tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90500858932438347192024-03-23T06:14:33.559-04:00Barbara's Spot on the BlogI'm not sure what this is going to be, but I think it will be a list of the meanderings of my mind (scary thought!). Hopefully some of my epiphanies will prove interesting or provoke some thought and hopefully the occasional chuckle.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-51476776222379069212014-03-03T23:19:00.002-05:002014-03-08T22:01:02.156-05:00Bathroom Renovation and Faux Marble Vanity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-iWt-yvR7s8Ho5K1Toy-8Dwa6U0Wz8hyphenhyphenHX5bhTpgJprTeHeaiSFh58ffmxcJvdZWH3jet6ipJl7ymj9eWOv5zb4S2AbZC-m8Q9XMji5fiT7ggkA0rsfshieI8GTMrOiqKEX2ce0n8mw/s1600/DSCF1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI_YjEO58qcE01AZm6Ic3R461khoNx-SfwsdwoMeg8BQKAxVt5yU-yHMsXQOlx2HVGn8UjIyYEvRfkH8HMWhGzuBVmDoENOnBgJb4wqw2kFeL8fMPDlwXFnvrWo86l_1UZATVpOVxRRQ/s1600/before1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI_YjEO58qcE01AZm6Ic3R461khoNx-SfwsdwoMeg8BQKAxVt5yU-yHMsXQOlx2HVGn8UjIyYEvRfkH8HMWhGzuBVmDoENOnBgJb4wqw2kFeL8fMPDlwXFnvrWo86l_1UZATVpOVxRRQ/s320/before1.JPG" /></a>This winter I've been busy renovating.</div>
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I started on the living room but while waiting for the hardwood floors to dry I got started on the bathroom.</div>
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And I couldn't stop.</div>
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Here's a photo journal of the experience.</div>
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Photo - this is the BEFORE pink bathroom.</div>
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The original sink, tub and toilet were pinkish like the tile.<br />
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We replaced about 10 years ago with white.</div>
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Now it's past time for that pink tile colour to go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvV61vfq1xrqHm2JQlKn84tsQvXXE5WKFlS30zDPJqqMqmkb2xqfkS-dNykPFbHBR4MjSWlWZ61k5bUYSb3gcLlkLsyhFK9C5HS7Car2FxNyNJEUrl8-tftDhz87_o3paNY_uJGIbSRo/s1600/beforeceiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvV61vfq1xrqHm2JQlKn84tsQvXXE5WKFlS30zDPJqqMqmkb2xqfkS-dNykPFbHBR4MjSWlWZ61k5bUYSb3gcLlkLsyhFK9C5HS7Car2FxNyNJEUrl8-tftDhz87_o3paNY_uJGIbSRo/s320/beforeceiling.JPG" /></a>There were also some other problems.</div>
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No fan in the room and so the ceiling had moisture spots.</div>
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The light fixtures were original and so they will be replaced.</div>
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The vanity has a faux pinkish laminate.</div>
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This was popular in the 1960's because my childhood dresser had the same pinkish laminate.</div>
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After removing the shower curtain and everything else from the room I scraped the ceiling of the loose and peeling paint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RujcjLYC11vERu7pS4YtAPDum5kf4FXqrcTwzT1KJ6ZZ-Nf9rEukCYqbZQqopxwnp9kBAGYNaNwJEjAX-9GwQtdSzsxnqvMG68OE6Alv6JwpkfKfTbQ4DDramSThA6SS5PXWhIpu7SM/s1600/beforeceilingscrape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RujcjLYC11vERu7pS4YtAPDum5kf4FXqrcTwzT1KJ6ZZ-Nf9rEukCYqbZQqopxwnp9kBAGYNaNwJEjAX-9GwQtdSzsxnqvMG68OE6Alv6JwpkfKfTbQ4DDramSThA6SS5PXWhIpu7SM/s320/beforeceilingscrape.JPG" /></a>After scraping for a while I ended up duct taping a scraper to a painting pole.</div>
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This allowed me to give my knees a break from climbing up and down the ladder.</div>
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I could easily scrape while standing on the floor.</div>
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Prior to painting the tile I took a rough sandpaper and sanded both the tiles and the laminate to rough it up a bit.</div>
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I used CIL Smart Anywhere white primer as a base coat for the tile and the laminate.</div>
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There was even enough of the primer left over to do two coats on the ceiling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTIDrsrlRobAIcQFYGi2F8CJpu19WamKL8RP_LvxOiFWb0Eq0W3WP_gIHK3mJVI_WVr06TSq7yMNUnKqmUvQeIfI0NUIywwSq2jfEh00imf52NqVXY7NmT4e2iSAJq9tTJrdXP_K1Go/s1600/DSCF1668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTIDrsrlRobAIcQFYGi2F8CJpu19WamKL8RP_LvxOiFWb0Eq0W3WP_gIHK3mJVI_WVr06TSq7yMNUnKqmUvQeIfI0NUIywwSq2jfEh00imf52NqVXY7NmT4e2iSAJq9tTJrdXP_K1Go/s320/DSCF1668.JPG" /></a>When that was dry I did two more coats on the ceiling with the Behr white satin finish - the same one I used on the tiles and trim.</div>
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I used is Behr water-based acrylic paints with primer in the paint.</div>
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I debated a lot about whether to remove the tiles. </div>
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I considered the time and effort to repair the wall to get it smooth or replace with something else like bead board.</div>
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I realized the easiest and most straightforward fix was to just paint the tile.</div>
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So I did.</div>
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The vanity. trim and baseboards were painted with the white satin paint.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETwkBeRlXo6y2OPcErQUsj4xR1pnPS8LqGzQ-7qSmURLSL9_KeqN3u4ncATNU0zjW0cedeu-beIsCTnuO8xW02ejZMFqheHrYzuD8IQckDZVYviA9Loi7GK-BoR5P7elbWyQinc3dmS8/s1600/DSCF1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETwkBeRlXo6y2OPcErQUsj4xR1pnPS8LqGzQ-7qSmURLSL9_KeqN3u4ncATNU0zjW0cedeu-beIsCTnuO8xW02ejZMFqheHrYzuD8IQckDZVYviA9Loi7GK-BoR5P7elbWyQinc3dmS8/s1600/DSCF1714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
The drawer pulls were bronze.<br />
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I painted over the drawer pulls in white as a lazy and cheap fix.</div>
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I did three coats of white on the tiles.</div>
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(The bathroom is small so there was no shortage of paint for extra coats).</div>
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Bye bye pink and hello gray inspiration.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ATZcV4snq9_3OpmLaP0lOdZo1j-NL-GPKBUuca-Sscp_W3gLD8f3qaw2gxZlDSXpEg6pervYrAD7WVyVzhob_33Jam8kJSosticl3EhztciLxYdy7uoaEQQm5aq32ii3B8oq45_smd0/s1600/DSCF1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ATZcV4snq9_3OpmLaP0lOdZo1j-NL-GPKBUuca-Sscp_W3gLD8f3qaw2gxZlDSXpEg6pervYrAD7WVyVzhob_33Jam8kJSosticl3EhztciLxYdy7uoaEQQm5aq32ii3B8oq45_smd0/s320/DSCF1750.JPG" /></a> The CIL Smart Any Where primer used on the laminate has a strong "profile" so it grips well with the next layers of paint that are laid down.</div>
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My colour scheme for the new bathroom is by Behr as well, again with primer in with the paint.</div>
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For the walls above the tile I painted in a dark gray Behr 760F-6 Distant Thunder.</div>
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I wanted a dark and dramatic look.</div>
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I debated a lot about dark on the bottom or the top and finally decided on a non-traditional dark top and light bottom.</div>
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I did two coats of the gray.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljmozgX2XlrtBLEFEGx5b0fy_QDcgUN57TT8vVl_FbwFOWmRz8vz4hsqR3ghojYlVX2bIILRHWogKowhqVAp_CAOmoyVTO4l1UPHhPkSeuETMtlCDl3DgDSQdfWQVhMrtb8uQutot-Ns/s1600/DSCF1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljmozgX2XlrtBLEFEGx5b0fy_QDcgUN57TT8vVl_FbwFOWmRz8vz4hsqR3ghojYlVX2bIILRHWogKowhqVAp_CAOmoyVTO4l1UPHhPkSeuETMtlCDl3DgDSQdfWQVhMrtb8uQutot-Ns/s320/DSCF1751.JPG" /></a></div>
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I am super pleased with the result.</div>
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I also did a faux marble on the laminate.<br />
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I used all the colours on one colour card (listed below) and then added in a soft white.<br />
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I bought the tester size of the colours.<br />
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There was plenty to finish the entire job.<br />
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The testers only cost about $9.00 each and I have over half left in each </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR9NJq8bMBJLYCyFVvxglezS8b85tKzuk-ieTcovlNz8T-dpN6z3JHJANs4wqY76tTkSL6dgsxwv7b183d_Mn-2pYFF8IlfRzHABZ3F-qLBtHpoMWLLurbPXSQ6nGUhfDtjMiK3_cPZo/s1600/paintedikeashelves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR9NJq8bMBJLYCyFVvxglezS8b85tKzuk-ieTcovlNz8T-dpN6z3JHJANs4wqY76tTkSL6dgsxwv7b183d_Mn-2pYFF8IlfRzHABZ3F-qLBtHpoMWLLurbPXSQ6nGUhfDtjMiK3_cPZo/s320/paintedikeashelves.JPG" /></a></div>
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It was recommended for the faux laminate that I use the flat paint with primer in the paint.<br />
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Flat was selected since it has more of a profile to grip with the sealer which would go on top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqcNERWhK5M4fA8JL_xDq1C-4e71NIcyuTLrltNzfzal5FPMR1C5B5G3pGyVjhhR-iFNR44LrEmRm_OjURu0Hdtct-YvzFSDScxptzvolIWorDATKnonm4qlRbuFOxwKCH-ImectKNMY/s1600/behrpaintcolours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqcNERWhK5M4fA8JL_xDq1C-4e71NIcyuTLrltNzfzal5FPMR1C5B5G3pGyVjhhR-iFNR44LrEmRm_OjURu0Hdtct-YvzFSDScxptzvolIWorDATKnonm4qlRbuFOxwKCH-ImectKNMY/s320/behrpaintcolours.jpg" /></a></div>
Behr Latex<br />
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With Primer in the Paint:<br />
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UL-201 White - Moon Rise</div>
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And colour chart at left:<br />
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760F-4 Down Pour</div>
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760F-5 Milestone</div>
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760F-6 Distant Thunder* (walls)</div>
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760F-7 Sorcerer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZO1SEJQ9w6LeUwJ2K5iWfQpHDfxS0Kq5aAwK-nJCR9N51qWNrKdB5YqFqgnWbP46oB1C_acRq4uL-muI4gsKWmOuE6_K2ZZ0yGsvzjGmBhNP1EvZDyVqrml7bqNB3d6KFB5lofdzX4U/s1600/fabricshowercurtain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZO1SEJQ9w6LeUwJ2K5iWfQpHDfxS0Kq5aAwK-nJCR9N51qWNrKdB5YqFqgnWbP46oB1C_acRq4uL-muI4gsKWmOuE6_K2ZZ0yGsvzjGmBhNP1EvZDyVqrml7bqNB3d6KFB5lofdzX4U/s320/fabricshowercurtain.JPG" /></a></div>
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After doing the faux marble I did three coats of a water based non-yellowing sealer.<br />
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The sealer was not smelly and each coat was completely dry in three hours.</div>
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Two wooden storage boxes bought years ago at Ikea were painted white and the drawer fronts painted gray.</div>
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They are resting on the toilet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4hkWrmRHqbFIv94T_WxP6OFETHIDZQ0rH6veJ6V4Kdj_Wo-8PAvM40oX3b4NU9qTP4cic7Fr5DIC0gCuwknGOB_0DYn6Q6eO_V7vvHjXnb6y6pj9lBYwPZ3xcI_SLN8y5QaGzh7qd0o/s1600/pier1smlantern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4hkWrmRHqbFIv94T_WxP6OFETHIDZQ0rH6veJ6V4Kdj_Wo-8PAvM40oX3b4NU9qTP4cic7Fr5DIC0gCuwknGOB_0DYn6Q6eO_V7vvHjXnb6y6pj9lBYwPZ3xcI_SLN8y5QaGzh7qd0o/s320/pier1smlantern.JPG" /></a>I already had many white accessories and some could easily be painted white or gray.</div>
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A small plastic stool I painted dark gray.</div>
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Wicker containers I painted white.</div>
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When doing the faux marble I used a rag for each colour.</div>
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I would dip the rag into the paint container and then tap it onto the laminate.</div>
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I focused on doing streams of white that branch out in the marble.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvvgrFMkz2MquydMksTKuqZAxGwvPTLMgrNEyn6nXGxewTsEmOqaCHvsl97jEJOeptLe8bdJTZ4qtkY1G2fpIVGnqVeQweM5j6VyOgRBMyNf9RCcCUJAPSUDK9DlC9h3AZuCCtnPdkII/s1600/DSCF1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvvgrFMkz2MquydMksTKuqZAxGwvPTLMgrNEyn6nXGxewTsEmOqaCHvsl97jEJOeptLe8bdJTZ4qtkY1G2fpIVGnqVeQweM5j6VyOgRBMyNf9RCcCUJAPSUDK9DlC9h3AZuCCtnPdkII/s320/DSCF1746.JPG" /></a></div>
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The mirror I hung on the door, from Pier1, was originally bronze and I painted it white and then gave it three coats of Martha Stewart Silver paint.</div>
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The curtains are not bathroom curtains but they were so perfect I got them. Habitat "Rebecca" panels from Home Depot.</div>
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The white shower curtain is a mould resistant fabric.<br />
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I needed two shower curtain rods and hung them side-by-side.</div>
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I've always put knick-knacks on the windowsill in the bathroom and most of these I already had in the home.<br />
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The lanterns are from Pier1.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVhk6qHeiFTpzISHGrQUqfQLod6gjEY1rte8eqqfiu9JL7fwsm-Pp-Bx3U6uxLXuSF6dpw8rzmRiS74M7ljm2N347yNBukopmQIcVa7iHRnaWXozERe32SeUKFQuBlPgC641AZmIpUlM/s1600/DSCF1728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVhk6qHeiFTpzISHGrQUqfQLod6gjEY1rte8eqqfiu9JL7fwsm-Pp-Bx3U6uxLXuSF6dpw8rzmRiS74M7ljm2N347yNBukopmQIcVa7iHRnaWXozERe32SeUKFQuBlPgC641AZmIpUlM/s1600/DSCF1728.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>When shopping for lighting I absolutely fell in love with the black chandeliers (I think they're more charcoal coloured) from <a href="http://www.livinglighting.com/">www.livinglighting.com</a> here in London Ontario.</div>
