high tides turning

After a few days of rain, the river levels were about 7 feet higher than normal today. A blue sky reflects its color in the muddy waters. Weeks have gone by without a walk down by the riverrim, so it was especially nice to soak up the sun and watch the water rush by. A few days ago, when the river was cresting, pumpkins tumbled over riding the white water..I thought how disappointed the farmer must be, an entire growing season stolen by the river!

I collected some rocks today, for a future project....I took my time selecting exactly the type of rocks I wanted. As I turned the rocks over in my hands, looking for just the right shape, I discovered a curious egg case. I think it is beautiful!

What creature made this? Spider? I wonder...

Sassafras mittens of orange and red and yellow are waving to me, overhead. Sassafras is always the first to go, the rest will follow in a few weeks. The passenger train, with 5 cars full of leaf peepers, sounds the whistle at the crossing. I wave to the passengers, my hands feel the cool of the mountain air... soon I will be wearing my mittens too....

As I walk back to the cabin, I notice my yarn is still on the line. On Friday, Grace invited the spin group over for a little dyeing...I'm drying some singles..."dyed THEN plied". The plying part comes next.

I love seeing the yarn on the clothesline...it says "a spinner lives here!"

phenological notes Sept 2010

phenological events

September 2010

4th warblers on the wing
10th fall mushrooms appear
12th caterpillars on the move
14th hail storm

honing

Last weekend was the Endless Mountains Fiber Festival. Due to a camera glitch, I don't have any photos of the event. I'll have to link you over to the Antique Spinning Wheels blog. I had a very nice time doing demonstrations, and meeting new people, and visiting with old friends. After all the preparation for the festival, it seems to be over with so fast! I'm still getting caught up with putting things away and catching up on paperwork and house and garden chores...

Today, I wanted to take some time out for myself. Spinning flax is at the top of my list, I need to hone my skills for the upcoming event at the National Museum of the American Coverlet. I will be presenting the Double Flyer Spinning Wheel, and I'm very excited to be a part of this educational workshop.

Under a gorgeous September sky, I decide to work outside, on my mother's little saxony flax wheel. I gave the wheel a nice rub down before I got started. When you polish a wheel, it gives you time to pause and admire its finer points...like the wonderful turnings....

or the makers marks...

or the detail to the treadle...which sorta looks like a cross section of one of the maidens...

Once the wheel was cleaned up, I worked on dressing the distaff. Then, I decided to make myself a little water pot.

Several years ago, at a workshop about spinning in the old way, I heard a story about a little flax water pot that was made out of a gourd. So I grew the gourds, but life gets busy and I never had time to make the water pot. Today was the day.

First, I drilled a hole in the neck, and dumped out all the seeds. I'll set those aside and plant some more gourds next spring. IIRC, these were mini bottle gourds and I don't remember where I got them. Should have written it down!

Next I drilled some holes, and braided some flax for the handles. I knotted the end before threading it though, so I would have a wick. Then I filled the pot with water. Fabulous! It works like a charm! Every so often I simply pinch the wick on the bottom of the pot, and my fingers catch the drip of water from the wick. I like it so much better than a regular water dish! When I use a water dish, the water drips all over the place from my fingertips. The wick provides just the right amount of water, moistening the fingertip and thumb. When I get a chance, I will buy some flax seed and make a proper flax mucilage made from pouring boiling water over about a tbsp. of flax seeds.

I practice first with one hand, then the other. Warming up for double flyer spinning, letting my fingers know the flax and remember the movements...I spent a few hours spinning the flax and just soaking up the sun, listening to the river flow by and the occasional crow of the rooster. It was enchanting. Flax knows its power over me, and I am mesmerized...

Next thing you know, the light is fading and its time to start supper. I didn't fill the bobbin, I will have to work on that during the spare moments I find in the coming week.

walk with me wed~ courier and i

This week finds me helping out at the library as a courier for the special order intra-library loan books. Their regular courier has to take some down time, so I'm filling in. The drive to deliver the books is enjoyable, and the view from the front seat is, at times, bucolic.

