Well, Hello Again

I've always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with technology.  On the one hand, it's a wonderful way to keep in touch, find things I'm looking for, and, in some ways, simplifies writing.  On the other hand, it is another thing I have to deal with and, for me, a bit of a time thief.  It's the discipline I lack.  I'm working on it. ;)

I also tend to be a bit of a procrastinating perfectionist, who lives what is, to my mind, a very happy, full, and ordinary, life.

So what does that have to do with anything?  Well, when the two get together I decide that nothing much is happening, so why write about it.  So I don't.  Then, of course, it's just easier to continue not to, even when there's bunches of things going on. 

And all that to say, yeah, it's been a while.  There has been a lot happening, I'll be updating as I can, and trying to stay a little more up-to-date.  I warn you, however, that this blog may be in serious danger of becoming a cooking blog in the process.  What can I say?  There's been a lot of cooking lately.  Maybe it's the weather.

Anyway.  Storms have damaged the local dog park, so I've been setting up playdates for Gypsy, and we've been taking some early morning walks.  The sunrises have been particularly beautiful.

Jay and I spent much of the summer focused on golf tournaments, where he did okay.  No, he didn't take home the top prize, but his game improved and he had an excellent time.  After the regular, local season came to a close, Jay opted to participate in the Oakley Challenge tournament in the big city, to extend the season, and the fun, for himself by another week.

It was very well run, the course was in excellent condition, Oakley and the course were giving out some participation prizes, and his teammates were all lovely people.  It was better ball format, and Jay had the best game of his life.  Despite not finishing it.

Jay was injured on the second to last hole.  He was scooping up his ball from the moving golf cart when he fell out, landing on his shoulder.  And breaking his collar bone.  Seriously.

Unbelievably, it looked even worse a week later.

The one on the right was the first one, the one on the left was after a week of "healing".  It's doing much better now, though he's going to have to wear the brace for another 5 weeks.  And stop falling out of golf carts.
      
There is a big change around here this year.  Jay decided he wanted to attend public school this year, for the first time in his life.  He had several reasons for wanting it, so after seven long hours spread over two days that were separated by a week (it was a nightmare, but at least we didn't fall out of any golf carts!), he's now a freshman at one of our local high schools.  Go Spartans!

One of the reasons he had for wanting this change was to join the golf team.  Yeah.  Considering the fact that he can't participate in ANY sports for the next 5 weeks, and that the golf season is only in the fall, well, that's not going to happen.  Poor kid.  Maybe next year.  If he stops falling out of golf carts.

Okay, okay.  I'll stop with the falling out of golf carts.

For now.       Tee hee!

Otherwise, he's enjoying the change and doing well so far.  It's only a week in, but still...

I, however, have been spending my time baking, cleaning, baking, crafting, baking, cooking, oh, and did I mention baking?  Good thing I enjoy it.

Homeschool Resource Freebies!

 There is a wonderful company called CurrClick that offers ebooks/curriculum for homeschooling.  They have featured products of the week, one of which is free.

Right now, in honor of Mother's Day, they have a TON of resources that they are offering for free.

Check them out and take advantage of the offers.  And if you're looking for something specifically, search for it and purchase it too.

Full disclosure:  I do not receiving anything nor am I affiliated with CurrClick in any way except as a customer who has found them to be a very valuable resource.

Field Trip!

On Friday, Jordan and I went to the AZ Game & Fish Outdoor Expo.  There were "educational presentations and interactive demonstrations" that were held throughout the day, including a fishing pond (real fishing), archery education, and classes on various types of native wildlife.  Unfortunately, by the time we got there, the archery classes were full - and that was the thing Jordan had most wanted to do.  We still managed to have a good time - and learn a thing or two.

