Sunday, April 29, 2012

The Adventures of Wessington Bear



 Wessie was born in a small village in England. He was a product of love from several surrogate mothers: Corarle, Francis, Helen and Margaret. He can’t remember much about his early life. Just the sound of laughter, and the soft touch of ladies hands as he was lovingly brought to life.
His first adventure started in a brown bag with very strange words on it “Canada” and even stranger “Ladysmith”. “Where on earth was Ladysmith?” the small bear wondered.
 His journey was a bit worrying,
 First The big brown bag with no window so he couldn’t see out. Then a he was thrown on a truck with letters and parcels being sent all over the world. Some of the parcels smelt very funny.” I hope I don’t smell funny”, thought Wessie.
Next he was loaded on a big airplane. He had never been on an airplane before, in fact he had never been anywhere before. The sound was terrific as the jet engines roar to life. “I will be very frightened.”  Said the small bear out load, although there was no one to hear him.
Then all at once they were flying. This was a very odd sensation, and soon the small bear started to enjoy himself.
 He remembers scraps of conversations he had heard in the dog’s room at Wessington. The voices had talked of far off lands and people and strange food and customs.
Well thought Wessie “This really is an adventure. My other bear friends can’t be having half as much fun as me”.
As the hours passed, the bear fell asleep. He was just a small bear after all.
He slept right through the landing and the customs inspector, who stamped the brown bag with a stamp marked “Passed” right on his rump. He slept through the ferry ride to a far off Island and also through the postal clearing center in Nanaimo.
He felt himself lifted and put in a metal box and heard the door snap shut. “Is this Ladysmith?” he wondered.” If this is Ladysmith, I don’t think I like it.”
 He was very alert now. He heard footsteps approach the metal box and leave again. Several times he heard different steps. Then he heard steps that stopped right outside his compartment in the metal box.
He was lifted out and his brown bag was ripped open. At first it was hard to see because his eyes weren’t accustomed to the light. The a face started to take shape. It was an ordinary face but there was something special about it too. First it looked a bit like one of his surrogate mothers, and secondly it looked at him with love. All at once, Wessie felt a flood of peace and well-being. “I am going to like it here “, he thought.
The lady, later he found her name was Patty-anne, but he preferred to call her Mom, carried him home in her arms.
 On the way she looked at each and every part of him and marveled at the beautiful way he was made. She exclaimed so much about his color, design and workmanship, that he became quite proud of himself.
At first he was placed on the china cabinet with other treasures that Mom liked to have close at hand.
From there he met the rest of Mom’s family. Jim, or Pop as he thought of him. Chris the teenager, Rover and Gypsy the dogs and Big Boyd and Widgit, the parrots .
 He thought the dogs nasty and the birds noisy, but he didn’t complain.
Soon he met a friend call Al the Alpaca and they took a tour of his new home.

He found lots to do. He could relax by the fountain and let the cool waters and lush green plants lull him into a state of contentment,
Then he could smell the flowers. These were strange flowers, not much smell, but very pretty. They attracted butterflies, which stopped for a chat and humming birds that told him of their long flights to Mexico, hitchhiking on the backs and in the slipstreams of other birds.
The nightlife was interesting. He could prop up a lamp and watch the family at their crafts and hobbies, or he could just hang about and listen to their conversation. It often included names he remembered as a baby bear back in Wessington.
And one special joy he got, was reading the pages of the lovely card that had made the journey with him.
He knew Mom enjoyed reading this card too and often he would sit on her knee and she would tell him about the people she had met and learned to love just as Wessie loved them.
But now she was telling him of new adventures, of camping, and the wild west coast where the waves were 40 feet high and the Big Bears roamed through the camp as well as wild salmon swimming in the sea and were caught and ate for dinner.
He was going with Mom. She promised she would take him with her where ever she went. And some times and the rest of the family would come too.
There would be a whole new adventure to talk about.
He thought himself quite the lucky bear indeed,






Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Feeling Better and Moving on

Being laid up for 8 days just when spring starts out to tease us is not fun. My might was creating, thinking, plotting and planning.
I finally got up the strength to clean some of my house today. It was either that or put a sign on the door that said Fibre Farm, tread caImagerefully.
At least I had a chance to try more needle felting while I was under the weather.
I started out with a teddy bear made with directions made from an excellent book Ashford’s Book of Needle Felting.
I already sold his little brother.
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Then using a picture of a friend’s dog I tried a Boston Terrier.