The books ride with us in the back seat. Occasionally, we stop and deliver, then pick up other books that need to go back to the main branch. I am tempted to stop and look through the books to see what titles the patrons are ordering, but I resist. Back in the car I notice that the rural country roads are peaceful and quiet. I imagine that in the winter months these roads will be a little bit harder to navigate...it is easy for me to picture that in my mind...lots of snow and ice in this area. But for now, it is still late summer, and there is green everywhere.

The roads undulate, up to the top of the mountains, and down into the valleys...

Around the bend, I suddenly come upon an orchard of apples. They are ripe for the picking! We stop and buy some directly from the farmers, an elderly couple, whom we exchange pleasantries with. We munch on the fresh apples while we drive.

At home, the summer bounty decorates the table...and makes a delicious desert!

jewelweeds and gemstones

Late summer finds a bumper crop of Jewelweed growing near my garden. The flowers dangle, like delicate orange speckled jewels that glisten in the sunlight and early morning dew. Other names include (but are not limited to) Touch-Me-Not ... (Balsaminaceae)..Impatiens capensis...snap weed.

The humming birds love the nectar hidden deep inside the flower, and will use their long tongues to find it. The wasps enjoy their share of the nectar as well, but are known to bite holes in the back of the flower to get at it. This action would seem to side step pollination. Not to worry. Some of the last flower buds never open, but pollinate themselves inside the flower....known as a "hidden marriage"...the plant makes a genetic clone of the parent plant and a seed is still produced for next years plants.

A yellow dye may be made from the flowers, but I have yet to try working with them. I had hopes of trying it out this year, but I am busy with other things. Jewels and Gemstones of another sort...the Endless Mountains Fiber Festival is coming up, and I've been working on making some new thread hooks and stitch markers and buttons for my offerings this year.

Soapstone, Cats Eye, Bloodstone, Mikuki Cubes, and Pietersite...just to name a few, from the Potomac Bead Company. Wonderful quality, color and clairty, lustre and luminescence...they are a delight to work with...

My camera attempts to capture all the details, I can hear the auto focus changing and buzzing with frustration.

Moss Agate Rice and Jasper stones from Happy Mango Beads find their way to onto stitch markers...tools to enhance a knitting project somewhere, someday, and will assist the owner in keeping track of pattern repeats..

I enjoy making functional tools that are beautiful to look at...

...and I hope they continue to bring the same sort of enjoyment after they leave the booth. Hope you can stop by and say hello! I'll be in the Antique Spinning Wheels booth... number 27 & 28....

les fileuses / the spinners

les fileuses ...the spinners....dancing with distaffs!

another version, with another use for the distaff (be sure to watch to the end of the video)

and marching with distaffs!

but where are the spindles? perhaps tucked inside the distaff, or a pocket, I like to think...

because what good is a distaff without its spindle?

finding my words

My mother passed away on July 8th.

Since then, it has been difficult for me to find words for this blog.

There is so much to say. And yet, there are no words.

I am grateful that I was able to be at her bedside during the last few weeks of her life. Words were difficult at that time too.

The words are in my heart, but they have a hard time finding their way out, to be spoken.

While she slept, and sometimes when we talked... I spun some silk on my spindle.

I finished spindling the last of this silk in the evening, a few days after we laid my mother to rest.

These threads have now become very special to me. There are words and tears and prayers and oh, so many emotions that were locked into the draft, the lengths and the wind on.

When I look at it, I don't see wraps per inch, or grist, twists per inch, yards or ounces, or even a future project. When I look at it, my thoughts are simply transported back to a time, a place, a moment, a conversation, a glance and a goodbye.

