"A Successful First Try and Sunday's Ride...."

When invited to Lonnie and Charlie's for dinner, I asked what we could bring and was told, without hesitation I might add, homemade bread. This was my first attempt at making an "artisan" loaf, which I had been wanting to do. I'd gone to Bed, Bath, and Beyond that afternoon, to buy my yarn storage drawers, and fortunately saw (and bought) parchment paper while there. I used our "stone" with the parchment paper in between it and the dough and this is how it turned out. I was happy with the results and I think it was approved by everyone else, too, as there were only 2 small pieces left after dinner, which the kids ate the next morning (finishing up the honey butter I made to go with the bread). :)


Don and I went for a bike ride on Sunday. It was a gorgeous day and we were, by far, not the only ones out. :) This was taken at the top of the hill in Olin Park....you can see downtown Madison across the lake (with the Capitol Dome on the far left).


We rode over to Tinney Park and went out on the pier next to the locks. There were not too many boats out on the water that afternoon (there was a chilly wind off the water), although a number of sailboats could be seen. In warmer weather, the locks are usually very busy, but not one boat went through or even came close to it, while we there. A duck has made her nest in one of the tree planters (seen in the background on the right). We're not quite sure how she will get her babies out when the time comes. Hopefully, she will allow human help, traumatic as it will be for her and the ducklings.


As we rode along near Union Terrace, the large sailboats (which are usually seen moored out in the water) were being hoisted from their trailers, and lowered into Lake Mendota. We'd seen them sitting on the pier last week when we'd ridden by, but it was a surprise to me how they reached the water. We'd just missed seeing this one in the air, which is too bad...it would have been a great photograph.


We thought we'd get to see this one picked up and lowered into the water, but the "crew" had been so busy watching the other one being moved, they sat and watched instead of lifting the mast and securing it. The "effort" seemed a little unorganized, so we gave up and left soon after this was taken.


I was a beautiful day for a ride. I hope we have similar weather this weekend. Sean (my youngest son) and his girlfriend, Becky, are stopping in Madison tomorrow, on their way to San Fransisco, where they both have "chef internships" for the summer. Sean will be working at Rubicon's, and Becky, The Greens. They'll stay with us and leave early Monday morning, arriving Wednesday, at another relatives home, cousin Kim, who lives in Boulder, and will spend some time with her, before pushing on the San Fransisco.

"A Night Out...."

Lonnie and Charlie were kind enough to ask Don and I over to dinner last Saturday night. I know I need not say this, but will anyway.....the dinner was delicious and the company "divine". :)

Me, a comfortably resting Jillian, and Charlie......


Lonnie stirring up something in the kitchen......


Don helping to stir while Lonnie was down at the grill.....Charlie did take over soon after this photo was taken. We certainly wouldn't want him to become TOO comfortable in the kitchen, now would we? :)


Lonnie and Charlie had gone to a store that sells things from casks/barrels. They'd bought some Hazelnut Oil and some aged Balsamic Vinegar. I was having a taste test of the oil/vinegar combination. It was delicious...but when Don was given the same thing, it somehow hit him differently! He coughed and coughed, like it had gone down wrong! We still do not know what it was about it that caused him to do that. I doubt I'll be able to get him to go to this shop and try some of their stock.......but one never knows..... :)


Lonnie thought the dressing made from these ingredients was "good to the last drop". :)


We had a really nice time with Lonnie and Charlie. As I said earlier, the food was delicious (minus Don's unfortunate taste test), and the company "divine". :)

"Loom, Yarn, and MacBook Pro........."

Last week I spent quite a bit of time retro fitting my 36", four harness, Harrisville Floor Loom. This is what it used to look like.......

This what it looks like now, minus the new raddle that I improvised and built for it. The "C" clamps are holding my new Harrisville Tensioning Device, that Don gave me for my birthday. It will not stay on after I put a warp on, but I wanted to have everything on there so I would know how things fit together. I added the 2 canvas aprons (front and back), which are not standard on this loom, but I felt they would be a good addition for helping make the tension across the warp and front beams, a more consistent one. There are heavier steel rods in the hems of each apron, which are laced in conjunction with the one that will have the warp threads attached to it.

The directions for the using the tensioning device call for the warp to be put onto the loom from front to back. I was taught to put the warp on to the loom, back to front (there is no right or wrong way to do it). I "think" I have it figured out how to do it "my way". Today might be the day that I find out. :)


Our friend, Barb, who is also a weaver, and who loaned me the small travel loom for the workshop, has been cleaning out closets and her "yarn stash", MUCH to my benefit. So much so, that I had to go out and buy more storage units to help organize it all. I bought 2, 3 drawer units, which you can see are now located on top of my wardrobe. Functional, but not necessarily high on an interior designers list. The drawers are completely removable, and will be great for when I need to sort through the various yarns/colors. Barb was more than generous.....(I hope she continues to clean closets). :)


This is Don's new MacBook Pro......and his set up to "work". Pretty cushy, eh? :) It truly is nice that he can sit there, work, and be so comfortable. PLUS, by his working here, I have access to our desktop!!! :)

"More of that Sunday......"

