Photographs from the Mark Vollmer Fieldtrip to Washoe Valley

Well ~ Saturday we all met up at TMCC’s Meadowood building and carpooled down to the south end of Washoe Valley. Our first stop (besides Wendy’s so Colleen could buy a hamburger) was the wildlife viewing area with the boardwalk.

Very windy (what’s new for Washoe Valley, eh?!) down there. Not much to see but blackbirds ~ both red-winged and yellow-headed. You can’t see far into the lake from the viewing platform unless you have a telephoto lens that goes to as least 200mm…mine only goes to 72mm. So I took lots of fence pictures ~

We saw a flock of pelicans towards the enterance of Washoe Valley State Park so three of us headed back to see if they were still there. Parked at the trailhead of Deadman’s Creek trail and walked over to state park. No pelicans, but there was a redtail hawk sitting in her nest, who flew off once we were close enough for pictures. The bugger. I walked down to the beach while my sister and mom stayed under a couple of bird nest. Colleen got GREAT photos of a Western Tanager…and continued to get great pictures while teasing me with none.

We then went back to the trailhead to wait for the rest of the group ~ took a few pictures in the bottom part of the trail. Figured out the stupid macro on my camera there.

Lots of Phlox, Indian Paintbrush and Alpine Lupine on the way up to the top and at the top where the gazebo is. Sunset wasn’t that great, but pretty none-the-less.

And here’s a picture of Mark Vollmer setting up his shot of the sunset ~

DESERT IN BLOOM SLIDESHOW ~ I put most of my pictures (I took over 200 so I’ve narrowed it down some) onto my webshot’s album ~ I’m nv_michelle there.

All photos taken with a Canon Powershot S2 IS.

I’m a Featured Local Blog on Washoe Valley’s Website! Very Cool!

How cool is that? I was just checking my blogstats when I saw WASHOE VALLEY WEBSITE as a referrer so I clicked it on to see what it was. I didn’t know Washoe Valley had their own website!

Washoe Valley. Taken from south end of lake looking NW towards Slide Mountain. 7/2006.

I loved living in Washoe Valley. We moved up to Northern Nevada from Southern California after my dad retired from LAPD. He wanted us far far away from there…Bozeman, Montana actually. But mom put her foot down and they compromized and bought a house on Partridge Lane, Washoe Valley, Nevada. (I think there is a goat farm at our old house now) So in July of 1980 we moved to Washoe Valley. Thus started the longest damn bus rides to Wooster High School…first on the bus and the last to get off. Ugh. ROFL! Kids have it made today…Galena High is much closer.

My sister and I joined 4-H ~ sewing, pigs, dogs, photography, cooking, ceramics…my favorite being in the Swinging Swine pig club. We were the East Side kids…there was another pig group over there on the West Side. I loved my photography group too. I was good enough to join Wooster’s Yearbook staff. We had four pigs, two mallards, three chickens, two white geese (one later became Thanksgiving dinner after goosing mom one too many times), three Springer Spaniels, one cat.

Swam at Washoe Lake, Bower’s Mansion and Jumbo pond. Ice skated at Little Washoe, Davis Creek. Hiked, rode horses and 4-wheeled up Jumbo Grade to Virginia City. I still have a bucket full of square nails that I found along the water flume that went from Virginia City to Washoe Lake area. 4-wheeled in our 2 wheel Datsun pickup among the sage brush between Ormsby Lane and the lake. It was amazing where us teenage girls could get that little truck into. LOL! Attended Bower’s Mansion Bluegrass Festival (started up right after I graduated from high school). Kruse’s Feed & Hardware store…loved that place. I wonder if they still hold the spaghetti feed and dance every year out back of the store…pretty sure it was a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department.

Washoe Valley, south end of lake looking north. 7/2006.

Pelican (my favorite birdie) on Washoe Lake, south end. 7/2006.

Fishing at Davis Creek Park. 2007

Hannah’s fish from Davis Creek Park. 2007

We lived there when Slide Mountain came down. I had just retreived my sister and her friend from swimming at Bowers when it came a rumbling down the mountain. Lived there when a fire burned most of the west side (List Ranch & Little Valley area). Luckily we moved out just before the flood came and washed out Jumbo pond…as that came down and wiped out the whole of our front yard.

I still think the best part of living out there was just the smell. I loved the cool crisp mornings ~ the smell of the sage brush and earth after a rain. I pray that Reno doesn’t get their hands on Washoe Valley like they have been every other place. Would hate to see the valley over-built.

Copper Jewelry and Lap Quilts

In between building my raised garden bed (soon those veggies will be growing!) I’m working on a couple of lap quilts for Odyssey Healthcare in Gulfport, MS and playing with copper wire for myself.

