tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190332992024-03-05T10:47:39.059-08:00Iron and FireIron and Fire:An Artist Blacksmith's JournalHeidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-4048816526059328422013-08-25T14:08:00.001-07:002013-08-25T14:08:08.699-07:00Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnJNwCwfgJ63dWJ_WFox4mMwJhB3RBKz0ZUbP-52oyXciCIFGwQCnBnQ3b9qfpDXg7NCncI9FiJCToaOTTuTxlCpedI4DWUWNWHoRmdGtgnrJwVOiRguWIyhntHfmQrEZ0Nnn_Q/s1600/2.21.13+vanderheyden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnJNwCwfgJ63dWJ_WFox4mMwJhB3RBKz0ZUbP-52oyXciCIFGwQCnBnQ3b9qfpDXg7NCncI9FiJCToaOTTuTxlCpedI4DWUWNWHoRmdGtgnrJwVOiRguWIyhntHfmQrEZ0Nnn_Q/s320/2.21.13+vanderheyden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Howdy do all! Well here is the big vine railing installed several months ago. It took 6 men, and a crane to get it up there. I was in school, so I missed that fun installation, but it fit perfectly. I owe that success to careful mock up building in the shop, and making sure we took lots of measurements.<br />
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Summer has been fun, camping, seeing friends, and working on a smaller railing for the same contractor. I am also preparing for school this fall, I will begin taking course at PSU, higher level core classes. I was accepted into the Honors Program since I had a 4.0 for for my freshman year at CCC. Yep, a solid straight A for my first year in college. Iam still in shock, so is my Mom.<br />
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Summers heat has given way to a wonderful cloudy, rainy, warm day here in Oak Grove.<br />
I spent today picking apples off the mystery tree; I filled every container I had with delicious apples of this unknown variety. It looks like a Gala, but is more tangy sweet. Great for all cooking, or hand eating. I originally found this tree as a sapling, growing in the shade of our maples in the front yard way back when we first moved in here. I transplanted it to the back yard. It along with two other apple trees, have since flourished. The other two fruit every other year, but this one is annual.<br />
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So, I have to get it going on in the fruit processing dept. since I have no cold storage, and they won't keep well: they all have worms in their hearts. I just didn't spray, or put little socks on the fruit to keep out the bugs. Next year I swear, I will be a better orchardess.<br />
See ya later!Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-50820765610655567312012-12-11T10:33:00.000-08:002012-12-11T10:33:06.548-08:00Grades4.0<br />
I sat in my chair gazing intently at the computer for probably an hour or more. Soaking it all in.<br />
4.0 GPA<br />
All A's up there on there on the screen, all A's.<br />
Wow. Not bad for a drop out failure in life. <br />
The last 12 years have been hard. Dan and I fight a lot, and we are always struggling for money and I am no business woman. Trying to work with my husband has been hard, and fraught with stress. Quarreling doesn't describe the full on scream fests of hate we directed at one another. I found myself dreading the shop, dreading the work. Our marriage has suffered because of it, all the arguing has aged me, crushed my heart, and hurt Dan too. We are still together, still partners, but I wish we could have NOT worked together. Two strong personalities who both have to win at all costs will never pull a plow together effectively..He is a good man, and I am grateful for his new career, because he deserves to be there, being appreciated for his skills and his talents as a historian and archaeologist. For the the first time in 12 years he is happy. I am grateful I can go to school full time, he won't let me take a job, but that will have to change, we need the extra money. He looks forward to work every day, and I thank the gods for his good fortune.<br />
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Little old Me? Being in college brings me more satisfaction than any handrail ever did; no amount of praise for my metalwork skills (awesome thought they be) is one ounce as fulfilling as seeing that GPA up on the computer screen: 4.0 I did that!! I did it!!! Me, the drop out, the one who couldn't finish high school, who could never get a good job, who always felt "stupid". ME! I am able to meet deadlines, I am able to study and write essays that earn a perfect score. Whoo hoooooo!!!!<br />
I just want to go and scream it from the highest tower, look at me I did it.<br />
This one is for you Gram, I put my mind to it, and I did it.Just like you said.<br />
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<br />Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-72331389490768984232012-10-27T10:40:00.004-07:002012-10-27T10:40:49.033-07:00SchoolSchool has me in it's clutches, which is good. I realize I am just not a devoted blogger. The bummer is that all the interesting folks who's blogs I read don't read mine. I admit to being jealous of people who have amazing lives, and that mine is duller than old milk paint on a fence. oh well, I m off to get my degree, forge a little, and lead my life. Bye!Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-68276196991287637022012-05-10T08:55:00.002-07:002012-05-10T10:17:30.227-07:00More railing..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWN3S9WvC388GvGyxYg44tPIMQvXcmAParVrzpI8AEIIna8WW5rwOo9WDvs8dSevwddi3ODoAKV_nmr8STNvbmY1u0tzCTYMArWtHJ5ZDx6QAcEnQge-ZN0_O4DKndqP62AFlLw/s1600/4.12.12+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWN3S9WvC388GvGyxYg44tPIMQvXcmAParVrzpI8AEIIna8WW5rwOo9WDvs8dSevwddi3ODoAKV_nmr8STNvbmY1u0tzCTYMArWtHJ5ZDx6QAcEnQge-ZN0_O4DKndqP62AFlLw/s320/4.12.12+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5740934218647830306" border="0" /></a>The flowers have 6 steps in the process to becoming "done".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge82F7L95cs9Rf5gLCv4U4GIki1ufREmbLkd0G7Nco-0Y_iVl7pv7IHFqSsgfqLrDtNhGZX3oW215BhaGQKIjgzUEe5W_8Q5PGNEPfEog6m9x_1ngE1vDqZ_8gwxuqz59AapbT1g/s1600/4.12.12+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge82F7L95cs9Rf5gLCv4U4GIki1ufREmbLkd0G7Nco-0Y_iVl7pv7IHFqSsgfqLrDtNhGZX3oW215BhaGQKIjgzUEe5W_8Q5PGNEPfEog6m9x_1ngE1vDqZ_8gwxuqz59AapbT1g/s320/4.12.12+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5740934211087605314" border="0" /></a>Stacks of flowers....Bunches of branches,leaves galore...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK65dRIl5ooCjKZwNZgF9Sji8GDjqCc0r_UV2uO1EJbjLBJProFDg8LzWzrQ2F-8U7-fdCTnO6c_iHCXIMpE2o6537ThbLvnQ7wLJ5Ux9Y7xjASNH2mQG-YJnzQWp3jdlDcr_hw/s1600/4.12.12+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK65dRIl5ooCjKZwNZgF9Sji8GDjqCc0r_UV2uO1EJbjLBJProFDg8LzWzrQ2F-8U7-fdCTnO6c_iHCXIMpE2o6537ThbLvnQ7wLJ5Ux9Y7xjASNH2mQG-YJnzQWp3jdlDcr_hw/s320/4.12.12+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5740934222294915586" border="0" /></a>This project is eating me alive! Branches, vines, leaves, all of it has to be looked at and place in an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aesthetically</span> pleasing way..I can't just weld it on, it has to look right, and fill gaps.<br />I truly do not want a job this big again. Not with my back anymore, I can't do this work fast enough for clients..Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-44374796677491994252012-04-03T15:06:00.005-07:002012-04-03T17:03:24.335-07:00Balcony Railing<span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_0" id="SB_M86_0" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDAAMAPMAAP///2ZmZoCAgExMTJmZmTMzM7KyshoaGgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIiaalqF5wQK6GdYweYJziFUpFsQEE0bZbDNA1MQ2XYA3AiWD4AwSOAN/mGLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIeaalp15QQK6IVYwegJziFUrDsAGG0bZbDNC1MQUXYQXACWH4AwiOAN/mKLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIWaalpV4wQK6HNYwecJziFUpBsAEI0rZbDNA1MgmXYQnAiWH4AxCOAN/mSLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIOaalo14QQK6FFYweUJziFUqCsAHH0bZbDND1MREXYhHACWL4AxiOAN/maLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIGaaloV4gQK6DJYweMJziFUoEsQFF0bZbDNB1MRnXYRnAyWH4AyCOAN/miLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIKaalol5AQK6BRYweEJziFUqGsQHD0LZbDND1MCFXYSHASWH4AxyOAN/meLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDISaalpF5gQK6CZYweIJziFUoIsgFB0LZbDNB1MB3XYB3AyWD4AxSOAN/mWLBEAAAh+QQBCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIaaalpl6AQK6EhYweQJziFUrHsQGC0LZbDNC1MBVXYBXASWD4AwyOAN/mOLBEAAA7" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi5UK8kQydIKpsT0HaomsgPFgpEPRcBWdcLyZKHQHXVsG8ZIEwA77Zx37RP4qZqox_q2owMLPtEPTdhN4fmpYrJRa5Yjp75quWj-_9CdMqCZTqFDHHAC6M8faPSgsDPK11NqXhQ/s1600/3.30.12+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi5UK8kQydIKpsT0HaomsgPFgpEPRcBWdcLyZKHQHXVsG8ZIEwA77Zx37RP4qZqox_q2owMLPtEPTdhN4fmpYrJRa5Yjp75quWj-_9CdMqCZTqFDHHAC6M8faPSgsDPK11NqXhQ/s320/3.30.12+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727302812404142370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_1" id="SB_M86_1" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPkAfYUTbB6uXHuN54UPeI4QxtvrPzZsT4HgOijhxdrIML723IPuOMuU8-DuAfe6NDUgEb6goz1LfsjqgdnuoxouD67o9RjMskN3Jw8BC60okzWUq_-zMwxy4KD_V1D70egUV0w/s1600/3.31.12+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPkAfYUTbB6uXHuN54UPeI4QxtvrPzZsT4HgOijhxdrIML723IPuOMuU8-DuAfe6NDUgEb6goz1LfsjqgdnuoxouD67o9RjMskN3Jw8BC60okzWUq_-zMwxy4KD_V1D70egUV0w/s320/3.31.12+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727299883841555442" border="0" /></a>Here Iam cutting out 200 leaves from 1x1 angle iron...this took one day. 8am until 5pmish..With breaks for tea, pee and stretching my back.<br /><span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_2" id="SB_M86_2" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-jRAmNbe_4v3VEREKsHOVXjfvgWuj0qku2CNb5lqRM91kxqjo201sCZMYEbvsK-TmR3M82OzJJHcBK5oQr8iSdLmZSy0Y3qRgYo4D6EFqvfvgr17f14GpFmu-W9Yo-4IQUKJoQ/s1600/3.31.12+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-jRAmNbe_4v3VEREKsHOVXjfvgWuj0qku2CNb5lqRM91kxqjo201sCZMYEbvsK-TmR3M82OzJJHcBK5oQr8iSdLmZSy0Y3qRgYo4D6EFqvfvgr17f14GpFmu-W9Yo-4IQUKJoQ/s320/3.31.12+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727299881085694594" border="0" /></a>Nice boots huh?<br /><br /><span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_3" id="SB_M86_3" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDAAMAPMAAP///2ZmZoCAgExMTJmZmTMzM7KyshoaGgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIiaalqF5wQK6GdYweYJziFUpFsQEE0bZbDNA1MQ2XYA3AiWD4AwSOAN/mGLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIeaalp15QQK6IVYwegJziFUrDsAGG0bZbDNC1MQUXYQXACWH4AwiOAN/mKLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIWaalpV4wQK6HNYwecJziFUpBsAEI0rZbDNA1MgmXYQnAiWH4AxCOAN/mSLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIOaalo14QQK6FFYweUJziFUqCsAHH0bZbDND1MREXYhHACWL4AxiOAN/maLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIGaaloV4gQK6DJYweMJziFUoEsQFF0bZbDNB1MRnXYRnAyWH4AyCOAN/miLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIKaalol5AQK6BRYweEJziFUqGsQHD0LZbDND1MCFXYSHASWH4AxyOAN/meLBEAAAh+QQJCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDISaalpF5gQK6CZYweIJziFUoIsgFB0LZbDNB1MB3XYB3AyWD4AxSOAN/mWLBEAAAh+QQBCgAAACwAAAAADAAMAAMEMBDIaaalpl6AQK6EhYweQJziFUrHsQGC0LZbDNC1MBVXYBXASWD4AwyOAN/mOLBEAAA7" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNhFGj7q1SUv1WDI617qWPdqvI8TG2HrTZAfywK35sieUrPfCVjI4V3d-tN2qquPjSI_hcCezUz8e1ruFcGwfGeI_lVqiCEQAiv2ng6KqS9RMonLsm5ubbOqWwsH7PU4WLs5u8g/s1600/3.31.12+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNhFGj7q1SUv1WDI617qWPdqvI8TG2HrTZAfywK35sieUrPfCVjI4V3d-tN2qquPjSI_hcCezUz8e1ruFcGwfGeI_lVqiCEQAiv2ng6KqS9RMonLsm5ubbOqWwsH7PU4WLs5u8g/s320/3.31.12+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727299896758175810" border="0" /></a>Here is what they look like "raw", after they were cut out I took 4 hours to grind them clean of slag. Iam currently having a coffee break from forging/shaping them.They will then need to be welded to their pre-forged branches, and put onto this=<br /><span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_4" id="SB_M86_4" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnADoQLWslBQIrI3jTxaYo4WTcP1ZCFmWR3RVQ6ZBa6YFRHsHZLW0vSM9MA78hPV9ACU37W36wjjhjVEy741M2it-9T2MTyRz8hzJz5mmpGXdJhYcko3cGJXJFn78PDMzPSxASA/s1600/3.30.12+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnADoQLWslBQIrI3jTxaYo4WTcP1ZCFmWR3RVQ6ZBa6YFRHsHZLW0vSM9MA78hPV9ACU37W36wjjhjVEy741M2it-9T2MTyRz8hzJz5mmpGXdJhYcko3cGJXJFn78PDMzPSxASA/s320/3.30.12+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727301229074516658" border="0" /></a>Yes, that IS Aragorn and Arwen..watching over the process..the balcony does look like it's for Rivendel...it's not, just a nice house where its headed.<br /><br /><span style="position: relative; left: 12px; top: 0px;" id="secureBrowsingSpan"><img name="SB_M86_5" id="SB_M86_5" style="height: 12px; width: 12px; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: medium none;" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" align="top" /></span><a cwvi342053793868892378228833887559="true" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwho5r5XJcrIqWKzBkCNQnKwWGTX_N7pIet1dTB0lGJOrkX5csXOMOuJR5-z9MWIpCxAHQ9f2NUUIHVddfxkxknZFCPqEnqWR8krvLg0mIyIYwoF-hspDj-0-6TdOzumgMN6ahZw/s1600/3.31.12+021.