Meanderings of a Mermaid

Anchor in the North

2012-02-11T08:37:00.000-05:00

Before we left camp in November 2011, there had been two lights snows. Autumn leaves were cloaked in white mantles. It wasn't cold and it wasn't stormy: an easy way to slide into winter.

Here is the camp road under the first mantle of snow. We walked the dogs and left our footprints in the still of the morning. Everything is so pretty, etched in snow.

Here is one of the two soapstone mermaids that I affixed to large boulders this past summer. One for sure is a Sedna image, because she is crying out in anguish after losing her fingers. In this image, the mermaid is sitting and waiting. I placed her on the rock, facing towards Texas, so she could know that we are on our way back.

Not yet, but soon we will return to the place that anchors our soul to this existence.

Kayak Fishing

2012-02-03T08:02:00.000-05:00

[The text wants to come it at the bottom today, so here it is]. We started off harmlessly enjoying the San Antonio Boat Show. Plush campers and dazzling wake boarding boats captivated us for hours. Towards the end of our visit there, an interesting feature of the kayaks offered by Hobie caught our eye. The pedal-powered drive mechanism is truly well designed. It mimics the work of a penguins wings as it flies underwater. (see the image where there are two turbo fins hanging down near the bow. You can see the pedals above the gunwales in the same image).
A little more research at home and we were convinced to purchase such a cadillac of kayak fishing. We will go pick up our new fish catcher in the spring, in Canada... so stay tuned for lots of reviews and pictures.
And here's a warning to those elusive bass monsters in our shallow bays. LOOK OUT, HERE I COME!

Grandness

2012-01-10T06:51:00.001-05:00

Have you been there? It is truly grand - the Grand Canyon. This is New Year's Eve morning. It was a day to celebrate geology and the powers of erosion. I'd like to hike and camp down in the canyon but they don't allow dogs on the trails. Poo!

This pinnacle is at Sedona. Another geological wonder. Tourists clogging everything, everywhere. I'm not used to that.

There is a forest of Joshua Trees between Kingman and and Vegas. They are pretty bizarre looking. I need to learn more about them but apparently the wood can be utilized.

Here are some of the colours of the Grand Canyon. I'm glad I finally got to so and see it with my own eyes.

Missing Camp

2012-01-09T10:20:00.003-05:00

Baby Steps

2011-12-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

Here is the first bit off yarn produced off the Minstrel spinning wheel here at Home South. I am a beginner at this, having spent only a little bit of time spinning on the antique wheel at Home North this past summer. This fibre was given to me by two friends and some was washed and some wasn't. The more greasy fibre had lumps which translate into the poofy bits you will see below.

I washed the Romney wool after it was plied, and most of the grease and other junk came out no problem. In this second photo the two hanks are drying outside. I am learning about fibre preparation now and next time I will do the prep all before hand. That will make the fibre easier to spin. I found carding combs at an antique store and made my own hackle for blending and aligning fibres.

The final product of the gifts of Romney wool. It's about 166.5 m and 113g. It is very soft and after washing and whacking against the wall (really) the resulting yarn has bloomed nicely.

And the drumroll...............Here is the first project made with my own wool homespun. Now let's hope for some cool weather so we can "road test" this hat. It should be very very warm.

Boat Barn

2011-12-13T20:29:00.001-05:00

A good chunk of the summer was taken up with building a boat barn. BS and the local lumberyard owner designed it, and my builder buddy, GA, did an amazing job leading the charge. Of note are the ten foot high walls and the 9 foot high garage doors at both ends! This feature allows us to pull through with the large boat and not have to jockey around and break stuff.

The safety inspector came by a lot but always seemed to be asleep. BS was the capable assistant on the whole job and I stepped in when Amazonian might was required. No humans (or safety inspectors) were hurt during the build.

Ta Da! Here is the finished beauty. No it's not at the water's edge. I don't allow any man made structures down there. The otters, and turtles and fish own that area. We have a large landing area with a good boat launch, and BS even improved on that so we can circle around with a trailer and not have to shimmy around.

By fall the boat barn was done and we could zoom around the lake a little more.

And we could sit back and appreciate the beautiful fall colours too!

Me and Paco, New Buds

2011-12-07T11:27:00.004-05:00

The cardinals chased the chickadees away this morning; the feeder covered in frost and still in the crisp air. Like most mornings, I was typing away at my desk, gazing at the nature outside the window.

Suddenly this horse walked up to the feeder and all the birds scattered! He walked around the corner of my house and towards a busy side road! I quickly threw on some shoes and a jacket, grabbed two carrots on BS's prompting, and found a newly purchased length of rope.

The horse was munching the new grass in our back field, enjoying the smorgaasbord I'm sure.

Although this horse knows me a little (lives right across the street now) he spooked as I walked up and went further down this busy road.

He stopped at the neighbour's at another great clump of long grass. Carrot extended I got his attention and managed to slip a loop around his neck. He took it all very well, eager to chow down on the rest of the carrot in my hand.

I started to walk him back to his home and he kept pushing me out into the road, leaning in for the carrots he knew I had. I pushed back, getting him back onto the verge. We walked like this slowly back to his pasture. As we approached his home one of the occupants came out to help. We lured him back into his pasture and shut the gate.

Thankfully Paco (as we were then formally introduced) was not hurt, nor any motorists, nor the mermaid walking the horse down a road. Giddy up!

Spring Beauty

2011-12-01T09:17:00.004-05:00

Incredible, wouldn't you say? These wild irises grow all over down by the water at camp.

Minstrel Wheel

2011-11-28T09:14:00.004-05:00

Ta Da!! Here is the Minstrel Spinning Wheel, set up in my guest bedroom. Notice the chestnut quarter horse grazing in the first field and the sheep in the next pasture! Okay, so the glare didn't allow for that... behind the chair is a Schwinn exercise bike, so the room is now devoted to spinning round and round.
I bought the wheel unfinished and then applied two coats of tung oil to protect it a bit. This wheel is virtually identical to the antique one I bought in April, which now happily inhabits my studio in the North.

Now to the nitty gritty shots. Here is a close up of the flyer and my first "production". I can't call it yarn yet, it has to be plied and then I can knit with it.

Two friends have given me Romney wool fleece to get me going and this is the product of what GM gave me. OK , so there are thick and thin bits... would you believe me if I said that's the effect I am going for? There is a presumption that I will get better as time goes on. We shall see. So far this wheel is much nicer to use than the antique.

Dear Friends

2011-11-24T08:44:00.003-05:00

Hello My Dear Friends; I hope to get to the point where communications from my northern hideout are much better; but for now I am south and finally have internet and phone and stuff hooked up. I have missed my random posts here and hope to fire it all up again.
News? BS and I and the Furry Ones enjoyed a tremendous summer at the lake. It was hotter and drier than normal, but we learned to cope with that. We worked a lot outdoors, especially Mr and I got to start playing in the studio. Mr continued on with major landscaping works (the guy has muscles!) and also built a boat barn! Stay tuned for pictures. (I am on a netbook now that does not have my photo collection on it).
In the studio I caressed and babied the antique spinning wheel and managed to create two balls of two ply wool. It will be saved for posterity and good chuckles down the road. Hopefully I will improve as a spinner. I continued on with my knitting design challenge and accomplished that by August: to devise and work up eleven new knit designs in 2011. Oh and to type up all the instructions. Mission Accomplished!
I also did some weaving and spent a fair chunk of time making partial boat covers out of a very heavy duty outdoor canvas. That was a real education and a good challenge, but I think I did a good job. Most importantly it kept the boat clean and dry and ready for cruising.
I have so much to share but will wait until I can get a few photos going (or repair the dead laptop...... probably not worth it).
I have a new spinning wheel too. I just assembled it last night, so I am off to test spin on it!

On the Wing

2011-04-24T08:18:00.002-04:00

On the Wing. This is the name of the lace pattern from Vogue Stitchionary 5. Although it doesn't look it, right now this is a simple rectangle. The decent amount of reverse stockinette stitch background means the variegation in the yarn colour has a chance to show.

My camera work here isn't the best. It is dawn and I'm in a dark room, using the flash. The colours are most definitely washed out. But you get the beginnings of an idea of where I am going with this.

This panel will form the front or back of a summer tunic. I think I will run it up pretty much straight, no shaping. I am intrigued with making it a boat collar, therefore not disrupting the lace pattern. And I think it will drape nicely at the neck.

Then I will knit up side panels in the same yarn I think, but a different pattern. And so waist shaping will probably be incorporated there. Sleeves I will determine as I approach the end and see how much yarn I have left over. It is Auracania Silk, (will get the tag name to you at some point). I have five hanks.

I won't get much done on this over the next few days because I will be on the wing too. The annual trek of the Snowbird begins!

Same Goofy Chick

2011-04-21T22:23:00.001-04:00

This one may show the front a little better. Sea Starz Shawl.

Sea Starz Shawl

2011-04-21T17:01:00.004-04:00

Ta Da!

Weaving 101

2011-04-20T10:56:00.003-04:00

The efforts of my recent Weaving 1o1 class. We worked up scarves? /tablerunners? (let's call them practice bits) on a rigid heddle loom.

While I have experience weaving, it was on frame looms and floor looms. So this was a good refresher plus an introduction to the rigid heddle loom. Most of the time was spent preparing the warp threads and getting them onto the loom properly.

