Duck Tape Wallets

With a week of cave art under our belts I decided to give the kids a drawing and painting break and play with some Duck Tape.  Luckily our new local Dollar General had some nifty colors and patterns for me to chose from.  The kids tell me there are dozens of patterns and colors available.  Oh, how under-exposed I am up on the farm in Brookfield.  Lukie has a Duck Tape wallet he made in Cub Scouts and it looks pretty sturdy.  My students took to the task very well, and even came up with some other things to make, like purses and back packs.  We had some funny moments with lengths of tape sticking to kids, to tables, to the wrong pieces of tape, etc., but we managed to come up with some neat things.  They are proudly displayed for parents to enjoy in the art room.

Cave Art

I am an art teacher half-time this year.  It's a challenge to think of art activities that students want to do, or will participate in at all.  With the anniversary of the discovery of the Chauvet cave art in France in 1941, we decided to have the kids draw and paint their own version of these fascinating images.  It gave me an opportunity to teach some history, too.  Thanks to Google Images and my Smart Board we found some stunning pictures to inspire them.  The panels our five classes painted are hanging in the halls for Family Night tonight.  Very cool indeed.

My Own Crayonbox Tote

I have been lusting after this tote for a very long time.  Carol Crayonbox from Freevile trades fabric with me for my Mother Fiber and spins it into yarn for her bags.  The process is long and labor intensive.  After spinning Carol knits long strips of geometric designs, sometimes triangles or squares of many colors and shades.  She then sews the strips together with thread into a bag.  Carol felts the bag by hand by washing and rubbing it in the sink.  This is a tricky process as the different fibers (especially with my wool-angora-mohair blends) felt at different stages.  When Carol is satisfied with the felting she constructs a lining with intricate pieced designs and sews it to the inside of the knitted bag.  Leather handles and a snap frame is then added for easy access to your goods.   I have taken Carol's bags to shows to sell for her, often thinking how I would love to bring one home for myself.  Customers always take them instead.  With my milestone birthday coming up, I decided this one is finally for me.  Carol has evolved past this type of bag, opting for a different felting process with machine quilting on top.  I got my bag in the nick of time I think.

Buttons

I am still making Bundaflicka buttons to go with my totes.  I bring the box with me to shows in case someone wants to change the button on a tote.  I am happy to oblige.  I was not the only one with fabulous buttons at the Fingerlakes show.  Kimmie Cornerstone brought a big box of her all-natural horn buttons with her.  These amazing buttons are made from goat, sheep and cow horns that people donate to her.  Don't ask me how she does it, but they are absolutely incredibly beautiful, with all the natural striations and calcifications.  No two are alike.  Kim chuckled when one customer asked her to make four more "just like this one." 

Bag Ladies

My faithful bag lady friends came out en masse at the Fingerlakes Fiber Festival.  Most of the time I am too excited to remember to ask them for a picture, but I did get one or two this year.  One customer bought two, and sent her friends over to take a peak which resulted in more sales.  My Bundaflicka totes are helping to carry the burden of more busy lives.    I love my bag ladies.

She's a Winner!

Kimmie Cornerstone never ceases to amaze me.  Her skills continue to grow and grow.  Kim brought home an arm full of ribbons from Fingerlakes.  She is an accomplished drop spindler and teacher.  Eight new victims, er, students signed up to learn from the master at the Hemlock show last weekend.  I would have been a bit nervous when confronted with all those hands attempting to spin wool on those pesky disks that love to fly out of your hands and make music on the floor.  Kim didn't break a sweat.   She also won prizes for her knitted hat and "Blue Theme" skein.  I know Kim's family across the border up in Kingston, Ontario,is very proud.  I know I am.

Fabulous Fingerlakes

The 18th Annual Fingerlakes Fiber Festival was a fantastic success.  Many friends from previous years came to visit me in my booth.  The weather was terrific and the booth was busy.  I am very grateful for all those loyal supporters who keep my farm going with their purchases.  Everything I make was validated and I am so fulfilled.  I am inspired to remain true to my mission - to spin yarn from my own fibers, from my own animals, resisting any commercial imports.  I only support small shepherds, like myself, where I know the sheep/goats/bunnies/llamas are well-cared for and not shipped off to an unknown fate via cruel auctions.  These shepherds are very hard to find, so I spin my own wool and mohair.  My products are very basic and functional and are designed to make life easier and more beautiful.  My soap cleans, my creme moisturizes, my wool insulates and my totes carry the burden of busy lives.  Thank you all, for your continued support and encouragement.

