Sikh, and Ye Shall Find

Bob and Jot

Our lives are enriched my the different knifemakers Bob and I have met over the years.  This week we had the pleasure of hosting a house guest from up state New York.  Jot Khalsa  is a Sikh and was traveling to a meeting in Espanola New Mexico.  He showed us some of the knives he has been working on.  I learned a new word: "Kirpan."  Which is the style of knife in the pictures below. Jote has a website and sells all sorts of spiritual jewelry, and knives.  Bob and Jot have been friends for years.  They are opposites and look like a juxtaposition in their photos.  They have a deep respect and admiration for each other as knifemakers as well as human beings. 

How a Sikh would wear a Kirpan.

Ocean Jasper, diamonds, Julie Warenski Engraving and Inlay

Close up of the incredible craftsman(woman)ship

on this stunning knife. The letters are gold inlay.

Bob and Jot

Jot visited the day after another knifemaker Brian Fellhoelter was here from Arizona.  There 

was a huge difference in the energies of these two men.  I'll say no more.

Jot has several websites, all beautifully engineered.  For more of Jot's products check out:
http://www.thekhalsaraj.com/ .

Thanks for reading. I'm still amazed that you  do.
xo
Suz

Progress Not Perfection

My workbench adorned by Rebekah Potter's Magpie,

Virginia Lee's mini hooked rug, and my 

Angel from Regi in Germany.

Jimmy Hodges my spiritual mentor spoke words that stayed in my soul.  I am not one of those people who recites poetry word for word.  I can't remember monologues from speeches or movies.  When he said: "we're gonna move this building across the street.  One board, one brick, one nail at a time."  I knew exactly what he meant.  I am living that now.  So, here's what's happening at the "ranch."

The garden...it is the "progress" part.  The filling of the 8 (8x8) raised beds with good black dirt continues to be a palava.   The first few loads were a mulch and dirt mix. Those went well. Then came a load of mostly wood chips...did not order those.  Then a load of "just dirt."  It was New Mexico dirt, that vegetables won't grow in.  But I will mix this in with the other beds, and it will be fine.  Today I am supposed to be getting a load of "Black Gold" from the only place around that carries black dirt.  This layer will go on the top of the beds to put the seeds in.  I have enough material for 5 beds total.  So more will have to be brought.  But it is filling up.  Strawberry plants are here and going in. I see bags of top soil again...but this time I will have someone else unload them.  I am so grateful to John Paul and Ami for their help!

The Peas are up!

The peas are up.  They grow so fast every day that they remind me of the Jack In The Beanstalk fairy tale.  2 of the apple trees are filled with blossoms.  We are losing 2 big evergreens this year to a beetle infestation of 2 years ago.  I will replace those with aspens.  Our sweet tenant Andy who rents the guest house continues to ravage the property with his pruning, and make it more presentable. He's got bird feeders up and he claims that "they are pigs!"

 I use plastic cutlery as markers for my seeds.

I write with a sharpie on them.  Recycle!

The quail have nested in the arch that lead to the pool.  They run on top of the adobe wall in back. It is stepped in places, and I say it's the "Quail Stepmaster" exercise regime.  Our Road Runner is back and very active running through the yard on whatever mission he is on.  The Scrub Jays have nested in the barrel on the front porch for the 3rd spring.  The male is the most beautiful blue.

We have had company, and more are arriving this weekend.  At the moment Jote, a Sikh knifemaker is here.  I joke that I am running a bed and breakfast.  I do the bed part, Bob does the breakfast.

We are trying to get ready for Blade.  I have Mothers Day orders, and am being published in 2 national magazines this month (Parents, and BabyTalk).  I am sooooo excited.  I will be going up to Denver for Ethan's birthday mid May.  The first weekend in June is rolling toward us fast.  Bob continues to buy horn material on Ebay.

My Horny Husband in Gemsbok

Thanks for reading, I'm still amazed that you do!

xo

Suz

The Lucky Family Machete

Mike squeezes through the narrow path.

Today has been the day of days!  After a an entire year of trying to get the big vegetable garden in...we had our first delivery of dirt.  You never know how things are going to come to you.  I had a window washer here and he turned me on to "Mike" a landscaper who has a trailer with a hydraulic lift.  Mike came out and looked at the narrow space and turn to get to the raised beds.  He said the golden words: "I think I can get my truck and trailer back here."  H/L Services & Mike White to the rescue!

Today he picked up great black dirt, called me as promised, and was here at 3pm.  Bob and I directed him around the turn in the yard.  Bob said he felt like Buster Keaton in the movie "It's a Mad, Mad World". He backed through a narrow space and up to where the garden is.  We agreed that a tarp, rather than gravel would be a better landing spot.  So I ran to get the key to the tuff shed from the garage where I have a tarp I use in the Yukon for garden center runs.

 Bob and Mike empty the trailer.