A great class!

Old Spin on New Civilization

2011-04-17T12:53:00.003-04:00

The time has come for me to take on another challenge. I bought an antique spinning wheel made in about the mid 1700s. With it I hope to learn to spin wool and other fibres. I was reflecting on why I am attracted to the antique in everything. I know for one thing that I am in awe of how technology and processes are developed and deeply respect how my ancestors made their way in the world. My Lithuanian heritage is strong with flax spinners who would've spent all day on a wheel exactly at this one, passing their spun linen fibres off to another person sitting at a large loom. And with everything in my life it's been "The School of Hard Knocks". I seem to need to grunt and get dirty and curse and shake my head a lot; learning all the while. This 1750s wheel will be finicky I'm sure and limited as to what it can do compared to the new jewels out there. Maybe in the future I will deserve one of those new ones. For the time being, I'll walk in the footsteps left by those who went ahead of me.

Starz in my eyes

2011-04-13T07:49:00.004-04:00

I've been beetling away at my Sea Stars shawl project. A couple of hours and the whole thing will be done. I am just completing a border edge now. After which you will get to see the completed result. My girlfriend C is calling it Sea Starz, modified after the stitch pattern name, Sea Stars. So I have adopted this name for the past few days. And then a happy little coincidence came along. Yesterday had three really obvious freaky coincidences occurred but I'll just tell you about one. I found out that a very creative jeweller, Dalan Hargrave of Spring Branch TX will be designing and making my next piece of jewellery. I've been lugging around quite a few cut stones for years. I profess to being a collector and I do eventually have most made into jewellery that I design, or my late husband designed and made. It was time to get some of the blue-green stones assembled into one art piece. It will have something to do with a mermaid - I think that's all I'm going to tell you for now. When I found out, from my local jeweller, who would be making the piece, I was quite happy, I went to check out his website www.gemstarz.com. I knew he had developed the stunning star cut that is made into the back of stones, but I didn't know he spelled it starz. And check out his gallery of images, there's a mermaid there......I believe the starz are shining on me right now!

Lift... and separate

2011-04-10T08:19:00.004-04:00

Do you remember the ads from way back when: The brassiere that was to Lift And Separate the girls.?? Well this is a good explanation for why it never rains in this part of the Hill Country. As the weather systems approach from the west they encounter the rising topography. Geologists have termed this area of exposed Precambrian rocks the Llano Uplift. It is a remarkable landscape feature that can be seen with some decent road tripping. As the warm wet weather reaches the slopes it begins to rise and cool. Some rain will come down as the clouds cool and carry more moisture. That's the lift.

But then there is the separate. As the winds continue to push the weather eastward the systems split in half and veer around this north part of the Hill Country. It's remarkable to see on the weather map radar; happening over and over again.

So because this region is "well endowed" it's a perpetual challenge for livestock and ranchers. You have my sympathies.

The Time is Upon Us

2011-04-09T07:40:00.002-04:00

So , clearly this is not where I live right now. In a former life I lived on Baffin Island, way up there beside Greenland. A lovely spring day in the Arctic invited one out to romp and play: the wind tousling the few strands of hair that weren't well tucked into the helmet. But now my spring times are hot and dry. I miss Home North and its inviting lake. Even if it's too cool yet for swimming there, the shoreline becomes a place to hang out and catch a cool breeze. The new boat will provide a floating lounge for us this summer. And I'm contemplating all the fresh fish we will catch off the front end of our fishing model. Soon it will be time to load up the furry ones in the van. Actually the back seat is down and covered with a moving blanket. They have cushions aplenty and I stop so often it's a wonder I make it all the way in three days. Look out Canada! This little family is getting ready for the long trek to Home North. Expect us in under three weeks now!

Grateful

2011-04-03T09:33:00.005-04:00

"Every time we remember to say "thank you," we experience heaven on earth." Sarah Ban Breathnach.

This is such a lovely thought I wanted to share it. And it was high time I said Thank You to my friends who make my life one big smile. And to the followers of this blog who keep coming back.

Life and love has been very good to me and for that I am very grateful.

Hat Love

2011-03-31T11:11:00.007-04:00

I've hat a love for you ever since I was a child. Father making me squint into the harsh sun; all while waiting for several family photos to be snapped. I hated that. I quickly learned to adopt a hat and sunglasses. Sun screen was added to the daily list once that modern marvel came along.

And as an exploration geologist it was always important to be very observant. Whether doing the navigation in the co-pilot's seat, or trying to spot the gossanous glint on a far rock outcropping, or determine if that was a polar bear or just an arctic wolf stalking me,... it was always important to see well and see it all immediately.

Therefore hats have always been very important to me. I still wear them all the time outside on a bright day. Hats can quickly add some panache to an otherwise plain outfit. They can put you in a playful mood. Some hats will lend an air of mystery to your persona! Suck in your cheeks and you too could be a jet setter about to fly off to the Riviera for some sun. What fun!

Because you are going to ask

2011-03-19T16:03:00.006-04:00

Okay so here are a few pictures that tell the tale. The mosaic purse has been knit and now it needs to be lined. Here the purse is already sewn together, using the mattress stitch or invisible stitch. You are looking at the inside with all the floats and loose ends. In this next image is the cotton broadcloth lining. I used a frisky remnant of fabric I received from friends in New Zealand. I simply cut three pieces all just a little bigger than the outline of the three knit pieces. Then I sewed the cotton together on a machine. The top edges and strap edges all have a minimal hem folded over just once. And I ran the stitching line as close to the edge as I could.

Here is a close up of the corner detail. You may need to lop off a triangle of cotton at each corner just to allow ease for making it around the bend.

Drum roll please! Here the lining is going into the knit purse.

A sneak peek at the lining before it gets sewn in. Normally I would recommend a plain light coloured lining, to make it easier to find things in there. But this fabric was begging to be used. It's the only fabric I've ever used that has volcanoes on it.

Another close up shot. This time I'm showing you the very simple hand sewing stitch to attach the lining to the knit fabric.

I am using crepe myrtle branches for my handles. Make sure to line the straps too, as they will take a lot of weight. Wrap the straps around the branches and hand tack into place. Watch your stitching on the good side to make sure you don't wind up with unsightly bars of thread.

A peek into the gaping maw. What do you think I will store in there?

And here is the finished purse. I like the simplicity of it and the size. I think this will work as a project for the mosaic knitting workshop.

Pie Crust Purse

2011-03-17T09:02:00.003-04:00

Somewhere along the line I decided that running a workshop for the area knitters would be a good idea. This, at a time, naturally, when I was quite busy already. Of course.
After some careful thought, a list of five or so possible topics, some discussion and rudimentary voting, we settled on a mosaic knitting workshop. It is the simplest of the colourwork techniques and lots of fun.

Then I set about to find a stitch pattern that would work. This is what I came up with. Since most of my stitch pattern books are at Home North, I relied on Vogue Stitchionary 3 to come up with the candidates. Pie Crust is the name, and a simple purse is the game.

So in preparation for the workshop I am writing up the unique design and blocking the pieces prior to sewing it all up. I will eventually line the purse for added strength. For my version number one I will use crepe myrtle branches that need to be pruned anyways. Many options are possible for the simple handles: chopsticks, drumsticks, thin spindles, antique straight knitting needles,,.....

Stay tuned Folks, for the exciting conclusion. And maybe some photos of the mayhem.

cape or shawl?

2011-02-12T16:44:00.002-05:00

Here's what's on the needles right now. The yarn is Trendsetter "Serene"; a blend of silk, cotton, viscose, nylon, linen and a wee bit of silvery lurex. The colours are shades of grey and a sort of ivory or very light beige. I've paired it with a black possum wool I shipped back from New Zealand.

So this is the bottom of the back of the shawl. As it will venture over the shoulders I will split it for the neck. Two sides will be worked independently, making a cape-like front that can be closed with a shawl pin or buttons or what have you.

This one is being done plain but I already have ideas for textured or lacy ones.

Super-sized sparrows? Only in Texas!

2011-02-08T21:50:00.004-05:00

So is it just the cold medication I'm taking, or have my sparrows suddenly blossomed out into something more delectable? Only in Texas would the sparrows be this large. Everything is big in Texas.

Sing around the campfire, join the campfire girls? Hmmm. Why did I drive all the way to the grocery store today, when supper came strutting by?

"Officer, I swear that bird attacked me. I had to defend myself. Then pluck it and bleed it ; dip it and bread it; brown it and roast it...."

When I'm home being sick with a cold and under siege by monster sparrows I knit. This is a short scarf I made using two balls of alpaca yarn. This is so soft to the touch and very warm.

The stitch pattern in the Siemens Brioche, which is completely reversible. I found in Natalie Marchant's Brioche book. There's a plethora of beautiful inspiration in that book.

..I wonder ...what kind of wine goes best with sparrow?...

Out with the old...

2011-01-27T07:56:00.003-05:00

The before. This beauty came with the house. Workable.

And after! Pretty eh? Best of all it works on a thermostat , so the busy mermaid doesn't have to worry about it.

Knit Design Update Two

2011-01-25T17:36:00.004-05:00

So here it is! 2011 - 1 is completed. Well as far as I can tell right now. It's hard to embroider with chunky wool on thick garter stitch fabric. But I do like the rustic/primitive look of the animals.