New Fabric

I love when a surprise package is waiting for me when I get home from work.  Sure I ordered it, but after a hectic day I forget when it's coming.  I've had this fabric on my Fabric Guru.com wish list for a while.  It's a lovely neutral color and I'll put a bright lining in it.  Don't know if I'll get it done for Fingerlakes, but we'll see.  I've been known to crank out a last-minute tote in the wee hours before a show.

Chilly

A sure sign of winter occurred this morning - frost on the window of the truck.  My wood supply has been ordered, now to clean out the stove pipe.  I was able to get through last winter pretty much on wood alone without touching the thermostat.  If I stoked the stove before I went to bed, then once in the middle of the night, and again before going to work I was okay.  The place would be cold when I got home from work, but the dogs could huddle together on the sofa to keep warm, the little couch potatoes.  Cooking casseroles in my gas oven heats up the apartment very nicely.  I love cold weather as it reminds me why I raise wool, that miracle fiber that breathes, insulates us, feels so good, and is so beautiful to look at. 

Close Shave

My goat milk soap shaving mugs are a slow and steady seller.  I've offered them long enough to have quantitive reports back on how long they last.  Two men said three years, shaving every day.  What a good deal.  No container to throw away, no accelerant being pumped into the air, non-skid bottom mug skillfully crafted by local potter Susanne Farrington (for which she is happy to receive wool for felting in return), and a lovely natural fiber brush.  Customers can purchase a refill of goat milk clove soap at the same time, or later.  It can be softened in the microwave and pressed into the mug to harden.  I love the look of this cup and the funky big blocks of soap.

Colorscape 2012

After a very disappointing day of extreme weather conditions the 2012 Colorscape Arts Festival resumed with happy, enthusiastic patrons and exhibitors.  My booth was rarely empty and was often "standing room only."  What a difference a day makes.

Rainy Day Blues

Doesn't look good for Colorscape.   There is a wall of green headed for us on the radar with reports of "severe" weather for today,  60-70 mph winds, possibly hail and tornadoes.  I'm really disappointed but will set up early tomorrow to salvage the weekend.   My soap and wool does not do well in the rain and my pop-up will not keep out the water long.  What a bummer.   Up very late working on product.  I'll work around the farm today and sew another Bundaflicka tote to make myself feel better.  I'm in the very sturdy ag building at Fingerlakes next weekend in the little town of Hemlock, an hour south of Rochester.  Oh, Colorscape!  All the wonderful bands playing continuous music!   The happy customers!   Can't do much about the weather besides hunker down, fall back and regroup. 

First Week Down

The first week of school is under my belt.  It's always an adjustment, even though I've only been with the kids for three days.  The Friday Euphoria is setting in.  The kids are getting used to me and vice versa.  I am reunited with my dear friend -  The Amazing Robin - for morning GED classes, and a new aide named Fawn for my afternoon art classes.  Robin works so hard to make me look good and keep me out of trouble.  I ask her to do something and it's already done!  Robin does things to  help me that I don't even know about.   Fawn is very organized and helpful, too..  Luckily, Robin is experienced with the daunting bureaucracy of GED (General Equivalency Diploma).  I'm feeling good about school and I think it will be a rewarding year.  Now if the weather gods are kind and let me get back and forth to work safely.  You never know what storms will blow off Lake Ontario and make my commute a nightmare.

Lipstick Mittens

My friend and faithful follower, Suzy Fatzinger, recently taught herself how to knit mittens.  She graciously sent me a picture of a mitten knitted with my Lipstick roving.  I'm thrilled for Suzy and happy my Mother Fiber served her well.  The angora rabbit fiber carded in with the Bluefaced Leicester wool will definitely keep Suzy's hands warm this winter.  Good job!

Gotta Deal

Lots of speakers in a hot, airless gym yesterday.  Hazardous waste training, bullying prevention training, teacher union meetings, and checking out classrooms.  Many hugs with friends I haven't seen since June.  The LPN teacher had all the stuff that was in her new classroom dumped on the floor of my GED room.  I sure hope the nice custodians moved it overnight.  It's first day for kids and I'm picking up donuts on the way in.  I have my old room back for mornings and will do art upstairs in the afternoon.  It will take a few days to get all the kinks worked out.  Too sleepy last night to stay awake for the First Lady's speech.  Hope I can make it 'til Bubba's performance tonight.  I relate so well to the Dems and their message. I sure will miss my free time, but I have to support my farm, and I carry the bennies.   Better get it in gear and hit the road.

