thrive

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

2012-01-27T13:58:00.008-09:00

The goats like to huddle together for warmth. In the picture is Firefly, Junebug, Ladybug and Butterfly (her face is hidden.)

The sun!!! And sunshine over the barn. Looking forward to having sunshine in the house. Maybe my I'm-apathetic-about-everything-feeling will go away. Of course, the Happy Light and massive amounts of Vitamin D should help t0.

TTFN

Gingerbread Cookies

2011-12-23T13:16:00.001-09:00

I love ginger. Ginger candy, Ginger cake, ginger as a secret ingredient (perfect in chicken soup) and gingerbread cookies! They are THE perfect holiday cookie. This recipe is adapted from Saveur magazine. It is originally from an old bakery in Stockholm, Sweden.

This article was first published in Saveur, Issue #125

3 3⁄4 cups flour 
3 tsp. ground cloves
 3 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
 2 1⁄2 tsp. ground ginger
 1 1⁄4 tsp. baking soda
I also put in a 1/4 tsp. salt
11 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened 
1 cup packed dark brown sugar 
1⁄2 cup golden syrup or dark corn syrup (I used light corn syrup with a dash of molasses)
 1⁄2 cup heavy cream (I used whole goat's milk.)

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda and salt, if using; set aside. In another large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup using a handheld mixer set to medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, 1–2 minutes. Add the reserved spice mixture and the heavy cream in 3 alternating batches, beginning and ending with the spice mixture, until the dough just combines. Transfer dough to a work surface, divide in half, and shape each half into a flat disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap 1 disk of dough and place on a floured work surface (preferably a cooler one). Using a rolling pin, roll dough to a 1⁄8" thickness. Cut out cookies using the cookie cutters of your choice and place cookies 2" apart on parchment paper–lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling scraps. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until browned and set, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Enjoy!

Now I just need to figure out a gluten free recipe.

TTFN!

Winter Solstice

2011-12-21T11:55:00.002-09:00

Happy solstice!

It's the End of November Already?

2011-11-30T12:30:00.003-09:00

November is almost gone, and with it, the daylight. I've lit candles a couple times to help counteract the dimmer light.
I love candles this time of the year. Fire makes me happy! I'd like to make candles out of our beeswax, and give them away as Christmas presents (or keep them all).

On a postitive note, the temperature is above zero for the first time in a few weeks. +16F!

First Cold Snap

2011-11-21T13:17:00.003-09:00

It's been nasty cold. My brain has frozen. I'm questioning my sanity to live in a place like this, and do what I do. And I grew up here! Worst part is, it's only going to get worse. Sometime this winter, it will be -55F and I will still have to get up and milk goats. I will just keep telling myself that I am tough.

Happy 11/11/11 at 11:11! Make a wish!

2011-11-11T23:09:00.000-09:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:57:00.004-08:00

My younger siblings are going trick or treating for the first time this year! I only got to go once when I was four. Halloween was considered unabashedly demonic when I was growing up. We would go to the church's Hallelujah Day party, or the Harvest Festival, or whatever it was called that year.
This year I am again going to a friend's house to help pass out candy. Last year we had about 375 kids come.
Stay safe and warm!

Something Old, Something New

2011-10-24T12:27:00.007-08:00

My favorite pair of brown corduroy pants were too worn out to be pants anymore. Holes were developing, and the wale had rubbed away in several places.
But it they weren't too worn out to be a skirt!

It took me a couple of tries to put the pieces together in a way that wasn't obvious that the now skirt was once a upon a time a pair of pants. However, I wasn't paying attention and cut off part of the back pockets.

I found a couple pairs of jeans at the dump, and I made this skirt for my sister:

The jeans came with purple marker stains, but I'm going to put an applique over them.

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without".
It astonishes me what people throw out!

Looks Like Winter's Here to Stay...

2011-10-21T15:30:00.007-08:00

Though the sun is out with full force right now! It's about 40F, and the eves are dripping.
I took these photos yesterday. I'm not quite used to it being winter yet. But I already have my lobens (winter boots) and my parka out. My summer clothes and shoes are almost put away for the next six months or so. Winter up here lasts for about that long. I call the seasons winter and not winter.