This can be used as a baby blanket or a mat for junior on the floor.

I added the blanket stitch border to stress the rustic aspect.

Ah, and this might just wind up as design project number three for 2011 Number two was the neckwarmer described in the last post) . I am knitting up a pile of sea stars. Framed in lace, the six petalled stars are quite easy to knit up. I may combine them with a watery lace panel to make a shawl or a poncho. Hmm. Or it may become a blanket. I haven't decided yet.

The difference between blocked and unblocked. Mind you, the scrunched up one in the centre does look like it could scuttle across the blocking board at any moment.

I just saw it move....did you see it move? ???

Knit Design Update One

2011-01-24T08:18:00.004-05:00

2011 #1: I've been a busy little beaver, knitting up three different kinds of squares. All very simple. This design started with a gift of yarn; just one ball. So once it gained a life of it's own, I had to scramble to find other yarns to go with it into a project. It is all acrylic because, well, that's what the gift was, and it is going to be a mat or blanket for a baby. It should be as easy to care for as possible. The mat.... not the baby..... they are never "easy".

The yarn I received was the variegated one in the bottom left. Aqua to blue. Very soft. Nice for a baby. Then I bought the plain darker aqua to match. But the gauge is different so I made simple garter stitch, to preserve the thickness across the mat. Finally, I was at a yarn shop that carried the same soft acrylic but I couldn't get the exact colour, and so we have a solid lighter aqua.

Yes, there isn't an even number of variegated rectangles, but I don't mind, and I don't think baby will either. The moment I put the pattern together I thought of fences and fields. So naturally, I am adding longhorns to the blanket. Stay tuned for more pictures soon!

2011 - #2: In the meantime Mr. needed another neckwarmer because his other handknit one is stored on the boat. So this falls into the category of emergency knitting. An unexpected cool snap visited us. A simple and fast project had to be knit up. It is a bit shorter than most neckwarmers I make, but still could be pulled up over one's snout if necessary.

This yarn is a lovely variegated wool from New Zealand. It reminds me of the colours of Lake Tekapo, a stunning glacial lake. While the photograph doesn't do it justice, there are simple purl ridges running laterally across, making a simple texture. And the verdict is "warm" and so I have done my good deed for the day!

Exploring the Hill Country

2011-01-13T08:24:00.003-05:00

Here are a few more random views of my early explorations of the Hill Country. Rocks , hills, rivers, historic towns, meandering roads. You gotta love it! I do.

First Book

2011-01-08T08:11:00.004-05:00

Pretty soon, within the month, this new publication will be "flying off the shelves". Yes that's me, the author. It will be the first entire book I have written. I was invited to and paid to write it, but best of all I had tremendous fun doing it. The best part for me was deciding on the content and how to arrange it into chapters.
It is being published by Inhabit Media and will be for sale through their website ,
http://www.inhabitmedia.com/ and through the various big name book sellers online.
It's a technical book and unlike some other field guides that were published in this same series, I had to give more introductory chapters. It's true that most people do not learn much geology through grade school or highschool and so the "base level" of knowledge of the general public is very low. And this book is written at the level of a junior high school or high school student.
The most challenging thing about writing it was the decision of what minerals and rocks to include. Because there are over 5000 minerals on this planet I had to be very careful in my selections. Primarily I went with the most common minerals that Nunavumiut (people who live in Nunavut, Canada's arctic) will come across. A couple I had to toss in because they are very significant to the economy there (eg. diamonds). We wish we could trip over diamonds all the time, but that's not the case.
I hope the publishers don't mind that I've pasted the image of the front cover here. But I'm pretty jazzed and just had to share with you. I believe it is the first technical earth sciences book from Nunavut and I'm proud of that fact. It is full of traditional uses information as well. It will be available in Inuktitut as well, in a tumble edition= how cool is that?

Eleven Goals for 2011

2010-12-14T07:54:00.004-05:00

So at the knitting group yesterday we discussed a personal challenge that someone had seen on Ravelry. The aim is to come up with eleven knitting goals for 2011. An email had circulated a day before our meeting so we had a little time to contemplate this.

I've decided to make mine a design challenge. I've noticed for the past three or four years that there have been some incredibly good books published with gorgeous designs. Since I lost a little weight I can fit into most standard designs now, plus I was kicked in the teeth (so to speak) with a rough patch in life for awhile. So it had become too easy to fall back on opening a book and numbly following someone else's design. It's been fun, but it's time for me to put on my thinking cap again and do what I love best about knitting - design.

I am a Master Knitter after all and a Master Designer. Gulp. So having put this out there.... I shall try to show you, in 2011, a little of what is mucking around in my head.

PS. Although my knitting muse The Black Rat is holding down the fort in my knitting studio in Canada, I will nevertheless draw inspiration from him while in the South and try to punch out a few things. Wish me luck!

Here she is!

2010-12-10T12:14:00.001-05:00

BS returned with this charmer in tow! Get a load of all the space! Just before it got dark there was enough time to put up the canopy and test out all the seats! Um, and enjoy a celebratory drink.

Our Flotilla

2010-12-09T09:21:00.003-05:00

The two canoes are still the most reliable way to get around on the lake. There is no better way to get up close and personal to the loons.

Inserted here should be a photo of the twelve foot skiff. I'm sure there are some old prints of it around. I generally leave that little boat on a nearby bass fishing heaven hole.

Good old Cedar Lake. She was employed by geologists on Cedar Lake at Hemlo. I'd like to think she assisted in the discovery of the rich Hemlo Gold Mines. Each ding must have a good story.

And the red boat. She never did get a name. Slow but considerably more comfortable to all that came before. And it was a steal of a deal when we bought her. She may become next summer's "project" - strip out all the old heavy wood, see where she leaks, and see if we can juice her up for speed!

And this is the new addition to the marina. For now she is Down South but will make the long drive to camp where she will be employed in the capture of fish, sunshine and good times.

On the eve of Fueling up!

2010-11-28T14:01:00.004-05:00

I am too excited today. Tomorrow I head off to meet a bunch of great gals who get together at a coffee shop and knit! I can't wait. There seems to be a lack of knitters in my immediate area so I am roaming a bit. But, as you know, I love to roam. I've also created a group at the Ravelry website for those who live in the Hill Country.

So here are just a few shots that I happen to have stored in my laptop. I have to go! Time to decide what to take for Show and Tell! It feels like the first day at school.

PS. The top lacy image is the yoke of a sweater done in Qivuit, the most expensive fibre in the world!

Giving thanks

2010-11-24T20:13:00.003-05:00

A simple thanks one day out of the year is never enough. I have a lot to be thankful for and the people who are close to me know that they are truly appreciated and loved. I am so grateful for everything they give me.

Normally for Thanksgiving I invite someone or a few people who have no one else in their lives. Thankfully, this year I was unable to come up with a single person who is not with family and loved ones.

Enjoy the harvest festival!

Trophy Brook Trout

2010-11-22T08:43:00.005-05:00

This fishing charter happened back in June 2009 and was the culmination of a dream I've had for awhile. It came about as a first date actually. Caught some fish, but not the man! A brook trout fishing trip on Lake Nipigon and the Nipigon River. We were three days fishing.

This is a world class brook trout fishery with careful monitoring and controls . while on the water we were approached and filled out a creel survey.

And scenic beauty galore. We camped in tents on the river and had food provided by the guide.

You must have a very experienced guide to fish here due to very strong currents and a large hydro dam project.

Also, a good guide will get you onto the fish!

Scene of an island on Lake Nipigon.

As we head south to the first dam. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

People will give me heck for not recalling exactly all the lengths and weights. I caught less fish than the boys but mine were all the best.

In three days I caught three brook trout and they were all trophy size. But I of course quickly put them back in the river.

This fellow was the heaviest with the widest girth and yes, he put up a good fight! If memory serves he was six pounds eight ounces. I had a longer one at 23 plus inches...

This trip was a blast from start to finish. I highly recommend it to serious fishers.

Some of the changes

2010-11-20T12:28:00.004-05:00

At camp this year BS and I did a lot of work and made a lot of changes. Here are a few of them.

Starting with major tree felling and stump pulling. The land is being levelled out a little and views to the lake being opened up. Here is the studio with new lights, ceiling fan, and curtains along the north wall that hide storage.

Many trees were cut down this year and won't go to waste. Look at all the firewood. And this is only one pile of three!

A new propane tank means I will never run out of fuel at an inopportune time! Even the BBQ is now hooked up to this monster.

The new marina! OK so it is a simple dock. But what an improvement over the old dock, which is floating in the distance at the end of the new one.

Event he old shed got a new lease on life with a new metal roof. Oh there is still lots to do but we made a great dent in the list!

The Far Pacific

2010-11-18T15:44:00.002-05:00

In the main square of Christchurch, New Zealand. After the horrific earthquake of 2010 I wonder if this gorgeous sculpture still stands? I prefer to remember it this way.

And here is the most lovely train station in Dunedin. The intricacy of its masonry is admirable.
As a geologist I appreciate the use of natural materials to such great effect.

And nature provides many spectacles to behold. This is the view from my hotel room.

And the whole reason I visited New Zealand was this crazy life long dream to see the mudpits of the country. Does that seem bizarre to you? My mother brought home a geology book when I was about five years old. It covered much of the volcanic and hydrothermal regime of New Zealand and for some unexplicable reason I was mesmerized.