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I learned how to install lighting on U-Tube, along with a few questions at the store.</div>
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I did them myself. First time to install an electrical appliance.<br />
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It was scary but I got a great feeling of accomplishment by doing it myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-iWt-yvR7s8Ho5K1Toy-8Dwa6U0Wz8hyphenhyphenHX5bhTpgJprTeHeaiSFh58ffmxcJvdZWH3jet6ipJl7ymj9eWOv5zb4S2AbZC-m8Q9XMji5fiT7ggkA0rsfshieI8GTMrOiqKEX2ce0n8mw/s1600/DSCF1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-iWt-yvR7s8Ho5K1Toy-8Dwa6U0Wz8hyphenhyphenHX5bhTpgJprTeHeaiSFh58ffmxcJvdZWH3jet6ipJl7ymj9eWOv5zb4S2AbZC-m8Q9XMji5fiT7ggkA0rsfshieI8GTMrOiqKEX2ce0n8mw/s1600/DSCF1729.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Other accessories like the bamboo star and wire container were gold and I painted them white.<br />
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I also made a shelf painted gray to go over the door. It will hold baskets painted white where I can put extra new shampoo bottles, body soap, etc.<br />
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This helps to reduce congestion in the small bathroom.<br />
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I got the shelf idea from my next favourite online program - Pinterest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUjeYS7qPK7sL8tqXzEougJUtthOY3brOIUPfihdUJZDnvaCFdamnNujRvqGevr8ZKbfH7KDDWf4edgB-3RiiEfUtMxzMHzQD4xEwF_JQ4s86mT3EvLi8N-TBf5PDmdgZaYaeOXv_Btc/s1600/DSCF1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUjeYS7qPK7sL8tqXzEougJUtthOY3brOIUPfihdUJZDnvaCFdamnNujRvqGevr8ZKbfH7KDDWf4edgB-3RiiEfUtMxzMHzQD4xEwF_JQ4s86mT3EvLi8N-TBf5PDmdgZaYaeOXv_Btc/s1600/DSCF1733.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>In fact, the ideas for the bathroom all came from Pinterest. Instead of collecting photos from magazines I created a Bathroom folder on Pinterest and them started to pin every photo of a bathroom or bathroom accessory that I liked.<br />
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Then I narrowed down my choices as I decided on the colour - gray. I pinned photos of mirrors and chandeliers. I considered wallpaper versus paint, etc.<br />
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So I must thank all those people out there that took the time to post their favourite bathroom renovations because it helped me with my choices.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tgm1r0bXtx3FfOKXfbxbgj4kgPPihysE80tq9fo4Uevq4gXIPV4ne21InMIV-oh_kSS9Xg_09noZSXQiobsA4yWkqxm5liv8cQCXtOuWFpmaV9tJFewlGhXkrW2pmKQdy1QjCUL0eLQ/s1600/DSCF1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tgm1r0bXtx3FfOKXfbxbgj4kgPPihysE80tq9fo4Uevq4gXIPV4ne21InMIV-oh_kSS9Xg_09noZSXQiobsA4yWkqxm5liv8cQCXtOuWFpmaV9tJFewlGhXkrW2pmKQdy1QjCUL0eLQ/s1600/DSCF1747.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>It also meant that there were no surprises in this renovation. I'd seen every colour and style chosen in photos on Pinterest before trying it myself.<br />
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Here's a link to my Pinterest photo collection Bathroom - <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/beekeeperbarb/bathrooms-gray-inspiration/">Bathroom - Gray Inspiration</a>. I hope you find it inspiring as I did.<br />
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I've saved a lot of money doing the renovations myself which left me with cash to buy the lighting and accessories.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
I didn't realize before how addictive DIY can be. I just love it and I'm planning other projects.<br />
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Here's a link to my U-Tube videos on how to do the faux marble. </div>
Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-11535804003636900622010-06-26T23:50:00.002-04:002010-06-26T23:56:50.521-04:00Cat Bed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8IyPw9zcCiXrPFVsGz5TE8ehMCiQbtNXpOJ6FJAEKy3Dy2f7XbZbWCT-wDcn4lp-HrRTRyS_GG7t_9NCXhFSJrNpX20f-DdqkHOYaO6toQMcA92WNBCGW1EKD2chkD-XjMzJ5KcMq8/s1600/DSCF2634.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487296474477133698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8IyPw9zcCiXrPFVsGz5TE8ehMCiQbtNXpOJ6FJAEKy3Dy2f7XbZbWCT-wDcn4lp-HrRTRyS_GG7t_9NCXhFSJrNpX20f-DdqkHOYaO6toQMcA92WNBCGW1EKD2chkD-XjMzJ5KcMq8/s320/DSCF2634.jpg" /></a>I read in one of my weaving books that you should loosen the tension on the warp when not weaving. So I did.<br /><br />I read that sometimes cats would find the weaving project a nice place for a nap.<br /><br />So I covered it with the weaving shuttles.<br /><br />The cat just shoved them aside.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8IyPw9zcCiXrPFVsGz5TE8ehMCiQbtNXpOJ6FJAEKy3Dy2f7XbZbWCT-wDcn4lp-HrRTRyS_GG7t_9NCXhFSJrNpX20f-DdqkHOYaO6toQMcA92WNBCGW1EKD2chkD-XjMzJ5KcMq8/s1600/DSCF2634.jpg"></a><br />I surmised that the warp wasn't loose enough and that if I make it really loose that the cat would find it too unsteady to sleep on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVuRY0Y7fJ8ZcVHwMOnAuOsGGA_6FZOa5AWg1WhZsTE4-1IIPCViytx3et0frgWRh2H_zyYPtRfcm97RVU6vupONkNIY7eAA-phGMLcJlizrJwcwmLW2wf2mLi5Qt79dmtWn1yUtyqlY/s1600/DSCF2635.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487296480534139266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVuRY0Y7fJ8ZcVHwMOnAuOsGGA_6FZOa5AWg1WhZsTE4-1IIPCViytx3et0frgWRh2H_zyYPtRfcm97RVU6vupONkNIY7eAA-phGMLcJlizrJwcwmLW2wf2mLi5Qt79dmtWn1yUtyqlY/s320/DSCF2635.jpg" /></a>I was wrong.<br /><br />I had created a beautiful and very comfy hammock.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD0qUPlaA-xgVfaGna_YBEI0Ty8nr_8RJMDjpuo0bhUIFHfTIiCTH1Qu2RbKJSz3bmd9ptBwC6lgd1SmiNfBjnG1YoEx1sA9i-tp5mPbD6vEvJZhPswGKqfwf1UAwuzsxiE0YhIvoc_A/s1600/DSCF2632.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487296466653896130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD0qUPlaA-xgVfaGna_YBEI0Ty8nr_8RJMDjpuo0bhUIFHfTIiCTH1Qu2RbKJSz3bmd9ptBwC6lgd1SmiNfBjnG1YoEx1sA9i-tp5mPbD6vEvJZhPswGKqfwf1UAwuzsxiE0YhIvoc_A/s320/DSCF2632.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-68130605156306802012010-06-06T00:44:00.005-04:002010-06-06T01:06:39.932-04:00Strawberries & Cream or Pink Fluff?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1rOmYJELwJBrqnGBwxZ7mwdrsOIf2ZJ_sO2g7a4oxIsiclDW3RhQOajueX5o6a5qv-_jDg6arfpz3QU3NAilgfqW6iVkELP5T6JWbD3Bzk6GTX2eG51Iafv_Zw4C4FoETcXyF2jOuQo/s1600/DSCF2472.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479518240943519170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1rOmYJELwJBrqnGBwxZ7mwdrsOIf2ZJ_sO2g7a4oxIsiclDW3RhQOajueX5o6a5qv-_jDg6arfpz3QU3NAilgfqW6iVkELP5T6JWbD3Bzk6GTX2eG51Iafv_Zw4C4FoETcXyF2jOuQo/s320/DSCF2472.jpg" /></a>Maybe candy floss would be a more appropriate name to describe this celebration of the colour pink. <div></div><div> </div><div>This is my latest weaving project and my second to put on the loom.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqzl3hZMoF60to1JpTR6RTWJnCraBcwzArllZ-bcMLwAigqC8q9gJJW9O25QXE5XRp7OppxglQ_dmkwbML6YBmnQh6gJgbAqtoBkZSTBbbtbPUgRB0iOx9sXs-E0394VBGJ3aISy5LPc/s1600/DSCF2464.jpg"></a></div><div>The photo is of the warping mill. It came with the loom (used) that I bought a few months ago. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>It's a very simple system that helps when making a warp. It keeps all the yarns from getting snarled and helps to measure the length of each strand.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRF8mTrFC81C8fE1nY6WpbZSGLlvHY3RqHDG4_JHnmimlfJRL4S6Ik3proDM1AjW6F6FkeWZuqbc80f7ThnayBOP6Vd-3-tKfcOQwvXWWLJ0Arn0kJqvxJvUNwpO4WVeLpOi_Z8AF_XU/s1600/DSCF2460.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479518233876750386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRF8mTrFC81C8fE1nY6WpbZSGLlvHY3RqHDG4_JHnmimlfJRL4S6Ik3proDM1AjW6F6FkeWZuqbc80f7ThnayBOP6Vd-3-tKfcOQwvXWWLJ0Arn0kJqvxJvUNwpO4WVeLpOi_Z8AF_XU/s320/DSCF2460.jpg" /></a></div><div>Once the yarn is tied on, the mill is turned around and around, something like a windmill, with an easy flick of the hand. My shoulder joints certainly like that idea. </div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div>The plan is to make 3 shawls one for myself, the others for my mother and sister.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqzl3hZMoF60to1JpTR6RTWJnCraBcwzArllZ-bcMLwAigqC8q9gJJW9O25QXE5XRp7OppxglQ_dmkwbML6YBmnQh6gJgbAqtoBkZSTBbbtbPUgRB0iOx9sXs-E0394VBGJ3aISy5LPc/s1600/DSCF2464.jpg"></a> </div><div> </div><div>Currently I'm in the process of "dressing" the loom (stringing it) which I'm fitting into the evenings in between various other chores.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>When I'm not working on it though I have to tuck all the ends in and cover them to keep the cats from playing with this lovely bit of string.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqzl3hZMoF60to1JpTR6RTWJnCraBcwzArllZ-bcMLwAigqC8q9gJJW9O25QXE5XRp7OppxglQ_dmkwbML6YBmnQh6gJgbAqtoBkZSTBbbtbPUgRB0iOx9sXs-E0394VBGJ3aISy5LPc/s1600/DSCF2464.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479518244908482162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqzl3hZMoF60to1JpTR6RTWJnCraBcwzArllZ-bcMLwAigqC8q9gJJW9O25QXE5XRp7OppxglQ_dmkwbML6YBmnQh6gJgbAqtoBkZSTBbbtbPUgRB0iOx9sXs-E0394VBGJ3aISy5LPc/s320/DSCF2464.jpg" /></a></div>This spring has proven to be especially busy with work, hobby beekeeping and gardening. I'm really wishing there were more hours in the day so I could do more. An energy boost wouldn't go astray either!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>All are doing well, cats and Jeremy squirrel. He's living in his home made house which he really likes.</div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-24694600875384645652010-04-17T16:14:00.005-04:002010-04-17T18:52:15.497-04:00Warp and Weft<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8OK9imHGSTvbCQnKy6T_8r5Nxg9Uzzsaw-Qv7UOGLZvAJWK6JEEKZGM94iuGYh4ehb_FCT03qo5f6tlbir-HHg1h8UnfzS06uzkGl_gn1E2GP4tiwN9nCKgXPe3Tnrn_LzjjyPZDRdM/s1600/DSCF2393.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461202973060726242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8OK9imHGSTvbCQnKy6T_8r5Nxg9Uzzsaw-Qv7UOGLZvAJWK6JEEKZGM94iuGYh4ehb_FCT03qo5f6tlbir-HHg1h8UnfzS06uzkGl_gn1E2GP4tiwN9nCKgXPe3Tnrn_LzjjyPZDRdM/s320/DSCF2393.jpg" /></a>"Weft goes left". At least that's how I remember it.<br /><br />Here's my first official weaving project that is something useful.<br /><br />Just in case you're not sure what it is - it's a scarf.<br /><br />I'm quite happy with it.<br /><br />The warp (the strings on the loom at run north and south) is a navy blue wool.<br /><br />The weft is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">denim</span> coloured wool. It's roving from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Northern</span> Lights that I spun on my spinning wheel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlfwccScbS-77ki7L2hXQFyDF51FLrnboCfbyQIcZqjMnBk1SsBl7J48VRMz9-oJwvAGR8OJx5tpOyHqvdFbaVHtihQ8vr5kVBD9q2Xczwb-lH32_t7ZAchBAWbAVDcy5B_ws_YY220Q/s1600/denimyarn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461202979493424050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlfwccScbS-77ki7L2hXQFyDF51FLrnboCfbyQIcZqjMnBk1SsBl7J48VRMz9-oJwvAGR8OJx5tpOyHqvdFbaVHtihQ8vr5kVBD9q2Xczwb-lH32_t7ZAchBAWbAVDcy5B_ws_YY220Q/s320/denimyarn.jpg" /></a>It was interesting to see the fabric's finished look as the yarns were combined to make the cloth.<br /><br /><br />The homespun is a much lighter blue so I can compare to see how much the navy of the warp changed its final appearance.<br /><br />This project took me (a beginner) about 2 days to make.<br /><br />That estimate includes making the warp, dressing the loom (stringing the loom) and then weaving the project.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9drfOOZH9gnD3UIGv2rsE1fkfgIWicr0DVuxyMHwfWKc98SAM5SOJNZ3MZ5pERz44k2cH26WrO1kyCvaVlo3cWhwwvnUGnt6jpzDm293_m9xFfEFCKr-kYiMBXXKB2_cWNuhyphenhyphen5P8NpU/s1600/DSCF2392.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461202661182356818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9drfOOZH9gnD3UIGv2rsE1fkfgIWicr0DVuxyMHwfWKc98SAM5SOJNZ3MZ5pERz44k2cH26WrO1kyCvaVlo3cWhwwvnUGnt6jpzDm293_m9xFfEFCKr-kYiMBXXKB2_cWNuhyphenhyphen5P8NpU/s320/DSCF2392.jpg" /></a>(Photo - the weaving is done and the threads have been cut at the back of the loom, loosening the tension of the warp).<br /><br />The happy dance at the end was only about 30 seconds :)<br /><br />The only good part about our weather turning cold and more spring-like is that now I can wear the scarf.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-79422453451151967812010-04-16T22:38:00.000-04:002010-04-16T22:38:00.633-04:00Wishing and WonderingI was sitting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">quietly</span> in the back yard on a warm and sunny afternoon. Spring was blessing us with a few unusual warm days and I've been very much appreciating them.<br /><br />The children who live behind me were all outside and I could hear their laughter while they played. Some of the children must have gone inside and one child remained outside.<br /><br />Suddenly the air was filled with loud singing. This child, I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guesstimated</span> to be about 6 or 7, had burst into a spontaneous made-up song.<br /><br />I smiled.<br /><br />Such unabashed joy and hope were so strongly felt that she couldn't help herself but to express it.<br /><br />I remembered I used to do that too. I particularly remember one afternoon in the barn at Grandpa's that I sang Jim <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jimmeny</span> over and over (from the Mary Poppins movie). I sang it while I attempted to balance on the edge of the manger and walk the whole distance of about 8 feet with my arms stuck out sideways. I just loved that song.<br /><br />I asked myself what had happened to me. To us adults. Why can't I suddenly burst out into spontaneous song? (Why do I feel I can't?) I guess I grew up. And I fear 'men in white jackets'.<br /><br />But listening to that little girl I couldn't help but let go a few tears, remembering and regretting growing up maybe a bit too much.