Realizing our Dreams

Every Monday morning, from 10 til noon, you will find me at the Public Library in the Carnagie Room. This is where a very diverse and eclectic group of women meet to knit. We  bring our yarns and our various styles of needles, and we knit for two or three hours. We knit and we talk and we share and we learn. We bounce ideas off one another. We rejoice about Life, and we complain about it. We laugh uncontrollably and we listen with great intensity.

To the Outside World, we appear to simply knit and create garments out of various wools and silks and cottons and acrylics. We do nothing out of the ordinary, and certainly not anything that would qualify as even important. At least not in this world where Nothing is handmade and Everything is much cheaper readymade.

But we all know that there is lots more to this weekly gathering than just twisting yarns around a smooth shank of bamboo or a slick piece of aluminum. We know that, while we knit, we are also building. Building friendships and binding ourselves together with the thick mastic of love and concern and the healing balm of listening.

I knit with my Collie Wool (see the blog in Sept, 2008). Another friend knits only lace with spiderweb sized silk. Another only knits fuzzy, hairy acrylics. Yet another friend knits garter stitch scarves for everyone in her family. There is one lady whose husband spun her yarn from their wooly spring lambs. One lady knits torn-up strips from bandanas. We have all found what makes our hearts sing, and the click of the warm needles plays like a symphony in the Public Library.

Earlier this winter, one member of our group began work on a sweater from the wool of her Shetland Sheep. She had raised these sheep from tiny wooly lambs, and they have become not only her livestock, but also her pets and her dear companions. "Each one has a personality," she tells me. And, of course, she knows them all by name.

So the wool yarn that she is knitting is now becoming a sweater of the most intricate design. She stayed up late at night to conquer each segment, bringing each piece to knit group for our inspection. Finally, one day this month, she entered the room wearing one of the most beautiful sweaters any of us have ever beheld.

The completed project was a garden of tiny twisted cables at the wrists and  ribbing up the frontspieces. Her finishing touches were beautiful shell buttons that slipped easily into her created buttonholes on the opposite side.

Of course the whole knitting group offered up their compliments and their praise (for that is what we do best, these women who knit), and their hands touched and caressed each part of the sweater in great appreciation of her accomplishment. My friend's smile was bigger than I had ever seen her smile before. She was pleased that we were so complimentary and appreciative.

However, as I watched her, modeling and smiling, I came to realize that she was savoring even more inside her heart than she could ever reveal to the rest of us. Her expression was almost holy when she wore this garment. It was like she knew Something Very Important and had experienced something that mere words could never express.

Her smile deepened, and she began to explain to me what she could regarding these sheep, this wool, this knitting. This has been a dream of hers for years, she told me.....To be able to raise her own sheep, shear them, send the fleeces to the spinner, and knit the entire sweater before the weather got too warm to wear it.

So....what we were looking at that day in the Public Library, was actually a very REAL Dream Come True. A Desire of the Heart come into being as something that we could actually touch and see!

What a wonderful Gift she gave us, letting us live out this part of her life, allowing us to share in the joy and the fascination of a Dream becoming a Reality. I felt truly honored to be a part of this moment. There is a connection between us now that is unique and timeless----a bit of "knowing" that we did not have before.....We are no longer ordinary.

Old Friends.....Old Friends....Sit on the Parkbench Like Bookends.....

We have 2 "senior" animals in our household. A "first" for us in all the years we have had cats and dogs. Both of them become "teenagers" this year, and both of them are quite healthy and functioning well.

This morning the house is quiet. Rob is gone, and the TV is off. It is cold and wet outside, and all the animals are strewn around the livingroom floor like patches of shag carpet.

Gary (our 13-year-old Maine Coon cat), is in his customary place beneath the tv cabinet. He lies right in the path of the tv remote and the receiver, making it impossible to change channels. I think he Knows this, and smiles, in his cat-way, in the knowledge he is making our lives a bit more challenging. 

Gary.

The Alpha-Cat. Don't Mess with Gary. He has switchblades for claws and is not afraid of using them.

Baden, our First Collie, is asleep right by the back door. HE is the reason for all the "Collie things" I do and for all the Colliefriends I have. We've done a lot of things in the past 12 years, BayBay and I. He is the first dog I have ever put a title on. The first one to be a registered Therapy Dog. The first to travel with me out of state. The first one to have ever run Agility (might I mention that, at one point, Baden was #19 Collie in the nation in Agility).

