Deb on the Web

Pooped!

This has been a long week.  We are trying hard to get the torn up restaurant back together, but it is pretty obvious that we won't be opening tomorrow night.  There is fresh paint on the walls and new latches on some of the cabinets, but a lot of dusting and some more kitchen cleaning will take place in the morning.
I rushed out this evening so that I could get up to make sure the goats, chickens and bunnies were fed.  But they had all been well taken care of by my MIL today.  I forgot that she is back from the beach and on the job.  I was worried when the goats didn't seem that hungry. ha
Posts with pics will return to this blog.  We have a new Gino's baby and of course it is another boy:)  Have I mentioned that while working for me people only have boys?  Eight in fact!  I love all the boys to knit for, but come on folks I like to knit for girls too;)  Now that I think of it the last girl to be born while the parent was in my employ was my niece Micola (she is 17 now).

Fun and cool in the knitting world

A new ezine! This is a different style mag.  I'm looking forward to really checking it out.
Did you hear about this contest?  Anyone entering?
Check out Violet's new project--I got mine!

Now in my world--the boy has sadly returned home.  Not a long enough trip, but a fun one:)
Next time we gotta get the whole family over!  (okay Cyndi?)

I am getting weeding done today now that it is getting sunny (always happens the second guests leave town).  We are bonding with goats and bunnies.  Oh have I mentioned that my darling Isabelle is actually a guy named Izzy!?!  The siblings have been separated and we are hoping for the best in the incest area.  Amazing how much happier they are apart. 

Knitting on Lizard Ridge, a baby blanket, the mini sweater from Duet and a pair of socks (two on two needles).
Spinning on the wheel is the multi-colored merino/silk/ angora blend and on the spindle is a black and white Jacob fleece.
Reading Vogue Knitting magazine (this new one is a great issue), Shear Spirit, Barnyard in the Backyard, The Last Empress.
Listening to lots of podcasts including this (new to me) one.

Starting tonight Gino's is getting a face lift.  We will be closed for 3 days to do some serious cleaning and painting.  A new stove too!!

The boy

I had fun pics yesterday but no internet.  Always something...
You don't often see someone this happy to mow the lawn and the serious one hey, how did those goats sneak in there;)  The boy at work
Knitting and fiber next week;)

The raccoon blues

We lost a chicken to a raccoon a month ago.  So we hatched a plan to catch this raccoon family in cat traps and take them up to the National forest (a couple miles away) and let them go.  We started this a month ago.  We are still at it!  We have an army of raccoons!!  Unfortunately, last night a family of fie wandered up on our porch and 3 of the babies are now in the trap with mom and the other babe on an all night watch.  We don't know what to do with these guys.  We wish we could get mom to hop in the truck so we could take them all to safety, but I doubt she will be cooperating.  We are such softies--breakfast has been served to the prisoners while we decide.  They are pretty cute you know.

For the next seven days we have our godson staying with us.  He is 12 and this is usually a yearly event.  We had to take last year off we were just so tired from working.  So this will be the last blogging day.  My hope is to post a photo a day that shows a bit of our week for mom:)

From lumch

Posting from a terrific lunch on a 3g. I want one!

What a weekend

I am posting this without photos as they are just taking too long.  I'll add them when I head into town later today.
It was a fabulous mail week-end.  So how is that for a tease.  I have lots to show from Woolgirl (Spin Club), Loopy Ewe (Malabrigo worsted) and A Swell Yarn Shop (the beginning of my Lucky Lurkers project).  I also would love to show you the current progress of my spinning of the Dicendra roving for the Tour de Fleece.  A fun project.  I have decided to Navajo ply this and knit Cindy's beautiful scarf pattern.  I am hoping the stripey-ness doesn't cove up the pattern too much.
In the animal department we are having to put back the Pygora pickup for a week due to a funeral that Darlene is helping with.  Even if I'm disappointed we totally understand how these things go.  Our godson will be spending next week visiting here so he gets to have quite a farm adventure!  As if the Skateboard park in HoodRiver wouldn't be enough.