Sitting on the floor last night while watching one of my favorites on the Food Network channel, Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-in’s & Dives, I played with my copper wire again. Made two round necklace pendants (ok…so one is not so round) with beads and wire wrapped. Hammered them. And placed one in a container with Liver of Sulphur (LOS)…ahhhh…that took me back to my geology lab days! ROFL! I love the smell sulphur in the evening! Kept the one piece in the LOS for about one hour and then peeked in…had gun metal grey, brown and reds…so I took it out. Pretty cool looking. I’m wearing it today.

Here is the other one ~ with out the “antique” oxidizing. It’s too big for my liking. 1-3/8″ across. Think I’ll try it again in the size of a quarter.

My friend Belinda was approached by Odyssey Hospice for volunteer help and she rallied all of her online friends to help…I volunteered to make a few lap quilts. I have to go get some cotten batting for these, discovered all I had on hand was for my husband’s Underground Railroad quilt. So many unfinished projects! ACK!

A couple of days ago, I received a request from someone who manages volunteers for a hospice in Mississippi. She was looking for volunteers to sew for her hospice patients and was asking me for resources. I will be sewing for this hospice, Odyssey Healthcare (www.odsyhealth.com ) as well as continuing to sew for Mission of Hope (www.missionofhope.org ). I would like to encourage you to sew simple projects for this hospice, or perhaps one like it in your area. Although my dad was never put on hospice care before he died, I had the opportunity to watch the hospice staff as they visited other patients in the nursing home, and I was always impressed with their unique ability to bring smiles to people who were in situations where all they wanted to do was cry. I think that people who are directly involved in hospice work must be very special people indeed.

Anyone who sews, knits, crochets, or quilts can volunteer to donate simple projects. Blankets, pillows, pillowcases, adult bibs, crafts, and quilts are all acceptable. Apparently, there are no restrictions and any donations will be used, with nothing going to waste.

If you should decide to volunteer to sew, knit, quilt, or crochet for this worthy cause, here is the contact information

TClark@odsyhealth.com or 228-297-5976

(I would suggest that initial contact be made via e-mail or phone because there are a few guidelines that must be followed.)

The mailing address is : Tiffany Clark, Manager of Volunteer Services, Odyssey Healthcare, 9414 Three Rivers Road, Suite 3, Gulfport, MS 39503

I hope that some of the readers of this blog will consider sharing sewing, quilting, crocheting, or knitting skills, even if it’s just one time. You might play a small part in making someone’s final sunset just a little bit easier, and after they have passed through that final sunset, the blanket or pillow that you made might bring some comfort to the family left behind. At first, they might see through tears, but eventually, they will be able to look at a project that someone sewed or quilted, and remember happier times with their loved ones. The tears may still come, but with each passing day, it may become just a little bit easier to smile through those tears. Wouldn’t it be a great feeling to know that perhaps by creating just one simple project, you might play a part in bringing a small measure of comfort to someone?

Here are two finished quilt tops ~

Split Rail Fence Quilt Pattern

Sewing Sunset’s Mississippi Hospice Volunteer Work

Going to steal part of my friend’s post on her blog today so we can get her message out to as many people as possible.   One should get in touch with the director of the program, as you will have to fill out a volunteer packet (log your hours) before starting.

From Sewing Sunsets ~

As you know, I always encourage readers of this blog to share their talents and skills with others, and today’s post is about sewing for others, and in this case, almost literally sewing a sunset by volunteering to sew for people who are experiencing those final sunset days of life.  A couple of days ago, I received a request from someone who manages volunteers for a hospice in Mississippi. She was looking for volunteers to sew for her hospice patients and was asking me for resources. I will be sewing for this hospice, Odyssey Healthcare (www.odsyhealth.com ) as well as continuing to sew for Mission of Hope (www.missionofhope.org ). I would like to encourage you to sew simple projects for this hospice, or perhaps one like it in your area. Although my dad was never put on hospice care before he died, I had the opportunity to watch the hospice staff as they visited other patients in the nursing home, and I was always impressed with their unique ability to bring smiles to people who were in situations where all they wanted to do was cry. I think that people who are directly involved in hospice work must be very special people indeed.

Anyone who sews, knits, crochets, or quilts can volunteer to donate simple projects. Blankets, pillows, pillowcases, adult bibs, crafts, and quilts are all acceptable.  Apparently, there are no restrictions and any donations will be used, with nothing going to waste.

