And The Reward

August 21, 2013August 21, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

I’m the type of person that needs some sort of motivator when I have to do work that I don’t find particularly enjoyable. I reward myself with things I enjoy doing, like weaving or hooking or knitting. If I vacuum the entire downstairs I let myself enjoy a couple of hours of guilt free crafting. Honestly, if I didn’t do that nothing would get done.

We have been taking long weekends for the month of August. We didn’t really have a vacation this year and found a true need to get away from the shop even if it is for only an extra day a week. In doing so we have tried to designate Mondays as a day to do something we enjoy and is relaxing. With everyone helping us split wood on Sunday we promised a trip to the lake (we would probably have gone rain or shine).

We took one of the islands for our beach for the day and brought Chester and Malcolm. It was overcast but warm and humid, not enough to go swimming but very comfortable sitting on the beach.

When Bill wasn’t on the boat this is what he was doing. Chester’s new favorite game – swimming to fetch. He’s a little obsessed.

It works out well for us in the long run – he does nothing but sleep for two days after a weekend event like this. It’s a win for everyone.

Family Affair

August 20, 2013August 20, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 6 Comments

The wood still needs to be cut and split and we had some help on Sunday. Daughter Amanda, her boyfriend Yusuf and sister Sue all were all there. I can’t tell you how much you can get done with helping hands. The saying “many hands make light work” really rang true.

Each person had their own job, depending upon their skill level with pieces of equipment. Well, everyone can use the splitter but not everyone can wield a chainsaw (that’s the piece of equipment I stay away from).

Chester just likes to be in the thick of things. He’s not afraid of the noise of the equipment or tractor (although he stays away from the chainsaw as well). The splitter is a real godsend to people our age or anyone for that matter. The pieces of wood that were dispatched were large, some 25 to 30 inches across. If they weren’t full of knots they were spit with ease.

The wood we split Sunday was ash and cherry. I love splitting ash, it’s beautiful and splits easily. Cherry on the other hand . . .

By the time we were done we had a wall of wood over 25 feet long and 5 feet high. All in all a great days work.

Of course this was happening all day with anyone that was near him. Chester had a good day too.

Heath Fair

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 6 Comments

The Fair started for me Thursday evening when I dropped off my blanket and rug at the exhibition hall. There were helpers everywhere and you could feel the excitement building. They have this fair down to a science. I was given labels that were already printed with my name and category, I attached the labels to the corner of my goods with the name hidden and handed them off to one of the many workers with the checkered aprons walking around the hall. Then the waiting began.

For me part of the anticipation is not knowing what your competition is. How many people weave and put their work in a small country fair? I know many people hook rugs but are there any around here that do? Are they willing to haul them to a fair for a ribbon and maximum premium of $3.00?

Sister Sue and I made our way over about 10 AM Saturday. The fairgrounds were bustling with activity. We toured the sheep barn and the poultry/rabbit building.

We ran into our friend Russell who told me he only won second place on the rocking horse he had made for his grandson. (The only category it fit into was Craft Other – I’m glad I wasn’t judging that one). After catching up with them for a bit we went to the Exhibition Hall to see how I did. It took me a minute to figure out where the textiles were. I was also amazed at how many people brought things to the fair.

Blue Ribbon for my rug but the only other competition on this was a really beautiful woven rag rug. Again, another difficult judging situation.

Then a blue ribbon for the blanket – woohoo! There was a lot of weaving in the fair this year which actually surprised me. Who knew I was surrounded by weavers and didn’t know it? There’s another reason to compete at the fair – you get to know the competition and they are just like you.

Once we left the exhibition hall we made our way down the food lane and picked up some fried dough with Maple Cream from Hager’s Farm for breakfast (it’s sort of like a pancake right?). With food in hand we watched the herding exhibition – with ducks.

Then it was on to the main reason I was at the fair so early – Horse Draw. I always plan my fair visits around this event. The animals are stunningly beautiful and you can watch them doing what they are trained to do.

You also get to see the teamsters in action.

These horses are very similar to dogs (except in size). They are bred to pull, they have a job. It’s the trainers job to teach them how to do it. There are a lot of differences in how these horse’s people work with them and that’s the difference in how well they pull. Early on in the draw you have a sense of who will win just by how they are handled by their drivers.

The competition was light in the 3,000 pound category. There were 5 teams competing, 3 of the teams were from the same farm. There were 2 other fairs this weekend with horse draw competitions.

Honestly, one of the best parts of this event is sitting in the stand with all of the other interested parties. This is redneck farmers at its best. Horse people are an interesting lot (and sometimes a little scary to look at). They joked about small wagers on a particular team. Arguments ensued over who knows what and people were generous in their knowledge of the sport. One explained in detail how the draw was measured and how the timing of each pull was handled.

Then there were also teamsters helping out teamsters if someone was short for a particular pull (competitors, helping competitors). It’s all about the horses you see (at least to them). They apparently don’t know that we’ve figured out that it’s their work, their temperament that is really what makes their team perform at their best.