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi5UK8kQydIKpsT0HaomsgPFgpEPRcBWdcLyZKHQHXVsG8ZIEwA77Zx37RP4qZqox_q2owMLPtEPTdhN4fmpYrJRa5Yjp75quWj-_9CdMqCZTqFDHHAC6M8faPSgsDPK11NqXhQ/s320/3.30.12+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727302812404142370" border="0" /></a>It's honkin huge.<br /><br />There is a deadline looming that I won't meet, and Iam dreading the fallout. It will be gorgeous, but once again many things conspired to delay this project..Most of which are my fault, either my back pain or chronic depression, inability to use time wisely, ADHD, family shit, or all in combination..More later when it's done. Coffee break over..<div style="width: 225px; height: 113px; opacity: 0.95;" id="m86sb_dialog_0"> <div style="left: 10px; top: 10px; width: 75px; height: 25px; cursor: pointer;" id="m86sb_dialog_0_title"> </div> <div style="left: 199px; top: 9px; width: 18px; height: 18px;" id="m86sb_dialog_0_close"> </div> <div style="left: 14px; top: 41px; width: 197px; height: 45px;" id="m86sb_dialog_0_body"> <div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400" id="m86sb_link_info_content" align="left"> <div style="color: black; line-height: 15px; font-size: 11px; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400" id="m86sb_link_info_reason_div"><b style="font-size: 11px">Use caution:</b> <span id="m86sb_link_info_reason"></span></div> <div id="m86sb_link_info_state_category" style="display: none; padding-top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal"></div> <div id="m86sb_link_info_state_text" style="padding-top: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold" align="center">Category: </div> </div> <div id="m86sb_link_info_more_info_div" dir="ltr" style="width: 60px; position: absolute; top: 30px; left: 135px; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-size: 10px; color: blue; "><a style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-size: 10px; color: blue; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal" id="m86sb_link_info_more_link" target="_blank" href="">More info >></a></div></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxhv22rjizF2M26gWInkarZmDDmqQPiktq31sA4IvRkhtHwuQ0ggtU6Tlr5pQN4UM-z2n8tK1y7Wjc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-26193962908316064812012-02-28T15:59:00.004-08:002012-02-28T16:34:53.231-08:00Going to College in the Fall...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu3Jxr9GegOxkGHfeK3ENkkDGGSIs5HjxaqPQSEZSkYla0FI6RI-ZNkuD0nbhrzCeBkNe0VH_8DWiuTwJ6JBAmsY6dZ13615tWqhW70Kh0SYAtN_qiAw9R_5BqYBDW4L9lxoWCQ/s1600/HPIM2110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBu3Jxr9GegOxkGHfeK3ENkkDGGSIs5HjxaqPQSEZSkYla0FI6RI-ZNkuD0nbhrzCeBkNe0VH_8DWiuTwJ6JBAmsY6dZ13615tWqhW70Kh0SYAtN_qiAw9R_5BqYBDW4L9lxoWCQ/s320/HPIM2110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714341943714344642" border="0" /></a><br />Most of you know I love archaeology and Viking age history. I am self taught in this area, and indeed spend too much time researching, reading and fretting over pre-Christian rituals, burials, and finds. Not just the Viking Age, but right on back to the paleo days. But this amateur flirting with archaeology isn't enough anymore, and I if I don't start my academic journey I shall burst. So off to college I go..Sure I'll be 50something when I get my masters, but who cares? I have to do this. I have enrolled in the local commnity college to get my pre req's out of the way, on the cheap. Then it's off to a four year. I don't know where this will lead me, but Iam excited about the adventure...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolzIBA6Qz8yymatv4BYJNY5ztp1H1eyuKFdEmegjwc4mBreAGBggcQ-0_HkPJyYq8WxvoRGRBFSQvl6DtKGH2YlN6QF6wSToM91sHtSrQX_O7pJ0wkc96iE-9U3imBG5Wg6BlRw/s1600/HPIM2112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolzIBA6Qz8yymatv4BYJNY5ztp1H1eyuKFdEmegjwc4mBreAGBggcQ-0_HkPJyYq8WxvoRGRBFSQvl6DtKGH2YlN6QF6wSToM91sHtSrQX_O7pJ0wkc96iE-9U3imBG5Wg6BlRw/s320/HPIM2112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714341404449172018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Dragon Gates At Grieg Lodge</span>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-83838075917725078732012-01-03T13:28:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:15:09.060-08:00Road Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LaiVxwlnLQHNNxxWxSWfBg1GOkzUeCnErlMc609Ly4rQoKlVA864v80tB6W1NpLhm9LZazKz4Jd2F6FbcUtQzJW5soROraLD-xNmEZktuw9gmRs5ci85wwNaqfdy4zV4rav69A/s1600/Nebraska2011+018.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0JOpfvx77SDegwJ1ZBZXlYFqN1StuE6lyI8qZ6OxIPHDx4ld9RkQ1Q7VBP2CvsfTSunIlKkdOOJHrCQAi2G54YhU1LJ6I36x9Sf-2de_EXbpRf187ZPfp-8o2ZMDxvCqNwVW8g/s1600/Nebraska2011+012.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmHSFWkkL-2xzT3le9sS3nkmNLcspCzRDt_9-g10tIOPdVUaP1NizkXEodQwsXsGJYEpch9_sBwwkW6ELCriEXKDO3usV9O3ejL7NYJQbhNQ5vQguggcuOChIX_aaHvoyIxr2MA/s1600/Nebraska2011+009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmHSFWkkL-2xzT3le9sS3nkmNLcspCzRDt_9-g10tIOPdVUaP1NizkXEodQwsXsGJYEpch9_sBwwkW6ELCriEXKDO3usV9O3ejL7NYJQbhNQ5vQguggcuOChIX_aaHvoyIxr2MA/s320/Nebraska2011+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693521371360157938" border="0" /></a>This year we took a road trip out to my Moms house, it's located in Nebraska, in the middle of the prairie. She and my Dad retired there, to his hometown, and built a cute house, yes, it is a little house on the prairie. The above pic is not their home, that's me standing in front of our cute little cabin in<a href="http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/visit/"> Jackson</a>, Wyoming, as the snow started to fall. We split shortly after this, and headed out on the snowy road. The Snowy, blowy, icy, dangerous <a href="http://www.wyomingtourism.org/InteractiveMap/Default.aspx?EntryId=1774#&&/wEXCgUKQWN0aXZpdGllcwUEMTc3NAUJUGFnZUluZGV4BQEwBRRUcmF2ZWxlclNlcnZpY2VzTGlzdGUFCkV2ZW50c0xpc3RlBQ5UaGluZ3NUb0RvTGlzdGUFCExvY2F0aW9uZQUQUGxhY2VzVG9TdGF5TGlzdGUFEFBsYWNlc1RvRGluZUxpc3RlBQxTaG93RmVhdHVyZWQFBFRydWUFBlNlYXJjaGUX1Q3a7+MpY2CJ+K/+GkcY120KhQ==">Hwy26</a>. Oh, not long after we left the huge blizzard hit ...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0JOpfvx77SDegwJ1ZBZXlYFqN1StuE6lyI8qZ6OxIPHDx4ld9RkQ1Q7VBP2CvsfTSunIlKkdOOJHrCQAi2G54YhU1LJ6I36x9Sf-2de_EXbpRf187ZPfp-8o2ZMDxvCqNwVW8g/s1600/Nebraska2011+012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0JOpfvx77SDegwJ1ZBZXlYFqN1StuE6lyI8qZ6OxIPHDx4ld9RkQ1Q7VBP2CvsfTSunIlKkdOOJHrCQAi2G54YhU1LJ6I36x9Sf-2de_EXbpRf187ZPfp-8o2ZMDxvCqNwVW8g/s320/Nebraska2011+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693521375516022802" border="0" /></a>Here it is, the road of certain doom. What you can't feel are the 60 mile an hour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wind gusts</span>, the -10 temps, or my heart pounding like a drum every time a semi truck drove past us and everything went white. A complete snowy wall of white, it blocked out everything. You couldn't see ahead of you, or if you were about to collide with another vehicle. It was madness. Dan deserves a medal of honor for driving us in it. It got so bad we had to stop hours short of our goal that day, it took 8hours to drive from Jackson to Casper . Usually we could have made it all the way to my parents. Noway this day. Semi trucks were jackknifing, people were in ditches. The roads in central Wyoming became near impassible, and they did close some sections down. Oh Ma, I hope you know how much I love you! So we hid in our hotel room, listening to the storm outside.<br />The next morning saw it 15 degrees, sunny, and the highway was a sheet of compacted snow. It looked like the Arctic, and I expected a parka clad Sir David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Attenborough</span> to step into view and narrate to us about the glorious winter landscape. It was gorgeous, but honestly, I was too worried that we would lose control of the truck to care about the scenery much..<br />While the storm was over, road conditions continued to be dangerous, so we took it slow. 40 on a road that usually calls for 75mph.Eventually we made it to the Nebraska border, where the storm seemed to have stopped. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Nebraska's</span> roads were dry, bare pavement, and the temps climed into the 40's. We were both relieved, Dan drove like heck to get us to Moms by nightfall...another 300 miles away...We made it that night at 8pm..road weary, and needing needing. It was wonderful to be with Mom, she was worried sick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtudwDE0_3e8Vmts8Ee07MleMzc-focdz7Cw4VPa7jw1pfeopbGe6-n5q49pGAKtkrvtiA_Kvtup4KqVKZYWZDShgNYfkxerrW1EDBYPxqqQukjZhXLDwPagdK7tV9v08qBQo-w/s1600/Nebraska2011+024.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LaiVxwlnLQHNNxxWxSWfBg1GOkzUeCnErlMc609Ly4rQoKlVA864v80tB6W1NpLhm9LZazKz4Jd2F6FbcUtQzJW5soROraLD-xNmEZktuw9gmRs5ci85wwNaqfdy4zV4rav69A/s1600/Nebraska2011+018.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LaiVxwlnLQHNNxxWxSWfBg1GOkzUeCnErlMc609Ly4rQoKlVA864v80tB6W1NpLhm9LZazKz4Jd2F6FbcUtQzJW5soROraLD-xNmEZktuw9gmRs5ci85wwNaqfdy4zV4rav69A/s320/Nebraska2011+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693521378318285906" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived safe and sound, and the next day, Dan played bagpipes for Mom. It had an interesting effect on the neighbors herd of Angus....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqqNSmEVYM6t-MVDelthc_8BDz80QRgZsnAHZSjgXOVp2KdI8PXwkWLjKygJsEehf2nmSoUB9Ke8muQdojLXYTu4nOlRnCemFtnpLKSATAZv16pHKQ-DtuWnDPnGHyifnZlFaXg/s1600/Nebraska2011+017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqqNSmEVYM6t-MVDelthc_8BDz80QRgZsnAHZSjgXOVp2KdI8PXwkWLjKygJsEehf2nmSoUB9Ke8muQdojLXYTu4nOlRnCemFtnpLKSATAZv16pHKQ-DtuWnDPnGHyifnZlFaXg/s320/Nebraska2011+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693521385585217074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Here they come!</span><br /><br />They were on the other side of the pasture when the first notes from the pipes filled the air. Then they began to call back, mooing gently, heads raised in curiosity, when suddenly they all came a running! The bulls, the cows, calves, all of them. Dan played on. when they reached the fence line they stopped. Fell silent and listened to the pipes. It was as if they were enchanted.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtudwDE0_3e8Vmts8Ee07MleMzc-focdz7Cw4VPa7jw1pfeopbGe6-n5q49pGAKtkrvtiA_Kvtup4KqVKZYWZDShgNYfkxerrW1EDBYPxqqQukjZhXLDwPagdK7tV9v08qBQo-w/s1600/Nebraska2011+024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtudwDE0_3e8Vmts8Ee07MleMzc-focdz7Cw4VPa7jw1pfeopbGe6-n5q49pGAKtkrvtiA_Kvtup4KqVKZYWZDShgNYfkxerrW1EDBYPxqqQukjZhXLDwPagdK7tV9v08qBQo-w/s320/Nebraska2011+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693521390093509218" border="0" /></a>This went on for the 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mins</span> Dan played, then after he finished they all stood. Blinking. Waiting for either food, or more music. Eventually the lead cow wandered away, grazing. She was followed by the rest. Some of them would raise their heads and look back at the house hopefully...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LaiVxwlnLQHNNxxWxSWfBg1GOkzUeCnErlMc609Ly4rQoKlVA864v80tB6W1NpLhm9LZazKz4Jd2F6FbcUtQzJW5soROraLD-xNmEZktuw9gmRs5ci85wwNaqfdy4zV4rav69A/s1600/Nebraska2011+018.jpg"><br /></a>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-3687371011068918612011-12-12T13:31:00.000-08:002011-12-12T13:51:48.431-08:00Yuletide Comes..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-isjagzjuTN-kpvtSN14Kj71sBJmvsINZsRtLjWhlUB39wFcYODWKugAH11Aq1BBxfqOR2XbAdwDEnWVBkcmAjp-Fks4AQE2Sy2OXh9_AvR6A3KxnRvVeyMycB6NdAv8uqTpUzQ/s1600/juletree+003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-isjagzjuTN-kpvtSN14Kj71sBJmvsINZsRtLjWhlUB39wFcYODWKugAH11Aq1BBxfqOR2XbAdwDEnWVBkcmAjp-Fks4AQE2Sy2OXh9_AvR6A3KxnRvVeyMycB6NdAv8uqTpUzQ/s320/juletree+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685357664293419618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /> The Giant Tree </span><br />We held our Yule celebration over the weekend, friends came by for feasting, drinking, and good cheer. To decorate we went out to a local tree farm to get a $5.00 Douglas Fir. These trees were so cheap due to their being slated for clearing, as the farmer wants to replant these 5 acres in hops. Always a good thing in my beer loving mind. So, the Hubby wielding the mighty Husquavarna, laid low this fine tree, and we brought home. Not only did it provide the tree for inside our home, BUT the limbs were used to decorate the pole barn for the party. All for 5bucks. Not bad!<br />The gathering was awesome, Iam still culling pics to post, but today isn't so awesome.<br />My lower back degenerative disc/arthritis hell is flaring up..and I feel miserable. So Iam feeling bummed out today. Trying to not slip into the death spiral pity party of regret, but it isn't easy.