Wind in the Pines

It has been so windy for a few days now. No snow in the wind today but my goodness the damage it's done is amazing. The first thing I saw when I got off the bus in Ned was a poor VW bus whose roof had been blown off. It was really quite sad. Heavily-weighted mailboxes were down everywhere. The Pine trees are all being whipped into frenzies every which way as I right this blog. We are used to wind up here, but this is pretty impressive! I wish I had a web-cam to share it with y'all.
I have been happy lately. It's because I've returned to work at the iris farm and Spring is approaching. I finished another 16 blocks for the silk tie quilt. So that leaves me with 20 left, and I've even gotten up to Strip 5 on all 20 of them. One of the reasons I chose to back the ties with interfacing was so that I could chain piece them. It's worked out really well for me. I can just zip through them with ease, knowing the strips are stable and behaving themselves. I always knew silk was tricky fabric, but it is nothing compared to velvet. I did a crazy quilt for a client once and discovered just what a squirmy, runaway, do anything but what you want it to fabric.
Okay, that's for all now. Keep quilting, dreaming, creating, and loving!

Silk Tie Project Stage 2

This has been a wondrously productive week for me. I have constructed 48 of the 100 blocks for the silk tie quilt. They are coming out absolutely gorgeous, you just can't go wrong with rich silk fabrics. I have been using interfacing in order to make the ties behave better as I sew them. This is making such stable blocks, I love it. I also have my husband fusing the interfacing and cutting my strips for me. It just tickles me to have ready-to-use strips appear before me. I recommend this method of construction if you can talk anyone into it.
I have a recurring lesson in quilting. I never buy enough (of whatever) in the first place. I even try to do the math beforehand and always end up short. One time, I had to go back to the store 5 times for a mint green fabric. For this project, it is the interfacing that I didn't get enough of. I have made half of the blocks and used all the interfacing that I ordered. As soon as I saw that I would need more, I ordered again. I am now waiting a day or so and paying for more shipping costs. The time isn't so bad, I needed to do taxes anyway. But paying twice for shipping because I can't do math is pretty bad. This is a lesson in better business management that I must learn.
Now for some personal news sharing. I went back to work at the iris farm this week. I only worked one day, which is good for breaking back in the body that didn't do 'physical' this winter. My soul sang with happiness to be in the sunshine and digging in the dirt. Do others feel the call to dig in the spring? I can't be the only one. Spring is here officially on Sunday, but for me it has already sprung. I wish you all a happy spring and many creative adventures!

New Year Brings Renewed Adventures

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and have arrived in the New Year with as much enthusiasm as I have. Wow, it's been a regular roller coaster of life for us here. The snow and wind finally arrived and my world revolves around which wood stove is going at the moment. Quilts and new products are being created and shipped out. I'm working on getting my own website built for my long arm business. I do believe a website is necessary these days for exposure and an easy reference place for clients to visit. I'll let you all know when I'm up.
I am looking forward to spring already (of course). My mom in Washington just heard her first tree frog of the year the other night and all I heard was howling winds. Oh well, I love living here (especially in the glorious non-snow season). It is always hard for me to be frozen in January when I know springs thaw is just around the corner full of new life and new things to see. I look forward to the pretty purple violets on the snow laden ground-they bring such joy! I look forward to wanting to be outside again soaking up the Colorado sun, letting it warm my soul.
I'm also looking forward to creating a lot more quilts in the next few months. The only way to do that is to get quilting! So for now, everybody go do what you love most with the zest of new beginnings!
I thought I'd write a little more about violets. These are the most wonderful flowers that appear in the early spring as the snow gets lighter. That isn't until June around 9000' but look for them earlier elsewhere. One of the common names for Violets is 'Heartease'. This is because of its reputed herbal properties of bringing ease and lightness to the heart after the winter. I eat them every spring down at Long's Gardens. It does get harder to find ones that the 'resident deer' haven't done bad things too, but I search them out. They appear in Boulder in March-April so I can get them sooner than my mountain white variety. You can also make a wonderful Elixir by harvesting clean violets and adding them to honey. Let this set for a while and strain if desired. I usually just leave the flowers in. Eat by the spoonful or in teas to experience the spring joy that is the Violet! * Remember to harvest violets clean of known toxins. I am not claiming any doctoral advice here or anything. It is just something I do to bring in the spring.

For now, I must be happy and cozy with homemade bread and stew. However, I am curious what symbolizes spring for everyone else. I'd love it if you'd share with me what the thought of spring to come holds for you.

Happy Spring!!!!

April has begun with excitement and happiness. It is one of my favorite months, mainly because spring is really returning. There will still be snow at my house for months, but I have returned to work at my beloved iris farm down in Boulder. Digging in the dirt, being warmed by the sun, and catching up with friends is what spring is for me. Spring also brings some muscles that protest loudly when asked to work again. Well, if this happens to you, the best thing to relieve sore muscles is an Epsom salt soak.
I have spent some time this week planning and practicing long arm quilting. It really is completely different than sewing on a regular machine. The motion and control in a long arm set-up are incredible! It is so much fun, I begin to wonder if it's not bad for me. You know how fun habits turn out----Addictive!
For those keeping track of the wildlife at Mountainjoy, this weeks visitor was a red fox.
We cooked up a batch of black beans this week. I have always thought that we would need a pressure cooker to get most beans to cook at 9000' elevation. I'd also read that adding salt before beans are cooked would impede the softening. Well, I soaked the black beans over night. then we boiled them away all day with salt from the beginning. We discussed when to add the salt, and we needed it in there just to get water to boil hotter than 160 degrees. The beans were fully cooked and delicious. I guess I'll try pinto beans next.
Right now, there are a few holidays going on. As I celebrate all good things in life, I encourage other to do so as well. Rejoice in the life and love that surrounds us all.
Happy Easter, Happy Spring, & Yom Tov