It was one of those times that I was sooooo excited, and was in a full lope.  I pushed open the gate to the back yard, still running.  AND....(music from a slasher movie should be playing) a 4 foot SNAKE was in the grass on the other side of the gate.  I couldn't stop!  In a split second decision--I did a Swan Lake leap over the snake.  In my mind I was sure that it was going to rear up and strike the crotch that was flying over it.  To my delight, my second foot hit the ground without a nibble.  I started to scream and scared the bejesus out of Mike and Bob.  I kept running until I was in the house.  Slammed the mudroom door, and leaned my back against it for security.  I could feel my heart beating in my throat.  Because I am afraid of snakes beyond reason.  They are my nightmare.  Thanks to my brother Larry and the garter snakes of Door County Wisconsin. 

I was actually so afraid, that I took the long way around the house to the tough shed.  I could see Bob and Mike had it cornered.  I got the tarp and put it down as planned.  Afraid to look in the yard,  keeping a vigilant watch for snake buddies that might be lurking.  Mike returned to the business of dirt dumping on the tarp.  Bob said the snake was dead.  I don't want to hear the BS that  snakes are more afraid of me.  I am more afraid of them.  "All creatures, great and small...except snakes." That's my motto, and I'm sticking to it.

The "Lucky Family Machete" saves the day,

and Bob my hero!

Snake blood on the back door to the shop.

The truck couldn't get quite as far as the beds....but it's within 6 feet.  With a little help from my friends... we can start to put the dirt into the raised beds in the morning.  I am pleased as punch.  I will be treading more carefully in the future.  Another load tomorrow afternoon.  The wind is blowing in gale forces at the moment.  Hopefully, it will be here in the morning!  What an adventure. The Guatemalans  don't call Bob: "Chapoi Kumatz" (serpent hunter) for nothing!

College Field Trip: UNM

 A beautiful New Mexico Day at UNM

Going back to college was easy last week.  I went to UNM to see a presentation in the Biology Department by my future daughter-in-law.  She had prepared a presentation of fruit fly research they were doing in her lab.  She's a beautiful and brilliant "creature" (as my son fondly calls her).  Frankly, I understood little of what she said.  I tried to follow her poster (below), but knew little of the terms she framed it in.  I was proud, none the less of her hard work and determination.

Last weekend while I was frolicking in Durango Colorado, she was presenting in Washington DC at an annual Drosophila Melanoganster conference.  In layman's terms...a Fruit Fly conference.  I didn't realize that for over 100 years scientists from all over the world have been having this conference. Her lab is studying muscle involvement and genetics (I think I have it right), that will hopefully help, some day,  people with Parkinson's Disease and other similar diseases. 

Fruit Fly Genetics

is sort of Scientific Porn! 

Afterward I went to see my "nephew by marriage" as I fondly call him, Darrell.  I passed this sign on my way...the Potters are everywhere, I tell you! An entire wing in the Potter name.

 Who knew?  See, everyone loves those Potters!

Darrell is an employee at UNM Art Department, and teaches a "Metals 1" course.  I entered a land I knew something about.  I was really impressed by the size of some of the machines.  When entering the wood shop I came across a sign that I feel should be made into t-shirts.

Beautifully Macabre!

Darrell in a student installation in the hall.

Darrell introduced me to Chris, one of his art colleagues who also teaches art and "shop safety" at UNM.  When I went to school there were no "safety" classes.  We weren't the litigious society we have become now.  Professors just said wear goggles when using power tools and don't put your fingers near the blades.  That was my safety class...I have all 10 fingers I am typing with.  These days we are a helmet wearing, knee pad wearing people.  I am still not convinced we are better off with all these precautions.  But no one asked me, did they?

Below are Darrell's students final projects in Metals 1.  I think the assignment was brilliant, and I was impressed with these tiny Henry Mooreish silver and copper pieces.   Each is a masterpiece in it's own right.  They were photographed with my iPhone through glass... but you get the idea.

Of course I had to be ridiculously silly and asked Darrell to take a photo of my putting my head in the giant band saw.  Chris was there, and I asked him permission to do this.  He asked me to wait a minute while he turned off all power to that part of the shop.  The antlers on my head are actually "pushers" to guide pieces through the saw instead of using your fingers. 

Look at the size of this saw...and the blade!  

That was my UNM field trip.  Chris shook his head as Darrell snapped the photo.  He said: "I see you two have a similar sense of humor."  Mmmmhhhmmmm.  

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.  

xo

Suz

15 Pounds of Potatoes !!

 An Easter Tree tradition started by my German friend Regi years ago.

This year we had Easter at our house.  I didn't know how many people we would have exactly.  I know that my own children were not going to be present, or my grandson.  I was delighted that Abby would be here.  The kid in me needs another kid to play with.  The number of guests went up and down the week before because of the flu bug going around.

As I made the shopping list, I asked Bob to help me and he gladly offered to peel potatoes for the potato salad.  For some reason I thought my recipe that uses 5 pounds of potatoes served 4-6. So I tripled the recipe for our 10-12 number of guests.  That's 15 pounds of potatoes.  Bob, trying hard to be the dutiful husband did not question the amount.  So when I put the bags of potatoes on the counter for him to peel, he took a quick look and asked: "can I use the grinder to peel these?"  lol, right?