<br />You see, my choice of career isn't helping my back, having an artsy job with no health insurance, or really, much of an income sucks. alot. At 46 Iam faced with starting over..but how?Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-72755527162256631632011-11-09T09:06:00.000-08:002011-11-09T10:07:25.334-08:00Clotted Cream Experiment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u4LdB8RfgIBgyUEHsox4kaeQIbtVDluOyUY4GlYmRuTNSrfijZtCJkPZ1N5_cBov9rkyEy-9V67hINr1LsewyqZ_hzqMs89tqqN-B5PZ331o6-GA8akacQmYOcMBdkvccs9hWQ/s1600/McBride11-7-11+004.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkLyxaKM_u-m-Rzmb9ulAhyphenhyphen1Filv3U07aw_1NQ2wfR3gdUErqYEoDOvQy1X18tCZkEU7YlI-R44rEpmtqpL-kwwJ38pL7iYG_rLc9oQenWFGXIE8ybAnSQRl-YSVgflfdFry1uw/s1600/McBride11-7-11+003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkLyxaKM_u-m-Rzmb9ulAhyphenhyphen1Filv3U07aw_1NQ2wfR3gdUErqYEoDOvQy1X18tCZkEU7YlI-R44rEpmtqpL-kwwJ38pL7iYG_rLc9oQenWFGXIE8ybAnSQRl-YSVgflfdFry1uw/s320/McBride11-7-11+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673044071990327794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My First Attempt</span><br />Okay, after years of watching cooking shows or travel shows from England, I had to attempt making clotted cream myself. Watching <a href="http://www.rivercottage.net/about/">Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall</a> slathering great gobs of the stuff on homebaked scones drove me over the edge. That's it. Iam trying this!<br />So I wrote to Farmer Paula in Devon, England, for her advice. She made it seem so simple, that even I an American could do it. Although I can't use the slowly cooling engine of my tractor to warm the milk, but that's okay. The stove top will do.<br />I searched the web for "How to" sites, ones with good photos of the process, as I wanted to see what it was I should be looking for as the milk transformed. I ended up watching a clip from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w15jc">Edwardian Farm</a> to see how my experiential historian hero Ruth Goodman, and expert clotted cream maker Margaret Burra,(Iam sure I spelled her last name wrong! Please forgive me Margaret.) went about it. This was a great help. Seeing what the cream "does" as it begins to form, hearing what expert cream maker Margaret said about the process was beyond helpful.<br />This is one of those skills that would have taught to you when you were a girl, part of helping with the dairying, preserving, and cooking. You would know by sight what it was supposed to be doing. So I researched and after much hand wringing I got on with it. went to a dairy, bought some whole milk, straight from the Guernsey.<br /><br /><br />I did not take any pics of the process. I was nervous enough trying to make sure I had the water bath for the milk pan right, that I honestly forgot to snap pictures. Next time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4ILKNCQSsFSaGC3yYNvUuM5PqdAUA5WJdOjWscNN261VBe-f2Nnb8fPNOGU4jETwED_Q9yZi2J3OYnSx6W1cKmCLvT9iK_0cAQasaRF5qRPj4wHTEherMcfPNAQo1pXDEfci5A/s1600/McBride11-7-11+002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4ILKNCQSsFSaGC3yYNvUuM5PqdAUA5WJdOjWscNN261VBe-f2Nnb8fPNOGU4jETwED_Q9yZi2J3OYnSx6W1cKmCLvT9iK_0cAQasaRF5qRPj4wHTEherMcfPNAQo1pXDEfci5A/s320/McBride11-7-11+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673044068749185362" border="0" /></a>I also made<a href="http://historicalfoods.com/scones-recipe"> c<span style="text-decoration: underline;">reamscon</span></a><a href="http://historicalfoods.com/scones-recipe">es,</a> not the big fluffy American kind, but a more biscuity kind, and I mean like American baking powder biscuits, the kind you roll out. I used the recipe found on the Cream Scone link, at the Historical Foods site. They turned out pretty yummy, I needed to roll them out a little thicker, but hey, they tasted great! I also used my hedgehog cutter from IKEA, any excuse to use the cute little thing.<br />The cream formed, after an hour or more of slow, slow slow warming on the stove top. I placed the pan of milk in a water bath, so it would not scorch on the bottom. Sure enough a shimmery film of cream began to form on the surface of the milk. I had read everything from 1-12 hours of cooking was needed. I went with 2 hours, then allowed it to sit for 24 before I skimmed off the Clotted stuff. I didn't get much, but I don't know if it was my technique(or lack of) or the fat content in the milk. BUT we did get about a cup and 1/2 of rich, creamy goodness..<br /><br />The Hubby came in and helped himself to a warm hedgehog with a great blob of cream. He smiled. Finished that one off then had another, and another. Pausing for a breath he asked " Is it wrong to eat clotted cream and scones for dinner? Would it it be all that bad?"<br /><br />So, I need to call up the dairy, and get some more juice so I can have another go, since my first attempt was such a big hit. After all my longing the cream truly was as fabulous as I had thought it would taste. Thank you Ladies of the West Country, I hail your dairying alchemy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u4LdB8RfgIBgyUEHsox4kaeQIbtVDluOyUY4GlYmRuTNSrfijZtCJkPZ1N5_cBov9rkyEy-9V67hINr1LsewyqZ_hzqMs89tqqN-B5PZ331o6-GA8akacQmYOcMBdkvccs9hWQ/s1600/McBride11-7-11+004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u4LdB8RfgIBgyUEHsox4kaeQIbtVDluOyUY4GlYmRuTNSrfijZtCJkPZ1N5_cBov9rkyEy-9V67hINr1LsewyqZ_hzqMs89tqqN-B5PZ331o6-GA8akacQmYOcMBdkvccs9hWQ/s320/McBride11-7-11+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673044073617605650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Parsnip/Mandrake</span><br />I was yanking up some parsnips for dinner and this one came up with two "legs" twisted around in a neat spiral. I am always amazed by root veg, and what they get up to in the earth..It was delicious cooked as fritters, in brown butter, along side Wild Boar sausages.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-3776293571755638612011-10-22T13:32:00.000-07:002011-10-22T13:59:14.088-07:00Dragon Screen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fbzHKkSjeum5V0p2UBdThCYVrFjzaPFrb6pUzG-GHFBKCHEb_GvCGVwZO2pTcEcZUFHh-lH2TlZVqmuWH4HuKplapI7BwMw2UQBDjnioV7KmUUgLaIWgyFPICCO0Xz4w5qhdvg/s1600/HPIM6388.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeWuPXo6qcqHgTKZzyyyZC7qwJUkgb6kRfm19yS_lcUNN_NgWYI_pAY0rvDJj1rW2cshT52ZSlHIfcg8MVrYhyniTx-dUM8wRODfZK5Mg8dql-cKuIFf8RGgbpD_ucw9TnDwlsg/s1600/HPIM6387.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeWuPXo6qcqHgTKZzyyyZC7qwJUkgb6kRfm19yS_lcUNN_NgWYI_pAY0rvDJj1rW2cshT52ZSlHIfcg8MVrYhyniTx-dUM8wRODfZK5Mg8dql-cKuIFf8RGgbpD_ucw9TnDwlsg/s320/HPIM6387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666421833573848818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL0Pj3u6sRluzrYv7FeN95Ri4K0yWzq3I1s2rtPGd9WaP0L6OTCFw4nxk6DGmQ6-ZyvAJ3V6SV1G3KE6lTUxob8BTz1787PeasoO8BwPC3-sggM03cN6vW65MWPlevoT8B4wiZw/s1600/HPIM6384.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL0Pj3u6sRluzrYv7FeN95Ri4K0yWzq3I1s2rtPGd9WaP0L6OTCFw4nxk6DGmQ6-ZyvAJ3V6SV1G3KE6lTUxob8BTz1787PeasoO8BwPC3-sggM03cN6vW65MWPlevoT8B4wiZw/s320/HPIM6384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666419357988916418" border="0" /></a>Hey! Remember that Dragon Fireplace screen from last year? No? I can't say as I blame you, I never followed up after I posted about the thing during production..I was not in a bloggy mood much last year, so here it is when I finished it in the fall. Sorry for the delay, I just got busy with everything else..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0vXlGfJpcWAOyk7gPPtIG88HAqbBysdRjH_lVMSRJiHOHRf1Np1_u58UCtAiGfwnwuMybdxpyL3E9gTdLmGK0wlxNAhpynWtYjjoFWLDNU9-s3oa9Ni-ZjGN1wuxdHWS9kAuIg/s1600/HPIM6379.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0vXlGfJpcWAOyk7gPPtIG88HAqbBysdRjH_lVMSRJiHOHRf1Np1_u58UCtAiGfwnwuMybdxpyL3E9gTdLmGK0wlxNAhpynWtYjjoFWLDNU9-s3oa9Ni-ZjGN1wuxdHWS9kAuIg/s320/HPIM6379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666419356210176850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dragon Handles</span><br />Dan carved the heads on the handles, built the frame, I designed and forged the dragon on the screen, laid out the runes, and welded it all together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGouqmfo9z6Chseesx4hEJmljRqEtb8hZuGPRfcDAhNdjsK64Koe8_TCoPe62ddwT9LBjohgsPr9b2NtWNlhs0CkiXByMNnO382n1PMUDXxOtS1gqwueqk38m7dFdrS0_j9Xmnuw/s1600/HPIM6378.JPG"><br /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fbzHKkSjeum5V0p2UBdThCYVrFjzaPFrb6pUzG-GHFBKCHEb_GvCGVwZO2pTcEcZUFHh-lH2TlZVqmuWH4HuKplapI7BwMw2UQBDjnioV7KmUUgLaIWgyFPICCO0Xz4w5qhdvg/s1600/HPIM6388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fbzHKkSjeum5V0p2UBdThCYVrFjzaPFrb6pUzG-GHFBKCHEb_GvCGVwZO2pTcEcZUFHh-lH2TlZVqmuWH4HuKplapI7BwMw2UQBDjnioV7KmUUgLaIWgyFPICCO0Xz4w5qhdvg/s320/HPIM6388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666421836176950370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handsome Mr. Dragon</span><br />When it was finished it weighed like 100lbs..The thing is huge, and the clients don't even have the fireplace built for it yet..Knowing the folk who ordered it, I think this was a commision of mercy, as we were truly hurting financially at the time (still are) . Charity, no, honest pay for honest work yes. I was born in the wrong time, I need a wealthy jarl,to hire me to make this kind of thing for his high status hof..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYVY1I2gNPLgt4koC52xfYXYFiMNVpWVco1tgHyyRFKM-oZjc-ogVpHfHIUc0UwjuhtjVNA6FEVcDi3-iIlqKFdCxGwfhNCTJ5NwBFN2E4Y4fF2RX9t2_F48PoHx1knAgI9gkkA/s1600/HPIM6198.JPG"><br /></a>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-30608617561706512782011-10-22T12:59:00.001-07:002011-10-22T13:30:43.991-07:00Unearthing Photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGhuk_QvvobaPg-ows6e8csUQN6Y7VOGk64_SrIFczxBxtF2hQ5Cpuak4S6xs3e6scukWtGwM_l75cbO1eckCu7U0CZk3G5EtejfSGZm3L9Abr6yNbEg7ShGK2kLTvqiFr8oPA/s1600/Thor%2527s+Hammer-runic.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3byhZ9-tAEGhHBzFfEcgEyjuXiwGs_J8ZgjcT1Q0jqhTSJMqUi2T5l3THbhMKqguo5e-sC4AOZt_5g-5GDFlzQ7iCv02tplnjd-QBKdNsc-IAysHb0jYBm7HGln6M2Yn6Y9JpQ/s1600/grinder.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3byhZ9-tAEGhHBzFfEcgEyjuXiwGs_J8ZgjcT1Q0jqhTSJMqUi2T5l3THbhMKqguo5e-sC4AOZt_5g-5GDFlzQ7iCv02tplnjd-QBKdNsc-IAysHb0jYBm7HGln6M2Yn6Y9JpQ/s320/grinder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666414387125598178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grinding Away the Excess</span><br />Here are some pics of a nice little project I did awhile back, I just unearthed them, while trying to track down pics of recent work, so I can upload them to our website. However due to both of us being the types who "Make piles of paper" rather than "Fill files and label". I can't find a damn thing in our photo files, as they are not labeled accurately.This means a file labeled 1/11/2011 , Might just be all about our cat being cute , OR it could contain photos of a finished handrail. Or pics of Dan posing in in his kilt at the Highland Games, or all three...Until I open the files I have screwed myself for knowing fo'sure what's in the files...Due to my lack of left brain organisy-ness.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuOFFPSEYDmXqexDmWrr1X20mqzc1fmAXssSGS_YHkU03dCKs3w2mSI4qOR-k89EJAdyLVqEbHXM_gyS_SvVPmN8tKQUCBtx4u53acL1yf1wCraPZ3uciyjYnwrNlGp6EVtmFfw/s1600/runes-dragons+mouth.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuOFFPSEYDmXqexDmWrr1X20mqzc1fmAXssSGS_YHkU03dCKs3w2mSI4qOR-k89EJAdyLVqEbHXM_gyS_SvVPmN8tKQUCBtx4u53acL1yf1wCraPZ3uciyjYnwrNlGp6EVtmFfw/s320/runes-dragons+mouth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666409125827974082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Namesake Thor</span><br />So, Here is a detail of the little Viking age Dragons that I made into a fireplace vent grill...The runes are an inscription. It asks for the God Thor's continued protection and blessings on the family who commissioned the piece. Their last name started with Thor, and they are of Swedish descent, so they wanted to thank Thor for watching over their family line so well. I ask for forgiveness at this moment from any professional runologists out there, this was my humble use of Elder Futhark to spell modern English words....grammatically right or wrong, the clients were happy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGhuk_QvvobaPg-ows6e8csUQN6Y7VOGk64_SrIFczxBxtF2hQ5Cpuak4S6xs3e6scukWtGwM_l75cbO1eckCu7U0CZk3G5EtejfSGZm3L9Abr6yNbEg7ShGK2kLTvqiFr8oPA/s1600/Thor%2527s+Hammer-runic.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGhuk_QvvobaPg-ows6e8csUQN6Y7VOGk64_SrIFczxBxtF2hQ5Cpuak4S6xs3e6scukWtGwM_l75cbO1eckCu7U0CZk3G5EtejfSGZm3L9Abr6yNbEg7ShGK2kLTvqiFr8oPA/s320/Thor%2527s+Hammer-runic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666414390169050818" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGhuk_QvvobaPg-ows6e8csUQN6Y7VOGk64_SrIFczxBxtF2hQ5Cpuak4S6xs3e6scukWtGwM_l75cbO1eckCu7U0CZk3G5EtejfSGZm3L9Abr6yNbEg7ShGK2kLTvqiFr8oPA/s1600/Thor%2527s+Hammer-runic.JPG"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mjollnir, It says"Thor Bless"</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiG0ZzQid6HaKIlnM-rc2JNHGnttSNwfGoI4s2SWO1-XXwK9udDqzPBckCd-zY52Y74Rqq-qjaAw4ncRewkbUORYXuXoNUR2A18s8TSBYxKJ9S21XLQb_5oo6UfoJEAGV4bONYg/s1600/flame-dragon.