First, here are a couple of sunsets from my patio:
I wish I would have taken an "After" photo of this one. The clouds were lit up for about 15 minutes and then all of a sudden it was like somebody shut the lights off and the clouds were all dark.
Well, August was a busy month for me. I did manage to take almost an entire week off work to attend a spinning workshop in Mt. Hood. I was looking so forward to it, partly because my friend Patty of Spor Farm (Shetland sheep) invited me to stay at her house in The Dalles where it is always hot in the summer and she has a pool. Well, it pretty much rained until the day before I left and by then the pool had cooled down.I did get to have dinner with two of my brothers, Harley and John, before going out to Patty's. It was nice to see them.
Even though the swimming suit didn't get any use, I enjoyed myself at Patty's. She has the cutest little Shetland sheep, three llamas, two alpacas, two dogs, and lots of quail on her property. The day before I left Patty woke me up a little early so I could see and hear the elk. What a treat that was. This is the view from Patty's patio:
There is an orchard beyond the pool and back pasture, and then there is a creek between the orchard and the hills. The elk were down low on the hills. That evening after the workshop we watched the elk through binoculars for well over an hour. Patty estimated that there were 50-60 head.
There is an orchard beyond the pool and back pasture, and then there is a creek between the orchard and the hills. The elk were down low on the hills. That evening after the workshop we watched the elk through binoculars for well over an hour. Patty estimated that there were 50-60 head.The workshop we took was with Judith McKenzie; she is an amazing teacher and fascinating woman. I've been spinning for almost 20 years and I couldn't believe how much I learned in those four days with her; I didn't want it to end. I would say that she kicked up my spinning more than just a notch. For my spinning friends who read this, a workshop with Judith is a must! We learned the limits of our wheels and how to make our wheels work for us. I know my wheel had never had so many adjustments; I even used it's scotch tension for the first time and loved it. We made marled yarn, boucles, beaded yarn, fat yarn, thin yarn, worsted yarn, woolen yarn, frosted yarn, snub yarn; it was so much fun. I learned that most of what I knew was either wrong or only partly right; and she took the time to show us why on almost everything. It was one amazement after another for me. I can't wait to take another class with her.
Patty was kind enough to let me stay one more night so I could stop and visit with Harley and Nancy before heading home the next day. They took me to Nancy's store in downtown The Dalles, called Jitterbug. It is a cute little clothing store for women and children with a bridal shop section about to be open.
Now I've been home for a little over a week and don't feel like I've made any progress catching up. This three day weekend was full of activities. Saturday we went to the first Duck game of the year. We rode over in my in-laws' motor home. On the way we had to wait and watch a fight in the middle of an intersection. This big guy (about 6'4", 220#, about 40 yrs old) got mad when other cars wouldn't let him in the lane going to the parking so he pulls a cane with a metal head on it out of his car walks over where the the men start getting out of their cars because they know the guy is going to beat on their cars, and the guy starts swinging the cane as hard as he can at these guys' heads. Other men in nearby cars get out to help. One on them finally gets the cane away from him and he's still fighting as they try to take him to the ground and one the men whacked him in the head with the cane. They finally got him on the ground and he still tries kicking them in their crotches. Five or six men held him down while waiting for the police. An older couple were in his car that was blocking our lane of traffic and they finally moved the car out of the way. When we drove by we could see the pool of blood getting larger and larger under the guy's face. It was unbelievable, especially when you know that this happened around 3:00/3:15 and the game didn't start until 7:00; plenty of time to make the game.
Now I've been home for a little over a week and don't feel like I've made any progress catching up. This three day weekend was full of activities. Saturday we went to the first Duck game of the year. We rode over in my in-laws' motor home. On the way we had to wait and watch a fight in the middle of an intersection. This big guy (about 6'4", 220#, about 40 yrs old) got mad when other cars wouldn't let him in the lane going to the parking so he pulls a cane with a metal head on it out of his car walks over where the the men start getting out of their cars because they know the guy is going to beat on their cars, and the guy starts swinging the cane as hard as he can at these guys' heads. Other men in nearby cars get out to help. One on them finally gets the cane away from him and he's still fighting as they try to take him to the ground and one the men whacked him in the head with the cane. They finally got him on the ground and he still tries kicking them in their crotches. Five or six men held him down while waiting for the police. An older couple were in his car that was blocking our lane of traffic and they finally moved the car out of the way. When we drove by we could see the pool of blood getting larger and larger under the guy's face. It was unbelievable, especially when you know that this happened around 3:00/3:15 and the game didn't start until 7:00; plenty of time to make the game.
We went onto our tailgate destination, set up, BBQ'd, ate, watched the ducks whomp on the Huskies, back to the tailgate, more BBQ, pack up, get home at about 12:30.
Sunday we went to Lloyd's 90th birthday party. Lloyd works at the shop, almost every day still, and is very much a part of the Dean family. He's a really nice man with a lot of knowledge. Rocky says he wishes he knew half of what Lloyd has forgotten. Happy Birthday, Lloyd.
Today ends this three day weekend with tomato canning. 40 pounds of tomatoes turned into 21 quarts today. Maybe I can rest next weekend.