I have gotten a few more things up on my Etsy shop. I hope to put more up soon! I have told myself that I must put all the items that I have photographs for up before I make any plans for bizaars.

First Snow

2011-10-13T15:39:00.004-08:00

It snowed last night; first time this fall. It's strange waking up to a suddenly changed landscape. I think I want to move in with my friend who lives in Florida. I can't face summer being gone just yet.

No Snow Yet...

2011-10-10T13:41:00.005-08:00

It still hasn't snowed. But I'm not complaining! These past few days have been gorgeous. It had rained and frozen on Friday night, but Saturday was clear and almost sixty degrees. It feels like September, though all the trees' leaves are gone.
The goats unfortunately have been wrecking my unprotected greens. They are also the only green things around anymore. But I harvested most of the rest of the garden on Saturday, except for some carrots. It will have to be snowing before I take those in. The plot and beds look lonesome. But this is their time to rest, and mine too.

First Frost

2011-09-26T10:47:00.002-08:00

It froze last night for the first time this fall.

Fall Garden

2011-09-22T12:03:00.009-08:00

No Granola

2011-09-07T14:12:00.004-08:00

I am so crunchy,
that I know granola is
really bad for you.

Awesome Upcycled Apron

2011-08-29T12:57:00.008-08:00

I made a kuspuk style apron last Friday, out of an old sheet. I didn't even need to hem the bottom. It came like that! I saw a lady wearing one at a park and was inspired. It was definitely a hack job, but it only took me about two and a half hours to make. Instead of doing a neck strap, which I can't stand, I crisscrossed the shoulder straps across the back. All it needs now is bright colored rick rack.
I've learned to appreciate aprons, as messes tend to follow me around. They're also very useful for transporting garden produce into the kitchen, particularly with the oversized pocket.
Hopefully, they'll be a great thing to sell. One of the issues with selling clothes at bizarres is that there is no place to try items on. Aprons are easy to try on!

TTFN

Gone Picken' (and eaten' pie!)

2011-08-12T18:19:00.009-08:00

Blueberries, blueberries, BLUBERRIES!!!
If you haven't tried wild Alaskan blueberries, I'm truly sorry. You ought to put on your list of "One Hundred Things to do Before I Die". They don't taste anything like the nasty ones from America.

These are the kinds of woods where blueberries bushes normally grow. Due to permefrost, the land is boggy. The biggest blueberries grow in the middle of ponds, so if you want the very best, you will need a pair of tall Sitka sneakers (Alaskan for rain boots ;)

We have lots of rhubarb in our garden, and blubarb pie is a favorite.

Bluebarb and Goat Cheese Pie

filling:
3 cups blueberries
3 cups rhubarb
(heaping)1/4 cup minute tapioca
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
Pinch of cinnamon
Combine and let stand for 15 minutes.

streusel topping
1/2 cup goat cheese
1/2 cup oats
4 tablespoons brown rice flour
5 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Pinch of ginger
Combine the oats, flour, sugar, and spices in a bowl. Rub in the butter until crumbly.

Preheat oven to 375F. Roll out favorite pie crust, and pour in filling. Pat streusel topping over pie. Bake 45-50 minutes. Cool to set.

TTFN!

Blog Feature

2011-08-12T17:25:00.002-08:00

Thanks Robin for featuring AlaskAnna Clothing on your blog, Green Man's Grotto!

2011-07-30T14:01:00.001-08:00

Trying to figure out how to blog from my iPhone!

Happy Summer Solstice!

2011-06-21T12:14:00.001-08:00

It's been hard to go to sleep.