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-31544714612699690132010-04-15T10:14:00.000-04:002010-04-15T10:14:00.195-04:00Another New Hobby - Weaving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HZbn6_xVdHGxbBeR1c1LSHSeZJsO4Y88kgewnwVUhEBfDoVwNXwfKsZ_ZG4JLD2Me4QRl2iGjMEUOFSzCwaD19G7dXWnUJSbO1XzDjmoyK6nm5K7SU7-joqzZ8L9uAFpM4tLd7o_Gco/s1600/DSCF2344.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460183849106910658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HZbn6_xVdHGxbBeR1c1LSHSeZJsO4Y88kgewnwVUhEBfDoVwNXwfKsZ_ZG4JLD2Me4QRl2iGjMEUOFSzCwaD19G7dXWnUJSbO1XzDjmoyK6nm5K7SU7-joqzZ8L9uAFpM4tLd7o_Gco/s320/DSCF2344.jpg" /></a>Oh I've been busy! <div><div><div> </div><div>Spring has sprung and all the little jobs spring up just like the tulips and crocuses.</div><div><br />My honey bees have been busy flying and I've been tending to them - spring feeding and taking their winter hive wraps off.<br /><br />Between getting the taxes done, Red Cross training courses, a really bad cold and some other mundane must do's I managed to take weaving classes... and I purchased a used loom.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpRbPcuEVPWeZJMRC7RzEs7LpO4nc3VPYqnaNiIVIl514BQIpeoQXrfPmVlppCGksWu9LwTpX3oozjCv5IexMRZ3R11qKVm5pc6bKK6VplVnDuI2jtd5KXPVR2xl6u80CvRSf1WZU7qM/s1600/DSCF2343.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460183857192308994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpRbPcuEVPWeZJMRC7RzEs7LpO4nc3VPYqnaNiIVIl514BQIpeoQXrfPmVlppCGksWu9LwTpX3oozjCv5IexMRZ3R11qKVm5pc6bKK6VplVnDuI2jtd5KXPVR2xl6u80CvRSf1WZU7qM/s320/DSCF2343.jpg" /></a>Her name is Fanny. She's a Leclerc loom made in Quebec and she's now resting, her maple wood polished to a high shine, in my living room. I think the loom was made in the 1970's, but I'll get more details on that later.</div><div><br />For now, I have a new vobulary, breast beams, beaters, shuttles, heddle hooks, and other parts of the loom. Then there's the different weaves you can make, the plain being a Tabby, the most common a Twill and my favourite so far, the most difficult called Broken Herringbone.</div><div> </div><div>For the classes you learn to make four coasters. </div><div> </div><div>Thoughts of coasters don't really get me enthused a whole lot but when I realized that the purpose behind the four coasters is to learn the four basic weaving patterns, I realized the method behind the (boring) coasters.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm7PWo9Wg53sjEtLaPteGkpXAU2TikTgRyfRXbL2VI1HdBOuC9nm_M0lfHHwbKx0beE03yNzoDEQjztyUgGweoVfDdlobN3FJn62mEHbmWHhOnR3IxtCaguswi3wTmxfW6N1oJNR9xSQ/s1600/DSCF2340.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460183841130400418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm7PWo9Wg53sjEtLaPteGkpXAU2TikTgRyfRXbL2VI1HdBOuC9nm_M0lfHHwbKx0beE03yNzoDEQjztyUgGweoVfDdlobN3FJn62mEHbmWHhOnR3IxtCaguswi3wTmxfW6N1oJNR9xSQ/s320/DSCF2340.jpg" /></a>We used table looms for the classes and they're really nifty, portable too.</div><div> </div><div>The final part of the class is the fun part and that's when you get to really make something.</div><div> </div><div>I'm not big on table runners so I opted to make a scarf.</div><div> </div><div>Hopefully my loom will be up and running in the next week or so.</div><div> </div><div>I plan to make lots of blankets... maybe even some cotton curtains for my garage.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuSyuRrXNiCH3lgz6qT67cH-luqkjgQVCYA9c1kcttch_Ik44hAzzxmhNnlAWQAWaOCsKcOY99pnRI1aicPItMyVr8gE1OWFis1WCp3DmSDdFWtG1ry9TQjKN38NhdtUWRxQr_L48_7c/s1600/DSCF2342.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460183845309860322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuSyuRrXNiCH3lgz6qT67cH-luqkjgQVCYA9c1kcttch_Ik44hAzzxmhNnlAWQAWaOCsKcOY99pnRI1aicPItMyVr8gE1OWFis1WCp3DmSDdFWtG1ry9TQjKN38NhdtUWRxQr_L48_7c/s320/DSCF2342.jpg" /></a>For the scarf I'm making in class, I'm using my own homespun wool.</div><div> </div><div>How is your spring going? What projects have you been working on?</div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-4733562928529582642010-04-14T17:52:00.000-04:002010-04-14T22:14:35.925-04:00In the Lap of Luxury<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLY8o6A1RtpsAwuR451MwYqkTECMp0w9AXGr3b9kKptqCILSCVX-ftsOCFkD-VVNJ7mG5UPMgTvawyYHAnliq6yp7XDPucDUpx6FSAPnWpQYly124OzDb779qrodIhgNSJyAfEiM962w/s1600/DSCF2380.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 285px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460180137128794034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLY8o6A1RtpsAwuR451MwYqkTECMp0w9AXGr3b9kKptqCILSCVX-ftsOCFkD-VVNJ7mG5UPMgTvawyYHAnliq6yp7XDPucDUpx6FSAPnWpQYly124OzDb779qrodIhgNSJyAfEiM962w/s320/DSCF2380.jpg" /></a> It took my Dad most of the day to design and make it.<br />I evicted Jeremy squirrel on a warmer winter day but I knew he'd be intent to get back into the garage. After all, he'd spent considerable time making a home there in the roof joist.<br /><br />He'd carted dried leaves to use as bedding. He snooped through the garage and found plastic shopping bags. These he chewed up to make soft bedding.<br /><br />Then he <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">committed</span> the ultimate crime and stole the curtains over the garage door window. I'm sure he couldn't resist the cotton fabric.<br /><br />But Jeremy was chewing the wood, probably to make his home bigger and he couldn't be allowed to stay and create damage. So he was nicely evicted.<br /><br />When Dad heard his plight he opted to help. If Jeremy could be happy with a home elsewhere he'd stop trying to get back in the garage.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQglk7pTC415Jb6VgCqc2PhDuyjR1GfUTI47IKT8WchxLZTx-DZs-5ZE-is-kyLt2Q04IySqkg88TVPyegy-EZOTFntWpe2tlqLcvkgK_km0YyUJUQRG2PNetNsX8RGwqrdei_f0dN240/s1600/DSCF2381.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460180139650512130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQglk7pTC415Jb6VgCqc2PhDuyjR1GfUTI47IKT8WchxLZTx-DZs-5ZE-is-kyLt2Q04IySqkg88TVPyegy-EZOTFntWpe2tlqLcvkgK_km0YyUJUQRG2PNetNsX8RGwqrdei_f0dN240/s320/DSCF2381.jpg" /></a><br />So Dad made him a house. Not just an ordinary house. No, this house is lined in carpet and cut to size. There's enough room for a tubby Jeremy to sleep in a whole bunch of different positions.<br /><br />I set the house up and it took about 2 days for Jeremy to move in.<br /><br />Now he rests in the lap of luxury - scraps of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sheep's </span>wool, alpaca fibre, leaves, straw and best of all, the garage curtains.<br /><br />On this sunny afternoon Jeremy was trying to sleep but a talkative neighbour next door kept waking him up. He'd poke his head out and lean out of his doorway to see what was going on.<br /><br />I talked to him to ask him what he was thinking.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUvzFplgMKm5xkPrZWRqNEQAe_NHrYqxWya2rzq8jt9gH37SIqlOAkW0kO1gpWLRXSXLyUMvZlEOuzYqqFfBdyPt6wYx5ZzZacUf_S_qWESuEPJvPQQ0Wz9XqhpB0KTzOsilpOOsY954/s1600/DSCF2382.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460180144495964786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUvzFplgMKm5xkPrZWRqNEQAe_NHrYqxWya2rzq8jt9gH37SIqlOAkW0kO1gpWLRXSXLyUMvZlEOuzYqqFfBdyPt6wYx5ZzZacUf_S_qWESuEPJvPQQ0Wz9XqhpB0KTzOsilpOOsY954/s320/DSCF2382.jpg" /></a>He sat back down inside his house and pulled the door closed - see the photo where he pushed the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sheep's</span> wool up to cover the doorway.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-971258636175772302010-02-14T22:32:00.003-05:002010-06-06T01:16:24.195-04:00Alpacas & Ducks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgd7GK3RU_QcPDDrPfPbnJVaTeJTcdecy0ewJNvZnR1ifdSxfIDGOLZWDJfXUKaaSdvVcJ0qMa9_hAmMjG6ThvsyQ7ox7TaY3mpE5K1vdK3Z11_QWkBZM4HsJWIGvG8f2i9sLYMEyrNE/s1600-h/DSCF2263.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438308482816866146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgd7GK3RU_QcPDDrPfPbnJVaTeJTcdecy0ewJNvZnR1ifdSxfIDGOLZWDJfXUKaaSdvVcJ0qMa9_hAmMjG6ThvsyQ7ox7TaY3mpE5K1vdK3Z11_QWkBZM4HsJWIGvG8f2i9sLYMEyrNE/s320/DSCF2263.jpg" /></a> Last year's babies are still with their mom's at the Ziraldo's alpaca farm.<br /><br /><br /><br />I dropped by for a visit and to help walk the alpacas.<br /><p>[Sorry, this post from back in the winter didn't go live so I'm posting it now.... but since we've had such hot weather I can now view the snow thinking I'd like to stick my sweaty feet in it....]<br /></p><br />We put halters and four of them and lead them down the driveway and around the house, making the circuit 4 or 5 times until they relaxed and got used to being lead.<br /><br /><br /><br />It was a cold and windy day but it was still nice to get outside and get some fresh air.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaI_VuUfyk-jT_4V71G4506EdXhR5xXLcdLyD5OB8WMLJsJ7iXJGmcyDf0MXjB68Kk0Qp_IjeOZAULnWucEHkyuRXaeC2mnRHd_tgSK0i8w5CU-I3VkuRO8Mm1dFOFxItDVpI0euW3zk/s1600-h/DSCF2260.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438308479288304898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaI_VuUfyk-jT_4V71G4506EdXhR5xXLcdLyD5OB8WMLJsJ7iXJGmcyDf0MXjB68Kk0Qp_IjeOZAULnWucEHkyuRXaeC2mnRHd_tgSK0i8w5CU-I3VkuRO8Mm1dFOFxItDVpI0euW3zk/s320/DSCF2260.jpg" /></a> As we stood at the fence the alpacas, though shy, couldn't resist coming over to sniff us, especially the alpaca scarf that I was wearing.<br /><br /><br />After getting home and looking at the photos I always struggle to remember all their names.<br /><br /><br /><br />Their fibre is unforgettable. About 4 inches thick, you can part it with your hands and see the lovely crimp and the warmth of the animal underneath.<br /><br /><br /><br />They certainly aren't cold outside in the snow.<br /><br /><br /><br />The males must be kept away from the females because they would constantly be wanting to mate with the females, or fighting amongst each other.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4lw0wGAF1eBucbK83TMQDF_7edAEZ6D-n_3eIL1lMFqiOnBDPB44Izjjl25HV14Se9170vrOB6ZG4NUJ_c1wUSBNt1osOTW_5r_4VDqfJBTI1jdKQ7JdZLcpzyB8TaAaFRXb4wAdsO8/s1600-h/DSCF2258.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438308475298505826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4lw0wGAF1eBucbK83TMQDF_7edAEZ6D-n_3eIL1lMFqiOnBDPB44Izjjl25HV14Se9170vrOB6ZG4NUJ_c1wUSBNt1osOTW_5r_4VDqfJBTI1jdKQ7JdZLcpzyB8TaAaFRXb4wAdsO8/s320/DSCF2258.jpg" /></a> They've got lovely eyes, that are very large and dressed with long lashes.<br /><br /><br /><br />At the Ziraldos, everyone is well taken care of.<br /><br /><br /><br />Even the ducks have a heated water dish and a home, er a dog house.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qpOw31qfWcJLkf2dEsGN5U_CxpjxUQQa1I8IaqaKR2Hza_iH3EX7BSXakxJ52X2Gk_DRAlcjGEDXR9StrQfYBp1dkcf1knnSqbFxQyRPcwgK9p7Q7oL7z0KDalSzeRZIm3H9FDyIEkQ/s1600-h/DSCF2256.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 296px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438308465525996242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qpOw31qfWcJLkf2dEsGN5U_CxpjxUQQa1I8IaqaKR2Hza_iH3EX7BSXakxJ52X2Gk_DRAlcjGEDXR9StrQfYBp1dkcf1knnSqbFxQyRPcwgK9p7Q7oL7z0KDalSzeRZIm3H9FDyIEkQ/s320/DSCF2256.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-89907014287410251512010-02-11T18:11:00.007-05:002010-02-14T19:20:14.403-05:00Progress ... at a Snail's Pace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFS_CzLoHj8Q8_KLh6aY4viG2Xf4KP530bmaUdz8xuPQPqHEjY5v8-OiRnRhctl4Kt55YNvE7UqkfDcl7zb_X9qFKuMCME9Nj_0MJGsJ5DvNE7tZsp6rOgV4sCr1hV7JVBTQ8YFJBMAo/s1600-h/DSCF2271.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438169487120348834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFS_CzLoHj8Q8_KLh6aY4viG2Xf4KP530bmaUdz8xuPQPqHEjY5v8-OiRnRhctl4Kt55YNvE7UqkfDcl7zb_X9qFKuMCME9Nj_0MJGsJ5DvNE7tZsp6rOgV4sCr1hV7JVBTQ8YFJBMAo/s320/DSCF2271.jpg" /></a>A few days ago I had an unexpected opportunity to evict Jeremy squirrel.<br /><br /><br />The day before I heard him gnawing on the wood inside and I knew that it was time to get him out. He wouldn't deliberately make trouble and do damage, but a squirrel's teeth are like a rabbit's and never stop growing. He's got no choice but to chew on things to file his teeth down and that can make for some real damage to the real estate.<br /><br /><br />I'd entered the garage when he wasn't in his nest and caught him by surprise. As I approached I climbed the ladder he was hiding behind which left him not much choice except to go down to the floor and then out the cat door.<br /><br />I had been thinking how to get Jeremy into the new squirrel house that dad built for him. That way when he was evicted he'd have a place to go. The house was too big to attach to a tree and the ground was too frozen to have a pole put in. I did a little brainstorming.<br /><br />This is what I came up with: The squirrel house stuffed with alpaca fleece, angora fibre combings and a few sheep's skin scraps I had on hand. Then I bungee corded the whole thing to the top of my ladder. Then of course I seeded the whole thing with peanuts, one on each rung of the ladder, a few on the stand and two or three lobed inside.<br /><br /><br />That should be a real luxury for a squirrel that was living in a nest of leaves and chewed up plastic bags... and one set of cotton curtains.<br /><br />When I got home that evening, all the peanuts were gone. No one has moved inside yet, as far as I can tell without disturbing it. Time will tell.<br /><br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438169490587478914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP9YoSFkJ_0t0VQiyX7xWH4hewUL6miPMuLh1MLdzK0P5rdnFgCntjHW9Pc9-62ihiiyi_tBhfc77mBEhI0L4S04hlVK9hEnMURagxpzQzJk1YN1g6PeOy6gfXZkSqmrl6T8XaSbklTs/s320/DSCF2273.jpg" /><br /><br />Other progress is my knitting. The Heather Hoodie Vest is coming along but slowly - a row here and there in between other projects is about all I can accomplish. The pattern has cables and it's pretty easy to follow, no complaints.<br /><br /><br />I haven't mastered the technique of reading and knitting at the same time. At least not yet.<br /><br />On the kitten front, Whisper has been adopted and the family is very happy with him. George is still waiting for adoption but in the meantime he's enjoying the other cats in his foster home.<br /><br />I still miss them all very much.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-65978065269127125352010-01-16T19:06:00.007-05:002010-01-16T19:42:27.037-05:00The Heather Hoodie Vest<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7KSS8FLvWKuN9XzE7TG89f6SmcwUfL-FPgW4yaoG2aUDr_YlrUrBNaVI2B0a8IHt-AIhZ1z5KXr9aukt9A87GpifrMId8Bce2Eu2ISC_Qe8fwI4lxaFzEBuKhUrrWTQYfdpBzevgszQ/s1600-h/denimyarn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427495878640496994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7KSS8FLvWKuN9XzE7TG89f6SmcwUfL-FPgW4yaoG2aUDr_YlrUrBNaVI2B0a8IHt-AIhZ1z5KXr9aukt9A87GpifrMId8Bce2Eu2ISC_Qe8fwI4lxaFzEBuKhUrrWTQYfdpBzevgszQ/s320/denimyarn.jpg" /></a>I've always loved jeans and denim. I always will.