Many thanks to those who know me personally, and have sent your kind notes of sympathy. I appreciate them very much.

phenological events june 2010

5th wrens hatch young
9th harvesting lettuce
10th harvesting radish
11th baby wild rabbits

early summer

summer has arrived, and it has been hazy, and crazy...but far from lazy. i try to keep up with "things". returning to the garden always helps me slow down and notice the steady pace of nature...i take note and i try to remember to slow down and to pace myself in the fast lane of everyday living.

i'm happy with the pea trellis that i built this year, my peas are starting to set flower...it won't be long before there will be peas. the poles and the vines are taller than i am, and the trellis is holding strong in the high winds that accompany the thunderstorms. i'm growing a good crop of norli snowpeas, a dutch variety with a lovely purple blossom. my seed bank supply of this variety has been dwindling, so i'm hopeful about a good harvest.

the daylilies are coming in, the reds...

and the oranges...

Leucanthemum vulgare, oxeye daisy....marguerite...moon daisy, dog daisy ...he loves me..he loves me not...they line the roadside where I walk

...by all accounts, he loves me.

beeflies amuse the eyes..."is it bee? is it a fly? it is a beefly." this one is a villa, i think.

Bufo americanus lives here...eastern american toad... in her red phase...at least i think i should say "she"...the color of the throat may be darker if it was a he. size would also be an indication of the sex, with the females being larger than the males. this toad was easily the size of the palm of my hand.

is it any wonder that some people think you can get warts from a toad?

while these warts may secrete a noxious milky bufotoxin, you cannot get warts from it....but i do remember reading that the native american indians from this area would use the toxic secretions to dip the tips of their arrows in. ouch!

the elderflowers from the black elderberry trees are everywhere! it will be a good summer for the berries, if all goes well, i will restock the shelves with jam and syrup and cordial. there are enough flowers this year to also pick for drying for tea. i don't care for the flavor by itself, but when mixed with lemon balm leaves and blackberry leaves etc. i will take some if needed for those winter colds or sore throats. elderflower wine (elderblow) is something i've never tasted, but i have heard that is is delicious and has a beautiful pale yellow color. other things like salves or oils or bath salts can also be made from the dried flowers. (always use caution with leaves or stems and seeds...those should not be ingested)

a walk through the garden leads me down the path and stops at the hillside where i can see and hear the river..although it beckons "come and swim", the water is still to cold for me to enjoy it...maybe by mid July...

strength

I recommend going directly to Youtube and watching this video on a full screen so you can see all of the details . It is the best representation of "twiddling" that I have seen in action. "Twiddling" for lack of a better word- describes the technique he is using to spin the wool. Note the position of his fingers (two in front and thumb behind the spindle) and how he spins in an almost supported style, without any support for the spindle. Also note the how he is able to wind on to that large cop with ease. Imagine the strength and skill of his hands.

All the while, the smile never leaves his lips.

right on schedule

This years fawn makes an appearance today. Right on schedule. Seems you can set your clock by them. Memorial Day brings the fawns.

New born fawns are knee high to their mothers. So far, this one is coming around with mamma and another...yearling I think...the babysitter. The three of them are hanging together.

What a beautiful time of year to enter the world, with the roses and flags to great you...have a look at the fawn born last year..I'll wait.

Unfinished projects sit on the table with the roses..the scent is lovely. So fresh!

I'm almost ready to ply...on the spindles ... the last locks of Allspice (Alpaca), blended with cashmere. Work on woven stole is nearing completion....right on schedule...NOT!

phenological events May 2010

phenological events

May 2010

1st bluetts and heal all
5th peas and lettuce up
10th tree swallows
11th frost overnight
15th cat birds arrive
plant potatoes
16th hummingbirds!
18th warblers!
19th pea trellis built
22nd planted string beans
29th red currents ripening
30th red raspberries setting fruit

the shetland connection

Cathy is my Shetland Connection. Over the years, (has it really been years?) I occasionally get a package in the mail from her...little (and sometimes bigger) baggies...with bits of Shetland sheep fleece tucked inside. I spin them up, I make notes...I set them aside...in my "Shetland samples" basket.

