Catching Up

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The summer is flying by!
What have we been doing???
Some days are busy and then there were the very lazy days during that heat wave in July.

Some of us sat in front of the fan with our water bottle and a good book.

 Others got a funky haircut.  Much cooler!  And Reggie is the only cat in town with a Mohawk.

Some helped Mom with her knitting.

We had special visitors.

These guys landed on our ratty old tractor shed  early one morning.  They paraded up and down the slope of the roof and spread their wings to dry them in the warm sunlight.

These birds are turkey vultures.  They are huge with a wingspan of up to six feet.  I know a lot of people don't like them because they are nature's clean-up crew, but I find them fascinating.
I wish the pictures were clearer.  I took them through the screen on the kitchen window with the zoom so as not to have to open the door and disturb them. 

 Unfortunately they only stopped by that one morning, stayed for about 20 minutes, and went on their way, soaring up into the sky once again.

Even in the heat we managed to go a few places.  Since we don't have a/c in our home it was nice to get into the car and take an occasional drive.
One place we went was the Country Market between Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs on route 34.

They have an outside flea market on weekends.  We didn't spend too much time there because it was in the high 90's that day.

 Inside it was nice and cool so we didn't mind lingering.  There are several booths with crafts and decorative items.  I especially liked the work of this local photographer.

 And being a farmers' market, there are produce stands with local as well as shipped-in fruits and veggies.

 The meat counter has really nice quality at reasonable prices.  We can personally recommend the filet mignons.

 My favorite stand is the Vietnamese food vendor.  They make the most yummy raw spring rolls, which they offer with chicken, beef, or vegetarian.  They have different entrees and sides each week depending on the choice of the cook.  I've tried most of their food and it has all been good.

 Raw spring rolls, corn-on-the-cob and zucchini sticks.  A good lunch or dinner on a hot day.

 While the weather was at it's hottest I did a lot of sitting, listening to books on CD and knitting.
I finished this lace rib top.

 Then I started on the fun project of the summer.
I was seduced into a class on Craftsy, the Fair Isle Vest- Stranded and Steeked by Mary Jane Mucklestone.

What a fun project!!!
There were two yarn kits offered for the class.  One was an expensive Shetland wool from Jamieson's and the other was a much more reasonable Cascade 220 sport yarn.  Well, you know I'm a yarn tightwad!  I opted for the Cascade, which to my dismay were the brightest colors imaginable!
The yarn almost blinded me!  ha-ha!

Yikes, bright orange, hot-hot pink, fluorescent yellow! 

So I decided to dull the colors with a little dip in the dyepot.

 So much better!

Fair Isle is a type of color knitting that looks complicated but is really very simple.  It is knit from charted patterns and the beauty is that there are only ever two colors in each row, making it one of the easier types of color stranded knitting.
The body of the vest in progress...

The whole vest is knit in the round on circular needles, even up past the armholes and the v-neck.  Then it is steeked.  The knitting is carefully reinforced with along the armholes and neck with either hand or machine stitching.  The knitting is then cut open and the ribbing bands are added to finish the edges.
Wish I would have taken pictures of the whole process, but I was so enthralled with the colors and the fun of knitting with the two strands of yarn that I didn't even think of it.

The finished vest!

Hope all of you are having a fantastic summer!
Thanks for stopping by!

p.s. Next time I will give instructions for how to make the spring rolls at home.

The Wild, Wild West....almost...

Last time I was on a journey through military history.  This time it's cowboy land.
This past weekend Brad and Kami were participants in a western re-enactment at Old Bedford Village in Bedford, PA.

The village is eye candy for anyone who loves old log buildings and primitive antique furnishings.  They also feature craftspeople demonstrating in some of the houses.  Their events include many presentations from the colonial and French and Indian, up through WW2 and Viet Nam.

The path from the visitors' center into the village.

The cowpokes hanging out on the porch making deals and telling tall tales.

The gunsmith at work.

Rides on the stagecoach were available.  Don't know if there were any bank deliveries on board.  There weren't any holdups while we were there.  Who on earth is that character in the red muscle shirt???  I think he needs to be hauled off to jail for indecency.

Brad and Kami stayed in this cabin for the weekend.  Those are some of their friends on the porch.

And here are our kids in their working clothes.

They had been cooking for their group all weekend on the wood-fired cookstove in the background.
It got mighty hot in the kitchen in this weather.

They slept in the rope bed.  The mattress is stuffed with straw.

This cowboy was riding around taking his horse through the paces.

Not exactly a quick draw.

The herb garden.  One of my favorite places.

I could live in this log house.  It reminds me of homes deep in the valleys of the Blue Ridge mountains.

Riding off into the afternoon sun.

We drove off into the sunset in my new used car.  Yeah that's me in my worst god-awful baggy jeans standing in front of the historic Zion church near our place.

So far there have been no cats in this post.  They want their much-deserved recognition so here are Deiter and Izzy helping Mom with her sewing.

This is about all cats choose to do when it's hot.
I think they have the right idea!

Hope you're having a great summer.

Memorial Day trip to the Army Heritage Center

Today Brad was in his WW1 German uniform talking to visitors in front of the pillbox bunker at the Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, PA.  He loves this job!  Mostly when he works for them through the week he is entertaining school groups.  Today it was anyone who happened to follow the military history trail around the park.

I wasn't sure how many spectators he would get on a holiday so I decided he would at least have one.  ME!  I put on my comfy walking shoes and headed out.

