Home Sweet Home - NOT!!

I have had joyous home repairs the last two months. My walk in closet was drenched in water Saturday, January 30 so John with Roto Rooter came out around noon. He found a small pinhole leak in one of the toilet lines and fixed it quickly and relatively cheaply. Then he mentioned the mold in the wall and how he had a restoration company that could come out and fix that. Mold is not a happening thing with my allergies so I said OK. The restoration company brought five or six fans, two dehumidifiers and a hepa filter! It was AWFUL!!! I couldn't even hear myself think.

There was NO way I could sleep in my own bed. Riley and I slept on the futon.

Dean came to stay overnight on Sunday and he saw and he conquered... I had forgotten that he had worked as a general manager for Munter's. Munter's is a large company that does restoration work. Dean was NOT impressed with what the shady outfit did at my house and he called them up at 5:00 on Sunday and fired them and told them to come and get their machines. I was renting WAY too many machines for the size of the leak. The way it works is they bill the insurance company but they overbill the deductible amount. That's called insurance fraud in my book but it seems to be an acceptable way of doing business since they are all listed in the phone book with bragging about how they work directly with your insurance company. Anyway, Dean put all of the machines outside on the front porch. We had to call this idiot THREE times before he came and got his stuff. Then he left me a waiver where HE signed my name!!! What a jerk! I have letters to my insurance company to NOT open a claim. This is going to be an ongoing mess for awhile. The bad part is they did not lift the carpet and put the fan under it to dry it. I bought a new toilet and it is finally installed. For a few days, my front porch was adorned by the old toilet with a plant in the bowl...

The house SMELLS like mold around the air conditioner which is behind the walk in closet. So Tom, my ex-husband, got under there and pulled all of the insulation out – it was still WET. And he pulled up the carpet in the hallway and cut off a big piece of it. I’m going out today to find some tile and I’ve got a heater aimed at the air conditioner box. What a mess!

Happily I did finish the Ann McCauley block.

It was a lot of fun! Now I’m working on the Ginger Smith block. Very interesting construction. It’s worked in strips and you pick up stitches in between the strips.

I also finished the baby kimono for my friend, Janette’s, granddaughter. It is cute and I hope they like it.

And I finished the woven towel for the towel exchange with my weaving class! They didn’t turn out like I expected! They’re GREEN!! I made them with 8/2 unmercerized cotton in blue and yellow. Green!! So I have learned something about color and weaving.

I am renting the guild’s Dorset floor loom. It is a beautiful piece – unfortunately a tad the worse for wear. I would like to give it a loving home should they ever decide to sell it. My weaving teacher thinks they would be willing to part with it for $500 which is a great price.

I’m off to look at tile for the master bedroom. Home sweet home - grin...

Christmas 2008

Dean, Ede, James and Eden arrived at my house to celebrate Christmas 2008 on Friday, December 26th around 2 P.M. They were starving so I fed them a huge lunch - ham, pineapple, glaze, my famous salad and my fresh homemade bread. It was all delicious! Then we opened presents.

I think Eden liked her bean bag chair and James liked his Star Wars Lego.

And Ede liked her hand knit scarf and Dean liked his crystal weight set.

Then the kids took poor long suffering Riley for a walk... By then it was time for them to eat again... Steak, salad and another loaf of fresh homemade bread... I had to use the dishwasher twice Friday - I don't have enough plates to feed 5 people twice a day!!

Saturday we went for a run/bike - I was on the bike... Good thing. I made omelets for breakfast... Then we went to play miniature golf at the Fantasia course at Disney.

We had a wonderful time but I still cannot pick up the ball – my knee will not allow me to get that far down. After golfing, we went to the Disney Marketplace and had a meal around 4:00 at the Rain Forest - very interesting place but you go for the ambiance not the food :) We got home around 7:00 and I was in bed at 8:00!!!

Sunday we took Riley up to the clubhouse and played shuffleboard.

Riley couldn't come into the fenced area so we tied him to the fence. He was not happy even though he could see us. Another round of omelets for breakfast... AND we didn't leave before it was time for lunch so we had another lunch of ham, pineapple, glaze, and my famous salad. Then we went to Gatorland and met Ede’s family there.

More walking on my knee :) Dean and James went back to Pensacola Sunday night and Ede and Eden went to Ede's sister for a few nights and then home to Pensacola. It was wonderful seeing them!

