Mama Hughes’ blog

Sometimes life doesn't make sense.  Or should I say death.  This morning my DH got word that the 23 year old son of a close friend was killed in a freak accident.  He and a couple of buddies were up in the mountains pushing over trees and a 'snag' or what we in fire service call a 'widow maker' fell and killed him instantly.  Who is rolling the dice up there?  A vibrant light was snuffed out.  Why?  Can anyone give me an answer?  Who does one beseech in times like this?  God?  Allah? Jesus?  The All Encompassing Love Spirit?  My youngest is the same age as this young man.  I can not begin to imagine a world with out her in it.  How will this young man's parents cope?  Does time heal?  Does God hear us?  Is there a God that would let this happen?  Is it all a cosmic joke?  Some one, please tell me.

Hi all.  Happy Mother's Day.  Today dh is using the Brinkmann Gourmet Charcoal Smoker that daughter #1 found for us at V V a while ago.  We are cooking up a boneless chuck roast.  It looks good so far.

Dh has a ruptured eardrum and cannot hear on the right side.  Now he has an excuse when he says he didn't hear me say something.  Ha!!  It isn't getting better, so hopefully we can get in to see the dr tomorrow.  Looks like he made need surgery to fix things.  Daughter #2 had tubes put in her ears twice when she was very young.  It helped her with her hearing problems, let's hope it will work for DH as well. 

Last night we watched Sweeney Todd.  Hmmmm.  Johnny Depp was a good choice, but I still remember watching Angela Lansbury as Mrs Lovett and I'm not sure Helena BC did as good a job.  Oh well.  Also watched Syriana last night.  I liked the George Clooney character, and I liked the story, but it lacked a certain, dynamic, I think.  Maybe because we had just watched Michael Clayton earlier in the week.  Both excellent films.  We saw Cloverfield (hmmmm) and also watched Donnie Darko again.  I really like this film and wish that some of the deleted scenes had been left in, they explain some of the plot points (like placebos).  Tonight we will watch Juno.  DH has seen it and says it is pretty good.  Oh, we also watched Dan in Real Life.  Pretty good, predictable, but worth it to see Juliette Binoch.  She is such a good actress.  A while back there was a series of 3 films, Red, Blue and White.  She was in Blue.  Great movie.  The whole trilogy was great. 

For Mother's day my lovely daughters sent an hilarious card.  How they got the photo of their dad ( ;-)  is beyond me!!!  But they also sent some lovely pencil roving.  I can't wait to spin it up.  It has lovely long runs of color so I anticipate a Noro type of yarn.  That's about it for now.  Again, Happy Mother's Day.

Now that we own a thoroughbred ex race horse, I was horrified to hear that yesterday during the running of the Kentucky Derby Eight Belles had to be destroyed after thundering to second place because she shattered both of her front ankles.  My heart is broken.  Then, today, I was watching an equestrian event and they announced that the day before during competition two horses had to be destroyed due to injuries suffered on the course.  Many riders sustained serious injuries as well.  It's a bit of the feeling when I watch a movie where the main animal character dies.  I can't stand it.  Too much Ol' Yeller.

What was your first car?

Tr3a

My first car.  The first car I bought with my own money is a 1959 US Triumph TR3A that looks a lot like this.  Mine is a left hand drive of course.  I bought it in 1988 for $500.  Yes, you read it right.  It was in pretty bad cosmetic shape, but it  had been used in SCCA racing by the previous owner.  He had stripped every spare ounce off of the car.  Literally.  I restored it, from top to bottom, much to the chagrin of my young daughters.  I think they can appreciate it more now than they did back when they were very young.  I love this car.  It still has many of the racing components.  I don't have wire wheels on it, but the original aluminum wheels that were made for this car for racing.  It has a roll bar (not standard), an over bore on the cylinders (87mm), a street-comp cam (D cam), a Detroit Locker rear-end, recurved leaf springs so that it actually sits a bit lower than original (you can scrape knuckles on the pavement), oil cooler, and a solid walnut dash made by yours truly.  It is still red with black wool carpet and a white top.  It runs like a dream.  It is sooo much fun to drive.  I actually towed my dh's TR3A over Satus Pass (WA state) years ago when he lost a water pump on a Sunday afternoon drive.  I have driven it to shows all over the West Coast, mostly in Portland, but we did drive to Santa Barbara one year.  It was glorious.  Highway One down the California coast with our kids.  Great fun.  Anyway.  My first car.

