Wild weather Wednesday

This has been such a windy month! More like March than April. This afternoon we are supposed to get more severe weather. We have been fortunate in that we haven't had any storm damage here, lately, but yesterday I watched a neighbor's tree fall down. Thankfully it was away from his house.

I have been clearing out some things lately. Mainly a barn. Isn't it funny how when you get to cleaning you find things you forgot you had? I found some acrylic yarns that I had forgotten about it. I didn't really need it so I shared it with the Tuesday Weavers. It sure felt good to move some things out of here. I have enough yarn to last me a good long while. I pity my family should anything happen to me. My husband says the first person who comes to the door gets it all! Should any of my friends want to know.....I am feeling fine! LOL.

I started a new rug and I have been working on a scarf, too. I am hoping today that I can get to the studio and weave for several hours. Hmmm, maybe I should turn off my phone! It seems like someone always needs me to do something when I want to weave.

Aren't these azaleas beautiful? They are about 32 years old. Most of the shrubs have gotten really tall and have gotten pruned this year. The azaleas will be next after they bloom.

The rhododendrons are beginning to bloom, too. It is hard to tell but they are pink.

That is about it for today. I hope all of you who are in the path of the storms stay safe and that your power stays on!

Linda

My birthday surprise

Today started out like a Saturday. Saturdays are usually days to get chores done around here. Our oldest son came and helped us get several things done. We did things like put up fencing, trim shrubs, mow and put up shelving. He is a terrific help to us. It was a long hard day.

When we cleaned up we went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday! We went to one of our favorite restaurants and had some pizza. Then I received a really neat gift from my husband! Want to see it?

Isn't he cute? He is a bank but this is no ordinary bank. Inside there are 60 coupons! This note came with it.

Can you see the first coupon? It is for Krispy Kreme doughnuts! I really like them right out of their ovens. Yummmmm. I can't wait to see what the others say! I am tempted to pull them all out and read them but I will be good and wait. Hmmm, that is going to be hard!

Linda

Waiting in the wings

Today was an absolutely beautiful day! I love spring days. The sky was blue and the colors of the grass, the leaves on the trees and the flowers were pretty and so welcome after a long cold winter.

I didn't spend much time at the studio today but when I was there I wound the other half of a dish towel warp using supima cotton. I have never used yarn this before. I am hoping to use this to make lots of dish towels. I only wound a warp for one towel as a test piece. The darker threads are a dark green cotton.

Here is the warp sitting on the Structo waiting for me to finish the scarf that is on it.

I like to think ahead to my next warp even before I have woven off the present warp. Weaving is fun but so is the planning of it all.


This evening my wonderful DH took me out to dinner and then a drive to watch the sun set. What a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Linda

I love old things

Antiques facinate me. I love the wood grain, patina and how they work. I wonder who owned them long before they came to me, what they did with them, where they lived and what they were thinking while they used it..

Here is a flax castle wheel that was given to me recently. Isn't it the cutest thing? If you look closely you will see some ivory accents. Sadly, it has a few parts missing so I can't spin anything on it.

I was also given an antique flax break.

About a week ago I saw a show on PBS about Abraham Lincoln. They showed a picture of his death bed. I was struck at how similar our bed and that one were. Here is a link to the bed. It is now in a museum in Chicago, Illinois. http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/education/abed.htm

Here is a picture of our bed.

Amazingly similar, don't you think?

Llinda

What a wonderful weekend I had

This past weekend I did two of my favorite things. One thing is living history. I just can't tell you how much I enjoy doing it. I have been involved in this hobby for about thirteen years. I decided this weekend I would spin for the public. People are facinated in the spinning wheel and how it works.

The other thing I did was.......I was invited by a friend to go to a historical society meeting to listen to a talk about antique coverlets. The best thing was there were coverlets to look at! I love looking at things like this! Want to see?

Aren't they beautiful?

Linda

Fiber on the hoof

This is Kami, my Nigora. She is shedding right now and I am able to get a lot of wool each day. Doesn't she look funny? All I have to do is brush her to get that wonderful fiber.

For those who don't know, a Nigora is a cross between a Nigerian Dwarf goat and an Angora goat. You can get different grades of wool with Nigoras. Some have to be sheared, too. I was fortunate to get one that sheds. You can read more about this breed here.  http://nigoragoats.homestead.com/FleeceInfo.html

The next critter that will blow his coat here will be Max. That ought to be interesting. I have never seen a Great Pyrenees shed before.


Linda

On the looms today

It is such a beautiful day here at the studio. It is nice and sunny with a breeze. It is kind of strong at times. I guess April is coming in like a lion, too.

I was able to get some yard work done but what I really wanted to do was get back to weaving rugs. I finished up the shag rug and started on some green ones. Shag rugs are fun to do but time consuming.

The green wool I am using is from the estate of a weaver. It came to me in large balls. It weaves up quickly and I like the flecks of dark green in it.

When I finished the green rug I started another one using one shot of green and one shot of off white wool. I think I like this one.

While weaving the green rugs today I turned on the TV. I really like old movies. Today I watched Abbot and Costello and the Mummy. It was pretty slap stick but I had fun watching it.

Well, that is it for today. Now, I am going to join my husband on the swing for a cup of coffee!

Linda