A few days ago, a craft group that had been politics free changed when the group owner wrote a message well because he could – his group his decision about the rules. And I am really okay with that – or I was until the discussion showed many disagreed with his point of view and so, again, a decision that is his to make, decided that all those writing in response were now wasting their time, it would be moderated and not put thru to tho group.

Since this started I have downloaded my email with dread – but I am not the list owner and this was his decision.

Anyone who follows me pretty much anywhere on the internet is likely to know I have pretty strong feelings. And, as someone with very very painful FIRST hand experience on the changes occurring, I can’t decide if I want to air my grievances or ask this be shut down before there is irreparable harm.

I believe my experience as a guardian, parent and grandparent means first hand experience with the horrendous feeling that nothing is more heartbreaking than to be helpless in helping our children.

It is amazing to me that in today’s world when we know every intimate detail of celebrity and political psuedo-celebs lives that people are so blinded by skin and greed.

More than anything, the best thing we can do for our children is to be patriots and to really look at our situation – The measures being taken at the direction of the chief executive are so obviously punitive and directed at those who don’t vote Democrat – it boggles the mind trying to see why.

Why is there money to close down open areas, streets and parking facilities that are not manned? But not to fund the NIH.
Well, because the executive branch can order a law enforcement officer under federal command to do so. And who is hurt.

NIH, the Military, and pretty much everything except a program that is already devastating what is still, but almost not, the best health care system in the world.

And yet, we continue to see a “Let them eat cake” and if they don’t like, then they will eat $#!+ instead.

I am bored with of the vicious and deliberate lies of an ethically, morally and legally corrupt executive branch taking advantage of its position to stamp its feet and get its way.

I am bored with people too engrossed in their own current situation to take the time to look at the fact. If you must make it by party line, The House is sending bills, which the Senate is not even being allowed to discuss – so obviously Mr Reid is not really all concerned with those 1,000 people at Nellis any more than he is those in need of services at NIH.

I am bored with people branding others racists for no reason other than disagreeing with a POLICY that will help a few today and harm the many for generations to come.

I am bored with those who think it is okay to expect others to work and they should just, because they breath, be allowed to take the fruits of the workers lobar.

I am bored with those unable to have an intelligent discourse, with a goal to solving problem, that their only response is to disagree with them is to be racist or other – Anyone who actually knows me will tell you I am one of those people who has always been inspired by Dr King and others of that generation to judge, as does the Lord my God, by action and deeds.
It is NOT the Republican in either house of congress blocking funding,

I am bored with people too blind by self interest to take an honest look at what is being offered and how it is will harm our country, ourselves and the generations to come all to satisfy the ego of an executive cabal, in league with others only interested in their personal gain beginning with Mr Reid.

I am bored with parents so lazy and self indulgent they do not teach their children the value of human life and so we have senseless violence and if you think that person should be punished for their actions you are branded racist.

I am bored with love of country being cause to be branded terrorist.

I am bored with those who were not taught that actions speak louder than words.

I am bored with those who claim to be Pro-Choice but only so long at it means you blindly choose their choice of genocide – exactly as Ms Sangor hoped.

I am bored with those who would negate the Bill of Rights, the very document that allows them to spew their hate against those who would protect ALL Life, Liberty and condemn us all to the Pursuit of Mediocrity.

I am bored with those who are too selfish to understand cause and effect – need an example, look at the effect of taking away tax deductions from corporation who used to be extremely supportive of the arts and arts programs – yes they got a tax advantage but we got private funding for musuems, libraries, research having nothing to do with their company, and more – now lost.

If you are still reading, maybe instead of whining in public forums where your opinion is pointless, you should be doing something constructive.

This is republic and your elected officials have a duty to God, Country and their constutients.

There is a MUCH bigger picture to be considered. The only thing ACA is likely to solve is the amount of people currently coming of the USA for health care they cannot get in a timely way in their own country.

Decide which is most important to you.

If health care is a priority, find out how that bill will really effect you. Me – nearly my entire social security – money that I earned from many many years of paying my “premiums” aka/Social Security Deductions, and as a self employed person I also paid TWICE that of any employee because I also paid the Employer paid portions. I know you will love how the price of medications you need to continue to live are now going to be at least trippled and in my case, generics are now going to cost 19 times as much. So maybe like Don, I will be dead in the not too distant future as a direct result of the changes occurring under the AFC.

Get the facts on how AFC will really effect you, THINK and decide if it really is going to help or harm. After all what good will it do us to reopen a study at NIH if those with the disease are deemed to expensive and in the immortal words of Ms Sibilas, some live, some die. NO respect for Life.