When the pull was over we went home. I returned later with the family – they wanted fair food for supper. We watched a little of the truck pull before calling it a day. The crowd was enormous – a sea of camouflage and dirty ball caps. For a people watcher this was gold.

For me the fair concluded last evening when I picked up my entries and winnings. I’ve concluded that the only way to see the fair is to compete in it. You have skin in the game and every one around you knows it. Now to start working on next years entries.

Sandwiched and Still Sane (Sort of)

August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 4 Comments

I’m currently part of what is referred to as the “Sandwich Generation”. My father is in assisted living and I have one of my daughters unemployed living at home, a boomerang.

People think assisted living is pretty awesome, and it is for the most part. I wasn’t truly aware of how much “assisting” I would have to do, but in the grand scheme of things it’s not that challenging. The expense is exorbitant and increases exponentially a couple of times a year. That is not something I was expecting although it’s what is happening with healthcare and I suppose this could be very loosely considered healthcare. There’s a nurse on duty every day but for the most part people enter assisted living because they can no longer live alone.

I really am starting to think the “Squeeze” generation is a more appropriate term. Every 6 months the expenses go up another 10 to 20% and we are long past what my father’s income is. Being self employed gives you the luxury (or fear) of knowing just where you stand financially. It also allows you to see into the future a little ways. I don’t have to worry about job security but I’m also well aware that my income will probably stay where it is for the foreseeable future.

In the back of our minds (and coming to the forefront) is the idea that Dad may have to live with me in the near future. It’ll be more like me living with him because he will have to live in Rowe. The logistics of this are challenging in part due to the isolation of this little town. This is a difficult situation with someone who is limited in their mobility, it’s not like he willingly goes for rides or even leaves his house. Everyone needs some sort of human interaction and there just isn’t a lot available. I’m working on a solution, but the anxiety sometimes gets the best of me.

This is when I weave, knit, hook, something. This is what keeps me sane in an insane world, my world. As long as my hands are busy I can think about ways to make it all work. Or I can just lose myself in the rhythm of weaving or knitting or hooking – and feel the fiber running through my fingers. There is nothing that calms my spirit more.

Faded Glory

August 6, 2013August 6, 2013 / handmadebyjo / Leave a comment

The attic at Fort Pelham Farm is a repository of family history. I hesitate to say treasures because those are truly in the eyes of the beholder. There are layers of items by generation. Nothing makes sense other than in one corner it’s the Monroe stuff, another corner belongs to the Alix side, you get the picture. The attic space is expansive so there is quite the trove. I sometimes feel like I’m on an archeological dig when I’m up there but I always seem to find something of interest. Many times I don’t know how interesting it is until much, much later.

The faded photograph at the top of this post is an example of just that. The scan actually gave me more to see than is actually on the original – I love modern technology. I played with it (a lot) in photoshop and ended up with this image. It’s amazing what you can do with a little patience (and no fear).

Now this photograph came from the Martin/Monroe corner of the attic so I had an idea of who some of the players might be in the photograph. Much to my surprise it turns out that the four Martin brothers are in it (this is my mother’s father’s line). They are on the far right in the first and second rows. I have many other photographs of them and was able to identify them by comparison. I love this photograph – the roll of the canvas background that is by their feet, the funky “grass” or fur that is under them. I love the fact that they are the ones with the dogs. I love how it shows how important the YMCA was to the family as well as team sports. The shin guards and padded clothing speaks to the roughness of the sport yet shows nothing of the caution that we see today. The team manager (I can only assume) is decked out in his finest to have his portrait taken with his team.

This photograph was taken around 1905. Their adult lives just beginning.

I haven’t looked at this photograph in a few years. In doing so now I think I might have to go back up to the attic and see what else I can unearth.

A Reunion of Sorts

July 25, 2013July 25, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 2 Comments

I’ve just come from a reunion of sorts, of living and dead. Rowe’s oldest resident passed away earlier in the week and I went to her simple service to pay my respects and offer what comfort I could to those she’d left behind.

Her gravesite is at the far rear corner of the cemetery and I walked past the graves of people who have been a part of my life in one way or another. Headstone by headstone I read the names. By the time I reached the service site I was thinking, “Wow, I know everyone here”.

The weather was beautiful, the service poignant. She will be missed, not only by her family but by the townspeople, we all had our stories.

These are the occasions where I really feel my age – I don’t feel older but figure I must be because everyone around me has aged considerably. I visited with someone who was once my neighbor, we figured it’s been over 35 years since we had talked to one another. During our conversation we talked about growing up in a small town and how we carry all these people around with us for a lifetime. They are stopped in time until we meet face to face only to have to come to terms with our own aging and mortality. Kids are grown and have gone to begin their own lives and families – in our minds they are forever 6 years old.

The other amazing thing is the ease with which we converse with those we have not seen in years, like it’s only been a few months, at most a couple of years. We talked about the foundation we were given in childhood that has allowed us to have respect for ourselves and for others. How we grew up knowing that we could always count on our neighbors for a helping hand in an emergency. We grew up with community.

Jim was there with his grandson – he had dug her grave. I think Jim has buried everyone I know that has passed away in Rowe. He is a kind, hard working, respectful man. Seeing his grandson with him gave me comfort in knowing that he is grooming another generation in the way he has always done business. It will not be lost.