Mr. T

2011-06-03T22:12:00.007-08:00

Rose kidded on May 31st. She was six years old, and had never been freshened before. This little guy was the only survivor of triplets.
Rose had seemed like she was going into labor on the night of the 30th. She lost her 'plug', and was very vocal. She was quiet most of the night. The next morning, she was having pushing contractions, but no water sack was appearing. So we called the vet out, and the she ended up inducing Rose. The vet also observed that Rose's cervix was not dilating, and she could only get two fingers in there.
The water sack finally appeared early in the afternoon, and she started pushing, but nothing happened. We waited an hour, and then called the vet again. Long story short, the vet pulled the triplets out with bailing twine, because Rose still wasn't dilated enough. The only alive one came first, and we named him Mr. T, for trouble and tenacity. If we register him, his official name will be Thistle.
Unfortunately, the only doeling and the other buckling were stillborn. It was very rough, seeing dead kids. I have wondered how I'd react if we had to deal with goat kids being stillborn or dying. even though, we were lucky that we got one kid (even if he was a buckling) and the mother survived.
Rose ended up rejecting her only remaining kid. I can't blame her. She was very out of it, and I don't think she would have been able to deal with him. So for now, he is living in the house and being hand raised. It is good that we have colostrum that a kind women donated.
We will never breed older first timers again, even if they come from champion lines.

And now for some very cute photos:

He also loves to sit on people's laps :)

Sold my first item on Etsy!

2011-03-30T13:56:00.004-08:00

I had a camisole sell on Friday morning. This was my first sale!

Spring

2011-03-21T14:20:00.003-08:00

When does spring come?
Each year, I try to pin down,
but it's elusive!

Sunshine

2011-03-10T11:53:00.007-09:00

I've been understandably depressed lately. But it's been warm, and the sunshine is so beautiful. Sky blue is my very favorite color.
And I've been liking my new iPhone. Especially the camera :)
Best to look on the bright side.

Uno

2011-03-04T15:45:00.005-09:00

Uno died on the 1st.
She had gotten so much better, and we had moved her back out to the barn. Her respiration was still a bit higher then it was supposed to be, but she was doing fine. A few weeks later, my mother was worried that Uno might be slipping into a relapse. We had the vet come out to do a check -up on her, and though the vet wasn't impressed, Uno's lung that had shut down was working again. She prescribed some antibiotics.
Apparently, there was nothing wrong at next morning's milking. When I went out to check on the goats during the day, Uno was doing the same strange breathing; her tongue was hanging out, she was foaming at the mouth and bleating. I brought her into the garage. A few hours later, it had gotten severe. So I went to prepare some apple-cider vinegar water, and when I came back downstairs, she was on the floor, on her side, convulsing.
It was frustrating putting a lot of time and effort into her care. But I had prayed several times that if she was going to die, that she would go quickly. I miss her, though. The goats are pets plus milking, so we loved them like pets. I've been sleeping with part of her beard under my pillow. Someday, I'd like to learn to make goat stuffed animals, and maybe I could start with Uno first, and incorporate her beard into the stuffie.

Snip

2011-02-28T21:47:00.002-09:00

Wings being clipped for
so long; when they grew back, she
didn't know their use.

Tired

2011-01-22T04:53:00.004-09:00

So exhausted from staying up most of the last three nights. Yesterday, I spent about 15 1/2 hours in the garage with Uno. I've mostly been watching movies, hanging out on the net and cat-napping. Uno seems to like the newest version of Pride and Prejudice. I popped it in the first night when I wanted something light and fluffy, and she came over to watch. I think she likes the music. We've had Chopin playing in the garage, and she seems to like that as well.

I've been up since 2:30 this morning

2011-01-21T09:13:00.004-09:00

We got through our second night. Uno is still here, and still in the garage. She's eating hay, and drank some water on her own early this morning, and ate some brome pellets yesterday. Unfortunately she hasn't done that since. So we are squirting an apple cider vinegar/horehound leaf 'tea' down her throat every half an hour. It is a half gallon of warm water to a half cup of unpasturized apple cider vineger. The horehound leaves go into the mixture. This is from Pat Colby's book, Natural Goat Care. We are also giving as yogurt water mix about every two hours. The strange breathing episodes are coming and going, and they seem to come in droves. Uno won't have one for a several hours, and then she'll have several. She isn't foaming at the mouth as bad as when I found her on Wednesday afternoon, but she is drooling.

Uno

2011-01-20T05:29:00.006-09:00

Uno has severe pneumonia. Not sure is she is going to make it. I checked on her on Wednesday afternoon, and she was breathing heavily, braying and foaming at the mouth. The vet made a house call on Wednesday evening, and said her left lung has shut down. She gave Uno some antibiotics and vitamin shots. We moved her to the garage. Stayed up most of the night with her.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T23:47:00.003-09:00

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

-Christina Rossetti

Poem for Solstice

2010-12-24T23:43:00.005-09:00

Dawn and dusk merge to
one, whether the days are short
or night never comes.