Hiding Place

Monkey found a hiding place in the barn, back and between some round bales.  I think it's a lovely place to rest and ponder, free from the chaos going on outside and down the ladder.  Wish I could hide there myself, but duty calls and I have to bomb out of here tomorrow, and every working day thereafter, until June rolls around again and I am free to stay on the farm with my friends.

Reminders

It's easy to take these wide open fields for granted, but they were once covered with trees.  To say the Burdicks, the original farm owners, had their work cut out for them when they first settled here 200 years ago is an understatement.  Every rock in this old crumbling wall was pulled from the ground with much sweat and toil.  I have it easy compared to those folks.

First Time Out

Mama and boys are out on the hillside now.  It's a big scary place for a mother and babies.  Evening is coming on in this picture and Miss Mamie is looking around for anything dangerous that might threaten her lambs.  She doesn't take them too far up where the good grazing is, and prefers to stay close to the barnyard, just in case.  Rudolfo and Marcello are both wethers now - neither here nor there.  I love these sweet boys.  Rudolfo still gets a bottle once a day, but doesn't take much.  When he hears my voice he leaps and dances over to me, which always gives me a thrill.  I guess that's why I keep giving him a bottle he doesn't really need.

Market Friend

I have a little friend at the Hamilton Farmer's Market.  Her name is Cayna and she raises mushrooms with her brother. She explained how they drill holes in logs to grow them.   Cayna is an enterprising entrepreneur.  She makes beaded bracelets and necklaces and takes them around to vendors to sell.  Cayna is going into second grade and is already writing stories that she prints, folds and staples to sell.  I always purchase Cayna's wares as she is so friendly and sweet.  I want to encourage her business acumen.  After I paid $3.00 for her latest novella, Cayna returned with her box of beads to make me a custom bracelet to thank me.  This girl is going to go places.

Totes

There is something about a little tote...I'm trying to make some smaller totes, as my artistic adviser, Mia, suggested.   The baby is 13 by 16, enough to carry a small knitting project, an Ipad, and a book.    I love this fabric, off the bolt at Joann's, because the dark brown is so earthy and basic and the flowers look like they are hand painted.  The lining is that durable office upholstery fabric and, as always, the signature Bundaflicka 8 pocket structure keeps everything organized.  I like easy access bags where you can see everything inside.  Some bags are so dark it's tough to see what you've got in there.  I might give myself a back-to-school tote this year and this Monet Tote might be the one.  I can't believe I still love sewing so much.  When I get tired of something it doesn't get done.   I loved working at home over the summer, cutting out bags on whim and sewing to my hearts delight, with Luke and Hannah to keep me company.  Would I appreciate it so much if I could do it all year long?  Yes, I think I would.

Spinning

Yes, my head is spinning.  How to do as much as I possibly can today before I surrender my freedom to do whatever I want - which is always some kind of work - to do what is expected of me at school.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for my job, but I love staying home on the farm.  I have another run of Mother Fiber ready to go out to the mill.  I never know when I start what I'll end up with.  It depends on what fibers I have ready to work with, what dyes I currently have, the alignment of the planets, my current mood, etc.  I love strong, vibrant colors, or dark, natural colors.  Pastels leave me limp.  I found a pale blue sweater in the tractor shed that I started years ago before yet another move threw my world into a tailspin.  Didn't do anything for me and I know it won't get finished.  This latest run will be bright salmon, chartreuse and purple.  I'm spinning some corn yellow from years ago and hoping I can find some fawn angora somewhere to ply it with.  Angora/wool blends never stay long in the hand spun basket.  Think I'll spin a bit before I get to work in the barn.  My hand spun basket is looking healthy at the end of the summer.  I need to make up some simple knitting patterns for people to make hats, scarves, socks, etc. because people always say what can I make with this?  Truth be told, I like the way the hand spun looks in the basket with the pretty little skeins keeping each other warm.

Hamilton Market Day

I was proud of the crop of Bundaflicka knitting totes I put on at the market yesterday.  I was hanging the totes on colorful bungy cords but now I have too many for that.  I put up my old bag rack, which holds quite a few and allows people to look at the bags easier.  I could sew all the time, but I have to work on fiber,creme and soap, and then there are the animals to look after.  Oh, and the humans who need food and clean clothing too.  And then there is the job that keeps this machine running.  I have one more day of freedom, that is, freedom to stay home and work on the farm.  I've been spending a lot of time picking through fleeces from last spring and fall.  There are some gorgeous fleeces, then the challenging ones who either stayed on the animal too long, or contain so much "chaff" that I have to literally pull every lock apart and "debride" the fiber.  The effort is worth it when the big boxes come back from the mill and soft colorful balls ready for spinning or felting appear.  I could get lost for days and weeks in my beautiful fibers, with the lovely sheep and their big, glistening eyes watching me, but duty calls and I'll be bombing out of here every morning to return in the evening.  As long as I have my job nobody can tell me I can't have my sheep.