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiG0ZzQid6HaKIlnM-rc2JNHGnttSNwfGoI4s2SWO1-XXwK9udDqzPBckCd-zY52Y74Rqq-qjaAw4ncRewkbUORYXuXoNUR2A18s8TSBYxKJ9S21XLQb_5oo6UfoJEAGV4bONYg/s320/flame-dragon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666409110916133298" border="0" /></a>This was during the coloring and application of the beeswax mixture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_MyNoLzQOnXtWGWnyMG-FV-89QLWejrb4IjSA8MbD9xLnfF1iwhdkfbyx9N-qbB6xAMtGIrbGOp5e_mdZMlidJ-dKsFe3hHUeVFamjfNogSPWa1C1qrTt00pTwu0AXts9X-5pg/s1600/grill-torch.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_MyNoLzQOnXtWGWnyMG-FV-89QLWejrb4IjSA8MbD9xLnfF1iwhdkfbyx9N-qbB6xAMtGIrbGOp5e_mdZMlidJ-dKsFe3hHUeVFamjfNogSPWa1C1qrTt00pTwu0AXts9X-5pg/s320/grill-torch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666409120162651106" border="0" /></a>Cooling on the table, ready for install!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Msi0vkDsQiOazRpkWyq0eLY-EgKJf8-9oi2xcGjSyCBc4kZtpBcYC_pb0XyVpwqiQ6gvKEUDuJCkkyAzA3emuh4AlsiYD7R2qVR0Qxt1qiOV1Nt-Z3GDmGEvmI_TaS7YS0o2Cg/s1600/Drgaon+Grill-+installed.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Msi0vkDsQiOazRpkWyq0eLY-EgKJf8-9oi2xcGjSyCBc4kZtpBcYC_pb0XyVpwqiQ6gvKEUDuJCkkyAzA3emuh4AlsiYD7R2qVR0Qxt1qiOV1Nt-Z3GDmGEvmI_TaS7YS0o2Cg/s320/Drgaon+Grill-+installed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666409114101348786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">In situ</span><br />The clients were thrilled, and it looks so good in their home!They also ordered a drinking horn stand for the mantle. They are proud of their heritage as Scandinavians. I swear, if all I did was forge Dragons I would be very happy indeed! I would love to work on someones hunting lodge, and build hinges, chandeliers, etc...all in the Viking art style...Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-62227267334047614552011-09-18T10:29:00.000-07:002011-09-18T10:42:00.870-07:00Blogging, no one reads this..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWXqKx4kqXCXTq1MjV6dPfZKIReggq7GHYp4nhi8MoeXh-LFxK7GUWAWhaVHzU03YTMD2sTZGL2svwB9B1oJnCYrkRkpmaefOphuT0Tn6lmpNhJauR55fKf4tOLxJifH3H5G16Q/s1600/8957327-standard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWXqKx4kqXCXTq1MjV6dPfZKIReggq7GHYp4nhi8MoeXh-LFxK7GUWAWhaVHzU03YTMD2sTZGL2svwB9B1oJnCYrkRkpmaefOphuT0Tn6lmpNhJauR55fKf4tOLxJifH3H5G16Q/s320/8957327-standard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653754513042491362" border="0" /></a><br />Does anyone actually read my posts? I mean besides my mother? I think I alienate the "normal" folk I follow on other blogs because Iam pagan, or have tattoos, or am pagan. Or Iam just a dull blogger..? I wish I could post daily, but honestly, I don't always have something of note to write about. I will however say that Iam glad the rains arrived here, I don't have to water my gardens, as money is tight and frankly I can't afford to water but the most important plants.. I was ready for autumn to arrive, and she certainly has. Haws (berries) on my hawthorns are red, there are yellow leaves on the trees, my apples are already picked, and the 90 degree swelter is gone. YAAAh! Love the sunshine, but not the heat, it makes me cranky having to stand in front of a 1000+ forge in 95 d. heat...<br /><br />The rain is pelting down, and all I want to do is go outside and do a happy dance. I think I will, then bake a fresh apple pie, have some hard cider, and hail the turning of the seasons.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-15269833593888769362011-09-07T15:51:00.000-07:002011-09-07T15:52:02.169-07:00Mountain Getaway, Road Trip!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Long, Slow, Hot, Wind up the Blue Mountains out of Pendleton</b></div>
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So we took a road trip out to Baker City Oregon last month. Dan was teaching at the Interpretive Center there. Old timey blacksmithing. In 98degree heat,with blast furnace breezes it was fabulous, he assured me. They do pay him pretty well, and he loves teaching. Even in sweltering heat.</div>
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<b>At the Summit</b></div>
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The Ponderosa forest, it was so dry, but the forest smells green,and the air is clean. </div>
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<b> Yep. </b></div>
Those whacky Pioneers had a way with words..I think the name says it all about the place.To be fair, the view is gorgeous, and the forest amazing, after the long, hot, dull expanse of Eastern Oregon sage/grasslands the sea of green is a relief.<br />
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<b>Casa-costaplente</b></div>
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While we did get to enjoy the hospitality of our freinds Devon and Rachel, however we did not get to enjoy them, well I mean their company. They were down in Californy, visiting family at the time, but they graciously allowed us to crash/invade their groovy rancho. Here is one of the outbuilding, weathered and surrounded by aspen. </div>
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<b>Me Calling Mom So She Knows We Made It</b></div>
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The cabin is gorgeous,rustic, funky, lists to the left, infested with packrats and I would move in if I could.If you place a marble by the front door it will roll Easterly until it ends up in the kitchen. Rachael and Devon are blessed, hard working and lucky to have this amazing place. I admit Iam jealous. </div>
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<b> In the Morning I had a Visitor</b></div>
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After Dan took off for class, I went back inside to make the bed. Out the window I noticed a flash of red, Miss Fox was eating choke cherries off the dry grass. I know, even as I could hear the neighbors chickens clucking , I stood marveling at her beauty. Sorry hunter friends, she was cool.</div>
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<b>Don't tell anyone but there is a fox </b></div>
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She nibbled cherries for a while, until I came outside, and called " Hullo vixen!" We looked at one another, just for a second and then she dashed off. Good foxy, you should be afraid us humans. Now I hunt, and I understand the damage a fox can do to livestock, but this was special to me. Observing one so closely, and candidly. That was the theme for me this trip, wildlife. Plenty of wildlife.</div>
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<b>Off on my Hike</b></div>
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While Dan was working and slaving away for us, I went on a nature hike. Up into the woods, to see the elk, deer, and owls. All the while thinking, "Please Don't let a Mountian Lion eat me today.." This is cougar country, they are part of the land, and we share it with them, the problem arises when they lose fear of us, and or we look just too much like dinner. Which in the grand scheme of nature, we are, dinner I mean.</div>
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The land that surrounds our friends ranch is owned by some groovy people who allow folk like me to hike it. It borders public lands, so there are bridle trails that weave their way across it.Along with these are game trails galore.There are also basalt rock outcrops up on the hillsides, which make perfect paces to sit and eat your lunch from or watch for your prey from. Especially if you are the resident male cougar. I was informed, after I returned from my hike, that He had eaten the neighbors lammas. I was told they hired a tracker to find it. The tracked it but did not shoot it, and so the "Big , no, HUGE male Mountian lion is roaming free." They tell me this after I found the big kitties fresh cache of a partially eaten elk stag, and after I realised I need to take a rifle with me from now on.</div>
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Meadow on the Hillside, an oasis of cool</div>
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<b>The Sun rising over the Woods.</b></div>
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<b>The Trail, There is a muledeer doe hidden in all that.</b></div>
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I just couldn't snap her picture, it was a moment.</div>
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<b> Lunch on the Big rock</b></div>
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<b>Sigh. I want to be there Right Now.</b></div>
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<b>The View to the North</b></div>
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<b>Entwined Branches, the Lovers Tree</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeSG1ipksQ-RXtFhb1DfDmsRsKG2Tv2rpYNAu3rogyb7ex1Yp-aKHV-X5NBaxzCWGyjv_LkyjDkJKkl0BHuJASqpXJaA47SLLCKACGPXsTPhcw_x6xfdJs75DAYTKiEkaqigcpg/s1600/bakertrip2011+039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeSG1ipksQ-RXtFhb1DfDmsRsKG2Tv2rpYNAu3rogyb7ex1Yp-aKHV-X5NBaxzCWGyjv_LkyjDkJKkl0BHuJASqpXJaA47SLLCKACGPXsTPhcw_x6xfdJs75DAYTKiEkaqigcpg/s320/bakertrip2011+039.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<b>Back Home, Sunset..</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoIL54eq4GHdEnn4sr2WZRr3J7SVD_zQwxKpYMOB2WfKhM869n8-njhvXA6lf3yXMRHP1ity0msfams0nm9dXdTMJZDCkiZmX32XLPXvDLcc9-IoubpGt9bqTiVLRXV7tgsZNfw/s1600/bakertrip2011+042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoIL54eq4GHdEnn4sr2WZRr3J7SVD_zQwxKpYMOB2WfKhM869n8-njhvXA6lf3yXMRHP1ity0msfams0nm9dXdTMJZDCkiZmX32XLPXvDLcc9-IoubpGt9bqTiVLRXV7tgsZNfw/s320/bakertrip2011+042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Loveley</b></div>
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We had a great visit, the bummer being Dev and Racheal were not home, but Iam hoping we can get over there asap and visit. Stop at Amy's in the Ochocos along the way, and spend some good times around a campfire together. It's a wonderful place, but unless you have money, or a way to make money here is no work in Baker. Iam lucky to know good folks who are willing to share their chunk of it.</div>
Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-12072628520769576082011-09-07T14:55:00.000-07:002011-09-07T14:55:25.117-07:00Vine Hand Railing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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All projects start out as sketches. On napkins, beer coasters, or in this case the shop floor.</div>
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This was drawn to scale, then transferred to a plywood board.</div>
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<b> Greenman Face</b></div>
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The finished rails, I need to get a shot of them installed, but we have all been busy, and so has the client.</div>
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Summer has blown by, we have been working, and I just find it harder to make time to blog. </div>
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The main branch is 1 inch and a 1/4 solid round, it was drawn out using the power hammer, and my right arm wielding a 4lb mini sledge. </div>
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The tip of the vine was wrapped using an torch, some tongs, and hammer. I heated the tip, and began to wrap it very carefully.Note big ugly MIG welds that need dressing...I would LOVE TIG welder, smoother joins, and less clean up..</div>
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Leaf and Vine</div>
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There is that mini sledge I use everyday as my regular hammer. There are a few more bits that went into these rails, the back plate for one..so you can bolt it to the wall. </div>
Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-9397196400402399762011-07-01T21:20:00.001-07:002011-07-01T22:41:56.844-07:00Midsommer pleasantries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluuZSRz0vYQtz7yiRjg6O_xRPcbKMXmuFvt6RwrKtuijVbITde4BacVhUvVRfrooGbt127UPBQGboDImdiFI1Aq_rf8WmNyD3VV-KZLKDUjyUf_Ov5-1GdZE5KyBUDcE9VZK41A/s1600/midsommer+022.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluuZSRz0vYQtz7yiRjg6O_xRPcbKMXmuFvt6RwrKtuijVbITde4BacVhUvVRfrooGbt127UPBQGboDImdiFI1Aq_rf8WmNyD3VV-KZLKDUjyUf_Ov5-1GdZE5KyBUDcE9VZK41A/s320/midsommer+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624608201639789330" border="0" /></a>'<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Midsummer= Sunna high in the summer sky, peeking through Thor's oaks</span><br />Huge old oak trees, at Oaks Bottom Park, the site for Portlands Midsommer festivities.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gJ_Nj0s_FnqfI2AAVs9YfSyP07qPnC6O04L3cOqeXznNk02TJGSPh40tdJChv42u5Bhn8qg8_e2GhZBawA-Bxym4WHUmSibmawt9o49w-1WztmqZBEHP8dRMCcDM8RdkdG4HUw/s1600/midsommer+020.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gJ_Nj0s_FnqfI2AAVs9YfSyP07qPnC6O04L3cOqeXznNk02TJGSPh40tdJChv42u5Bhn8qg8_e2GhZBawA-Bxym4WHUmSibmawt9o49w-1WztmqZBEHP8dRMCcDM8RdkdG4HUw/s320/midsommer+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624608192320322018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunna shining through the sun hoop.</span><br />The two hoops represent, either the Moon and Sun, or a man's testicles. It's any folklorists guess, and Iam sure an elderly Swede would say ", Who knows what it represents, it's just what we do."<br />I like to think of it as the sun and moon, and I couldn't help taking a pic of the Sun shining through the garlanded hoop. It was glorious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o20vie_Sp3FezoPerd1xUmWqFSGCb19038XO1yKt3B9qmCkb4ImixahYxoX-3jev0NgvDn2EDDXcXDRiBKC56gUQ2NrGncIDh0AHeWPAYWea2pl4VGvh7zmuOdKDyHx_oohtew/s1600/midsommer+010.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o20vie_Sp3FezoPerd1xUmWqFSGCb19038XO1yKt3B9qmCkb4ImixahYxoX-3jev0NgvDn2EDDXcXDRiBKC56gUQ2NrGncIDh0AHeWPAYWea2pl4VGvh7zmuOdKDyHx_oohtew/s320/midsommer+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624608185282194226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A happy cock for the top of the pole!</span><br />So, if the two hoops on either side of a large phallic pole don't give you a clue about the whole fertility aspect of this, then the big red cock on top should. The male force in nature is being venerated whether all these nice Lutherans want to admit it or not. Really though, the ones I talk to know exactly what's up with the pole, and don't mind a bit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGTnqQbsVZ3BJ1VtPZ2EwaK9NgW3aWEBbTnwFFCls0e1zo0578ww-jZNPoE7yBsuQ00CNFWbH4pfSkmBhimy56410jsH4rlS9iXKaKrvuwhKEpzaRXqrvqpPwilwEfYlLbWmweQ/s1600/midsommer+012.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGTnqQbsVZ3BJ1VtPZ2EwaK9NgW3aWEBbTnwFFCls0e1zo0578ww-jZNPoE7yBsuQ00CNFWbH4pfSkmBhimy56410jsH4rlS9iXKaKrvuwhKEpzaRXqrvqpPwilwEfYlLbWmweQ/s320/midsommer+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624608178015158514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. rooster, looking majestic</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRS8qfOzDCHTu_-7mfLt88sNqvtbCKpDPq0y_0IQWvCKBia7lJ_r053JIhpAoYj0zK0l2-3QlprH82JxpHzNcOsTMWzUW8KAN6RMXs5LjpjiTYODLcTHjd0EpIXW2QID6prgBYQ/s1600/midsommer+007.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRS8qfOzDCHTu_-7mfLt88sNqvtbCKpDPq0y_0IQWvCKBia7lJ_r053JIhpAoYj0zK0l2-3QlprH82JxpHzNcOsTMWzUW8KAN6RMXs5LjpjiTYODLcTHjd0EpIXW2QID6prgBYQ/s320/midsommer+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624608177844421330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Up it Goes!</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJbi4eaggOvJuR2jT3QW4UaaiYVPzdJXm-x5ToawEvGq2zgvsXmYJFGRnrmxzIAc0noly3Lz2Sz_dWQJiew18PNriFDV0cLV1vEuT4QdkIhiuoanlzYOEQWxZdG_X_sj9Cl8xhg/s1600/3-01-ScanFest.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJbi4eaggOvJuR2jT3QW4UaaiYVPzdJXm-x5ToawEvGq2zgvsXmYJFGRnrmxzIAc0noly3Lz2Sz_dWQJiew18PNriFDV0cLV1vEuT4QdkIhiuoanlzYOEQWxZdG_X_sj9Cl8xhg/s320/3-01-ScanFest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624605860796664850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our local Midsummer Maypole being raised</span><br />Midsummer has come and gone. The day of our local midsummer festivities was wonderful, we attended, along with others from our local Sons of Norway lodge. The sun shone, people laughed, children sang and danced around the Maistang. It was cool. No surstrumming to be had Iam sad to report.<br />But there was a beer garden, and lots of good stuff to eat, booths to shop for Scandinavian doo-das, and trinkets. oh, and an IKEA booth. They were handing out free yellow frisbees, with the blue IKEA logo on them. I snagged two as they will be fun at <a href="http://summerstar.org/">Summerstar</a>, to fling around in the parking lot while I work at the check in gate.<br />I hope everyone had a good midsummer, and are preparing for the hot days ahead. There's some new ironwor to be put in here, so I'll try to post them soon.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-69839759452089570542011-06-17T06:37:00.000-07:002011-06-17T07:15:12.412-07:00Been busy! Midsommer is coming..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_ComEIndJTDHr38Se2QLETfcM61qoB60AszICIxt2tyd7fXYmnQI92Z179XJ5mBcp0s-a36mCLyjvkpqaLYPAdXiZwF7gvxmzISrYf9Eu79evr5XfvJRcqom19y5P82vFqn8PQ/s1600/Surstromming1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_ComEIndJTDHr38Se2QLETfcM61qoB60AszICIxt2tyd7fXYmnQI92Z179XJ5mBcp0s-a36mCLyjvkpqaLYPAdXiZwF7gvxmzISrYf9Eu79evr5XfvJRcqom19y5P82vFqn8PQ/s320/Surstromming1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619187915738536962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Midsummer! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tradtional</span> fare,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Surstromming</span> , note bulging can..<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">mmm</span>! It's ready!</span><br /><br />Well I have been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fairly</span> busy with new work, and orders for our Viking age stuff. This is a good thing! It means we can pay bills, eat and keep the lights on. We have had a rainy , cold and rainy spring so far. Great for slugs, not so great for growing anything except root crops, and even they have been sulking. June is shaping up to be another cool one, but that won't deter us from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">celebrating</span> Midsummer, the Summer Solstice this weekend with friends. We also celebrate it on the Solstice proper, with a swim in the river, and a picnic. I suspect this year though, it's gonna be a quick dip, as the winter <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">snow melt</span> is still filling the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mountain</span> rivers with freezing cold run off. Hypothermia is not part of my plans that day. There is also the added bonus of our own local <a href="http://www.scanheritage.org/c-17-midsummer.aspx"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Midsommer</span> festival</a> on the 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span>, (Midsummer proper in most of Europe). This event is hosted by the <a href="http://eastpdxnews.com/general-news-features/nordic-summerfest-delights-throngs/">League of Swedish Societies</a>, and has gotten so popular they've had to move it to a bigger park this year. They will have a maypole, but I bet there won't be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">surstromming</span></a>, infamously stinky fermented herring. My Swedish friend Marta assures me I would love it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OP4___1pXIJQAzmK-FXTkpQ30i3tt5of2zfFvPKyzuio_gDpaSdSuxfF9rX__hHP6UQvcqvGxCapYZF7dCt4Q-BFH0YBjlS0oyS-03yZPxDBsLkAWqmJcchxayzfPuISm6hzkw/s1600/coffee+017.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OP4___1pXIJQAzmK-FXTkpQ30i3tt5of2zfFvPKyzuio_gDpaSdSuxfF9rX__hHP6UQvcqvGxCapYZF7dCt4Q-BFH0YBjlS0oyS-03yZPxDBsLkAWqmJcchxayzfPuISm6hzkw/s320/coffee+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619183054103474866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Detail Of Hearts</span><br /><br />Finished up a nice fireplace screen, bleeding hearts. I designed it, and forged out the pretty bits, and handles,Hubby forged the frame, stretched the screen.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhjP8I5zUK9jsrr7ONXqSNTL_DCTED3o4X2a3z3bj7TbaCUPl46o0FqfIrdgSQlOJh_zbGaaMytdPzpy9xnXdUgEo_uYmGTgAf4yLIEtfvmOoITozYBQu9blbJH2_0zSS-Lf8kw/s1600/coffee+015.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhjP8I5zUK9jsrr7ONXqSNTL_DCTED3o4X2a3z3bj7TbaCUPl46o0FqfIrdgSQlOJh_zbGaaMytdPzpy9xnXdUgEo_uYmGTgAf4yLIEtfvmOoITozYBQu9blbJH2_0zSS-Lf8kw/s320/coffee+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619183049560612738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Putting on the Beeswax Finish</span><br /><br />We use a traditional beeswax/turpentine finish for most of our interior projects. Those are my lovely hands buffing that metal..<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB8n4o5cNwcFA5FW6aeJOzC9ec3xSrgR576iO26hbZCm54eEc5Ve0n1zwJz55WhCLl1G_xofhpuP9dV1biaH5Rzx9NECLEX9UE47Fa4uhncUeYV0phhdYF5WpZX3-vYQOQTrCXA/s1600/coffee+018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB8n4o5cNwcFA5FW6aeJOzC9ec3xSrgR576iO26hbZCm54eEc5Ve0n1zwJz55WhCLl1G_xofhpuP9dV1biaH5Rzx9NECLEX9UE47Fa4uhncUeYV0phhdYF5WpZX3-vYQOQTrCXA/s320/coffee+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619183063384668786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All ready to go to it's new home!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span> We also built this same client a handrail, but I need to get over there for some picture taking. They were thrilled with our work,and I can't wait to see this screen with a fire behind it. I love what I do and am truly grateful that I get to do this for a living!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>Now it's off to get ready for the weekends festivities. Gte some spuds and dill, roast some ribs drink some good beer, laugh and celebrate the turning of the wheel!Have an awesome and wonderful, magical Midsommer, Sonnenwende, Midsummer, Solstice! The Sun is at her height, and will slowly descend back to her winter depths from here on out.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <br /></span></span>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-34791092686270230882011-05-15T18:53:00.001-07:002011-05-15T19:07:14.950-07:00A year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2YvnG7gMYL4ooPaUxFHzD0fEK8Eq1bPy2rFxosa4POUhKsmqTgs1ybGMmqn3qhHhGL-3vfS0B-dznGQ3XUvC3Y5nNbPW7ougAoZIU2th_-bs3SQrK8cCS9MvAoYAQmpyZSviQA/s1600/HPIM1759.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2YvnG7gMYL4ooPaUxFHzD0fEK8Eq1bPy2rFxosa4POUhKsmqTgs1ybGMmqn3qhHhGL-3vfS0B-dznGQ3XUvC3Y5nNbPW7ougAoZIU2th_-bs3SQrK8cCS9MvAoYAQmpyZSviQA/s320/HPIM1759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607126339584585714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pa helping Dan at the Norse Hall</span><br />Well it was a year ago today(okay, it was a Sat. last year) that my step dad Charlie John passed over to heaven, Folkvang, Elysium, the After Life, the All that Is. Now while he was not my biological father(that was Nick) he was in every other way as beloved to me as a blood father could have been. He was my Dad, and I wish truly he could have been there even earlier in my childhood, but hey, he got me during my broody, moody hormonal teenage girl years. Bless his heart, and he also raised three other daughters before me. One who is his only biological child. He was a hard working man, was expert woodworker, and draftsman. He could build anything, and I mean anything.<br />He treated my mother like a damn queen, and I could never thank him enough for being such an amazing husband and friend to her.<br />I miss him, and I know he dwells in the heaven of his faith, with his ancestors. If there is Rainier beer in heaven I know he is drinking one. Hail Pa, we all miss you so much, but I know you watch over all of us.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-71957650738788907522011-04-27T08:52:00.000-07:002011-04-27T09:24:47.633-07:00Recent Work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJMfbGM0rvltKoRdl8oMtCyotzh7Izhyw-GE-BCBgUF2VGHr18YN7qUiW2M-Y5LjC_P1Ln3OmQSLd2kenjEhCawlSf7rYAFGjA96yxjdynDINxJBmtjssZYM9Y31w9LGCf-emkQ/s1600/4-8-11+006.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJMfbGM0rvltKoRdl8oMtCyotzh7Izhyw-GE-BCBgUF2VGHr18YN7qUiW2M-Y5LjC_P1Ln3OmQSLd2kenjEhCawlSf7rYAFGjA96yxjdynDINxJBmtjssZYM9Y31w9LGCf-emkQ/s320/4-8-11+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600292941976217634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fireplace Screen</span><br /> </span>Recent work, Hubby made the frame I did all the fancy bits in the middle. Nothing from a parts catalog, all designed, cut, forged and shaped by me. This is now living in front of cute little hand plastered fireplace. It's beehive shaped, simple but fancy. I wish I was one of those mega-smiths who do huge public art, out of control rails etc..requiring a team of men and a crane to install. sadly Iam not. That's just not where we have gone with our business, unfortunately.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhM19dCnAvQpCxCgggLnO45kXF9tuzlt3-7lG-_c1ejTYSHHXkZgEcla_Ed1RVzMv8esRFIDFRVQPvhUlEF_IVhiLEEPZS1sjqMu9W8hdajam_isR3Oi2p6jzEN5tK0F8Kjgt_w/s1600/4-8-11+004.