These are the main buildings that house an extensive research library and archives and a museum with displays and interactive exhibits.

As you walk along the trail there are pieces of military equipment and representative structures from the French and Indian and colonial era up to the present.

The blockhouse and blacksmith shop were structures that were familiar in early American life.

The blacksmith is on duty.  Check the huge bellows that he uses to stoke the flames in the hearth to the proper temperature to heat the iron to the white-hot temperatures needed to bend it into shape.

A display of his hand forged wares.

A cannon and limber of the type that would have been used in the Civil War.  The limber behind the cannon held the artillery shells and the gun powder.

Off in the distance are the log huts that would have been used during a Civil War winter encampment.

Brad sitting on the entrance wall in front of the German pillbox.  The German army used these concrete fortifications in groups so that all the areas surrounding them could be covered by machine gun fire. 

The Viet Nam era, complete with helicopter and guard tower in the background.

20th Century artillery.  Not sure specifically which wars.

Indoor exhibits:

As it turned out, Brad had lots of interested listeners.  I was surprised at how may people were walking the trail and reading the exhibit signs.  I called him after he got home and said he had an enjoyable and busy day.  He didn't even have time between visitors to eat the lunch I had brought him.

Yesterday we had our family Memorial Day celebration with yard work and a cookout.  This past year we had too large trees taken down due to storm damage.  The brush was left in the yard because we are getting too old and lazy for heavy yard work.  The logs that were cut into lengths for the woodstove were also left out to 'cure', same reason as above.  And surprise!, grass is now a foot high in these places.  But aren't the poppies beautiful???

So now that I'm feeling better after losing weight I have some energy again and I can bend over.  Time to get to work on some of these h---holes. We hauled wood to the official woodpile and did weekeating in preparation for the lawn mower.  We also have a small run (ditch) that goes through our property and it has been growing thick with high grass.  Brad weedeated part of that.
Then it was time for a break and some clowning around before lunch.

We feasted on chicken kababs with pico de gallo and tortillas, cheddar cheese dogs, corn on the cob, and cheese stuffed grilled peppers, sweet and jalapeno.  Plus broccoli salad and a pasta salad with black beans and corn.  Even though all the food was healthy and Weight Watchers acceptable, I ate too much.  But it sure was good!

We had a great day!

Last Monday was my final trip to the wound clinic.  I have graduated.  Healed!
I can't believe that the gaping hole is filled in, covered by good new skin, and doesn't look bad except for some discoloration which I'm told will mostly go away in time.

Whoo-hoo!  I have a real leg again!

Now if I can just keep my klutzy self from doing any more damage to my body...

Thanks for stopping by!

Among those Who Love Fishing

Two weekends ago (yeah, I'm a little behind on my posting) Zip and his brother Gary and wife Linda and I went to the opening of a small flyfishing museum that's located in one of the lodges at Allenberry Playhouse in Boiling Springs, PA.

Several world-famous flyfishing streams wander through our valley, making it a destination spot for fishermen.   And it is also the home of many famous guides, instructors and fly tyers.  Donations from the estates of some of these people make up the majority of the collection.

Look, all ye stashers of yarn and wool!  Flyfishermen have stashes, too.  A whole room!

Theirs consist of feathers and fur and silk thread.
This display is of materials and methods used in Colonial America.

When I show pictures of Zip sitting at his desk working, this is what he is producing.
Hundreds of tiny flies that he uses to catch trout.

I was most impressed by this woman who is a landscape and nature photographer.
Her shots of local scenes are just stunning.  I hope to visit her booth at the Carlisle Market sometime soon and do a more in depth post on her work.

Of course we had to visit the Boiling Spring.  All the water that flows in this famous trout stream comes bubbling up out of the ground from under that rock within this stone circle.

The fisherpeople scanning the water for trout.  Left to right, Linda, Gary and Zip.  And yes, they did see a few fish.

And mallard ducks.  These are two males who were trying to get the attention of a female who was hiding in some brush trying to avoid them.

The lovely swan.

Afterward we had dinner at the historic Boiling Springs Tavern. 

I had crab cakes and steamed veggies and a salad.  Delicious and Weight Watchers approved!

On the way back home we went past the farm that raises deer.  Why are those humans staring at me???

Last Monday I went to the Blue and Gray rughooking meeting.   This used to be a large group, but recently attendance has dwindled. 
I didn't take a lot of pictures because I was busy talking, as usual.  But I liked the antique look of this rug so much that I just had to have a picture.

I took a rug that need repair after some little character (Isabell!) pulled it out of the cupboard, threw it on the floor and laid on it.  In the process she managed to unravel it in several places.

Here is another little bundle of mischief, Millie.  She may look teeny-tiny and innocent.  Don't be fooled!  She is up there mangling my wool feather tree that  made in Joanne's class.

 

There is still competition for Mom's chair.  Or maybe it isn't really Mom's chair after all. 
It's all about CATS!

                                                         Isabell, Penny and Reggie
These guys just had their three year birthdays.  And they are still acting like a bunch of wild kittens.

As of this past Monday, the wound vac is OFF!  I still need to go to the hospital several times a week for a dressing change and leg wrap, but at least I don't have to lug that machine around any more.
The healing is almost complete.  Horay!
Who would think that such a stupid accident could cause such a mess?  Somehow I will have to be less clumsy in the future.   How the h--- am I gonna do that???