Nighty- Night Boys

Rudolfo still gets a night-night bottle, although he hardly sucks on it.  He is almost as big as Marcello now and they are both coming along nicely.  Mama seems to have enough milk for both.  I'm keeping her well-nourished with grain and some lovely green second cut hay I found on the roadside in Mt. Upton.  I think it's time for the little family to go out to graze on the lush green grass out there.  I think Miss Mamie will take good care of them. I will probably have a hard time catching the boys for a hug, but pretty soon they will be as big as ponies and there won't be any picking them up.

Chartreuse Wool

I'm not happy unless I have some form of fiber processing going on.  I've been waiting for my order of dyes from Dharma Trading in California for a week or so.  Yesterday I happened to be down at the dumpster and saw the UPS truck flying by.  The driver saw me standing there and put on the brakes.  He had my package in the truck!  Would he have stopped if I wasn't there?  Doesn't look like it.  Anyway, I thanked him and promptly went to work sorting the Romney fleeces from Weymouth Walk in New Jersey I picked up in Maryland.  I didn't go looking for them, but they kind of found me.  Anyway, this beautiful wool may not be Bluefaced Leicester, but it still feels nice and dyes beautifully.  I washed and cooked two big pots last night, with lots of dye and lots of citric acid, the magic powder that enhances color and makes it stick.  This glorious sunshine won't be around long and I want to make the most of it.  I have two more pots on the stove now.  I'll blend it with sky blue and salmon, maybe a little purple.  You know how I am about purple.  Everything's got to have a little purple.  Something about The Color Purple.

Bertha

What a blessing this little dog is.  Bertha is very sweet and loving, and fits right in on the farm.  She loves to follow me around the farm, keeping me company and playing with the chickens.  Last night Bertha followed me out into the dark barnyard, illuminated by the full moon.  She planted her feet firmly on the ground, looked up at the ridge and gave a few very brave WOOF-WOOFS.  At four months old she wants to be a guard dog already.  Bertha has recently been able to get up on the sofa.  Yes, we have dog friendly sofas here.  She's very bulky and heavy and had a hard time pulling herself up.  Cuddling with Bertha is like hugging a big sack of potatoes with a very soft fur coat.  Bertha and Sadie are best friends.  The other day I noticed Bertha carrying Tinkerbell around by the scruff of her neck, like a mother cat would.  Don't think Tinkerbell was crazy about that behavior...

New Crop

I'm filling up the ceiling with a new crop of Bundaflicka Knitting Totes.  Once I cut them out and sew them together the only safe place for my bags is on the ceiling, safe from critters who would love to take a nap inside them.  I'm beginning to feel better about having enough bags to make a good showing at Colorscape - the upscale arts festival in nearby Norwich, where my school is located.  I like having a chance to show my co-workers what I do.  All many of them know is that I live in the remote hillbilly haven of Brookfield with a lot of sheep and goats.  The reality is that it's much more complicated than that.

Sheep in the Mist

It's a cool, misty morning on the farm.  I'm sewing in my favorite black watch plaid flannel granny gown with the white eyelet trim and matching navy blue crocs (for running out and checking on the critters).  The view out my window is the ultimate in bucolic setting - sheep gently grazing on the lush green hillside.  I hear myself going aaahhhhhh and I'm reminded why I'm working so hard.  The recent rains have turned my hillside into good grazing, unlike the hard, barren caked ground of a month ago.  Happy sheep - happy Maggie.  Notice the downhill slope of the land - although I have a lot of water on this land, I will never be flooded.  Hurricane Isaac is wreaking havoc on the gulf states, but not here, in the beautiful hills of upstate New York.  It was this time last year that Irene came this far north and we lost power for three days.  The steady rains caused the first leak in my barn that I've had in the five years I've been here.  I had pots in a line up and down the ridgepole, making music as the drops fell.  My freezer had a decent amount of pork products in it, but my generator was broken.  On the morning of day three I decided to haul all that meat into school to feed my students rather than have it go bad.  It took three trips from the parking lot to get it safely put away, and when I came home the power was back on.  That's okay - those kids loved the bacon and ribs.

