Northern Needles

Here is a sampler that I designed and just finished stitching. I adore red houses…and natural coloured linen….give me a red house and linen and I’M HAPPY!!!!

Copyright 2005 Vivian Bales

Ever had a wild strawberry? They are delicious! No wonder the bears come out in droves to sit in the ditches and eat eat eat.

On our trip back up to the Yukon our bus driver liked to give us all a scenic tour (also known as smoke breaks).

One stop was along Muncho Lake. A gorgeous northern lake. And surrounding the pullout was a field (ok it’s a ditch but for us that’s a field) of wild strawberries. They grow close to the ground and are smaller then a blueberry. A strawberry miniaturized. They are so cute and wow, so tasty. Better tasting then any store bought strawberry I’ve had.

Also in the field were blueberries but they weren’t ready yet. And Sow Berries. Sorry I don’t know the spelling but that’s how it sounds. Bright cherry red berries. I remember my mom telling me about how they used to pick them growing up on their reserve in Northern Manitoba. Luckily I found an older native woman (who looks just like my mom!!!) that pointed them out and told me what to do with them. You pick these Sow berries, boil them to get the pits out of the juice. Take the juice and start stirring (or use a whisk) and keep stirring. It will start to foam up. You can add sugar after it’s started foaming. Keep stirring. Eventually you get a concoction that is similar to a gelatin or mousse or whippy topping. It’s called Indian Ice Cream. Yummy, I must try it. I remember my mom talking about eating this all the time on the Rez but I’ve never had it myself.

What a way to spend a 20 minute break after being on the bus for days. Picking and eating wild strawberries with my fellow passengers. What the travellors on the Alaska Highway must have thought when they went by us, all hunched over picking things off the ground, so happy.

Going back to our big bus trip of the summer. One of the highlights would be the Continental Divide in the Yukon. We got to enjoy it immensely. For hours. and HOURS!

Our bus broke it’s fuel pump climing the last mountain to get up to the Continental Divide pullout. Hours away from any town the bus driver worked and worked and worked on it. Luckily some mechanics in the area were found (after many passers by stopped to see if they could help) and after 6 1/2 hours the fuel pump was fixed.

Yep….6 1/2 hours. On the side of the road. Right beside the big sign proclaiming Continental Divide, a big boulder to take pictures on and 2 outhouses.

Luckily we didn’t have to spend the entire time there. After about 3 hours some people came from the next tourist stop off…a little gas station/rv park a few miles up the road. They shuttled the entire bus load of us up to their stop and we all got to sit around, chat, drink coffee, use FLUSHING bathrooms. It was heaven. And we all gave a cheer when the bus limped in at 12:30 am to pick us up.

I was surprised with the girlies though, they took it all in stride and I had many comments given by fellow passengers on what good kids they were. Of course it helped that one lady that worked at the station had her little doggy with her LOL. Can you say 2 hours of fetch? LOL…poor thing must have been so excited to see us get back on the bus.

Not only that but the dog lady was a quilter and stitcher!!!! So we had an enjoyable chat. She brought out her “Coat of Many Colours” she had quilted and and covered with surface embroidery, brazillian stitches, etc. It was amazing. Charms and embellishments everywhere. She was such a creative woman.

So if you ever want to break down in a good spot pick the Continental Divide in the Yukon along the Alaska Highway. It’s the only highway so everyone has to go right past you.

Just make sure you have lots of bug spray, the mosquitos are a killer!

Well, half way through another book and I thought I’d mention it. It’s The Bride by Julie Garwood and it’s just what the doctor ordered for a cold, cloudy evening in the Yukon. Plenty of big, burly Scottish Highlanders with that sensitivity hidden just below the surface waiting to be discovered by that special English girl, who of course has no dowry and who’s father is in debt up to his eyeballs.

I so enjoy a good romance. And you know the book is good when you realize your smiling while reading it.

My new motto.

This is a freebie I got from Hands to Work Designs ( www.handstoworkdesigns.com ). Its originally a sampler 90W x 101H but my piece of cream cashel was only a small one so I improvised. I’m going to make it into a pillow and hang it by my computer. Some silky gauzy ribbon I think will add that touch of ooomph.

*****edited to add**** I forgot to mention that I used Cherry Bark (1120), a sampler thread from The Gentle Art. It’s a beautiful colour.

Well I finished it. Great little book and quick to read. And it left you with a few questions so I’m anxious to see what the author comes up with her next book. Very enjoyable read.

Stopping for coffee in Fort Nelson!!!

I got to have coffee with my bestest buddy Suzanne. And not any coffee. A latte. OOOOHHH YEAH!!!

Frozen treats for the girlies, latte for me, a Little Bit to pet and scratch and a good friend to hug. What could be better then that?

I just wish Suze and I didn’t live so far apart. This seeing each other once a year is for the birds.

How exciting!

We had to get on a Grey Goose bus to connect up with a Greyhound at the beginning of our trip. Of course by the point we get on it’s packed. Luckily someone gave up their seat and went and sat with someone else so that my girlies could sit together. Can’t have a 4 y.o. and a 6 y.o. sitting with strangers now can we? I took a seat across the aisle with an older lady who was crocheting angels (using those teeny tiny crochet hooks).

On the way down I had tried knitting but the motion of the bus and my shawl bouncing up and down and trying to watch my needles I got car sick. So I was totally fascinated that this lady was able to crochet little angels and read a pattern! So of course I told her that. Turns out she does it from memory as she’s made a gazillion of them.

So we chat about crocheting, me saying I can’t do it, her commenting on how much she loves it.

Then I pull out my book (Beach House by James Patterson and some other guy). I put my bookmark on my lap and she just oooohed. It was a special birthday bookmark made by a friend in the US (Hi Gerry!). Special b/c it was one of my favourite things. An Orca jumping out of the water. Very realistic.

Turns out the Lady cross stitches too and is working christmas ornies for her family. Well, who can read now! We have stitching to discuss! She mentioned she had a subscription to The Cross Stitcher. Well, if you’ve read my blog you’ll remember I was published in the Christmas issue in 2004 (look back if your curious). So I casually ask if she had seen the Christmas 2004 issue and would you believe it? It was in her suitcase under the bus. So I mentioned I was in there. Ooooohhhh she was tickled pink! I asked if she remembered a bell pull pattern in there and she did! The one on blue she asked????? WELL YES!!

So from there our conversation went on to designing, how it came about, etc, etc. And I got to pass along my bestest news which I don’t even think I blogged yet. I’m going to be in the Christmas 2005 issue of The Cross Stitcher! Wahoo!! (cross your fingers it doesn’t get bumped to a later issue but for now thats the word)

That was the best part of the trip across Saskatchewan LOL.