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><div>So it wasn't much of a stretch to fall in love with this roving.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>These shades of gray and blue will go with just about anything. I just love the winter blue sky colour blended with the white and darker blues.</div></div><div></div><br /><div>And we've had lots of the blue up in the sky lately while the ground is covered in snow.<br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div>It's <a href="http://www.louet.com/fibers/dyed_northern.shtml">Northern Lights roving</a> called Icy Winter sold by the company Louet. It's sheep's' wool top and it's lovely to work with on the spinning wheel.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOnyVPao_U_rn5_c_6FajcM6DBnrYgHCqiqX6MPKC1DwoH6o3BmqwvNzf_QiXPvUhCMGdRbzP4bp2gmNRwuYr-eflTpfsckfZMQn9tyPHZuU0-CRpolfzitpdFrKuDvxyaMDR_mgvW_k/s1600-h/heatherhoodievest.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427500857549234290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOnyVPao_U_rn5_c_6FajcM6DBnrYgHCqiqX6MPKC1DwoH6o3BmqwvNzf_QiXPvUhCMGdRbzP4bp2gmNRwuYr-eflTpfsckfZMQn9tyPHZuU0-CRpolfzitpdFrKuDvxyaMDR_mgvW_k/s320/heatherhoodievest.jpg" /></a>The project I'll knit with it is the Heather Hoodie Vest that was originally in the fall issue of Interweave.</div><div> </div><div>I bought the magazine that it was listed in which I see is now sold out at Interweave. If interested, you can also buy the individual pattern on <a href="http://www.ralvery.com/">Ralvery.com</a>.</div><br /><div></div><div>I used to knit 10 sweaters a year and now I can't wear them. It's not just the weight gain, it's the hot flashes. That's where wraps and vests come to the rescue. They're not so hot and yet they keep you from freezing.</div><div> </div><div>(I'm also currently knitting the February Lady Sweater with the roving Picasso from the same company).</div><br /><div>The challenge this time for me was to spin it as a bulkier yarn. Most of my spinning lately has been for finer yarns for lace shawls so this time when spinning I had to relax more and let go.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mHSLtg14tsLcchd843Q_jjRil3LMGMMOAtTP8KYLtB0BLPMVlfPbIK8H5t2Uv5wEDxwthj3K-eYteYSryJKLbjM9KcMlZvtu0N8Bx5Y2A6wlLzY1I4f__-SqyRFA1skGfh9K7lqyqeo/s1600-h/DSCF2204.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427494051803449906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mHSLtg14tsLcchd843Q_jjRil3LMGMMOAtTP8KYLtB0BLPMVlfPbIK8H5t2Uv5wEDxwthj3K-eYteYSryJKLbjM9KcMlZvtu0N8Bx5Y2A6wlLzY1I4f__-SqyRFA1skGfh9K7lqyqeo/s320/DSCF2204.jpg" /></a></div><div>No problem. A glass of wine can help with that too :)<br /></div><div>How the roving is painted will often determine the appearance of the spun yarn so I made sure to show photos of the roving prior to spinning.<br /></div><div> </div><div>I did a double ply and my Wraps Per Inch is about 11 so it's not a true bulky yarn. Currently I'm knitting swatches to try and get gauge so that I can begin my project.</div><div></div><br /><div>My spinning method is really a mix between worsted and woolen, but probably leans more towards worsted.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImTDJ-rmjv5iMmy4SPS9GN8wi8YkWqOqXnE55mI5yQKRxWMNlJt9-L4zT7ASMElWRD-h64uP2y4ZfIKsIwZ4z-sV-SS1ZHlPMCUz92wg37l30VCMcYZ8pkrDvrXjJdlsEe4PA8ZRNbhQ/s1600-h/DSCF2205.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427494048772329746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImTDJ-rmjv5iMmy4SPS9GN8wi8YkWqOqXnE55mI5yQKRxWMNlJt9-L4zT7ASMElWRD-h64uP2y4ZfIKsIwZ4z-sV-SS1ZHlPMCUz92wg37l30VCMcYZ8pkrDvrXjJdlsEe4PA8ZRNbhQ/s320/DSCF2205.jpg" /></a>Before I spun my own yarn I never did gauge swatches. Instead I bought the yarn sold by the pattern company or I had the yarn store help me get the substitute yarn.</div><br /><div></div><div>Now I need to check that the yarn I've made will work for the the intended project.</div><br /><div></div><div>Picture here on my spinning wheel bobbin is the single ply of this yarn.</div><br /><div></div><div>It was an absolute pleasure to work with. I don't even care that the cables in the vest won't show up so well with a variegated yarn.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5wQyOit8-Dt-lqt6AsnqOz7Zk1cjWluGmlvM0SKv_R1S61avd75S8utPONJMEmFqr7pz92t6vjMiTzEkGRmHzvoHD102ZSKOkbi-IAC04m5L1i1Lg4qofjHeX8xhOh7UavPDMizON5A/s1600-h/DSCF2208.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427494057326709394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5wQyOit8-Dt-lqt6AsnqOz7Zk1cjWluGmlvM0SKv_R1S61avd75S8utPONJMEmFqr7pz92t6vjMiTzEkGRmHzvoHD102ZSKOkbi-IAC04m5L1i1Lg4qofjHeX8xhOh7UavPDMizON5A/s320/DSCF2208.jpg" /></a> I can see myself also making a shawl or hat from this yarn because the colours are so nice.</div><div> </div><div>I never got tired of spinning this one.</div></div></div></div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-19930799689454595702009-12-29T01:11:00.007-05:002010-01-12T21:43:07.110-05:00Three Little Kittens and One Heart Lost<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNl4puhwp3JzwK45ZFvjY5VGRhY2zuJnp4jhSve7EIkgT0HyzxpUoVx4urkRnwe_RVAUV425sdleHJlaKh3AZV6brG-w_ZfAF1kH-p4OPNxZXignjA3ExgMEkPG2cpgZ_ltpBpoWZhCw/s1600-h/furpile.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426044829292131458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNl4puhwp3JzwK45ZFvjY5VGRhY2zuJnp4jhSve7EIkgT0HyzxpUoVx4urkRnwe_RVAUV425sdleHJlaKh3AZV6brG-w_ZfAF1kH-p4OPNxZXignjA3ExgMEkPG2cpgZ_ltpBpoWZhCw/s320/furpile.jpg" /></a>Three little kittens and one lost heart. Mine.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Tragedy</span> took their mother when they were three weeks old and then I stepped in as Mom. I didn't ever have children but these little fluffs quickly became my fur babies.<br /><br />It's so true that kids change your life. Even my blogging decreased significantly while I played Mom.<br /><br />They were sick. They got better. They got sick again. They got better.<br /><br />The roller coaster went on it seemed forever. Finally, Whisper and George seemed to turn a corner and gained weight. Little Angel, always the tiny one, struggled to flourish. He didn't give up on himself though and never did we.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwuPeFmHG31KnHogJmABHYiU5ROpPmFMg-fF6q_IQoVN-EYmQ21mVx8NPuadVVFRyQyPfGG6uYWzISy39ZZWngh0rRFxPdA2EneeJRCSjN0012J-BS_csmSHrE_5lIvF2SPwbXo6cww/s1600-h/angel.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 288px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426044833515517842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwuPeFmHG31KnHogJmABHYiU5ROpPmFMg-fF6q_IQoVN-EYmQ21mVx8NPuadVVFRyQyPfGG6uYWzISy39ZZWngh0rRFxPdA2EneeJRCSjN0012J-BS_csmSHrE_5lIvF2SPwbXo6cww/s320/angel.jpg" /></a>Last week though a couple other cats in my home got sick. Because cat illnesses can be so contagious we didn't want to risk the kittens getting sicker. So we moved them to another home.<br /><br />It was a sad but wise move. Now the house is much quieter. The cats remaining are recovering with medicine and soon the house will swing into a routine, a much quieter routine.<br /><br />I wonder what it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">will be</span> like to not have my faucets licked right before I need a drink? How will I sleep without little bumps wondering around under the blankets at 5:00 a.m.?<br /><br />My little fur babies have moved on and so must I.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ApZgM5oPyqOoeTWq_23Bphzwy2xPyM4q_SpROn65SNk7Mrd3PG8vl7uBEoStMu0GB01v4BBPBaFpMIn0V-EbssK5NToGdPv0nR2InLit4Ml0spLwG7kom7sB3f8gPjp83j6HRWReT2E/s1600-h/whisperandgeorge_sm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426044822199690850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ApZgM5oPyqOoeTWq_23Bphzwy2xPyM4q_SpROn65SNk7Mrd3PG8vl7uBEoStMu0GB01v4BBPBaFpMIn0V-EbssK5NToGdPv0nR2InLit4Ml0spLwG7kom7sB3f8gPjp83j6HRWReT2E/s320/whisperandgeorge_sm.jpg" /></a>I'll take a break from more fostering for a while, just to let us all settle down and to get any illness firmly behind us.<br /><br />I'm sure the adult cats are sighing with relief.<br /><br />Reports are that they are doing well in their new foster home. I will be fine too now that I have a lot more free time... it's just taking a while for the heart to remember to let go....Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-27998105163679984942009-12-24T22:25:00.000-05:002009-12-24T22:26:07.695-05:00What the Heck?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV-7l2Ao5-AK4A4HNKcmtcjoLWz9yuJlwmx4oCZZHqfEfAAvQ6vz-pun9RxhvezotvwobPtRZZRWvU5-uCfmhvmoK6bnU94NiaDzPEscy76VBqc2rWNSiTRNrsI-A0lC8x2qwF3kl3XU/s1600-h/housefrontsm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419006036996306594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV-7l2Ao5-AK4A4HNKcmtcjoLWz9yuJlwmx4oCZZHqfEfAAvQ6vz-pun9RxhvezotvwobPtRZZRWvU5-uCfmhvmoK6bnU94NiaDzPEscy76VBqc2rWNSiTRNrsI-A0lC8x2qwF3kl3XU/s320/housefrontsm.jpg" /></a>Okay. Remember the other day when I said the "truth is stranger than fiction and I believe it" statement? Uh huh. I remember it too.<br /><br />So this one is going to blow your mind. Well, it blew mine.<br /><br />It's Christmas eve and I get home from my usual work day. Finally I get to my emails and there's a message from my Dad. The subject: What Ever Happened???<br /><br />I open the email and read.... then I sit back? What the heck? I went outside to confirm. Yep, Dad was right.<br /><br />He'd been to my house earlier in the day to drop something off and noticed something not quite right. Something was missing.<br /><br />If you look at the photo above you'll see on the left is a black metal pole. At the top of the pole is a wooden bat house. It's been there for about six or seven years. The pole sits inside the hollow part of an old lamp post - about 4 feet of which is still there.<br /><br />The email was asking where my bat house and pole had gone, including the lamp post because they were no longer there.<br /><br />I went outside and checked. Stolen? Whatever for and why? Prank? Seems like a lot of work for a prank.<br /><br />The lamp post has been cut off at the ground. None of the parts appear to be around. Dad says people are stealing steel right now all over the city. Really?<br /><br />That's just weird although I'd prefer to think someone valued my bat house and pole rather than just vandals running off with it.<br /><br />We know it was there 3 weeks ago so this 'crime' is recent. I have to wait for daylight now to look at little closer.<br /><br />Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-77616383310492225452009-12-21T07:30:00.002-05:002009-12-23T18:08:33.547-05:00Jeremy Squirrel - Who Exactly Is the Boss Around Here?<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANumFe8dFOcnCmCoVMWxzpoGbgsMWsVSwGRBa4nYhgWvmfVmTahMG4s6X30TOJ15goQM62LXv3sFYByxEWnIsA5aS2IUE7AwimOTtUmlmAozKpSwi05lxVBPIRUWDL5j6g4OJ075tMm0/s1600-h/DSCF2108.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417202636133405362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANumFe8dFOcnCmCoVMWxzpoGbgsMWsVSwGRBa4nYhgWvmfVmTahMG4s6X30TOJ15goQM62LXv3sFYByxEWnIsA5aS2IUE7AwimOTtUmlmAozKpSwi05lxVBPIRUWDL5j6g4OJ075tMm0/s320/DSCF2108.jpg" /></a> There's a saying: If you can't beat them, join them.<br /><br /><p>We're hoping we've resolved the Barbara vs Jeremy debacle, especially since Jeremy was kicking my butt and winning the battle.</p><p>So I called Dad for help. He made Jeremy a Squirrel Condo, lined with nothing less than carpeting. It sits in my kitchen waiting for a couple coats of paint.</p><p>We're hoping that Jeremy will be so in love with the condo that he'll opt to live in it instead of inside the garage.</p><p></p><p>I just need to find some time to do the painting.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMIsDBfV2en5e-h0mYYu9krQ6fw4Z0eUFe2c68hqgDpVzRXkRovzZ7V9_O9sYamV0nRjAtT5cokcjxOE_E-khXeP-HpzWQ6mcKCD7y3MkqCQ9pJPApu6YcOqajPMICEsNPcI22kwU_DE/s1600-h/DSCF2107.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417202642612566066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMIsDBfV2en5e-h0mYYu9krQ6fw4Z0eUFe2c68hqgDpVzRXkRovzZ7V9_O9sYamV0nRjAtT5cokcjxOE_E-khXeP-HpzWQ6mcKCD7y3MkqCQ9pJPApu6YcOqajPMICEsNPcI22kwU_DE/s320/DSCF2107.jpg" /></a>Saturday morning I slept late. I'd been on duty with Red Cross as a Personal Disaster Assistant. We are on call throughout the night and weekends in the event of a disaster in our city. It can be a huge incident like the flooding in New Orleans or it could be the pipes breaking in an apartment and flooding the occupants out.</p><p>Red Cross is there for those people who don't have insurance or a place to go. We'd had a call at 4:00 a.m. and when I got home I got a couple hours sleep and then had to work all day. So I was catching up on sleep.</p><p>Jeremy noticed that his breakfast was late that morning. When I finally showed up in my kitchen he was there outside the window. Waiting. He perched himself on the top of the trellis so he could do surveillance through the kitchen window to see when I finally got my lazy self out of bed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIACrC6tZ2II8g8kgFxpGBQxLJijhLam0-CzVxUCHDImxRyqinhavqF2b2BIA_OhslnnfetJtJOv1-134kmW_6e14YXTneqV_6PU4NEKvSrqjI9BnipNdeMNBT5oiCJEfOefs82ygULM/s1600-h/DSCF2105.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417202641533241586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIACrC6tZ2II8g8kgFxpGBQxLJijhLam0-CzVxUCHDImxRyqinhavqF2b2BIA_OhslnnfetJtJOv1-134kmW_6e14YXTneqV_6PU4NEKvSrqjI9BnipNdeMNBT5oiCJEfOefs82ygULM/s320/DSCF2105.jpg" /></a>He saw me. I saw him. He twitched his tail. He was sending me a message. Unfortunately, I knew exactly what he wanted.</p><p>I put my hat on and went out. I gave him some peanuts and watched while he stuffed sunflower seeds into his face like me with the chicken balls at the Mandarin buffet. I noticed he was looking a little bit heavy....</p><p>He was tilting his body a bit from side to side while sitting up. I've seen this before in older squirrels. I don't know what it is. It could be old age, neurological issues, or injury, but I have seen this balance issue with squirrels a few times in the past.