More on the Muster

I forgot to say, in my haste to post about the Muster, that a newsperson stopped and made inquiries about spinning wheels and got our names, both Ray and I when the muster was about to begin.

From the Jackson Citizen Patriot, Sunday, August 30, 2009: Quote "Just before the battle Tenna Sutfin of Lansing sat in the shade feeding thread into a spinning wheel. Sutfin was dressed in a long purple dress and he companion, Ray Croisant, wore plaid pants, a navy blue coat and a navy blue kepi-style hat.

The re-enactors greeted curious muster-goers , and Sutfin spouted knowledge about all things knitting from the Civil War era. "All it takes is just a smooth motion," she said as a spool of thread spun into a bobbin.

Not far behind Sutfin, women in hoop skirts and bonnets ordered roasted chicken from a stand alongside families in jeans ant t-shirts." Unquote.

No picture, but I am so excited about it that I can bearly contain myself.

This, after my spin group decides it's more convenient for them to meet on Monday afternoons than Monday evenings making it impossible for me to go. I am the only one of the group who isn't retired. So while they have fun Monday afternoons--I still have to work! So I reconnoitered my every two week doctor appointment to Monday at 11:15, and then I will just go home afterward, and have the rest of the day off so I can go. This works out a little better for me, as I won't feel like I'm abusing the privilege of having vacation days.

In the meanwhile, scared to death about my upcoming surgery. Scared to death about my interview tomorrow for a promotion--especially now that Granholm has approved Layoffs if the budget doesn't get done! It's just a "I have good news and I have bad news" sort of day. And it's Monday. Nuff said?

As Promised!

The day of reckoning! As promised, the Path of Flowers Stole Progress!

I had to take the picture on our bed so that the lace would show up. I REALLY need a white sheet. There is just so much cat and dog hair on the bed. So next time I knit on this, I'll have to pick off a bunch of hair, but--them's the breaks of having animals in the house.

Speaking of animals, I fed my snakes this morning and watered them. I think it's odd that the females pretty much stay where they're put, but all my males escaped. I wonder about that, and considered getting another male, but it would have to be big enough to breed right away, and those can be expensive...so perhaps not. Besides, my husband has finally come to an agreement with my snakes...you stay in your box, we get along just fine. Get out of your box and you're a dead snake. They seem to understand the idea.

Beyond the stole, I have also knit another dishcloth. Here's the August Mid Month Dishcloth for the Monthly Yahoo Dishcloth group:

I think everyone else did theirs in a rose color, well, I decided to do mine in pink, and since I was at Meijer's when I bought the yarn, I ended up with Sugar n Cream, instead of Peaches n Creme, and the cloth has a definite bias to it, that I don't usually get with Peaches n Creme, so I think from now on, I will only use Peaches n Creme for my dishcloths. I think the bias may be caused by the twist in the Sugar n Creme yarn.

Bad news, though. My Monday Night Spin Group has decided to move to afternoons, and since I work, I would have to take time off work in order to go. So I don't imagine that I will be able to go anytime--unless I just take a vacation day and go. I can't do that very often. It's depressing me, because I'm probably the most active member, and it's rare for me to miss a meeting! I'm going to miss it.

Here's the little bag I bought at the "Muster" yesterday. Drawstring bag, with a cotton lining, velvet and lace outside. I think it's beautiful, and it goes so well with my outfit. The other velvet bag was just the wrong shade of purple.

And the chatelaine--I have to buy the rest of the pieces for it. This is a pin for a seamstress--it has a thimble case (with thimble), a seam ripper, a magnifying glass, a thread cutter and a needle case. Unfortunately, the seam ripper isn't very sharp, so I will need to take it to the hardware store to have it sharpened. Otherwise, I'm good to go. I think that Hobby Lobby will carry the other items, but if I have trouble, I can always visit an antique store...

So now that morning has arrived to greet the day, I give you, one golden morning from my back door.

Ya'll have a beautiful and relaxing day!

Civil War Muster

Held today, August 29, 2009 in Jackson, Michigan.

What an event! There were LOTS of things to see and do--and a battle to watch--stores, beautiful women in beautiful, fashionable Civil War Era garb--looking like they just walked off the set of Gone With The Wind....

Rhett! Rhett! Whatever shall I do?????????

I took my wheel, and spun a couple bobbins of yarn, but didn't take enough bobbins to handle the amount of singles I'd done, and so the spinning went very fast, and I didn't get to spin long enough to do the demonstrating I had hoped.

I believe however, that there will be a write up in the Jackson paper about me, so I have to get hold of my mother in law and sister in law to get the local paper to see if I'm in there!!

I found some really cute things--bought a new velvet purse that goes better with my garb, and a chatelaine, along with a seam ripper (very dull) and a thimble case with a thimble. They are all made of brass, and quite lovely. Pictures tomorrow...along with the spinning and an update on the Path of Flowers Stole, which I didn't work a row today! Shame on me!