 

He's retired now. Doesn't drive at night, either. It takes him a while to get up from a down position, and we don't ask him to "sit!" for a cookie anymore. As Rob tells it, "Seniors get in free."

Now they sleep a lot, Gary and Baden. My Animal Communicator friend, Barbara Janelle, tells me that Baden is a bit "surprised" that he sleeps so much. They still romp and cavort and  bark (Baden)  and jump atop the 6-ft-high fence (Gary), but, mostly.....They sleep.

In the Quiet this morning (with the boyz strewn all around the livingroom, remember), I looked up from my knitting because I realized I was hearing a rhythmic sound of gentle, but intense and sonorous breathing. The old boys were working at their task of sleep. They were busily going about their relaxing and re-charging their bodies.  The sweet snoring was perhaps the most beautiful sound of the day. It was like a lovely song sung from the depths of their spirits which had fled, momentarily, to a world of ease and comfort and, well, Youth.

I could weep for the years gone by with these two. I could be saddened knowing that there is less "in front" of these two than there is in the past. And I know, that, come the day, I shall be inconsolable. But, at the Moment....at this very moment....I can only be grateful for all the days that I have had with these two. These two very different, yet loving characters who have woven themselves into the fabric of my life.  They have taught me volumes and volumes about Life and what is important and how to communicate.

Continue to "be," my dear, furry companions. Continue to sleep on my floor and bark at the younger Collies, Baden. Continue to meow piteously to come inside and snarl at the other cats, Gary. Continue. Continue to dock your wooly bodies next to mine and turn your shining eyes to my face. Continue to teach me. And bring me Peace.

Snow and Dog Shows and Staying Alive

It snowed in Oklahoma yesterday. A lot. It snowed a lot. Maybe around 5 inches, which is pretty heavy for this part of the planet. Tulsa got over 7 inches. Down south in Oklahoma City, they got a couple of inches of ice UNDER their 7 inches of snow.

I don't mind snow. I really do not. I love playing in it, and I like Listening to it. Did you know that snow is the Ultimate Quiet?  It is one of my favorite properties about snow. The Quiet. I like to go outside and listen to it. It makes my eyes big....

What I DO mind is Living in Purgatory.  You see, The Liddle Wolf Cubbie and I were scheduled to go to a Collie Specialty Show down in Oklahoma City this weekend. There were THREE shows in one weekend. I'd paid our entry fees, made (non-refundable) hotel reservations, and packed my car with grooming tools, table, crates, chairs, blow dryer, towels, show clothes---all the paraphenalia associated with a wonderful weekend of prancing my Collie around the ring.  To quote from the movie, Drop Dead Gorgeous...
"I was ready."

I knew that snow was predicted, but, being the person who sez, "there's Got to be a pony in here Somewhere," I was predicting sunny weather and Winner's Dog.....

When the world began freezing, I then became a resident of Purgatory.  Being raised a Methodist from the cradle, I never really understood that phrase.....Until this week. Now I see that Purgatory is its own special brand of hell. It's the "not knowing" the "you cannot Plan for this" that un-nerves my soul.  I think this comes from being a bit of a Control Freak.....I hate to straddle the fence...to Wait....to keep to myself until someone Else decides what I shall do.

And I must admit that I did not handle it to the Best of my ability. I was a bit snippy, maybe even whiny. Rob will attest to my dour mood. I don't DO dour very well....And tho, I DO try to remind myself that "Life is not a Dress Rehearsal," I did not bear this performance with grace...

By Friday morning, it was apparent that I wasn't going ANYwhere with my Collie....not even out of the cul-de-sac. We were in a Winter Wonderland, and no matter what the weather conditions might be down in OKCity, I was stuck in Tahlequah.  Then, the email came from the show chair.  The 2 days of shows (there were 3 shows) were cancelled.  Cancelled. Not postponed. Not rescheduled. Cancelled. Thank you for your contribution to the Oklahoma Collie Club......

Durn.

Crap.

Dirty toilet seats and pussing sores.

But you know what?! With that email, I was literally launched out of Purgatory, and a huge cloud was lifted from my cold, icy heart. It wasn't so Bad anymore. At least I knew what to Expect.....Cuddling on the couch, cooking delicous meals, romping in the snow, cleaning out the junk drawer, playing Where in the US is Carmen San Diego.....
So, first we romped in the snow.....