</p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxNJU3yXovxFFEG5eGOr95NaymnIcE3D-itSbVCYxNbwtyYR1wIc0TxYTsR4hfIRIQ2XuQ3JS-SIWKVGsSx4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><p>Don't worry. It won't slow Jeremy down. There was an old black squirrel years ago that had a balance problem. He lived for years laying down to eat his sunflower seeds. He was a little bit heavy too....</p><p>Maybe I'll put the new squirrel house inside the garage. That should make it more tempting for Jeremy.</p></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-90083987765487670652009-12-20T00:12:00.005-05:002009-12-20T01:40:58.602-05:00Keeping in Touch<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 318px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417182241986122466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-U4Hl_kejxaPjhZiI0Z8IJVm61sTyrE5neB1UK5EZbo3hwBLmAUrX6RfgPcCrVNtxKJl3LO3QBV50d6eNFNY29ztRNjap1f4d20rlyfSA-nAXJXg-_f0LNBuB8WqnwWjr9gEz141x1Y/s320/DSCF2122.jpg" />Have you ever noticed how when cats and kittens sleep they are always touching?<br /><br /><div>Sometimes it's just a paw, like in this photo where kitten Angel is reaching out to touch the big old Tom cat while they sleep (he's not related to Tom in any way).</div><div></div><div>They do it with big old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tigger</span> too.</div><div></div><div>I watch as the kitten starts off sleeping a few inches away. Slowly they <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">maneuver</span> themselves closer and closer until they are sleeping right with the adult.</div><br /><div>It shares warmth. I think it provides the kittens with a sense of security too.</div><br /><div></div><div>When the cats sleep on the couch next to me they always sleep next to my leg, or on me if they can. They want that touch or I should say they want to suck heat from me.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ1PVhB3KQIhaktuYCfq0oUQBtqv8Hm2eXroZF-dcklmmSbB8hSClcgMjqJ4mbfpVMweEy-Nv11sLBh7AAdok6U-TcvRP18eWNCv0Aa1wY_Q9fm1WIhSJUY8P5oZXk7yxSy0DSB5ApiY/s1600-h/DSCF2059.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417191850387724194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJ1PVhB3KQIhaktuYCfq0oUQBtqv8Hm2eXroZF-dcklmmSbB8hSClcgMjqJ4mbfpVMweEy-Nv11sLBh7AAdok6U-TcvRP18eWNCv0Aa1wY_Q9fm1WIhSJUY8P5oZXk7yxSy0DSB5ApiY/s320/DSCF2059.jpg" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Because</span> the kittens were underweight they'd feel the cold more and they wanted their mother. I spent a lot of time over the last 3 months cuddling with them. <div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>You know you're a personal furnace for a pet when your cat is letting you know it's time for you to go to bed because he wants to. He wants me to warm up the bed for him.</div><div></div><br /><div>Another point about keeping in touch, I haven't blogged much about the 3 kittens I've been raising. Their mother was hit by a car and died when they were 3 weeks old and I've been Mommy Cat to them. They had been pretty sick for the last while and needed to be medicated.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJGHvpAGM5S8L_vVaHqqMpQXNkwMCzdVCoTFFUGe5UoFXa8hvDPK7MEJ0phekneC7V1dYjjU7SxlGZTJr5ocEb1mT3oiNNR-wxikLgWD3k-7BA-EZnpOKmjMzvLVtcuEdcGnMJ2YG8qc/s1600-h/DSCF2062.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417191847445182850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJGHvpAGM5S8L_vVaHqqMpQXNkwMCzdVCoTFFUGe5UoFXa8hvDPK7MEJ0phekneC7V1dYjjU7SxlGZTJr5ocEb1mT3oiNNR-wxikLgWD3k-7BA-EZnpOKmjMzvLVtcuEdcGnMJ2YG8qc/s320/DSCF2062.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>They were surviving though but not well enough to be thriving. So I apologize for the on-line quietness.</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>It was in part <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> I was so busy and in part because I feared there might be bad news. The last few weeks they've really turned a corner and are finally packing on some weight.</div><br /><div>It was touch and go whether or not they would have one of the feline diseases which would mean they'd have to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">euthanized</span>... so I was worrying about them.</div><br />Two are healthy enough for adoption now and the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6uqvA44JOgs9XDpKXHkOBeUGdy3dAkO2j0PCSq1bY5yNoC_Rb8uPr48X78Oz9rZJvkP868daoEktKjptMr1AY5dT7pdrEBdSBE-ZzOeDYGGOf5-t8znrwsHXxb8CZ2SfYUx90JTE2xo/s1600-h/DSCF2058.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417191854245431794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6uqvA44JOgs9XDpKXHkOBeUGdy3dAkO2j0PCSq1bY5yNoC_Rb8uPr48X78Oz9rZJvkP868daoEktKjptMr1AY5dT7pdrEBdSBE-ZzOeDYGGOf5-t8znrwsHXxb8CZ2SfYUx90JTE2xo/s320/DSCF2058.jpg" /></a>little runt, Angel, just needs to put on a little more weight and he'll be ready for his new forever home too.<br /><div></div><div></div><div>Soon I'll have an empty nest again. Well, not completely empty. What will I do without the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">poopy</span> bums and dirty feet?</div><br /><div></div><div>Like the great cycle of life, Whisper, is now at the 'interested in water' stage, just like Jay was a few months back when I reported on him. Now Whisper is fascinated with the sink and the shower. The cycle repeats itself and it's only a matter of time until he too falls into the tub :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig16nkKksnidzpHO5IgHWdivU2TeH6WeoYwqvsgvn9u39VPZnaCmZ4_hPoiHL7tjA5Kd-pk41eufxrsvJOovT79X1RfmUY2ThD7k8S6PATWgAgylL6kxtY-tTtFNquPUeb8fqVXSZfDu8/s1600-h/DSCF2094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417182247367843922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig16nkKksnidzpHO5IgHWdivU2TeH6WeoYwqvsgvn9u39VPZnaCmZ4_hPoiHL7tjA5Kd-pk41eufxrsvJOovT79X1RfmUY2ThD7k8S6PATWgAgylL6kxtY-tTtFNquPUeb8fqVXSZfDu8/s320/DSCF2094.jpg" /></a>[George: Mommy opened the secret door to the furnace room --that place we were never allowed to go, and she let us play in there. So I snooped everywhere. Now I'm cleaning the dust bunnies from my whiskers]</div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-11811466119785685852009-12-12T00:10:00.006-05:002009-12-20T00:11:41.879-05:00The Curtains Caper<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknyyyxHt5bYJlzkf9rIkqYrsXHV53c7Y_NBB0jcFllJmneLOvI3YfPH8GmSHcfolyp7euS_ttO9JDWiLeOIKriRJgDM1lfdE23bB1ZxD9sM8Dpq2W0tQnylunI3lqfC1Xul9O3Jcr-7U/s1600-h/DSCF2107.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417181553672216050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknyyyxHt5bYJlzkf9rIkqYrsXHV53c7Y_NBB0jcFllJmneLOvI3YfPH8GmSHcfolyp7euS_ttO9JDWiLeOIKriRJgDM1lfdE23bB1ZxD9sM8Dpq2W0tQnylunI3lqfC1Xul9O3Jcr-7U/s320/DSCF2107.jpg" /></a>They say that truth is stranger than fiction. I believe them.<br /><br />The curtains in my garage, the ones that hang over the window in the small side door, disappeared one day. It was very strange. Who would want to take my curtains?<br /><br />A few days later I found them. Jeremy had stolen them. And he never apologized either when I took them back. In fact, all he did was natter at me quite loudly as I prodded him with a pair of BBQ tongs. All I was trying to retrieve was what was mine in the first place.<br /><br />You see, Jeremy is a squirrel. He's got the bushiest squirrel tail that I've ever seen. I'm certain he's quite proud of that tail. It would keep him very warm on our cold Canadian winter days.<br /><br />For the last two years I have put sunflower seeds out and Jeremy has been a daily visitor. He's also quite brave around humans and he would often approach me quite closely. That's when he would natter, but in a nice way, and shake his tail. This would be his form of begging. He wanted peanuts. I would always give him some and he would try to stuff 3 of them in his mouth at once. Squirrels never seem to catch on that they can only really carry 2 at a time.<br /><br />When I was in the garage Jeremy would follow me in and beg for the peanuts there. He knew that's where I kept them, sealed up in a container.<br /><br />I went into the garage and after being in there a few moments I heard rustling. I got a ladder out and climbed up to where the roof joins with the walls. There's a space there and I bet you can imagine what I found. Yes, Jeremy. He had made a nest in the garage. I discovered he was making use of the cat door and was coming and going from the garage. He had obviously made lots of trips <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> his nest was full of leaves... and my curtains.<br /><br />I evicted him, despite his complaints. A few days later he was back and I had to climb the ladder and evict him again. Then I had to close the cat door for the winter. I worried that stray cats would be cold so I made sure there were <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cardboard</span> boxes and lots of straw in the old dog house so they'd have a place to go.<br /><br />A couple weeks ago I went into the garage and again I heard that familiar rustling. I knew right away who it was. Jeremy had chewed the wood of the cat door and made a hole big enough to get back inside the garage again. I blocked the hole and evicted him. He was not happy.<br /><br />He showed up in there again. As I drove the truck in I saw him sitting on the roof of an old rabbit hutch. He nattered at me like I was a big old meanie. I got the raccoon trap out and you can probably guess what I put in it. Yes, peanuts.<br /><br />Two nights later I had him and took him out of the garage and released him. It was dark and he ran off into the night.<br /><br />The next <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">morning</span> he wanted his peanuts in the back yard. I think I'm forgiven.<br /><br />Then a week later I saw a poor orange tabby cat in my backyard, cold and starving. I put out food for him. It was cold too, -5. There was nothing I could do but open up the cat door in the garage so this stray would have a warm place to go.<br /><br />I bet you know what that means.....Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-63502212716120479092009-11-12T19:21:00.006-05:002009-11-12T19:42:02.486-05:005 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake (Oh Yeah)<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU3hsev-bijuuo4dezmMAHiFd4k2kuoseHR52h3rJbUmv2jHXmL1sCH-BaM85QQ6UzSLYyDpZgNsmKXU6GptJJJg9YeasDhDqTifI11omIbwHm92PTs-wHdTX7exXxbxaDGoC3WQiWt4/s1600-h/chocmug3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403378982772220050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU3hsev-bijuuo4dezmMAHiFd4k2kuoseHR52h3rJbUmv2jHXmL1sCH-BaM85QQ6UzSLYyDpZgNsmKXU6GptJJJg9YeasDhDqTifI11omIbwHm92PTs-wHdTX7exXxbxaDGoC3WQiWt4/s320/chocmug3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hate me now or hate me later.... but this one is so good, it's a real problem!<br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't create it so I can't take credit. I'm simply posting it for you to enjoy... and so that I can find the recipe in the middle of the night ;)</div><div></div><br />And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!<br /><br /><strong>5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XJRtbtMgVZnalIgDQK6wcgCp0077r9Lhiaazgh7NPA0_rVkCU09DynSBE0373-2_UYNm4bZsmomTyZKlL_aVawIBVE4r6XAvTT3FHVDn1yidVfWwaQTScnSuKzek4tDgSlQb6N-Saq8/s1600-h/chocmug1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403380007323987426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XJRtbtMgVZnalIgDQK6wcgCp0077r9Lhiaazgh7NPA0_rVkCU09DynSBE0373-2_UYNm4bZsmomTyZKlL_aVawIBVE4r6XAvTT3FHVDn1yidVfWwaQTScnSuKzek4tDgSlQb6N-Saq8/s320/chocmug1.jpg" border="0" /></a>- 4 tablespoons flour</div><div><br /></div><div>- 4 tablespoons sugar</div><div><br /></div><div>- 2 tablespoons cocoa</div><div><br /></div><div>- 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk</div><div><br /></div><div>- 3 tablespoons oil</div><div><br /></div><div>- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)</div><div><br /></div><div>- A small splash of vanilla extract</div><div><br /></div><div>- 1 large coffee mug (Microwave Safe)</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopEuNE_UoJQkiZkNx1eXkLDgwI_t9sWnGfvwMnf6SbGiILeuhA_vwq25mpJPbfZAWwoWTh8bLaaNqYMm02DXC7klVT-pYrcGqGqjaHRp-kRqvn3JPhtdFehfTV1JzdToLUV6Snjhb8Ho/s1600-h/chocmug2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403378985714415682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopEuNE_UoJQkiZkNx1eXkLDgwI_t9sWnGfvwMnf6SbGiILeuhA_vwq25mpJPbfZAWwoWTh8bLaaNqYMm02DXC7klVT-pYrcGqGqjaHRp-kRqvn3JPhtdFehfTV1JzdToLUV6Snjhb8Ho/s320/chocmug2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.<br />Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..<br />Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.<br />The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!<br />Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).</div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-63839159920483018732009-10-10T23:55:00.006-04:002009-10-11T01:44:16.305-04:00The Babies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfz6x4M4bSDFbw1OHlORsw1lJbxbPZocJuEIiRt0BLvWcbX8BYHP686Vn5RdRNy0mF3-1NsYDzGO7LEU0bhl8RD85qYXNfHUpE5RePxRMtuMJwvu9EvQMDMYD_kLxXxvpbSzTVjSABWo/s1600-h/DSCF1947.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212621100108290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfz6x4M4bSDFbw1OHlORsw1lJbxbPZocJuEIiRt0BLvWcbX8BYHP686Vn5RdRNy0mF3-1NsYDzGO7LEU0bhl8RD85qYXNfHUpE5RePxRMtuMJwvu9EvQMDMYD_kLxXxvpbSzTVjSABWo/s320/DSCF1947.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I have lost my heart to this little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">minnie</span>. We call her Angel. And she is one too.<br /><br />The ring of the doorbell a few weeks ago was kittens being delivered, three of them. There were four but one was adopted the night before so I was taking over as their foster mother.<br /><div><br /><div>Indeed, I really was taking over as their mother. These little ones, at the time 3 weeks old, had lost their mother. She was outdoors raising them (a stray cat, most likely a drop off) and she got hit by a car. Caring neighbours took her to the vet in an effort to save her life but they were not able to.</div><br /><div>So she died and her babies, still nursing and three weeks old no longer had a parent. The neighbours called the animal organization and that's how I got involved.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D0uPdWsrOdIXyqMbWadx2zdh6_BR4Tb0XQb2BMYEKSv5KBsO3ySRoRWPIOVIw_ngPTs14e1lCjDefwC6b4GvFVEzwMTMPA0uuGkhUYDXvKHCRKChZOXjHrMXwFIFZ3sY6f3bgeZ0K_8/s1600-h/DSCF1903.