Ray snapped a picture of me, when I wasn't looking, and I'll have to get a copy from him and scan it, because he took it on a disposable camera. I thought he'd purchased a digital, but alas...and the pic I took of him, is on his Facebook page--Look up Ray Croisant!

I installed my printer drivers on his machine, and printed off a copy for him. He's happy.

Anyway, I uploaded pics of the battle to my Flickr account if anyone is interested in seeing them.

The trip there began with breakfast at McDonald's, where I found this man on his way to a car show. What a car he had! And he graciously took my picture with the car!

And I thought that this guy's shop had the right idea...

Maybe I should tell my hubby to lay off the liquor?

Ray in his "garb"

So now, when you get to the pic of my hubby's new car---

You can stop looking at pics, because that's the end of the pics for the muster. Sorry that they aren't in any particular order...perhaps I'll fix that tomorrow. In the meanwhile, enjoy! It was a great day with lots of shade, breeze and just the right amount of sun. It was great that I took along the Civil War Shawl, as it got many compliments, and it helped stave off the chilly breeze quite adequately!

I promise I'll get a pic of the Path of Flowers Stole tomorrow. I am tired now, and have to get myself to bed, and put extra covers on tonight, because I hear that it's supposed to get into the 30's!!! It's only August!

Kalamazoo Highland Games-August 2009

Well, it's been more than a week since I last wrote, and so much has happened! I don't know where to begin!

Well, I suppose I could begin with the Kalamazoo Highland Games. They were fun, as usual, albeit Rainy (off and on). I was continually hiding underneath a tent trying to keep my new wheel dry.

First, Ray and I stopped at the Highland Cattle Pen.

This is a genuine Highland Steer. They have longer hair than the American Bovines--and are quite relaxed--even with all these strangers milling about them!

After this, Ray and I sought out the Grand Rapids and District Pipe Band to say hello and catch up with their doings. It was a pleasant visit with old friends, yet there is an elephant in the room whenever I show up, and I've always wondered about it. It seems that they will all talk with Ray about what happened two years ago, but they will not discuss it with me--even though I have emailed their new pipe major, there has been no discussion. I am considering the matter closed.

From there, we wound back around to the vendor tents, and I found this sweater,

that I loved, and someday hope to make it. The cost was $150 clams...no way I'm going to afford that for a sweater. (Nevermind that the Civil War Shawl cost me about $100 in yarn alone!)

From there, and because my soap maker, Pat Merritt hadn't yet arrived, we strolled around to the Sheep Herding. Now, I love sheep herding--I love everything about it. And since I love my dog, Mandy, who is also a border collie, I do love to watch these dogs move ducks and sheep

around in a pen. It's really a sight to behold..so I snapped a couple of pics...

Then there was this little girl, and she got to pet one of the puppies...so cute!!

Finally, I set up my wheel, and started to spin, but wouldn't you know it? Just as Opening Ceremonies started, it began to sprinkle, so I had to put her away, while we watched the Massed Bands.

Look at the SKY. It's threatening to rain hard! What to do?

And the Kalamazoo Weaver's Guild came to the rescue! They had a nice tent, and offered me a spot toward the back, so that my brand new wheel and I didn't get drenched in the rain that came and came for most of the day thereafter!

Here was one of the prettier wheels

Lots of good conversation from that point on--fantastic jokes (not one can I repeat), some Meat Pies (standard Scottish Games fare) and music from the field--not just bagpiping, which is always quite fine, but also harps and hammer dulcimers and fiddles, singers and the like--all for our listening pleasure, and believe me, it was.

Then came kitchen piping. I was well into my bobbin of yarn, and decided to stop a while and knit some more on the Path of Flowers Stole, which is also coming along nicely--more in another post later, because at this very moment, Ray is sitting beside me waiting to go. I won't show you the picture of his scowling, having to wait!! LOL!

I didn't get pics of the kitchen piping because I was knitting, but I did get pics of the lineup for the Closing Ceremonies, which came at 5pm (funny how the day goes so quick when you're having a wonderful time -- despite the rain..). Here's closing ceremonies.

Pipers line up...

Drummers line up...

Pipers GO!




Drummers GO!



And then, we said our goodbyes to new friends and old, and began the trek back home...The sky was still threatening to break forth with new showers, but it didn't rain all the way home.



And...



You see that little tail there in the center of that big black cloud? Well, it gave me pause to worry, but it was nothing. We arrived at McDonald's in Galesburg about 5:15, and had a quick supper, then we headed home.

Boy were we tired!

The Weekend Passes much too Quickly!

I have pictures of all my exploits on my camera phone, but I haven't had the chance to download them. Hopefully, I'll get to them tonight before Spin Night happens--but that's pretty debatable, since I have to get some groceries and something quick for hubby to eat this evening, otherwise, he will be ornery when I get home.

