Saturday, June 27, 2009

Alberta Bound

It is good to be Alberta Bound. I'm looking forward to meeting all the fun people I met for the first time last year -- Michelle, Barb (Crazy Lady Barb to some of you on knit lists), Peg from the Yukon...
There is still room in my workshops, so if anyone is near Calgary and wants to pick up a class, I'm sure Olds College can register you for a day session. Monday is triangle shawls, Tuesday is circular shawls and the wrap up on Wednesday is square shawls. Come on over to the college's website and check it out: www.oldscollege.ca .

I was up with the birds this morning -- 3:30 a.m. Alberta time, 5:30 home time... I'm going to be very tired by the time the plane lands at 8:00 p.m. Calgary time. But, you see, we have this Jenny Wren about 50 feet away from the bedroom window, and when she starts singin', yer up!

Other news since the last post: Darling was accepted into the juried art show coming up in July (11, 12, are the dates). Here is one of his "bird studies in watercolour:" It's a bit unseasonal, but it's still a pretty bird!
The loons are back on the river this year with another clutch of two. The little guy on (what I presume is) mama's back looks completely relaxed. I'm sure this photo-by-Darling will also become a painting some day.
Now, I must go and finish packing. I've had the usual 'dog pile' building in the bedroom all week. This trip I don't have to worry about shutting down hot water tanks, setting security systems, arranging dog sitting, watering plants, or locking back gates and basement windows...there is someone here to keep the home fires burning. And Zoey thinks that's great, too!
When I get home Knit Together is going to get some badly-needed attention. This month has been busy putting finishing touches on handouts, notes, and slide shows. However, I have been able to draft a few more exercises on Level 2, and I'm taking my working notes with me, just in case...

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Still here!

It's been a most interesting and exciting couple of weeks.


Last weekend (May 30/31) I joined Darling at Wings Over Muskoka, a conference about birds, dragonflies and butterflies. It was an incredible part of my journey - we stayed at the new Red Leaves Resort overlooking (almost looming over) Lake Rosseau -- this was the view from our room:


We met some wonderful people, who are passionate about what they do -- artists and naturalists -- and were treated to the best possible service by the staff at this Mariott-operated resort.


Just before we left for the conference, I received an e-mail from Olds College: My shawl workshops are a GO! So, this weekend has been spent blocking the second last sample and putting the finishing touches on handouts and teaching notes. Fibre Week at Olds runs from June 29 to July 1. Here is another photo of one of the sample shawls we do in the workshop:
There are still spaces in some of the classes, so if you are interested and can get to Olds Alberta at the end of this month, go for it! Their website is www.oldscollege.ca .
I'm bleary eyed from staring at this screen all day... I'm going to go and knit now...