Handwoven Towel Exchange

My weaving class is having a handwoven towel exchange. We have to weave three towels - two to exchange and one to keep and write up a project page with attached samples. Since this will be our first towel project, we are not expected to be perfect. But I have had problems way above and beyond and I thought I would document them for future struggles...



The above picture shows where one of the threads behind the heddles either broke or loosened from the tie on to the point where I had to attach an "S" hook to weight it otherwise I was constantly fighting loops on the front of the fabric...

The next photo shows the tangled mess behind the heddles that I was ALWAYS getting up and going behind the loom and combing...





This photo shows the list of shots necessary for my Swedish
Rose Twill pattern. There were 78 shots for one pattern
repeat!










The next two pictures show the front of the loom with the towels on it.














Despite the struggles, I love weaving and it was a lot of fun
watching the fabric emerge! I sure would like a new loom
though :) Maybe if I write Santa a nice note...

Saturday, December 13, 2008 I went to the Weaver’s of Orlando luncheon at Antonio’s Italian Restaurant in Maitland, FL. It was a lovely luncheon with great food and even better company. The meal started with a lovely salad of baby greens with a light dressing. You had your choice of two dishes: chicken stuffed with Fontina cheese and prosciutto or a pasta dish. My friend, Joy, told me that the chicken would be the less caloric of the two so I believed her and ordered that. I have now eaten all of my allotted calories until Wednesday of next week… Then we had trays of candy for dessert. The weavers also had a raffle so I bought 6 tickets for $5. I, who never win anything, won TWICE!! I gave away my second win so someone else could have a chance. I did get some lovely yarn – camel in a very pretty warm, natural brown shade and a nubby cotton/linen in an unbleached shade. I’m sure I can use them both. Then we had a gift exchange. It had to be something hand-made. I gave away a flat basket that I had made many moons ago. I got two knitted dishcloths made by Thelma who is in our weaving class. These dishcloths will never see a dish – they are suitable for washing the queen only!

I was very pleased and the recipient of the basket seemed pleased too! I sat across from Gloria and Jim and they were fascinating. Both in their 80s and still going strong. He does blacksmithing at Barberville where there is a craft village of life in olden times. I had gone there many moons ago with my father and I would love to go again. One of these days... Anyway, I had a wonderful time and sure won't miss another one!

Then I went on to Georgia's house. She was having a knitting get together. I picked up some flowers - carnations but they had been dyed a pretty salmon color - and some cookies and off I went. We had a lovely time. Most of the women from the Knit or Knot knitting guild were there and conversation was lively as it always is with those ladies J I got there around 3:00 and we all left around 4:30. Very nice.

I have made a mistake with MS4. Apparently I only moved ONE side of the pattern marker and did not move the other side. No telling when I made this error… So I am going to have to rip or tink. I think if I put in a lifeline about 4 rows down I should be able to rip down to that. I don’t know if I can put in a lifeline after the fact but it seems logical.

I am currently working on the Ann McCauley square on the GAAA. I love those baubles! They are such fun to knit! I finished the Janet Martin square. These squares are certainly challenging but a lot of fun.

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving was a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. The drive to Pensacola on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was very pleasant and traffic was surprisingly not too bad. Ede’s mother and her friend were already there and it was nice getting reacquainted. Poor James had a cold but he was sure being a brave little soldier. Wednesday night we went to church and Eden was an acolyte! She did a wonderful job but putting out the candles was a tough job especially when they were so high!

I played Cranium with Dean and the kids on Thanksgiving. Dean cooked the turkey in the Big Green Egg. It was delicious! I made a salad, dressing and gravy and Dean made the sweet potato casserole. Ede’s mother made Puncit, a Filipino dish akin to lo mein with rice noodles, pork, chicken, shrimp and vegetables. I wrote down the recipe once – I think it took two legal pages – and determined that I was never making that!! James played the piano for us. He really has a lot of talent.

Friday was the day for putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house. We tried to go to Bellingrath in Alabama to see the gardens and the lights (http://www.bellingrath.org/) but it was raining. So we went to Felix's Restaurant on Mobile bay instead (http://www.felixsfishcamp.com/). Their crab soup is to die for! And I enjoyed the crab cakes too. They were on fried green tomatoes. I had never had those before and am now addicted and make them at home… And we went to Barnes & Noble. The Pensacola store is very nice and bigger than the ones in Orlando.