If you should decide to volunteer to sew, knit, quilt, or crochet for this worthy cause, here is the contact information

TClark@odsyhealth.com or 228-297-5976

(I would suggest that initial contact be made via e-mail or phone because there are a few guidelines that must be followed.)

The mailing address is : Tiffany Clark, Manager of Volunteer Services, Odyssey Healthcare, 9414 Three Rivers Road, Suite 3, Gulfport, MS 39503

I hope that some of the readers of this blog will consider sharing sewing, quilting, crocheting, or knitting skills, even if it’s just one time. You might play a small part in making someone’s final sunset just a little bit easier, and after they have passed through that final sunset, the blanket or pillow that you made might bring some comfort to the family left behind.   At first, they might see through tears, but eventually, they will be able to look at a project that someone sewed or quilted, and remember happier times with their loved ones. The tears may still come, but with each passing day, it may become just a little bit easier to smile through those tears. Wouldn’t it be a great feeling to know that perhaps by creating just one simple project, you might play a part in bringing a small measure of comfort to someone?

Today, I hope to sew.

Happy Sewing!

www.sewseamless.com

Lap quilts, blankets, adult bibs, hankies, totes, small purses/clutch bags, greeting cards, lip balms, lotions, soap, hats, socks…if you can make it, they can use it!

I Played Hooky Yesterday!

Didn’t even tell my husband…got up at the regular 4:30 am, got dressed…but then said I was going to eat breakfast at home instead of at work.  Then he left for work and I got back into my sweats and dug out my butters and oils to make a batch of soap!  Hee!    He had no clue…I hate when he knows I have a day off as I always end up running HIS errands and never get anything done that I took the day off for in the first place.

So!  I made cold processed Raspberry Lemonade Salt bars and I had an order for Oatmeal Milk and Honey solid lotions and two regular lotions ~ finished all by 8:30 am. 

Here is the Raspberry Lemonade salt soap bars (the box that my friend Sue mailed books in made an EXCELLENT soap mold!) before cutting them.  These have to be cut sooner than my regular soap as coconut oil and salt make for a harder bar.  I used coarse Dead Sea Salts and fine Pacific Sea Salt in this batch ~ along with colloidal oatmeal.  The oils used were Sunflower, Castor, Jojoba, Palm & Coconut.  Butters used were Shea, Cocoa and Mango.  Then I swirled with ultramarine pink.  Berry Berry Pretty if I say so myself!  Smells great too.   This will be ready in about 3 weeks…they cure faster then the regular soap.

Raspberry Lemonade Sea Salt Soap Bar

I made my first salt bar last year and used Pineapple fragrance oil…came out pretty good. Just couldn’t sell any of it ~ which is ok as I make all my soaps as if I’m the only one going to use it. That way if it doesn’t sell, I’m happy as can be using it. I love the salt bar in the shower…makes my skin nice and soft. Doing wonders on my face too…those “monthly” pimples are gone gone gone! I hate being 41 with pimples! Patooey!

After 1/2 hour on the elliptical I headed to the Sparks Library to check some silvermithing books that Sue of PERPETUALPLUM recommended for me to read…found those, plus another that looked really interesting.

Speaking of Sue…she sent me four books in trade for some of my soaps, lip balms and room sprays. Received those in Monday’s mail. I really like the metal crafts book…will probably pass on the Tinwork books.

Anyone still do puzzles?! They are so freakin’ addicting ~ like eating a whole bowl of popcorn. Started one Monday night and worked on it yesterday too. This one is a Charles Wysocki puzzle ~ Hellraisers on Halloween Night…my favorite time of the year! It was a .50 cent puzzle from Thrift Depot in Sparks.

Spent the rest of the afternoon out front in the lounge chair soaking up the sun reading JEWELLERY AND SILVERSMITHING TECHNIQUES by Carles Codina.

Paula Deen’s Christmas Ham for Easter

I was watching Paula Deen on the Food Network last Christmas and drooling over her CHRISTMAS HAM recipe…only we were invited over to the in-laws for Christmas and I didn’t get to make it! So, guess what I’m making for Easter!?!

Only thing I’ll be changing is instead of crescent rolls I’ll be using pie crust to wrap the ham in.

Also will be making scalloped potatoes and from Raley’s Something Extra Spring 2008 magazine, MUSHROOM & ASPARAGUS SALAD.

Walk When the Moon is Full ~ Frances Hamerstrom

I picked up a wonderful book at our local Goodwill bargain book bin last night for fifty cents! 

Walk When the Moon is Full  by Frances Hamerstrom and illustrated by Robert Katona, 1975.

