Completed Cloak

 In January I was contacted by a friend after he had attended Calontir Winter War Manuvers to tell me that a mutual friend was to be knighted at Lilies and they were looking for someone to make the cloak.  He thought of me and I was happy to volunteer.

I started with a grey wool herringbone woven blanket that I picked up from Faribault Woolen Mills outlet store.  I added a band of purple wool at the top and bottom.  I wove the trim myself using my inkle loom (not correct for his time period but I could complete it quickly and easier than card weaving).  It's a chain pattern.  ;^) 

The gold chain was appliqued linen, outlined with a red chain stitch in wool thread. 


The runes were stitched in chain stitch using yellow and red wool and read: "What is best in life? to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of the women."



Halvdan really liked it so I am quite pleased!

(Lenny was very helpful)

June Garden Update

I'm trying to take pictures of the rapidly changing garden ~ once a month.  It's amazing how quickly things change.  Currently it is rainy and cold for the official start of summer.  Temps are almost 20 degrees under average, but we hope to creep up into the 70's come Friday.  We may see 80's on the weekend.  My tomatos can't wait.

For a reference I'm listing the pictures in the same order as my post from May.

The raspberry plants appear to have survived the transplant process and should produce fruit this year.  Rock on!

We're going to have a good apple crop this year.

The fence is certainly keeping the critters at bay.

 Lettuce (mesclin and romain), green onions, daikon radish, turnips, cauliflower, melons and beans.

Cauliflower (that I started from seeds)

Beans! (and I planted more so they will start producing when these are exausted)

 Spinach, eggplant (that I started from seeds), dill, cucumbers and snap peas.

Squash, red onions, peppers, zucchinni.  No blossoms yet, but they are starting.


 The native bed is starting to bloom.





Healthy Eating at Lilies 25

I just got back from Lilies and I wanted to share some choices that I made for food. While I was staying with a group, I was esentially going solo this year and I didn't want to spend my time cooking so I planned my food to be grab and go. I arrived Monday evening and left Friday morning so my meal plans were breakfast/ lunch/ and dinner for 3 full days + 2 snacks each day an evening snack Monday and Friday breakfast before we left.

For breakfast I made the Baked Oatmeal with Blackberries recipe from Sparkpeople. I added just a touch of maple syrup to up the sweetness. I baked it in a 8 x 8" pan and cut it into 9 squares. I brought enough squares for breakfast each morning and ate a hard boiled egg to up my protein. I brought a container of my home made yogurt, which I topped with raspberries and a drizzle of honey. I would spoon a small amount on my baked oatmeal, or treat it like a dessert after dinner.

I made Coach Nicoles Vegetarian Meatloaf and brought ~ 4 portions. I ate this at lunch or dinner/ depending on my mood. I made a quinoa and beet salad with red onions, red wine vinegar and olive oil (my own concoction). I would eat this for lunch or dinner. I grilled chicken breasts ahead of time and cut 2 into 1/2" strips. I'd place a few on my plate at lunch or dinner. I also brought grapes, packaged diced pears (in little sealed cups), cut up celery and carrots, a small stick of hard salami (which I never ate), peanut butter, whole wheat crackers, almonds, raisins and dried apple slices. I did bring instant Miso soup and Thai Kitchen instant noodle soup, but I found that I usually didn't want to deal with cooking food and was happy to eat the cold things from my cooler.

I was really happy with my food choices. I felt that I was eating well. Naturally I countered my healthy meals with plenty of beer and other drinks, but that is what Lilies is for. I did get in a 20 minute run Tuesday morning and I did an hour or yoga Thursday morning, plus I walked a LOT.

I did plan on coffee in the mornings and brought a simple device that rested on my cup, held a paper cone of grounds and I poured boiling water through. It was fantastic! I also drank a LOT of water. I filled a clay gallon jug with water and emptied it each day, plus I would fill my cup around the site at various stations while I was out. Staying hydrated was easy to do if I planned it out.
I think one could do something similar for a longer camping event like Pensic, but it would be harder with a family. I would probably choose more options that did not involve space in the cooler.