Still away from home

Still staying in PG waiting for two sections of highways to open, highway 27 is still closed from Williams Lake to McLeese Lake and WL still empty because of the evacuation order there, highway 20 heading west from WL still closed and that is the only way home for me.

Working on second sock for Nolan, sock for Kristie and spinning some everyday. Didn't come close to getting the yarn spun I wanted for the T d F, for some strange reason evacuation plays head games. But I have felt safe and away from the fires and especially the smoke filled air. The fire known as the Hanceville-Alexis Creek is now the largest so far this fire season. It's a Mell of a Hess.

Evacuee

Left home Sunday morning, due to RCMP roadblocks in various places only made it Avola stayed two nights with Fay and Monty. Then Tuesday headed north for Prince George, staying with a spinner friend (met at OFFF) several years ago she & husband were there shopping. The town of PG has done a wonderful job assisting evacuees (over 9000), discounts on lots of stuff.

I brought my spinning wheels (both Louet S90's) so got the one set up and started spinning a dyed BFL. Felt good to be sorta back to almost normal stuff. Also brought knitting of course, several pair of socks on the go. BJ has several skeins of Wollmeise that I am interested in (if'n I can afford it). After seeing her stash there is no way I could ever run out of either spinning fibre or yarn.

Evacuation Alert

Williams Lake now under evacuation order.6pm.

Tatlayoko evac alert. So far.

Means to have stuff ready to move towards my car. More later.

I appreciate Hydro (power)

Power went out just after noon last Saturday, followed shortly thereafter by phone service (and of course no cell service out here). Approximately 78 hours, and I counted every single one. No power meant no water pump, being so very careful and only using it to wash my hands after, I did make it thru. No shower, dishes or laundry etc. Power poles (and I am assuming telephone poles) burnt in one of the bad fires east of me. Fires on Highway 20 in both directions west at Kleena Kleene and several east including a biggie around Williams Lake, they are on evacuation alert now for two or more days. Road in and out of town have been closed. Power came back up yesterday (Tuesday) around 5:30 pm, relief. I certainly appreciated my shower last night, even washed my hair twice. The smoke in the valley was a bit difficult to get around, kept all windows shut but could still smell it. And wonder of wonders thunderman and lightfoot expected to visit the area later today, hopefully lightening won't start to many new fires.

Because I can keep busy with things that don't require power, spinning, knitting and reading, finished 2 books in the almost 4 days, got started spinning the next go round for the T d F, a BFL-Silk mix, and am at the heel on second sock for Kristie H. The first T d F bobbins of merino-nylon, second pix the BFL-Silk mix (first 4 oz nearly finished).

Along with the almost camo that I just finished have 10 other bobbins in the plying queue, all with a theme here, all in various shade of greens.

I need to get into town as soon as it is safe to do so, out of milk, bread, all produce, oj, and much more. Will wait until fires around WL are under control, hopefully that won't take until the snow flies.

T d F

Company arrived just as I thought I might finish the first bobbin, not to be. Instead waited until yesterday to do so. They came so boys (now 15 and almost 18) could fish in the river, they both had license and river is legal for rainbows on July 1, both with worms as bait caught their limit, even Mom and Dad had their limit, fish cleaned and packed in ice to take home. They did bring lunch, fresh sub buns, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and 5 kinds of deli meats. Most was all eaten before they left, had enuff rosemary ham for breakfast, scrambled with eggs. Oldest young man was a straight A student and will be off to MacGill for Univ next month.

So the finished T d F, using a merino-nylon blend from Kinfolk Fibre from Vancouver, I call it camouflage. Once the second bobbin is finished the singles will go into plying queue. Day 1 on the left. Have another 4 oz of the same fibre and will start on it today.

Happy Birthday Canada

Day 1 of the TdF, have nearly half a bobbin of a variegated light green merino-nylon, if'n it doesn't get to hot should come pretty close to finishing bobbin today (about 6-8 oz). And ta da have 8 empty bobbins 4 of the regular and 4 for my Woolee Winder, enuff I hope to see me thru.

The big washout is repaired, road reopened noon yesterday, I wouldn't want to guess how many dump loads of fill it took to fill the hole. I'd bet half the valley headed to town as soon as it was open, after all its been two weeks since some people couldn't get to the grocery or liquor store.