Each chapter was written on the appropriate night of the full moon ~ (from the Introduction):

This story is about two real children, Alan and Elva, who called their father Hammy and their mother Fran. They lived on a 240 acre farm in Wisconsin and longed to go exploring at night.
Elva, the younger, like to climb trees. Animals trusted her to come very close and her keen ears heard the faintest sounds.
Alan had a small but sensitive nose that found and remembered smells, just as his mind remembered facts. He liked to find things out.
Fran promised the children that she would explore with them twelve times - every month when the moon is full - for a whole year. Then Alan laughed, “The moon is full thirteen times a year.”
Each time they walked in the moonlight they found something new.
This book has thirteen surprises.

How it Began ~

Both children where in their pajamas for it was supposed to be the quiet time before they went to bed. Alan was looking at a book, but Elva had been standing at the window for a long time peering into the night.

Alan put down his book and went to the window too…At last he turned to his mother and sighed, “Do we have to go to bed early every single night until we are old?”

Fran set her mending aside and looked out the window…at last she repeated Alan’s words softly, “…every single night until we are old?”

Then she said, “No,” in a faraway tone. Both children looked up at the sound of their mother’s voice. “Why should children go to bed early every single night until they are old? I say, ‘No!’” “The moon is full. Put on your sweaters and snow pants and overshoes. You can pull them right over your pajamas. Find your mittens. I think they are drying by the stove with mine. Just a moment, I’ll tell your father we are going for a walk.”

“A walk! A walk in the moonlight!” the children shouted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read most of the book last night before bed…following all of their adventures during the full moon. Deer, owls, sledding, sweet maple sap in icicles, woodcocks, white cockle flowers ~ and flowers that go to sleep at night, fireflies, foxes and weasels.

Then I smiled and thought back to all the times my sister and I did things at night! Some times by the full moon other times it was much scarier WITHOUT the moon!

CARPINTERIA STATE BEACH ~ near Santa Barbara, Ca.
This beach is a treasure trove for kids of all ages ~ we camped there every June for years! Tide-pools, great beaches, lots of swimming, hiking, exploring, tar to get stuck to the bottoms of your feet…we kids had a great time night and day there. I still remember getting up at night with our flashlights heading down to the beach for the grunion runs! What a sight to behold for a kid!

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK in July ~
Still remember to this day the time all of us kids were bubbling with excitement ~ fireworks in Yosemite! The ranger leading us all at night to a meadow…we all laid on our backs to watch…Nature’s fireworks! WHAT?! LOL! We all received a lesson on the stars ~ beautiful and we all stayed excited, even at the first disappointment of no kaboomie fireworks.

CALICO GHOST TOWN~ Barstow, CA.
Another favorite place to camp when a kid ~ and when we went camping there were always no fewer than 4 kids ~ mostly up to 12 of us from the different families that came along. Calico was a great place for us to run around. Nighttime was a favorite…cemetery, campfires, scaring the bejesus out of each other in the adits, pretending we were cowboys.

Guess I should stop here…otherwise this post will get too long.  :) 

Here is to all of you parents letting your children stay up and explore by the moon!

eBay & Etsy Yarn Artists ~ Oreo & Stash Up Yarns

I have a friend in the Crafters’ Cafe (ebay group) who is an excellent knitter ~ I’m pretty sure most of us in the group have a pair, OR MORE, of her socks!  Oreo, or Oreobbenb, sent me a pair of red merino wool socks for our Valentine Exchange this year that I have worn pretty much every night…we have hard wood floors in the house and it gets cold.

She’s been knitting for sometime now…it’s probably a stress release as she is a nurse at a Florida nursing home, and life is stressful for a nurse.  Socks, scarves, belts, shawls, and baby clothes for dolls (Nana’s Reborn Dolls) and I’m sure real babies too!

I am an avid knitter and crocheter. I am addicted to yarn of all types. Just love the feel of it. Every year I enter our local fair and so far have won blue ribbons on most of my entries.

Socks are my favorite addiction and carry along knitting item. I’ve also been known to knit scarfs, hats, sweaters, dresses, doll clothes and mittens.

I have taught many friends and co-workers to knit. I believe this is a hobby worth passing on to others.

I also dabble in soap making and polymer clay. I usually sell my soaps locally and give some as gifts. Same with my polymer clay creations.

And here are some socks she’s working on for me with the Watchlar yarn from Stash Up Yarns ~

You can find Oreo on her Blog.