The baggies are marked with the name of the sheep, and occasionally the name of shepherdess and/or the name of the Shetland color. According to the NASSA..Shetland wool comes in one of the widest ranges of colors of any breed.

While reading up on the names and numbers of colors that can come out of the Shetland breed, I found this interesting quote:

"Besides the white, the sheep produce several shades of wool including moorit(reddy/brown), shaela (silvery grey), fawn, grey, dark brown and black. They are often patterned such as krunet (white crown), katmoget (dark belly) and gulmoget (light underneath). There are 11 main colors as well as 30 markings, many still bearing their Shetland dialect names. Unfortunately, many of these colors and markings have become quite rare as white wool has historically commanded better prices."

I'm starting to enjoy seeing the range of samples that I am slowly amassing...they look so pretty all lined up.

From dark to light:

Batty Grey (which was my favorite!)
Ana-Dark
Henna
Liberty
Sax Emsket multicolor
Fawn
Korny
Liberty light
unmarked
Nikke
Peeps

Some samples have been spun on the Great Wheel, others on the Ashford, or CPW...and a few are spindle spun. Some are woolen, some are worsted, and some are somewhere in between. Some of my samples are singles.

I have tried to spin the individual wool samples the way I believe they should be spun. In other words, I spin the wool in a manner that I think the wool would best lend itself to make the type of yarn they were born to be. If you don't spin, you may not understand what I am talking about. That's OK.

I still have a few baggies stashed away to spin up...they are marked:

Islet
Truffles
Pelageo
Willow fawn
Myrtle
Sass

And what is to become of all this yarn?

Cathy has completed a Shetland Samples sweater...gorgeous..did you see it? And Leigh has also worked with Shetland samples...did you see her finished Shetland Sweater? Oh my! I just love looking at their work! Each sweater reflects the imagination and style of the creator. When I think of the talents and skill and creativity that went into these sweaters, I stand in awe of them!

Both of these projects are so beautiful, and inspirational...one of these days, I will finish spinning up my Shetland samples, and create a sweater of my own. But I don't mind telling you, after looking at these two projects, it is somewhat daunting to think of making my own!

fusul

There are so many things we can learn just from looking at pictures. Visual Language. Pictures can speak to us. ...you know....that expression about them being worth a thousand words.....

A minute into this video, note the dual purpose of the spinning wheel. It appears that the spinner is winding off the cop onto a winder that has been mounted on top of the wheel. She is turning the crank on the wheel to turn the winder. At closer examination of the winder -- it looks to me as if inverted hand spindles have been inserted into the holes of the arms on the winder...again, another dual purpose.

I find myself watching, looking, learning.

looking to the past

It is getting hard to find a good supplier of flax strick. Good quality flax strick should be bundled, with all of the flax measuring the full length of the plant. Generally, it is 30 to 36 inches in length. This full length is important when it comes to dressing a line distaff for spinning. A line distaff is for long line flax strick, or an uncut full length.

The image above contains an example of premium quality flax strick on the left, and poorer quality on the right. The color of the flax would indicate the retting method. But if you examine the photo, you might notice that the flax on the left is nicely prepared, and the fibers are not stuck together. There are no pieces of broken boon (or the woody outer waste portion of the flax stem). I had ordered this flax strick online, and when it arrived I was disappointed in the quality. I really should have sent it back. I can send it through the hackels and clean it, or scutch and swingle it..but a fair amount will be wasted, and I paid for line flax, not tow.

I am posting these two videos of flax processing for you to compare (for those that might be interested). One video shows the modern methods and the other shows the traditional methods. One thing that strikes me when I compare the two videos, is that in the traditional or old method of processing --the flax is handled by human hands a good deal of the time.

Do you think we have a finer product by means of the new methods, or the old?

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Mothers Day...and show you a photo of my Great-grandmother, whose hands planted, processed, and spun flax to linen...long ago, and far away.

