Whidbey Island!

Six days on Whidbey Island went flying by...

Walks with Faith...you gotta love the boots...

Waking up to this view...

Fish out of water...

And Charlie, what can I say...he didn't fit in my suitcase though he stole my heart...

Met my wonderful Etsy friends from Seattle--We all belong to Etsy Project Embrace which was formed to support cancer research. Ginny (middle) (http://www.ginnyhuber.etsy.com/) is an amazing felter and Kristin (right) (http://www.loveartworks.etsy.com/) is a wonderful potter.

Captain Mac (Linda's husband) and their tug

Looking for whales

Linda and me

A beautiful lighthouse--Friday Island

I love the sound of the waves

Because our train was the first train through ND in two weeks, we assumed that the floods were receding...we were totally surprised to find out that our return train trip was cancelled because the water was rising. We are still haunted by the devastation we witnessed and our thoughts are with those poor farmers whose farms are underwater and who can't plant...

Those of you who know me know that I haven't flown in 34 years...needless to say I was terrified. Luckily for me I had some pain pills with me and Faith invited me to fly with her to her winter home in Florida instead of flying alone to Syracuse. So the next morning we went to the airport, I took a pill, I clung to my sister, took off shoes for security, sat next to the window, pulled down the shades, put in earplugs so I couldn't hear the engines rev up, and off we flew...more of an adventure than I had anticipated...

Happy 4th of July, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xo

Train Time!!

Waiting for the train in Syracuse--Faith got on in Springfield, MA and we were wicked excited!!!

Our tiny, tiny compartment--It was hard to get far enough away to take a picture! Such a good thing we get along!

Chicago station to change train...

Adding more cars in Minot, ND...we were the first train through in 3 weeks due to flooding. It's a good thing we were oblivious to all of this because we were all relaxed and happy!

We were totally treated like first class--flowers in the dining car--just sign your name and eat what you want--already paid for!!!



OK, we woke up to all kinds of water in North Dakota...unbelievable, really and the train was traveling sometimes about 4 mi/hr!

See the fence posts sticking out of the water?

The Mississippi...

This train trip was the most amazing thing...we were in our own little bubble, feeling very relaxed, wine in the evenings, good food...feeling very far away from everyday life. We rarely read, didn't play the word game I had, didn't work on my knitting, rarely talked on the cell phones...we just talked to each other and looked out the window, watched the world go by. The porter on our car was wonderful, brought champagne for everyone the first night, gave us extra pillows and blankets...there were fresh towels in the shower room and complementary soap and shampoo...the food was very good and the waiters and waitresses were very friendly and funny. We sat at tables with other passengers and met some interesting people. I would do this again in a heartbeat!

I don't know what this river is but it is in Montana--the rivers were raging!

More tomorrow!!

xo

We've Arrived!!!

Faith and I have arrived in Seattle! What a wonderful (though slow) train trip which I will blog about when I get back. For now I am settled in with my lovely friend from HS, Linda and her husband Mac...

Ferry to Whidbey Island, WA

View from their living room...sigh...

Linda at her 24 shaft computer driven loom weaving the most incredible, delicately patterned scarves!!!!

Nice, huh?

This vacation is absolutely THE BEST thing I have done in a long, long while!!

xo

Chooooo-choooooo!!!!!

I'm off!!! Driving to Syracuse with Gary and meeting Faith on the train! Wooooo Hooooo!!!! She just called me and is all settled in our little room...though she says doesn't know where we will fit out luggage! We don't care...she is right now sitting looking out the window going through the Berkshires...Ahhhhh, sounds blissful to me! The train doesn't get to Syracuse until 9:30 so Gary is dropping me off and driving back before it gets too dark. God, we are getting old! Driving at night is more difficult than it used to be!




Ohhhh check out my new bag from two of my wonderful weaving students as a going away present!! That purple and pink go with everything I own!! I LOVE it...and it has a box of wine in it! Ha! I know I was supposed to pack light but...

I'm off!!! xo

Blue Blocked Towels...

Ahhhhh...new towels. Actually I've made similar ones before but thought I would sort of recreate them for summer because I'm in love with these bright, cheerful colors!

Winding the warp onto the loom using lease sticks

All wound on and ready to thread

Threading for plain weave through the heddles

Threading through heddles and then through the reed

All ready for weaving

Bobbins wound and ready to go

There, now I'm happy...I'm actually starting something new.

xo

Blog Catch-up!!!

Geez...I don't even know what to call these posts anymore...I blog so seldom now that it is hard to categorize when I do...We (Noah and I) had a tag sale last week, got rid of a lot of stuff, made some money and are looking to have another. After all, what didn't sell is still cleaned up, has a price on it and is stored in the barn under plastic, and ready to go! So we'll see...

Misty Morning...Tag Sale Day at 5 AM

My porch loaded up with junk!

Alex's 22 birthday!! WooooHoooo!!! I think we embarrass him which is too funny, of course. Though I also think he feels well-loved! Today, he and Gary are replacing the upper boards in my outdoor riding arena for me. When we first got Duke and he and Dom were figuring out things, he made it clear that he did not like being bitten on the rear and would quite often kick out. I also let them up in the arena to eat grass sometimes and quite a few boards were kicked...sooooo today replacement boards are going up! YAY!!! Thank you guys!!

Alex's 22nd Birthday Cake!

And my trip...Well, the Seattle/Whitbey Isl. trip is happening beginning June 14! I am catching the train in Syracuse and my sister Faith will get on in Springfield, MA. Yes, the same Springfield that had a tornado a few days ago...the same Springfield where my sister Eileen lives...WOW! Who knew that we got tornadoes there??? Everyone is fine there though my niece was stopped in her car on the way home from work on I91 watching all the debris flying around and feeling her car rocking!

Weather at the farm...

Have a great weekend, everyone! I'm off to ride Dom but before I go here's Duke's routine in the morning!

XO

Lots of happenings!!!

Gary's 65th Birthday!

My 62nd Birthday!

Well another month has flown by...had Gary's birthday, my birthday, wove some, sold some...getting moldy from all the rain here and now that the sun has come out the bugs have too. No riding for me unless I can get up very early while it is cool but right now the field is too wet so I'm waiting.

My next BIG THING is my train trip with my sister, Faith, June 14 to Seattle!!!!!! I am wicked excited and can't believe it is coming so fast. I have no idea what to wear either since I have been gaining and gaining and gaining...sigh.

Birthday Dinner--Alex and Victoria made pasta! (hmmmm pasta--weight gain...)


Noah bidding farewell to two very cute friends!!

Noah is home and busy clearing out junk and redoing his room and getting my pantry organized. I don't know where he came from, really. So much good energy. And I'm having a CT scan on Tuesday, oncologist appointment. on Wed. Feeling pretty good though my energy is low.

New Ivory Triangle Scarf

Just finished a triangle scarf and listed it on Etsy. Lots of silk boucle in this one and tied yarns for added texture!

Oh yeah, on my list of things to buy--I got my coffee maker and a new (used) riding lawnmower!!! Next, new half chaps and we are honestly talking about taking down at least half of the old barn and saving the rest! WOOHOO!!! But I can't see that happening on weekends with just us so will have to see if the Amish can give us an estimate!

Happy Friday, Everyone!!!!!

xo