SAD SATURDAY

Yesterday was a frustratingly sad day. After breakfast, we decided to look for some of John's weaving materials. 

We had Christ Gustin of Homestead Weaving Studio in Nashville, Indiana (think Brown County) prepare warp for two scarves.  John was going to put the warp on his loom and weave away.  

Then John got sick, the warp was packed to go into the vast basement of our Tiffin Allegro Bus.  Now, we cannot find the warp.  What a huge, expensive bummer!  

We started to empty the basement compartments, one at a time.  As we were emptying the compartment, we inspected the bags of llama and alpaca fiber that I had stored there.  Oh, oh, wool moths larvae!  In all, I had to throw twelve huge bags of larvae, moths infested fiber into a dumpster.  That sure reduced my stash!  

We looked at the hats, handbags and scarves I had in storage bins.  These were items that I was preparing to sell on the Internet.  Every item in the tote that did not have an air-tight seal had damage.  Thank goodness, some items designed for children were in a sealed bin.  

We are still searching nooks and crannies for John's warp. Hopefully, it will be a successful, satisfactory Sunday.  

We did come across much of John's mom's unfinished quilts.  At least one top needs to be stitched and there are three or four groupings of quilt squares that need to be sewed together.  Then, there is fabric!  And more fabric. Can you say weight added to the bus?  At least, we reduced considerable weight when the fiber went to the dumpster.  

Our thanks to those who used our blog to enter into Amazon's store to make their purchases.  No matter how small or large, every order helps.  

I'm off to find that warp!  Wish me luck.    

God bless!  

MAINTENANCE, FRIENDS AND GOING HOME

After six long to us days of driving from Yellowstone to Des Moines, Iowa, we were ready to revert to our more relaxed way of travel.  

We made plans to visit with long time friends, Margie and Lyle Sears at Fisherman's Cove on the Mississippi River.  We planned to stay there for three days in order for John to get some rest.  One day of visiting and two of chilling was on our agenda.  

I cleaned the Miata and the motorhome with The Solution and John applied tire protectorant  and cleaned the thingies the wheels are mounted on including hub caps. Whatever they are, they were shiny!

We caught only one sunset on the Mississippi.  Along the edge of the river were thousands of Water Lilies.  

Wednesday, we left Fisherman's Cove COE.  Due to the clowns in D.C, we had to be out by noon.  

We camped at Wally World in Hammond, IN for the night and headed toward our Michigan destination Thursday morning.  

Our fiber friends Bob and Deb own a fiber farm consisting of sheep, two Great Pyrenees and one Australian Shepherd.

The Pyrenees guard the interior of the pastures, keeping coyotes and wild dogs at bay.  

Just a few of the Polwarths

Fergus and Olivia keep the sheep away from the fence

After the sheep are sheared, Deb dyes the some of the fiber.  

 The fiber is then sold at as roving or yarn Fiber Festivals to spinners, weavers, knitters, etc.  We met Bob and Deb at a fiber event and have been fast friends since then.  

It was Bob and Deb that came to Indiana to visit and encourage John when he was in the hospital.  They also came back to help us clear out the barns when we were ready to close on the house and start our full time adventure.  

Bob helped John with a couple of repairs on our Tiffin Allegro Bus. Now I see John having more courage and energy to tackle tasks that he would have never tried before Bob and Jim Dixon worked along side John.  

John has caulked questionable spots on the roof, changed the generator's oil and all filters, worked on our T.V. antenna, etc.  

Ryan is mighty tall!

                                        Our microwave stopped working.  Bob, John and Bob and Deb's son Ryan worked on that situation. Ryan checked inside and outside.   


The diagnosis on the microwave is that we are going to need Tiffin make this repair.  Ryan checked out everything and said that there is a problem in the wiring in the wall. 

What a fun experience it was to try a new-to-me vegan recipe each night.  I was pleased that they liked every meal.  There is not one recipe that I want to forget.  We have found that eating the plant based diet is much more flavorful than the same ole meat and potatoes routine.  

When we were preparing to full time, I had to sell my floor weaving loom.  It was way too large and heavy.  We ordered a Glimakra rigid heddle loom from Bob and Deb.  

Three years ago, John took a weaving class at the Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival.  He had decided that this is something he would like to do.  Of course, I may just get to use it too.    

I can be using my spinning wheel and John can weave the yarn into whatever he chooses.  What a team.  

It did not take him long to open the box and begin the assembly.  

With all the wool behind my wheel, it looks like he will have plenty of supplies.  

Tomorrow, we leave Bob and Deb.  We are spending a day in Shipshewana, IN and then head back to Greenwood, IN to be with Indianapolis family for a few weeks.  While there, John will have all of his check ups.  

Bob and Deb head to New York for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  

OCTOBER 19th and 20th, 2013 Saturday 9AM-5PM Sunday 10AM-5PM

The End

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!