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I made fellow. A  rabibit child pulling a toy sheep with wheels was next . I added a blue Canadian Duck, a powder bowl with a Couple of felted fragrance balls
. I am making a lot of dryer balls. These eco friendly alternatives to fabric softener or horrid blue petro carbon balls.
Then I thought I would knit and felt some bowls and embellish them with needle felting .
.So although I was not feeling terrific, I did manage to do a bit of creating.
I took on another project while my feet up, I started the webdesign for Juan De Fuca Arts and Craft Guild. Check it out and leave feedback.http://juandefucaartsandcraftguild.wordpress.com/

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Flu and Garden Season

Next year I will not miss my flu shot. Seven days of nearly drowning in my own juices, and even keeping my dog awake all night with my  coughing.
We finally look like we might have Spring.
The little plants in the greenn house are looking happy.
We try and plant around 24 May  so they are in protection for another month.
They were very late in germinating and sprouting. I guess 7, 9, 11 degree temperatures are not conducive to gardening.
While I was off my feet, I experimented with some needle felting.
I found I really enjoy this . I have a few pieces done now and  hope they will be appealing to custom
ers and find new homes.
I got a nice order for dryer balls, so they are all set to go. I have a variety of colours.
Chelsea is getting tires of not having a real mom to play with. She wants the old mom back.
Talking with my daughter in law today, she says she tried to live a year buying only Canadian products.
She was not able to o
it. Even with diligent shopping, a whopper of a garden and doing all her
own bread and baking.  Maybe we should start bringing some jobs back to Canada.
I read two article this morning. One was that some balls, when bitten open by a dog, can ooze a nasty goo that will plug up their mouth and can
choke your pet.
Right I make food and biscuits. Now balls. THEN, I read one about US milk . Well there I draw the line.
I am proud to say that Canada would not allow the milk producing hormone to infiltrate out milk supply. Way to go Canada Island Farms Forever.
I have sadly neglected my blog. Will try better in future.
Product alert! There are tennis balls made by Tretorn called “Tretorn X” that contain an inert substance which presumably helps with the bounce. However, when the dog pops open the tennis type ball while chewing, the substance makes a terrible gooey mess in their mouth and presents an aspiration hazard.. Here is a picture of one exposing the material inside.It seems that the material is non-toxic. However, it still presents a potential injury problem

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Healthy and Economical for our Pets

Well today has laid me low. I had a good post of pollen and now I have laryngitis and a nasty bronchial cough. No energy and no imagination.

So I thought I would write a few bits of things that I do to spend my time.

I have a dog called Chelsea. 

I have read so many recalls on animal food, that I make all her food myself. 

The advantages are that I know what she is eating, and it is more economical than commercial food.

Her protein portion is a meat loaf style cooked meat that I make up every week. 

  I start with extra lean beef. I usually put it in water for an hour to reduce the red colorant  is that is used to make meat мore red and appealing.

I add steel cut oats, either brown rice or Aquino ( both precooked often left from my meal. 

 I add an egg, brewers yeast, ground carrots and either peas, or pumpkin. Then I bake till cooked and ready to give her a portion.

For her biscuits, I start with 1 cup raw cut oats and 1 cup of corn meal.I add one cup of boiling liquid. Let it sit 15 minutes.

 The liquid  can be water, if I want to add bullion for flavor, but I rather use homemade chicken broth or fish broth or boiled liver pureed in water heated and added.

 I like to add lentils if I have any left over or chopped celery.

I add 2 cups of coarse ground whole multi grain. Kneed for a few minutes. roll and cut out. and bake for 30 minutes  at 325 degrees. Then turn off oven and let them dry.