Happy Winter Solstice!

2010-12-21T21:24:00.004-09:00

Today the sun rose at 10:58 am and set at 2:30 pm. There was six hours and thirty-two minutes of visible light. Tomorrow will be nine seconds longer. Not a lot, but an improvement.
It's been negative twenty below or colder for most of December. The holidays make the lack of light and cold easier. The goats and I have been stuck inside most of the time. I feel so blah. I can't seem to get anything done. The cold and dark seem to seep inside my head and I can't think straight. I'd prefer to hibernate most of the time.

TTFN!

Happy Thankgiving!

2010-11-25T21:27:00.000-09:00

Winter Cometh

2010-10-15T18:17:00.003-08:00

Winter settles like
a default setting. Once here,
it's always been here.

Not so busy (anymore)

2010-07-30T21:01:00.004-08:00

I've been very busy these last couple months. I have many drafts that are saved that need to be finished and posted (including the posts about the three new kids!).

But my summer job is finished now, so I should have more time to do things like sewing,writing and goat herding.

TTFN!

Surprise, surprise!

2010-06-12T16:33:00.005-08:00

Ladybug kidded on Thursday night. We were expecting one kid. And we got two.

Junebug Firefly

Birth Anoucment!

2010-06-07T21:40:00.007-08:00

Uno finally kidded yesterday morning at 11:17 a.m. We were expecting twins, or maybe even triplets.
But this is all that came out!
We named him Peter, because we were expecting a Hedi too. And maybe even a Klara :) Oh, well, there's next time.
Human babies have nothing on goat kids. He was cute from the moment he was born! And he was trying to walk within fifteen minutes. Seems very strong and healthy!

Birthday!

2010-06-02T22:30:00.002-08:00

I decided to wish myself a happy birthday :) I was born fifteen minutes before the rose parade in the city of my birth, and the wild roses on the prickly bushes always bloom around my birthday.
Hope to post pictures of blooming flowers tomorrow.

TTFN!

P.S. No kids from Uno yet.

Nothing.

2010-05-31T22:21:00.003-08:00

No goat kids yet.

Expecting Goat Kids Any Day Now...

2010-05-27T22:51:00.005-08:00

Uno the goat has been in labor for over a day. She may be getting closer. We'll see!
Sorry for the short post, but I've been very busy of late.

TTFN!

Five things I must do on Saturday...

2010-05-21T23:42:00.003-08:00

1.) Milk goats (that's a given!)
2.) Vacum
3.)Clean
4.) Sew
5.) Blog!

Alaska Weather

2010-05-06T21:36:00.005-08:00

So, it was greenup on Tuesday. It snowed most of the day on Wednesday. And then on Thursday, I woke up to this.

Snow and fog. It was very lovely, though unexpected. However, snow in May is not uncommon. I've even seen it snow in June.
Evantually, the fog burned off and the sky became clear. It turned out to be a warm spring day!
TTFN!

Happy Star Wars Day!

2010-05-04T23:35:00.001-08:00

May the 4th be with you. ;)

Greenup!

2010-05-04T15:24:00.001-08:00

It's greenup today! The birches have a faint yellow-green flush to them.
As well as working on the "Eyes of the World" bag, I'm also working on making a dress using a corset cover I found in an antique shop as a bodice. Since I couldn't decide what material to use for a skirt, I'm trying to make it fully detachable.

TTFN!

Breakup

2010-04-30T14:40:00.003-08:00

This is an old vignette I wrote when I was fourteen for a high school project. It was the only project I managed to get an A+++ on in school. Not sure I deserved it, but it was nice.
I did edit it ever so slightly.. It's interesting to think about how I would write this now.

