Checking in from Acadia.

Early mornings here at the lake mean you can get online to blog if you do it before anyone else decides to use up the band width.

I was up at 5am to get photos of the sunrise, sitting on the dock, listening to the loon swimming by.  But the sunrise was not that impressive, and so my photos were not earth shattering.

 

It was still lovely though.

Yesterday we went to Acadia.   The kids wanted to see Thunder Hole.
To say that it was MOBBED would be an understatement.  It was crazed.
The lady at the booth took my license, and didn't give it back.  I didn't realize it until too late, and the Park Loop Road is one way at that spot.  But when I got to the gift shop at Thunder Hole, they radioed back for me, and one of the rangers brought it up to me, saving me the trip all around the loop, to fetch it.   She was very apologetic.  I was thrilled that it was that easy to get it back.

The mist was heavy, and visibility not good.   I am not showing you pictures of the masses of tourists scaling the rocks.   We didn't stay there long, it was actually uncomfortable to me, as beautiful as it was.

So we went around the loop to Jordan Pond House, which was also very populated.  We decided to hike the trail around the pond, much to the chagrin of my 4 grands.  Despite some whingeing,  they did a great job of it.

Does it get more beautiful than this????

The park is  a marvelous place, but there are parts of it, most of it, that are just so popular that it is nearly impossible to find pure quiet.
Which to me is sad.

Maybe October.   Mid week.

The weather was really perfect, and the sun was warm.

 

I am always bringing up the rear, since I am the one taking pictures.  I always joke that years from now, my kids will say.............where is Mom in all these photos????  
Oh, yeah, she was taking them.

It was a pretty easy 3.5 mile walk......these boards seemed to go on forever, and took all my attention.

The hardest part was a section of rocks, which I did NOT take any pictures of.  I was too busy being vewy, vewy careful.  You know my history with ROCKS.

Soaking up these views make one very grateful to just be alive.

 

 By the time we got back, they were starting to serve DINNER at Jordan Pond House, so popovers on the lawn were out.
So instead we headed back to Ellsworth to Hannaford to shop for dinner.

Saying goodbye to the Bubbles.

 

I think this is an awesome idea.   No more plastic bottles, I say.

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Update

 So far this summer has been trying......trying to get me to take the bridge.

But I'm holding on, by my fingertips some days tis true, but I am.

April, May, into June, I felt almost normal.  My headaches were so manageable, I got a little "heady".  Sorry, couldn't resist.

If I can't find the humor in all this, I will certainly go mad.

Anyway, about four weeks ago, thereabouts, cause I get sick of keeping track, my headache ramped up to an 7-10, and has stayed right there, day in and day out, 24/7, despite any attempts on my part to dampen it.

Did the hated MRI thing a week ago Friday, but think my doctor is on vacay, and so have no results as of today.

Still, I persevere, and try to go down life's little lane, as if all was well.

The alternative, to throw in the towel, is just not in my nature.

So, as planned since last winter, I am in Maine with two of my three daughters, and four of my five grands.

I tried to leave my headache home with Roy and DH, but it insisted on coming along.

Who can argue?

   

The house we rented is fully equipped......500 ft of lake frontage,  plenty of kayaks and equipment.

Loons on the lake, that lull one to sleep.
(If and when the gang has given up on their raucous game of ping pong in the basement)

 Sketchy internet.  Only getting this post done, because it is just past the crack of dawn, and I am the ony one using the band width.

But such a small price to pay for this.

It is actually  disturbing to me, when I realize how super "connected" we need to be.

So other than this blog post, and a couple of pics posted to FB at rare intervals, I am trying to "disconnect".

I don't want to miss what is REALLY going on.

I think sometimes we forget, that before we were so attached by the invisible strings of social media, that there was a bigger connection.
A better one.

Lying here in the sun, loons and ducks cavorting around me, in absolute quiet, takes me back to a time, not so long ago, when life was simpler.
And isn't that what "vacation" is all about?

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Checking in.

When I was at Convergence, I got to  see a Cold Mangle in action, at the Vavstuga booth.
It was very impressive, but since I don't have one, and  this one was a gift from my cousin, I am now the proud owner of an antique mangle.  And it gets HOT.  I am going to use it to press my woven towels and such, if I can figure it out.
I think it has some issues, but hopefully we can work them out.

For some reason, it appeals to me.

Every now and again, as if my daily headache weren' t enough, I get the jagged light in my right eye, which has always been the "aura" I have experienced when getting a major migraine.
It happened yesterday, so I took some Motrin, and headed upstairs to lie down.

You don't see much of Kizzy, my manx kitty.  He isn't exactly sociable.

But if you lie down anywhere at the studio, Kizzy is quick to join you.



He is a handsome boy.  And he has a sweet disposition, with everyone.

 

He likes to push on me with his feet.  It did not keep me awake.

I am not by nature a napper, unless it's for a migraine.

Then I am.

Kizzy stayed with me for the whole time.