These will last at least two weeks, longer if thoroughly dry in a dehydrator.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

New Machine Knit Club Launched

What a bust week. I have neglected my poor blog.

I went to a meeting Wednesday.

 Thusday we went to our spinning group and met some lovely new fibre that Wendy Mitchel had brought home for her recent European sojourn.

The tops were over 12 inches long and then the bottom was a very cause but prolific shorter fibre


. I know Wendy's speed of knitting and I would bet hands down on Wendy.



We sat and had a giggle while Wendy and i tried to assemble her new to her Ultimate sweater Maker.
The Ultimate part was putting it together.
Two of us plus reading the manual and we succeeded.


I note it made it beginnings in Knit shops at price near $300. Later to chain stores for $200 and now is in T.r us.













I received the following announcement which is note worthy. Please read.



In conjunction with the annual Consider The Lilies Fibre Art Show and Sale at the Heritage Church....(St. Mary the Virgin in Metchosin).....the Parish is re starting an old tradition of having a Lily Luncheon......this will be held at the big church (same parish) St. Mary of the Incarnation ....4125 Metchosin Road....opposite the Golf course.
The Fibre Art Show and Sale at Metchosin Heritage Church..will run Saturday, April 14 -22.....but
the Lily Luncheon will be Saturday, April 14 from 11:00 to 2:00 pm at 'the big church"
The lilies at the Heritage church are in full bloom right now and showing their usual amazing display. 

Friday we started our new Machine knitting club, which is yet unnamed.
Giselle has some technical problems that need to be addressed before next meeting on the First Friday in May.
patty-anne was running around  looking for tables and stands, and thinks she has that licked for next meeting.
Leanne was whizzing away on her bulky Brother making a fan lace scarf that is demonstrated on Youtube.
[tn_DSCF0003.JPG]And Joanne was busy falling in love with her immaculate Toyota 950.
We find we are needing  several  cast on combs. If any one has any extra, please speak up.
We found that we could download the manuals for free for most machines at

Remember machine under the bed knitters, the two main things to check on your machine is the sponge bar, and oiling it. 

Use a good quality machine oil.
So lets see our numbers swell bring those beautiful machines out from under the bed, out in the back hall or down in the basement and lets hear then sing.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Juan De Fuca Art and craft Guild and VHSWG coming dates


This is not an official calendar, It is pieces I have gathered as I attended events.
Red is JDF
Black is VGWSG
Wed Apr 18 10:00am – 4:00pm Consider the Lillies – OLD ST. MARY’S 4355 METCHOSIN RD    JDF
Thu Apr 19 10:00am – 4:00pm Consider the Lillies – OLD ST. MARY’S 4355 METCHOSIN RD   JDF

7:30pm – 9:30pm MONTHLY MEETING – Elk Lake Baptist Church at 5349 Patricia Bay Highway in Saanich    VGWSG
Fri Apr 20 10:00am – 4:00pm Consider the Lillies – OLD ST. MARY’S 4355 METCHOSIN RD      JDF
Sat Apr 21 9:00am – 4:00pm William Hodge Design Workshop – Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club    VGWSG
10:00am – 4:00pm Consider the Lillies – OLD ST. MARY’S  4355 METCHOSIN RD
Sun Apr 22 12:00pm – 4:00pm Consider the Lillies – OLD ST. MARY’S 4355 METCHOSIN RD
Mon Apr 23 7:00pm – 8:00pm The Cottage Crafts  4430 Happy Valley Road7:00pm – 9:00pm
Knit Cafe is Tuesday the 24th from 1-3-       4430 Happy Valley Road
Tue Apr 24 7:00pm – 8:30pm Drop-In meeting (informal) – Victoria Centre for Community Living, 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria, BCCanada
Mon Apr 30 1:00pm – 3:00pm Knit Cafe – 4430 Happy Valley Road
Thu May 3 7:00pm – 8:30pm Executive Committee Meeting – Executive Committee Member