WoolGathering: 2016

Thursday, 29 December 2016

Christmas in Colorado

Christmas in Colorado

Does this sound like the title of a Hallmark Christmas Movie to you? I hope so! We are just back from our Christmas in Colorado where the nine of us worked on our debut movie, a collaborative work of fiction. A sneak preview...

Starring:

Emma Mathieson

Jarrett Fraser

Lindsey Gillies

Rob Gillies

Julia Mathieson

Kim Fraser

Eddy Fraser

Tom Mathieson

Barb Fullerton

Summary:

The remote mountain village of Breckerville, Colorado is being threatened by big business as heartless Tom Mogul moves in with the intention of building a ski resort complete with condos, theme parks, and day spas.

Breckerville, Colorado

The potential development will decimate local businesses including The Crepe Escape owned by the town’s most eligible bachelor, Rob Goodguy and his mother, Kim, a former country music artist. Recovering from a broken heart, Rob has thrown himself into his fledgling business in an effort to fill the void left when his childhood sweetheart moved to the coast.

The Crepe Escape

The cosy bakery next door, Christmas Cookie, cannot possibly survive the takeover. Twenty-nine-year-old Lindsey Shortbread has just moved back home leaving an unfulfilled romance and a high-powered career on Wall Street to help her father, Edward, retired racecar driver, with the family business. Even Lindsey's substantial savings are not enough to save the sweetest bakery in Colorado.

Christmas Cookie

Emma Redken, proprietor of Emma’s Cut and Curl, owns the key piece of property Tom Mogul needs to complete his hostile takeover.

Emma's Cut and Curl

A fourth-generation loyal resident of Breckerville, Emma is tempted by Mogul's generous monetary offer as she needs a substantial amount of money for her dog Pantene's liposuction and tummy tuck.

Pantene and The Ladies

Breckerville's dispensary-owner and mayor, Julia Matchmaker, is determined to preserve the town’s wholesome way of life. She recruits the town sheriff, Jarrett Lawmaker, and his deputy, Barb Blackheart, to organize a crowd-sourcing campaign to raise enough funds to outbid the callous business tycoon before the Christmas Eve deadline.

Crowd-Sourcing

Will it be a joyous Christmas in Breckerville this year? Intrigue and romance abound in this riveting tale of a tight-knit community standing up to corporate America.

....Until Next Time....

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

The Lumbersexual

The Lumbersexual:

Are You???

Have you noticed the relatively new trend in male style known as the lumbersexual?My superficial research on the subject says the term "lumbersexual" was coined about 3 years ago.

The Lumbersexual

According to Wikipedia, "A lumbersexual or urban lumberjack is a man who has adopted style traits typical of a traditional lumberjack, namely a beard, plaid shirt, and scruffy hair, substituting otherwise clean-cut and fashionable style choices. Denver Nicks described the trend as perhaps an attempt to "reclaim masculinity". (Wikipedia)

Obviously, it's more than a fashion trend.

You Can Do It!

The lumbersexual is not to be confused with the lumberjack. Lumbersexuals have probably never wielded an ax or hung off the end of a chainsaw. Many say the look is modelled after America's favourite lumberjack, Paul Bunyan.

Paul Bunyan: Lumberjack

Last week I went to a 40^th year anniversary reenactment of The Band's farewell concert The Last Waltz.

The Last Waltz

Local bands re-enacted the concert at The Boyce Farmers’ Market and it was crawling with lumbersexuals, most of whom were not born when The Last Waltz happened in San Francisco in 1976. Bob Dylan, Nobel Laureate, would probably fit the profile of a lumbersexual. Neil Young--definitely.

The Last Waltz , 1976

I ran into a former student/teacher’s pet at this event. When I commented to him that the place was full of lumbersexuals, he told me that New Brunswick has always been full of men with big bushy beards wearing plaid. Now the look is trendy and it has a name. He has a point. My father worked in the woods and always wore plaid. No beard. Let me assure you, he was no adherent to fashion trends!

Lumberjacks or Lumbersexuals?

As I was researching the lumbersexual, I wondered if there was a “female” equivalent. I didn’t find much except a few pictures. Then again, the movement is about reclaiming a certain kind of masculinity.

Lumbersexual?

The Baby Lumbersexual might look something like this:

Baby Lumbersexual

Here we have an idea of what a woman might wear while hanging out with a lumbersexual.

Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge

Many celebs are “rockin’” the Lumbersexual look, such as Ryan Reynolds,

Ryan Reynolds

and Ryan Titus.

Ryan Titus in Home-Grown Alpaca

As a Knitting Entrepreneur, I am planning to cash in on this fashion phenomenon. Take a look at my Lumbersexual Line. These coordinating mittens went to a lumbersexual couple in Toronto:

Toronto Lumbersexual Mittens

This pair adorns the hands of a New Brunswick lumbersexual.

NB Lumbersexual Mittens

Socks for the Baby Lumbersexual:

LumberBaby Socks

Mitts for the Toddler Lumbersexual.

LumberToddler Mitts

Mittens for the LumberFeminine:

LumberFeminine

Let me know if you would like to place an order!!

...Until Next Time...

Monday, 31 October 2016

Norwood on the Washademoak

Norwood on the Washademoak

I bet you’ve heard this line before: “When I retire, I’m going to open a Bed and Breakfast.” Maybe you’ve even said it. Well, my friend Ines and her husband Doug have actually done it! Norwood on the Washademoak in Cambridge-Narrows!! Let’s pay a visit.

Norwood

This is a BIG house. Built by Saint John architect Harry Mott in the early 1900s as a summer home, Norwood is actually like two houses under one roof--the family quarters and the caretaker's quarters. Ines’ family bought this property in the late 1950s and operated it as a working farm and a vacation rental. In 2013, Ines and Doug purchased Norwood and began extensive renovations. Over the last three years, they have lovingly restored the house into a beautiful and welcoming Bed and Breakfast.

Sideview

In October, my friend Janet and I booked an overnight visit to Norwood. I stayed in The Majestic, the room named for one of the riverboats that serviced the St.John River system in the 1800 and 1900s. Janet was housed in Furstenau, the room named for the birthplace of Ines’ father.

The Majestic

The Furstenau

Ines and Doug have successfully integrated the historical with the modern in their restoration of this house. We spent a Jane Austen evening in front of a soothing fire in the parlour.

The Parlour

The Parlour Art Gallery

Artist: Don Rigley

Original Kitchen Cupboards

The Front Stairs

(one of 3 sets of stairs)

And, of course, BREAKFAST is an important "B" of every good B and B. And ours was delicious and beautifully-presented. Fantastic coffee! Local bread, meats, eggs, vegetables and fruit.

Breakfast at Norwood

Ines and Doug have two pet sheep, Dill and Dot, which add a certain novelty to Norwood. Ines has been seen walking them through the fields on a leash.

Dill and Dot

Recently these two characters have been added to the grounds at Norwood. Ines claims Doug was a bit "bored" when he created them!

The "Bored" Couple

Washademoak Lake. Where is it? How do I get there? Not easy to pronounce or spell, research tells me that Washademoak comes from the Maliseet word "Wasetemoik" which means "unknown" or "the way to the other side.". Less than an hour’s drive from Fredericton, a visit to this hidden nugget is well worth the trip.