Very Sad News

Hello everyone,
Dear little Agnes passed away during her Dental Procedure this morning.  Her heart stopped beating and they weren't able to start it up again, despite every effort.  It wasn't anyone's fault.  She lived with me for 7 years...she was 3 when she came here, but she might have been older.  I will tell more of her story some day, meanwhile here is a picture of her on Valentine's day with the heart bisquit that friend Pat gave her.  She was the lovingest, dearest creature imaginable.

To the farm

Hello everyone...on Sunday we went to the farm.  First there was snow on Mt. Diablo, an unusual sight, the snow, that is:

Then comes all this beautiful green grass on the windmill pass into the Great Valley:

And here is the river my friends live next to...all swollen with the winter rains...just a little more water and they would have to evacuate, but so far the storms are spaced far enough apart that they're safe.  As I write this, I'm thinking of my friends in Australia and New Zealand who are getting the brunt of the worst.  My prayers go there.

I finished basting a big panel for my grandson's quilt and have started outlining the letters using one of the techniques taught by Jude in the boro class:

And here is Agnes, all snuggled up next to the the thread nest.  She's resting up for the big Dental Experience she'll be having next week at the animal hospital.

That's all for now!

Happy St. Valentine's Day...

Hello everyone.  This is the heart I wove in Jude's Contemporary Woven Boro class.  Everyone is doing such inspiring work.  This heart was meant to go on a tree outside, but it's raining so today it's hanging on the plum blossoms from my neighbor's yard. Pot Roast is on the menu tonight...friends are coming over!

View CC License

This is the latest in the trivet collection.  Also being called Miniature Prayer Rugs.  This one is called "seeds of tomorrow".   I wanted to see what would happen if I put it through the hot cycle of a washing machine.  This was not a great idea...presently it is smaller than it was and I had to work a bit to restore its good looks.  Hand washing recommended...

That's all for now. Love to YOU...

Overnight guest

Hello everyone.  Things have been a little busy around here...Agnes' friend Zoe came over for an experimental sleepover, to see if they would be compatible for a longer stay.  Agnes did a little growling, but overall it was a positive experience...here is a preliminary sniff...

I did go to see some of the Lunar New Year festivities at the Community Center.  The Chinese after-school program had some wonderful performances...the room was packed...

Here's my first experimental "weaving without a foundation" for Jude's Contemporary Boro Weaving class.  We are learning many intriguing new techniques.

Have also been continuing to needle-felt.  This one is called "Bumped":

That's all for now!

Happy Chinese New Year!

February is full of holidays.  Personally, although only partially recovered from Groundhog Day, I am going to celebrate Chinese New Year today anyway. It is the Year of the Rabbit. There will be a big celebration this afternoon at the Community Center. Perhaps camera and I will venture over there.  Meanwhile here is a little trivet honoring today.

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!

Happy Groundhog Day

Here is the groundhog playing catch and release with his shadow:

I love this holiday so much because it's about an animal and The Shadow, and light and dark.  It's also celebrated as Candlemas and St. Brigid's Day...it's midway between the solstice and the equinox.

Interestingly enough, along with my contemplations about The Shadow etc., three important light fixtures have gone on the blink:

This dangles from the kitchen ceiling while I take multiple trips to the hardware store to learn how to change the bulb...

This is the light by my sewing nest and due to a weak connection I guess, it just won't stay on. It is really on the blink.

On this overhead light, for some reason, the bulb has broken and so I must use needlenose pliers to carefully unscrew it.  My advisor says to wear gloves while doing this. Luckily the hardware store is only 10 minutes away.

So I wish each of you an enlightening Groundhog Day...shadow or no shadow.

That's all for now.