Spending time after the service at her house reminiscing with her family I realized how we all pass on our little gifts. We ate food from her recipes, talked of dogs long gone and settled into the hospitality that her daughters and grandchildren had inherited from her. They are probably unaware at how much they are their mother, I don’t think we ever see that in ourselves. It’s good for those of us saying goodbye to one generation to see them in their children.

Maintaining Control

July 12, 2013July 12, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

“Optimism sprouts from the knowledge that you are in control of your own life, not your past and not those around you. Part of being in control is taking responsibility for how you feel. This means not just admitting to uncomfortable feelings but then examining your circumstances to see what can be done to change these feelings at the source.”
― Augusten Burroughs, This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike.

I’m not sure if it’s the weather, the water or the fact that far too many people spend so much of their time with social media rather than actually being social but I’ve recently encountered (and sometimes been surrounded by) people that have no idea the effect they have on those around them. These are people I know well and people I don’t know at all.

For a long while I thought this was just a generation thing – you know all those kids that have been brought up with the internet and less face to face socialization. I’ve realized that it’s just the way people are now. They don’t seem to have a filter any more. They open their mouths and say things they think are amusing or just sarcastic and fail to understand that when heard they can cut to the quick. I thought for a while that it might be an age thing – I know when I hit a certain age I was more likely to throw caution to the wind and say how I felt because it was important to me. I’ve since learned that I need to assess a situation more carefully before opening my mouth, or at least temper what I was going to say.

I’ve also found that I have less of a need to put myself in a situation where I’m surround by people with negative energy. I have enough of my own. If I am around people that are negative, complaining, gossipy I become one of them and continue to be after they are no longer there. I’ve chosen not to do that anymore.

Last week was an amazing week for me (other than the weather). I was surrounded by the people I love most in the world for days. Food, family and fun, that’s what it was. It was our vacation for this summer, it was a staycation in Rowe. In surrounding myself with these people I realized that I was renewed, relaxed and re-energized. We all have those “friends” or family members that suck the life out of a room – you know what I’m talking about – or the ones that bring drama into every situation. I’ve made a conscious decision to move away from those people, I’ve had to do it for my own sanity. Life is hard enough without someone bringing you down to wallow in their misery.

This blog has helped tremendously in my outlook on things. I try to write about things that are uplifting or at least sane. I’m trying to keep my sanity here. I think negative thinking and spreading it around robs you of what is so good in the world – to laugh, love, eat, drink, and sharing your gifts with those around you. We all need to look for the good we have to offer and then offer it. It changes your life, it changes your outlook and with any luck it can help change those around you.

Croquet in a Different Era

July 5, 2013July 5, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

As we were playing our game of extreme croquet yesterday my sister and I were remembering playing the game as children – on the north lawn. I recalled having these photographs of the Wrights playing croquet in the late 1800’s on that same lawn. They brought their kitchen chairs outdoors to sit on.

In looking at the dress of the day I am just hoping that it wasn’t 95 degrees in the shade.

Extreme Croquet

July 5, 2013July 5, 2013 / handmadebyjo / 1 Comment

The Fourth dawned hot and humid, with very little breeze. I wasn’t complaining since it has rained for weeks now – any sun was good.

People began gathering around 2:00. It was to be one of those days where family members from far and wide come together to enjoy each other’s company. After sitting in various chairs for a while we decided we needed an activity. Extreme croquet was the game of choice with two sets of balls and mallets (and the rules be damned).

Everyone was in on the game – photographer, observer, player. The youngest was concentrating the hardest.

Two teams made their way around the course each starting at their own end pin. The only place they would meet was the center wicket.

Fully half of the players were learning what scant rules we had as they played. Some just ecstatic at getting their ball through a wicket (in the right direction).

The course was large with a few obstacles making it challenging for everyone. People’s balls were sent far from their impending wicket by their competitors. When you hit an opponents ball you have the choice of taking another turn or hitting the opponent’s ball as far as you can in a different direction. It seems this ruthless crowd took great joy in causing their opponents suffering. Mind you this is not a team sport is was every man for himself.

The competition was steep but the game concluded with unexpected winners.

Croquet is a game I have played since childhood. It seems like such a civilized game at first glance. We’ve never played by the rules, yesterday we seriously twisted the way it’s normally played to allow as many people to play while moving the game along in a timely fashion. You learn a lot about the people around you when they play a game. Some are fiercely competitive, some are not the best sports, one with injuries unrelated to the game showed brilliance in form, some have dogged determination.

When the game was over the plays were rehashed by everyone gathered with their Rhuby Rockets. It really is the perfect game in my mind, especially on a hot July day.

A Most Beautiful Vineyard

June 22, 2013 / handmadebyjo / Leave a comment

One of my favorite views up the road from the Shippee home. This is looking north towards the bluff where Keuka lake forks. The grapes are in neat, wired rows. I’m always amazed at how much work goes into growing and harvesting acres of fruit. Makes you appreciate that glass just a little bit more and once again know that what you’re drinking is local.

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