the ripple afgan. She also made a tank top and it turned out really nice.

When we get done working I miss the people the most. We have a really wonderful bunch of people. The atmosphere is pleasant and everyone works together. I like that.

A View of the Races

I am writing about the races today, I want my grandchildren that love horses to see some of these beauties. They are so awesome and magnificent I wish you all could see them up close. The grounds here are so wonderful and compared to other parts of the country, the weather is perfect

I talk to people from every state in the Union that plan their vacation around this time of year, just so they can come to Del Mar. We have had a really mild summer, with some really warm days just starting this week. It was 83 at Del Mar yesterday. I hate to tell you what it was in Ramona. Someone called from Lakeside with 112. It was 99 at 6:30 when I got home from work. I knew we were in for it because it has been cool and foggy in the morning and heating up to about 80 during the day, for August that is cool.

Back to the races. We have been selling tickets like crazy. Everyone from Palm Springs and Las Vegas have been coming to get out of the heat. The beach is within view from the second level of the stadium.

We will be done on Sept 9Th. Then it's time to go back to playing full time. I am really looking forward to moving into my new studio and getting all my wool out to play with. I have been weaving and spinning and even some knitting.

Until then, keep on keepin on.

Sheena

More Garden News

On my day off this week we are going to can pickled beets. I will also make more pickles. Gotta make hay while the sun shines. I really must confess that I am enjoying all this. A long time ago I did this type of thing every year. I love the whole process.

I think I would have loved to have been a farmer. The fact of the matter is, we have had the best of both worlds. We had a little taste of farming/ranching, but our lively hood wasn't dependent on it. We had all the animals, steer, goats for meat and milk, chickens, rabbits, pigs, horses, and dogs and cats of course. But we just played at farming. We didn't have to depend on the weather which around here there isn't any and we had a well, so we had plenty of water. I haven't done this in years because of all the hard work and my back just isn't up to it. But I'm having a ball.

More garden pictures. This is beets and onions

Some of the harvest. Squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, crookneck squash funny little flowery looking zucchinis.

Now we have spaghetti squash getting ripe, and butternut squash too. Yummy I could be a vegetarian. Maybe a hamburger now and then or a steak once a month, but for now veggies are the best. Did I mention that we have 28 tomato plants. Big Boys, Better Girls, Roma, cherry, yellow pear tomatoes and a wonderful full size yellow tomato. They are so good.

When talking about the garden , I forgot to mention Ron's little corner of the garden. His friend gave him some seeds to grow water melons and cantaloupe. They are doing really good and that is what got him hooked on watering the garden. He has a vested interest. In fact I hear him saying things like" next year I'll do this" and next year I'll do that." He is enjoying the garden more than he thought he would and now sees the value of growing your own produce because everyone is so excited about the stuff, it must be good. (he doesn't eat vegetables himself, we count onions as a veggie just for him) I have been cooking lots of veggies and he has been eating some even when he doesn't know it. We are practising the "Don't ask, don't tell" rule around here when it comes to dinner. We also don't tell Nan that she is eating goat. that's another story.

I don't know how to tell when a watermelon is ripe on the vine??? I guess we'll just pick one and see. I am kind of waiting to see when they stop growing then waiting to see if they change. The cantaloupe are easier to tell and we have about 12 of them on three plants. There is also one that is starting to look like a honey due although no one admits to planting one. It's a renegade!

I'll take some pictures of the Watermelon tonight.

till then,

Spin on....................Sheena

PS I got some new roving on it's way. It is from Mollie who is 3/4 Moreno and 1/4 Ramboulet. Luscious chocolate brown. Can't wait!

Yarn for Amy

I bought this beautiful roving

from Loraine Powell a couple of months ago to spin for my friend

Amy. I have been working on it off and on and am finally

getting enough done that I think there is hope for a sweater.

I have this beautiful book I am going to send to her even if she

doesn't use any of the patterns in it. I love the way it handles hand spun yarn.

One more interesting thing. I dyed some yarn (white columbia from Freckles)

with some of the beet juice from the pickled beets we made. What a surprize.

Never dreamed that bright "beet red" what produce this orange yarn.

It's beautiful, but totally unexpected.

This is just a few of the things I've been doing lately.

I am still trying to catch up on the house stuff. It

will probably take me most of this next year, oh well.

Spin on.........................Sheena

Holy Garden!

THE GARDEN

At the beginning of spring we all wanted to plant a garden. So we did. We have 28 tomato plants, and lots of chili's, Anaheim, jalapenos, yellow chilli's and purple bell peppers. We have about 100 onion sets planted 5 packs of assorted beets, 7 different kinds of squash, turnips, okra, egg plant and lots of cucumbers. Green beans and radishes and carrots oh well, you get the picture. BIG GARDEN!

This is the garden. It has gotten totally out of hand. We planted it with all good intentions, then everyone got busy. Papa continues to water and refuses to weed. I weed on my day off, but never get it totally done. There are lots of veggies coming on now. We are drowning in squash (7 different kinds) I just ate my first spaghetti squash last night and it was really good. I of course love zucchini and have been making bread and all kinds of wonderful things. Last week I made chocolate zucchini cake. Yummm. I put zucchini in my spaghetti sauce last night, and probably will put some in the meat loaf tonight.


