A whole month since I last wrote, and how the time has flown. As I look out my window I see a concete slab, which will be the floor for the new building. Plumbing and drains, electric, insulation, pex tubing for the radaint floor, insulation are all there AND I can walk around imagining the walls and windows. Behind that is a slab for the new sugar house and a new water pump. Mary Ann is putting stain on the shingles, and the builders will most likely start next week.
The chickens are rotating weekly in the "chicken tractor", that is mounted on an old camper frame with wheels. She sheep, lambs, goats and Bubba, the horse are rotating in the orchard. The asparagus in bushing out, and there is much work to do in the garden.
Fiber Frolic happened at Windsor Fairgrounds, and preparations involved dyeing, making needle felting kits. I came up with several new designs while at Kim's in New York, and they were very popular. I also created a little Kitty felted and framed. Already I have ideas about what to create next. I have started dyeing yarn in larger lots (about a pound in a lot) and have experimented more with using just 3 dye colors, canary, cherry and peacock to make an infinite range of colors bright and muted over gray.
We prepared a fleece, a skein of handspun yarn,a handspun hat and a felted landscape for competition. The fleece from Sadie, our Finn cross, did not get judged and Mary Ann took second place for her handspun yarn, and I took first for my landscape. We have new yarn back from processing...sport weight with 10% nylon and dark brown bulky 100% lambs wool that will make wonderful felted mittens or a bulky sweater.
At the Frolic it rained a lot, but we were inside and dry, and the rain let up when we had to pack and unpack. Kate was a great help in planning and creating the display, and both she and her hubby, Steve, came along to help load and unload. We slept in the pup up tent camper. About 3:30 am we were all awake when a gully washer let loose. It sounded like we were inside a drum. And some poor lamb away from its mother for the first time kept calling and calling...
Mary Ann demonstrated braided roving and sewing together a chair seat. I did needlefelting and tried to inspire people to try it. Sales were good and it was fun for me to meet and talk with people who enjoy fiber.
Onc little girl at the frolic asked about our lambs for sale. We learned that she requested that her family no longer shop at Hannaford when she found out they sell ground lamb. She really wants to buy a pet lamb. We need to get pictures of our lambs for sale and post them on the web site. The lambs are growing well, and weeks ago were over 70 pounds, which is as high as our scale will take. We now have a new scale so we can weigh up to 200 pounds. They are all out on pasture and their fleeces are gorgeous. Some have gone to new homes permanently, and some are visiting a friend who has wonderful pastures and likes them as lawn ornaments.
Every Tuesday is knitting circle, and things needed to be back together by 1 pm for that. Monday we unloaded, and took on the task of cleaning the empty room before finding just the right spot for everything. As this was happening I thought about how we will arrange things in the new space within just a few months, and how that will free up living space in the house.
I took a break yesterday and planted some woad plants given to me by a friend in the Bethel Spinning Group and indigo seedlings we bought at Fiber Frolic. Then joined in with the Hebron Spinning group for a wonderful day of spinning and inspiration from other spinners and knitters.
Now, at the top of my list is the wedding gown for Jessica, which I will have done by next Wednesday when we go to Denver for the bridal shower. I need to put in the lining and zipper, dye and sew on the lace.
My tea is about gone, and I have things to do, so bye for now.
I will post pictures when I can.
