Computer Time

One of my goals for this week is to get some blogging done. I've had a request to post this wonderful soup recipe so here goes.

Tortilla Soup

If you don't have time to make a chicken stock, use canned low-salt chicken broth. You can also used canned green chilies as a replacement to fresh Anaheim chilies. This recipe also calls for Red Chili Sauce which must be made first.  (SERVES 6)

2 Tblspns corn oil

3 corn tortillas (6-inch), cut into 1-in strips

1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onions

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno chili, cored, seeded and minced

2 Anaheim chilies, roasted, peeled, cored, seeded and finely chopped

8 roma (plum) tomatoes seeded and diced (I never seed but just dice)

2 Tblspns tomato paste

2 teaspoons cumin seed ground coarsely

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

5 cups chicken stock

1 cup Red Chili Sauce (recipe below)

2 whole cooked chicken breasts, shredded

1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and diced.

GARNISH

1/2 cup grated Monterrey jack cheese

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 corn tortillas (6-inch diameter)

*Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add the tortillas, reduce heat and cook until they are golden brown and slightly crisp. Add the onion and cook 3 minutes longer; add the garlic and jalapeno chili and cook another 2 minutes. Add the Anaheim chilies, tomatoes and tomato paste; cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin and cayenne; slowly whisk in the chicken stock and red sauce and simmer the soup for about 20 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Add the shredded chicken and avocado and heat until warmed through.

*To make the garnish, preheat an over to 350F. Cut the tortillas into julienne strips. Place the strips on a baking sheet and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until crisp.

*To serve, ladle soup into 6 bowls and garnish with the grated cheese, cilantro and baked tortilla chips.

RED CHILI SAUCE

This classic sauce is used in enchiladas, huevos rancheros, tamales, soups, beans, etc. It is also an excellent marinade for steak or chicken. New Mexico chilies turn red when they dry and can be found in just about any local grocery stores. MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS

10 whole dried new Mexico chilies

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onions

2 garlic cloves, minced (I use 4)

about 2 cups chicken stock

2 Tblspns vegetable or olive oil

salt to taste

*Preheat an oven to 250F. Place the chilies in a heavy skillet and roast them dry in the hot oven for 3-4 minutes, being careful not to let them burn. Fill a pot just large enough to hold the chilies with water; bring the water to a boil and remove the pot from heat. Add the roasted chilies to the hot water and, using a weight such as a pot lid or dish, keep them submerged until they are soft, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the chilies from the water, stem, seed and tear them into strips.

*Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over low heat; add the onion and saute until browned, about 5 minutes.

*Put the chili strips, sauteed onion, garlic and 1 cup of the chicken stock into a food processor or a blender and puree until smooth; strain.

*Heat 2 Tblspns vegetable or olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the chili mixture to the hot oil and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock until the sauce is the desired consistency. (I add a full cup which then gives you 2 cups of sauce. 1 cup is used in the soup recipe above and the other cup can be refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for 6 months. Add salt to taste

Belknap Hot Springs

If you've never been, I suggest driving to Springfield and turning left. Up the McKenzie River Highway to Belknap Hot Springs. Some friends turned us onto this place several years ago and now we go every autumn. In years past, we've gone a little later in the year and taken advantage of the fall regalia of colors but this year we went a couple of weeks earlier trying to hit some warmer weather for a road trip.

Belknap consists of two mineral hot springs and many acres of gardens including a rather extravagant secret garden. There is a hotel, cabins and RV Park with luscious grounds which, while we were there, were jammed with blooming perennials and annuals. There are also some very interesting and photographic walks to go on.

Lower RV camping area along
The McKenzie River

Lower Hot Springs Pool,
always so inviting.

Crossing the bridge from the secret garden
back to the pool and hotel.

We like to stay 4 nights at a time. This gives us a chance to enjoy the grounds  plus get out for some interesting hikes within a short drive from Belknap. The weather held out for a couple of days for nice hiking but as expected, the rains came in and put a damper on any road trip we had planned. 2 to 3 weeks exploring Oregon ended as a few days in Central Oregon. We had a couple of fun days in Sisters and a couple of cold nights at LaPine, turned around and headed for home. I was missing weaving school AND was curious about an email from Terry.

Checking my email one morning from LaPine I saw Terry's communique with a subject line "want to buy my rio grande loom?" I needed to get home and find out what this was all about.

 Six months prior, Terry had fallen in love with the Rio Grande loom, while taking a class on one at Weaving Southwest, in Taos. I knew the looms were out there but was more familiar with the stand up looms the Zapotecs use in Mexico. I had made an extra effort, on my travels in Mexico, to see these fabulous looms and their weavers. Always curious but never in a million years thinking I would ever own one. 

