Three States in One Day

Saturday, June 30th.  We left Iowa to put Eric on a plane to Germany, drove up to Milwaukee to watch a Brewers' game and then to Madison see friends on Sunday.

parking lot party

We hugged Eric goodbye and then headed north.  We got to Miller Park in time to catch the top of the 2nd inning.  It was interesting to be a game where I didn't have an emotional investment in the outcome.  It was fun to watch the Brewers hit 3 homeruns.  We got to see the sausage race in person.  What more could we want!  Oh, we didn't get to see the roof close.

And they're off!

Final score 10-2

At Miller Park

After the game we drove to Madison and a hotel.  Sunday morning we met our dear friends, Gil and Raylene Walker at the Mandrake Road church of Christ.  They were beginning a study of Isaiah in Sunday school which brought up many good questions.  I think I need to read that book again.  It was wonderful to be in worship with our friends again and singing acapella next to Raylene is a treat.  After church we went out for lunch and worked to catch up on 12 years of news and nostalgia.

At Gil and Raylene's

Relief!

Just a few pictures of Eric on the mound at one of the Washington Sophomore b-ball games this summer.

Stitch and Pitch Friday 22, 2012

I enjoyed another Stitch and Pitch night at the Kernals Friday night.  Unfortunately, they didn't have their best game but we had a great time spinning and spending time with friends.

Sara, Paula and I got to share about spinning yarn with several other fans from a couple very young knitters to an older man in a riding chair.

Duct Tape, Fiber and 5 Warped Ewes

It's been more than a week since we were in Estes Park and I'm finally writing about our trip.
JoAnne and I flew out of Cedar Rapids on Friday, June 8th and were up in Estes Park by 9PM.
 Saturday was our day for assembling the loom, warping it up, creating the Educational Board and doing some shopping!  As always there was a great selection of beautiful fibers, yarns and tools.  Sadly, we also had a good view of the fire which I believe is still burning as I write this so much later.

Forest fire from the Estes Park Fairgrounds

Rhonda and I warping the loom

Duct tape - what can't it do?

We've decided that we are the Murphy's law team.  Rhonda forgot the braces for the loom at home, but JoAnne got to the lumberyard and found some workable replacements.  We got everything finished in time to get some sleep before the big day with only one other major glitch.  We were teaching our new team member, Audrey, how to use the Clemes and Clemes drum carder when the drive band broke.  JoAnne went off in search of a replacement something (at 10PM in Estes Park - good luck).  While she was gone Rhonda had an epiphany.  She had watch Mythbuster's "Duct Tape Island" episode.  We twisted the tape, doubled it up and taped in the ends together.  The second band works as well as the original.  Thanks Adam and Jamie!

Bumble on sage

We had fun spinning and chatting with the onlookers, but Rhonda was not able to finish weaving the shawl in the allotted time, but it will be beautiful.  We chose a broken twill pattern with a couple of bands of Soumak tapestry and vertical bands of color by blending the white warp fleece with the black weft fleece.

Assembly line - from back: Audrey, Rhonda and JoAnne

Rhonda weaving - Sumac tapestry band

Catriona production spinning on Jensen wheel

 When the shawl is finished we are giving it to our former member Tamara (it would have been her year to get the shawl).  By the time we headed down to the airport to fly back home bright and early on Monday morning we were bushed.  Wake up call at 3:30AM and catch the shuttle to DIA at 4AM at the gate by 5AM and the plane was full to Minneapolis a short wait and then home to Cedar Rapids and a nap before going to a High School baseball double header.

Update to original post:  I heard from Rhonda last week and the shawl is finished.  I'll need to add a picture of said shawl, hopefully one with Tamara wearing it.

Glass Globes and Little Goats

I drove up to Rochester with a friend on Monday.  We enjoyed the art at the Mayo Clinic, found a bead shop, visited with angora goats and stopped by Seed Savers for some killer peppers.  Before returning to Cedar Rapids and attending friends' daughter's wedding.  It was beautiful and meaningful.

Chuhuly at Mayo - a little intimidating to stand under.

Stone bunny on the original Mayo Clinic building

Little kids at Austin's Mohair - not angoras, but cute!

Look at me!  These guys have the cutest faces and voices.

Mommy and baby

A little snack

Bragging on my friend

I have to brag on my friend JoAnne.  This is the mandolin she restored this spring.
She did a great job and I love the celtic knotwork stencils and it sounds great too.

Yeah JoAnne!

In the Garden

I've been working the garden a lot lately.  It's been a year and a half since I've really been able to work there and I have missed it and it looks like it.  How many yards of Creeping Charlie can one person pull up?  But what a blessing it has been to spend time with my flowers, especially my roses.  They have been amazing this year!

Prairie Rose - a Griffith Buck Rose

Morden Blush - Canadian I think

 

Gertrude Jekyll - A David Austin English Rose
So very fragrant!

 

I picked fresh strawberries yesterday too.  Yummy! Even when they are not fully ripe they are still so much sweeter and flavorful than store bought.