"Potential "Chicken Ranchers"...!"

Barb and Geoff came over last Saturday to check out our chicken coop. They are contemplating having a small flock (Madisonians can have 4 hens in the city) at their house. They also took a look at our greenhouse. I suggested they get a greenhouse and use it for dual purposes, growing plants AND housing chickens. I don't think that idea flew too far. :)


Barb also has a blog (http://barbathome.blogspot.com/) that you might want to check out. Notice the camera in her hand? She, too, practically goes no where without it, the same as Don and I, for we NEED photos for our blogs!!!! LOL


Taking a photo of the interior.......


Who knows what I was saying......although, I'm sure it had something to do with the chickens or their coop... :)


We were fortunate that they had time to "hang out" for a time with me on the deck, while Don was working on the bikes. I'd saved up another batch of magazines for them....Mother Earth news, Countryside, Backyard Poultry, and a greenhouse catalog for them to peruse.

"Later on Saturday......"

After coming home from going out to breakfast and furniture shopping with Penny and Sheila, we started "chores". My immediate one, was to try out my new Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer, using it to mix and knead our first loaf of bread. It turned out fine, "after a fashion", but the initial experiment wasn't done under "normal" conditions. It was mixed and then put into the oven for it to rise, where it sat, not thought of until much later. So....FINALLY remembering it and finding it risen past it's prime, I added more yeast, sugar, and flour, letting it again rise in the oven, which it did beautifully. Thankfully, the loaf was saved and I have since used the mixer to make 2 more loaves, 1 plain white bread, which turned out very well, and the 2nd, a cinnamon raisin loaf, that will need more experimentation for it to meet my expectations. :) The mixer is a beauty, isn't it?


I read a blog called Panopticon (the-panopticon.blogspot.com). While reading it one morning, I saw that it had a store attached. Upon further searching, I found this tee shirt, "The Fibertarian", thought it was perfect for me, and ordered it. :)

The day was so beautiful, that we ended up outside most of the day. Copper was enjoying the deck with me.......


Rob came over and sat for a bit as well......surprisingly, in LONG pants and SHOES, instead of shorts and sandals!!!!


Here I am taking advantage of the weather to knit outside. This would be one of the reasons the bread was forgotten......


Don was very busy getting our bikes/trikes checked over. He also had bought a "fairing" for his 2 wheeled recumbent, which he installed that day as well. For those of you who are not current with our bikes/trikes, Don has 4 (2 regular/2 wheeled bikes, 1 recumbent/2 wheeled, and 1 recumbent trike), and I have 2 (1 regular/2 wheeled and 1 recumbent trike).


This day (with photos!) to be continued........

"Breakfast, Then Furniture Shopping..."

It seems that my birthday celebrating went on for a few days. :) Sheila and Penny took Don and I out for breakfast on Saturday morning, to a place called Manna's, on the east side of Madison. The food was delicious and the company divine! :)

Sheila with me.......


Don with Penny......


Afterwards, we went outdoor furniture shopping. Penny and Sheila want to find something to replace their futon they have on their screen porch. Don and I had seen this large, 2 person lounge at the True Value Hardware Store, so after we mentioned it, they wanted to see it. Here is Don demonstrating how comfortable it is..... :)


Discussion, discussion, discussion......


And here are Don and Penny trying out a couple of pieces at Home Depot. We stopped at a couple of places before going to home to the real world of weekend chores. :)

"My Birthday Dinner....."

We went to Pasqual's at Hilldale, their newest restaurant. We had only been to their place on Monroe (which is not far from us), and were pleasantly surprised to find they have actual table service rather than "order, take a number, and they'll bring it out to you". It wasn't our intention to go to Pasqual's, but the Flat Top Grill would've been an hour and a half wait for our group of 8. Since we had already parked the cars, we walked down to Pasqual's and were almost immediately seated....just the time it took to get drinks from the bar. :)

A group shot taken by our server: left to right.....Angela, Andy, Michael, Anna, Don, myself, Charlie, and Rob.


Rob was in a more talkative mood than usual. We all have agreed that Charlie was a saint that night........she took Rob in stride and let him talk, talk, talk. :) As you can see from the look of consternation on Don's face, Rob's conversation "might" have been a bit "out of the ordinary". Evidently, even more so than usual. :)


Michael and Anna....


Angela and Andy with Michael "acting up". :) That is "Ocean" (behind the red/black print) peaking through Angela's coat.


Andy disappeared a number of times and we found out later from Angela that one of those times he told our server it was my birthday celebration. Our server surprised me/us with this cake, and yes, the candle was lit.....but I take my wish making...... "seriously" :) Those from the neighborhood will understand the "seriously" pun......

"Pre-Birthday Dinner Decking......."

Don was going to take me out for my birthday dinner on Friday night because of attending Michelle's going away party on Thursday night. It had been a beautiful day so when arriving home from picking Don up from work, we had our daily afternoon coffee out on the deck. As many times when sitting out there, neighbors stop by to sit for a bit and catch up. Friday was no exception and coffee was soon replaced by bottles of beer. :)

With the setting of the sun, it started to become a little cooler but not enough to break up the gathering. Below in the photo from left to right are: Andy, Charlie (Lonnie was in New Mexico visiting his parents), Michael, and Krista, a newer neighbor from Michael and Anna's block.