I also have to check out my friend's computer, to see if I can determine why it died on him quite suddenly while he was creating an email. That one I might save for Tuesday night.

So much work. So little time.

There's not a lot of time to even do my blog, but I felt that I must send in something!

My ex husband was happily NOT at the Kalamazoo Festival. Instead, there was a snake and reptile show.

My goodness, he would have fit right in!

Anyway, I took my wheel with me, and set up down by the heavy athletics before it started to rain, and I had to put my gear in the car. That's when I found out that there were several other spinners and weavers under a tent about halfway across the field, so I moved my stuff there between sprinkles, and stayed dry the entire rest of the day. There is something, though, about groups of spinners--and being underneath cover--people walking by stop by with interest, but you really don't get to discuss as much because the people who are more to the front of the crowd get asked the myriad questions.

But it was FREEZING at the Highland Festival, and I really did NOT dress for it. I ended up having to buy a zippered sweater--which has "Scotland" in a celtic knot embroidered as an emblem on it in blue velour. Very warm. It better be. It cost me $30 more than I was planning to spend at the festival--and therefore couldn't get my soaps--so Ray bought them for me. I really do like the jacket, however, and since there's a bit of chill in the air this morning, I think I'll wear it to the office, and put on a lighter shirt below--sort of layer my clothing so that if it gets warm, I can peel off a layer.

Stopping now, as it's time to go, but there will be more with pictures, later. Tune in!

Modernistic! Simple and Quick!

Well, ya'll read about my dog getting sick all over the carpet when I got home, and what a mess!

So, I called up Modernistic Carpet Cleaners. They wanted to set me up for a cleaning on Saturday, but you know, I don't think I could have dealt with the smell in the heat for another minute! So I asked if there were ANY CHANCE that they could come RIGHT NOW, because

DOG POOP SMELLS TO HIGH HEAVEN IN A HOUSE THAT HAS NO AIR CONDITIONING!

To which she asked if it was okay if they came between 5 and 8pm, and I answered with a resounding "YES!" and a "SEND THEM OVER RIGHT AWAY!"

And so they came, and it turned out to be a single fellow named Jeremy, rather than two of them, and so I helped move things, which sort of helped with the cost, I think--because I was expecting the bill at the end to be quite high, but it was completely reasonable.

Now, my house smells like Orange Go Jo hand cleaner, very citrus-y. Not a dog poop smell anyplace, and I am VERY HAPPY AND SATISFIED. And, should I ever need them again, they are the folks I'll call.

I even had Jeremy do my husband's chair, which was in pretty sad shape, and needed a good going over.

Of course, you know, that when my husband got home (yes, he knew about the dog poop), he was a tech miffed about not being able to sit in his easy chair...so we are in the bedroom with the air conditioning, knitting and reading, until it's bedtime.

And the doggie?????? She's been relegated to outside for a while...though she just barked to be let in--she hasn't gone poo yet, and I'm a bit miffed with her over that. She needs to stop pooping in my house, or she's going to find herself at the pound!!!

That's sort of a threat, with nothing to back it up with--I do love my dog. I don't know why she sometimes gets the scoots. She doesn't eat table food, she eats regularly and normally has nice firm bowels, and is able to maintain for hours. I am not sure WHY she gets so sick suddenly and without warning, and then it's loose stool and ALL OVER THE PLACE IN LIKE, 41 DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT ARE TOO FAR APART TO USE THE SPOT BOT!!!

As you can see, it really ticks me off, bad!

I could have taken a before and after, but didn't think you'd appreciate it. Just know that it was like looking at piles of dark, wet algae--all over my living room rug...my brand new, oak leaf berber carpeting. Hubby has been furious when she's gone on the rug in the past, and I knew that this time, would be a real barn burner--because it was just too much for me to handle!

And so, the call to the carpet cleaner, which was really long overdue.

And now, the carpet is quietly drying in the night, while we sleep. And the doggie will spend the night in the bathroom, where there is no carpet to clean.

But Jeremy rescued me. He did a great job. I can see the pattern in the carpet again, and the cat hair will vacuum back up in no time. I'm very happy...so I wrote about it here.

Oh, and Jeremy told me that he's a minister at a small church right there in town where I live--fancy that?

Finally Friday!

And it's a good thing too!
Wait, it's only Thursday?
Well, it's Friday for me, people, because I have a furlow day tomorrow, and I get to stay home!

Can you hear the party from here?
I knew you could!

Anyway, I get home early due to a doctor appointment, and find that my dog has been sick all over the floor again.

This is not fun.
Nor is it funny.

I'm going to start feeding the dog cheese curds. This is getting pretty nasty.

But this time, instead of using the spot bot, I opted to get the rug professionally cleaned. It's more expensive, but it's a better cleaning, and I'm thinking that this time, the floor just plain old needs it.

So I asked if they can come tonight, and sure enough, they can. I hope they get here soon, I can't stand the smell!

And my dog? She's hiding in the doghouse. Literally.