The Phoenix Herpetological Society brought a rather large assortment of lizards, including some very large monitors, iguanas, and even an alligator.  Believe it or not, the large lizards (gator too!) were set out in a penned area for people to come and pet.  Admittedly, the alligator DID have its mouth taped closed, but she was the only one, and really all they did was lie in the sun.  And alligator skin is dry and tough, and feels (according to Jordan) "like it's got little rocks embedded in it." 

The Arizona Falconers Association were there, educating us about the sport of falconry, the different types of birds used, and the differences between them.  This was a very popular display because they had a Golden Eagle, a juvenile Peregrine Falcon, and (I believe) an immature Gyrfalcon.  The birds are amazing, and amazingly beautiful.  Unlike pet birds, these birds do not enjoy "petting" by their handlers because grooming by others is not something that would naturally occur.  They also provide information on how to get started in falconry, but are quick to point out that it is a long-term sport, taking (for example) at least 25 years to be able to handle a golden eagle.

At the AZ Game & Fish, Kingman District display, we learn about how bighorn sheep are tracked, got to handle and examine the collars they use, and learned about the reintroduction of native species.  Like the black-footed ferrets that were recently released in the Seligman area.

The Arizona Trappers Association had a selection of pelts from animals found in the state.  In addition to the expected coyote, rabbit, and mountain lion, there were 2 varieties of foxes (red and grey), wolf, bobcat, raccoon, badger, beaver, and more.  I hadn't been aware that there were any beaver or badgers here.  It was also interesting to learn that the beaver has a double coat, much like many of the animals whose fiber we spin, and it was the downy undercoat that was used to make hats.  The manufacture of those hats, according to the volunteer at the booth, is where we get the term "mad as a hatter" because the processing involved mercury to remove the guard hair, and being around the fumes all the time literally left the men mad. 

The fishing was catch and release with barbless hooks, the fish were very small, and by the time we made it there, the fish were all huddling together trying very hard NOT to be caught anymore.  They were successful.  Or rather, Jordan wasn't able to catch one, despite several good nibbles.  Fishing isn't his favorite, however, so he wasn't too disappointed.

Wildflowers, and the birds they attract were the topic of discussion at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audobon Center display.  This was another packed exhibit, as they had seeds available for the students to make their own wildflower seed packets.  I talked a very reluctant Jordan into putting one together for me, but due to his complete lack of interest, didn't stay long.

The Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center had a wide variety of animals with them, and volunteers who were knowledgeable about them.  Some of the animals we saw were an opossum, a skunk, a heron, several prairie dogs, a ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) - which is the state mammal, and several varieties of owls.  One thing we learned is that the majority of the owls that we have in our neighborhood are burrowing owls - very cute, and that we also have a few horned owls.

Our final stop for the day was the animal sounds display.  Jordan particularly enjoyed this one, and we found it very interesting that the sound a western screech owl makes is quite pleasant - a gentle repeating "who" that starts slower and speeds up at the end, while the barn owl has a truly hideous screech.  (The links will take you to a page where you can listen to them and decide for yourself.) We think they got the whole naming thing wrong.  The coyote call is one of the most recognizable wildlife sounds in Arizona, the Steller's Jay sounds a lot like its crow cousins, and the growl of a black bear (scroll down about 2/3 of the way to the Match That Bear Sound! heading) sounds a bit like a lion.

I had forgotten my camera, but figured I had it covered with the camera on my cell phone.  And I took a lot of pictures, loaded them onto my computer, and cannot get a single one of them to load.  (Sigh)  Yet another reason for me to love technology.  Anyway, the above links will take you to some excellent websites and photos.

And I'll be back soon with the regularly scheduled fiber-y goodness.

Back to Normal?

Things have been quite hectic around here lately. School started for my ds the day after Labor Day, so I was in a bit of a tizzy to get everything ready before then. I'll have to admit that I didn't quite get the classroom finished (I still have a couple of maps to hang), but enough to get the ball rolling. Last year Jay's least favorite subject was math (Algebra I, if you're interested). Well, so far this year, he has declared that his 2 favorite subjects are science (as always), and ... MATH! I couldn't be happier. We've also been blessed with the friendship of a math major, and he's willing to patiently answer all of Jay's questions and to discuss math with him for hours. Jay LOVES it. And our microscope is the favorite tool that we are using this year; it was well worth the investment, and I think every home should have at least one.