See this Movie Now!!!!!

Ironman

Lazy Kate that is.  I just finished a prototype of what I am calling a "traveling" lazy kate.  I need one that will hold at least four bobbins and lay flat in my suitcase.  Here it is

Spinning 001

Right now it is hanging on the wall, nice for keeping it out of the way.  To use, I place it on the floor.  It has notches for the dowels that hold the bobbins and fixed dowels below each to help with tensioning.  I will be adding a scotch tension set up next.  Here's a close up of the notch.

Spinning 002

This is only 3" deep without bobbins.  It is 8" wide and 24" long.  This one is made of poplar but once I get the bugs worked out of the design, I think I will make it in oak.  It really is just a take off on the old shoe box type of lazy kate.  I know that there are kates like this on the market, but I just like doing things myself.  I guess that's why I spin!!

I rode Sassie today.  That might not seem like a big deal to most, but to me. . . . . .  Sassie is a 6 year old thoroughbred mare that hasn't been ridden in a while.  Her life before was as a race horse so we weren't sure how she would act.  We actually have been easing into the idea of riding her.  Saddle first.  Okay.  Saddle on for a while longer.  You know, bit by bit (no puns here).  Today was the day.  We really couldn't avoid it any longer.  DH was a bit nervous so I said what the hell.  A 6' plus fall can't be too bad.  Ha.  Any way, except for the stirrups not being adjusted quite right, and me not being an experienced rider at all, we managed a few turns around the pasture.  Since I am vertically challenged (5' 2") it was a real different image of the world atop a horse that stands almost 6' at the shoulder.  But really, she was very well behaved.  I think this is going to be okay.  Then DH got on her.  He has a bit more experience (read just a bit more) and he actually got her to trot a good pace.  She really seemed to enjoy the whole thing.  Ears up and everything. 

The other news is the convertible TR7.  We were offered a deal we couldn't pass up.  This will be Triumph # 8 or so.  I'll post pix soon.  Should be fun.

Thirty years.  A milestone for me and my DH.  Today is our thirtieth wedding anniversary and we spent the day doing not much!  Well, we did drive to Walla Walla and go to the courthouse and health dept. to try and get some info on the property we are intending to purchase.  But the people we really needed to talk to were not in the office today.  That's okay, it was a pretty drive, even if the temps went from 55 F to 35 F and then back to 55 F in a short space of time.  Then we went to dinner at a new 'family' style restaurant in town.  The building used to be a local tavern that was moved to this location about 10 or so years ago.  It was weird going in there.  I remember getting really really drunk there, (I blame Gary L) and the layout is pretty much the same.  I wonder how they were able to get all of the 'smoke' smell out of it.  I had a steak that was pretty good, but the side dish of mixed vegies left a lot to be desired.  Now, I would say that I am kind of a food snob.  That being said the yellow squash in the side dish had a huge chunk ( about 2" square) that was absolutely raw along side a razor thin slice that was grey from overcooking.  Stuff like that makes me cringe.  A couple next to us had their salads served and then had to ask for cutlery.  When we were just about done eating the waitress plopped the check on our table, even though we really wanted dessert, we had to ask.  I know, I know.  Well dessert did arrive and I asked for a second fork so DH and I could share the lovely cheesecake.  It was almost gone before we got the fork.  It wasn't terribly busy, it wasn't rush time, it was just bad service.  I'd give it maybe 3 out of 5.  My husband is more generous.  It didn't help that when we were seated that I was looking straight into the men's room everytime the door was opened.  Guh.  I traded with my husband.  This was also the first table into the dining room so we were really in the way of all of the coming and goings of staff and customers.  I feel like writing the owner a "critique".  I want them to do well in their business there because this is the 4th or 5th business that's tried to make a go at this location.  Any ideas?

Any way.  30 years.  Mostly good. 

Here is a picture of Alli accepting congrats from the pres of the university.  

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