The day began with my leaving for the weaving workshop. Our normal routine of coffee on the deck was enjoyed by Don only that day....with Copper for company, of course.


Later that day, Jim stopped by with his new little addition to his family. The new baby was a surprise to everyone. Maybe most of all, to them! :)


Jeanan had also come by and when asked about her new kitchen, offered to take us on a tour. What a difference compared to what it was before! We were even given a demonstration of the "disappearing" splash guard.


A rare photo of the 2 of us together. :)


Jeanan's backyard view from her window. The tree was just beginning it's spectacular display of blossoms.

"Finally....Don's Birthday Cake....."

I'm a "wee bit" behind in days.....I've had so many photos to go through and talk about, that I still am on "last" weekend!

This is what the patio heater looks like out on the deck, although this photo shows where it will be when we will not be using it. Certainly looks smaller than it did when it was in our sun room, eh? :) During its use, we have it stand in front of our chairs, but on this same level, as you will see in one of the lower photos.


Since I baked Don's cake on Thursday, and we didn't have the time to cut it on Friday, his birthday, then Saturday we didn't get to cutting it either, we figured we'd better cut it on Sunday, and luckily, Rob and Anna happened to be there to share the moment. Although, it "seems" SOMEONE wasn't paying any attention to the "event" at the time. Unfortunately, I think the cake was too dry after sitting so long, but it was eaten and enjoyed. I guess at these moments, it is the thought that counts.


The patio heater in its heating position. Notice the slight red glow emanating from the grill surround? We are very happy with how it works (AND feels!!!).


Our neighbors, Lonnie and Charlie, arrived home from a short family visit down in Iowa, and came over to say hi and have a piece of cake. Not sure what Charlie's little frown was about. Lonnie's smile might mean"I SEE CAKE!!!". :)


Lonnie is a "cake man". We even managed to get him to take a piece home with him. Charlie declined a piece, as a good "runner in training" should, since she left soon after this photo was taken to go for a run.


Another day in the neighborhood.......

Thanks to "Karen In The Woods".......

I hadn't planned on adding more about the weaving workshop, but received an email today from "Karen in the Woods", one of the students from the class. She is a production weaver, and from the sounds of it, has a very nice studio herself. Thank you to Karen for sending the link to her Picasa album site...... [Karen demonstrated knitting socks on her 1915 (?) sock machine....she does beautiful socks! She can have a pair done in about an hour!]

http://picasaweb.google.com/KarenInTheWoods1

and I've added her home web site, too.

http://kareninthewoods.com/default.aspx

This is Vavning Studio [http://www.vavningstudio.com/] where the workshop was held. The door in front, leads to the weaving studio. A very nice feature when you're carrying looms, benches, and weaving materials in and out. :)


Here is "The Group". :)


It's nice to have documentation that I was REALLY there. :) Here I am talking with Juanita, our hostess.


Jason demonstrating the "finishing" on a twining technique. He was showing us how to do it on my loom. I did a piece of twining between each pattern that I tried.


I'm pretty sure that this the last posting about the weaving workshop........but you "never" know...... :)

"Photos from the Weaving Workshop...."

This was the suggested set up for our loom. We'd been sent the threading sequence earlier, so had our looms ready to "finish" when we got back downstairs after the beginning lecture. In our threading, we'd left the 3 and 4 heddles empty, but next to "floating" threads, so either could be tied to the thread, for when we got to the "shaft switching" part of the workshop. We got there, but I didn't work on shaft switching.......I continued on where I had left off the day before. :) I felt I would be better off working in the sequence shown in the syllabus, and hopefully get those things done and understood.



One thing I should mention about weaving a rug......it requires a heavy and sturdy loom. My Harrisville Loom is not a rug loom. Yes, I have woven rugs on it, but I have not been able to "beat" them hard so they are not as firm as a well woven rug should be. My loom would have been shaken apart if I'd beaten the weft as hard as necessary for a good rug. That said, I still will be able to use some of these techniques learned from the workshop, especially the technique called "clasping", which I will hopefully be able to try out at some point for a present I have had in mind for Patrick and Julie. I can write this in here, because right now, neither of them have internet access at home. Patrick has email at work, but no internet access....... Julie has both at work, but as far as I know, never checks my blog (some silly rule about not surfing the net while at work). :)

Constant color (or colour in the UK), is one of the techniques from the workshop. I did not get to it. If I remember correctly, it allows the selvedge's to be picked up each time without a problem. I plan on working through my syllabus here at home, so I will hopefully, find out. :) This is Jason Collingwood, by the way.


Jason demonstrating something on Elin's loom with Michelle looking on. Elin is from McFarland and Michelle traveled from Iowa.


Jason demonstrating how to do a special braid at the end of "twining" on my loom.....


Jason demonstrating something on Michelle's loom. Michelle was a "speed weaver" and was able to try out everything(!) on the workshops syllabus.

This is all of the photos that I have from the workshop, although I plan on continuing weaving on my sampler at home, so hopefully, I will get some photos of that loom as I weave.....