On the fiber front, I am spinning up some lovely maroon wool that I purchased at Tempe Yarn and Fiber. I'm not sure what type of wool it is, but it is fairly soft and spins quite easily. I'm aiming for a dk to worsted weight 3-ply, and so far that's what I'm getting.

I've finally finished knitting the Galveston Shawl, but haven't yet blocked it. It is large, lovely, and deserving of its own post, which it will get when I've blocked it.

A few of my friends have been busy having babies, so I've decided it's high time I got busy knitting something for them. I'm making the Cables and Textures Pullover from Leisure Arts #3325, Beautiful Baby out of Patons Beehive Baby in Baby Blue for the one that is almost 2-months-old. I'm making the 6 mo. size, figuring that he'll still be able to wear it when I'm done that way. I have a bit of a cushion for the rest of them since they aren't yet born, so when I've finished this one I'll cast on for the Cables and Checks pattern.

I'm also designing another pair of socks. I've not been able to settle on a name yet, but the texture reminds me of thermal underwear, so I've been calling them my Long Underwear Socks. We'll see if I can't come up with something better. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. :)

I've also finally cast on the Alpine Lace Scarf from Victorian Lace Today. I love the yarn (Alpaca with a Twist's Fino), and the pattern is beautiful, but I think I must be a little laced out right now because I haven't gotten much beyond the first edging pattern repeat AND I haven't even had any desire to knit it. (Sigh). Maybe it's the weather.

The Fall issue of Knitty has come out, and I find myself quite enamored with the Girl Friday cardigan. I feel certain that I will have to have this be the next project I start. I'm just trying to decide whether to make it with SWTC's Craft or Love from their Vickie Howell Collection. What do you think?

Reid Park Zoo

Another day, another field trip. This time we went to Reid Park Zoo. This small, yet lovely zoo is located in a park in downtown Tucson

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Jordan enjoyed the get wet area.

And I loved seeing the wild life.

I'd never seen an albino peacock before.



This is a zoo that is well worth seeing. It is very small in size, but contains wildlife from 3 continents: Asia, Africa, and South America. It also has an "Adaptation Zone" which contains, among other things, a beautiful polar bear. You can get through the entire thing in just a couple of hours, or you can go more slowly and make a day of it. The giraffe feeding area, wildlife shows, and even a little train make it a fun, interactive experience. It's definitely a place I would visit again.

Goldfield Ghost Town

On March 17 our home school group went on a field trip to Goldfield Ghost Town.
Goldfield was the largest and most productive gold mine in Arizona until they dug too deeply tapping an aquifer and flooding the mine. There is still gold mining going on there, but it is not nearly as productive as it once was.

We started our day with a ride around the town and mining area on a little train.

The trip takes a loop that goes past both the active and inactive mines and around the town which looks likes a Victorian mining town -- all wooden buildings with gingerbread trim, dirt roads, water storage towers, and boardwalks, with a church at the highest point at the end of town, just a couple of doors down from the bordello.

We then had the opportunity to do some gold panning.

Each pan was guaranteed to contain gold, iron pyrite (fools gold), and garnets. And the best part was that you got to keep what you found. Between the two of us, we managed a pretty respectable haul, mostly of garnets.

We wrapped up the day by taking a tour of a mine. Much of it was just replica (remember - the real mine flooded!), but it was fun and interesting just the same. Our tour guide was, of course
dressed in character, and shared the history of mining and some really bad jokes with us.

This was one of the funnest field trips we have ever been on, and if you ever get the chance to visit, it's worth the time. Be warned though, it IS a tourist trap, so come prepared!