When your dreams come true it is a special thing. Even if it is the Earth farting in your face.

Sweet Place

2010-11-17T09:12:00.003-05:00

Sunrise ushers in a brand new day at camp. It is not uncommon to experience lovely colourful sunrises. We also enjoy the sunset colours. The late day rays pour over the ridge and colour the lake and surrounding bush.

I don't know what this plant is; it's a bush height. This is a fall image we caught as we walked the dogs along the road by the beaver pond.

Did I mention the sunrises? Part of the new dock is visible as well. I think you'll agree it's a great place to sit and enjoy a coffee. At the same time I thank my lucky stars to be living there.

Beginning of April with a view of the Narrows. Check out how low the water levels are. I have seen lower, but not very often.

And while beavers are known to be very industrious, their proclivity towards satelllite TV is largely undocumented. A rare photo of a beaver lodge with a satellite dish. Wonder what those rodents are watching....

New Look

2010-11-16T09:02:00.001-05:00

I'm trying out a new look. What do you think? And I couldn't resist adding some beauty to the blog. These lovelies are from camp. Day lilies. Sweet!

Party On!

2010-11-10T20:44:00.003-05:00

Hey to all my friends! I am back to a place where there is electricity, telephones and flush toilets. After roughing it at Home North, I am down at Home South. The winter won't be too hard to take at this pace. Always on the search for interesting rocks, I have been known to get intimate with them!

A gal can dream! One of these may show up at camp next year. Who'd like to come party with us?

A remote post

2010-04-18T08:48:00.001-04:00

To my Far Flung Friends; BS, the furry kids and I have arrived at Home North. Two weeks here and we are settling in nicely. The weather is co-operating very well, although we could use a good long rain. The lake level is down, due to a poor snow this past winter. We need to get that baby full before the pickerel season opens!
BS is such a creative guy that improvements to life here are happening. Too many to mention, and why ruin the surprise? I think y'all should come to visit and see for yourselves.
So from the Greening Up North I say hello and report that we are all fine. I can't seem to attach photos via my blackberry and so you'll just have to wait.
The Mermaid, from her North Rock
Home North, where the skies are blue and the heart beats true

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.

Springing right into summer

2010-03-25T08:47:00.002-04:00

Friends, I give you bouquets of bluebonnets. Enjoy. It is still early in the season but get a load of the gorgeous mini-lupin that graces our roadsides and fields. That's my pear tree on the right in the first photo, but the home is a neighbour's.

Top Ten Signs of Spring

2010-03-07T07:51:00.003-05:00

Inspired by my friend's blog with her top ten signs of spring (see link to her blog, Green Bananas below), I thought about what I am noticing here in Texas.

1. Thoughts of preparing my income tax return flit through my mind, interspersed with notions of doing some sort of filing first. Naturally neither is being accomplished.

2. Mowing of the grass has increased in frequency and I have all my blue bonnet patches marked out to avoid! This is going to be an awesome year for bluebonnets.

3. I am thinking about the migration I am about to undertake , to return to Canada. I look forward to seeing friends there.

4. Romance is in the air: from the cardinals cavorting at my front porch; the songbirds who wake me up each morning; the wailing cats who pad their tracks over our trucks. This ardour spreads to the new relationship with BS, although he doesn't chirp or wail.

5. The peach stands at the side of the highway are being spruced up, in preparation for local produce.

6. Weazie's corn field is tilled and ready for sowing.

7. Baby goats, sheep, cattle and horses greet me at fencelines as I cycle by, unfazed by my huffing, helmetted presence.

8 Long sleeve shirts have been relegated to the closet at the far end of the house. The tan is on!

9. Renewal of all life is extended this year to include renewal of the home. With BS moving in, the layout and function of the home has changed somewhat. All for the good!

10. I don't have enough time to do everything I want to do. So maybe I'll just say "screw it!" and hop on the scooter for another ride through the Hill Country.

Hauling it all

2010-02-26T13:01:00.004-05:00

Hey Folks, Back from Tucson and Phoenix trip. What a blast that was, meeting his family and seeing where he grew up. We bought a new trailer...

and then loaded it up. Once ready we waited for the killer snow (ah....) to come to an end. Then we drove it all home.

Discards of the Rich

2010-02-16T10:17:00.003-05:00

So here we all are in Phoenix, the land of the sun. And in case you've never been here, the land of the rich and the botoxed. The only reason we "naturals" are allowed in is to that the beautiful people can look even more beautiful by comparison. OK so I am kidding around here...

But one thing that really strikes me is the excess here. In every aspect of life. The huge amounts of water used to simply irrigate someone's front lawn and rose bush. A plant that should not be growing normally in this desert environment. The water that spills down the road from a broken lawn irrigation system, owners oblivious to the huge waste. Green grass lawns..??.... they look so out of place here. Homes are on the huge side and too large for a typical family size. And it seems the contents of homes are too much as well.

So far at the curbside trash I've picked up great lumber (including redwood planks), a fancy bicycle trailer for towing children (or maybe dogs who are quite aged), a saxophone (web research reveals worth to be anywhere from 350 to 2000 buckeroos -- but hey! Why not donate to a school music program??) and a guitar, that looks like it was never played. Of course there is tons more , a lot of it in very good shape.

I've seen a few other smart people doing what I am doing. Cruising around and keeping an eye open for the goodies. I'm glad for us scavengers. Salvagers. It only makes sense. Reuse and recycle. Most things will only need the weather brushed off and they are good for another round of life!

Pretty Earth Creations

2010-02-08T11:44:00.003-05:00

So many gorgeous minerals are found on earth. Here is just one example of misolite. Delicate and spectacular, this prized specimen was on display at an Indian mineral exhibit. (Tucson gem and mineral show 2010). For scale, it is over two feet long.

At the Arizona Mineral and Fossil Co-op, this fellow was a little under dressed for the occasion. If you look carefully under the belly you might pick out the baby wooley mammoth. Just for scale, these two are a tad over two feet long!

And just when you thought nature by itself is not gorgeous enough, we came across this lovely carving.

Now wouldn't that cup of coffee taste great in the morning served on this lovely fossil table? A huge fossil ammonite at one end echoes the smaller sliced and polished ammonites in the table top.

By evening we'll switch over to using these lovely wine goblets. Beautiful earth tones in the agate invite caresses and the enjoyment of yet another glass.

A Year Goes Round

2010-01-25T08:29:00.006-05:00

Time has come to prepare for a road trip. The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show beckons once again. Every year in early February the promise of sparkly gems and exotic minerals is too hard to resist. The fact that it is almost February again just blows me away. We all know that as we age it seems that each year goes by faster and faster. This year was a particularly momentous one for me.
Over the past year I enjoyed getting acquainted with many new friends, as I spread my wings and flew into early retirement. I moved to a new home and began the routine of being a snowbird. It was a time to move out of places and a time to snug into new ones.

The treasures encountered along the way were the relationships with friends. This year I lost one good friend, a traveller who enjoyed exploration and learning as much as I did. His spirit for adventure will guide me for a long time yet.

The path ahead follows a curvy road. It may not be smooth either. I have seen enough and experienced enough to know that life is a big challenge and we have to keep working at it. Cherish the relationships with loved ones. Enjoy each day like it is a gift. Don't take anything for granted.

Looking ahead I am excited by the possibilities. There is so much to learn about my new winter home. For a gal who loves to road trip there are many new corners to visit and look out from.

Best of all there is a new love in my life. A wonderful man who has a spirit that dances exuberantly in the full flush of our love. Hand in hand we are going forward, guided by these colourful swans, each with a personal romantic message. I will make the most of this voyage.

Brrrrr!

2010-01-03T20:42:00.004-05:00

This image is taken from the Wunderground.com weather website. It gives the average temperatures for this part of Texas. As you can see, the coldest part of the winter is just past now and the night time temps will start to rise slowly at first.

Today I ran into a gal at the grocery store. She was looking for firewood. It seems there is a cold blast coming later this week. When asked how cold, she really couldn't say. Minus two. Twenty. I asked if the minus two was celsius or what? Not sure. Twenty I said. Not so bad; wasn't it 22 the other morning??? With wide eyes and clutching her fake fur, she said she really didn't know. It NEVER gets that cold here. She was in a tizzy.

I hope she finds some wood. And so when I checked a weather forecast, the low will be around 16 Farenheit. Yup, that would be cold for around here. Best check on my inventory too.

Hoppin' John

2010-01-01T21:29:00.002-05:00

Hoppin' John. This was supper tonight. Black eyed peas are good luck when consumed on New Year's Day in this part of Texas. So this was the result of some internet research. A lovely melange of rice, peppers, hot spices, ham, tomato and of course, the black eyed peas. I found the recipe at About.com and followed it quite faithfully.

Elsewhere on the web I found a note about adding a dime to the dish to bring extra prosperity to the year. I figure I am rich enough as it is, and so I skipped tossing coins into my supper.

Of particular interest is that a friend in Calabria reports that they too eat black eyed peas and ham on New Year's Day. And it is done there also for good luck ! What a small world. But their tradition is to cook the two separately.

So does this mean that Spaghetti Westerns may have more authenticity than we credit them with? Were ancient Romans the first Texans? (my driveway looks suspiciously like a Roman Road). Did a barge full of cowboys and black eyed pea sacks wash up on the Toe of Italy? It's interesting to ponder the origin of food traditions.

