JC to NC

JC to NC:
Looks like we're headed to North Carolina in the fall this year. We'll be in attendance at "A Basket Gathering" teaching the wall pocket and the Unitower in Hickory, NC on Oct 16-17.

How my garden grows?
I couldn't stand NOT to grow a garden but the soil around here is mostly clay and rock. So I asked the resident expert (neighbor) and she said dig a hole and plant it and smother with hay. What?! No hand digging, rototilling, labor intensive, talking to the plant hoo-hah? I felt like I found my roots doing it like the ancestors. Hoe in hand, dig hole, plant. I think I like it. Now let's see if we harvest anything.

Next stop... Branson:
Next stop on the tour is Branson, so in between gardening and yard work I've been getting stuff ready to head west. A very cool town with lots of high class entertainment.

MO, MO please

Just got back from a trip to Michigan and a visit with Mom. It's amazing that there are roads here that will take you to places in a smooth and efficient manner. Put the peddle down and after 13 hours - your there. Not to say there aren't roads in Alaska - just three main ones. After years of them being referred to the Glen, the Parks, and the New Seward (not to be confused with the old one) they have finally gave them numbers (1,2, and 3) I think.

Snow awaited in MI and 80 degree temps and blooming dogwood when I returned to MO. It's almost like a quick trip to Alaska and then back to Hawaii. I LIKE IT! Well at least the southern part of it. I think of my cohorts in Alaska and know that they are in the throws of break up -mud, slime, slush. Probably the only time I would prefer NOT to live there. Surrounded by balmy breezes, green popping out on the hillsides, daffodils in abundance and the lacey beauty of blooming redbud and dogwood - I think I like this version of spring better.

Finally Nantuckets:
I've been talking about making a Nantucket basket for - forever! Finally took time to spend with my friend Janet in Michigan and cranked out a couple. Learned LOTS of new skills in the process and mostly how to be patient because these guys take a while to put together when your making the rims the old fashioned way. Here's the finished product. My next project is a purse with some scrimshaw on top. Does this mean that we will be making them sometime in the future in Alaska? Maybe....

From here to there

Eight days in two vehicles with one dog and three persons equals 4,000 miles to MO. The road was wonderful the floods in the Dakotas were not. We missed snow, closed roads, and volcano blows - now that's pretty good. Our stars must have been aligned in the right manner to be so lucky. The buffalos let us past along the highway in the Liard Country (nothing cooler than seeing buffalo chest high motoring through snow) and other then the occasional moose and bunny not much wildlife to be seen this early on the way down. LOTS of snow buntings up north and LOTS of Canadian geese on their way north bound down south. Keep the faith AK spring is headed your way.

Now not to brag but....it's absolutely wonderful down here! Green grass, daffodils in bloom, redbud through out the rolling hills and dogwood just starting to bloom. It makes the hillsides look like someone dressed them up in their Easter best to show them off. You know it's spring here when the Jolly Cone opens. Ice cream - yum!

We've been cleaning and unpacking since we got here but are ready to hit the trail come Tuesday headed for Richmond, IN and the Stateline Weaving Retreat.