Having now completed the process with my homegrown/handspun flax... I feel a sort of bond or a sense of sisterhood with her...and certainly a sense of appreciation for the skill and work involved in creating a good piece of linen.

extra hours

Spring is now in full swing, everyone and everything feels it. The young cockerel announces it several times a day and the songbirds agree.

The oriels have arrived, and the American Redstarts are back as well. Catbirds are late this year, along with the hummers...and we have not had a sighting yet.

Some of the late spring perennials bloom, while others are fading already. The sister to the cockerel hides behind the Bleeding Heart blossoms.

I've been making a point to get the eggs out of the henhouse early each day. I have 2 broody hens who keep looking around for eggs to set on. One of the hens has been sitting on a billiard ball for 2 weeks now! As a result, I have to collect the eggs before they find them. Part of my routine includes checking the asparagus patch and picking a few spears to add to the zip lock bag in the fridge. It is a leisurely task that I enjoy, as it gives me time to notice new sprouts of peas and lettuce and radishes that were recently planted.

A birthday gift of this beautiful support spindle by Fred Hatton holds a blend of Alpaca and Cashmere that will become the edge of the pashmina shawl/scarf that I am working on. Support spindling is one of my favorite things to these days. When I get a spare moment, I sneak off with one...maybe over a second cup of coffee a little after sunrise...or after supper on the deck..just before sunset.

BTW..sunset is happening as late as 8PM. This gives us a full fourteen hours of daylight to enjoy. Good thing, because there is a ton of work to be done around here! And it leaves little time to spin.

However, with something as enjoyable as sitting down to relax with spindle, it is easy to squeeze in a few minutes somewhere during the day...and it is amazing how quickly all those moments turn into yards!

calling all fibers

Public service announcement: You can send your hair, pet hair, alpaca, sheeps wool etc. to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf! Details can be found HERE

april 2010 phenological events

1st frogs wake up with beards
2nd quince buds show color
5th carpenter bees and wasps
8th warblers return
12th oriels arrive
18th may apples open
22nd wrens build in nest boxes
28th transplant tomato plants in greenhouse
April 2009

1st- frogs seen growing beards
3rd- garden bonfire
8th- spot broccoli starts
12th - amphibian eggs in pools
15th- ruby-crowned kinglet
warbler migration begins
18th- caddis fly hatch on river
19th- toads in garden
wasps start building nests
21st- mayapples appear

april showers bring may...

apples!

Well, almost May Apple flowers...buds are bursting everywhere. May Apple is also known as American Mandrake...and Indian Apple...once I heard someone call it Racoonberry. I wonder if raccoons eat it, I've never seen any critters eating the May Apples, but they must be, I never see the fruit of these flowers. A friend of mine once remarked that May Apples were eaten by the Native Americans, but I believe the plant can be poisonous if you don't know how to prepare it. Certain parts of the plant should not be ingested! Seeds and rind of the fruit should never be eaten. I shall have to watch carefully to see if any wildlife eats the May Apples.

There are more apple blossoms in the garden, these are from my Whitney Crabapple tree. My tree is 4 years old now. The old timer who sold it to us called it a sheepsnose crab. I cannot remember if he told me the fruit or the blossom looked like a sheep's nose, and that is how they got their nick name.

We had to collect blossoms from other trees to put in the branches with the tree to assure pollination. Our other dwarf apple tree was destroyed over the winter by rabbits, or perhaps a porcupine, girdling the trunk. So sad to loose that tree, it was 2 years old. Judy brought me another up to take its place.

Work continues on the Alpaca/Pashmina "scawl". Scawl is my unword for a cross between a scarf and a shawl..

The Alpaca has been hand combed, then dizzed and spun to a lace weight yarn on the Great Wheel. The panels have been woven using the continuous strand method on a square loom. I am using a lace background stitch to connect the panels.

The yarn is so light and soft, it seems I am working with air. I will be interested in finding out what the total weight of this finished product will be. This is my second project from "Allspice" that has been designed for Paco Fino and Finca Alta Vista.