SHEEPY TIME AT MICHIGAN FIBER FESTIVAL

Allegan, MI
72 degrees - green trees and grass!

We have spent three super days here at the Allegan County, Michigan fairgrounds.  The  annual MICHIGAN FIBER FESTIVAL is a knitter's, weavers, felters, spinner's and crocheter's dream.  Buildings and tents full of yarn, raw wool, roving, books, spinning wheels, weaving looms, needles  ...... on and on and on!

Thursday, Henny Penny welcomed us to the Allegan County fairgrounds.  She was feeling a bit bent out of shape because her feathers were not in demand this weekend.  Oh well.

There has been so many vendor booths to visit that we have not left the fairgrounds.  I had a restaurant in mind for John and I, but we just shopped then returned to the motorhome to have either our lunch or dinner.    It is much easier to eat in that at a restaurant since we are eating a plant based diet.

There is a wide variety of vendors.  Some sold finished knit or woven sweaters, ponchos, wraps etc.

I so admire fiber artists whose work is so good that they can sell their work.  The weather really cooperated with them this weekend with the cooler temperatures.  It is much easier to sell natural wool products when it is not in the nineties.


The talented weavers presented some beautiful rugs, place mats, bags and table runners.  I loved looking at the different patterns.  There was a pattern to please every person attending. 

The top group of rugs were woven in different patterns that I had not seen before.  And they were a bit larger than many rugs.  I like the variety.

Karen in the Woods would have been a tremendous vendor with all her rugs and various patterns.

At some time, I hope to be able to see some of Karen's work in person.  She is an inspiration and her work has encouraged John and I to do some loom shopping.

These animal sculptures are created by needle felting.  They start out as a hand full of loose sheep, goat, llama or alpaca fibers.  Using a special needle that has barbs on the end, the fibers are compacted and shaped into the animal that the artist has in mind.

When needle felting, one must keep an eye on their project!  If you look up, your needle should be suspended in the air.  Why?  It really, really hurts when you stab yourself with a felting needle.  I have accidentally sent a felting needle through the pad of my thumb when looking up to talk to someone.  Not good.

I love the names that some vendors name their businesses.  And these are true businesses.  Many are farm based.

Vendors work hard to have products that the shoppers will like.  Keeping the products affordable is a challenge.  If these vendors charged by the hour for some of their creations, the prices
would be over the top.







Color is another aspect that vendors must consider.  What is "in" this year?
What colors will be the trend for 2013?  Will they like bright or muted?

Then to show the colors, samples must be knitted to demonstrate how they will look in a garment.

Robin Edmundson does a beautiful job of dyeing.  She truly has the magic touch when it comes to color.  I have been fortunate enough to take a couple of classes from her and have learned so much.  If you look at Robin's colors, you will see colors that have been taken from nature.  You see sunsets and oceans and many more color combinations.

Angora Goat

The fiber festival also had sheep and goat shows.  I love the animals.  This cutie is an Angora Goat.  Their fiber is so shiny and soft.  It makes lovely garments.


There is also a goat breed called Pygora.  It is a cross between a Pygmy Goat and an Angora Goat.  Again, quality fibers come from the right animal.  

Pygora Goat

The fiber from an Angora Goat is called Mohair.  Mohair yarn has a "halo" and is often used when knitting lacework shawls.

It also makes a beautiful sweater.  I'd love to knit a sweater.  I wonder if I will ever do it.  Just call me a chicken.

Sheep are the most popular wool providers.  When you purchase your fiber at a show, such as the Michigan Fiber Festival, you are getting products from the United States.  In addition, no harmful chemicals have been used in the processing of the wool.  When you purchase a fleece (wool directly from the animal), you will find a little vegetable material (V.M.) in the wool.  It is easily picked out when spinning, etc.  I'd much rather have my fiber with a little V.M. in it rather than chemicals.  

At many of the Fiber Festivals, you will find sheep shows.  If you are fortunate enough to purchase a first or second place fleece, you are a mighty happy person.  

getting their sheep ready for the show ring is an exacting activity.  The animal must look perfect in the handler's eye.

After visiting the vendors booths, the goats and sheep three times in three days, we were ready to make some purchases.  We bought a thousand yards of Mohair.  What for?  Can't say just in case someone reads this.  In addition to the Mohair, I got another set of knitting needles to use with the Mohair.

Well, after three days of walking, walking, and more walking, we are about ready to get back on the road.  Next destination?  Not tellin... you need to come back and see where these Travelin Talleys are going next.  

God Bless, and please be safe out there.  

In the spirit of Judy and Emma, I leave you with this............

THE END!

JOURNEY'S REST STOP

Someone once said all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy.  I don't know about dull, but it surely makes for a very tired John and Nan.  We finally have taken a day off from our labors and this is feeling as if it is a very good thing.  

Two of the four columns have their first coat of paint.  The other two are standing there patiently waiting for their turn.