Dean took me to work out every day… I would get a small – very small – breakfast and then we’d go work out. After working out we’d come back and have a delicious protein shake. YUM!! In other news along this same line, I’ve hired a personal trainer and joined a gym. Little Andrea works my TAIL off! I may have lost two pounds. I am getting stronger – I can actually lift 50 pounds AND run up and down steps!!! I’ve still got a long way to go but it’s a start.

The drive home was horrendous with the FL/FL state football gamers (GO GATORS) AND the Thanksgiving people… It took 10 hours instead of the usual 7. And I never saw an accident...

My Continuing 60th. Birthday Saga

After leaving John C. Campbell Folk School, I headed toward Pensacola, FL where my son, Dean, his lovely wife, Ede, and their two children, James and Eden, live. The drive down the mountain was uncertain since I wasn’t sure I was headed the right way on two lane mountain roads but I soon approached civilization. I took the western beltway around Atlanta which was not as scenic. The AL interstate was very nice and had rest areas timed every 45 minutes. And the landscaping was beautiful. I arrived at my son’s house a few hours early and surprised Ede. She was cleaning Nibbles’ and Cinnamon’s cages. Nibbles and Cinnamon are the family pets. Nibbles is a Lop rabbit. Lops are known for their floppy ears. Cinnamon is a Cinnamon rabbit breed, I think… Both rabbits are females and have been spayed just in case. Dean and James were at James’ soccer game. Eden had already played her soccer game – she’s the only girl on the team... The dining room was decorated for a birthday party… Hmmm. Dean and James came home and we sat down to eat dinner. I had a wonderful salmon that Dean cooked in the Green Egg with rice and a lovely fresh tomato and mozzarella salad. Then came hand-made cards from James and Eden and Dean. Ede bought me a lovely birthday card.






There were tons of presents – 3 blouses and a leather jacket!!! Then Dean gave me a mailing envelope and inside was a picture of a 46” Samsung HDTV!!! It was being delivered Thursday afternoon after I got back to Orlando!! WOW!!! I really had a wonderful birthday!

The next morning I had a light breakfast – a roll and water… Then Dean took me to work out with him. So I biked for a few minutes and lifted weights. All my favorite things :) Then we went back to the house and enjoyed a protein shake! YUM!! We met Ede at a lovely sushi restaurant, Fuji Sushi, for lunch. It was delicious! I picked Eden up at school and we got lost but I managed to find my way home. I played the Pilgrim’s Progress board game with James and Eden. James got to the Celestial City first and I was second. We had many perils along the way – monsters, giants, a cruel judge and hungry lions. It was a fun game! Eden did a wonderful presentation about the family vacation to Cheaha State Park in Alabama.

Tuesday morning was another light breakfast and more working out… Another yummy protein shake. I’ll be a shadow of my former self with all of this activity. . There was an indoor volleyball game later that evening at the school so I drove Eden back there. The acoustics in the gym were very good – I had to sit in the waiting room thanks to my tinnitus. Dean brought me some ear phones with white noise and I had high hopes for them but they were no match for the shouting in the gym. After the game – we lost :( - we went to Pensacola Beach to Crabs Restaurant. This is one of the best seafood restaurants and we always love going there. Dean had a large fruity drink so I could keep the glass to remember my evening. I had the combination platter – Dungeness crabs, Alaskan king crab, and stone crabs. James had to help me eat it all! Dean arranged with the waitress to have the staff sing me “Happy Birthday” and bring me birthday cake – a Key lime pie! We all enjoyed that! Then we went walking on the beach. It was a wonderful night to remember.

The next morning I drove the children to school for the last time. We gave each other lots of hugs. Dean and I went to IHOP for breakfast and I was on my way home, somewhat cheered by thoughts of my new HDTV’s arrival the next day!! This was certainly a birthday to remember!