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212617733503586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D0uPdWsrOdIXyqMbWadx2zdh6_BR4Tb0XQb2BMYEKSv5KBsO3ySRoRWPIOVIw_ngPTs14e1lCjDefwC6b4GvFVEzwMTMPA0uuGkhUYDXvKHCRKChZOXjHrMXwFIFZ3sY6f3bgeZ0K_8/s320/DSCF1903.jpg" border="0" /></a>Kittens are pretty sweet but these kittens are downright adorable. A little bit dirty and smelly, I did my best to towel them off to give them their mommy bath. I tell you Mommy cat does a much better job keeping kittens clean than I do. I felt like the parent with the dirty children. I've had a hard time keeping up.</div><br /><div>I'm pretty sure that the littlest one, the black and white female, is the runt of the litter. She's a little underweight and I wish she'd eat more.</div><br /><div>They all love a cuddle and want some time to cuddle with me on my shoulders. For the first two weeks they kept looking for a spot to nurse. My heart just broke for them because I knew although their tummies may be full, they were seeking that special comfort that nursing could bring.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgYb14zDNwmjfweycwHxNh1TKfGThtP1E96AyZ6mIM47KBpY4DMpI5oded9oSQAx8rt7jLPpxmyUycp4j7fokIz3ZYOrvl4uzvrGjQcPqrQhUL4wx9yaXrO3K_SNyNmGvcvwiVKgcF3E/s1600-h/DSCF1948.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212627916870610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgYb14zDNwmjfweycwHxNh1TKfGThtP1E96AyZ6mIM47KBpY4DMpI5oded9oSQAx8rt7jLPpxmyUycp4j7fokIz3ZYOrvl4uzvrGjQcPqrQhUL4wx9yaXrO3K_SNyNmGvcvwiVKgcF3E/s320/DSCF1948.jpg" border="0" /></a>They're seven weeks old now in the photos, and four weeks old in the video.</div><br /><div></div><div>I've had them in a spare room for their safety and also as a quarantine. Normally the mom cat is tested for the contagious cat diseases and if she's found disease free then we can usually assume the kittens are healthy and fine.</div><div> </div><div>But in this case there was no mother cat to test so we're having to wait for the kittens to be eight weeks old so they can be tested.</div><br /><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwnq4JbG2QtVIwhM6gYveKJGwD77RyRpIOPbgaLJJ08c5XFJvPjQNKB2nW2b8jRD1CamG-B1g6h46h9sunuVQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>In the mean time, I'm learning to play mother to my little pride of dirty faced sweeties.</div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-39606220897264834952009-10-01T18:44:00.009-04:002009-10-01T19:49:37.810-04:00Cat Adoptions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NAmmOvyrA7YmkqkY1SxQ-m_6mXnz1tY0NsjQt-H6CEz3JguE2sQWOrUJcMTqi9kAgRjUwddE_DiEWeUGbDL6FiqpqgTvRirld12CF1GMoj1Xn1H1cFr-kRqgGW6FuAlLfR-jFK_6doI/s1600-h/DSCF0997.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387774357192593090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NAmmOvyrA7YmkqkY1SxQ-m_6mXnz1tY0NsjQt-H6CEz3JguE2sQWOrUJcMTqi9kAgRjUwddE_DiEWeUGbDL6FiqpqgTvRirld12CF1GMoj1Xn1H1cFr-kRqgGW6FuAlLfR-jFK_6doI/s320/DSCF0997.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div>It happened so quickly. One minute I'm home doing my usual busy stuff and then it happened. The phone rang.<br /><br /><div></div><div>It was the animal non profit organization calling. You see, Jay's photo had been in the paper on Saturday and a couple of ladies wanted to adopt him.</div><br /><div>Gulp! The baby.</div><br /><div></div><div>They were also very interested in adopting Jay's bestest friend in the world and that was Whiz. This was fantastic news. Poor Whiz had lost all his best friends to adoption, including his sister, so it was time that he got to keep one.</div><br /><div></div><div>I called the ladies and we set a time for them to come the next day. Usually when someone comes to view of the foster cats I put all the cats in the basement. That way I can contain everybody in the room and if gives each cat an opportunity to see and know that one of the cats is being put in the cat carrier and being taken away. It makes a huge difference to the cats for them to know the cat has been taken away and hasn't just disappeared.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuw7xOmo12aZYlZGLrjnCgBgB2VRAkizTvDS5zDzsAD4pU-B2iOyUVkuEWwcDKMvQocCgAwCfXwG9b7lswHMtZjx7ZN10MPHwfxOozh9wbOQN1qp4hG6iXlEZnvDBtNynnuv7kUglt0M/s1600-h/c43_whiz_large.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387774376688585042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuw7xOmo12aZYlZGLrjnCgBgB2VRAkizTvDS5zDzsAD4pU-B2iOyUVkuEWwcDKMvQocCgAwCfXwG9b7lswHMtZjx7ZN10MPHwfxOozh9wbOQN1qp4hG6iXlEZnvDBtNynnuv7kUglt0M/s320/c43_whiz_large.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Once one of the kittens was adopted late at night and none of the other cats saw the person come to take him. The next day his play mate went around crying trying to find him. So after that mistake I always make sure everyone knows that the kitty has gone to their adoptive home and ever since then, no more crying after a cat is adopted.</div><br /><div>The ladies arrived and we went downstairs. I knew Whiz would be a bit panicked. He's a little shy at first and I knew he might hide but I had them all locked in the room so it was okay. But I underestimated Whiz. He went up the stairs and pressed on the door and somehow he got it to pop open.</div><br /><div></div><div>That meant the scaredy cat was now loose upstairs where he promptly hid.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fJeUrsfiuAVlNXQ0gkQZGG3yQMLPrJdehn06zXB0ksHNxc4uKBq6tn1j7OF8W1dwspnPEJV8Y8pYgtHHXCUQyR2qU42cGTkgbHrU9Gj60yN37-4DyjPxUx1a3GQxECbQcTzUjkSkawg/s1600-h/DSCF0611.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387774361060027890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fJeUrsfiuAVlNXQ0gkQZGG3yQMLPrJdehn06zXB0ksHNxc4uKBq6tn1j7OF8W1dwspnPEJV8Y8pYgtHHXCUQyR2qU42cGTkgbHrU9Gj60yN37-4DyjPxUx1a3GQxECbQcTzUjkSkawg/s320/DSCF0611.jpg" border="0" /></a>While the ladies waited downstairs I turned the upstairs upside down. I could not find him. I kept looking and it took me 20 minutes to find him. He was in the last place on earth I'd think to look, behind the curio cabinet and jammed into a 4" space at the end of a bookshelf.</div><br /><div></div><div>I brought him downstairs where the ladies fell in love with his great looks. You see, they knew that Whiz wouldn't always be a scaredy cat. He was just nervous around strangers and once he got to know them he'd settle right in.</div><br /><div></div><div>My frustration at not finding Whiz was quickly put in place when I realized that a power bigger than myself had better plans than I could think of. That 20 minutes with the ladies in the basement was necessary. It was just the right length of time for the ladies to meet and also fall in love with Beauty, Jay's mother. By the time I brought Whiz downstairs the ladies had decided that 3 cats would suit them just fine.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPLEOh7yH460YfvLrIJxYF14-RucEVz1scYkn_c5qRYVy6k9GH7KZbk3IX2plH7ZJbcox38Kc2qGe1VZ6FdiRonDuFOGIgi8UhA69l88a1lYM6LOcAX85qJRNHt-O4wvMZOg_rYGbv6k/s1600-h/DSCF1794.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387774366909678386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPLEOh7yH460YfvLrIJxYF14-RucEVz1scYkn_c5qRYVy6k9GH7KZbk3IX2plH7ZJbcox38Kc2qGe1VZ6FdiRonDuFOGIgi8UhA69l88a1lYM6LOcAX85qJRNHt-O4wvMZOg_rYGbv6k/s320/DSCF1794.jpg" border="0" /></a>So in one day I had 3 adoptions! It was fantastic.</div><br /><div></div><div>But boy was the house ever quiet. Everyone felt weird with the quiet. Gracie was bored and started supervising me and the other cats started sleeping a lot more. The young ones were gone.</div><br /><div></div><div>But a week later, there was the doorbell and another cat carrier. But this time it was coming in and bringing kittens. Little kittens 4 weeks old. They had no mother and they needed someone to raise them.</div><br /><div></div><div>Oh we've got noise now. Trust me they've got BIG voices :)</div></div></div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-85554913604384638822009-09-01T18:50:00.004-04:002009-09-01T20:05:02.617-04:00Look - BEFORE you Leap!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fmv_8TL5-GJDY2W4NUt9_9MX-ax73Muxta0asFIozr43J4QcU9YrORCzwxM681KFOSU2xmcDaD9dECeMzVTb_r8oMQGZ2uMU9RKusQrf3NWrv7x_LO0uST3H0rkHyXPdwg_9YyzeQiU/s1600-h/DSCF1705.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376654169121368194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fmv_8TL5-GJDY2W4NUt9_9MX-ax73Muxta0asFIozr43J4QcU9YrORCzwxM681KFOSU2xmcDaD9dECeMzVTb_r8oMQGZ2uMU9RKusQrf3NWrv7x_LO0uST3H0rkHyXPdwg_9YyzeQiU/s320/DSCF1705.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I just have to share with you about Jay's absolute fascination with water.<br /><br />I've learned that growing up kittens go through phases of interest. They paw at little bits of string and dangling things, then as they get more mobile they head to the bathroom.<br /><br />I'll walk in and find half a roll of toilet paper pulled off the roll and dragged around the room. A very brief Crime Scene Investigation quickly proves the culprit: Tiny teeth and claw marks. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">perpetrator</span>: A black and white kitten, male.<br /><br />Jay got a little "snip snip" last week and so he is now neutered. But he doesn't seem to mind. All he wants to do is play, play play.<br /><br />His latest fascination has been a little frustrating and a little funny. It's WATER.<br /><br />I can't turn on a tap anywhere and remain alone for long. Jay will show up. He started by pawing the stuff and shaking his paws. He progressed to licking his paws from there. Then my toilet conveniently won't flush on it's own so I had to take the cover off the tank.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-vvOnKPpdIEFDU05NGkpz5OjhabOvshyXWPEjxnWudk7mbc1C6-70ujcwHdAY7ThjRo5P9yuWl7yEM99Rjmi7LCv19XfgeME_AnV7AbitCNRmX49zeYI_SmyDNp1NP0HiALgvM21EHA/s1600-h/DSCF1706.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376654175695654386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-vvOnKPpdIEFDU05NGkpz5OjhabOvshyXWPEjxnWudk7mbc1C6-70ujcwHdAY7ThjRo5P9yuWl7yEM99Rjmi7LCv19XfgeME_AnV7AbitCNRmX49zeYI_SmyDNp1NP0HiALgvM21EHA/s320/DSCF1706.jpg" border="0" /></a>This tank has become Jay's new play area. He puts his paws in the water, he drinks it and lately he's starting chewing and pawing at the parts inside--I think he's trying to work out how I make the water go by touching something in there.....<br /><br />Soon he'll be flushing the toilet by himself.<br /><br />I always put the seat down though because I don't want any cat drinking from the toilet bowl. It's bad enough that they eat mice and lick their bums and then come and lick my face.<br /><br />Once I was cleaning the tub so I had about 3" of water in it. I had to leave for a bit and come back. I did have that little voice speak to me--you know that one that you ignore because you're busy but later you'll regret not listening too? Yeah, that one. Anyway, about 10 minutes later KER-SPLASH! Yes, Jay just had to investigate this water and in doing so he fell into the tub.<br /><br />I have a new deep tub and in his panic he couldn't jump out. I grabbed him up and put a towel around him.<br /><br />That was his first bath.<br /><br />The other day he tipped over the water dish and I found a pond of water on the floor.<br /><br />He also licks at the tub and bathroom sink facets, trying to catch the drips.<br /><br />But the biggest laugh of all was last night. I was in the bathroom and Jay came charging in to play with the water. He <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jumped</span> right up on the toilet seat .....except that I forgot to put the seat down.<br /><br />That was Jay's second bath.<br /><br />I think the third time will be charming :)</div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-10244886907815944882009-08-14T22:56:00.005-04:002009-08-16T01:08:12.307-04:00View of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tz7-GgZd8Pc_XQE5FwlrWu6NdmN2QFgzt3MiXxPlCVbL4OMiKbwOMm_OgE5f39cmQafJNpV503mAOSGaoCbVhnvzibpC7pWqeOtVP2v4ZAnlu8eHJ9yonYBsmjTSkJe0fw7hSxw5NMw/s1600-h/DSCF1486.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370019846345568546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tz7-GgZd8Pc_XQE5FwlrWu6NdmN2QFgzt3MiXxPlCVbL4OMiKbwOMm_OgE5f39cmQafJNpV503mAOSGaoCbVhnvzibpC7pWqeOtVP2v4ZAnlu8eHJ9yonYBsmjTSkJe0fw7hSxw5NMw/s320/DSCF1486.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div> The wet flower photos I took last week in between rain storms!</div><div> </div><div>This is a closeup of a day lily just after a storm. We had many severe storm warnings last week.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxEVt-BSNWvUWH6YIAOqvk4Hk5WqhBwJKK1jGInBqsyHVnY5rl2PdjIlLsBOWScMfduw_yCodIVkLQ_i5lNV7MSqiMKoGlA2SRBRG0xX6XtXFq6r69-ydjFwjZsfyHGmLv7jrj9GPLEA/s1600-h/DSCF1490.jpg"></a>But this weekend we've been blessed with SUNSHINE! That's right. You know, that round yellow thing up in the sky.</div><div> </div><div>And it's been hot too. Hot enough to get you thinking about going to the beach along with 10,000 other people who are feeling exactly the same way you are :)</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1eKoTmGDtfqrGnOZ_6yzbkQQuaYlVhsr-wI80OqGVZFjXXtrs7tkPsUokQUvp8JXrOiNyuoNpxl2_XJxtVUEngpN79GTdTWM-1z1trut0tAw1py6YHk9Ajaon1rBXUt57o2LVQXxpvM/s1600-h/DSCF1564.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370419378384317730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1eKoTmGDtfqrGnOZ_6yzbkQQuaYlVhsr-wI80OqGVZFjXXtrs7tkPsUokQUvp8JXrOiNyuoNpxl2_XJxtVUEngpN79GTdTWM-1z1trut0tAw1py6YHk9Ajaon1rBXUt57o2LVQXxpvM/s320/DSCF1564.jpg" border="0" /></a>I had a sleepy, lazy day today. On my right slept Tom cat and on my left slept <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tigger</span>. I sat on my backyard swing for a few hours this afternoon and read some books and did some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">journaling</span>. Most of the time though I just watched the birds and butterflies swooping back and forth.</div><div> </div><div>Tom and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tigger</span> have spent most of the summer outdoors and I've had a hard time convincing them to come in, even in the rainy weather. I have a roofed porch off the garage with cushions and that's where they can hang out all year round.