Missing a Me!!
{A tribute to a special fur kid!}

When our son was younger, we would often go on family outings. On our way home, DH {Dear Hubby ~ pictured above with our special girl} would call out "All who had a great time say 'Me!' " We would all shout out "Me!" Occasionally DS {Dear Son} would jokingly wait a moment to say "Me!" and DH would respond, "We are missing a Me!" Then we would hear that awaited "Me!" from DS. As time went on and DS went away to college, DH and I would often say "I'm missing a Me!" when we went somewhere we thought DS would have enjoyed. Recently one of our fur kids went to Rainbow Bridge. If you have ever had a special fur kid and lost them, you know of the emotions you experience when that special loved one passes on.

Precious, our Lhasa Apso, loved her family and wanted to be a part of everything. If someone closed a door in front of her, she would hit the door and spin around. When someone left the house, she went to the door to tell them "Farewell," hitting the door and spinning around after the door closed. When they returned, she was right there to say "Welcome home!" Precious was always with me when I worked around the house, made stamped greeting cards, beaded or knitted. She was my "shadow" who followed me to the garage to make sure I was safe while I put the clothes in the washer or dryer.

No matter what Precious was doing, she was always willing to take time out of her busy schedule to play. "Play" was her middle name. She could entertain herself with an empty water jug or play with her "niece" and "nephew" who are staying with us while their "parents" work on their undergraduate degrees or her adopted big Sis. Here she was having fun running in the snow {Winter, 2006} with her niece, Gabi.

A few days ago when I came home from work, I noticed Precious did not come to meet me. I immediately went in search of her. To my dismay, I discovered she had passed away in her sleep. She had gone into the bathroom and stretched out on the cool tile floor. She looked so peaceful, so I know she was not experiencing pain at the time of her passing. In the days since then, I have thought of all the fun times we had together and I celebrate her life.

We cherish every moment we had with her!

Precious, we are missing a Me big time!!

Flat Stanley visits Oklahoma

We have had the pleasure of hosting my nephew Trevor's Flat Stanley for 2 weeks. What a fun time we have had together! The Flat Stanley concept was developed from a book by Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley. Mr. Brown's Flat Stanley was smashed by a bulletin board that fell on him. His family was dismayed but soon learned being flat could have it's advantages. Flat Stanley no longer needed a plane ticket to visit relatives and friends. He could now travel in an envelope. Thus began his adventures determined by those who host him.

Shortly after Flat Stanley {FS} arrived, we went to visit Margaret at Hummingbird Hill Farms {Sapulpa, Oklahoma}. What a great time we all had there! Margaret gave me a spinning lesson and I was able to try my hand at three different types of spinning wheels, including a Schacht Matchless wheel and the Schacht-Reeves Saxony wheel shown below with FS.
{Hopefully I have correctly remembered the names of the spinning wheels.} I was so impressed with the quality of these wheels!

When we took a break from spinning, we went outside to meet the Alpaca and other animals. Here is FS with Margaret and Juerga:


I have been intrigued with dying wool (roving and spun wool), so
Margaret gave me a lesson using Jacquard dye. The roving on the right was color set in a microwave. When I got home, I spun the water out of the roving in my washing machine and hung them up to complete the drying.

The fun didn't stop there! We saw a baby Boers goat, along with sheep and other goats, plus the farm dogs and cat.
"Ewe" are right, FS! We had a great time!!

The next weekend FS and I went to a Renaissance Fair in Tulsa where we met a lot of people in medieval costumes. I did not have a chance to ask permission to post their pictures on the internet, so I will not be able to show any here. Each person was gracious to allow their picture taken with Flat Stanley so Trevor could add them to FS' photo album.

While we were at the Renaissance Fair, FS got to meet Jane of Angora Jane's Fibers. He was tickled to once again see his new friends, Margaret and Vince from Hummingbird Hill Farms.

For any spinners who might be reading this, I leave you with a "never die" joke I saw on the internet:

"Old spinners never die, they just whorl away."

{To get a closer look at any photo in this blog,
click on the image and a larger version will come up.}

Carpe knitting,
KZ

A Special Invitation for Saturday, June 10th
by Hummingbird Hill Farms and Angora Jane's Fibers

You are invited to a fiber-artsy market and play day. Do not worry if you do not know how to spin, just bring your love of fiber in any form. We are going to play games, share ideas and have a market day. For those of you who are familiar with Rock Day, this is going to be similar to that; however, the emphasis will be on having fun and The Playing of the Games. On June 10, 2006, we will be at Henry Zarrow Library from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The address is 2224 West 50th Street, in West Tulsa.

If you cannot attend all day, stay as long as you can. If you have anything that you would like to sell that is fiber related, there will be an area for Market Day. It can be fiber, yarn, roving, spinning wheels, drop spindles, spinning or weaving supplies, yarn, etc. You will also need to bring at least one item that you have purchased that you are not really sure why you bought it and do not know what to do with it. It does not have to be fiber related and you will NOT leave the library with it.

If just gets better from here. If you have something for show and tell, please bring it with you. Bring supplies (if you have them) for the activities, like fiber to spin, a spinning wheel, ball winders and a pair of scissors. If you do not have a wheel or drop spindle, we will be playing games that do not require a spinning wheel, and there will be several extras to share.

Please bring at least one item to offer as a prize, it does not have to be fiber related. In the past we have had jelly, soap, honey,...... The list just goes on and on...... If you would like to bring more than one prize ----- Oh Goody.

We will be playing dirty rabbit exchange. To participate in this game you will need to bring one wrapped present. Again, it does not have to be fiber related. (You will have to attend to find out what this is, but I promise that it does not need to be fed...)

Special thanks to Hummingbird Hill Farms and Angora Jane's Fibers for this invitation!