Our Peach tree bloomed the day before Easter providing us

with lovely smelling pink flowered branches I put in $1 pails

I bought at Target.

Sugar cookies baked and they change shape as they 

bake.  The goofy rabbit faces make me laugh!

Lisa and I made a fun shadow while watching Abby 

hunt for eggs!

John Paul played the roll of the Easter Bunny and hid eggs in the yard.  He did an excellent job at placing them where a 3 year old could see them.  I wish I had a picture of JP carrying the basket full of eggs in the yard.  It was cute!   Lisa and I wore our festive head bands of purple flower petals and white bunny ears.  Abby was not interested in the Easter headbands as she had a beautiful white chiffon flower that matched her dress and flowered sandals.  

What a beauty Abby is!

I wish I had taken more photos.  But I was busy with my 12 guests.  The centerpiece of the table was a paper mache bunny bought at Kelley Miller's new shop in Nob Hill: "Sole."  I had colorful garden gloves for each guest with seed packets wrapped in rafia placed on their napkins.  The table looked very festive, and I felt it was a celebration of spring and my new garden.  I made coconut cupcakes to serve with the sugar cookies for desert.  15 pounds of potato salad was MORE than we needed.  I have been giving it out by the bucket full!  

A photo taken after dinner of the garden glove/seed favors and my

vintage bunny from "Sole" in Albuquerque.

The time flew by last Sunday.  At 4pm the first guest arrived, and at midnight, the last left.  It was a lesson in "life is what you make it."  I was wallowing in self pity the night before because  my children would not be with me, and I have no other family (mostly because my grandson Ethan was not going to be here).  Sunday night I was so warmed by those who came for dinner.  It was a Happy Easter.

Abby and I planted pansies the week before. Sweet Pea seeds

also, to crawl up the yucca seed pod trellis. 

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do!

xo 

Suz

Happy Flippin' Easter

Kent Allen Parker
"probably the coolest guy you know"

What the...????  Who is that man in the pink bunny suit?  Is he standing among bodies...strewn on the ground?  Yep.  He is.  If you look at his face, you can tell he's loving it too.  What kind of Easter wish is this?  This was taken on the set of "In Plain Site" on the USA network.  Kent is the personal dresser for Mary McCormick who is the star of "IPS." It's a show about the Witness Protection Plan set in Albuquerque.

Happy Flippin' Easter!!!!

(no actual people were hurt in the taking of this picture

....but candy is missing.)

When I first saw these photos on Nathan Davis and Kent Parker's Face Book pages, I couldn't stop laughing.  It's people like Nathan and Kent who made my working in the tv/movie biz fun.  I don't know what exactly tickles me so much. Kent's goatee with the pink bunny suit, glasses, the prop gun, the look on his face, or the dead calm of Nathan. 

I hope you're eating tons of candy.  And I wish you a wonderful spring day.  I am  having 12 friends for dinner.  An Easter Egg hunt for Abby.  I'll post more tomorrow. For me who has no real family to spend holidays with, I keep the following saying in mind:

Friends are the family you choose.  

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do!

xo,

Suz

Special thanks to Nathan and Kent for sharing their photos with me (us).

"Johnny Pinstripe" Lives On

Where I grew up in lilly white waspy suburbia: no one hung out on street corners.  No one had nick names.  Frankly, it was pretty dull.  I guess if you're going to raise small children-- dull is okay.  So whenever Bob makes a knife with a "pinstripe" I smile.  He pinstripes his knives??  Well, sort of.  Bob likes cars with pinstripes too.  He has put pinstripes on his last two cars.  Red.  Mmmm hhhmmm, I can see my mother and brother rolling their eyes.  But I dig it.  Not pinstripes, but the fact that my husband HAS to put them on his cars. The only pinstripes we agree on are on suits...Bob tends to lean toward the chalk stripe old school gangster type.  I like the courtroom razor stripe myself.  Neither to be found on one of his knives. 

Bob grew up in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood in Brooklyn New York.  He tells stories of working at "Sammy Honda's," who sold motorcycles.  There he met "Johnny Pinstripe" and "Frankie Wheelchair."  "Johnny could paint a straight thin line like nobody else," Bob recants.   "Frankie Wheelchair" was in a motorcycle accident and hung out in his wheelchair at Sammy's.  Oh, and there was "Slow Charlie" who was mentally challenged and was a genius at welding.  He would come and go.  When he returned, he'd sweep Sammy's floor.  Sounds like a scene out of Larry McMurtry's "Last Picture Show."    Frequently I hear someone call my husband with a New York accent: "Bobby T!" Today when I saw the knife on Bob's bench with a wide red pinstripe--I said: "Johnny Pinstripe" lives on!

For you knife nuts here are the specs.  It's an "Eagle Rock", cermat bolsters, black G-10 with a red G-10 pinstripe. 4" black coated blade, and black clip, thumb disc, and spacer.  It's going out to BladeArt in Miami. It's a beauty!

Thanks for reading.  I'm still amazed that you do.

xo

Susie Skulls  :-D