Splish Splash

This Junco is certainly enjoying its bath! Probably as much as I was with the camera handy.



 The last week has been spent watching the skies. Every day a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms and finally, after we had begun to scoff at the warnings (only a little), the rumble and rains came. Thursday morning brought the beginnings, a few showers, a little growling overhead, a flash or two from somewhere far off and wind. By mid morning, it had cleared out and steamed up and then just like the last train to Yuma, the afternoon brought some pretty serious cells right to us. The sky darkened, the lightening flashed and the ground shook. I had horses spooked in the pasture, goats bleating pitifully from under a tree and torrential rains all while I worked to get up a short run of tape fencing that encloses one side of the small run in barn. I had left it down when I had taken Bob in (about 3 weeks ago), to finally push the winters manure up into the pile to sweeten for a year or so. Stupid me! They went in, but at every overhead crash, came bolting out like racehorses from the gate. They sure didn't look fat, old and slow! ;) Ten minutes after changing into dry clothes I decided to feed everyone a little early, coaxing the boys to settle in shelter. Of course I got wet, again and needed to change, again. By dusk, the ground soaked, the skies clearing, the hay eaten, it was quiet and chilly. 16 fires were started, a couple up in this area and ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry), was on it. Friday crews in trucks, on foot and in planes were out looking for smokes which are fires that may have started but were just smoldering instead of igniting the surrounding forest. A few were found, a couple of tip calls and a morning of investigation yielded very little. We lucked out, again.

But the week wasn't all craning our necks watching the sky



 or hunched over the computer storm tracking. Friend Mary visited on Wednesday and took a spin on the Murphy loom. Her first time weaving and she took to it like a duck to water. (Or maybe a junco to a birdbath?!). I wonder how many people have learned to weave on this fine old loom?



By the time she finished up the last prayer flag on the run I started last summer, she was throwing that shuttle with some finesse and rhythm!



 I cut off the run of five flags and quickly hemmed and tied them together and sent her off with her own set of prayer flags. Maybe they will grace one of her beautiful gardens!

There was also a little sewing going on. I played with the Kimono Jacket (Bold & Beautiful book), pattern. This one was cut longer, the bottom hems modified and finally, an additional panel added to the right front both for length and interest.



 The back details are a small piece of flower dyed linen that I was given one day ( in June!), spent with Mary and friend and artist Anna at River Garden Studio.



 Roxanne is an amazing artist and we all had such fun that day, laughing, sharing fibers and loading up on inspiration. Right now I have a new barn coat in process.

 

This is mental practice for starting work on my Dad's coat.  I want to get my skill set up to par. While his coat will have a silk lining, this pattern, Sewn Square One's Upline Coat,



has all the pieces underlined with the lining fabric.



 Something different, fun and a bit challenging!

Parting shots: Handsome Rufous Hummingbird. She was happy to sit for me and I was more than happy to snap some great shots.