As fate would have it, I found an ad on Craigslist for one, the standard size and it was for a great price. Terry immediately bought it and took it to her house in two large garbage bags with a VHS video on how to put it together. Like I said earlier, that was about 6 months ago. Terry had said that if the "Cadillac" size came along she'd buy it and give me first dibs at the Standard. Well I knew that wasn't going to happen. I had never ever seen a Rio Grande for sale in this area before, not until Craigslist. But!!! Some how a gentleman showed up at school one day (when I was in Sisters) and had this loom that he no longer had any use for. Later Terry said when the man pulled the photo out of his pocket and the image was the "Cadillac" loom, she almost fell over.

So there is the story of how I acquired the standard size Rio Grande Walking Loom. I acquired the pieces sans the garbage cans. Diane, bless her sweet little poetic heart, suggested that I have her husband Mike come over to help assemble it. What a great idea!

Before assembly.

I have to say that the first hour, after watching the first part of the video, was totally confusing. Which leg went where and which side went where and why wouldn't it fit together? But I had this epiphany! I was looking at the loom like I would a car. If I stand at the back of the loom to weave then surely the front of the loom is that part which is out in front and where I stand must be the back and the right side is the passenger side, etc. But no, trying to have that sort of logic didn't work. The front of the loom is actually that part in which you stand or sit in front of. The back of the loom is that part which is furthest away from you. OK so everyone else probably knows that but I didn't. Mike evidently didn't know that either and once that hit us, it was smooth sailing from there. My fear of parts missing was unwarranted. The only thing that I had to replace were 4 bolts and a little string. I was so excited to see it together.

I did spend the entire next day trying to figure out the pile of string heddles that Diane had untangled and tied into butterflies. I got them hung and here is the proof!

Assembled with heddles

The only sad part of all of this is that my friends Joane and Ingrid spent the entire day in my studio helping me warp the loom and while preparing my photographs for this posting, I accidently lost the files. Bummed me out, but if that is the worst thing that happens, I'm good. All I can say about that is THANK YOU GALS!!! You are the best!

Once the loom was dressed and ready to weave on, I needed to reorganize. The loom and the paraphenalia to operate it take up half the studio. When I planned the size of the studio I had something like this in mind. I just didn't expect it quite so soon. Now I spend more time in the studio that ever and I absolutely adore it.

Kevynne's new Rio Grande Walking Loom making itself at home in Stick Shed Studio.

It didn't take me any time to get started weaving, once the loom was dressed. Here are my results so far. I'm just over half way and this doesn't show the lower half of the weaving. It's rolled under onto a beam. When I am finished with this piece I don't have to cut it off. I have enough warp to do at least 2 more and maybe 3 more small doormat size rugs. This is why I never blog! I love being at the loom.

first experiment on Rio Grand

And finally some weavers finished pieces.

Kiki and her Greyhound

Kathy were her incredibly beautiful framed beach scene.

Christine busy at her rug.

Pat's complete piece from the Terry's summer workshop.

 And lastly, Shelly put on a basket class the last two weeks. It was only suppose to be a one day class but we novices took longer and she was gracious enough to come back the next week and help us complete our pieces.

building the bottom framework

Kathy & Jan getting a handle on things.

Terry and Pat getting into it.

Terry's fine results.

This next month promises to be a very busy one for me. I look forward to lots of weaving at home and at school. Also my good buddy Renee will be holding a Christmas Card wood block class at school the next two Wednesdays and I plan on being at both of them. There is one space still available for the class on Wednesday November 9th. If you're interesting call the school at 503-558-1727.


Jan's spinning date on the first Wednesday of the month will be held this Wednesday Nov 2nd and I plan on being there until Renee's class starts.


I'm also looking forward to another basket class with Shelly on the 16th of the month. A lovely pie carrier basket is on the docket.


Then there is my daughter's birthday with family gathering and of course Thanksgiving. So if I don't post for a while, you'll forgive me. It's only because life is so full and joyous. Take care and Happy Holidays to all.

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

The last weekend of September was the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby. I think it's the last fiber show of the year in Oregon.These gatherings only happen a few times a year and I am like a kid in a candy store being at them. This year Damascus Fiber Arts School was invited to have an exhibit and to demonstrate weaving while displaying some of the items that we create at school.


Terry asked Barb and I to organize the two day event and we had a good turn out of volunteer demonstrators. We all thought it was very successful. The public showed a great interest in what we do and teach. We hope to see some new faces in the near future.

Table displaying weaving, dyeing, knitting, and basketry

Kiki, JD, Laurelen and Kathy demonstrating and answering questions.

John always draws a huge crowd.

Barb admiring the llamas

How could this animal NOT make you smile?