Here's a shot of The Cutest Boy in the World:

This is James' "tolerant" look.....He's not too crazy about getting stuff on his coat. He walks Around rain puddles. He will avoid the grass when there's a sidewalk available. He Prefers being inside. Were he female,

 we would call him a Diva.

Prosper, on the other hand, DElighted in the white stuff! He touched every one of his toys, rolling them over and chewing on them to inspect their "frozen-ness." He soared around the yard, leaping over the jumps, tumbling past the other two boyz.

Baden is the Hall Monitor. He can't keep up, rpm-wise with the younger Collies, but he makes up for it by barking. Barking. BARKing.

Prop and I played fetch with this oversized waterbottle until my hands were numb with cold. He found that the red handle was, well, quite Handy for bringing it. I'm thinking I'm gonna use this handle-grabbing behavior in the future and make it work big for me.

The yard was FULL of wonderful "designs" in the snow.  I truly wish I had my friend Joanne's "artist's eye," but I did capture a few artsy shots.  This is the bench in the backyard.

Back inside, I baked a WONDERful turkey pot pie. Rob made coffee, and we snuggled in for a warm, delectable dinner.

One more side note....Regarding Priorties in this household.....The snow has been on the ground/roof now for 2 days. Suddenly, we noticed that the satellite dish was not working. We were only receiving the "local" stations, nothing else. Well, this would Never Do, according to The Man Who Never Turns the TV Off.....

So, Rob went outside with a very long pole he found in the storage barn, and proceeded to tap the Dish until it was free of ice and snow....

Always there must be a Collie in assistance.  Here's Baden close by:

Inside, Rob cked out the TV......It Worked! He got to watch Queen and Paul Johnson, after all....

I Keep TRYIN to tell ya...This boy ain't rite. But he sure does make a good cuppa coffee.  And he Does have innovative ways of solving our problems....

Snow Tunnels

Last week the boyz and I travelled up to KCity because Baby Daughter had surgery on her wrist. I went to change diapers and monitor bath time, but by Monday, three days after surgery, little Ms "I Do Not Need Any Help" was up and runnin' again. My van was packed with goodies for the grandchildren and weineroni for my son in law and warm, wooly clothes for me, so I trekked up there anyway.

It was SO fun to be there with no schedule, no deadlines to meet, no real "purpose" besides reading books and shopping for crickets for the frog.Yeh, the frog named Dav.... If you need more information on this family, Kathryn's blog is listed beside my posts.

Grace is nearly 5 now, and has (nearly) given up her pacifer and (completely) her afternoon naps. As a grandparent, this is Good News. Sleep is greatly overrated and a waste of valuable Time where grandchildren are concerned. Naps cut in to our Time Together.  Bedtime comes soon enough in that household.

So, while (nearly 2 year old) Samuel napped in the afternoon, I had one-on-one time with Grace. We shopped on the computer, we searched for hidden pictures, we played Polly Pockets, we read crazy GrandTone books.

AND....we played in the snow! Kansas City got over 14 inches of snow during Christmas, with more falling every week thereafter. Although it is beginning to melt, and the ground becoming quite saturated, there is still a huge "mountain" of snow in the middle of the cul de sac in front of the Farris' house.

I think I have my brother's engineering heart some of the time....Tho my "structural expertise" is quite lacking, my desire to build and create remains unquenchable. And when one sees a huge amount of snow and ice packed in front of one.....well, the challenge to DO something with it, despite the freezing temperatures and limited choice of tools, was more than I could ignore.

So we dug.  We dug with a garden hoe and a miniature shovel.....
And, of course, there Always must be a Collie helping to supervise the construction. That's James managing the job site.

At some point, in this cold endeavor, Grace exclaimed, "GrandTone! I can see your shovel!" She was on the other side of the tunnel.....mountain climbing, using the hoe as a stabilizer for reaching the peak.

Yep... East had met West....but we weren't finished yet! We had to make the hole bigger so that we could actually CRAWL thru it!  So the digging continued. Do you know how Warm you can get whilst shovelling snow! And while you warm up, the heat from your body can melt the snow you are kneeling on, making your pant legs quite soggy, and, consequently, Cold...

Meanwhile....Our very own Sir Edmund Hillary had reached the summit and stood victorious high in the thin,cold air.....