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjX0bF5co0MVHhs3em2q4tSaDvZdWV-Bamf58A7aZ5DVVgodwAFhPSDREZBjax2Ev81z0emFfk7vYA7_JWLK8sQW1arGAwqxQGYSS3C8va687zLR4OKqj5tHaCrhMaTCtyNzWqlBoN4w/s1600-h/DSCF1563.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370419361029576978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjX0bF5co0MVHhs3em2q4tSaDvZdWV-Bamf58A7aZ5DVVgodwAFhPSDREZBjax2Ev81z0emFfk7vYA7_JWLK8sQW1arGAwqxQGYSS3C8va687zLR4OKqj5tHaCrhMaTCtyNzWqlBoN4w/s320/DSCF1563.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tom and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tigger</span> visited the vet today and had their shots. Tom weighed in at just over 16 lbs and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tigger</span> at 13 lbs. No one could accuse me of not feeding them. If anything, they should probably be on diet food... shouldn't we all though?</div><div><br />I still have not done my back yard landscaping yet.</div><div> </div><div>It was my plan to get most of it done this summer but the broken arm back in April kind of threw all my plans off schedule. There's always next year.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHEygER6JW1uxX490vkxbtyU35Q0UgVXU_EYBF5ptYVRZp9A8gP-G_JU0zoLzyedeZ3Fq4lpJzOlhArcUciKCsdl7TGkvuW6wSNbI3Dbj6E4orwoXU5M9AaYxwSg8CjOTgNDVQYMa0kY/s1600-h/DSCF1567.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370419395987470050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHEygER6JW1uxX490vkxbtyU35Q0UgVXU_EYBF5ptYVRZp9A8gP-G_JU0zoLzyedeZ3Fq4lpJzOlhArcUciKCsdl7TGkvuW6wSNbI3Dbj6E4orwoXU5M9AaYxwSg8CjOTgNDVQYMa0kY/s320/DSCF1567.jpg" border="0" /></a>So my bags of soil and iron dragonfly will have to wait to be properly placed next year. I'm pretty easy about not getting it done. I wasn't completely set yet on how I wanted it so a delay will give me more time to think about it. I'd love a little pond.........maybe with an arched bridge....... Well, at least dreaming is free.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Most of my blogging this summer has been over on my other blog <a href="http://thebeejournal.blogspot.com/">The Bee Journal</a></div><div>where I've been going on and on about my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">latest</span> obsession: Beekeeping.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvojL7PCZbDoP2qOq7H8-h4Dipf-whDidjesiXSH5pY6-L6I2mnvc-tQSnF1lOhReo598c9Bb5os7quTLpE_7FVdRyI9L9vbEmsFkQnSQRI3FBwgiRVWAYfM3RvJ9HdklZakAQwlCi-k/s1600-h/DSCF1492.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370019864906261058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvojL7PCZbDoP2qOq7H8-h4Dipf-whDidjesiXSH5pY6-L6I2mnvc-tQSnF1lOhReo598c9Bb5os7quTLpE_7FVdRyI9L9vbEmsFkQnSQRI3FBwgiRVWAYfM3RvJ9HdklZakAQwlCi-k/s320/DSCF1492.jpg" border="0" /></a>And here is a mystery that is solved, although I have no photographs of the culprit. Every year I'd find these perfect round holes in the soft leaves of my Red Bud tree. Now some people would be upset that some insect or creature had done this, thinking it was unsightly. Me, I thought it was pretty cool to see such perfect circles and all I wanted to know was who was doing it? And why?</div><div> </div><div>When on my beekeeping course I learned that this is done by the leaf cutter bee. It cuts a round top and bottom and makes a perfect little leaf tube, and inside the tube it lays its eggs.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JoBy4O9hSR-3Dbnp4CgalhxugS0GTvFHAq8jsVWl9aHcXNlhiwXXoB1n9Z3YK54zTIHAom16JfnXZRSzAtr6hePKv8a2Hrp1HoKTGtvCfZtEdnXtEXqUagQJiA9QXmsIRpgmIBx2YjU/s1600-h/DSCF1485.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370019831380514658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JoBy4O9hSR-3Dbnp4CgalhxugS0GTvFHAq8jsVWl9aHcXNlhiwXXoB1n9Z3YK54zTIHAom16JfnXZRSzAtr6hePKv8a2Hrp1HoKTGtvCfZtEdnXtEXqUagQJiA9QXmsIRpgmIBx2YjU/s320/DSCF1485.jpg" border="0" /></a>Just think, there's an insect out there that can cut a circle better than a kindergarten student and can fold it like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">origami</span> better than you or I could probably do. Now that is cool.</div></div></div></div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-29247719761095626092009-08-09T00:05:00.000-04:002009-08-08T18:13:00.237-04:00Camping in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSPZkXhmPN7gYSMLZrPlTuENOQLrdovIFptcXuFpF5oSukdjIYJ5Ka46Ph3-WScTFGe35YbZP2tgk48jEH-pXlTrs_Yp2WVhQvXc4W1SAYjuVgaXo7frXRYqupWTwurilP96LFzYtYsc/s1600-h/DSCF1391.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367440279701089666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSPZkXhmPN7gYSMLZrPlTuENOQLrdovIFptcXuFpF5oSukdjIYJ5Ka46Ph3-WScTFGe35YbZP2tgk48jEH-pXlTrs_Yp2WVhQvXc4W1SAYjuVgaXo7frXRYqupWTwurilP96LFzYtYsc/s320/DSCF1391.jpg" border="0" /></a> For a little while that afternoon Dad pretended that this was his boat. He claimed to have servants and all manner of people to wait on him.<br /><br />This photo of part of the harbour in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada reminds me a little of a few harbours I visited while travelling by yaht in Australia. There are indeed a few well off people in this world who can afford these expensive boats.... we're just not those people.<br /><br />Instead, we camp. But we're older now so we don't tent it any more where we're on the ground. We use a tent trailer and enjoy the comforts of soft mattresses and, forgive us, electricity. (We even have a small microwave that we use).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOsagvtAUenlvM8-3FUsE9DM8vGvomm4-olc0ODw2NwNTTFTkcu2KlTTdcjMgm9-0ccN0J1Kb5vpnF1vAPWs3ttubVE-5TeIwtsAAFS1sWaMx5dmd1_LwS5gm9Dcx-d62A5tPSlu1Oek/s1600-h/DSCF1412.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367440271467031602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOsagvtAUenlvM8-3FUsE9DM8vGvomm4-olc0ODw2NwNTTFTkcu2KlTTdcjMgm9-0ccN0J1Kb5vpnF1vAPWs3ttubVE-5TeIwtsAAFS1sWaMx5dmd1_LwS5gm9Dcx-d62A5tPSlu1Oek/s320/DSCF1412.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hey, if you're thinking this isn't real camping, you might be right, but I must tell you I've paid my dues by camping in all kinds of weather and in different countries. I've lived outside for weeks on end and have numerous times given up the soggy tent in the rain to sleep in the car. Today though tents are much better made than in my day. We also used to cook all our meals on the camp fire (if it rained it got really interesting - cold beans from the can). Often we'd use a coalman stove set up outside on the picnic table as well.<br /><br />Our camp site just outside Tobermory called Happy Hearts came with flush toilets, showers and even a Karoke Night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W39w6aEnxkcw6p4ad2O-ocnfB8l-ceXCpKE5HbI9yuxXEOf8sHh36CBnASnNhdjNSroQbUC2uaL3rt4uO6xoczUuvvA_iKki1vR6ADwElWMO6nYUQPA9qJfvzu4K-FT-AGze_FAsGos/s1600-h/DSCF1407.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367440269493405970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W39w6aEnxkcw6p4ad2O-ocnfB8l-ceXCpKE5HbI9yuxXEOf8sHh36CBnASnNhdjNSroQbUC2uaL3rt4uO6xoczUuvvA_iKki1vR6ADwElWMO6nYUQPA9qJfvzu4K-FT-AGze_FAsGos/s320/DSCF1407.jpg" border="0" /></a>For meals, each family member gets part of a grocery list that when complete, ensures we have healthy meals all week long... although the Chili on the second night might not have been such a good idea. There were 8 of us after all and that's a lot of 'music' after the meal, if you get my drift.<br /><br />Oh and we had a "Chippy" too. A chipmunk found us on day 2. We noticed he was already trained to come up on the picnic table and beg for food. We happened to have a bag of peanuts so we kept him happy.<br /><br />Every year I usually spend some time each day painting watercolours. A few years ago this generated a lot of interest among the family members at the camp site. They wanted to try painting too. What happened then was that everyone was busy painting except for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj21UqcgAqBY5kIo8zopJeJBfy2PXZeq4tDLHe889x8c1TINi-nEIO5Fsxzu-om3NMkvTu4fkNLQDjsHL8V94gjsYSMi4s_bwr90xfegp_RaSBYiNVWc8JqG-ZAitjgkJGklV98Xmhmck/s1600-h/DSCF1410.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367440265212908786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj21UqcgAqBY5kIo8zopJeJBfy2PXZeq4tDLHe889x8c1TINi-nEIO5Fsxzu-om3NMkvTu4fkNLQDjsHL8V94gjsYSMi4s_bwr90xfegp_RaSBYiNVWc8JqG-ZAitjgkJGklV98Xmhmck/s320/DSCF1410.jpg" border="0" /></a>This year I didn't get to paint either. I had new students to teach, my niece's friend who accompanied us and a young girl from the next camp site.<br /><br />I save all kinds of photos of wildlife and insects and flowers which are the inspiration for these budding young artists.<br /><br />We take it easy for the most part and don't make too many plans ahead. Our focus is to have some down time and to relax.<br /><br />My nephew Codie and I scuba dive so we had planned a few dives on some shipwrecks just off shore. I have an underwater camera but it uses film so once I get the film developed I'll post those photos.<br /><br />The best treat of all this trip was the weather. There was this blue stuff up in the firmament called 'sky'. We hadn't seen it for so long that many of us couldn't recall what it was called ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-34869405706929177662009-08-07T23:26:00.003-04:002009-08-07T23:56:53.866-04:00Making Pocket Stews to Cook on the Camp Fire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzNgjUEaj1ldG6oBoYrO5li0l68ydOLujPfRNd7T4H20AmlB8gdegJtJSQexZROJWaQhsz_XGChLKsV9jCsdn-ltnajO8mTE6L3HeR7byILtnrNHKTj7V7S6GLZU-5j-0j-kY3TQA9Y/s1600-h/DSCF1397.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367434395026061570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzNgjUEaj1ldG6oBoYrO5li0l68ydOLujPfRNd7T4H20AmlB8gdegJtJSQexZROJWaQhsz_XGChLKsV9jCsdn-ltnajO8mTE6L3HeR7byILtnrNHKTj7V7S6GLZU-5j-0j-kY3TQA9Y/s320/DSCF1397.jpg" border="0" /></a> I must have been only 10 or 12 years old when I learned to make pocket stew. My class was going on a day trip to a bog and part of the trip included a camp fire where we'd cook our own lunch. A man came to our class and taught us how to make it.<br /><br />(Photo - my sister as she enjoys her pocket stew)<br /><br />I'll never forget that field trip and the yummy stews. I have a camp fire in my back yard now and occasionally my niece and nephew come over and we make the stews.<br /><br />Also, every year when we go camping its mandatory that Aunt Barb help everyone prepare their own pocket stew to roast on the fire.<br /><br />Here's the recipe: Some people call them Hobo Stews.<br /><br /><strong>Campfire Pocket Stews</strong><br /><br /><div><ul><li>1 Hamburger or Turkey Burger Patty</li><li>Chopped Carrots</li><li>Sliced Potatoes</li><li>Chopped Onions</li><li>Frozen or canned Corn</li><li>Frozen or canned Peas</li><li>1 can of Sliced Mushrooms</li><li>1 Can Beef Gravy (or Water – but gravy is better)</li><li>Spices such as Garlic Powder or Steak Spice, Salt & Pepper</li><li>1 Large Piece Extra Strong Tinfoil about 1 ½ foot long</li><li>Campfire long handled tongs</li><li>1 Plate that won’t melt with fire hot tinfoil</li><li>1 Package of peanuts in the shell<br /></li></ul><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97eKKoHQEfmgk7tJwHo0ovSjai-G1pvMKPkRTrVgrDk7GdylE3C24xS6urMhuSiUFXCKRcLJ7nirOV9oVKADYdQgNNdVdANV3pQnDeHyheXneRHlKD4uYDA3Q8rvqLNZ1TQfmMDIMUHQ/s1600-h/DSCF1392.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367434389210436498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97eKKoHQEfmgk7tJwHo0ovSjai-G1pvMKPkRTrVgrDk7GdylE3C24xS6urMhuSiUFXCKRcLJ7nirOV9oVKADYdQgNNdVdANV3pQnDeHyheXneRHlKD4uYDA3Q8rvqLNZ1TQfmMDIMUHQ/s320/DSCF1392.jpg" border="0" /></a>Directions:</strong><br /><br />1. Cut up all the vegetables<br />2. Make a patty from the meat (you can put onions right into the patty if you like)<br />3. Make a tinfoil pocket by folding tinfoil in half. Fold the edges over about ¼” once and then again to make a double sealed seam up the sides. It helps to fold the corners up too<br />4. Add the following to the tinfoil pocket:<br />5. Place the meat patty on the bottom (but it doesn’t matter if the meat goes on the bottom or the vegetables).<br />6. Add a good handful of each vegetable. You only need to add the vegetables that you like. It doesn’t matter if you put a little or a lot—put as much as you want depending how hungry you are. (Leftover pocket stew tastes great too).<br />7. Sprinkle on spices that you like (steak or vegetable spices are good)<br />8. Hold your pocket carefully and add 1 can of beef gravy (the campfire is hot and if you don’t add lots of liquid – either gravy or even water, it will become too dry and burn)<br />9. Fold the top edge down 1/4" once and then again to create a seal. The pocket should now be sealed on all sides and not leaking.<br />10. Handle the package carefully so you don’t poke holes in it. Place it on the campfire coals and let cook for 30 minutes (or the oven set at 350 degrees C for 30 minutes if it rains and you can't have a fire). Be careful not to puncture the package or the gravy will leak out. Sometimes holding it on a plate when putting in the fire and removing is easiest.<br />11. Check the meat to be sure it’s fully cooked before you dine.<br /><br />Don’t forget to recycle the tin foil.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0idWCy17TTP5WxkzqN5Xd_suNowljoiGcpf2zIU6Grg2ChuFwRjDKyEU5TCUKmOK1c7GIY2iuRXjUxR3mPhVPJ3e8jcZpc1N3SrOz7QI7NjQ4srvtBdQp6iOuFj-9BLXS3Y0kwLRmqY/s1600-h/DSCF1406.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367434398964261170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0idWCy17TTP5WxkzqN5Xd_suNowljoiGcpf2zIU6Grg2ChuFwRjDKyEU5TCUKmOK1c7GIY2iuRXjUxR3mPhVPJ3e8jcZpc1N3SrOz7QI7NjQ4srvtBdQp6iOuFj-9BLXS3Y0kwLRmqY/s320/DSCF1406.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Oh, you were wondering about what you're to do with the peanuts? Well, they're for Chippy the chipmunk of course. He's a vegetarian!</div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-26354546778321406802009-07-17T21:57:00.005-04:002009-07-17T22:14:40.371-04:00Night Time Visitor<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHWuucfXHRIe5Lqlru1XywN0Q1IIaFBHhONw1vno8vyRe7Du3ua9HnfBi3i_9K7qYmkIuKbHHgQgkeAGAQN_8iOQLSMW2obIoDVRi_Xy5ZDyMKhTbuD4UOaqz_CRRLFGzozJ6NLWyvB0/s1600-h/DSCF1317.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359614660958466546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHWuucfXHRIe5Lqlru1XywN0Q1IIaFBHhONw1vno8vyRe7Du3ua9HnfBi3i_9K7qYmkIuKbHHgQgkeAGAQN_8iOQLSMW2obIoDVRi_Xy5ZDyMKhTbuD4UOaqz_CRRLFGzozJ6NLWyvB0/s320/DSCF1317.