"Stuff is stacked, on chairs, tables and sofa waiting patiently to be taken to the motorhome.  


Paintings are ready to be hung, not by the chimney with care.  The abstract on the left that looks blueish, but isn't goes into the dining room.  


You can also see the cherry hardwood floors that John and I installed. 


A lesson we have learned from this adventure is that we cannot take a twenty five year old house and make it new construction.  


We are pleased with the way things are looking.  If we hurried, we could have it on the market next week.  You can see where the bulkhead is cut in at the end of the cabinets.  The kitchen needs to be painted as well as the half bath just behind the unpainted columns. The stove needs to be installed and a plumbing leak needs to be tweaked.  

Work is complete from where the carpeting begins (there's a gate to keep the fur kids out!)  in the photo.   The dining room is complete with the exception of light fixtures as is the entry and hall.  

My weaving loom is in the family room awaiting the "right" new owner.  I need to replace the reed and it will be ready to go.  I am sad to see a good friend go, but I need a smaller loom that will be convenient in the motorhome.  

  
John's wood turning tools that we listed on Craig's List have sold quickly and we have just a few left.  Some buyers have traveled over one hundred miles to purchase them.  It is fun to witness the excitement of these people when they know they have new "toys."  You know what they say about the difference between men and boys.....BUT there are also women wood turners.  I'll stick to my fiber.  


The temperature today here in Indiana is fifty degrees.  Tomorrow, it is to be fifty two and Wednesday, sixty!  It looks as if we are going to be outside spiffing up things there so work inside will wait for colder temperatures or rain.


Yesterday, friends of ours from Michigan drove down are took home with them a garden tractor, a lawn vacuum, a chipper, a hand mower, fencing, and more things for their farm.  Deb even took our old stove to use in her fiber dyeing!  Now that is big time repurposeing!  She also left with our antique wardrobe.  It should be awesome in their antique age farm house.  


Thinking back to this time last year......we were in Death Valley watching the sky at night and marveling at the vast number of stars visible to just the naked eye.


Thinking forward to our journey next year.  It will be our first winter of fulltiming.  We are eager to learn what God has planned for the journey.


To be able to start that journey.....we keep working. And working. And working.


Till next time,
God bless you and your travels, your visits, your daily activities - whatever they may be.

TODAY'S JOURNEY WAS SHORT

A night of not sleeping well and an early morning make for a slow working day / journey.  After a visit from a sales person, (yuck) we tackled the painting of the last two beams  and the fireplace in the family room.  Actually, John tackled the beams and did a super job.  I attacked the fireplace.  


I am so pleased we decided to paint the fireplace brick again.  It looks so fresh now.  But that was all we completed today.  I was able to finish between the mantle and the hearth.  Below the hearth and above the mantle is on our to do list for tomorrow.  How can such a simple project take two days to finish?  


Tomorrow, the furniture is returned to the family room and we will start the kitchen painting.  Not much there.  Only the bulkhead and the space between the counter top and the underside of the cabinets.   After that, only the guest bath remains!  All should be completed by Saturday afternoon! 


Oh my gosh, we are soooo close!  I can hardly believe it. 


Excuse me while I hyperventilate!  


Wow!


Ohhhhhh, rats.......


We have the little barn (30' X 60') to empty!  Hummmm, that has been used only for storage of "stuff."  Stuff we have forgotten, lived without, forgot that existed.....


I think we have just decided to ditch everything!  Of course we will ditch after we sell the antiques, weaving loom and send the best llama fiber to the mill to be processed into yarn.  The "seconds" of the llama fiber will be sent to Texas to be woven into rugs to sell.  


BUT  the finish line is in sight!  


Probably, tomorrow we will think of more things we want to do, but for tonight......we are encouraged. 


Thanks for stopping by....


After you finish laughing at us, feel free to leave a comment.


God bless you on your journey!

Trip Modification

After some thought, we have decided that we are trying to pack too much trying to pack too much into two months. We have cut our trip to the south east, Florida, Gulf Shores and New Orleans from our trip. Instead, we are heading to California to see Jojo and to Texas to enjoy new sights and experiences. In essence, we have cut our miles in half! Less time driving, more time enjoying!

We made that mistake last fall on our trip to North and South Carolina and Virginia. Being our first extended trip, we tried to pack too many "places to see" into 4 /12 weeks. This time, we travel smarter, not harder. Wow, we leave in just over a week!

On a fiber note, my waste yarn finally arrived yesterday. Now I can begin to use my antique circular sock machine! I've made only one sock so far and that was with Mary Ann, a wonderful and patient teacher. Now, to have a go at it on my own! I'm so sure there is a very steep learning curve, so here I go! That's okay though. John will be learning to weave on his rigid heddle loom and I will be on my Legare 400 making socks. You know, all that travel time we are saving? That time will be spent weaving, making socks, fishing, hiking etc. Sounds like a super trade-off to me!