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhM19dCnAvQpCxCgggLnO45kXF9tuzlt3-7lG-_c1ejTYSHHXkZgEcla_Ed1RVzMv8esRFIDFRVQPvhUlEF_IVhiLEEPZS1sjqMu9W8hdajam_isR3Oi2p6jzEN5tK0F8Kjgt_w/s320/4-8-11+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600292174708393922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flower Detail</span><br />Dogwood style flowers, to match those in the tiles that ran along the front of the mantel. The holes are slit open hot, then opened with a punch. You have to do this hot, or you could tear the sheet metal. No one wants that, as it is a pain in the butt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNJLkSKDKYxCCnOyUa-YAEhtORZKLs3egbwEOb2cIF3_717WQaXVhfeQmGDZB-MqaXTXOPiG5cqHLoZpJK9xTH5bZPuwAtSCLHpLgnVsIC0_IPJxL3cJYUt0NxyIkEHcAa-69yQ/s1600/4-19-11+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNJLkSKDKYxCCnOyUa-YAEhtORZKLs3egbwEOb2cIF3_717WQaXVhfeQmGDZB-MqaXTXOPiG5cqHLoZpJK9xTH5bZPuwAtSCLHpLgnVsIC0_IPJxL3cJYUt0NxyIkEHcAa-69yQ/s320/4-19-11+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600292166356192210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finished Screen</span><br />I use a torch and a linseed oil, turpentine, bees wax finish to get the dark color. That's the traditional way to obtain the black iron look. You can use paint, but that looks cheesey , and cheap and insults the metal. How's that for sounding artsy and pretentious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHUwzwijxQex7yzkYxRUzpfO70uRhyftfqIYKU-dd20zlCWCqa54kvUeldAtdwlY4Y-ASK1EbRJV90-YbARs2rvSYIZCkeop8Zh7zq_6_fL4C82I_Xt_49T0qURtBQ7tB7VoOHQ/s1600/4-19-11+037.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHUwzwijxQex7yzkYxRUzpfO70uRhyftfqIYKU-dd20zlCWCqa54kvUeldAtdwlY4Y-ASK1EbRJV90-YbARs2rvSYIZCkeop8Zh7zq_6_fL4C82I_Xt_49T0qURtBQ7tB7VoOHQ/s320/4-19-11+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600292162423110114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Next up= Arts and Crafts tulips..</span><br />This is a sweet little handrail, for a Craftsman style bungalow.<br />The flower is the one above, it has a keyhole in the center, with the leaves of the one next to it on the right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbIeSOGFiyrnZ5GC2Sv_mc8rAw75x9ct6zlhyphenhyphenQIA-BL4ENo3h6UVaV5XePj5vsEuYerCgpLxMcAUtbiP_4OPyrDfxPXI2fz0-SIUzcPdpFQJ6X9sahxQG7tO1EyR6meGGeWkmhw/s1600/4-19-11+038.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbIeSOGFiyrnZ5GC2Sv_mc8rAw75x9ct6zlhyphenhyphenQIA-BL4ENo3h6UVaV5XePj5vsEuYerCgpLxMcAUtbiP_4OPyrDfxPXI2fz0-SIUzcPdpFQJ6X9sahxQG7tO1EyR6meGGeWkmhw/s320/4-19-11+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600295893429055058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Better get to work!</span>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-85562142204526906622011-04-25T11:09:00.000-07:002011-04-25T12:09:46.612-07:00The Wheel Turns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8PkyHdK7VCJPuhCDmgnqHfLgi1aef1nkgebBZO4ydfUS4Ljndr_mp7hXH9KaEvr2WKe3hIKwytHCu5o6HrjE630kVq4XfOlgZp34bS2KKnoNPa-lZu8sC8qqW75qywUduxS-6Q/s1600/nikkinheidi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8PkyHdK7VCJPuhCDmgnqHfLgi1aef1nkgebBZO4ydfUS4Ljndr_mp7hXH9KaEvr2WKe3hIKwytHCu5o6HrjE630kVq4XfOlgZp34bS2KKnoNPa-lZu8sC8qqW75qywUduxS-6Q/s320/nikkinheidi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599585416994772162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me and the Oldest Friend, Circa 1976</span><br />I have never been a girly girl. At the age of 4 I preferred playing with Tonka trucks to dollies. It was just who I was. My mom Iam sure wished for a dainty little thing, but she was a tomboy too, and so was her mother. So it is in the blood.<br /><br />Being a tomboy it's not always easy to have friends, especially girlfriends. That not wanting to play jacks or dolls gets in the way. It didn't help that I was a nerdy, skinny kid with glasses, who the other girls thought was weird for wanting to play war rather than house.<br />So I was lucky to meet another outdoorsy/tomboy like myself back in 5th grade. She is my oldest friend.<br />My oldest friend and I are still in touch, we were instant buddies, and have know each other through everything really. Although there was a time in my 20's I was not as in touch I should have been. We live on opposite sides of the country, but can still have a great conversation when we speak, which is fairly often. We also laugh a lot.<br />She has been going through a ton of change in the last year or so, as her mother died, and the estate had to be sold. All of it, belongings and home. That was her parents wish. Had I the money I would have bought it. Alas, I am a poor artisan, with nothing but dreams, so that did not happen.<br />The family home belongs to a school mate of ours now, who I know will take good care of it, and I hope, use the farm for a working farm again.<br /><br /> It is all sad for me, and I know it was a heartache for my Old Friend, but she has moved on, and what else can you do? Life moves on, the wheel turns.<br />Somehow I still grieve, and I think it is more than just knowing I can never go there again, or missing my friends parents.<br />I think it is tied into being 45, looking back and knowing that that was the happiest time of your life.<br />Wishing you could escape the grind of adulthood, to once again be 10, fishing on The Pond, or hunting in the cornfields, the only thing you had to care about was being back to the house in time for dinner.<br />It is silly I know, but I mourn that loss of youth, and freedom.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-70689095845315581392011-04-16T08:31:00.001-07:002011-04-16T09:51:43.657-07:00Stringing the Hops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANM4K6XnAk5wyJLtJPnIhY_0J0Ai0rDxvInlJPCWzry8d7YH9e8xB8zlNBIMYZbA1orIvGKXTpCxQkSVhSpa2CQ_4gv3WzkMvlpddIFbqo5zBf2pfuvTHFEjCMywTWUcMrVJs9g/s1600/4-3-11+002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANM4K6XnAk5wyJLtJPnIhY_0J0Ai0rDxvInlJPCWzry8d7YH9e8xB8zlNBIMYZbA1orIvGKXTpCxQkSVhSpa2CQ_4gv3WzkMvlpddIFbqo5zBf2pfuvTHFEjCMywTWUcMrVJs9g/s320/4-3-11+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596205029467461346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Maypole Waiting to be Strung</span><br />Spring has sprung and it's time for hops to be strung. Along with all the duties of running your own small, nay molecular, business, there are the farmin' duties. We actually strung <a href="http://www.hopunion.com/">the hops </a>several weeks ago, before the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42463752/ns/local_news-portland_or/">Oak Grove Funnel Cloud hit. </a>That's another post though. Suffice it to say we sustained no damage.<br />The hops started emerging in February , early really. March is more usual, and I attribute it to our lack of actual freezing weather this winter. Rain, plenty. Snow, well, not much here in the Oak Grove river valley, or "The Holler" as I like to call it. It has rained buckets, for weeks on end though. Turning my backyard into a muddy, mucky swamp. The garden beds like little islands in the murk. We built a wooden walkway to the shop from the house, it feels very Medieval village but without the feudal system. It's just depressing, and woe betide you if you fall off the wooden path..<br />As you can see things looks cluttered and needing picked up. Here in The County blue tarps are more than just a way to keep your firewood dry, they are excellent for building temporary structures that require no permitting whatsoever! Although the plan is to build a wooden overhang instead.<br />That's parsnips in the foreground, waiting for em to eat them. I forget what type, but they are sweet as heck.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZQCCQWhtauKbbERQURFQIxnCpl86T3mFrI4umMpYs3AsZ3hBSdQr1vaVyDgl59r0jexrl5_eGImzI8UM3a8EeuYdP0Aa2ROcKvTILO_8JO_eYDs1FPpfhOuPTellXGrLbKdRNA/s1600/4-3-11+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZQCCQWhtauKbbERQURFQIxnCpl86T3mFrI4umMpYs3AsZ3hBSdQr1vaVyDgl59r0jexrl5_eGImzI8UM3a8EeuYdP0Aa2ROcKvTILO_8JO_eYDs1FPpfhOuPTellXGrLbKdRNA/s320/4-3-11+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596205028157726738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hubbinator Tying off the Strings</span><br />We decided after much debate that the Maypole should be recyled into the hop rack. Every year we hold a <a href="http://www.enduringwanderlust.com/the-bavarian-maibaum-festival/">May Day </a>hoopla here at the Hof, but since the addition of the pole building there just is no room for such capers. The pole part is a lodgepole pine, that I topped with a lovely red cock, and iron ring for attaching the ribbons. The men would erect the pole, and the women would decorate it with flowers. Well, we decorated it <span style="font-style: italic;">before </span>it went up, I should say. It was a load of fun, and everyone enjoyed themselves, the weather usually cooperated too. So we would have sunshine, warm temps. Usually.<br />The pole is 20 feet long, or so, and required us to toss the ball of twine back and forth. He'd catch it cut a strand, tie it off, and toss it back. I'd chuck it back to him. Repeating this until we felt we had enough strings attached, and /or got bored.<br /> Note= Ugly teal paint on house was not my idea, we just have never found the time to repaint after we bought it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4wmTrryA_Bpl1u1d3SkE22vFjWpDt7ryde4rblO6OzM_e9WFciAT6YuaXHfWSnz5Rt_BK9zFn2zczM9MF2_6tLVFKEm5ClXQj9h77f6pUJbrEubCurm4kobuA6KSTHz5sxl5JA/s1600/4-3-11+001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4wmTrryA_Bpl1u1d3SkE22vFjWpDt7ryde4rblO6OzM_e9WFciAT6YuaXHfWSnz5Rt_BK9zFn2zczM9MF2_6tLVFKEm5ClXQj9h77f6pUJbrEubCurm4kobuA6KSTHz5sxl5JA/s320/4-3-11+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596205021769556818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mister Rooster All Ready to Go!</span><br />We stuck him in his holder, and raised the pole up. Iam a little sad we won't be using him for our May Day fun, but the hop bines will love this to climb up. The red rooster watches over the property. A perch for flickers, song birds, and the odd Sharp Shinned hawk, who wants to eat the songbirds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-gcTd5UApZiYWbTibZj4pIk8tWto45BuLgrOAbyCWvZA-B6DCLRpwprW6wcpfM7AqwllQqUMOs637mNynzE5eZySa62t-6Q2Wog12llyPO7TWNgWc8iuvc17vCMKa9HY-lB9A/s1600/4-3-11+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP-gcTd5UApZiYWbTibZj4pIk8tWto45BuLgrOAbyCWvZA-B6DCLRpwprW6wcpfM7AqwllQqUMOs637mNynzE5eZySa62t-6Q2Wog12llyPO7TWNgWc8iuvc17vCMKa9HY-lB9A/s320/4-3-11+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596205014497473538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Pole is up and Ready For The Hops!</span><br />You can see we live in a glamorous place. That's or neighbors boneyard for his work trucks and excavation business behind the orchard.<br /> The horse head is what the hops used to be tied off to, but they are mature now, and need some room to run. Plus it will look so cool, living ribbons of green lushness on the Maypole. Or Maibaum as my ancestors called it Germany.<br />The Hop bines will grow up, and cover the end of the shop. Our hop varieties are Willamette, and I think..Fuggles. I forget it's been awhile..We do use them for breweing, they are organically grown, I use only the finest Welsh pony manure, from happy ponies who grazed along the banks of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiqua_Creek">mighty Abiqua </a>River. For hop aphid control it's ladybugs who arrive in their hundreds to clean the leaves of pest.Lacewings show up too, and their larvae consume what the ladybugs don't.<br />The hops are now several feet high, since we took these pics. I'll have to get a shot to insert here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6uz9rUX-f4KtVtDqgoO8fJIOD-1GuxGIoR8J5YwmbJCB0CC8EpesWaAICUhqiwcLTK0F8Q20U6ULwbpc-KVvWmeJOor2EJKamUxedDdJ2K1xzKM8HW92w5uJvG15mjRgft33Bg/s1600/4-3-11+003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6uz9rUX-f4KtVtDqgoO8fJIOD-1GuxGIoR8J5YwmbJCB0CC8EpesWaAICUhqiwcLTK0F8Q20U6ULwbpc-KVvWmeJOor2EJKamUxedDdJ2K1xzKM8HW92w5uJvG15mjRgft33Bg/s320/4-3-11+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596205034798713506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Massive Leek.</span><br />I leave you with this, the Uber Leek. I know I should eat it, but I can't yank it out yet. I over wintered some leeks, and for some reason this one grew most vigorously. Same soil, same everything, but for some magical reason this one did best. I have to look into the propagation of leeks, can I gather seed from it when it blooms out?<br />Here's to the Sun coming out here in the NW, so my hops can grow their one foot per day, and I won't go barking mad from lack of sunshine.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-72504989979293642732011-04-02T20:48:00.000-07:002011-04-02T21:33:10.606-07:00Freya the Cat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iTMswlZZ922fdCEzI-9KDxGvDmMoR2qcIh2vlqgDHE07pr4M8JF9vE6pKP3NJxxzxGq0Gn7_OVCduoESuM7poHxXusG6Ifn60EHAaa7SD9Tby6FbFq5F0mSgigRPPtgT0fvGpQ/s1600/3-28-11+005.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iTMswlZZ922fdCEzI-9KDxGvDmMoR2qcIh2vlqgDHE07pr4M8JF9vE6pKP3NJxxzxGq0Gn7_OVCduoESuM7poHxXusG6Ifn60EHAaa7SD9Tby6FbFq5F0mSgigRPPtgT0fvGpQ/s320/3-28-11+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591199946916957202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All I wanted was a cup of tea</span><br />But I got a kitten on my back. The is Freya, our 7 month old kitten/cat. Dan rescued her tiny little , mewing self back in October, as she cowered near a boulder in the neighbors parking strip. Since she showed up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Friday</span>, He named her Freya, after the Germanic/Nordic Goddess of love, whom some say Friday is named for. I also call her "Widget", She is my little Widget, as in "Hand me that widget please."