Get on the phone and call your congress critters and tell them you elected them to do what is best for the country.

If that means those who elected a childish, disrespectful, self-indulgent individual have to learn the lessons so many parents never taught their children about working for what they have, may suffer a bit, well it is their choice to not only be the problem but refuse to even consider a less selfish solution.

My mother once said that only boring people are bored. She went on to say, if you are bored, go find something interesting to do.

What could be more interesting than to find every possible way to save the country that allows me to write this note, and to ensure that my children, grandchildren and every other citizens of these United States can enjoy their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness without extreme interference of the type their forebears fought to protect us against.

Fully understanding it may well be the death of me, now I have had my say, I really hope each of us will decide to put aside their own immediate self-interest and choose for the long term best interest of us all.

Thank you for listening.

Wheat

It may well be that Scrapple and Laws are not something for the faint of heart to watch being made….

But sausage in all sorts of variations is a whole other story and it is relatively easy to make.

This is a combination of a recipe from an aunt and my own “experiments” over the years.

It is REALLY Helpful to have an attachment for your grinder to stuff the casing but you can use a pastry bag (you will probably only do this once) They do have reasonably price hand cranked units. Check places like Cabella’s and other serious hunting stores – they often have equipment for processing your own meat.

Fortunately if you live in an area where butchers still exist – and better yet process locally harvested animals, finidng casings is possible without mail order. These places also often offer the sometimes difficult to find spices for sale.

Apparently Bullock’s on Sykesville Rd does and will grind meat to the proper texture – and has the casings, now just have to take and ride and see what other goodies might be hiding in their Meat market section

So let the sausage making begin –

5 lbs pork shoulder, cut away all but about 15-20% of the fat – you can make it leaner but remember fat is where the favor is.
The “boneless” spare ribs they have in value paks at Safeway are often abou t the right weight and easier to cut into small cubes Safeway often has this on sale.

1 tablespoon salt (4 teaspoons if using kosher salt)
know some people need to reduce sodium but it really is needed in sausage

12-15 cloves of crushed fresh garlic
I have used the roasted garlic in oil you can buy in the stupid market
about 3 tbsp – crushed with flat of knife

DRY SPICE MIX:
2 tablespoons whole mustard seed
/\ I sub with 1 tbs whole and 1 tbsp coarse ground NOT mustard POWDER
1 tbl marjoram
1 tbl paprika
1 tbl black pepper (fresh ground is always best)
1 tsp ground celery seed
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp thyme (I often leave this out, just not a fan of thyme but Aunt J had it in her recipe – try it both ways )

Cut the pork into SMALL cubes Refrigerate about 1 hour

Mix garlic and dry spices

Mix evenly through out the pork

Refrigerate an hour or so until “firm” before trying to stuff into casings for smoking

You can freeze either fresh or smoked in well sealed package for a month or two wihtout losing too much of the flavor.

Let it sit over night in the a tightly sealed container (glass is preferred) over night so the spice flavor can work its way thru.

of you have a smoker, you may want to smoke before freezing,

Indirect grilling can add a nice smoky flavor – especially if you add some wet wood to create some smoke flavor.

I have been know to brown like ground beef after it has been in the refrig over night so that the spice flavors blend into the meat. and mix with farmer cheese to use in pierogies,

If you going to make patties for a sandwich, you may want to mix in a egg before shaping into patties to help it “hold together” Personally I much prefer the flavor grilling adds and it is definitely healthier than pan frying

This recipe also works with with Deer, but you may have to add some pork fat back or it will be too dry.

Always cook food containing eggs thoroughtly –

Change the dry spice mix for other flavor profiles.

Enjoy The Making & Eating

Wheat

One of the life lessons learned the hard way is about an ounce of prevention. As a result, I am among the proponents for an often dreaded word in the fiber art community – Sampling.

Or, as I prefer to identify with, i am a PROCESS person, one who wants to understand how it works and why, BEFORE I start breaking the rule – after all failure to plan is planning to fail.

How long should the threads be on each element?

This will vary not only from structure to structure and craftsman to craftsman – as well as for techniques like braiding and knotting – it will also vary within the structure for each element, and of course vary with the material used for each element.

The simplest way, in the long term is make a sample using similar materials as you plan to use in the final project.

Measure the length BEFORE load onto the tama/bobbin/carrier or other “loose” thread/cord.

Always allow for the “waste”. The easiest way to do this is to work at least two inches in pattern. MEASURE UNUSED – now you have a starting point.

Mark the point of the first measurement and record “used to this point”
Record AMOUNT at Start MINUS AMOUNT REMAINING –
this is your starting point for each element.

