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Apparently the shock I suffered from seeing myself in the mirror caused a severe lapse in blog entries. :)n

I’ve finally edited the pictures I took. There aren’t a whole lot and next time I’m going to do this while on the road. We’ll start with our first camp site and the only place we set up the tent. It was the first state park we saw as we left Ely, NV. We found pine nuts, which made Liam happy. The sun was setting by the time the tent was up.n

I don’t want to depend on a tent again. It takes too long to set up and didn’t suit our needs.n

In Calente, we stopped by the original location for Vasu Video. It’s still vacant and the name is still above the door, albeit, peeling.n

We stopped in Panaca on Halloween to see the house where Liam spent all of his teen years. It looks like the current inhabitants were ready for the trick or treaters.n

We visited Nine mile rock outside of Panaca. You guessed it, it’s nine miles out.n

Then we traveled on over to Cedar City, UT, our destination. n

We did some walking around and Liam did some shopping but there weren’t any pictures taken for some reason. I wasn’t feeling all that great, so maybe I forgot. :/ Then we went up to Beaver to find a spot to camp in another state park. That’s where Alysium and Dragon found a lava rock, climbed on it and then a tree, climbed up it and then a very small flower, they just looked at that.

After driving through Beaver city, and Parowan, we drove over to Beryl and Beryl Junction. No pictures, but I wrote down our impressions of each area to share with the kids. Then we went through Enterprise where we saw our first wild turkeys and stopped at a National forest for the night. Liam was in his natural habitat and was climbing on the rocks, exploring the grove of trees and such. Alysium and Dragon found what looked like a big dragon egg cave, climbed another tree, much smaller this time, found some lichen, I see at least four different colors, and climbed some more rocks.n

We headed back to Panaca in the morning, but not before trying to capture all the colors around the stream as we left Enterprise. It doesn’t do it justice at all.n

Back on BLM land where Liam and his parents used to gather pine nuts, we visited a favorite camping spot for humans from a time before white men crossed this land up to the present. We always seem to leave our trash behind.n

Note the larger amount of sunshine.n

Our last stop before heading home was somewhere in Idaho at a roadside picnic area where we had dinner and then Liam drove and drove and drove until we were home. We rousted a sleeping Catherine from our bed, sent her home and I was excitedly greeted by the dog for about half an hour or so. Chihuahuas are like that. Then we slept for a very long time.

What do you do when you see your father looking back at you from the mirror? Well, I looked in the mirror last week and saw my 78 year old father looking back at me. Creepy, right? Especially since I’m a female and only 50. So, what does one do? Well, I’m changing my make-up routine. We’re experimenting with removing the eyebrows and reshaping. Dad has zombie eyes, my mother used to call them bedroom eyes, but they’ve sagged/sunk further and the eyebrows are wild and have them hemmed in, same here. We’re attempting a more arched appearance without going extreme. I can’t really do anything about the lack of hair on my head, just keep up the fancy hat /scarf routine. I don’t go out much, but it’s really not fair to my husband. He married a young looking sexy woman and in less than ten years he’s got an old man for a wife. 🙂 Thank you chemical soup world. Especially the fragrance industry.n
It would still have been a shock at the age of 78, but more reasonable, I must say.

We got back from our trip and I came down with a stiff neck that had migraine intensity. Probably the result of fragrance exposure again. Anyway, I decided I wanted to participate in the Etsy holiday campaign, but I wasn’t personally up to the task. The campaign required I make a short film of my product. I called on the only offspring available before the deadline and Josephine came through for me. Not only did she help make a new hat for the film, she filmed, moved equipment and generally made it happen. The director’s cut is on youtube and the less than 5 second version has been submitted to Etsy. I will post trip pics later as I still have not fully recovered my mobility.n

I’ve put almost everything in the car and tested the loading of the top rack. Liam is concerned that someone will steal our stuff if we leave it on top of the car for a couple of days. He’s had quite a few thefts here, but nothing has disappeared since I moved in. I wonder why that is? I have a fairy garden out front and some other things, maybe “they’ve” noticed I’m home a lot.n
Anyway, I really like how my wool pants tuned out, and we’re looking forward to exploring Nevada and Utah. I’ll take photos and post upon my return. We don’t expect to be able to blog on the road this time.n
Happy Trails!n
–Sinéad