<br />She was wee, thirsty, and homeless so being the crazy cat lady on our street I took her in.<br /><br />Alice our other girl cat hates her little guts, but we are working on things, they can sit in the same room now without Alice trying to corner and kill her, so that's a step forward.<br />Freya for her part stopped turning into a feline chainsaw <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">every time</span> she saw Alice, or heard the name "Alice", so maybe one day they will tolerate one another.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbYS0u7HA6SGI0_K5ndujhhpzRJ3Hc4P9V8AmOEGXKMr6YKkbKEqBcNG6PQ0CdXb4YiDf1Es4eQmA-wVrWQ50c1Y3msMhj79P72pvoQ_oB66a5L0MgwOM4y9pUHgrocsJ8WYo2w/s1600/3-28-11+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbYS0u7HA6SGI0_K5ndujhhpzRJ3Hc4P9V8AmOEGXKMr6YKkbKEqBcNG6PQ0CdXb4YiDf1Es4eQmA-wVrWQ50c1Y3msMhj79P72pvoQ_oB66a5L0MgwOM4y9pUHgrocsJ8WYo2w/s320/3-28-11+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591201738831949058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freya and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hubbinator</span>, with Ludwig making a cameo.</span><br />She is cuteness personified, and we both adore the little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nibblet</span>. She started riding around on our shoulders when she was tiny, and weighed the same as a piece of toast. With butter and jam. Now she is getting to be kinda big for this sort of acrobatics. Having 7lbs. of cat launch onto your unsuspecting t-shirt clad shoulders will wake you up pretty damn fast.. She will also launch herself from heights, and it's a special kind of pain when she lands on your tender flesh.. Like hanging a bag of flour onto yourself with fishhooks. I try to resist the urge to scream, as that will only make her dig in harder as she climbs your head to get away from that alarming sound.<br />We are discouraging her from this behavior, but as you can see Dan is a sucker for her, and he wears a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">hoodie</span> so she has more to hang on to. she ambushed me when I was getting my tea. I would never encourage such behavior from such a cute, little sweetie pie. never...Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-71107711702662930562011-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:002011-04-02T20:45:33.770-07:00Dragon Grill More Viking age fun..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJpyiHlk_U2XCBwjVF8TIYjhGaU7nZP5RJ7X5D6afr_J3ST24C5ctgxYuofsXg6lHr-OCVo4vqgKIukUfgeX9ANDpLgVO8tXNOL_2jvk4VkZ0iZllbFCYRNa8yL_VnVi5veSSKQ/s1600/HPIM6579.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJpyiHlk_U2XCBwjVF8TIYjhGaU7nZP5RJ7X5D6afr_J3ST24C5ctgxYuofsXg6lHr-OCVo4vqgKIukUfgeX9ANDpLgVO8tXNOL_2jvk4VkZ0iZllbFCYRNa8yL_VnVi5veSSKQ/s320/HPIM6579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589703801822543794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dragon, rough, fresh from forge.</span><br />I just finished this nice little Dragon Gill for a member of our<a href="http://www.norsehall.org/"> Sons of Norway lodge, Grieg Lodge. </a>Dan and I joined our local S.O.N lodge because we liked the people, and they didn't chase us away after we did a Viking age blacksmithing demo. Neither of us are Norwegian, maybe by invasion back in the Danelaw, but we both love Nordic culture, and Viking age history. Thanks to my many awesome Norwegian patrons I have done several of these dragon themed projects. Gates, fireplace screen, the one above , and now this grill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJTAXEIq_N9bvIA1sj3ca3fF_sFGBoigBS-MVhW_PwIuQmvIU1aJksrfNlK2AFieJu69ABwWX6OhjGeh9HM6oks0rLFDwlrJfY3Zu8RXujuAka2xiTKtlczhtQnIY1_6VOzzf5g/s1600/HPIM6573.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJTAXEIq_N9bvIA1sj3ca3fF_sFGBoigBS-MVhW_PwIuQmvIU1aJksrfNlK2AFieJu69ABwWX6OhjGeh9HM6oks0rLFDwlrJfY3Zu8RXujuAka2xiTKtlczhtQnIY1_6VOzzf5g/s320/HPIM6573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589703801478633826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Laid out on table, over original drawing</span><br />I draw out the design, on paper, or plywood, or the floor of the shop. Then I forge and sculpt the steel to do my bidding. I try to design with the limitations of steel and the laws of physics, but sometimes I forget and get carried away. This project was thankfully, easy, fun and creatively satisfying to build.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitolhkQj4cxWX8eJh3vmF4h70tzYLLIMKJuifdPz4CorwoYDN5ZulKof6G7nYfSJMYDhxZGhY7ofDFXzlhDfdJojDtQCkW_I7r2S4Ty0xdOTqw5XBlnl6CiQvpz1aA73H6fPGsug/s1600/HPIM6576.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitolhkQj4cxWX8eJh3vmF4h70tzYLLIMKJuifdPz4CorwoYDN5ZulKof6G7nYfSJMYDhxZGhY7ofDFXzlhDfdJojDtQCkW_I7r2S4Ty0xdOTqw5XBlnl6CiQvpz1aA73H6fPGsug/s320/HPIM6576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589703794874548034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Close up</span><br />Since my clients family name is Thorsen, Son of Thor, he wanted to honor the God Thor some how. The central hammer reads, in English, but written in Old Norse runes, "Thor Bless".<br />I also wrote up a house blessing, and carved it into the dragons bodies with a chisel. It reads=<br />"Name sake Asa Thor, bless our hearth fire burning bright"<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWUhdqzG2primJJgSXA9hKUvUfREUgTjeYx_TddSPJGVycNm4ld80vhgRrbraBlRcIGwFCiXBazut_wqU8Y403VmK5BViy8mYIKOZCWjcL3haO7-GhDUlcYEIxcgkfM6gFMy91w/s1600/runes-dragons+mouth.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWUhdqzG2primJJgSXA9hKUvUfREUgTjeYx_TddSPJGVycNm4ld80vhgRrbraBlRcIGwFCiXBazut_wqU8Y403VmK5BViy8mYIKOZCWjcL3haO7-GhDUlcYEIxcgkfM6gFMy91w/s320/runes-dragons+mouth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589698199394271474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Namesake" in runes</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa9O9Ul7BU4zWOseXQk7ccU5YTN4EKiP1JF5QaOHoGtKz4y989tIxQza_-fB1euM2_lkxF7Bq5Cn8lZvRaG5mAVi_wpw0gG81MBQ3n6tCfMdPwsMgaf818YmAyZtcUSjPYEOHkw/s1600/flame-dragon.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa9O9Ul7BU4zWOseXQk7ccU5YTN4EKiP1JF5QaOHoGtKz4y989tIxQza_-fB1euM2_lkxF7Bq5Cn8lZvRaG5mAVi_wpw0gG81MBQ3n6tCfMdPwsMgaf818YmAyZtcUSjPYEOHkw/s320/flame-dragon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589698192899208370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heating Steel for Applying Finish</span><br />Using the torch to heat the steel so beeswax and oil can be applied. I use a mixture of bees wax, linseed oil, and turpentine for my finish. You heat the steel so the mixture will soak into the metal, leaving a warm, velvety finish.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEw6fshRsW053vpwAoBIgBD5ob1VBjpkBlgi8pb0pm30q-EZ14426cZllpDBD-OvVE5ZW1Fo9NPx_EmxQOPcmeKVVtopbmYhPXmTT0fU_0j1qEGpOeZPQdO5hup6zyg7FrdP6iw/s1600/grinder.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEw6fshRsW053vpwAoBIgBD5ob1VBjpkBlgi8pb0pm30q-EZ14426cZllpDBD-OvVE5ZW1Fo9NPx_EmxQOPcmeKVVtopbmYhPXmTT0fU_0j1qEGpOeZPQdO5hup6zyg7FrdP6iw/s320/grinder.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589698189282217474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Making sparks!</span><br />My awesome ability to measure twice and still screw it up, I had to grind off 1/8 of an inch to make it fit the space.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUiCJ30toz3BQ8OAkW5hGU34gexzE3vTgqvFtgWoEZpo1c3QvfuaYhFL_BNolNnb3OPHqf4M9j2U_oBPXjeyFuDYfvHczo30HFb37KMEmAMs3V6s9jx2dePECtSHN_PYFLui_bw/s1600/grill-torch.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUiCJ30toz3BQ8OAkW5hGU34gexzE3vTgqvFtgWoEZpo1c3QvfuaYhFL_BNolNnb3OPHqf4M9j2U_oBPXjeyFuDYfvHczo30HFb37KMEmAMs3V6s9jx2dePECtSHN_PYFLui_bw/s320/grill-torch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589698197915871746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finished Grill, all Done!</span><br />It turned out so nice, and I wish it was in my house! It is about three feet long, 6 inches high..I think..could be 9"..<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsR956iqm9-u8DpfJyW5V6nziYFc9mosoeraEDD_psjVZhZlYzGNE_5FMO6RiNeX1zm0GBap6x-gmhxAuIdyPuch1y4IzqKwPSrgVIvUq-a0P0mYmd3cKrBeGw7DhoNiSJpUt6g/s1600/Drgaon+Grill-+installed.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsR956iqm9-u8DpfJyW5V6nziYFc9mosoeraEDD_psjVZhZlYzGNE_5FMO6RiNeX1zm0GBap6x-gmhxAuIdyPuch1y4IzqKwPSrgVIvUq-a0P0mYmd3cKrBeGw7DhoNiSJpUt6g/s320/Drgaon+Grill-+installed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589698204094581170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finished Grill in It's New Home</span><br />So, here it is, all nestled into it's new space!Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-54299068271074684752011-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:002011-02-15T16:39:45.903-08:00Yorkshire Pudding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmEpkt8w_xeNlxCzc3cuhrckzq5P1hcVi-FhAPNQOxop4twiXScNrTXPvTZGhRxMezQhpunC_mig96EFzbjcHZoHiss0nCl5GKIS0WTMpVgqepDgWjfCxF-I4ovZcS0Ktu-uQUg/s1600/HPIM6426.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmEpkt8w_xeNlxCzc3cuhrckzq5P1hcVi-FhAPNQOxop4twiXScNrTXPvTZGhRxMezQhpunC_mig96EFzbjcHZoHiss0nCl5GKIS0WTMpVgqepDgWjfCxF-I4ovZcS0Ktu-uQUg/s320/HPIM6426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574066794952685474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Pudding In Situ</span><br />Most of you (all 5 of you out there) know that I love to cook. I love cooking traditional folksy food, the kind that fills you up. Makes you warm, contented, whole.<br />The kid of food my grandmother made, and her mothers made before her. For me that would include food from Croatia, Ukraine, Germany and England. I'm a typical American Mutt, a little of this, a little of that.<br />So, as part of my attempt to connect with my culinary heritage, specifically the English side. I set out to bake a Yorkshire Pudding. No buying those horrid little frozen ones at the local Brit import store. Ohhhh no.<br />I scoured my cookbooks, looked online, Delia Smith had a good recipe, so I ued that but added an egg. It's all very touchy making the batter..Is the right runniness? Is it too warm? Did I beat it too much? Is the sun in alignment with Venus properly..There is alot to factor in, and honestly I was scared I'd screw it up. What if it doesn't rise, and just lies there in the beef fat, smoking and looking flat. Mocking me...You just have to go for it sometimes when trying out something new.<br />So I set the roast to roasting, and went for it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2fiAL4fmhl-vXebzI38AMcnIgLwAtogAW2d_nVm9KKm6d18YRVUZvAOxnA3z9tORSmp4Wsmd-hRIp1mW8azOjGBaLJ7QFgErQEOhKIeUHJ1_6K884aCuk1k8_B7gPnngW4qWTA/s1600/HPIM6427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2fiAL4fmhl-vXebzI38AMcnIgLwAtogAW2d_nVm9KKm6d18YRVUZvAOxnA3z9tORSmp4Wsmd-hRIp1mW8azOjGBaLJ7QFgErQEOhKIeUHJ1_6K884aCuk1k8_B7gPnngW4qWTA/s320/HPIM6427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574066798466140258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >TA DA!</span><br />I'd like to say I took lots of preparation shots, but I didn't, I was busy trying to not get eggshell in the batter, and keep the cats off the counter.The Hubbinator, who was out in the forge, kept coming in occasionally to look hopefully at the oven door and ask "Is it done yet? It smells amazing!".<br />No. Not yet, the roast isn't done. Now go on..I'll call you when it's ready..Repeat this pattern for several hours. When it was time, I called him in to watch the pouring of the batter into the hot fat. Other than my hair smelling like roast beef for the rest of the evening, it all went fine.<br />I poured the batter into the hot fat, it flowed like white lava into the pan. I shut the door and waited..<br />Okay. Everything is a go, now we wait...<br />Tick tick tick....Then it was time.<br />"My God you could ski down those peaks!" He exclaimed as I pulled it from the oven. I grinned. Success was mine!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqJgyHTT_S5Y0stG7qqqERW0s8nTILGTqGoqupIVFQ27kJnsa4anVoqUjghhXJFrx0adXef6YgVPMRUvJPbtbv59lHwVxAANAYZaLUnjlQT1EpffrV5BfIIK6rDqrjSFNFt9evA/s1600/HPIM6429.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqJgyHTT_S5Y0stG7qqqERW0s8nTILGTqGoqupIVFQ27kJnsa4anVoqUjghhXJFrx0adXef6YgVPMRUvJPbtbv59lHwVxAANAYZaLUnjlQT1EpffrV5BfIIK6rDqrjSFNFt9evA/s320/HPIM6429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574075547792475394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >No waiting or graces</span><br />So powerful was the allure of this pudding that the Hubby broke out his knife and started cutting a hunk out of it. Who could blame him? It was deeeeeelishcious, we managed to get the roast on the table along with the veg to enjoy it with, but to be honest, it was all about the fried dough.<br />The pic above shows it after the carnage had begun, and it's peaks had deflated.<br />Still. It was amazing, and I felt triumphant as a cook.<br />I think it might be time to do up another roast with pudding, this is making me hungry just looking at the pics.