Yeah! Our Montana friends arrive today.

Well, they live in Kentucky now, but Montana (Sula) is where we met them and where they became "family". The wonderful kind of family born of the heart instead of the blood.

Memory Lane...
For many summers Bill and I enjoyed fishing Montana's fabulous streams and rivers. That was when knitting was only done when it was either too dark or not a good day for fishing. Tying fly's became a "necessity" due to my ability to snag far more bushes and rocks than I did trout. Little did hubby know that fly tying would became another COSTLY obsession :) But neither of us ever had to buy another fly and hubby got exactly the ones he wanted and as many. Fortunately however, as with my knitting I was able to profit (read "comfortably support my habit") from both. There was a demand for my flies (besides family and friends) and also for of my jackets and sweaters using Native and Western designs . The latter sold in the "High Country Gallery" in Sula and the flies all over SW Montana. I'm proud to say I sold many a fly right at the river due to catching fish while others weren't. Maybe there is someone out there that remembers me from back then ('89 to '98) mostly on the waters of the Bitteroot Valley and on the Big Hole river. If you caught sight of a skinny blond fishing alone and often wearing a gun on her hip...that was me.

OK so what does all this fishing stuff have to do with fiber. Well, fly tying isn't all feathers! I'd use many snippets of yarn especially for the fly/bugs body.... Wool, Mohair, Chenille, etc, etc... and fish can really get hungry for glitter. There is hardly a fiber out there that I couldn't make use of and fly tying does involve an awful lot of knots.

Well, enough with the memories...I've got a delemma! What do I do with all this fly-tying stuff/stash? Do I keep it in the unlikely event I'll have a use for it all....or do I keep it in the unlikely event my kids will want it...ditto the grandchildren? Do I sell it (haha...who to!!)? Or do I just hide it again "just in case"? Everytime I tidy up my play-room and bulging closet, the FLY stuff begs for attention....I feel as if I'm neglecting it all and it might be happier in another home.

Knit news: Stalled but still breathing.

Spinning news: My wheel is out and ready to use, as is my new spindle.

TKGA news: Dead in the water.

My mood: Up and Revving.

Cooking (rare mention and really unworthy of any mention) news: Made the basic "Spotted Dick" and it was yummy. I did throw out the first attempt to make it in microwave but the second worked fine...only FOUR minutes. Now to "fix" it up a little and I'll post the recipe`. You'll only get weird and wonderful recipe's from me!!


Wishing you all a very Merry "Christmastime".
May your reasons to celebrate be your own and be from your heart.