GREETINGS
We had a bout of cool days and cooler nights now its very humid. The leaves are changing so fall weather approaches.
SPINNING AND KNITTING FOR A PROJECT
Usually I just spin and don’t really care what I am spinning. I have such a supply of wool that I want to get spun that it doesn’t really matter. This year I skirted Carol K and Maude’s fleeces and threw the skirting’s into a bag. I usually throw away the really messy stuff and keep the rest for a small project. But this year there was a lot. I decided to dye it and use some one old dye and another dye that I had plenty of. They were both Pro Chemical dyes, Mallard Green and mustard. I love the way the colored blended together.
Well then this Debbie Bliss pattern book, which I bought a long time ago surfaced and I found a pattern that was simple and I liked . So this is what I am spinning and knitting.. I want to get the sweater finished and make an outfit to wear on my November trip. I am not a good finisher I have loads of started projects around and am determined to finish a lot of them this winter and get the sweater done by mid October. I am working on it every day.
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR
I do love doing this fair, meeting old friends and new customers. People love to stop and chat while I am spinning and I do enjoy answering their questions about spinning. It was a lovely two days.
BOOKS I AM READING
Rag Rugs of England and AMerica
I was able to purchase this book online and am so glad that I did
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it has wonderful stories and pictures of old rugs. The two people who influenced my rug hooking most were Heather Richie and Deanne Fitzpatrick. Both of them in totally different ways inspire me to do things in a different way. To breathe while rug hooking and not worry about straight lines . This book reminds me of Heather as it has a story which she told in class and the same picture that is in the book she showed us. The print is called Geordie ha’ ad a Bairn by Ralph Hedley around 1890. In the picture is a clippie rug which Heather showed us how to make.
Lots of pictures of old rugs with interesting information about them. A must read for rug hookers and historians..
IRELAND IS CALLING
My daughter Cindy, grandson Chris and I are heading back to IRELAND in November. Its been 4 years since we went last. A hiatus for Cindy to attend Law School. We are heading to Cork to show Chris that beautiful county with side trips to Kerry and a few other counties. We rented a beautiful stone cottage and I know there will be at least a day of fishing for Chris. I can’t wait to get there I have always felt at home in Ireland. We may take a trip to Tipperary to see an odd breed of sheep called Zwartbles, they look like badgers! We got wonderful prices on Norwegian Air and will fly from Providence directly to Cork. Counting the days.
DOT AND HATTIE
This week I picked up two hens from the Chicken Man. It is hard for people and chickens to adjust to new living situations but they are adjusting,
DOT
Dot has ventured out once and I see her getting accumulated to the flock soon. Hattie is living with the Bantam’s and is now sleeping with them. Morticia treats her like her daughter, bossing her around. She is young and probably won’t start laying till the end of November.
HATTIE
Dot is really a rescue. She is a two-year old bird who the chicken man said is spent. What he means by that is worthless, she probably won’t lay anymore and is sent with another 25 or so birds to the auction (an awful and terrifying place). He is of the mentality, which is old school, that hens lay very few eggs after their second year. Well I have never found that true.. My 13-year-old hen laid beautiful blue eggs almost every day of the summer before she passed as most of my other old hens do. Change in animal care comes slow here in the states but in other countries like England it is way ahead of us. I am so glad to see new farmers give animals loving care and a chance to live on green grass and fresh air the way their suppose to live. (My rant for the day.)
Many thank for reading my blog on this cloudy fall day. Leaves are slowing changing. Carole
Whispering Pines Farm 