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was not a dark and stormy night, but I had a lamp on in one of the spare rooms with the screen window open.</div><div></div><br /><div>I was trying to catch any cool breezes to lower the temperature in the house.<br /><br />The light usually attracts small moths which the cats like to chase from the other side of the screen but on this night I saw a large shadow hanging on the screen.</div><br /><div>Of course I had to go outside to have a look.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBXml4pp_-FYCngfJfIphKUHOma0EiD3ATAomRYBEOMF2cL0i-Wi5AGpV2NuMJ0VWM_R7cToLMo0WXhhycB8N2gq4qlV6fwkdwpXOiX1bq0ngWLLIi-HCTcfNlk3UxYEqZVAQNZ8vM4I/s1600-h/DSCF1314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359616168598987506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBXml4pp_-FYCngfJfIphKUHOma0EiD3ATAomRYBEOMF2cL0i-Wi5AGpV2NuMJ0VWM_R7cToLMo0WXhhycB8N2gq4qlV6fwkdwpXOiX1bq0ngWLLIi-HCTcfNlk3UxYEqZVAQNZ8vM4I/s320/DSCF1314.jpg" border="0" /></a>A lovely Polyphemus Moth lay hanging on the screen - attracted by my light pollution.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Notice the lovely rose coloured markings on the wings. I did pick it up but was careful not to touch the wings.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>After a few photos I put the moth back and then went inside to turn off the lamp. The light was distracting the moth from its real search, for a mate.</div>Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-64198889767961052452009-07-07T12:25:00.005-04:002009-07-17T20:59:19.271-04:00Let's Just Blame BarryIt's Barry's fault. He writes an amazing blog about his experiences.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Unfortunately</span> Barry has been recently diagnosed with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">esophageal</span> cancer which he is bravely facing. Barry is blessing us though by sharing the intimacies of living, fighting and dealing with having cancer. We read daily of the blow by blow of the inside life of a person with cancer. His blog is life changing.<br /><br />So why is it his fault? Well, he wrote about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">conversations</span> (<a href="http://anexplorers.blogspot.com/2009/07/casual-conversation.html">http://anexplorers.blogspot.com/2009/07/casual-conversation.html</a>) and about how we say hello to each other. The question was about how do you respond if you have cancer and he described <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">conversations</span> of various people who had cancer.<br /><br />This brought a wave of memories for me - some from a while back and a couple more recently. That's why it's his fault. He writes so well that he draws the emotions out.<br /><br />I wrote about Bruce in the comments section of his blog - I'll paste that bit below. But what I want to tell you about is Bonnie.<br /><br />Bonnie has cancer. I don't know her well. She works in my building for the same department but a different section. We have never really had many chit chat type <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">conversations</span>. Our only real connection has been when Bonnie came to take software classes that I taught as part of my job. She struggled a bit with the computer, so we would have some one-on-one time in class. She was a pleasant student though and I enjoyed having her in my classes.<br /><br />She was off for a very long time. I didn't even know at first that she was ill. Word can sometimes seep slowly through a very large department but eventually I heard she was off battling cancer. Then I forgot about it. It's a not very kind thing, but it's true. Life and work and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">busi</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ness</span> and I didn't know Bonnie well so we didn't associate much. She just slipped from my mind.<br /><br />Then she'd show up in my cubicle. She wanted to chat and she was staring at my very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">intensely</span>, but in a very loving way. I caught this emotion vibe from her but I was clueless as to why she stopped to chat with me because we hardly know each other and then because of the look in her eyes.<br /><br />She mentioned that she'd just been in to see the people in personnel and she reminded me that she had been off on sick leave because she's battling bowel cancer. Of course, then my memory returned. She told me that the doctors are calling her a miracle. She should not be alive, but she is. She pointed out her wig, mentioning that she'd lost all her hair. What I noticed was the love that was just spilling from her eyes.<br /><br />What is remarkable is the polar opposites of our mental positions. My head was wrapped up in my work. I was in my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">professional</span> workplace mode and was acting in that role as I'm accustomed to doing. But Bonnie, she had broken out of that mold, mind you by force, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nevertheless</span> she had done it. Her life experiences had transported her to a new plane. She was operating on a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">spiritual</span> level and that was what I realized was the look in her eyes. She was trying to connect to me the person, not the business <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">professional</span>. And I had to shake off the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">professional</span> and be a person again so I could connect with her at that important human level.<br /><br />It took a woman I barely knew with cancer to interrupt my "busy" day to show me how I was being caught up in stuff that quite frankly really didn't matter. I never used to understand that saying "in a 100 years no one will care" because I thought everyone would. But now I know better. I've seen things in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">workplace</span> that I cared deeply and intensely about be tossed off like yesterday's garbage. And I'm saddened to think that I would give up an opportunity to work on my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">relationships</span> with others by chatting so I could run back to my desk to work on what would be garbage a few years from that day.<br /><br />Barry stirred up my recent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">metamorphosis</span>/change experiences where I've spent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">considerable</span> time having a deep heartfelt look at things that I thought really mattered, only to find that they didn't. It was earth shattering and a revelation. I believe it's made me a better person, helped to refocus and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">re-balance</span> my life and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">relationships</span>.<br /><br />When I ask people how they are I always stop to really listen to their response.<br /><br />So, thanks Barry.<br /><br />My Comments from Barry's blog:<br /><br />I have about 4 stories I could share on this topic but I'll share just one and try to be brief.<br /><br />At work, I'm the "busy person" - the one that doesn't stop and waste time very often chatting. I don't have a problem if others do it, it's just that I don't care for it. So the whole "How are you?" and answer, "I'm fine" would be my normal response - anything else can lead to conversation as we all know.But one day Bruce invited me into his office. He had a map out and he was very excited about planning his first overseas trip to France.<br /><br />You see Bruce had really severe diabetes and a heart valve problem and had been on a transplant list. He got a kidney and it transformed his life - no more insulin or diabetes. I was so happy to see him well.I felt a prompting inside telling me, why not take some time and visit with Bruce, so I did.<br /><br />We had a great chat as he pointed out the sights on his map that he planned to visit. I left his office feeling more upbeat than before - so I was glad I listened to the prompting.<br /><br />That night Bruce had a heart attack and died. I can tell you EXACTLY how I would feel today if I had not stopped to chat and went back to my desk to work 'busily' on some ridiculous report that I don't even recall. That day I did something that was WAY more important.I have a happy memory of our last time together. :)Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050085893243834719.post-28463312190262062682009-06-30T20:02:00.008-04:002009-06-30T21:30:36.206-04:00Tour of a Fibre Mill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmncN8PC2WoB1OOGHW_50mbC6WJOMdD6vm2e0HnKWTzAEfD0BeujkLrX3nYxaP-G6EoUdstMlvo_473zP9K94q1csIJU1cFBtmx-A3C1p7YfAnotAgIzAnn_dZLRKLxuCG-2KALXX52_I/s1600-h/DSCF1113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353289521163766754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmncN8PC2WoB1OOGHW_50mbC6WJOMdD6vm2e0HnKWTzAEfD0BeujkLrX3nYxaP-G6EoUdstMlvo_473zP9K94q1csIJU1cFBtmx-A3C1p7YfAnotAgIzAnn_dZLRKLxuCG-2KALXX52_I/s320/DSCF1113.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last week I went with my friend Deb from Ziraldo Farms (<a href="http://www.zalpacas.com/">http://www.zalpacas.com/</a>) to Oil Springs.<br /><br />She was going to this little village because they have a great mill operation.<br /><br />I blogged about the alpaca shearing that I went to in April 2009.<br /><br /><br />After the shearing, Deb drove out to Oil springs to drop off the alpaca fibre for washing, combing, carding and creating yarn and rovings for spinning.<br /><br />I remember seeing many mills when in England and Scotland as a child.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLW4napG23CzBEBeHRWDzvzU_5HC9P0yVpqxqumymRVqsRRZaFvcRVqTARTiiT-ujpQ2gjugH3044q133yexezTTPDgldiiIZWL7cHFGd3u5y80YlTlyBE_sHVi5wzCClLLqK4nscf7Q/s1600-h/DSCF1121.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353291013640884866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLW4napG23CzBEBeHRWDzvzU_5HC9P0yVpqxqumymRVqsRRZaFvcRVqTARTiiT-ujpQ2gjugH3044q133yexezTTPDgldiiIZWL7cHFGd3u5y80YlTlyBE_sHVi5wzCClLLqK4nscf7Q/s320/DSCF1121.jpg" border="0" /></a>They were always housed in large warehouses with machines that went very fast.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And always at the end was a lovely gift shop full of the cloth that they had produced.<br /><br />I especially enjoyed seeing the Scottish tartan cloth they produced.<br /><br />This mill is much smaller in scale but the machinery is still the same today. In fact, the way that fibre is processined is still pretty much the same today as years and years ago.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvN6kuvKGKfDoh7ETpRLnAKiLrdR6NJh1nOCfdrW0Xmb4h_hZHRMnBimHySiMv546m4yND53edOXx3jTJs5jkL4uNrLcWpqg7atpcSjHrInBDl3qY50FWxvo0s767EitbUXD1_f1RX_4/s1600-h/DSCF1122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353291002064775426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvN6kuvKGKfDoh7ETpRLnAKiLrdR6NJh1nOCfdrW0Xmb4h_hZHRMnBimHySiMv546m4yND53edOXx3jTJs5jkL4uNrLcWpqg7atpcSjHrInBDl3qY50FWxvo0s767EitbUXD1_f1RX_4/s320/DSCF1122.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Edy's have a large alpaca farm with about 75 alpacas.<br /><br />They have every colour in the alpaca rainbow and it was a real thrill to see them.<br /><br />They run the mill alongside their own large alpaca operation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />They offer lovely yarns, roving and knitted garments that are inventive and absolutely lovely. You can check them out at <a href="http://www.alpacascanada.com/">http://www.alpacascanada.com/</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdzKbbd5sDpMmBWwjNHBuu4yYD0lsDx8lTFrPE5Yr1uNM_sy9qxpA1GcQhDdTOOzgq66PQ5r9yY2qK3fHHJAxVKrUhlFHo0YefCbpgZ9So_BhMmhahtOjJ8Bpg-o0Qjut9ddASsazp9c/s1600-h/DSCF1109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353289534081790626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdzKbbd5sDpMmBWwjNHBuu4yYD0lsDx8lTFrPE5Yr1uNM_sy9qxpA1GcQhDdTOOzgq66PQ5r9yY2qK3fHHJAxVKrUhlFHo0YefCbpgZ9So_BhMmhahtOjJ8Bpg-o0Qjut9ddASsazp9c/s320/DSCF1109.jpg" border="0" /></a>They had baby alpacas everywhere. Of course, it's spring and the babies have been popping out of mommy's since early spring. In fact, one little dark baby was born just a couple hours before we arrived.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />All the alpacas have been sheared so they were ready for the heat of summer. Some enjoyed the shade indoors while others wanted to romp outside or nibble on some grasses.<br /><br />Oil Springs is not far from Sarnia, Ontario and is actually a pleasant back roads drive. It's a nice time to relax and visit while driving.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8wAwItEWDZqy-86JrduE_qBtBLW_oyWEFkGROI3NCwDGGhyphenhyphenDStiOM7VNePEc574ChrZ9ou79X1nu4AhTb0x2Ck___AtU-U9aj6nUxZDDblVFroAivMVbxBX6m_7n2F5tw3PM1N0Tpc4/s1600-h/DSCF1128.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353291010477794050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8wAwItEWDZqy-86JrduE_qBtBLW_oyWEFkGROI3NCwDGGhyphenhyphenDStiOM7VNePEc574ChrZ9ou79X1nu4AhTb0x2Ck___AtU-U9aj6nUxZDDblVFroAivMVbxBX6m_7n2F5tw3PM1N0Tpc4/s320/DSCF1128.jpg" border="0" /></a>I even saw beehives at an intersection of two country roads so we stopped for photos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think these hives may belong to Munro Honey in Alvinson, not very far away from Oil Springs.<br /><br />There were more than two machines but the first photo is the machine that takes the roving and makes it into yarn.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The second photo is the machine that cards and combs the fibre.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszItDvXzj9ZNqdKF1ebCHPXC2CpmhxXdbMyeMRwUeItFpM0LbhSaUy2y-s2OTEFAYYhoPjcXMLEDB-9U0wkPuTT2YSeDgchLAny52b7ywGJfXlJ12-g9kW-ybOp2898Tq4Ck7bZK8_bc/s1600-h/DSCF1107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353296638327805202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszItDvXzj9ZNqdKF1ebCHPXC2CpmhxXdbMyeMRwUeItFpM0LbhSaUy2y-s2OTEFAYYhoPjcXMLEDB-9U0wkPuTT2YSeDgchLAny52b7ywGJfXlJ12-g9kW-ybOp2898Tq4Ck7bZK8_bc/s320/DSCF1107.jpg" border="0" /></a>Their mill processes all types of fibre, even dog hair!<br /><br /><br />(Pictured is the carding machine).Bee Magic Chronicles for Kidshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06818365668819339658noreply@blogger.com1