Sunday, November 23, 2008

25 years and I still miss you badly



25 years ago you stood on your front porch and waved goodbye. Little did we realize it would be for the last time on this earth. I was 14 and my world shattered. I had never seen death lift his hand and take something or somebody I loved away. Shock, horror and dispair filled my life.
I grew older and named my son after you hoping he would be even partly the man you were to me. People could not spell or say his dutch name so they called him Jared or Jerry. Strong, dependable, always there to help me grow and learn, you were my mentor, my guidance and my friend. I know you would approve of my life and my choices. You always made your own way, first as a store keeper in Holland and later as a gardener here in Canada.
The day you died you asked me to look after your best girl -my grandmother. I told you I would till you could again. They were together holding hands when he died. He died a week short of their 55th wedding anniversary. I know the day she died you were there to take her hand and take her with you so you could be together in paradise. They showed me what partnership, love and marriage was about.
The day of his funeral this song came on the radio. It summed up so much to me. Today as we drove home from the cemetary it came on again. A message I know -that he is still here with me and we are never truly alone.

What happened here
As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain

And what's it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace

And I've been knocking but no one answers
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play

And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear
Who lived there
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name

Johnny can't you come out to play in your empty garden

Saturday, November 22, 2008

New toy -things to keep yourself busy



My mother in law is destashing and she decided to get rid of her 4 harness LeClerc Table loom -so until it sells -its mine to play with. now to remember how to harness up this darn thing. I really don't need another hobby -I have loads to keep me busy.
Our local guild has decided to knit up hats and scarves for the local charity -think a little girl will like this for Christmas? I'm hoping to make 5 sets before our pickup day in December. Wonder if I can do it?

Friday, November 21, 2008

A Crappy day to be a rabbit breeder


Today in a word sucked. Today I had to tell an eleven year old boy that his only Rhinelander doe carries a fatal genetic flaw that she will pass on to all of her offspring. This means she cannot be bred again and the two boys Jared had kept to breed also carry this genetic flaw. He took it better than I did really. He asked if he could keep the tiger striped one he has named "Little Java" as a pet. I said yes immediately. So Jared will have one non-showable rabbit right now. This is the second attempt at his Rhinelander breeding program -they are lovely rabbits but twice his does have been no good. So we're taking a break from this and regrouping.

I also was gifted with four rescue rabbits today -one poor fellow has part of his face chewed -he was put in a cage with two bred does as the person thought they would all "bond". The larger and more agressive doe maimed the smaller one and turned on him who fortunately burrowed a hole and stayed in there till the person could come back to rescue him. We've cleaned him up and are going to try to save him. The other three are going to be put down humanely -they are too far gone to save - chewed up and very very thin. These were some beautiful meat rabbits at one time. People really need to read more and learn more before they decide to raise animals.

I'm waiting to see how fast the kids make a pet out of "Sparky" -he's a really pretty argente d'brun which is a rare and unique offshoot of the champagne rabbits.
Or how fast this huge sucker aka me will........darn pet rabbits I'm suppose to be a cold heartless breeder right?
HUGS

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Making yarn


Been busy lately attending varous fibre and craft shows. It thrills me to no end when poeple purchase my handspun yarn :) We all like to hear compliments LOL.
Went to a show on Friday night and all day Saturday and sold three hats and two scarves -wheeeee!! Especially as I am not a fantastic knitter like some of the others that were there. Also sold quite a bit of felting fibres and supplies -thank goodness now the car insurance can be paid. Now to learn how to knit socks ........
Anybody want to show me how?
Well in the meantime I can keep busy spinning away of the gorgeous fibres sitting here. Just finished a batch of Maggies Farm fibres in stunning tawny golds and smokey blue greys. And an order for white angora for a customer. Its all drying outside in the sunshine. Its cold but sunny today.

Monday, November 10, 2008

I will remember.............



Today is rememberance day. It is a very special day for remembering all those who died to ensure freedom. For me my families history is very different than most here in Canada. My parents were both born in Holland - an occupied country during the wars. My dad remembers the Germans setting up a machine gun in their lviing room window to shoot down Allied paratroopers, he remembers an unexploded bomb in the kitchen floor he also remembers the Candian soliders arriving to their small village with flags and tanks and much cheering. They gave him a bar of chocolate -he didn't even know what it was.
My mom was born right after the war. My Pakke was involved in the resistance. My Beppe tells us near the end of the war they arrested him -she got the news they were putting him on the trains -a one way trip there. His brothers blew up the train tracks and rescued him. My grandmother's brother was killed for harbouring Jews and other undesirables. She told me of how the Germans broke down the door when they were having Sunday dinner together and dragged him out into the street. They shot him as his daughter toddled her first steps towards him. She wrote later in her diary of how she stood there screaming at the soliders to stop and at her brother to just lay down so they would stop shooting. He lay in the streets for three days as an example of what would happen to those who aided the resistance. I cannot imagine having the strength and courage to risk everything for the safety of others.
She too wrote of the excitement and gratitude of the Canadian soldiers arriving to liberate them. They always spoke of the Canadians with deep gratitude. Years later when they immigrated it was with so much pride that they too became Canadain citizens.
Daryl and I years later were able to go to Holland together -to stand on the street where my uncle paid the ultimate price for freedom, to see the bell tower plaque in the village listing all those in the resistance who paid for the price of freedom, to take part in the liberation day celebrations -to see the cemetaries where the brave young men who fought and died for freedom lay. To see and feel the gratitude, love and warmth that still exists in Holland for the Canadian soldiers. To walk down the streets and know what it was to be free.
I cannot imagine as a mother and a wife having to say goodbye to my loved ones, to watch each day for a telegram to arrive. For words than mean so little when you have given so much. We cannot say thank you too many times to all soilders -past and present.
We are free to do as we will, to live how we will and each day on this earth is a gift.
So to all who have or will wear a uniform -Thank you!
To all parents and spouses and children who watch and live their loved ones chosing this lifes calling -thank you!
We pray for peace, we hope for tolerance and above all we thank the great spirit above all for life.
We will not forget you.
Thank you.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Simple things are best


Funny how you do something so simple and yet so appealling. I made my first little silk bag from one cap just to see what would happen...well so far I've recieved requests for three custom bags, been asked for the pattern and am going to have them pictured in the next Silk Tidings newlsetter from Treenway LOL.
I'm NOT a technical knitter -I just can't follow anybody elses pattern it seems.
Here's a picture of two more of the silk purses.
Anybody wanting the pattern just ask -I'll happily share.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Happy Halloween



Here they are looking ready to go. Lindsay was a Kangaroo complete with joey - the costume was provided by her aunt Lorie who had a whole big trunk to pick from :) Warm and toasty not that she needed it. It was so warm here I sat out on the front porch to hand out candy and spun on the wheel while waiting for kids to arrive. Had about 50 which is way less than what I thought would come.
Jared my wodnerful creative kid decided he wanted to be "Perry the Playtupus" from a cartoon named Phineas and Ferb. Perry is a turqoiues playtpus who is a secret agent spy. Nothing like lets have a challenging costume :) Don't know where he gets his imagination from. But I think we did okay by it.
Now what to do with all the leftover Halloween chocolate......I mean what leftover halloween candy -there wean't any left really .........yum