Knitting on the Beach

I used to knit quite a bit - before I started raising my own yarn that is.  I took the opportunity to knit all day, between reading pages of the Sunday paper, on the sand at Spring Lake Beach.  The black adult mohair is difficult to see in normal lighting, but not in the glorious sunshine of the Jersey Shore.  Mia brought along a little light reading of her own, although she hardly sat down long enough to study, and I was always chewing her ear off.   I was so happy I didn't know what to do with myself.  This sock might have to wait until next summer to be finished.  That's okay - it's the quest, the journey, that counts, isn't it?

Little Friends

It was a bit of a shock coming back to the farm after my visit to Mia in upscale, classy Morristown, but here we are.  Many cliches apply - "it is what it is, gotta deal, get a grip," etc.   I'm taking it one day at a time.  My little friends always bring a smile to my face.  Sadie keeps me company while I sew, and the little Rambo lambs in the barn are always available for a hug.   I love to bury my nose into the warm lamb's wool and listen to their breath.  Mama wants to go out and graze, but I'm always worried about the babies getting trampled by the other big monster sheep.  Yes, it's happened.  Remember little Tank?   I'm always relieved when the lambs make it to adulthood.   The bucolic setting of the farm hides a dangerous world out there.

Back to the Farm

I traveled back from New Jersey, due north into the misty mountains, back to the farm.  I have a busy month ahead, with school starting next week and two shows this month.  I have to shear soon,  and get ready for winter.  Farm worries are always there - like a monkey on my back, scratching away, but I'll figure it all out.  If only I had found Julia Berger to bale hay for me a month earlier I would have a healthy second cut out there now.  As it is, I'll be lucky to get one this year.  The sun is waning and storms will be coming up the coast along with the rain and dampness.  I have three months of food in the barn, half of what I need.  I have plans to fence the flock in the back field so the second cut can grow but once school and shows start will I have the time to put in fence.  I'm working very hard on product and will have a healthy crop of new Bundaflicka totes to put out.  Quite a few are hanging from the rafters, but they need wood inserts, and I have to order snap frames. My signature woven labels are not here yet which means I have to sew them in by hand later - very time consuming.   I have to make a run today for dark brown thread for the four partially finished on the machine.  I won't diminish a lovely tote with off-color thread.  Everything is on sale now, but what teacher has any money after not working all summer?  I don't know very many who do.  I got one 26 pound Mother Fiber run out to the carding mill last week.  I still have some colorful runs to put out at Colorscape and the Fingerlakes Fiber Festival next month, but not enough for Rhinebeck.  I have to make creme and buy some more cups from Susann Farrington for my shaving mugs.  Then there is the firewood for winter issue to consider.  The list goes on and on.

Duty Calls

I loved watching Mia get ready for work at her new position as Nurse Practitioner with a surgical group.  She's worked SO hard for SO many years to achieve this goal.  I confess I was a little verklempt when I saw her put the lab coat on.  It was so hard to leave, but I'm so thankful we had a blissful two nights and one day together.  I hate being four hours away from her, but I'll be back to see her soon.  Mia will be moving into her cute little third floor walk-up (oy!) apartment in Madison in September.  I'm bringing her some antiques to furnish her new apartment in "shabby chic."

Time to Go

It was tough to leave the beach,  but reality bites.  Mia had to be up early to work the next day and I had to get back to the farm.  Matt was taking care of everybody, working on cars and whacking down thistles with the tractor.  We feared the Garden State Parkway would be murder, but we breezed back to Morristown with no problem.  We stopped at Kings, the upscale market I shopped at for years and years,and marveled at the $300 wheels of Jarlsberg and all the imported cheeses.  Mia bought me some British ginger/mango cheese along with a rotisserie chicken and spring greens.  We went back to Kim's apartment and ate dinner, happy to leave the salt water and a little sand on our skin until morning.

Water Baby

Mia loves swimming in the ocean.  She says I taught her how to dive under the breakers to avoid getting pummeled into the sand.  Mia is training for the Liberty State Park marathon in September and ran up and down the road in front of the beach, when she wasn't swimming.  Truth be told I was so content with my Sunday Times and the utterly wild and beautiful ocean setting I hardly wanted to move.   We slathered ourselves with sunscreen, as we are natural blondes, and let the vitamin D soak in.   It was such a perfect day I'm wondering if it really happened.  Driving back to the farm was so surreal.  I don't spend enough time at the beach.