I did finish plying the two bobbins of a variegated red-pink, been sitting on the bobbins so long I forget what the blend is, Have 2 more of the same batch done and in the plying queue. The beast is back in action.

More Macaroni Salad

Last batch I made just over two weeks ago was for lunch when Len and Denise and her parents were out to install new door in back room. Salad was so enjoyed (some had 3's) that I only had enuff for supper the next day. So this morning I made another batch, 4 hard boiled eggs, 4 cups small pieces celery, 1 1/2 c small pieces sharp cheddar cheese, made the dressing first 1 1/2 c yogurt 1/2 c mayo, a pkg Uncle Dan's dressing, let it sit in fridge while everything else was being worked on. Looking forward to having some for supper on this (supposed to be the hottest day so far this year). 28°C (82°F) salad all done before it got so hot. Most of June was called Juneuary because it was often miserable.

Repairs to the big washout on Sheep Creek Hill going slower than they thought because of water still running down the cut. 150 meters across (500 feet).

The Beast is back

With the TdF coming up quickly I decided I had better empty 2 more bobbins. So cobbled up a belt for the old electric plying wheel (the beast). Very carefully using a candle joined in two places one of the belts I had gotten from Susan's Fibers (they lasted less than 15 minutes) did the joining 3 days ago. So today thought I'd give it a shot, so far so good. As much as I dislike plying felt pretty good to be back at it.

But before I could start plying had to skein off the yarn from the big bobbin, ended up with a bit over 600 yards of the light gray and approx. 450 of the variegated stuff. Added kid mohair randomly to the green and hoped for fuzzies to show up and they did. For now will just be added to my handspun stash, by and by something will show up to be knit from same.

And (drum roll please) finished the first sock for Kristie, sometimes my hands were almost to sore to carry the second colour in my left hand (its the arthritic one). Am verra glad she went with a solid colour foot. Did do a bit of a patterned part down close to toe decreases. Second sock about to the end of the top ribbing.

Yesterday and again this morning Tatlako was the coldest spot in BC between 6 and 7:30 am, -2.7° and -3° this morning. But starting tomorrow it is supposed to be hot 30° to 32° will be the warmest days so far this year.

Major Washout

About 25 km west of Williams Lake, wonder where all the water came from. Glad I hadn't planned on going to town anytime soon. Think it will take a large amount of fill to fix this mess. According to Dept. of Highways its just over 500 feet wide. Click on pix to make it larger.

Finished a pair of socks just needing the afterthought heels added, started working on them the end of November last year, prolly have been sitting since around Christmas just needing the heels. Really no excuse for not doing it sooner. Also nearly down to toe decreases on Kristie's first sock.

I sorta bet my stash that sooner or later would have grizzlies in my yard, last night just before 10 pm saw movement over to the east of my fence, sure enuff Mom and 2 of last years cubs ambled along the fence heading for the swampy areas (aka stump patch). Any pix taking would have just shown darker shapes up again dark bushes.

Got my bed changed yesterday, every Sunday rip sh** or bust. Still using flannel sheets and big winter down comforter. Think so far there has been one night that I used a lightweight fleece blanket. And official summer starts tomorrow night. So far Tatlako has been the coldest spot in BC 3 mornings in June. The price we pay for the mountain view.






Most of my leftover stash from other socks etc.

Another Black Bear

Black bear #3 so far this season. Everyone in valley reporting more than usual amount of the critters.

Woke up this morning to cows bellowing for their calves, prolly 30 head + calves in my yard and neighbor that they belong to isn't in any hurry to remove them. Not much I can do to get them out. Cows on green grass leave behind big deposits

Len and Denise are coming out tomorrow to install the two new doors on the back room of my house, will be nice to be able to leave big door open on upcoming hot days. Can't do that now with no screen door, house would soon be full of skeeters and other flying critters. Will make a big bowl of macaroni salad for lunch and Denise is bringing two rotisserie chickens.

This morning at 6am Tatlako was again the coldest spot in BC +1 C. guess weather doesn't care that it is June.

PS One rider and one dog got all the cows out of here in about 10 minutes, altho rider is still looking for stubborn cow & calf up in spruce swamp. Hopefully rider will take them all home.