Well it’s almost time to leave. I finished the duffle bags and a knitted vest this week. My wool pants are progressing nicely. I caught a cold that only slowed me down a little, but really messed up my sleep. I’ve decided to take both the dragon and Alysium. They look so cute together and she already has her bags packed and ready to go.n

It’s getting closer to departure time and as the weather gets colder I’m wondering if we’re truly prepared. And what do we really expect to accomplish on this outing. We gave up on the truck when we realized there was no way to get everything done and have any money/time to go. I need more time away than we will be able to spend, but a little is better than none. I have the car and tent curtains made, water containers retrieved, toilet checked for leaks, and some warmer clothes made. I still need to make a few more and duffle bags to pack them in, as well.n

I want to take along a friend to photograph, but I can’t decide on who to take. Maybe I should take the truck’s dragon or a Puki. I have Alysium, who is PukiFee size. Maybe I’ll take them both.

The weather has well and truly changed. Goodbye summer!

Hello Winter!

Yes, I had one this week. I was reading the posts made by the lovely ladies who make little sweaters and such for premie babies. These ladies and a few gentlemen, (they don’t say much), really have their hearts in the right place, but their awareness of their environment, cause and effect, these seem to be lacking. Granted, the corporations have done a lovely job of convincing the consumer that their product is better because it’s easy care or whatever. But the information on synthetics/chemicals and it’s ill effects on babies and children, (adults too), hasn’t made it into the consciousness of the average american. Artificial fragrance use is increasing at an alarming rate and these lovely ladies know that’s bad for the premies but they don’t realize that acrylic and polyester yarns are harmful. They incorrectly believe that wool is bad, although one woman googled it when her daughter requested she make a baby blanket from a yarn that had a small percentage of wool in it, only to discover that natural fibers are recommended for babies. She will still be using acrylic, she assured the group. Why do we think that acrylic is safe? Because it’s not. Anything you’ve heard about the dangers of plastics and our chemical soup lifestyle, includes acrylic in the bad column. Acrylics and polyesters were banned from our home after the youngest two came along. They made them stink like a locker room or worse in just a few minutes from time of exposure. My daughter blistered when her synthetic lined shoes were on her for less than an hour. She wasn’t walking and the blister was on the end of her toe where there wasn’t anything to rub against. Once grown she decided to throw caution to the wind and wear those synthetics again, she was covered in a painful hives as a result. Lesson learned that time. This documentary just barely touches on what we’ve known for years and are just now realizing how much worse the reality has turned out to be. http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-disappearing-male/n

So, I understand that these ladies have been sold the idea of soft,(it isn’t), easy care and inexpensive. But why not use cotton? It is soft, easy care and inexpensive. Merino wool is also soft and easy care when you realize you don’t need to wash it. You can rinse, if necessary, but airing it out is usually sufficient. It’s one of the reasons it’s so popular elsewhere in the world. Just google wool and you’ll get an Australian page on the benefits of wool. Now American hospitals have a difficult time with caring for wool, and I can understand a little, (British hospitals don’t have this issue),but anyway. Why not cotton? Cotton saved me and mine from going naked all the time. I like other natural fibers but I always come back to cotton for the basics. Organic cotton is the best! So ladies, why not cotton?n

Sept. 22n
Acrylic addendum: I was just reminded that this fiber is more flammable than natural fibers. It melts when exposed to heat and releases toxic fumes. WTF ladies! Why aren’t you using cotton?

Last night we celebrated my 50th birthday. I had a fruit”cake” and, of course, awesome presents. Liam had given me a Pooh bear themed basket on my actual birthday so last night was just the kids. 🙂 It was a doll tea party and everyone brought out lots of dolls. I thought Catherine’s fruit “cake” was a great adaptation to what I can eat and the circus candle holders came in handy.