I can report that the dish turned out most excellent and I am ready for All That Good Luck! Happy New Year Everyone!

Kill the Chimunks, quick

2009-12-24T11:58:00.004-05:00

The holidays are upon us and the thing I hate the most are the carolling chipmunks that radio show producers feel we have to be subjected to. I immediately turn off the radio when the rodents come on. (hear that? Mr. Producer... I am not hearing your advertising anymore).

Well it's good to get the rant out of the way. What I love most about Christmas are the lights. Unfortunately there isn't any snow here to play off the twinkling displays. But there are sure some excellent home light displays around. I will cruise around tonight, after a fine dinner with friends, and check them all out. Thank you everyone who puts up lights.

I'd like to wish everyone a most Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Cheers!

December Fourth Snow

2009-12-22T20:44:00.004-05:00

Phew! I survived the monster snow that hit us hard on December fourth! In talking with the locals I found out it has snowed a total of seven times in the last 35 years. So I am very glad to have been here to witness time Number Seven.

What you see here is the maximum snow level that was attained. About half an hour later it had all melted away.

The Old Sage next door predicts there will be one ice storm later in the winter, probably January, with little icicles dripping from the trees. It's a little hard to imagine at this time. I was out bicycling again today in shorts and a T shirt. Apparently Christmas is upon us too.

Freaky.

Earth and Sky Scarf

2009-12-20T09:19:00.003-05:00

The Texas landscape is all earth and sky. The rich tan and grey earth colours at this time of year look fabulous with the clear blues of the sunny skies. It inspired me to create a wooly scarf pattern and then to share this with you all in as a little Christmas present.

In the example above I am working with Ashford "Tekapo" a lovely New Zealand wool. It is a worsted weight and works up normally around 18 to 22 stitches gauge. And I have chosen two colours, the grey and the variegated blue to brown.

Texas Earth and Sky Scarf

Cast on multiple of 4 sts plus 1 (in my example 37 sts)

USe two colours of yarn.

Colour A: Row 1 - Knit 1 row.

Colour A: Row 2 - P1, *(P3tog, K3tog, P3tog all in the same 3 sts), P1*.

Colour B: Row 3 - Knit 1 row.

Colour B: Row 4 - P3, *(P3tog, K3tog, P3tog all in the same three sts), P1*, P3.

Repeat these four rows to create a scarf as long as you'd like. Fringe would be a nice touch too.

Enjoy the pattern. It is very simple and a lovely pattern, wouldn't you say?

Granite Things

2009-12-01T12:26:00.002-05:00

These are random shots from around the region. I am situated in the Llano Uplift and granite abounds. Repeated cycles of freeze and thaw have worked their magic to create works of art.

Exploring the backroads is one of my biggest pleasures.

A gentleness settles

2009-11-29T08:06:00.004-05:00

A gentleness settles over my spirit when I think of the new man in my life. Yes, the most amazing thing has happened and I've fallen in love with a beautiful guy from far, far away.

New love is so powerful and transforming and comforting and FUN! We should all stop each day and recall those heady days stepping into a new romance. What a pill!

Today's Quiz

2009-11-10T09:17:00.004-05:00

Alright. In all her glory. Here's a quiz for you.

My neighbour has a few fruit trees, most of which I can't see through the jungle around his house. I am told he has mostly apple and pear trees. This one particular small tree right at the road is dropping these "apples" right now. To me they are highly unusual and I would love to know what they are.

The gentleman is pretty much housebound and deaf and so my dilema. If you can help me out I'd love to hear from you and learn more.

Sorry for the out of focus closeup, but honestly I can't find my camera manual. Methinks I need another coffee to still my hand.

Floundering

2009-10-30T07:12:00.002-04:00

Look at all the speckles! This is my first speckled trout or sea trout. I bet this is going to taste great. I just returned from a wonderful saltwater fishing trip at Port Mansfield. I wish I could've taken you all.

This is a general view of the rental appartments close by where we launched our boat. A sign indicated it was a no wake zone due to manatees. But we didn't see one.

These handsome dudes are the flounder. They start out life with eyes on opposite sides of the head but one eye gradually migrates to the other side. It does make for an interesting "Hallowe'en spooky" kind of fish. Flounder I have eaten plenty so I know how tasty it is. Spearing them as we waded in the dark was really fun. And yes, the sleep quotient suffered a bit.

Our bunch rented a large house right on the coast with our own private pier. A Blue Norther (nasty storm with 80 mile per hour winds) came through on the Monday, driving us back to the house. But honestly, it was time to eat and sleep after a god 24 hours of fishing.

What a blast it all was. All new to me and so interesting. The company was great and the adventure unending. Oh! While floundering we observed a Ridley turtle! Incredible.

the back forty

2009-10-16T07:19:00.004-04:00

These two photos are of my "back forty" as I call it. And they were taken in early April when many things were still grey. Certainly today the image is very different. I have mowed half of the field now and just about died from the volume of sweat exiting my body. So now I'm waiting for a cooler day to complete the work. I use a push mower and the sunflowers are about 3-4 feet high so it's a duel to the death for sure. Round one goes to me!!

In the top photo the tree in the centre is a lovely pear tree that is now bearing ripe, delicious fruit. I am so lucky to have this tree. I love pears. I have dehydrated a bunch, all that I could reach from the ground, and soon will get in there with a ladder and grab some more.

If my skin goes green soon Folks, you'll know why.

The other trees are pecans and in these "before" photos look pretty scrawny. But just as all the other vegetation over the hot and then wet season, they have thrived and I'm told will produce well this year. I have nineteen pecan trees altogether I think. So there's another good reason to get the mowing done. When the pecans fall I will be able to pick them up with my Texas Pecan Picker-Upper. Stay tuned... more photos to come.

Now I just need a pretty volunteer to sit in a booth on the highway selling these gems for me!

Scooter

2009-10-14T09:53:00.004-04:00

This is a nickname I've picked up and I think it suits me quite well. Thanks M. I am all over the place all the time. So now I am back to Home South.

It is incredible the feeling I had as I levitated over the empty highways through the north part of Texas. As I got closer and closer to home it struck me how strongly I felt for a place that I was just getting to know. It has to be the people. I've collected up some incredible people, true gems, into my life. Here's a toast to them.

Home North

2009-06-14T23:43:00.004-04:00

Well it's been awhile for sure but no one said that retirement was going to be a time to slow down. I have made my way north to Home North and am happily settling in at camp. The movers have brought the rest of my belongings to camp and if one more box of stuff shows up I will have to throw a tarp over it outside! All the buildings are full. Guess what I am doing for the next few months?

Lots of people say they will come and visit and so I look forward to the laughter and stories that come with good friends. I may even have some Texans braving the long journey to try their hand at some real fishing. Come on up!

PS. Now the Texas flag flies beside the Canadian flag on the main cabin.

Golden times

2009-05-25T23:04:00.004-04:00

It was a lovely day for a drive through the country and to practice my gold panning techniques. My expert teacher didn't laugh at my slow progress and eventually I think I was doing a fine job. Unfortunately no gold was to be had today.

But get a load of the nice places we splashed in.

Yeah, I am in heaven.

Outdoor Bed Phase Two

2009-05-22T21:55:00.003-04:00

So this is the next phase of building an outdoor bed. The mattress is installed and a weatherproof cover as well. It wasn't the fabric I chose or wanted, but there were issues with the colour wearing off with just the slightest handling and wear. So over the phone I had to make a snap decision and couldn't see what I was agreeing to.

The toss cushions are lovely oilskin creations I found locally. And the final phase will probably have to wait until fall. Because the mattress is a little smaller than the base, I will build up some wooden rails along two sides. Also I'd like to make a headboard so that the pillows don't go shooting off the end of the bed.

Already a few chapters of a good book were enjoyed in the new lounge, along with a little beer and some fritos.

blowing in the wind

2009-05-13T18:35:00.003-04:00

no, it's not a catwalk, but Tika could be modelling the latest Milan creation. The Texas adventure continues. I got it into my head that I should have an outdoor bed. So here is a glimpse at the start of it. Mattress and a weatherproof cover are on their way.

Sign on the Wall

2009-05-11T18:32:00.001-04:00

this little gem comes to you from the hill country...

little stunners

2009-05-09T19:57:00.004-04:00

wildflowers abound and these are just a few that are profuse around the house! Little stunners in my estimation. You can find a flower in every colour. what's your favourite colour?

Old chick yesterday, new chick today

2009-04-20T20:33:00.003-04:00

The Great Horned Owl mama is ever vigilant at the front of the nest. In behind her you can just make out the fluffy very large baby. These photos would've benefitted immensely from the use of a tripod, as I had to zoom from a great distance to get these. But as happens when you are moving and your stuff is all in limbo, you have nothing that you need and what you are carting aroubnd seems to be all wrong.

I'm still camping in Texas and waiting on the closing for the house I've bought. How is it that I can jump out of planes, cook meals for 400 guests at a banquet, write a book, find a new mineral deposit, yet I can't sit on my hands. This is driving me crazy.

I suppose I should be like mama and just chill out.

Happy New Texan

2009-04-19T22:11:00.003-04:00

Hey Folks

Here I am just catching the last of the rays of sunlight. Camping out and waiting to close on the purchase of my new house. Yup I bought a rock house!