Where I live, we have five seasons. Spring, summer, fall, winter and breakup. Spring is normally lovely and beautiful, cool and clear, the sun's elusive rays warm. Summer here is glorious, but resembles a green desert. The end of summer is sort of a rainy season; which lasts from August 1st, till whenever school starts. Fall is magnificent. The yellow leaves glide to the ground into a sheet, and them comes with the coverlet of winter. Winter is gorgeous, but it is frigid, and sometimes very much so. And there is never enough sun. Here, it may drop to -50F, but this does not happen too often, only once or twice every couple of years.
Breakup is the season when the sun, the source of heat and light, ceases to hibernate. And the sun's gravitational pull pulls every one's refuse to the surface of the gray snow. Perhaps it is more of a magnetic attraction, but somehow, the sun manages to melt anywhere from one foot of snow to four, and fill those lucky people's homes with a couple feet of liquid ice crystals, dragging along any lovely nutrients it has with it. Breakup lasts about a month and a half or two.
Then it is spring.

Eyes of the World

2010-04-27T15:33:00.004-08:00

Outside of bag. In the flower, I sewed part of Alaska The trim for the inside pocket is a chain stich.
(even St. Lawrance Island!) and Russia.

I'm getting closer to finishing this bag. But I do bags so slow. Artistry and inspiration are very important to me. Often, I have to have a picture in my head of what I want before I even start something. From there, these creations evolve almost organicly. With this bag, I wasn't exactly sure what I would do. I rust dyed the cog, but then got stuck. Someone suggested to me that the cog looked like a flower pot, so I used the flower pattern on the lining as a pattern for the flower.
The outside was an tea towel or napkin from an antique shop, and the cloth of the lining is called "Eyes of the World", by Harmony Art.

TTFN!

Today...

2010-04-22T22:47:00.003-08:00

I've been slacking on blogging. Been tired lately, and haven't gotten much done. Today has been insane. I locked myself out of the house while taking care of the goats this morning (at least I had a nice walk; it was a lovely spring morning) We got a new dog. Then we lost the new dog. Then we found him.
However, I have been working on a really interesting purse that I hope to take photos of and post.
Off to bed now :)

TTFN!

Creative Chaos

2010-04-16T13:18:00.001-08:00

Well, my sewing area is now organized stacks. I have yet to clean the desk; that will be more involved.
I think what I really need is a wardrobe, with drawers for the fabric and other supplies, and a place to hang finished items. Maybe I should peruse through the "Knock off Wood" blog looking for plans, though I don't have the time right now to build something.
Organization is awfully frustrating for me. I've improved over the years, and have been able to keep my room neat enough. I feel more at ease when everything is clean, organized, and my bed is made. However, my mind is always chaotic. I wish each thought could take a turn, one at a time, instead 127 thoughts going all at once. I'd get more done that way. But that's were I get my ideas from.

TTFN!

Winter's Revenge

2010-04-13T16:59:00.004-08:00

Milking bowl in hand
I step into the snowflakes.
But it smells like rain!

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-09T16:15:00.004-08:00

I'm afraid I haven't gotten that much done this week. Since I have been unable to even start a project, I think I will clean my sewing area. It's a MESS! I have never been an exactly organized person, but I think my piles are discouraging me to do anything.

Oddly, it doesn't look so bad in person. I just don't know how I'm going to fit all those supplies into that little corner. I will be sorting through and hope to get rid of some things that I'll never use.

TTFN!

Birdie Chorus, aka 4/5 Update

2010-04-05T20:26:00.002-08:00

When I took a walk this afternoon, the birds were making quite the racket. Though load, it's a welcome change from winter, when the birds were rarely heard.
On Saterday, I took several camisoles and a purse to a new local foods market. They are going to sell them for me at no charge and take no cut. Hopefully, I will sell some this next week. The owner already bought the purse for his wife as a nice Easter gift!
I am trying to figure out what to work on next. I have two corset covers from an antique shop that I hope to make into dresses or shirts. I have a list of things I wanted to make for late-winter/spring, so I should choose some items from that.

TTFN!

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-30T22:03:00.004-08:00

I think spring decided to come early this year. It's been warm and sunny for the past several weeks. Of course, we could still get a cold snap, but it probably won't be forty below.
Today I finally finished a kuspuk prototype. It was made from some old flannel that has been around for a long while. It has many kinks to work out, but I was so exited, I wore it before it was finished. I haven't had a kuspuk since I was a little girl in Nome (many years ago). I made it short sleeved (a modern version!). Normally, they are long sleeved with a cuff. I made this one with a skirt on the bottom to keep my legs warmer.
I'm sorry I can't post pictures, the computer refuses to upload them :(
Here is great article on kuspuks from Tundra Medicine Dreams.

