contrasts

The weather was crisp and clear this morning. The river water catches the sun and it shines like moonlight against the silhouettes of the trees.



We had a scant amount of snow fall overnight.



...and today the winds have caught up with us. On my way to the henhouse, I grab my earflap hat that I knit from handspun Icelandic Sheeps wool. As I slip it on my head, I think of how many years ago I made the hat, and how it has worn so well. It seems to get better with age.



The sky is bright blue, without clouds at the moment. The wind will bring them, soon enough. I walk past the old tree and wonder if some critter is asleep..curled up in one of those cozy holes in the trunk. I used to think owls slept in there. If I were an owl, I would inhabit that tree.



Glancing up in the other direction, I notice the eagle. Probably looking for breakfast. I tell him to move along, and go fish the river for his breakfast...leave my chickens alone!



Back inside the cabin, I stoke the coal-fire in the woodstove. It will be a good day to stay inside and finish up some projects...



...or maybe start a new one!

a winter weavers window

This winter, there are attempts being made to achieve the goal of weaving with my handspun linen. Samples have been woven on a 4 harness table top loom that sits in a somewhat south/west facing window. The light is at its best in the mid to late afternoon, and the room is situated on the second floor, above the woodstove. The cabin has the old "gravity feed" vents in the floor, and the warmth radiates upwards. It is a pleasent place to be during these very cold days.



From my vantage point, I see the slope of the snow covered road.



If I look through the trees, I can see the river winding its way through the valley.



There is the old maple that has been severely trimmed this past fall. It holds a bird feeder, and late in the day, the turkeys come down off the mountain to eat the seeds that the smaller birds have dropped. Turkeys are normally very shy, and it is hard to get close to them. They do not notice me looking down on them from above. It is remarkable how much their behavior is like the chickens we keep. Or maybe it is the other way around.



The warp that I have dressed the loom with, is made from commercially spun cotton. Pulling one or more strands through the dent will allow me to decide what sett I will use for the final piece. I used a handmade mini-triangle loom for a raddle, but I'm not so sure it was the best idea.



The heddles are threaded for plain or tabby weave. I must remember to take notes about what I think works well, and what does not. Surprisingly, the weave structure that happened due to a threading error, is a favorite. I am learning and enjoying the process.



My inspiration comes from these towels (shown above), work of my Grandmother's and Great Grandmother's.



As you can see, there is still much for me to learn. The weft for the samples is my handspun linen singles. The singles were spun with Z twist.



Next, I plan to try the handspun hemp singles for warp. I don't mind telling you that I feel a bit daunted by the idea.

the bandwagon

A couple of years ago, I hopped on the band-weaving bandwagon. My efforts were stymied by not having a good band lock. Since I made one a few months ago, I've been doing more weaving. It really is amazing how having the right tools for the job can make such a big difference.

Warping my Double Hole tape loom has become easier since I've enlisted the help of my husband's old wooden C-Clamps. Set up on either side of the loom, they hold it in an upright position and I can see both sides of the loom. I use my handmade threading tool to pass the warp threads through the slots and holes. Once I have it warped, I can move the C-Clamp over to the shelf near the window, and it becomes an anchor for one end of the warp.



I've been weaving with different size DMC cotton, and silk, playing around with what works best. So far, I like the results of the #5 the best.



Keeping the wpi in mind, I've been spinning my own silk to use for weaving. I hope to use it as pattern threads for the linen tapes I will make. It has taken me longer than it should to learn some of the finer details of band weaving, but it is starting to come together. This past week I tried warping for a simple back-strap loom.



It is very interesting to compare the Double Hole Rigid Heddle Loom with a Backstrap loom, and the ways that patterns are achieved. Now that I've gotten acquainted with the basic set up, I'll move onto trying to do some patterns.



From where I sit when I'm weaving, I have nice light from the window and warmth from the coal/wood stove. The view out the window lets me take notice of the slowly disappearing snowbank, and snowdrops that have started to grow. They are more like "snowdrips", as the blossom is still closed up tight against the cold. They seem to know that the temps are still too cold for the pollinators.



The chickens are very glad to find areas where the sun has melted away the snow to expose the dry dirt!



Nothing like a good dust bath after a long winter.

They dig their holes and kick the dirt up. The kick it all around and over themselves. Then they bask in the sun and dirt.



Other signs of spring I've noticed include: skunks and skunkcabbages, redwing blackbirds, and chipmunks. Still no Eastern Phoebe. We are expecting rain on Friday. They should be along soon after that.

contrasts

we are little more than halfway past winter. we have had some extremely cold weather. yesterday, a good measure of snow fell and covered the riverrim.



the world outside is full of ice and snow, and inside, we keep the fires burning to warm our spirits and our bodies. it gets me to thinking about the contrast.



contrast n. state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association.



opposites.. antithesis....



inverse...obverse,



converse and reverse.



as I take the small glowing bead whorls to reduce the temperature in the cold snow, I'm moving back and forth between fire and ice. Stoking fires, shoveing snow...these are daily chores and I am constantly aware of the contrast.



Burning coals fall into snow, and disappear as they melt their way down to the ground.



Somewhere in the middle is balance.



...and I'm beginning to gather a good collection of whorls!

featherbeds and warm fires

Its time to snuggle down.



Even the whitetail want to do it.

Recent snowfall and frosty air was enough to send me into the closet to dig out the feather bed. There isn't anything quite as comfortable as snuggling under a bunch of goose feathers when the mercury plummets.



The yearlings came by to visit. It is the first time I've seen them since opening day of rifle season. One of them has been injured, and has been shot in the ear. The ear hangs down on the side of its head like a limp rag.

The other yearling seemed fine.



Yet still a litte shy....as it should be. The flag went up as I approached.



Hiding behind the tree and peeking out to make sure the coast is clear...



....and running to tell mother. old habits are hard to break.



it is ok, we all need someone to lean on.



So. I stoke the fire in the coal stove, and watch winter from the window.

tending the homefires

We have been having cold and squally weather! Yesterday, I went out to do the chores, and got caught right in the middle of a squall that was passing through. It was the first real snow fall I have seen so far this winter.

The rabbits water is freezing continually. I need to make several trips a day, with the hot kettle in hand, to melt off the ice in their crocks, and supply them with fresh water. I have also been leaving apple and celery slices with them overnight.

I leave the kettle on the woodstove so the water will stay warm. The stove takes center stage in weather like this. The Mr. and I are different in the methods that we practice to tend the coal fire. I am more of a "shoveler", where he is a firm believer in "pouring it on" style. The stove has been burning steadily since early November...it has a life of its own.

I find myself devising plans to stay close to the stove in this cold weather. I made a nice batch of wedding soup and some baked apples for desert last night. Baking on the stove is a little bit of a trick. It helps to have several different thermometers...one for the stove pipe, one for the stove top...and one for inside a dutch oven. After a time, you get to know your stove, and how it should look and feel when you want to cook certain things... When you cook on a woodstove, things take a little bit longer....but they smell and taste really great, and pretty soon you notice that people are hanging around the stove. I sometimes move my spinning wheel near the stove....to keep my eye on whatever it is that I am making.

Another benefit of having a stoked stove is that it makes a terrific dryer. I have been washing up wool, in the evenings again. Right now I am working my way through some Black Finnsheep, which is splendid! So, winter is good.

Oh, and I fell down a few rabbit holes ...while working on the Gunnister Man's Pouch..but that is a story for another day.