L and I did some serious cleaning and organizing this week.
Look what we found.

I couldn't wait for my treadles to come, so I sent DH to Lowe's.
Until my "real" treadles come, these work just fine.

And I am loving this band loom.
Do I need another addiction, really?????

This is too much fun.

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Black B................?

Having MY head is a lesson in "one day at a time".
Never knowing what tomorrow will be like teaches me to savor today, some days more than others.


Some friends and I made the trip to Providence, RI, to "Convergence", HGA's International Fiber Conference.  It is a week long collection of exhibits and classes, with a huge vendor hall.  It happens every two years, and is hosted in a different city every time.
It is the first time I have been.  I didn't sign up for classes, not knowing if my head would make that an enjoyable or painful venture.  Luckily, L and I and friends were up for a day trip.

I didn't take pictures, too busy looking at everything.  I will say, however, that I was disappointed.   I expected "grand".   There were several vendors that I enjoyed meeting, and talking to.  There were some lovely yarns and looms, but it paled even in comparison to the yearly Rhinebeck Sheep Show in Rhinebeck, NY.  And it shouldn't have.
So I'm glad I went, but doubt that I would travel any further than that to go again.

I did treat myself to a Glimakra band loom, but when I got it home and put it together, it was missing some parts, most importantly, the treadles.  
More disappointment, I'm afraid.

 
I have been enjoying my little garden at the studio.......it has amazed me so far with its bounty.

I complained last year that I didn't have any zucchini.
That WON'T be the case this year.

And cucumbers, oh my.   I never expected this.

 

But why, why, why did I plant so many summer squash.

 

 

I made some pickles already.  Trying out some different recipes.

 

On the chicken front, there is some big news.  Remember I told you about Black Betty, the bossy b****, who seemed to be in charge????  Well, the other morning, while I was feeding them, I heard this awful sound, and thought it was an animal trying to get in the chicken run.  It was ar...ar..ar..ar...ar
and then again.
I went outside, and there was the culprit.  Black Betty BART, learning how to crow.
How did I miss that comb growing on the top of HIS head?

Ay yi yi yi yi.

So, the sweet sign made for me by a lovely lady, Elly, is not entirely  'accurate'.
But it's perfect, all the same.

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WIP Wednesday and a fun freebie!

I seem to have a bad case of quilter's attention deficit. Maybe it's the laid-back Summer feeling, or the fact that sooo many beautiful fabrics that we saw from Spring Quilt Market are all coming out at once! Whatever the reason, I'm a little embarrassed to show you all the starts I've made in the past couple of weeks. But here are a few anyway!

First up an Instagram photo I shared last week as I started prepping for a retreat in early August. I cut a bunch of my Bonnie and Camille scraps into squares and then started making block piles...

I'm making Granny Square blocks using Lori Holt's book Great Granny Squared and using scraps from many of their lines. I think it will be fun to see how they all play together!

I can't resist an Anna Maria Horner line and Pretty Potent may be turning into one of my favorites. I've had Terry Atkinson's pattern, Hexie Garden, for a while waiting for the perfect fabric.  Thought it might be a nice combo, so I'll try a few blocks before I commit!

Have you seen the new Art Gallery line, Indelible? It wasn't on my list to watch for, but when my local quilt shop got some in I fell for the unusual combination of text, geometrics and nature-themed motifs. And one of my favorite color palettes of teal, coral, gray and gold.

I've had this free pattern for some time, wanting to try it but frustrated with the amount of cutting and waste involved. And then it dawned on me to cut individual 60 degree triangles, add a strip to each one and trim the strip even with the triangle. I think I may increase the size of the triangles a bit also. Can't wait to get further on this!

 And I've made some progress on my Flowering Snowball! I'm up to 16 blocks {out of 30} and thoroughly enjoying the process.

 Finally, I was so excited to see these lovely, FREE gift tags on the Martingale blog this morning. This one uses my "Hanging Around" design from Simply Modern Christmas. It's my favorite, but I'm a bit biased :-) Head on over to download your free gift tags!

That's it for today! Looks like I better get back to some sewing. Any tips on helping me focus???

For more WIPs visit Lee at Freshly Pieced!

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Keeping busy

I have to keep busy...it helps.

So every day I do what I can. 


 This rug was woven by L.....and I love the way it turned out.
I think she had some help choosing the colors, just sayin.

Here it is on the floor.

I finished a couple of rugs, one I had started earlier in the week.  This one is denim and flannel.

And this one is all jeans, but colored ones.

I was telling my daughter today, that just a couple of years ago, I was totally immersed in my business.  Making Crazy as a Loom successful.  Making it bigger, better.  Putting all of my energy into it.
Then I hit my head, and you know the rest of the story.

Today my priorities have changed.   I love my studio, it is a very special place.  I still love to weave.
But perspective is an incredible thing.
A few days of a TEN headache, makes me so appreciate an 8.

I am grateful for knowing what I know today. Knowing what matters most.
 It wasn't easy getting here.

But I'm here.

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