It feels fine. Super fine.

Holy Day

2009-04-12T18:14:00.004-04:00

On Easter Sunday I am cruising the highways and biways looking for my new winter nest. This image was captured on the Blackberry while driving. Honest folks. If the highway wasn't empty or if there was a black Angus on the road, I wouldn't. But a white heifer standing there. Wow, that would be some shot!

Things of Beauty

2009-04-10T23:14:00.002-04:00

The house hunting is going quite well in Texas. This is a close up of the stonework on one of the homes I checked out today. Get a load of those worm burrows. There were also chunks of petrified wood in the wall, and all kinds of fossiliferous sediments. I couldn't live in this house - I'd be outside with my nose up against the stone all the time!

The bluebonnets are so gorgeous now and fields of them are springing up everywhere. It is a type of lupin, but very short compared to what I am used to seeing.

Here's a stunning Baby. A corvette. Several antique autos graced my parking lot last night. The group were on a quest to find bluebonnets. They had driven in from one edge of Texas just to do this.

How's this for a slick car? A Lincoln Continental. Not one fly speck on there. How can that be? My van looks like it crossed the demilitarized zone.

Awash in sunshine

2009-04-07T21:14:00.003-04:00

Ahhhh. This evening's walk was along the Colorado River in central Texas. This shot was taken with the cell phone and I like how the rays of the sun wrapped around the trees to embrace me. Everything is green is every direction. Roses, both wild and domestic, are in full bloom. The amount of birdsong is at times staggering.

The house hunt started off very well today. Incredibly friendly people here and generous to the extreme. Honestly, it stuns me. Does it come from the rural way of life? Neighbours helping neighbours? Whatever it is, I like it.

De-settled, unsettled

2009-03-30T08:10:00.003-04:00

Okay so I am sitting here and waiting for movers to arrive. A call has just come in that they will be late; some issue with the truck.

Time to think....I had some plans to hole up at my wintery cottage for a few days but.....

I may just head back to Texas to start the actual house search! The van is fully loaded with the camping gear. And there are a few homes I've spotted over the web that want me to come visit.

We are all ready to go. Camping gear, me dogs....more adventures.

We could be seeing scenes like this in a week again. Maybe wetting a line myself. After trout.

My predilection to stop and look at everything means that the journey isn't too rushed.

Lots of inviting wayside stops where I can stretch my long legs, rest and work on my income taxes! (only critical thing for April)

This was the route I took entering Texas the first time. I zoomed in through Wichita Falls. It was a nice way to go. Better than the interstates around Dallas and Fort Worth.

Okay Folks. It's always an adventure. Stay tuned.

And what was it that I heard?

2009-03-25T20:26:00.003-04:00

First of all, each day I was greeted by a myriad of songbirds. This is in March. How wonderful. Early evening brought out the doves and the rummaging armadillos. At night I could hear coyotes communicating across valleys.

The wind rustling through the leaves spelled out a welcome that I could not mistake.

My tires crunched over many gravel roads, caliche packed trails and nicely paved roads. The automatic gears got a bit of a workout on some of the hills.

The people of the Hill Country are wonderfully warm and inviting. Each gas station attendant and waitress was proud of his or her community. Many introduced themselves and shook my hand. I feel very welcome to come and make it my home.

Each and every day, from each roadside I could hear that this land will be a good fit for me.

The smell that came up from the land

2009-03-24T13:47:00.003-04:00

Roaming the Canyon Lake area: I could smell the nice leather interior. I could say something about the raw dirt smells and the age old fumes from the fossils in that cliff. But,... ah.... it was the leather at that moment. And maybe a fragrance of wine..........I wasn't roughing it all the time! No.

Some folks riding through Lake Somerville State Park. Polo cologne, or is it Stetson?

Glad I didn't run into a live version of this beast. There would've been some smell, to be sure!

Around my campsite at Enchanted Rock State Park: I could actually smell when the deer were close at hand or had just left the area. My dogs became accustomed to their close approaches fairly quickly. Good thing. This place is packed with deer.

And this gem is lavender. Ahhhh. growing wild in the Blanco area.

Sadness at the end of an Era

2009-03-22T10:20:00.003-04:00

Whimper. The photos speak for themselves. (soft sobbing in the background).

So a new sport will have to be found. Rattler hunting. Cowboy 'rastling (mmmmm). Teaching rich old ladies in Fredricksburg how to cross two stitches to the left. Learning all the new recipes of the new land...

What it felt like

2009-03-22T07:48:00.004-04:00

My final days in Texas I camped at Colorado Bend State Park. The river is very low here, following several months of drought. Right after this photo was taken it began to pour rain and thunder for my final three days. Camping in THAT was fun. Okay, not so fun for dogs that hate thunder.

Resourceful ranchers know how to keep the oats coming up!

This doll is Sigi in amongst the Indian Paintbrush. Too bad I left before I could see the new flush of flowers and growth after the few days of rain.

Prickly pear cactus (I think). It is ubiquitous. Yesterday a flip flop fell out of my van and into the snow and stuck to the sole are several cockle burrs. Little nasty balls of spikes. They are picked up on human and dog paws and cause the dogs to walk on three legs. Oh, and I saw a flattened road-killed snake one day. Pretty red, black and ivory. After that I flipped through a poisonous snakes of Texas book and saw that it could've been any of a large variety of nasty beasts. I clearly have things to learn.

And this morning sunrise was captured at Enchanted Rock State Park. It is where I started my days in Texas. Deer surrounded the tent routinely to the point where the mighty hunting dogs stopped barking at them after a short time. The Rock is a rounded dome of granite that rises prominently from the surrounding land.

It felt so good to be at a place that was both comfortable and mysterious.

More of what I tasted

2009-03-21T09:59:00.002-04:00

Who can deny me this?? Gorgeous. Wiggly roads. Hilly. Beauty all around. This is towards the west side of the area I scoped out, around Medina.

This scene is from the Willow City Loop. Also known locally as the Devil's Kitchen, the Dungeon and Hell's Half Acre. All these names came from the fact that many bandits hid out in this valley due to it's ruggedness and remoteness. If I could snap my fingers, this is the road I would live on.

Nasty, sneaky evil armadillos (okay not really). And a little hard to photogragh. Believe you me. I have closer shots. Mostly of their butts, if you're into that sort of thing!

Breathtaking. That's all.

Could this be my future retirement home??

Some of what I saw

2009-03-21T09:43:00.002-04:00

A Heidi Moment if there ever was one. Here we are at Washington-On-The-Brazos. This is the place to come and learn about Texas Independence and all the brave people who fought for it! Sigi is beside me and then Tika . The flowers are the State Flower - Bluebonnets. Just out in time for me that day! Texas. Come and Take It. The war slogan..

The accomodations were royal. At times I was able to vastly improve on this! Thanks friends. Texans are extremely kind and generous.

The most picturesque town in the hill country just has to be Fredriksburg. Strong German settler influence.

Oh here I am At Luckenbach. See D... proof I made it to the Shrine... Everyone is Someone at Luckenbach.

Could this be my future retirement home?????

O Canada!

2009-03-15T22:20:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends, I am back from Texas. Let me tell you it was hard to leave. The people and the places are fabulous. Genuine and a bit wild. That describes both.
I crossed the border late this afternoon and snapped this shot of our beautiful Maple Leaf. See you soon Friends.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Texan Cafe

2009-03-11T10:04:00.002-04:00

So My Dears; here I am camping in a gorge where the cell reception is but a fossil of the future. So this will get posted when there is a hill top under my bare feet.
Texas is amazing and I absolutely love it here. Have been meeting such friendly people in every corner and waystation. You know what? Not one rude or even sour face so far.
And the landscape resonates with me in a strong way. Dusty, honest, with just enough wild to make me quite happy. The Hill Country of central Texas has captivated my heart. I will be back soon to pick out the actual future home, but for now I am happy to wiggle my toes in the dirt and simply cast my gaze about.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Ditto

2009-03-01T22:28:00.001-05:00

Check it out! Better not be like this in Texas
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

My street again

2009-03-01T22:26:00.001-05:00

As in the previous post
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Left this for Texas

2009-03-01T22:24:00.001-05:00

My final evening walk was a snowy one, as I prepared to hit the road for Texas. This cell phone image is on my street. I hope I don't bring this stuff with me to central Texas, as I did with Arizona.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

My Favourite Photo

2009-02-26T20:44:00.002-05:00

Fresh from my first contract as an exploration geologist, the first thing I did was buy a decent camera. With the assistance of the self-timer feature, I snapped some pictures of my father and myself (at 19 years old).

Absolutely my favourite photo, I found it recently after a basement build project wrapped up. Happy to find it, I placed it in my wallet, which explains the distinct creases.

One day the negative will turn up and I'll be able to scan it and produce a nice image to hang on my wall. Dear Father

No Boyfriend Yet

2009-02-26T19:10:00.003-05:00

Okay, so the experiment of February 14th (see blog post here), is a dismal failure.

Here is the evidence. This chap had a week or more to grow into my White Knight. I see no change. Do you?? Not surprised........

He received all the room temperature water he could use. I put the TV remote right beside him. Danced around seductively to John Legend tunes. Didn't natter at him or ask him to perform any chores. Hmmf!!! So what gives?