Saturday was such a food day.  I started the day early so I could get to the Farmer's Market as it was opening.  I was hoping to beat the crowds.  No chance at this point in the year though.  Even though it was packed I managed to get the berries, corn, peppers and tomatoes I was looking for.  A small batch of canning has already started up here at "The Cedars".
As I headed in to work I had lots of food ideas running through my head.  A slow braised pork sauce for pasta, rabbit (not ours) in pepperonata and a great antipasti plate that included a great veggie tart filled with chickpeas, Cardoncello mushrooms and chive marscapone.
After work I tossed a couple of produce bags in the car (all the scraps that get added to my compost at home) and headed over to the grocery.  I am able to get all the produce at the farmers market, but there are still things like popcorn and coffee I need from the store.  I loved opening up the back of my car at home and seeing all the bounty (even the scraps) that were from pretty darn close to home.
Local is the important thing these days!  Organic yes, but local is becoming so much more important.  Reasons?
Support your local community
Eating fresh foods is healthier
Carbon Footprint
Knowing how your food was raised will cut down on deadly bugs ending up in your food
I'm not saying that I wouldn't jump at organic foods at every chance, but if I know the farmer is working his property in a natural way, but doesn't want to pay the price to be certified I am going to support him 100%!
Okay, climbing down from the soap box.

(husband was just heard to say--you are a dead fly walking)  I end with that...

So many title choices for one post...

We could have "Family picnic" or "A day for Dad" or "Dinner for 20" or "Bunnies for All" or all kinds of craft related titles.  However, I think this is just going to be a big photo post about the weekend and all craft related goodies will be in a second post today.

My two favorite aunties and cousin Pam.  Her mom turned 80! on the 4th:)  Other photos from our annual Kilmer family picnic--
While the evening of the Fourth was very mellow (too cloudy to go find fireworks) we had a big Birthday bash for my dad up here yesterday that is me, sis, dad (obviously) sis in-law, sil's friend who is escaping 118 degrees in Palm Springs this weekend.  Dad does love to be surrounded by the ladies;)  Even the bunnies got in on the action Oh my did the dog love playing with the bunnies!  Here are a few more bunny pics Oh yea, there were people too, but I love the bunnies:) My sis and her brood.  Plus one exchange student (on the end) for the next 3 months.  Just a couple more This was Charlie's (the dog) favorite moment of the day.  DJ for the day.  Wii was played (umm, even sideways).  And then the camera battery ran out...
It was a great dinner of chicken and lasagna for 20.  A record for this little cottage.  Thank goodness for cardtables and dishware left by previous tennets:)

Later on (or tomorrow) a post about the Summer knit/spin projects.  Pictures even!

Happy Fourth!!

I started a post several times yesterday, but was distracted by taking pictures of projects and plants, grocery shopping and house cleaning.  My dad is here for his birthday weekend and he does like a house just so.  Well, I've passed the test--I think he was actually too busy looking at how tall the trees are on the property.
We had a great family picnic earlier celebrating my Aunt Helen's 80th birthday!  Pics will show up on this post after the guest leave Sunday.
Tomorrow is another picnic--this one here at the house.  So I hope everyone is having a safe and sunny holiday! 
Today I'm thinking of our freedoms-to vote for who we want, blog what we want, and celebrate the many different religons of this country.  Listening to the news today reminded me of all of this.

I saw a bean grow!

Honest!  I was looking at the garden this morning and I saw one of the plants give a little shake.

One of my hens crowed this morning.  hmmmmm

I like this new garden site a lot--Folia  if you are on there let me know.

Okay, back to unpacking boxes of books.  Trying to get organized by the weekend.  My dad is arriving for a birthday bbq.  His sis is a 4th of July baby (cousin Pam's mom) and both my dad and his twin are on the 5th.

Making the last strawberry crisp of the season tonight. 

Family time

Let's see if loading photos is going to work today--First we have the hilarity of the  birthday hat This is my creative SIL Carrol (the lovely french girl).  Because she can really pull these things off we have these photos He actually wore it for about 15 minutes.  Here are some more Father's Day photos There were more pics and a couple more relatives, but you get the idea that we had a lovely time out in the sun (that is saying a lot for Oregon this year).
On Tuesday we had more visitors--my sis came up with her daughter and step-daughter.  My two nieces each grabbed a rabbit and puttered around the property all day At some point the camera got into other hands.  I loved finding these photos from that afternoon   Hoping for more of the same all Summer!

Solstice is on Saturday (I thought Sunday, oops) so I'm pretty excited that I already have Solstice type plans--old crafts.  Yep, the Black Sheep Gathering!  I'll be spinning, buying Angora rabbits, looking for the great soap maker that is usually there and hopefully soaking up the sun on this longest day of the year:)  What about all of you?  Any Solstice plans?  Going to BSG?