<br />Here is a great website, Historical Foods, they have recipes from every era, and taste.<br /><a href="http://historicalfoods.com/1033/roast-beef-lunch-recipe/">http://historicalfoods.com/1033/roast-beef-lunch-recipe/</a>Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-58998332864677432982011-02-12T09:11:00.000-08:002011-02-12T09:45:15.389-08:00New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmoFUfVS2ZzqwU27xdw7uCJ0-zsLkGKkoFlasVA8upCK01WSY9BDWEqXbvMGsyEF-aO02CSYb-_TgLeQwo7V5_UO6I2wLhhYq_Drt5IoJR6K-BQBhUDN23VfQYVPg88ZnnjaUiw/s1600/-c6344515ecd06f83.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmoFUfVS2ZzqwU27xdw7uCJ0-zsLkGKkoFlasVA8upCK01WSY9BDWEqXbvMGsyEF-aO02CSYb-_TgLeQwo7V5_UO6I2wLhhYq_Drt5IoJR6K-BQBhUDN23VfQYVPg88ZnnjaUiw/s320/-c6344515ecd06f83.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572853440974675650" border="0" /></a><br />Wow! I have not blogged in...oh...ages. Mostly I just have don't have enough to write about..<br />Only a few people read it, yes they are my freinds, and wonderful. Not for reading the blog, but for being awesome people. I have to admit wishing people liked my blog, and found me interesting enough to read it regularly, but pagan lady blacksmiths who swear and drink ale aren't popular.<br />Well, onwards.<br />We were in our local newspaper back in October, The Oregonian, <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2010/10/white_hart_forge.html">here is the article</a>.<br />Very fun, it brought us some new commissions, thank the Gods, but it isn't enought to keep us alive. Dan is hunting jobs in his field, archaeology, and Iam just trying to not be depressed 24 hours a day while I forge steel, working on the jobs we do have.<br />Life teaches us strength by trying to break us down, that's what I have come to learn. Either you completely break apart, or you rebuild yourself, stronger, wiser. It isn't easy, nor is it pleasant.<br /><br />One of the "teachers" out there, for me, is an amazing woman who writes the blog <a href="http://milkweedandteasel.blogspot.com/">"Milkweed and Teasle</a>". Jennifer and her husband are survivors and thrivers, literally. I love reading about the life she shares with her husband as gamekeepers on an English estate. She and he have been through it, they make do and mend fences. They work hard and love their lives, exhausting as it can be. Iam grateful that she shares it with all of us, because it inspires me to not just give up on my dreams, and that yes, life is hard. But also wonderful.<br />She also has a cluttered house which I can relate to. :) No time for being Martha Stewart when you have work in the shop all day thanks..<br />Anyways check her out.Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19033299.post-6658252235446676472010-09-23T13:22:00.000-07:002010-09-23T14:29:23.562-07:00Road Trip, Fall rites..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MWcEDy_hSdKt-Fx9Sfud6URe3oPGbTYqe7SuQnYWC62uW-HlMRmi0si8XFoDYf6bfKRVRQFcp4k1sIWOY37Oxe3_1eeC5VIwnscgMjByK1svxslZY2dnPKwk7kDo4VGqsf8LAg/s1600/HPIM6212.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MWcEDy_hSdKt-Fx9Sfud6URe3oPGbTYqe7SuQnYWC62uW-HlMRmi0si8XFoDYf6bfKRVRQFcp4k1sIWOY37Oxe3_1eeC5VIwnscgMjByK1svxslZY2dnPKwk7kDo4VGqsf8LAg/s320/HPIM6212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520210128972052658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On The Road, The Gorge</span><br />Well, after a fine tour of these Great United States, well okay, just the Western bits, through to Nebraska..I return to write of the excursion. It was loads of fun, exhausting, but fun.<br />My father died this May, and so my Mother is alone out there on the prairie. We decided it was a good time to drive out and visit, make sure she was okay. Help out, etc..<br />We had planned on attending the<a href="http://www.bakerhighlanders.org/"> Baker City Oregon Highland Games</a>, and since we were already on the otherside of the state, well hell, why not just keep going?<br />So we did.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg_E7mkw0D5T5qzhkAvBKPiezWj97pm5BNGQZ-sI2aR_w7ynjKkdlzqFPsb07L3yZXv5ifIj1EdVJnX2pNDSmih9CboBWlFA1ohheGM9kB7HeBpKI_7s7vL1wEV9a1EufhkHPnA/s1600/HPIM6240.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg_E7mkw0D5T5qzhkAvBKPiezWj97pm5BNGQZ-sI2aR_w7ynjKkdlzqFPsb07L3yZXv5ifIj1EdVJnX2pNDSmih9CboBWlFA1ohheGM9kB7HeBpKI_7s7vL1wEV9a1EufhkHPnA/s320/HPIM6240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520209078048171378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Cabin, at Rancho-Costa-Plenty</span><br />Our amazing friends Devon and Rachael graciously offered their cabin for us to stay in while we visited. They lived in this amazing cabin for 11ish years, until they finished building their own house. Yes, they built the house themselves, with their own hands, tools and love. The Big House is wonderful, don't get me wrong guys.<br />But I love the cabin. I would live here always if I could I love it that much, cozy, nestled in the aspen, with it's herd of security turkeys ever alert to danger..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2sjgEym_psWvgZwg9kDBc5Aw-hmx89HsR73OsUe5GjmcoNLRVwH966ZMN5KkpD6YUb0Q58CTzws340U7Fgn4yIV7YRCYIdYyl7V-XK9IZcZBPA-xmAeh3eBDDX7GoMljgG1Vvw/s1600/HPIM6233.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2sjgEym_psWvgZwg9kDBc5Aw-hmx89HsR73OsUe5GjmcoNLRVwH966ZMN5KkpD6YUb0Q58CTzws340U7Fgn4yIV7YRCYIdYyl7V-XK9IZcZBPA-xmAeh3eBDDX7GoMljgG1Vvw/s320/HPIM6233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520211882977662034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blurry "Action" Shot of Turkey herd..they move damn fast..</span><br />The birds sleep high in the trees behind the cabin, safe from predators.<br />The above was taken as they made their way up the trail to the hill beside the cabin. Where, once they reached the proper high spot on the hill, they launch themselves in a flurry of feathers into the roosting trees. Smart fowl I say, working with gravity, not against it. It's a herd made up of several adult females and their young, long legged gawky teenage birds.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVtxy5k10OH8ZTC2klYaCNu96zLxbhIJhsk_yGL6MeIqdYY2lhh1ULxSCQJ-tbJVYnp4MkByVOkNA3XwhwlYfdLMu2Ir37_pvtKbP9765Ok_EuZyVWh1Vltp6kxL9P_1J63vtWw/s1600/HPIM6235.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVtxy5k10OH8ZTC2klYaCNu96zLxbhIJhsk_yGL6MeIqdYY2lhh1ULxSCQJ-tbJVYnp4MkByVOkNA3XwhwlYfdLMu2Ir37_pvtKbP9765Ok_EuZyVWh1Vltp6kxL9P_1J63vtWw/s320/HPIM6235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520213442133985474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Off to Bed They Go..</span><br />Fast little hens, I barely got this shot with my crappy camera..<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprIu7LeGEHebPYsUie4m9sb4oyPu6DsBR1QO2WhqtsktSz4SNN8D3Xdh0USSsgvRW75CzYLBfylBp-xr1dBLRtE51O4WZXnYhaagTr5F_H-1HuaPoaVMEFI6i7xfktRx8NhVP5g/s1600/HPIM6230.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprIu7LeGEHebPYsUie4m9sb4oyPu6DsBR1QO2WhqtsktSz4SNN8D3Xdh0USSsgvRW75CzYLBfylBp-xr1dBLRtE51O4WZXnYhaagTr5F_H-1HuaPoaVMEFI6i7xfktRx8NhVP5g/s320/HPIM6230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520209066935015698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Bonney Man and His Pipes</span><br />The Highland Games were great fun. We arrived late friday and had to set up during the start of the games, I was worried we would be a problem, but everyone there was just happy we came. The wonderful Marna sent the Boy Scouts out to help us set up. Devon and Dan helped the lads get our smithy set up while I put the forge together.<br />When my nose started running and my hands turned blue I realised I might need that sweater I had brought just in case. In Eastern Oregon in the high country winter can come in Sept. So people understand how to live with cold, but this was Labor Day weekend, late August.<br />It had been hot and sunny earlier in the week. High 90's there in Baker, so people were not quite ready for the shock. A cold front had rolled in, rain, snow in the mountains, temps. in the 40's. Were had a fire so we stayed warm, and everyone had a good time anyways. After all, this was more like weather in Scotland.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXGRh7UltAawKaX2SedPNC64UdQghiMJ8IVfpXO0g5E0f3jGQPc81kKBQ0gnCceoE932yoVgEOKTMNjfgtjH9e-4_UEyfFekq6Uc5WFYJWh6Hp0CvYGlnQ7c1IEBFXr2TW-k3ug/s1600/HPIM6231.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXGRh7UltAawKaX2SedPNC64UdQghiMJ8IVfpXO0g5E0f3jGQPc81kKBQ0gnCceoE932yoVgEOKTMNjfgtjH9e-4_UEyfFekq6Uc5WFYJWh6Hp0CvYGlnQ7c1IEBFXr2TW-k3ug/s320/HPIM6231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520209071428206530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNha3IA7matubMnPcGC_7e_0Nmn4zmnyRRypxhXJKiMZq_7i2gRfLYacobz6Y_TddHWOWJ0ORTykFUZPU-er7MhSj6POTM_Itla2sODIvhdAv0zygv2gv9R49b8bTph1bqX7WWA/s1600/HPIM6229.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNha3IA7matubMnPcGC_7e_0Nmn4zmnyRRypxhXJKiMZq_7i2gRfLYacobz6Y_TddHWOWJ0ORTykFUZPU-er7MhSj6POTM_Itla2sODIvhdAv0zygv2gv9R49b8bTph1bqX7WWA/s320/HPIM6229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520218052857958530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">His Nibs,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Piper</span><br />Dan was invited by the Pipe Major of <a href="http://www.boisebagpipes.com/">The City Of Trees Pipe and Drum Band t</a>o play during the parade..I have never seen my husband more excited or happy. I was very proud of him. They were a great group of folks. Thank you guys and gals, you made my Hubby very happy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yuwZcTDxNtmAuFR9J304e8SpFH6wIsBK6ORuvx8-8R16Db0QT6QImAP_Ali4pwaeypAQqXUaiz4gC78YUi3RT-_YP5uAS_m0sbeDU1RkvaVoRPQD_sjBoJA5nUvF5oMxE_T8Cg/s1600/HPIM6221.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yuwZcTDxNtmAuFR9J304e8SpFH6wIsBK6ORuvx8-8R16Db0QT6QImAP_Ali4pwaeypAQqXUaiz4gC78YUi3RT-_YP5uAS_m0sbeDU1RkvaVoRPQD_sjBoJA5nUvF5oMxE_T8Cg/s320/HPIM6221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520209058728526930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bellows Boy</span><br />We both did demonstrations, meeting the good people at the games, and teaching the craft. We had a young man who was perfect at running the bellows. It is a tricky thing to do, and he caught on quickly. I wish I could recall his name, Thank you Little Boy Scout dude! You were a big help!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgk2xG_0McMEiz-oPgNADuxWBe0u6y7HZRyRPWTl6JDzJOyacC67OC25LbgLiCwvp3Rh7TY0wDTgHiP0rVkjk3sNyhMdonPHPnxgxRSOffzJTI-UlmZ6emjvd6f66L3OZTe06kA/s1600/HPIM6219.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgk2xG_0McMEiz-oPgNADuxWBe0u6y7HZRyRPWTl6JDzJOyacC67OC25LbgLiCwvp3Rh7TY0wDTgHiP0rVkjk3sNyhMdonPHPnxgxRSOffzJTI-UlmZ6emjvd6f66L3OZTe06kA/s320/HPIM6219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520209056391903090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm too Sexy for My Kilt...</span><br />For those of you out there who care this is NOT my family tartan. We are Stewarts, and this is not. Donna our good friend and amazing bagpiper, gave me this kilt as a gift. What is hard is when members of this clan come running up to me arms thrown wide exclaiming how thrilled they are to meet another member of the clan. I just play along, as I don't have the heart to tell them the truth, it has only led to trouble in the past..<br />Stay tuned for Part Two of this saga..<br /><br />Since arriving home I have been making apple butter, and canning it..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADwnjq20Z9ZjutQ0IpjNHDiKkhhRZ801g8vy34tVjgbtC_y-QT23ZWjqBrUEQcs6IjYH0oQab40tg5CIGlfGqJ-qsIqWUq7wl-V78BQ650YerkDqF4YV0GM6jsebBYQ2GPWoYrQ/s1600/HPIM6281.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADwnjq20Z9ZjutQ0IpjNHDiKkhhRZ801g8vy34tVjgbtC_y-QT23ZWjqBrUEQcs6IjYH0oQab40tg5CIGlfGqJ-qsIqWUq7wl-V78BQ650YerkDqF4YV0GM6jsebBYQ2GPWoYrQ/s320/HPIM6281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520222738690116322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Before..</span><br />Fresh apples from my orchard. Lots of apples, the Wassailing back in January worked ! I ended up with three 5 gallon buckets from this dwarf mystery variety alone..<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye73EdkMELalc2Yv7OJ4UagmmhXf5xf9DkEjVCu-07LCdLKFzGEkLazz-Y_zJ8PaD9C2BEPRn1mTj2dmrRI_54zHMrJnxYwlIb8hu6hxkccDy7mGyDl350nPAvGiuYEkg6l9sSg/s1600/HPIM6283.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiye73EdkMELalc2Yv7OJ4UagmmhXf5xf9DkEjVCu-07LCdLKFzGEkLazz-Y_zJ8PaD9C2BEPRn1mTj2dmrRI_54zHMrJnxYwlIb8hu6hxkccDy7mGyDl350nPAvGiuYEkg6l9sSg/s320/HPIM6283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520222748185558994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After!</span><br />Yes it looks like sludge, but it's really yummy apple butter..ready for canning or eating on fresh toast with melted butter.. Devon cream would be awesome with this..Sadly, some of us can't get proper Devon cream here to go with..sigh..some folks have all the luck.;)Heidiannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14875098188370755298noreply@blogger.com0