As a Responsible GrandTone, I must admit that she DID make me a bit nervous up there all by herself....But how could I take away her victory by telling her to be careful....So, I did what ALL Grandmothers do....I prayed for her stability.  Guess that is a prayer that I shall Always pray.......for All the mountaintops they scale.....

Tunnel completed, we now must see what Life is like on the other side.....

And, then, of course, it was MY turn....Once inside, the hole I'd dug seemed quite a bit smaller....and colder....Being born could not have been more difficult.

Never forget the Site Supervisor....He loves to "Go Tunnel!" It's Agility in the snow! Where's the weave poles, Mom?!

And now it is time for some Hot Chocolate, according to the Adult in Charge.....uh, that would be the person on the other side of the camera.....So...one last shot, then we head inside to peel off our wet drawers and warm up by the fire. Anticipating Spring is highly overrated.....

Happy Birthday To ME!!!

Well, even tho my Happy Birthday isn't until next week, my present came early!!! I don't think I would have been more pleased if I had been given a brand new van!!! Thank you SO much, Rob Bailey, for KNOWing me and knowing what I love. But you DID spend more than the allotted, customary $20.

If you go to this site you will see ALL of the products that these folks have to offer. It is a TOTALLY portable set of Obedience Jumps that ALL fold nicely up into this little bag.

I set the jumps up int the livingroom (couldn't Wait till tomorrow, and it is dark and cold outside). Prosper immediately jumped over it.

This is the "bar jump." As you can see, the bar is adjustable to 40 inches (I'm guessing for Schutzhund work?). My boyz jump 24, but to introduce this jump I lowered it a bit. Doesn't seem to be a problem with a 65# breezing over it. The "towers" didn't ever wobble.

The Broad jumps have collapsable poles inserted in them. There are 4 of them. When I had them all "sprung out" and the poles put in them, I discovered that they actually "nest" inside each other, for easy portability even if they are not completely broken down. WOW!


Here's my teenager trying them out. Baden is pushing 13 this year.


















Even Eddy Mercyx the cat liked the bar jumps. He ain't rite, but we keep him anyway. He fits right in to our household.....
























Thanks, again, Dear Rob, for wanting this for me. Fifty eight years old, and getting dawg toys for a present! THESE children think I'm normal.....

Cooking School at the Canebrake!

Today was Baking Day at the Canebrake Resturant (You can access their info via Facebook). Several friends and I drove out there, paid our $20, and had the Time of our lives!! Pictured here is Pastry Chef Sarah. Just a pup, but she's been cooking ever since she could reach the countertop, and man, we learned a LOT. Even the "old salty" bakers learned some new tricks and techniques.

She's rolling out the chocolate pastry dough for the Reese's Cup Pie.

And trimming the dough in the cool pastry pan.

Next she mixes up the peanut butter filling.

Here are some pictures showing how to make checkerboard cookies. Remember to always keep the dough cold. Freeze it, in fact. Stick it together w/eggwash. Then cut across it to reveal the little squares. Butter makes a softer cookie. Crisco helps the cookie to keep its original shape. If you want the Best of Both Worlds (yeh, sing it, Hannah!), then use 1/2 butter, 1/2 Crisco.

Sarah rolls the dough out between two 1/2" dowel rods. This assures that the thickness of the rolled out dough is consistent.

Next she alternately stacks each layer, "gluing" them together with egg white wash. Now return it to the freezer until quite cold. Maybe overnight.

Now the cuts come. One half inch strips. Four of them. This is best done when the dough is partially thawed so the knife can cut thru with a little of resisitance.













Here's 2 strips.
Add 2 more to make the finished bar. Then re-chill. Slice and bake. The unused "ends" you can twist together and make "marble" cookies.












Regarding braided yeast breads. Begin braiding in the middle, then braid to the end. Go back and braid from the middle to the other end. Makes a more balanced rope. Now you can form it into different shapes, depending on the holiday or your mood. Hearts for Valentine's Day, Wreaths for Christmas. You can even wind it into a coil.











Cut out pastry leaves to embellish pie crusts. Or use other shapes from little bitty cookie cutters. I have hearts, circles, gingerbread boys, even dog bones.....













Good friends, good food, good recipes. We learned a LOT today! Even some French stuff I could not pronounce---but I can Bake it!!! Here's me with the Chef. Such a darling girl. I felt like I was living in HG TV for a few hours.