Oh me, oh my, how the time does fly

I have been remiss in writing these past many months.
James and I are having what has been a relatively quiet year and loving it.
We are not doing the Farmers Market this year. I have retired from baking and am exploring other more arty ideas. Lately I have been crocheting many, many beautiful scarves. I don't know if I can sell them for anything near the time and money in them or if they are just an exercise in joy.
Our house has reached grid-lock and I have good intentions which may go further when this awful heat makes way to our favorite season: fall.
James has grown a lovely veggie garden this year despite the very long, cold, wet spring, followed by suddenly summer and heat and the worst year for mosquitoes we remember.
We had the wettest June on record and lots of standing water, and higher water than  in many years has meant a massive hatch of mosquitoes and some of the bats and swallows who would normally predate them "vanished" - even starved - in the cold, pre-insect weather.
The photo above is of a window from the house I was raised in, which is not long for this world, but it may come back in a better form. We shall see.
We have wonderful renters at last! and Les has helped James put in a 6 foot fence around the garden. 
Sorry Bambi: we love watching you and your little spotted twins, but we are tired of sharing.
The other day I looked out the living room window and a little yearling bear was going by. What a cutie, but I really don't want him that close!
James will be painting on the deck at Baillee Grohman Winery with several fellow artists next Sat.
On Sunday, Sept 2 we will be taking part in the Rutebaga Show and Sale at the Wynndel Hall. I will be in the Wynndel Arts Centre behind the hall, and I think James will be helping man the garage sale, proceeds going to the Wynndel Hall.
James has a show at Kingfisher Used Books for Nov and Dec and will be part of the Images Show Nov 23 and 24 at the Rotocrest Hall in Creston - it is all in Creston, BC. We are a happening place!
I will be doing the Christmas Craft Sale at Creston's Rec Centre on Nov 24 just so we can rush around a little more.

We still live in hopes of spring

  

We found this little Pine Siskin lying on its back on the sidewalk by my car. We think he hit a window. I picked him up and held him gently, warming him and keeping him safe until his eyes quit rolling back in his head and he was able to stand on his own little feet and fly away. It took about 1/2 hour for him to recover.

 Pine Siskins live in large flocks this time of year. We did not take him with us and release him elsewhere because we wanted him to be able to rejoin his buddies.

We've had more snow in the past month and a half than we had all winter but the sun is higher in the sky and spring is coming. These days there is the sound of bird song.

Two days ago we had a freak 6 inch snowfall over night but by that evening it was nearly all gone.
James and I will be exhibiting at the Rotary club's Wine Art wine tasting and art sale at the Rec Centre on the evening of March 30.

I have finished 3 weekends of classes in ceramic jewelry by Bea van Allmen offered at the Wynndel Arts Centre. It has been not only interesting learning more about another skill but has been enjoyable working with a nice group of ladies.
I now have to put my new knowledge into practice.

James has been cradling art for the show.
He has finished his second octave mandolin.

Ain't it funny how time slips (or gallops) away.

We've had a very open winter. James was up on the hill with a friend who was painting on a -4 C day - Brrrr.

We seem to stay amazingly busy. In early Dec James and a couple other guys performed music as Tiizak Hamra, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irxpKWj5dRM , or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkjaM2g2Zc&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkjaM2g2Zc&feature=related in the play Aladdin. James played his octave mandolin and the music had a North African feel.

This weekend they will be playing at a wake for a relative of a band member.

On Feb 18 they will perform at Artists and Dragons at Rotocrest Hall.

Artists and Dragons is a fundraiser for the Arts Council and for ArtWalk. A number of artists will be demonstrating their handiwork and donating work which will be raffled during the evening, In keeping with the Artists and Dragons theme I am crocheting a "dragon skin" scarf. 

Very happily I have been able to step down from coordinating ArtWalk. We have found in Andrea Revoy a wonderful person to take over the reigns and we look forward to new and exciting things from ArtWalk.

On Feb 28 Tiizak Hamra will perform at a fundraiser for the local zendo to help in purchase of yoga mats and equipment.

These are two of the three evening visitors we had on Feb 7. To the left the reflection of lights in the window were what my Grandad called "rabbit lights." I couldn't open the door or our visitors would have left.

This was taken yesterday. Bandy was meditating or possibly visualizing mice. Skeeter was being her own little cautious self. I think of her as "the kitten" but she is actually turning 7 this year, has been with us 6 years, and will probably always be timid.