I’ve been sewing for our trip and Liam and I now have organic cotton sweatshirts. At one point I was using all of my sewing methods in a confined space. I need to acquire proper needles for the treadle, it was having a difficult time making it through the thick layers. I use standard needles but it needs longer ones and I found out where it makes a difference the hard way. :0) —-Sinéad

The dashboard has been removed from the cab and the heater as well. Each item has had fragrance present and easily detectable when separated from the truck and the rest of the items in the cab. I can now detect fragrance on/in the steering wheel. Once we have removed everything that has scent and the cab is free from air freshener, we will begin replacing items. That’s where it will get really challenging. The only replacement parts for most of the items in the truck are used. How can we guarantee they are fragrance free before purchase? :/n

I have created two new listings on Etsy by combining existing patterns for a bulk discount. I think it’s awesome, but maybe that’s because I always appreciate a discount on something I wanted to buy anyway. —Sinéad

The hat is knit. It took me awhile because I kept getting distracted by baby booties for charity. :0)
The canvas doesn’t slide in the way the leather does, so you need to pin it in place and remember to stretch the knit as you go. The results are a nice flexible bill, that still holds it’s shape well.

When I created my jeep cap pattern I knew I would be using leather for the bill, but that canvas was an option. I hadn’t used the canvas method in a number of years and the particulars were fuzzy. Joey, my daughter, has recently tried it out.

She traced the pattern and cut out three layers to start with,
basted them together

and then ran it through her machine.

It was fairly soft, a good choice for a baby hat or small child. But not what either of us wanted for our hats. So, she hand stitched two more layers in place.
This bill is not as stiff as my leather bill, but I think it will work well enough.
I will be putting it to use soon and I will post it here when I’ve finished. Must get the hat knit first! –Sinéad

I’ve been making some things for charity over the last few weeks. It started with a call for premie hats from the yarn store where I was shopping. (British, on-line) I thought it sounded like a good idea, a way to use the cool left over yarn I have on hand. After all I use the baby soft merino to knit for myself. Well, American hospitals have some weird prejudices and they can’t cope with wool or the charities doing the organizing don’t get it. I’m still looking for a group that appreciates wool, but in the mean time, I have emptied the ol’ hope chest of it’s baby clothes, as I won’t be having any grand babies. I’ll be sending these along with some cotton items I’ve made and a few wool ones for the “angels” to be buried in, (these don’t have to be aggressively washed), to a wonderful lady who organizes and supplies items to hospitals and such. n
Now that’s an area of need that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. But it’s a very real one and one that is often over looked. Parents who’ve had their sweet baby arrive early and pass on, aren’t prepared with garments of an appropriate size for burial. And they aren’t really prepared to cope with burial details of any kind. I’m very happy to help ease their grief by supplying them with something to lay their sweet one to rest in. This may become my preferred charity as the need crosses all classes of people and is often overlooked. –Sinéad

The truck still has a lingering fragrance and removal of the dashboard is going to be necessary. You can imagine how reticent we are. But if we don’t get this beast moving, the yard is going to take over.

I didn’t have any luck finding a shorter wig, but discovered that after I altered the Fairyland wig, I really liked it.

I’ve been knitting for myself and working on patterns for the PukiPuki. I’ve also been very tired, a lot! n

I need to be working on the seats for the truck, but…

I just received my first PukiPuki this week and after trying on several wigs, including a Fairyland wig, I began searching Monique wigs for something in a more suitable color and style. The size 4 wigs from Monique had both fit, but I wanted something shorter and, if possible, less full. (The Fairyland wig is loose, a common problem.) In the process of wading in to their site, (anyone who has shopped there knows what I mean), I discovered a size RD4. It was listed after the 3 1/4 and before the 4. Did this mean it was somehow between sizes or what? Well, after reading most of what I found on the net concerning size RD4, I discovered no one really knew and that asking Monique was the only course of action. (Sometimes we’re a wee bit impatient for answers) It turns out the the RD4 is a deeper wig, kind of like buying a size 5 and taking it in to fit a size 4. Good to know, but not what I needed. I’ll be doing more searching, but in the mean time here he is with a black grass skirt and flower lei. I really like my Luau set and my new camera!n