All this weather info to let you know that Jery & I are probably a bit ‘bonkers’. We are heading to our Yaak Cabin pre-dawn tomorrow. It’s 1000 ft higher there and they do have snow on the ground. In the summer it’s only 45 miles from door to door. Not now, though. There’s an un-maintained pass on the forest service road which is our summer quick route. So, tomorrow we’ll drive 150 miles to reach the cabin . . . . with 2 vehicles. Jer will have the batteries (we’re off grid there and the batteries have been home in a warm place for the winter) and all the stuff that can get wet in transit . . . including the new cat house, special for Hank. 2 coolers of cold food. Snow shovel . . . . . and pup Toby.

In my wagon I’ll have Hank (he travels SO well – just open the door on the carrier and he walks right in), our clothes and this pile of stuff, all collected and ready to go . . .

It’s SPRING!

We had TWO quilting retreats, and tested the process. All went quite well, so we’re ready for the ‘real’ retreats I’m hosting. I’m enjoying a winter of studying recipes to find the most delicious meals to serve our guests. Getting a good supply of those! (and learning which to NOT make again, too).

We came home – and home will remain in Eureka – in mid November, about the time the snow was beginning.  The pass which is the short route from the Yaak to Eureka was already closed, and our final trips were the 3-1/2 hour long way around.

Other BIG NEWS of the summer is a fabric collection proposal I made to Benartex, and they accepted.  The collection was completed by the end of November, and the designs are off for engraving.  It will be released at Market in May.  I’m not at liberty to discuss the specific details quite yet, though I can tell you that it is ‘pretty’ and the colors are clear, of course.

December has been mostly computer time – designing patterns to use with the new fabrics, as well as a new BOM, which I think is really gorgeous!  In due time, I’ll be able to share it all with you.

I’m working on another fabric proposal.  It really takes a long time.  The one from this past summer was mostly done in the Yaak – on the laptop, on batteries.  Batteries would run down, and I’d cover it with a towel to keep the sawdust out and plug it into the generator Jery was running to power his tools – to recharge.  Crazy, though it did provide me with ‘thinking’ time.  The Yaak cabin is ‘off the grid’ though now has it’s own power supply – that wasn’t there when I had the collection to design.  This new proposal is working easier because I’m home with my 2-screen setup, plenty of power, and time to draw, re-draw, and then draw it again and again with a mouse instead of a touch pad.  LOL.  Even with all those comforts, it stretches my imagination and some days causes wandering and muttering.

So – here it is, the last day of 2011.  I have a snazzy Poached Pear dessert to prepare and friends coming to help us enjoy it and a glass of wine this eve.

Happy New Year!

Second – This post gave me an opportunity to show you the cabin interior with all the elec and plumbing roughed in.  And — the opportunity to share a Hank (kitten) story.  We started taking Hank with us two trips ago.  I bought a small harness and we rigged it so he had about 20 feet in which to get properly tangled before we had to come to his rescue.  Actually, each entanglement showed us how far we needed to move the 5 gal water jug he was tethered to – to avoid future tangles!  That’s all because cats don’t generally move easily — they need to be confined long enough to realize it’s a new home, etc.  Each night we put Hank, his litter box, food and water in the back of the enclosed pickup, so he’d be safe.  Well . . . last week Jery decided that the poor baby was a bit too confined, and suggested that we lock him in the cabin overnight, with all his gear.  Sounded good to me.  I figured he’d appreciate 1000 sq ft vs. the back of the pick-up.  Tuesday night we tried that.  Wed morning – early – like 5-ish- Jer stepped out of our camp trailer, and then came back in saying ‘cat’s out’.  Hank had somehow managed to get up in the rafters, then out over the top because the soffit isn’t there yet, and then dropped the 9′ to the ground.  Therefore, Hank is now ‘out’ for the night – each night.  He’s apparently being 100% cat, prowling most of the night, because his daytime naps are MUCH longer.  He’s taken charge of his destiny!

Our days (and nights) are mostly at the Yaak — working on the cabin. We’re ‘roughed in’ with plumbing and electric, and about to insulate before dry wall (only a week away!)

Sadly, I’m getting way too much spam at this blog . . . . please use our web page and follow the links to the cabin to see what’s up here.  I think I’ll need to end the blog because of spam.   sigh.

Wouldn’t you know – I’m off to Quilt Market and will totally miss some of this fun.  You can see progress at  yaakcabin.com  (dig photos may have to wait until after quilt market)

Mother’s sale was successful.  We have the house empty and cleaned.  Will polish the wood floors and cabinets tomorrow morning before taking the Moms to Mother’s Day brunch.  After interviewing a handful of potential renters we decided to list it instead.  It’s really very nice and has numerous improvements & upgrades.  I hope it sees some activity, and a buyer!

REALLY anxious for all the snow and moisture to disappear so we can begin. It’s looking like June — there’s been SO MUCH moisture this winter.

Other news – my Mother is moving into her One bedroom apt (out of the Studio) on the 14th. She is SO excited . . . . That also means we’ll have the rest of her stuff moved, unpacked, etc. late next week. All those fancy. pretty dishes!

Weather permitting, we’ll have her ’sale’ the following weekend.

I head back to Bull River tomorrow for a sewing weekend with Barb. Remember? This is the place with the incredible food! My tummy says ‘YEA’