Work in pattern until your sample is 6 to 8 inches in length.
Measure Unused, Record amount used
At this point you can either “finish” or based on your experience decide how much more will be used for each element depending on your choice of finishing method.

Subtract the remaining amount from the staring amount, add 10% for insurance and that is your “guideline” for future projects using similar materials with the same structure.

Yeah I know this needs some work and maybe some photos, but I have confidence that those who want to learn will.

Kongo Gumi & Bead Placement – In a “conversation in the Kumihimo Braiders International group, especially having to do with how not knowing the “language” of braiding leads to stunting the growth for new braiders.

For the curious, it had to do with the somewhat confusing use of warps when referring to the material placed in each slot of the MobiDai (Disk). Much can be attributed to the rather short history of Japanese braiding in the US. For a very long time mot involved were a part of the weaving community and so those attempting to educate us used some weaving terms because it might have been hopeless to teach us Japanese.

But what happens when you want to move on, or that blinding flash of the obvious moment when you realize there is so much more to be discovered and you lack the basic in language and skills to advance. This was the thought shared in KBI – so much is missed by those who come into the craft without access to the basics.

It is fine if folks, particularly the “Bead People” are satisfied with only using one of the many basic braids, the Spiraling 8-strand Kongo Gumi braid to make a cord or in many cases an embellished cord. However I sincerely wish those who teach would make it clear that they are only talking about a single braid of the thousands possible.

One of the reasons I started braiding was related to glass, beads, fused, diachronic, – pretty much all that glitters. The ability to coordinate or complement the colors in the glass using the rich sheen of rayon threads (still can’t afford silk) was pretty much irresistible.

After some conversation in the Kumihimo Braiders International, there was a consensus that, for English, we should use the term “Element” – whether a single strand or a gathering of multiple threads – We agreed that Naomi Speiser’s Manual of Braiding was likely the best resource for “details”

So what does this have to do with Bead Placement. Once I got my mind to move past how to “change” the Beaders use of a term that did not really help them in the long run, it got easier.

One member of the bead cord oriented FB Kumihimo group asked about a way to plan bead placement so she could design a beaded cord “her way”. Another mentioned wanting to begin moving on past the simplest structure (yes, I know there are four element braids, but they are often more difficult than you might think)

In my never humble opinion, the next step “ought” to be
http://itsalljuststring.com/books-etc-5/braid-publcations-502/
Shirley Berlin’s RED Kumihimo On A Card Booklet

Perhaps the most important thing this course of study will do is to enable you step back and realize that Braids can be utterly wonderful in their own right OR are an excellent vehicle to enhance a focal piece of beadwork.

Next it moves you on to the 16 Strand version of Kongo, AND has the color placement for 18 different color combinations. Not to mention lots of other useful information. Using inexpensive cotton YARNandTHREAD it is easy to make samples that can then be “translated” for pre-stringing beads onto your elements to create beaded areas on your braid (or if you must, entirely bead braids.)

Then WHAM before you know it, you will be looking at the samples and illustrations the “other three” best books for use with Disk and Plate wondering why it took so long to get here. Especially once you see the possibilities of the shaped braids like ZigZags, circles, ovals and loops found in CTB: Disk & Plate

P.S. I need to make some revisions for the 16 Element version – mean while you may find the
8 and 16 Element Kongo Gumi Record Sheets and “coloring page” aka/Record Sheet helpful in starting the process.

This one of the two parts where I where I allow myself to use more emotion than fact about the business viability of craft. Hereafter, it is about business and as such, as objective as possible

REMEMBER ONLY YOU can properly and completely perform the necessary due diligence to determine your costs – this article, like all on this blog, are a starting point, not the last word by any means. While I hope it is worth more, its value is exactly the same as what you paid for it – no dollars.

Although there are others, including the stress of deadlines, the uncertainly during off season (selling yarn from April to July can be pretty scary in terms of regular cash flow)

The largest consideration you will want to at least consider is taking something you love and making it a JOB.

Every says if you have a job doing something you love, then it is never work.

But that only works when you have someone else to do all the NOT FUN stuff mention in Pts 1,2, and 3.

When you have ALL the responsibility plus the laundry, the kids, the pets and every aspect of everyday life, the non-creative part of business and regrettably often the part that takes the most of your time for the least amount of joy – can suck the joy out of the creative aspects.

If you do not accept anything else I suggest and are determined to go for it anyway no matter how illogical cold analysis says otherwise,

Please don’t get yourself so far in financially that you cannot say “the heck with this other stuff” and go back to enjoying what you love. This means building inventory and supplies over time not getting into huge financial debt.