Here is Krista being an "enabler" with Jillian, who absolutely LOVES beer! :) When we found out that Jillian loved beer, neighbors "used to" get in trouble with L&C, but as you can see, Charlie has become a little more "laid back' with it.....especially since she was the one who started "this episode" with the dregs in her bottle. :)


Oh my! A photo of Andy without his "flying finger"!


Rob, of course, in shorts! Tis the season!!


Anna in her newly knitted wrap of "Electric Blue". Finally.....something she knitted for herself. :) I am not one to talk, since it took me a couple of years before I made something for myself, as well. :)
After decking it for awhile longer, we then proceeded to go out to dinner....photo documentation will be in tomorrows blog entry.

"In Preparation for the Weaving Workshop...."

I am enrolled in a rug weaving workshop the end of this month. It is being hosted in a weaving studio down in Shopiere, WI, about a 45 minute drive from our house. The guest instructor is Jason Collingwood, of England, an internationally known rug weaver. His father, Peter, is also very well known, and has worked with the Harrisville Loom Co. for many years in designing their rug loom.

Juanita, who's studio we are using, has written and given a few suggestions about getting prepared for the workshop. One of those suggestions, was if using rug wool that is bought on cones, is to prepare it in a way as to allow the rug wool to "bloom". :)
The rug wool on the cone has been wound very tightly and she suggested that one unwind the wool from the cone and "skein" it into approximately 50 yard skeins, which are then submerged in warm water and allowed to drip dry, as seen in the photo below. I bought 4 colors and each one was skeined up, using my "umbrella swift", into 11, 50 yard skeins. It took a bit of time to do this, and after the skeins are completely dry, they then had to be wound up into balls, using my "ball winder". I only had enough room for 2 colors at a time on the drying rack, so this process took a few days to complete. Our house has been a sight to see, believe me.........


The following photos show the dried "blooming" rug wool. :) These skeins were then wound into balls. Each color has approximately 1/2 pound of yarn still on the cone, so I will take that along "just in case", leaving it in the car, unless needed. The 44 balls of "bloomed" yarn fill up an old picnic basket, so much of that will stay in the car until needed as well.



As you can see, the winding began on my birthday. :) (another pre-shower photo) :(

"A VERY Early Birthday Celebration!"

As some of you may know, yesterday was my birthday. Don surprised me with an EARLY..... VERY EARLY, candle lit cake, and informed me that I was to open my birthday presents from him BEFORE he went to work. :) His reasoning for this.....? We already had plans for after work to go to a going away party for a co-worker, and he didn't want that to "over shadow" my birthday. Is this man considerate or what? :) (except when it comes to taking photos of me.....it seems they are always taken "pre-shower"!) :)

While I was on the computer (as it is my normal practice to blog and email while he gets ready for work), he surprised me with walking into the sun room carrying this chocolate/raspberry cake with the candles lit. After my initial shock of the situation, I then made my wish, blew them out, and listened to his "plan" of the impending morning celebration. Was I going to argue against such a plan......NO! :)


This gift continues to give me pleasure year round. 3 years ago, Don gave me an iPod nano for my birthday, along with a years subscription to Audible.com. Thankfully, and with MUCH gratitude on my part, he has continued giving me a years subscription each subsequent birthday.


If this isn't a look of pure surprise on my part, I don't know what one would look like. I could not for the life of me, think of what could be in this long box! After seeing it, I do remember my "casual mentioning" (although heartily hoping!) of something he could get me for my birthday........it is an attachment for my Harrisville Floor Loom. He is very good about helping me wind each warp onto the warp beam while I hold the tension on the warp, but this "Tensioning Device", as it is so aptly named, attaches to the back beam of my loom and allows me to warp the loom by myself (giving Don a break), by creating tension on the warp for me as I wind it onto the warp beam. Have I ever seen one in use, you ask? Of course not! :( Thankfully there are directions for its use, BUT.....the clincher is that it is designed to be used for warping the loom "front to the back", which I have never done, nor seen done, but have only heard about. I was taught to warp the loom from "back to front". "This old dog is gonna have to learn a new trick". :)


A new Kitchen Aid Professional 600 Mixer!!!! I have looked at these every time we go into a kitchen store or department and semi-drool over them. Each time I walk away saying we do not have room for one in our kitchen. I guess that we'll be making room for it.....AND ALL OF THE ATTACHMENTS THAT I RECEIVED WITH IT!!!!! :) I received the Pasta Maker, the Ice Cream Maker, and the Attachment Pack, which includes a Slicer/Shredder, Food Grinder, and Pasta Making Plates (makes different pastas than the Pasta Maker). It will take a little creative organization to place everything "just right", but I am looking forward to the challenge. :)


A photo of my "haul". :) Don has laughingly said that his "Theme" for my birthday was...."Buy Michael a kitchen appliance that will allow him to make more creative delicious meals for ME!" I DO believe that he is telling the truth, too. :)