Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival

The Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival went very well this past weekend. I'm pausing to write this before I unpack from the show. I’m pleased with the sales and more pleased with the wonderful people I got to speak with and the praise for my batik and hand painted fabric.

There were so many beautiful exhibits with wools, yarns and other crafts, all with excellent quality. There were also farms with their sheep, alpacas, and llamas. There was music, dog herding, sheep shearing demonstrations, and many fun things for kids. I'm looking forward to next year.

I worked continuously when I got home to finish a few pieces and get them to the festival. Sunday morning I did bring down a piece I'd worked on for six months. See photos of my booth and the batik of sheep spread out over the fields. The name of this one is "Cast Off to the Fields- Sheep". This is part of the "Cast Off to the Fields" series of which I am working on several other batik. You can see "Cast off to the Fields" on my blog posted July 22, with other related photos on other July posts.

Anniversary

Monday, September 13th, is a day I can't help but remember. One year has passed since my Dad passed away at ninety five and three quarters years old. Spring came and the house and yard seemed empty, very much changed. Some plants had even disapeared.

My Dad could always make a sound exactly like a robin and when I heard those first spring robins I said, hello Dad, I'm glad you're here.

My dad was not very tall, but he was a powerhouse of energy. His favorite work was restoring old houses. The house we now live in was his last house to restore. Thirty years ago my Dad retired at sixty five and undertook the project of bringing this grand old house back to life.

It had been built in the 1800s and was abandoned with the south end open to the elements. It is in good condition now and the yard reflects the loving work my Mom and Dad put into it. I strive to keep the beauty here that they both planted and built. I am grateful everyday.

Trumpet Vine Brings Hummingbirds

The heat is reluctant to leave, even though it is now September 2nd. As usual to avoid all the heat I can, I was outdoors early this morning enjoying my cows and the plants.

Today I've been looking at the late season pods which store the seeds for continuing their life. The lillies have strong oblong pods, crown vetch has small long pods as is also seen on other legumes including alfalfa that did not get mowed. Of special interest is the trumpet vine which while continuing to produce it's long trumpet shaped flowers, is also producing long pods, like string beans.

As I stood below it, hummingbirds happily harvested it's nectar. One hovered buzzing my ear and brought back memories of an incident that happened earlier this year.

I had gone into the garage which has the doors always open this time of year and saw a hummingbird confused and trying to fly out the closed windows unsuccessfully. I made an attempt to help the hummingbird find a new direction to freedom but quickly realized it made things worse. I left hoping he/she would discover the way to freedom.

An hour later I returned to the garage and saw no sign of the hummingbird. However when I glanced up at the overhead garage door I saw the hummingbird stuck in a small hole in the garage door, unable to move its wings it was trapped.

I found a towel and gently pulled the hummingbird forward and out. In the towel I lowered it to the ground and the hummingbird was set free! It hovered above my head and then was suddenly gone. Might this bird near my head be the same one???

With my camera I tried to capture the hummingbird. I succeded after a fashion, but he/she was too far and fast for my zoom lens. See what I got, it made me happy!