One Horsepower

I find it interesting that our modern cars are still using horsepower as a unit of measurement. Every time we talk about the newest, most efficient vehicle we harken back to a time, not so long ago, when the measure of strength and efficiency ran on hay and oats.  Yesterday I finally got to harness some of that strength and energy. Cooper and I re-investigated some of our little world after a long winter away from the trails. There are so many things I love about the big guy, one that is always at the top of the list is steadiness. You can let him sit for 5 days or 5 months and you get the same horse. He doesn't get spooky, silly or barn sour. He is what he is and can be counted on to be safe and sensible. Our "dust off the tack" ride yesterday was no different than our "time to put away the gear" ride last November.

The trails were still muddy in parts, snow covered in others. Shrubs and trees are just starting to bud, while in Ashland, a scant 20 miles away and much lower in elevation, trees are blooming. Everything was very hushed still, the birds twittering but still tentative and all with a mission no doubt to be nest building.  Some trees came down over the windy winter and we took the time to clear where we can on the trails. Followed a little deer path for a while. Hadn't seen it before but with the ground still so bare it was easy to spot. We also spied some bobcat or lynx tracks, fresh from the morning while the snow would still support a small animal walking on it.  It was starting to get overcast and not the most beautiful day else I would have taken the camera. We spent two hours out, mostly at a walk with some nice trotting. We're both out of shape but neither us wanted to call it quits to head home. 

When I did get back into the house, I spent the rest of my time weaving. The curtains are almost done. I'm a good way into the final curtain and hoping to get them off the loom today. Yah!

Monday was a lost day. We got the car down into town without having to tow it. On first run through by the mechanic it is going to be expensive, we're waiting for the final estimate. Some things have got to be done, others can wait until we regroup. I'm hoping to have my multiple horse powered transportation back by the end of the week.

We've also been plagued by connectivity problems with Hughes.net. If I had it to do all over again, I would never go with them. Ever. There are other companies now which reach into our area. 

Sue over at Life Looms Large also sent out this beautiful award to me. Thank you Sue,

I'm honored! I am sending this lovely award onto Sarah @ Woven Voices, Evelyn Oldroyd, Jennifer @ Finding the Real Me. Their blogs are all in my blog list and when I figure out how to make their names links in the text, I will! ;-)

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!"

Double Weave, Snow & Awards

Nothing catchy about that title. I've been so busy it seems like everything is going hyper speed.  Gene has headed off to Salem and Eugene to do his annual training with

the State Fire Marshall. All the  emergency communications people meet, brush up on skills, get to play with new equipment and go to yummy sounding dinners at night. This is a chance for all the teams to get together before there is the emergency that can send them out region wide. Even though it is now snowing here (again) fire season for the west is just around the corner. Their purpose is to coordinate resources at a disaster and supply communications and directions etc to folks who may not be able to communicate to each other. Some of our fire lines are huge consisting of resources from both private and government sectors and the emergency communications people supply a central command if you will of who is where. Kind of like the air traffic controllers of emergencies!

Anyway, getting Gene out the door is always a frenetic event. It requires a lot of search and rescue because, simply put, he isn't near as organized as I am.

I did manage to get down into Jacksonville for a very eye opening class on Double Weave given by our guilds VP and expert weaver Nadine Purcell. I didn't weave a very good sample but I got to digest what I needed and wanted to know about doing double cloth. Throwing a shuttle doesn't always do that for me, but visualizing the set -up and the whys does. I still use the "technique" if you will when riding. I can try to do something a million times over on the horse and end up exhausting both of us to very little gain. BUT, if I walk away from it and spend time doing my corrections in my head

the next time I get up on, usually I can accomplish and correct easily. It works for me at least.

Lastly, I was awarded an award! Cindie at Eweniquely ewe  and Reluctant Dragon each sent this over to me. Woohoo! Thank you both very much. I haven't been blogging more than 2 months and it has certainly made my day!

Accepting this award means following some rules:

1.Copy the Kreativ Blogger Award to your blog

2. Put a link to the person from whom you received the award

3. Nominate 8 other blogs and

4. Link to them 

5. Then leave a message on the blogs you have nominated.

Now, I have a list of wonderful bloggers that I keep up with and many many already have received this award and I don't want to duplicate so while not near 8 here is my list.

Hey Dawn How's the Studio Coming

Woven Voices