Now it's time for cucumbers. Oh my goodness. Oh well, had to make pickles. First I made bread and butter pickles because the cucumber got too big. This week was better. I picked cucumbers every day and kept them pretty small. Made dill pickles on my day off. Rhonda was here to help on the second batch so it went pretty fast. We now have 12 pints of bread and butter pickles, and 14 quarts of dill pickles. It's not over, that is just this week. We will have to continue because the over whelming gilt of not doing it is more than I can take. We will pickle and can beets this week. Did I say we planted 5 packets, all different kids. Wow, we have been eating beet greens as fast as we can (which is the real reason we planted so many) Now we have to do something with the beets.

DILL PICKLES BREAD & BUTTER PICKLES
I sure hope we can keep up the pace. I've knitted 4 face cloths for Arlene at work this week and Karalyn and I are starting a new sweater we found on the Internet. Should be fun. I am still working on Amy's yarn.

Spin on.............................Sheena

Freckles after the "Hair cut"

Poor Freckles. I feel so sorry for her. I always make her look so pitiful. Oh well, the other sheep don't seem to notice. Of course they have their own version of the "Hair Cut" so they know better than to make fun of her. I still have three more to do that I hope to have done before we go on our trip.

Wish I was spinning!.......................Sheena

Beautiful Del Mar Race Track

Things are really busy for me right now. I have been knitting when I can, but nothing that takes much thinking. Mostly wash cloths and little stuff. I have been spinning on Amy's yarn, and hope to get that done in the next few weeks. I can't believe how long it takes when I am so busy with other things.

Ron is working on my studio Wahooooo. It is coming along really good. The kids spent there time in there as a dorm of sorts and now he is busy finishing it up. I can't wait to get in there and get all my wool working equipment set up and get to work. I love working with wool and have lots to work with. I plan and setting up a dyeing station too. I have 5 white sheep, so I really do need to learn to dye. I also love color so that's a real plus for me.

When I get done working (Sept. 9Th) we are planning on going on a trip. I have lots of ideas for that going on too. For sure we will go to Morro Bay and see my sister who lives in Atascadero and then on to Idaho to see Ron's niece. We will end up in South Carolina to see Brian and his family and a stop on the way in Alabama to see Dana and her family. I love these road trips and want to go as long as we can do it. I love seeing the country side and all the different things this wonderful country has to see. Every place has such a special quality all it's own.

That's all for now, pictures later.
Spin on....................Sheena

This is Freckles before her hair cut. What a wooley Baby. She is busting out of her coat! Man she has really beautiful wool. I have to take an after picture so you can see how funny she looks after she was sheared. (I am not a pro)

Harvesting Hay

This is the Oat hay we grew this year being harvested. I love to see all the bales in the field. I got home just in time to watch it being baled.

These are the happy Sheep getting out for the first time in months. (while the oats were growing they were confined to their pen. It was a long winter. They were so happy to get out in the pasture again.

A little nibble here, a little nibble there. They had two glorious days of taste testing the bales before they were picked up and taken to the people we sold it to. They will spend the summer grazing on what ever was left behind. We may plant a pasture for them later, but for now they get lots of mowed grass (from our many lawns) and alfalfa too. They also have big mineral blocks to lick and chew on.

More later,

Spin on........................................Sheena

Some Shearing finally got done!

The Sheep on the right is Ebony. She is a black Lincoln Ewe. Her surprise silver back was under the coat. Her fleece is wonderful even is it is a little long. I washed it myself and that is something I don't always do. It took me all day to wash and rinse and set out to dry. Then about three days to completely dry. I hope to make a rug out of the locks.

Another picture of the fleece drying.

I'm back to work and the Fair is coming together nicely. These will be short and sweet. I'm still spinning on Amy's yarn in my "spare time". Classes are ending this week so that will free up some time until the fall.

Spin on..............................Sheena

Back to work!

Well, it's that time of year again so......................Back to work. I started back at the Races on the 11Th and finished up today for now. Now it's time to start setting up for the Fair. I hope this year is a good one. I love the theme "Music Mania" but with the economy the way it is, it will be interesting to see how this year goes.

We took the long weekend off, and I am resting up and getting ready to work hard. We had some wonderful Marines help us set up our cabinets and that is going to make things so much easier. I also got a chance to shear a sheep. Isabella is done!! Wahoo. I burned up my shears so we didn't get to do Freckles. I thought my shears were toast, but Hubby took them apart and we just broke some little piece. I am going to see if I can get a replacement part, but have to wait until Tuesday because of the Holiday. Then we can get back to shearing. I guess I could do her with scissors, I have before, but she is so much bigger now and very "woolly"

I am still spinning on the pomegranate and have started some beautiful Corridale I am spinning for Amy. She loves yellow and this is a very golden yellow called "honey". When I am done she can make herself a sweater. It's hot now, but next winter it can keep her warm.

I am knitting a pillow top and bottom from yarn left over from my sweater I made out of Freckles. It is small mitered squares on the front and one big mitered square on the back. I saw it in a magazine and thought it would be pretty. And it is.

Spin on.............................................Sheena

Holiday Dinner

Paige "where did you hide them Papa?"

Tess " Eye spy with my little eye"

We had a really nice dinner for Easter. Only one grand kid young enough to want to have an Easter Egg Hunt, but Paige (now a married woman) joined in too. So it was really fun. We ate too much ham and all the fixin's and lots of goodies. Peeps and pie and chocolate bunnies!