I'm going to say it is my home town. Namely the water. Thus it would appear it's time for me to move!

2009-02-26T00:54:00.002-05:00

South of Tombstone Arizona and on the way to Bisbee, Arizona we spotted this ridge. The well bedded rocks seem to be truncated to the right by what might be an intrusion.

this is the Phelps Dodge mine in Bisbee. It closed in 1975. Over the years it produced 3 million ounces of gold and more than 8 billion pounds of copper. That's snow there. Plus the red pools are clearly metalliferous waters.

This fossil shark jaw is simply huge. If a six foot plus person stood in front their head would be centred in the jaws. There are four rows of serrated teeth in some places in this jaw.

We enjoyed viewing many exquisite fossils. There are also many art pieces (throughout other venues) that are not real, so a person has to be careful and know what they are getting into. of course, many are still very beautiful and can fetch a high price.

This trilobite is a very early life form that crawled along the sea bottom about 600-500 million years ago.

Desert snows

2009-02-17T19:11:00.004-05:00

Here I am back in Marathon, dressed for winter and snow! But the memories of snow in the desert cling like a nylon dress on a dry day.

This apparition was observed in the Mexico border town of Bisbee. Yes, those are ceramic and stone tiles glued to the sides!

The lovely mountains just east of Tucson displayed a new colour this day.

And a drive up to Kitts Peak Observatory found us back into the snow zone.

Brrr. Not a day to be out there in shorts and flip flops. But there's no telling Some People.

Indignant autos.

Holy. This was the first hint that something was amiss. Snow covering the palms and the cacti. I came all the way to southern Arizona for this???? Actually, it was novel and interesting to watch the locals rushing around all bundled up. The one day a year that snow falls in Tucson and I happened to be there. Neat-o.

Funkerella

2009-02-16T13:21:00.004-05:00

Self portraits in the desert. I'm breaking in the new boots. Rattle snakes will be laughing too hard to come over and bite me now. But c'mon, look at the colour...how could I resist?

In the top photo those tree-like cacti are jumping chullo. Yeah. You don't mess with them. Once they latch on, good luck ripping the spikes out of your skin.

Okay, here are the goods

2009-02-16T12:38:00.003-05:00

More shots from the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Honestly, I ran by this one and failed to inquire as to the mineral. Lovely though. My guess is pyromorphite.

And this is a typical scene of some of the tent trade shows. Mixed in with the small tents are some giant ones. And usually there is a community hall or sportsplex invilved as well. In other cases the venues are based at prominent hotels, and many of the guest rooms open up thier doors, beco,ming exhibit and trade show venues. Ballrooms, conference rooms, foyers,... are all full of displays.

My friends know I am a knit addict and collect yarn as I travel. In Arizona I picked up this new yarn: Araucania's sugar cane (100%) yarn "Ruca" , otherwise known as taly. I don't know if I could tell it apart from bamboo yarn. Simply lovely and I can't wait to get this onto the needles. I would say the colours are a little livelier than what is presented in the photo.

Now this dreamy yarn is by Cascade Yarns, called Alpaca lace. It is 100% baby alpaca and invites touching and being against the skin. It has to become a camisole or some such luxury item. The softest undershirt in the world maybe.

The desert colours caught my eye first with this product. Also by Araucania, it is called "Ranco". composed of 75% wool and 25% polyamide, I think it would have a super drape. I think a vest out of this would be special, or maybe a big basic shawl. Something rugged.

Rose Quartz Spheres

2009-02-15T20:37:00.002-05:00

Saguaro cactus just west of Tucson. In places the cactus is quite dense and resembles a strange forest. Some of these cacti can live for a couple of hundred years, and I'm told they are protected.

Typical scene inside one mineral and bead venue. What you don't see is the line up at the till we witnessed that stretched for a good 20 to thirty metres! If you were looking to buy inexpensive stone or mineral beads, this was the place.

A stunning table for your dining room or board room of the most gorgeous petrified wood. At a mere 50,000 US it could be yours. Sadly, a little too large for the motor home, so we had to leave it behind.

The rose quartz spheres caught my eye. Simple and beautiful. The largest one there is significantly larger than a bowling ball. And you can see my great cowboy hat reflected in them...

Bisbee residences climbing the cliffs. This is a town I will have to return to one day - to get better acquainted with the town and people. Lots of artists make this town home now and galleries abound through the main streets. I found a great carved jewellry box, silver belt buckle and woven cotton serape at a vintage and antique shop. The town is situated in the SE corner of Arizona, very close to the Mexico border.

The Sun and Fun

2009-02-15T12:27:00.003-05:00

Back from a few fun-filled days in Arizona. Meandering through the gigantic gem, fossil and mineral shows alternated with road trips out to historic mining towns like Bisbee, shown above. This amazing place is built in a cleft in the mountains, with hardly a flat spot to be found. Homes perch precariously above one another, clutching somehow onto the coppery cliffs. One map I found revealed that at least 19 mines operated in the area (from about the 1880s). Copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc were the targets. One mine, which shut down in 1975, produced 3 million ounces of gold and over 8 billion pounds of copper.

A serene scene from behind an Indian Reservation gas stop west of Tucson.

One excursion took us to the top of a mountain range to check out Kitts Peak Observatory. It boasts the largest collection of telescopes in the world. Sadly, this little amount of snow somehow hindered the staff and normal operations there, and we found the visitor centre closed. But we were allowed to check out some of the telescopes.

And this is what the gem show is all about. This year saw the show reduced to about three weeks instead of a whole month. But the number of venues continues to increase each year, and now there are about 50 venues around the city. Most exhibitors and sales people seemed to have an average or better than average year, although some said they were down. I hooked up with some dealer friends who had a great year.

The hat tradition continues and in Tombstone I picked up the funkiest cowboy boots and this awesome hat. I had to break them in on a desert walk. That cactus over my left shoulder is particularly nasty. A local called it the jumping cactus. Once it latches on to you, it won't let go.

In the pre-game warm-up to retirement, what is the next destination? methinks it is Texas, between San Antonio and the Gulf Coast. Saty tuned for more pics from the meandering mermaid.

On Growing a Boyfriend

2009-02-14T08:26:00.003-05:00

So I'm back from A vacation trip and girlfriend V stopped by with news and laden with gifts. Just in time for Valentines Day she presented me with "Grow a ... Boyfriend". Simply immerse the wee dude into some water and just watch him grow into a boyfriend over the span of three days! She cleverly included a bouquet of roses (that may last longer than the boyfriend). So here is the BEFORE picture, after about 12 hours in water...

I wonder what he'll be like. Tall, handsome, witty, smart???? Hopefully a little more than just slimey.

Always listens..Is never late..Smells good..doesn't watch too much TV..Is always there for you.. Isn't this the sum total of what we gals are after? And at only $1.99 - a steal. Cross your fingers for me.

Happy Valentines Day

Me Pics

2009-01-21T21:41:00.004-05:00

Seems to be a pattern of me and dogs...

Forty Days to Go

2009-01-21T16:49:00.008-05:00

So here's a shot of the gold mill at the Williams Operating Mine. My workplace. I have forty days or work to go before I walk away and retire. The conveyors carry broken chunks of ore (the good rock containing gold) from the underground to the tops of those towers, from which point the crushing of the rock starts.

This monstrosity is the headframe, mechanics shops, warehouse and main administration building. I try to avoid this place as much as possible... The headframe is the tall bit, with the shaft conveyance that gets us in and out of the underground portion of the mine.

This little darling is the Core Shack where I hide out. Outside you can see pallets loaded up with wooden boxes. Those have been delivered to the Core Shack from the Headframe. The drilling happens underground in the mine, and the core samples (rock we investigate) comes in those wooden core boxes. In a typical year we handle about 50 kilometres of drill core here. Two geoscientists and a pile of technicians.

Here's one view inside the Core Shack. I 'd show you my workstation but someone else was working there today and it was too messy. On the table you can see the long cylinders of rock, called core. We read the core, much like lines of text on a page; top left to lower right. We make notes about rock types and interesting minerals. Then we demarcate sections that we want to have taken out for chemical assay. That eventually tells us exactly how much gold is in the rocks. With that information we can begin to plan the production work in the mine.

Tonight's ride

2009-01-19T17:50:00.004-05:00

Here are a few snaps of today's ride. These are off the Blackberry. A little hard to aim into the sun and see what you are doing. You get what you get.

42 More work days and then RETIREMENT!!

Online dating - is it just me?

2009-01-18T19:20:00.005-05:00

You might have to back up to the other side of the room to tell what these photos are of. Don't worry, they're not rude! So there have been a few weeks since I posted a personal ad and created a profile looking for new friends in my life. With the possibility of dating and maybe a long term relationship. How's it all going?

Is it just me, or is this a difficult way to meet people for everyone? It could be a lot more effective if you live in a large urban centre, which I don't. Number One big issue is finding time and a way to meet up with the people you are getting good vibes from. Distance is a big barrier, and especially when driving on icy and snowy and often closed highways is the only option. Talk about frustrating. A few guys melted away long ago as the possibility of meeting in the near future faded way. No amount of road salt could thaw that big chill quick enough.

