Wow, it has been quite a while since I last blogged. Well, in writing. I have written many blog posts in my head. They were all brilliant and poignant and fascinating.
I do have a reason for my silence. Life has been all about changes lately. I started working for my father two days a week. Has has a business in Oakland that makes furniture and houses out of trees from the urban forest. These are trees that need to come out for a construction project or have fallen and need to be removed. Instead of them being chipped into mulch, he makes gorgeous works of functional art. My job is administrative. I manage accounts, write proposals, create invoices, streamlining processes . . . You know, all the glamorous stuff.
What this job lacks in glamor it makes up for in satisfaction. It is such a joy to see so much of my father and it is immensely satisfying to be able to help him. I am trying to take the mundane tasks off his plate so he can be the fabulous creative leader he doesn't get enough time to be. I look forward to my work days.
On the Tactile side of life there are big changes too. I am now the sole owner of Tactile. It is exciting and a bit scary. There is safety in knowing you have someone else to rely on and help shoulder the load. I feel confident that I can do it and I am looking forward to the new challenges that await me.
Speaking of Tactile, Fiber Club is open for new (and returning) members. It is always a fun process to dye the club fiber. It is one of the things that keeps dyeing fresh and challenging for me. Often, I don't know exactly what I am going to do until I get in there and start playing.
In more Tactile news, I have a show right around the corner. SOAR aka Spin-Off Autumn Retreat. I am so thrilled to be vending there. SOAR is like spinning camp with all the people you like best in the spinning world. This year it is n Bend, Oregon.
I am getting there in a new (to me) ride. There is a camper in my husband's family that has been sitting in the back pasture at my father-in-law's house. It had been so long since I'd seen it, that I had completely forgotten about it.
Stylish isn't it? Looks aside, it is in amazingly good shape. All it needed was to have the goat dimple popped out of the hood (goats LOVE the high ground!) and a thorough cleaning. My husband Roger spent a whole day cleaning out and setting up the camper. Why? Because it was something he could do for me at a crazy busy moment in my life. Awwww! Love that man! He has been so supportive and helpful through all the recent changes. He is my rock.
We decided to take the camper on a test trip before I head out for SOAR. What could be more fun than camping in the redwoods with your favorite 7 (almost 8) year old? She had never been camping. Can you imagine that?
We headed north a couple of hours to Austin Creek SRA, outside of Guerneville, California and camped by Bull Frog Pond. It was just a quick overnight trip and we got in just before sunset. In the morning we awoke to a gorgeous foggy morning. Just the thing for a northern California girl! Love me some fog!
So beautiful and ethereal!
The campground was at the top of a hill and the micro-climate there was drier. The trees were live oaks, tanoaks, madrones, California bay - not so many redwoods. At the bottom of the hill, we found lots of redwoods.
Roger and Kerry speculating on how old this felled tree is.
Kerry posing in front of a tree that survived a fire. Have I mentioned that this child has a runway walk? Seriously! She needs to take a drama class; she is a natural!
The fire scar on this tree is almost gone. Redwoods are very good at withstanding forest fires. This fire appears to have been a long time ago based on how thick the new growth is around the scar.
Heading Home. We had a wonderful, if brief, visit to the redwoods.
Lovely post! Great new (to you) ride! Seems like most vendors need that for long distance shows. We're glad to see the business is still going to be running strong, alongside all the changes. Keep in touch, Jamie and Blas :)
Posted by: Jamie | October 16, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Can't wait to see you. (How exciting to have 2 Yarn-V's!)
Posted by: Anne | October 16, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Those are wonderful pictures of your campsite--they remind me of the feel and smell of the woods.
Posted by: Becca | October 16, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Great pictures! Sounds like you have a lot of exciting things going on. :-)
I missed you at OFFF. I won't be at SOAR, but I'll send a hug.
Posted by: Judy | October 16, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Great photos of your shake-down trip! Love that Roger for scouring the Goat-mobile! I am so excited that I get to be your SOAR helper-wench. Counting the days!
Posted by: velmalikevelvet | October 17, 2009 at 02:23 PM