STASH UP YARNS ~

Bio
It was just a few years ago that I became intrigued by knitting and yarn. In a very short period of time I turned into a yarn addict. I scoured the internet for any and all yarn shops local and virtual. I spent unseemly amounts of money on yarn and needles and patterns. And here I am even more addicted to knitting and to yarn than I have ever been before. The very idea of winding a hank into a center pull ball using my improvised nostepinne gives me a thrill. And even though I have already purchased every current knitting publication I never fail to revisit that section of the magazine racks because the sight of a knitting magazine is truly a joy to behold. And its contents even more fascinating to read and peruse again and again. The next leg in this pursuit of yarn fiber has led me to hand-dyeing yarn. Dyeing may keep me away from knitting, but who cares? As long as yarn is in the picture, nothing else seems to matter.

I was looking for merino wool yarn for Oreo to make me some socks with…decided to head on over to www.etsy.com as we were boycotting ebay at the time. Glad I did as I found Nina at Stash Up Yarns ~ what WONDERFUL yarn! And great customer service ~ very nice lady, indeed!

I bought her Jasper, Hand-painted Merino & Bamboo Wool yarn which is Sea Green and Blue-Gray in color ~ and another beautiful yarn called Watchlar, 100% Merino Wool that is Thistle and Gray in color. The Merino & Bamboo wool is the most wonderful yarn I’ve petted ~ LOL! I had to keep it a while before mailing it to Sharon for her to knit with. I just kept picking it up and rubbing it on my face.

I recommend that you visit both of these talented ladies!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

After work we’ll be walking down to Paddy & Irene’s on B Street (Victorian Avenue) in Sparks…not too far from where we live. They will be having bagpippers and corned beef…and my favorite, Guinness. Today I’ll break from my diet and allow myself some beer and Bushmill’s Black. Love the bagpipes ~ so should be fun.

Paddy’s is offering customers free corned beef sandwiches in honor of the Irish holiday, and bagpipers will play from 4 to 6 p.m. The bar opens around noon Monday and will close when the last drunk drops. The bar and its Irish owners will also be celebrating their third anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day.

Crafters’ Cafe ~ an eBay Group

I’m in an eBay Group called Crafters’ Cafe…we’re a bunch of people who bonded together before the groups even came into play over there.  Found each other over on the Craft & Hobby discussion boards.  There is a core group of us, who always welcome newcomers…but I sometimes think they are a little intimidated by the craziness that goes on.  LOL!  Over the next few weeks I’m going to highlight two members at a time…there are beaders, quilters, knitters, embroiderers, jewelers, painters, crafters, artists, sewers, candle makers, soapers, clay sculptors…you name it, we make it. 

Today I’m going to introduce Sue Clark and Donna Bohler ~

Donna retired in the Fall of 2006 from the phone company back in Michigan…since then she picked back up an old hobby, macrame,  and a new hobby ~ beading & jewelry making. She mastered beading real fast and is making beautiful designs! Am trying to get her to start a shop over on Etsy, but one step at a time, I guess…she’ll be starting a blog this weekend. Fingers crossed! Until then…you can find her at her ebay store ~ Knots Sew Much.    She plans on selling her creations at craft shows in her neck of the woods, as well as on-line.  Below are some of Donna’s beaded jewelry that she has finished ~

Siam Peyote bracelet with crystals & gold rings

Bracelet: Turquoise crystals and gold pearls

Byzantine: Chain Mail bracelet, sterling silver

And one of my favorites ~

Necklace with African art glass beads, copper beads & spacers

Sue Clark, of Pertualplum and Unique Re-tiques, is a VERY multi-talented lady. Sue works with recycled materials to create one of kind artwork,  she also makes art and fine crafts as well.  Sue loves to work with metals, especially copper.  She paints, draws, and loves watercolors and pastels.   I would love to spend a week up in Oregon with her…in her shop and wandering around her property.

You can find Sue at her website ~ Unique Re-tiques~ a resource for free craft ideas, do it yourself projects, art and craft supplies (new and recycled), Portland, Oregon area shopping, Oregon travel, Oregon sightseeing, Recycled or Repurposed art information, craft fairs and festivals….

At Etsy ~ Perpetualplum….

And at her blog here on wordpress.com ~ Perpetualplum’s Weblog

Below are pictures of some of Sue’s creations ~

Altered Domino Bracelet Celebrating Grapes ~ can be bought on etsy

Framed Altered Art Jeweled Copper Butterfly Aenus Decororis ~ also can be bought on etsy!

Pink Flowers Hand Ink Rendered Altered Domino Brooch ~ etsy item

Paisley Peacocks Altered Mini Domino Necklace with Vintage Copper Findings ~ etsy

And from my collection ~ here is one of my many ACEO cards of Sue’s ~

Instead of Growing Old, She Grew Wings.

Please check out this wonderful ladies at their sites! You won’t be disappointed!