One thing that side tracked me quite a bit was something I already wrote about here; how I spent a fair bit of time learning more about myself than about the fellows. There was a big introspection time, where I tried to sort out how much to reveal about myself., what exactly to say to someone, what was I looking for in a friend...To be as honest as possible with myself and others. Desperate for some new friends, maybe I hadn't thought it all through ahead of time. As a recent widow, I wasn't planning on any of this to happen.

And then there's the whole issue of those who request or require a pile of information about you, but don't really give back to the same level. The guys who insist you should be turning on your web cam.... and they haven't even sent you one photo! Doesn't seem fair does it?

And then the "not reading the ad properly" or choosing to ignore some of the criteria you've outlined as important to you in finding a new friend. I suppose in some cases people may not realize that they are not that person that is listed in the ad. Maybe they think they are. Okay, so that doesn't bother me, if that's the case. But there were a handful of way out there responses that were just so wrong. The good thing about this type, is that is seems to be easy to break away from that contact fairly easily. Simple diplomacy and a good bye.

And what if your method of initial communication doesn't mesh well? emails, messenging, web cams, calls.... When you can't get together in the same place, you have to rely on electronic communication. I'm noticing that most guys stick to one method of communication and won't consider or switch to another. Interesting. While I think it would be interesting to maybe get a different glimpse of the person by trying another method once in awhile, not many seem willing to give it a go. I admit to not being much of a phone person, but the inflections of the voice and the ultra spontaneity of it can't be beat. So even I will pick up the phone once in awhile.

So this is a snapshot of some of my impressions. It's a lot of work. It takes time. Sometimes lots of time. Then these frustrations. Is it worth it? For sure. Just ask my new friends! I hope they would say the same thing.

Snowmobile

2009-01-10T08:57:00.002-05:00

When it's so cold the van won't start, the snowmachine never fails. For me it is the sunny days that call out to me to go for a ride. And yes, those are the colder days. But having lived and worked in the Arctic over so many years, I am well prepared to survive the deep cold. Boots are rated to -100 deg Celsius. Imagine that it is - 52 degrees. Then let's add some wind chill factor. We could get to -64, for example. Okay, now climb aboard a snowmobile and go fast into the wind - you then increase the wind chill factor by a fair bit. I won't even venture a guess. But you see where I'm going with this. Be prepared and know what you are getting into. heated visor, heated hand grips.....

Riding in the winter is just so much fun. You can get to places that in the summer are so wet or bug infested that you can't get close. Large hills become much more approachable and long distances can be covered in a short period of time. Be careful to not go in further than what you can reasonably walk out from the same day. I can tell you many sad stories about prospectors who failed to keep that in mind.

For now I am getting used to this machine, A Panther 570, a good stable touring machine. My own machine was a racing thing and after riding it all last winter I sold it in April. So while I get the feel of this bigger, heavier beast, I am doing shorter runs after work. Darkness comes too quickly, but I am home before that. I always take my SPOT tracker and have a team of people monitoring my whereabouts.

Soon enough I'll be ready for some long day trips with this sled. I have a neighbour who goes out quite a bit, but it sounds like more in late winter and spring. I've been invited to join their group, so I will definitely check it out. I'm not an ice fishing person, but can find other things to do while they stand around. (What's that old joke?... A jerk at one end of the line standing around waiting for a jerk at the other end!!)

Okay. Time to finish cleaning the house so more riding can happen. Cheers.

Hiding Out

2009-01-07T20:41:00.004-05:00

The New Year came and found me at camp. Pardon some of the clutter in the interior shots, but not everything has been straightened out after the garage and studio were finished off. Like the antique boudoir table that is blocking off part of the bookcase. Where does one put a fancy Queen Anne boudoir at her camp anyways???? oh, and don't count the empty booze bottles piling up by the back door. Those are , uh, from a few visits ago. Yes.

Get a load of the snow outside though. No wonder no one wanted to come in with me. All that digging. The road hadn't been plowed for a week and a half and so there was an old rut and about 20 cm of snow overtop. On the second last day I shovelled off the 30-45 cm on the main cabin, and the moment I finished (2 hours later) it began snowing again. No, the booze bottles are not from this time. Really.

So on the final night it snowed about 20 cm of new snow. I was pushing snow for much of the 8 km out to the logging road. Three attempts to get up the big hill. Twice on another hill and a third one I sashayed somehow at the very top and slipped over with a grunt. But before all that I got to the gate and found that my key wouldn't work in the padlock. There I was on the inside. I thought maybe there was ice inside and dreaded what I might have to do to melt this. Or to hike all the way back to camp to get the bolt cutters. (no backing up in this kind of deep snow). Luckily I had a second set of keys with me and the key in that set worked!

Because I was pushing snow the entire way, it was coming in the front grill and entering the ventilation system. The interior was rapidly fogging up as I manuevered skillfully (and blindly) up and down the snow covered hills. Jubilant, I approached the final run to the main logging road. Because I couldn't really see out the windshield, I drove ahead with some speed , into a high snowbank that a grader had left alongside the road. And I was good and jammed. Twenty to thirty minutes I had to dig to get myself out, and I was a mere half a metre from the main road. Shoot. The wheels rolled ahead one revolution and I was back on the road.

I had gotten off too easy up until then. But with only a minor amount of sweat I was out and on my way back home.

The sunny shots are at the beginning of the stay and the cloudy ones are the day before I left. Imagine another 20 cm overtop of all that.

I'm home, and yes, the back muscles ache somewhat. Still. But the whirlpool is open for business.

It was a great and quiet visit to camp, exactly what I needed.

Happy New Year Everyone

Doctors Without Borders

2008-12-26T16:07:00.003-05:00

It's the time of year where the excess that we live with hits me the hardest. I can't imagine what it would be like to miss a few meals, as I prepare to head out the door to help out with more turkey leftovers. it's all a bit much...

Or to be so sick and not have access to medicines. Can you imagine a young single mother watching her baby die in her arms, when some inexpensive medicine could be provided?

Do what you can to help others around you or around the world. That's the true spirit of giving.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/tsffaq.html

peace and love to all

Snow and what else?

2008-12-26T15:17:00.006-05:00

These shots are from Christmas Day in the neighbourhood. This bush walk is about 50 metres from my house. A great place to go wandering. You can see a little stab at a blue sky. Lucky the camera batteries were still working at that point, because soon after all that blue was gone. And today is uglier, with snow now turning to rain and freezing rain for the next day or more. Yuck. ( not funny whoever arranged for this). Didn't even go snowmobiling today.

For my dear friend in the very tippy toe of Italy, the little berries are mountain ash. It's a lovely tree that grows wild here but is also domesticated for gardens. Good thing some berries are surviving the intense cold we've had, because I heard a lot of birds in the bush yesterday. They will eat these berries.

So there's about a metre of snow everywhere and no end in sight. Shovelling happens oh maybe twice per day. Cursing about the shovelling goes on and on. Expecially when the snow thrower acts up and doesn't want to start.

I'm hoping the weather improves tomorrow and a gal can get out on the snowmachine or hit the highway to go visit friends.

But there's still lots of turkey lurking around town here, so off I go to see which family I can help with my incredible appetite! Ciao

Retirement Date Chosen

2008-12-24T19:37:00.006-05:00

First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to all my great friends. I am trying to call everyone, but this is a slow process! have a great time with family and friends.

My big news today is that I have chosen my last day amongst the ranks of the employed. May Day. May One. First of May. I may go sooner if I get peeved off enough, but that's where I draw the ultimate line in the sand. May 1st. I managed to figure out a schedule for the last three months wherein I will work two weeks and vacation for two, alternating like that to the end. I can handle that. And I'll still be 49, so will be able to always say I was in my forties when I retired!

May Day, ironically the one day that much of the working world has as a day off, recognition for their sacrifices and hard labours, and I will work that day. I'm going to start practicing my cartwheels. I tell ya'....

I hope to escape to a hot or warm place for each of those breaks. Just warning you friends (in case you notice communications slowing down). And I'm open to hooking up for some holiday fun, especially if I can road trip there with my two dogs. So let me know.

February is already committed to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show and to see old and new friends there. Can't wait. I've been shovelling and snowblowing twice a day now for a month and a half, and this February trip has kept me sane through it all. Plus a luxury gift of an MP3 player loaded up with great tunes; that really has helped. Music makes the world go better, eh?

My new music discovery and recommendation; courtesy of an Arctic friend, this is her cousin, Marc Andre Leger. Check it out and buy the CD at http://www.marcandreleger.com/. Wonderful blues vocals.

I have friends burning CDs for me, showing me how to use the danged MP3 player, singing to me over the phone. I feel so loved. Thank you all. You know how important music is to me.

So over the holidays, I wish that the happy tunes are playing all the time. Hug and love those people around you. You never know how long they will be around for. Cherish them. And don't take anyone for granted.

You've all made this a remarkable year for me. I couldn't made it as far as I have without you all .
Thank you.

Snow season

2008-12-15T06:39:00.001-05:00

Nope, not at camp yet. But I am stuck in at home with a blizzard still going on and all the highways closed. I coomute to work half an hour down the highway, so - YIPPEE - a day at home. But before we jump up and down too much, a lot of it will be spent clearing snow.

These two photos are from last spring at camp. I'll try to get some new shots of the snow around here today. There has to be a metre or so. I can't see through the picture window due to a dappling of freezing rain. The side door only opened enough for two Elkhounds to wiggle through. Haven't tried the front door yet. I could be well and truly stuck in.

Alright.