Hump Day ...

It's Wednesday already. I had to look at the computer calendar to make sure of it. I've had some aggravation this week ... it seems to be pouring down on me lately more so than normal ... my dryer went out or the breaker went bad. A friend said he'd stop by this evening to look at it. I'll probably have to call someone from the nearby city to do any repairs. After my uncle passed away last year ... there is no one to call on who knows much about electricity or dryers or any appliances, for that matter. I don't mind hanging most of my clothing to dry but I cannot tolerate the towels. ha Good grief. Line-dried towels are like rubbing a dried up corn cob on your skin. It's just not a good thing.

 

This little ball of fuzz is a Silkie chick. My friends have a few dozen of these and a number of other breeds. This baby will grow up to look like this Silkie, except she'll be black ...

The strawberries I transplanted are blooming. A few still look a little peaked but I'm hoping they'll perk up. I love those strawberries. I love feeding them to my Quaker parrot. I usually do that outside. He slings bits all over the place when he eats them. He loves fresh fruit and vegetables ... and pizza and chips and just about anything I hand him.

 

There is no grass growing in the strawberry patch ... I got too close to the bed when I was cutting grass. :-/ I'm thinking if I leave it there til it dies, it'll turn brown and won't even be noticeable. Maybe? haha

I finally found a spindle that I felt good about purchasing. I'm not sure why this one was any different from the hundred others I looked at but it was. I purchased it from Spindler's Cottage at etsy. In addition to the spindle, he sent 2 oz of Brown Sheep Wool Company wool. I didn't have a proper carrier for this one so I'm using a bunny basket. It works for now. I've been spinning ...

... and spinning ...

It's such a relaxing craft. And after I complete that relaxing craft, I can knit with it. Which is another relaxing craft. I don't wanna do anything too stressful on purpose.  haha

Grow Your Blog - Part 2

For the first part of the Grow Your Blog post, go HERE.

I've blogged off and on over the last 8 years or so. I enjoy it but I'm not consistent with it. Maybe that will change with being a part of Vicki's Grow Your Blog event from 2 Bags Full.

It snowed again last night here in West Virginia. There is about 7" still on the ground. The temperature today has shot up to 48 degrees! That's so exciting. The sun is melting the snow from my car. Two friends stopped by yesterday to shovel my porch and a path to my car. I've a few appointments this week that I hope to fulfill. One is on Tuesday, when the daytime high is predicted to be 9 degrees. Doubt I'll make that one. We, as so many in the country, have been on a weather roller coaster this year of 2014.

I love to watch the birds. Especially in winter. I feed them daily and try to keep water available but in these frigid temps, it's difficult. I looked out the back door last evening and counted 14 deer eating my hemlocks. Eating what they could reach anyway. The trees are about 60 feet high. The deer stand on their hind legs to get to the tips of the branches. I really wanted to feed the deer but I researched it on the internet and it is not recommended. It throws their natural instinct off or some such scientific reason. I certainly don't want to upset the balance of nature so until I have proof otherwise, I'll follow that recommendation. I have seen them feast on the dry cat and dog foods I put out for the occasional stray passersby. They get into the sunflower seeds if they can reach the feeder.

I "craft" just about anything that can be. I cross stitch, crewel, embroider, knit, crochet, spindle spin, redo furniture, macrame, flower arranging and wreaths, took a class in stained glass (and hope to take more!). I've done weaving but don't have my own loom. I post photos of much of what I make. I have not yet posted my Christmas gifts. They'll show up later. Here is a hat I made for my aunt for Christmas a couple years ago. It's crocheted in wool and felted in the washing machine. It was my first time doing this and I was pleased.

I hope you're enjoying the trail of the Grow Your Blog party. It seems like 25 January arrived before I realized. I didn't have time to make one post for everything. I hope you will stop by again. Follow me. If I don't offer your preference, please leave me a comment and I will make that change. I'm going to add Google Friend Connect, as requested by one commenter, as soon as I figure it out.

Thank you again for visiting. I will visit you in the next few days if I know you've stopped by.

Random 5 Friday

I'm joining A Rural Journal with Random 5 Friday.

 

1. The West Virginia weather is beautiful today but the colors of the trees are nothing this year like they were in the 2004 photo, above. This is my front yard.

 

2. One of my cousins I grew up with notified me yesterday they'll be passing through tomorrow. She and her husband will have their 5-year-old granddaughter with them. I'm looking forward to the family gathering. Not sure how Bob Evans restaurant will feel about it. :-)

 

3.  Next week will be my annual dog-sitting week for my cousin. She and her sister go to the Smokies for 8 days every October. I think next year I'm going to go alone if no one wants to go along. My heart has always been right there, for some reason.

 

4.  Covert Affairs began mid-season last night. I'll be watching the DVR tonight. I have such a difficult time watching live TV now. I find myself trying to fast forward through the commercials. It really has spoiled me. I've barely seen a commercial in a year!

 

5.  I've been practicing daily with spinning. I've learned that the alpaca fiber I received with the spindles is not a good fiber for beginners. I ordered a sample pack of various fibers with which to learn. I'm anxious to get started.

 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Drop Spinning

I received two drop spindles I ordered to learn to spin this beautiful fiber I won. I don't know what one I'll like, top whorl or bottom whorl, so I ordered one of each since they're quite cheap. I read several articles on the difference between the two and it's actually just a matter of preference. I'll decide my preference when I figure out how to perform this task.  I'm anxious to learn. I like the creative process and really think, if I can figure all this out, I'll enjoy it. Along with the two spindles, I received a big portion of alpaca fiber. It's just amazing. If I had a sweater made out of this soft, silky, divine fiber, I'd never take it off. It's a caramel color. I also received a photo of the alpaca that grew the fiber. I loved that. He lives in Wyoming. haha

I Won!

I won some beautifully painted merino/tussah silk fiber from Three Waters Farm via Phat Fiber Sample Box. I'm so excited!! I now MUST learn to spin fiber! I have another 4 oz braid of fiber waiting for spinning and now with this beautiful combination of colors, I have no choice. I'm so anxious to learn but have just kept putting it off. I'm looking online for a drop spindle. If you have any suggestions, please leave them for me. I'm in need of all the help I can get.

 

 

The color is called Lilac Road on the box and Purple Road on the tag. Both names are fitting although I never thought of these as colors of autumn. Along with the gold and rust and olive shades fading from one to the other, the blue and lilac and purple are perfect for the season.

 

This is the Etsy shop and Facebook page information if you're interested. She offers beautifully painted fiber and a variety of scented all natural goat's milk soap. The owner is a very nice lady. Stop in for a visit if you've time.