"The Bag"

Before felting it looked like this:

After one run through the felting process it looked like this (not so pretty):

A second trip through made it look like this (better.. but not right):
A third felting brought us this (getting very close..but I think I can do better):

We sent it through one more time and ended up with:
All we have to do is add the button and it'll be perfect!

Now.. on to the next project!

The weekend

Every year, for the last 19 (with the exception of one or two), my family has gone to the beach with another family for a long weekend in the spring. Usually over Easter, but sometimes spring break. This past weekend was the annual trip.

When we first began the tradi-tion our oldest children, were just infants. Over the years our families have grown and changed. This was the first year "the big boys" didn't join us. We missed them but managed to have a rocking good time just the same.

The weather was such a treat. It was beautiful during the day. Stormy and exciting at night. At night the winds howled. It hailed and rained ferociously. During the day we built fires and walked on the beach. We explored some lovely tide pools containing starfish, mussels, hermit crabs and all kinds of fascinating tide pool creatures. We experienced two late-afternoon minus tides that made an otherwise hidden beach accessible - if you were brave enough to scramble up and over some huge rocks and outcroppings. The beach was filled with agates. You could actually sit down and within arms reach gather more agates than your hands could hold. We brought back a couple pockets full. It's much like gold fever and I can't wait to go back!

The house we rented had a hot tub. We rented THIS house, in part, specifically because it had one, but only one of us brought a suit. Not very good planning.

On the way to the outlet mall to acquire cheap and ugly swim suits I spied a yarn store. I tell you.. I'm a bit obsessed. I have so much yarn already and projects stacked up for months, but I had to stop. I found unspun wool. Beautiful, hand-dyed merino wool ready for the spindle. And this yarn store is offering a class in hand-spinning in April. Mid-week, mid-day. cough cough.. I think I feel a sick day coming on...

Happy Anniversary!

My TYPoE has been going for a year (one year and two days to be exact). Holy cow.

I have a burning desire to tell you about my weekend. But given that I just discovered I'd hit the one year mark I think it's important I spend a moment reflecting on my goals and my advances.

I shall edit my "Things still to do" list:

• Learn about goats - done. They are not related to cats or dogs. They are browsers not grazers
• Learn about organic stuff - Definitely need to learn more about this!
• Learn how to knit - I think I've got it. I want to get better though.. but I certainly have the basics down.
• Learn how to milk a goat - yes! I'm looking forward to this lesson.
• Learn how to card and spin wool - Have a book. Just got some beautiful wool - Found a place in Lincoln City that will teach me - if I can get over there mid-week. I'm ready to learn!
• Learn about necessary business license - oh yeah.. I've made NO progress on this.
• Learn more about goats - Absolutely need to learn more. For one thing I need to finish the book Peter got me. And I will - as soon as I can put the knitting down. I've found I can not knit and read at the same time. darn it.
• Learn how to make better goat cheese - I think "more exciting" would be a better goal. Apparently my goat cheese is just fine, I just need to learn how to add herbs and flavors.
• Learn how to make goat soap - I want to do this. It involves lye. I'm scared.
• Get my kids through High School and Independent - You know.. this may not happen for a very long time. But Jill's graduation from High School remains the target date.
• Get my house ready to sell - On going and still has to stay on the list. I have a new floor. That's a start.
• Sell my house - Can't even START this until next spring. I'll put it at the bottom.
• Buy a funky pink bicycle - I shall wait until I move. There is no place suitable around here for riding a funky pink bicycle.
• Find someplace for me and my goats - Peters house. He said I could. But you guys already knew that.. didn't you?

The past year has gone quickly. It's been exciting to learn new things. Something I think I should continue doing even after this set of goals has been reached. I look forward eagerly to see what the next 15 months brings.

I'm such a sucker

My vegetable garden is sooooo tiny I bought one of those upside down tomato plant pots to make the most of the room I have. Afterall.. I have one of these in the photo below..

It may work. I hope it works. The commercials indicate it will work. Then again, according to commercials, eating Dorito's will make me sexy and a G.I. Joe Action figure can actually rescue Barbie from an alien invasion...

I'm working on a bag for Jill. I wasn't going to show it to you.. but I'm afraid you won't believe I'm working on something. I really am. I'm knitting. and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting. . . I may actually get sick of knitting before I'm done with this thing (probably not.. but maybe!) Keep in mind that the squares on the floor are 12 inches. That makes this thing already about 18 inches long.. and I have SOOOOOOO much more to go. Then I will felt it.. then it will be much smaller with some shape and style. So I hope.. felting is such a big unknown...

The good news.. I think I have the knitting thing down. At least the basics. I'm already researching my next project. Peters mother gave me a bunch of wool to do with what I want.. but I can't decide what.. and Peter gave me yarn to knit him a hat.