After much ado, I finally got my Megado electronic dobby   working, but not before I bought a new Windows laptop. Apparently, my Mac laptop was "too new" and had some security measures on it,  that would not allow my software program, Fiberworks, to operate the loom. So I ordered one from Staples on their Black Friday online sale. Anything to avoid going to the store on that horrific day of consumer  madness. With the new computer, I was able to get it up and running in no time. This makes it all worth it though.   I do love this draft. I thought I might nee ..read more

I told you I was trying to be better about blogging, so here I am, again. Even though the show was a huge success, I am relieved that it is over.  I worked  very hard to get everything finished for it, and then the weekend itself was long. It was exciting to get back to the studio and the things I wanted to do. Here is the AVL warping wheel.  After getting a demo from a fellow weaver a few weeks ago, and watching the AVL video about three times, I started putting a warp on. Of course, I couldn't put a 'short' warp on........what is it they say?  Go big or go home? So ..read more

Once a year, my guild, the Hudson Mohawk Weavers Guild, has a show.  This  year was the 46th year.  The show lasts 3 days, and we get more successful every year. We had 900 towels in this show.  At the end there was less than 200 left. This photo was before the doors opened on Friday.  The real devoted shoppers are waiting in line outside!!!  We were mobbed all day Friday, and Saturday, and shockingly busy on Sunday too This is the only show I do these days.   Not having my husband, or Lois, to help me, I have given up the show circuit.  It's ..read more

I am trying to be calm, after seeing the headline that Matt Gaetz is going to be the new  Attorney General. This is hard. So hard. Horrible people with their own agendas, put in positions of power. What are we doing America????? OK, I will try to be good. Another "egg towel" warp on the loom.    Twenty new egg towels coming up. My friend made me a blue jean rug, for next to my bed.  I really love it. Naya loves to lay on my bed and look out the window. She is a princess, isn't she??? When I first bought this house 20 years ago, I took note of this ..read more

I don't like to post political stuff, and in fact I rarely do. But I would be remiss if I didn't at least tell you that I am grieving what I see as a huge loss of character for this United States of America.   We have chosen a misogynistic, racist, crude, really evil man, when we could have chosen a sane, reasonable woman. But, ah, there's the rub.  A woman. And a black woman at that. I knew from the moment she announced that she was running, that she was doomed. My friends tried to reassure me.......she had a good chance. But no, she never had a chance, not even the slightest ..read more

Is Lois unhappy? Does she know??   Those are very good questions, and ones that I have asked myself a hundred times. For a long time, she was upset, because as she said to me several times,  "I think I'm losing my mind".  I first noticed that something was wrong, when she couldn't thread the loom without massive mistakes.  Then she couldn't treadle anything but two treadles, because she lost her place every few seconds.  That was so totally unlike her. Then last year, she began to be very erratic in her driving, and she began scaring me.......she didn't at all ..read more

I told you I was going to try harder!!! A couple of months ago, I started two avocado plants, thinking that I would be lucky if they grew.  It took weeks and weeks, and I was about ready to give up.   When I was beginning to lose faith, I decided to google "how to start avocado plants", and found out that I had the pit upside down in the water. So I turned them over, and waited again.  I was surprised when they both started to root!!  So I gave one away, and kept one.    I probably won't live long enough to see an avocado from it, but it's fun anyway ..read more

Summer is gone, and boy, was it an expensive one for me. New roof on this side of the house, which has been the only part of my roof that was still slate. And underneath it ...........wooden shingles, and about a million square nails. But it's done.....chimney capped forever never to be used again, but repointed so it looks good! New flashing around the chimney, new ridge pole.........done. On top of that, a new gas furnace, since my chimney is defunct. My savings dwindles in the face of necessity. As usual, I am sickeningly hopeful.  What the hell is wrong with me, I wonder ..read more

Well, I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks, and leave it to Blogger to change how you  upload photos........ Always a challenge. The photos are kind of random, but I'm just trying to keep it real....this is my life. My new favorite lunch.....boiled eggs, avocado, cherry tomatoes and sriracha. So, so good.  And a protein boost for this vegetarian. I haven't done much gardening this year, with my new hip, but my garlic did  marvelously, and it's drying on the inside porch........enough to share with my daughters, and  keep some for myself. The rest of these pi ..read more

(Random studio pictures) Sometimes I think I am being tested, then other times I think no, it's just life, and life can be tricky any time at all. A few months ago, we had a huge wind storm, and there was a lot of banging on my roof.  Apparently, the cap on the chimney came apart. In addition, I started having  this issue in my upstairs hallway, with creosote stains coming down the walls.  I knew it was a chimney issue, and I assumed it was related to the chimney cap. So I called in the chimney people.  They were quick to respond, and very pleasant, but their news ..read more