WOOLGATHERES REUNION-HARLEQUIN FLEECE AND SHEEP-THE CUCUMBER PATCH

GREETINGS

Its cloudy this morning with humidity seeping in, tomorrow there will be a cold front moving through bringing cooler weather. The Hummingbirds are very active with the flowered Jewel Weed near the computer window.

WOOLGATHERES REUNION

I hosted a reunion of the Spinning group Woolgatheres that I belonged to in the 80’s and 90’s yesterday.  When I learned to spin in the early 80’s spinning was not very popular.  You only saw it at places like Old Sturbridge Village.  Then  I heard of the group called Woolgatheres. My friend Deb and I wandered through the wilds of western Massachusetts attending these wonderful meetings.  We met the most down to earth, nicest gals who shared with us everything they knew.  We learned more about sheep and wool at theses meetings then anywhere else . In the late 80’s the group changed as many of the earlier members went back to work.  We had dye parties and loads of fun.  Newsletters went out and the group got larger.  As in life things changed and the  group stopped meeting.

For the past few years I have wanted to have a get together.  Some of the old members have passed on so the need to meet again was greater for me.  I sent out post cards to people I knew and could find .  It was a wonderful day , many wonderful memories were relived and the inspiration to revive Woolgatheres came to life.  We will be having a dye party next summer and meetings are being set up as I write. More members will be found.  Another great adventure in life.

HARLEQUIN SHEEP

 

Joan one of the members of Woolgatheres brought in two bags of fleece one was Icelandic and the other was Harlequin.  I have never heard of a Harlequin sheep before.  I investigate it and they are very interesting.  They are a small breed under 24 inches and are very easy to handle and hornless.  Their fleece tends to be spotted and it is fine to medium texture.  Joan gave me some and I am anxious to spin it.  Although they look like a Jacob sheep the wool is much finer.

THE CUCUMBER PATCH

Planted late but working out very well.  I put a fence for them as I had read how they do well growing vertically.  Next year I will plant them on the long fence in the garden.  

Many thanks for reading my blog today and if you are a former member of Woolgatheres please get in touch with me.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  Carole

 

 

WHOOPIE PIES-MONDAY SPINNERS

HELLO

It’s a wonderful starlit night at the farm, and warm too.

WHOOPIE PIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oven 350

Cake

2 cups flour                               1-1/2 tsp. baking sods

7 tbs. shortening                  1 cup sugar

7 tbs cocoa                                1 cup milk

2 eggs separated                    1 tsp. vanilla

putting whites aside

Sift the dry ingredients together.  In a separate bowl cream the shortening, sugar and egg yolks, beat well. add vanilla.  Add dry ingredients alternately with the milk mixing well.  Drop by tablespoons full on greased sheets, Bake 10 minutes till done.   Remove from sheet and dry on rack.

FILLING

3/4 cup shortening                 2 egg whites

2 cups confectioners sugar      1 tsp vanilla

Beat all well and frost flat side of pie, place other pie on top.

Keep in the fridge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENJOY

I have been making these for my family for over 20 years and they are always a hit.    Some people put a marshmallow filling inside but we like this filling best.

MONDAY SPINNERS

The Monday Spinners is a branch of WOOLGATHERES.  A group of spinners that started in the Amherst, Leverett area some 50 years ago.  Deb and I found it and carted out spinning wheels all over the hills of Leverett.  It was loads of fun, we learned a lot, met a lot of interesting folks.  We have come full circle and a lot of the gals we knew then are in the rug hooking world now.

There was knitting , sewing, hooking and needle felting going on today.  A good time was had by all.

Thanks for reading my blog and hope you have a wonderful day.      Carole