TTFN!

Another Lovely Day...

2010-03-29T20:07:00.005-08:00

And I have good news! I will get to sell my stuff at a market. The flip side though, is I need to make more! I already have ten or so camisoles and one bag. So I need to work more, and I probably won't be able to get around to the rust dye tutorial for now.
The one bag that is finished I took some photos of last week. Unforchenetly, most of them didn't turn out that well (why does that always happen?!) I did get a few nice ones, though I need one more side. I might just go outside right now.

TTFN!

Busy Day...

2010-03-25T20:15:00.006-08:00

Dear moon, you look so
lonesome in pure azure sky,
without star, nor cloud

I'm afraid I can't post the next part to the rust dyeing today. I've been too busy today. Off course, if had managed my time better...but oh well :)
Right now, the computer is uploading photos I took today of a bag. I hope to list on it Etsy very soon (like tomorrow). I haven't listed anything since January. And I have lots to list!

TTFN!

Happy Windsday!

2010-03-24T15:01:00.010-08:00

Winnie the Pooh: Happy "Winds-day", Piglet.
Piglet: [being blown away] Well... it isn't... very happy... f-for me.
Winnie the Pooh: Where are you going, Piglet?
Piglet: That's what I'm asking myself, where? W-Whoops! P-P-P-Pooh!
Winnie the Pooh: And what do you think you will answer yourself?
:)
(Thank you Google!)

Yesterday and today have been rather blustery (though still sunny). But perhaps not windy enough to blow Piglet away. We always seem to get a not so gentle "zephyr" about late winter-early early spring. Yesterday, the goats did not get to go outside because they are sensitive to wind and drafts. They were happy to go out today! I went out to check on them after it started getting breezy. Ladybug decided to try the camera cord. She once ate a furniture tag.

I love to take walks, and to take pictures. Here are a few photos from the past week or so...

Yep, that's a boring pic of GREEN moss. It's all in how you look at it!

Today I have been working on hemming a linen-peace silk scarf, that I made out of one yard of cloth. It had to be pieced together. Lately, I've been working on some new designs. Not so sure if this one's going to work out for selling though.

Tomorrow, I hope to post Part Two of the series on rust dyeing, in which I will explain the process. And post more walk pictures :)

TTFN!

Rust Dyeing, Part One

2010-03-22T15:19:00.008-08:00

This past week has been absolutely GORGEOUS! Rarely a cloud in the sky; temps in the morning hovering just a bit above zero, and then soaring to fifty (in the sun) during the day. I think I will post the collected pictures taken from my afternoon walks tomorrow.
However, this post is part one in a series on rust dyeing. It is an interesting technique that I like to use in my work.

(second rust dyed project, November, 2007)

In October of 2007, my mother bought me a copy of the art clothing magazine Belle Armoire (www.bellearmoire.com), of which an article about rust dyeing was showcased. So I that's how I first started.
I've gotten many compliments on how cool it looks. And I've had much fun routing around in the dumpsters at the transfer station looking for cool metal scraps. My favorite is that broken off cog!

(Reversible tote, August, 2008. Personal collection.)

On Thursday, I hope to write about the process of rust dyeing, and I will post more pictures!

TTFN!

Spring?

2010-03-18T13:40:00.004-08:00

Here is a double haiku I wrote a couple days ago.

Singing the tune of
spring, snow soaks up the vibrant
late-winter sunlight

"Is it really Spring?"
I ask the pussy willows.
"Or is it a hoax?"

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome

2010-03-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon!
After a long period of paralysis of indecision, I have decided to try blogging. I had more words to write then what Twitter would let me.

As I am a varied person, this blog will very varied. For the most part, I will stick to writing about my sewing. I have an Etsy shop, . I hope blogging will help to motivate me to list more items, and to network with other Etsians and people who are interested in my work, as well as those who are passing through.

I live on a small farm/homestead in Alaska, so I will definitely write about my goats and ducks! I also have ADHD. I might write about that. As well, I like writing poetry, so there will be a little of literature. Like I said, I'm a varied person with ADHD, so the content will reflect that.

For now, I hope to post on Mondays and Thursdays.