John C. Campbell Folk School Experience

I left Friday morning, September 19th. at 5:00 AM to journey by myself from Orlando, FL to Brasstown, NC. As I neared the FL turnpike it occurred to me that I had forgotten my purse… My purse with my medications was sitting on the counter in full reach of my Cocker Spaniel. I had visions of Riley getting into it and me having to take him to the Emergency Vet Clinic (major $$$) and missing my class… I turned around and in full panic mode raced back to the house. I was stopped at a traffic light and it occurred to me that there was NO ONE around and so I ran the light. As I pulled through the light I heard the whir of the camera as it took my picture… I’m sure the ticket will arrive soon…The purse was unmolested and I proceeded on my way. I was also panicked about driving through the big metropolis of Atlanta but I continued on. It turned out to be nothing – all six lanes moved through and under Atlanta with ease. Northern GA was beautiful – lovely quaint mountain towns. Gas – another fear – was not plentiful but it was acquirable. The car got a treat of a higher test at one stop – that was all that was available. My AAA triptik guided me to JCC with only two glitches and those were easily corrected by calling the school. I did however have to do a u-turn on two mountain roads! And I passed fields upon fields of goldenrod in full bloom… As this is one of my major allergens I was using my steroid nasal spray like a crack addict. After I completed registration at the school in Keith House,

I journeyed on to my room. I was in Bidstrup House which is located on the side of a mountain. The side next to the mountain was buried in dirt up to the windows which were only a slit near the roof.

However, the room was clean as were the bathrooms and other areas.

Should I return to JCC however I will request an even numbered room – they had beautiful mountain views. My roommate had already arrived but was not in evidence. I unpacked and rested for an hour or so before returning to Keith House for Orientation. Orientation explained meals and other amenities. After orientation we went to the Olive B. Campbell dining hall. Students are to stand behind their chairs and sing or say a blessing before each meal. Announcements are made halfway through the meal. Usually the food was very good. The first meal, dinner, was beef with mushrooms, wild rice and peas and carrots. Fresh baked warm bread was served at every meal. After the meal is finished, plates are taken up to the kitchen and dessert is brought back. The first night was peach cobbler. After dinner, I went to the Putman Fiber Arts Building which houses both weaving and quilting. There I met my instructor, Pam Howard. We picked our yarn, wound our warp and dressed our looms.

At 9:00 PM I had to throw in the towel and go back to my room – it had been a LONG day! I finally met my roommate, Joan. She was taking a weekend of clogging! The first night I was over-tired and didn’t sleep more than 4 hours. I tried not to wake Joan but I was restless and every time I turned the bed squeaked. Saturday we went to morning song which was a banjo player. Very enjoyable! I sat at another table for breakfast and chatted with some ladies who were taking the quilting class next door to my weaving class. Then it was off to weaving class to finish dressing my loom – which was a Schact Wolf Pup.

Once the loom was warped using a pattern of one thread of wool and three threads of cotton, I began weaving. I used two shuttles, each loaded with the same wool/cotton as the warp. We didn’t have to worry about the selvedges or the joinings since we were going to felt the piece. I finished weaving about 4:30 and we put the scarf into the hot washer, agitated for 10 minutes and withdrew it to cool it. If it wasn’t felted enough, back into the washer for another 10 minutes it would go. After the 3rd. time I was able to put it into cool water to stop the felting process and wring out the water by putting it into a towel and stepping on it. Then it was put into the dryer for about 10 minutes and finally hung to dry on a rack. Dinner Saturday evening was meatloaf, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. I sat with Dot, a weaver from North Carolina, and her sister, Shirley, and Sheree from Alabama. Shirley and Sheree were taking Chair Seats and caning chairs. After dinner, I went back to my room and read awhile then went to the common room to knit. There I met a lovely lady who was making an appliqué square by hand, turning the edges as she went. I slept much better the second night although I did spend some time in bed with my flashlight reading my book… At least I didn’t disturb Joan. We had to be out of our rooms by 9:00 so I packed and loaded the car. Breakfast was with Dot, Shirley and Sheree and then I went to see how my new scarf looked! We had to comb out the fringe and cut it and trim off the joining ends and the scarf was done and ready for viewing at Show and Tell! I’m glad I didn’t leave early as many did because Show and Tell was wonderful. It took place in Keith House and every class showed what they had learned over the weekend. There was photography, quilting, soap making, woodturning, woodworking, blacksmithing, chair seats, dance, enameling, gardening, jewelry, painting and, of course, weaving. Wonderful, talented people and beautiful results. I left before lunch since it would give me an hour’s head start on darkness and I don’t like to drive at night with these cataracts. As I wound down the mountainside – hoping I was going to get where I should – I kept thinking of what a wonderful time I had and all the new friends I had made. John C. Campbell Folk School is a terrific experience and I heartily recommend it.