My first attempt at making a beret. Or a hat of any kind actually, using wet felting methods. This is 100% alpaca, from Peach Boy.
A friend issued the challenge. Or maybe I just took it as a challenge, anyway this is what I came up with. Now he won't freeze his head off when he's carving. Speaking of which, go see some of his work. This one shows some of his stone carving, and this some of his mosaic work. Gorgeous, yes?
Big Daddy says,"Wake up! The roofer is coming!"
Yep, new roof going on the house starting today. Can I afford it? No, but I also can't afford to not do it.
Luckily, my roofer is flexible with the payment terms, and is willing to barter. His wife will be getting a new shawl, and fresh eggs, and a lot of nice compost for their garden. I'll also take care of their dogs when they go on vacation.
Edited to Add: Woohoo! In tearing off the old roof, the roofer found out that only one section of the roof did not have sheathing. So most of that pile on the right can go back, and the labor time also went down significantly. Yeehaw! Maybe I will get it paid off in this lifetime! Everybody do the peasant dance of joy!
It is an absolutely glorious day here, and Mom and I were outside enjoying it. I was getting my hands dirty in the garden, and Mom was walking about.
The chickens started doing their alarm call, and were eyeing the sky. I looked up, and in the distance saw five big birds chasing a hawk. It isn't unusual to see crows or black birds hazing a hawk, but these were birds were big! And white, with black on their wings. What??? I ran inside to get the camera, and by the time I got back outside, the hawk was gone, but the big birds were right overhead.
Pelicans! How cool is that? I've never seen pelicans here before.
I imagine they were just passing through, but I'm glad (and so are the chickens) that they chased the hawk off for me.
Thanks, pelicans! Come back any time.
I signed up for an art show in my hometown in mid-June. I've been a little busy, trying to build up an inventory.
A few of the checkbook covers I've finished:
I've also done some spinning, but can't show that until the recipient gets it. Can't spoil the surprise now, can I?
I also made a prototype for a notepad cover.
It holds a little 3 by 5 notepad and pen. This one closes with a length of yarn wrapped around a vintage shell button.
I am also going to make a larger version big enough to hold a 4 by 6 wire-bound (on the top) notebook.
Preliminary preparations are being made for the Great Raccoon War of 08. My roofer has a young Redbone coonhound, as yet untrained. He (the roofer) brought Gunnar out yesterday to do some recon, but all young Gunnar was interested in was the llamas. He ventured into the pasture when we weren't looking. He thought he was going to scare them, but instead he came running out of the pasture, tail tucked as far under as it could go, long ears flapping in wind, and the whole herd hot on his heels. (Sorry for that unintended alliteration!) Wish I had a video of that!
Have I mentioned that Mom loves looking at pictures of food? Well, she does. I bought her several cookbooks with lots of photographs, and food magazines. If there is something looking particularly appetizing to her, (chocolate and desserts are her favorites) she will tear it out of whatever magazine or cookbook to carry it around in her pocket to look at occasionally.
Or maybe she'll build a little shrine.
Empty soap container to hold the picture up, and a short row of carefully arranged pretzels.
I swear I feed her! Including chocolate and desserts!
Some may be on a quest to find the world's perfect chicken salad, while others are ready to embark on a cross-country tour to find the country's perfect burger. Me, I'm trying to duplicate the French Meadow Bakery's rhubarb bar.
Now, I've never tried just asking them for the recipe. (I wonder if that would work?) I just remember it as the perfect blend of sweet and tart and messy sticky goodness all wrapped up in a bar. I used to get them at their stand at the Mpls farmer's market on Lyndale under I-35. Cars whizzing by over head, the smell of polish sausage being grilled with peppers and onions in the air, the sound of Peruvian music from the band in the corner. Can you tell I miss the farmer's market?
Anyway, so the rhubarb is ready. I harvested a few stalks this morning, and set about on my quest.
I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe for the crust and topping, doubling it because I don't have a pan that size (8 by 8). I also used less butter than called for.
For the rhubarb filling, I chopped up the rhubarb above, and came out with about 4 cups. Put that in a saucepan with about 1 1/2 cups of sugar, about a tablespoon (maybe more? I didn't actually measure) of cornstarch, and just a little glug of water to get it going. I boiled that until it was thick (10-15 minutes?), then let it cool. Here you can see the pan on the stove, and in the meantime I mixed the other ingredients for the crust and topping.
As an aside, see that box of salt? It was purchased with the intention of using it to dye fiber using Wilton's cake decorating dyes. It hasn't made it to the dye pot.
Then I just assembled according to PW's intructions, baked it for 35 to 40 minutes, and came up with this.
It's close. Damn close. Maybe their version uses a different crust on the bottom, more like a pie crust? It's been 8 years since I had one, so I don't know exactly.
If I were a proper food stylist, I would have wiped the crumbs from the plate before taking the photo. Real life has crumbs.
The orioles have arrived back and discovered the feeder I have out for them. The one on the pole I fill with nectar made from concentrate bought at the store.
I also put out some grape jelly on a yogurt cover. This happens to be jelly made from my vines. The orioles around here might be a little spoiled.
When I was taking these photos today I counted at least five flitting about. These are taken from inside the house, through the patio door. As I was standing there, one flew to the bush right next to the house and the door.
I think he was trying to do the oriole mind meld. You must bring fresh nectar. Fill the feeder with fresh nectar!