Spring Lake Beach

I always took my kids to Seaside Heights, Island State Park, and later, when AJ and Mia were growing up, to Point Pleasant Beach on the Jersey Shore.  Point Pleasant Beach has a cute little train going up and down in the sand, henceforth it was called the Train Beach.  Mia took me to another beach that she frequents, Spring Lake Beach.  I loved it. There are no amusements,  only beautiful coast line dotted with rock jetties.  The weather was absolutely perfect - breezy and sunny, not very hot.  If I wrote a recipe for the day it could not have been nicer.  Mia insisted on taking me to a boutique and buying me a classy bathing suit.  We picked up the Sunday Times and headed for the perfect spot near the water. 

Mother Daughter Visit

On Saturday morning I dashed away to visit Mia in Morristown.   The weather was beautiful for driving.  When going through Mt. Upton I spied a hay wagon in front of a barn.  It had some very green second cut hay piled high with a sign that said For Sale.  Thinking I would bring home a tasty bale for Miss Mamie and the twins (always thinking about feeding sheep) I pulled over.  The farmer's wife came out and helped me squeeze two bales into the trunk of Matt's little Saturn.  I motored on and met Mia in a coffee shop on South Street.  Morristown is replete with little coffee and ice cream shops, with puffy sofas and chairs to linger and read, or do some people watching.  We moved to two or three of them while chatting about this and that and basically catching up.  We ate sushi at my favorite restaurant, Nagano, which is still in the same walk up space just off the town square.  Kim Leinker, Mia's ER nurse friend, graciously offered to put us up in her cozy apartment right in town.  Up early Sunday morning to hit the Garden State Parkway and head "down the shore."  I was so hoping to spend at least one day on the beach this summer, tough to do when one lives inland and is tied to the farm. 

Oh, Dear

I wrote a long, newsy post and it failed to save or publish.  Very scary.  Are there sunspots afoot today, wreaking havoc in cyber space?    This diary, which recorded six years of my life, could be wiped out by one solar incident, or a drone hit on Google.  Have to get this baby printed one of these days...Mia says when I die, which could be sooner or later, there are ridiculously young deaths and incredibly long lives in my collective DNA, she is going to sell my blog to a publisher.  Good luck.  I wish I could write everything I would like to say, but my grandchildren can read now and I have to be careful.   OK, to recap....on deck for today.  Wash a mountain of dishes left to build up while I sewed the lovely Bundaflicka totes, all seven of them, that I sewed over the last three days.  It's been a marathon at the cutting table and the machine and it's been so much fun. Colorscape is looming large...I want to paint rolling hills dotted with sheep on my pop up tent.  Prizes are given out for artistically designed booths at Colorscape and I at least want to put in a good showing.  I don't know anything about painting and would love to learn.  When Luke, Hannah and I painted the Maggie's Farm sign last summer that was a big deal for me.  Lambs, Rudolpho and Marcello, are doing well.  R. doesn't want his bottle anymore.  Good news.  Will still watch him carefully.  I've had lambs from older moms drop dead on me before - heartbreaking.  I'm designing a stand-up knitting needle storage bag.  We'll see how that goes.  The flies are so bad I'm filling up sticky strips right and left.  Reba doesn't help any when she goes into an anxiety fit and pushes the screen out.  I went to the PO yesterday and forgot to shut the sliding window.  Got home and there she was, frantic in the driveway waiting for me.  Poor thing - she was dropped off next to a trailer in the neighbor's field and abandoned, pregnant and alone.  I keep telling her she has a home for life here, and talk to her, rubbing her ears, and stroking her, but she's still anxious.  If I didn't hate drugs so much I would ask the vet for some doggie happy pills for her. 

Totes

I had a whole day to sew, what heaven.  Of course, it rarely results in sewing all day, with taking care of animals, bottle feeding little Rodolpho, pulling weeds, doing laundry, etc.  I still managed to get two totes done with some others cut out for future sewing.  The weather is lovely today, with low humidity.  I got another pot of fiber out to dry.  I'll shortly have a run to get out to the carding mill.  Tomorrow is garbage day and I'm determined to have my dumpster full before they come.  I'm going through some stuff in the tractor shed that has to go.  The space is enormous and could be used for other things.  It pulls at my heartstrings to see the all the baby things I've pulled around all these years.  So much water under the bridge.  In the meantime, I've got these lovely totes to carry around all the baggage.