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Archive for the ‘The Farm’ Category

A Bittersweet Day

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

I am still having fun playing with my new camera. Right now, it is kind of hit or miss. I get some really good photos and some not so good, and I don’t know what I have done differently!! This is a photo of one of the weeping willows on the golf course near us.

Today is bittersweet because it was a really gorgeous day and I enjoyed time with friends, but tonight, I found out that someone I care about is going through a rough time. I wish that I were closer  so I could be of more help. Her e-mail tonight brought me to tears.

This morning, Steph took some head shots of Terry and I for the Twelve X Twelve book. She hasn’t sent them to  me yet. I hope we got some that will work. Reva came by and we talked and shared some work and then went out to lunch. Here is Terry showing Reva her Doug Fir Quilt.

We took Terry out to lunch. I always enjoy time with my good friends and getting out of the house.

Mr C has been busy building me another raised bed. This one is up near the kitchen on the side of the garage and will be home to my herbs and maybe some tomatoes and rhubarb. Next, we have to get some soil delivered.

I took Scooter to the Rhodie Garden for his afternoon walk and, of course, took the new camera. Here are the good ones!

I have been having a little pain in my shoulder in the back. I thought it might be a pinched nerve. Tonight, I reached back into the corner of the kitchen counter to plug something in and ouch, it got really worse. I think I need to call the Dr. tomorrow and find out what is going on. I did manage to paint some silk tonight for the volcano piece. I couldn’t get the right colors with the Colorhue dyes. It is so much easier to get the right color when you are mixing paint.

Bouncing Back

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

metallicorganza

I am feeling so good today. I think the combination of a day and a half of clear liquids and  breathing pure oxygen yesterday has been very therapeutic. Lisa and I went to Fabric Depot to look for linen for a curtain for her bathroom. She did not find what she wanted, but I found this luscious metallic silk organza on sale. I love this stuff and haven’t worked with it in a while. Here is one way that  I use it which I learned in a workshop with Charlotte Yde.

cutwork

This is a close up from one of my art quilts. You can only use metallic silk organza for this kind of cut-work.

This morning I worked in the garden, pulling out the lettuce that has gone to seed and picked quite a crop of tomatoes.

todaystomatos

For dinner, we had fresh tomato sauce and whole wheat penne, sauteed Japanese eggplant and Walla Walla onions on arugula with Gorgonzola cheese. Yum!!

I set up a table for Lisa to work in my studio.

lisaatwork

The blur is Scooter chasing Wilfredo. He is obsessed with him. Poor Wilfredo is not very happy with all the attention.

Tonight, we are having a lovely, gentle and warm summer rain. I think the garden will be very happy. I know that I am!!

Catch-up Time

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

kingofthehill

Here is Scooter at the top of our garden stairs which we have finally finished landscaping. Here are some other views:

gardenstairs

gardenstairs2

staircloseup

My guys, Mark and Mr C, constructed the steps from blue stone slabs and pavers. When my friend Reva asked what held them together, Mark said, gravity and friction. I am still hoping for a hand rail as I am not getting any younger. Here is what the pavers look like:

paver

My tomatoes are coming along nicely:

ripetomato

moretomatoes

Remember the funny little bird? I found out that it is a baby green heron. They apparently nest in the maple trees on the edge of  Reed College across the street from the Rhodie Garden and the reservoir.

strangelittlebird

We are having a bit of a situation here. Mr C has what we hope is a minor medical situation. He had some tests last week and now we are spending the week-end wondering what the results will be. We had to cancel our trip to New York for the family reunions next week and so I will not be delivering the little girl quilt in person, but I am so happy that I have it almost finished.

I have had to do a lot of dog walking. This morning, Steph, Jack and M & M came over to spell me and took Scooter for a long walk around the Reed Canyon.

It is getting very hot so tonight, I picked up some take out and we ate on the deck. It was quite pleasant. I also grabbed a bouquet of Zinneas, one of my favorite flowers.

zinneas

Today, I tidied up the studio from the little girl quilt escapade. I found something that I purchased on a whim and had forgotten about. It is an all in one tool that has several little tools. I think it will be great for taking with me to retreats, etc.

allinonetool

One end has a needle threader, tweezers, safety pin and magnafier.

needlethreaderend

The other end has several different little tools such as a seam ripper.

multitoolend

The center has a measuring tape. I think this is made by Fiskers.

tapemeasure

Sorry for the blurry photos! OK, I think I am caught up with stuff. Hope you are having a nice week-end.

A Garden Tour

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

urbanfarmjuly

We have lived in our home in Portland for a little over 3 years. Last fall, my son designed triangular raised beds to fit into an odd shaped spot on the side of our house. This is my first Portand veggie garden. It is beginning to look like a jungle.

Here is some of the bounty that we are enjoying or will soon enjoy.

Yellow zucchini:

yellowzucchini

Broccoli:

broccoli

Tomatoes:

tomatoes

Bush beans:

bushbeans

Roma tomatoes:

romatomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes:

heirloomtomatoes

I have always loved hydrangeas, but never have had any in my garden until now. I have several bushes. This is the big mother of all hydrangeas. It is totally covered with lavender blossoms.

lavendarhydrangeas

This is our newest acquistion which we bought for the reddish hues in the leaves and it also has a slight pink hue in the blossom.

readleafhydrangea

Last year, I found this plant in the reduced for quick sale. I paid $5 for it. It is my favorite. It is on the patio outside my studio.

lacyhydrangea

This hot pink hydrangea was in the front yard. We transplanted it to the back of the house. It is finally taking off this year, but is still on the wimpy side.

hotpinkhydrangea

My friend, Karen Miller, did a blog post recently about hydrangeas in Japanese textile design. You can read it here.

I was going to start my passion piece for the 12 X 12 challenge, but I had to clean up the detritus from the aspens. Tomorrow, I will be finding passion in my studio.

Wandering in the Wilderness

Friday, June 12th, 2009

It has been so long since I have been in my studio that I wonder if I can remember how to do anything. My house is in dire need of a spring housecleaning. I really miss Maryama. I hate doing that dirty work. Having Scooter in and out has only added to the messiness. Here is the thing. I love a clean house; I just don’t want to do it. Anyway, I am spending way too much time diddling on the computer, playing games and reading QA and FB posts. I missed another show deadline that I was really hoping to make this year as the show is near my hometown back in NYS.

I need to get back on a schedule and get off the computer. I have used up all my excuses — new puppy, resting up from the conference, its raining, the sun is shining, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

OK that is off my chest.

Yesterday, I had M & M here because their Mom is in San Francisco doing a photo shoot for friend and hanging out with her sister. After breakfast, we took Scooter to the groomer’s for a summer hair cut. He is so cute. We can see his big brown eyes now. And a bonus, he does not slobber as much water and track in as much dirt and stuff.

icanseeicansee

scooterthebeautiful

Back at the house, Mia asked if she could use my sewing machine. Miles became very intriged by it. She very proudly showed him how it works and let him push the button to select the stitches.

mmhowwedoit

mmsew

They went home with their Dad last night and he took the day off to spend with them.

Mr C and Mark are making great progress on the steps to my garden.

gardenstepsprogress

gardenstepsprogress2

Today, I went to WW ( lost!) and then took the dogs for a long walk. It was a pretty nice day. Basically, I vegged out for the rest of the day. Well, I cleaned up from the mayhem of having two children around and took Scooter for a walk in the Rhodie Garden. I really have to shake this “being in limbo” attitude I have. Somebody light a fire under me!!