Walnuts and goldenrod

Today was a blustery beautiful day!
Dad cut down some,
and I mean a garbage bag full,
of goldenrod for me.
I cut all of the flowers off of the stems
and boiled them down into a dye.
No sneezing, only some bright yellow spiders to keep me on edge!
While these were boiling,
I was mordanting wool in alum and cream of tarter.
After everything cooled, I added the wool to the strained goldenrod dye.
Thirty minutes of simmering and they are cooling now,
waiting to rinse and dry.
Probably a project for tomorrow morning.
What a vibrant highlighter yellow this is...
at least on my fingers!

I spun up about 200 yards of walnut from last week's dyeing
and it is very pretty!
Glad I added some brown and pale blue with a hint of navy,
mixed fiber roving to it, mohair, wool, angora mix.
Yummy!
I thought I would be creative, and took photos of the bobbin
with a rose and a jack o lantern flower. LOL

Such a nice day out though!
I feel refreshed.
God is blessing in spite of some tough relationships,
and as a moma bear, I am concerned for Hilary and her slow period at work.

It breaks my heart for her, because I know how much she enjoys her work.
She is so good at what she does!
I have seen people change so drastically!
Women need this every once in a while!
It puts a totally new perspective on who you are...getting a fresh cut/color!
She changes self esteem,
women carry themselves differently
after Hilary is finished working her majic,
and their outlook on life seems different too!
I am so proud of her.
Just praying that she and God can come up with a direction for her!

Soooo...if you need a pick me up,
know someone with a birthday or anniversary,
or just want to be pampered for an hour...give my baby a call!
I'll even throw in a skein of yarn if you like.

Oh this economy makes us all cut corners and pleasures.
My spinning class is on hold too!
Just too much uncertainty.

I am blessed!
Rambling, but blessed!

walnut batts

I carded up the walnut wool I dyed the other day.\
Wow! Was that some dirty stuff!
All kinds of debris under the carder.
Left over walnut gunk, I suppose.

I think I will pull it all together into one roving
and spin it mixed.
Might get a couple hundred yards out of it.
Mittens?
Socks?
Depends on how I spin, I guess.

On a side note...
the master spinners class registration opened today.
I am so excited!
We'll see how the paycheck is....
5 days in Missouri in November,
then a year of study at home.
Who woulda thought?
I am so blessed!

Kool Aid!

I was so uninspired after my natural dyeing,
that I did a batch of Kool Aid dye.
Not only did it smell so much better in the house,
but the results are vibrant!
I can hardly wait to spin it up!

Just that little bit o color made my day!
Who knows what the walnut/avocado will become?
Everyone needs a bit of neutral.
I am stockpiling for the winter.
I plan on spinning and knitting and weaving
while hibernating.

PFFFTTT Natural Dyes

Well, after spending three days working with natural dyes,
I can honestly say that I am either no good at them,
I may need to take a class,
Or science has come a long way baby!

One whole day was spent preparing the mordant.
This is what is supposed to make the dye juice stick.
Measuring 1/6 teaspoon of something is for the birds.
I tried Alum mixed with cream of tarter,
Copper, Tin, Iron, Chrome (one of these was also mixed with c of t)
I spent that night, soaking and boiling and cooling wool in these concoctions.
The next day, I measured walnut, avocado seeds and peel into 6 different pans.
Added the appropriate amount of wool and water,
Boiled the correct amount of time,
cooled over night, and rinsed diligently today.

The only differences I have found are what the mordants colored the
original wool.
Chrome is a very pretty blueish,
copper is pale green and iron and copper are coppery!

I have had really good luck in the past with mulberries, grapes and marigolds.
I'll stick with these.

I have become a HUGE fan of Kool ade, and acid dyes.
These never disappoint me and I love the vibrant colors.
I may be mother earth in some areas,
but I like me some color!
Bring it on.
Kool ade this weekend!

dumb foot.

(tiny split on left middle of right xray is break)
My left foot hurts.
Get ready....pity party coming.
It doesn't happen often, but my dear friends,
it does happen.
I am not happy all the time,
but most of the time I am.

I'm a bit afraid now.
Saw a new doc and at least he watched me walk down the hall twice.
Yes, I did tip over a few times.
Not very good balance.
He seemed to know right away that I have charcot syndrome.
And after xrays, a broken left foot.
But because I haven't been able to feel my feet in over ten years,
that doesn't mean much to me.
However, this syndrome, at first blush seems a bit more .... more.
If what I am reading correctly, it is lumped into MDA.
I could possibly be a Jerry's KID!
You have no idea how much this at least cheers me.
Not a muscle problem, and no dying from this.
It is the nerves/bones and tendons in my feet that are affected.

Going for blood work tomorrow and will put a call into the doc
to see if I am on the right track, or scaring myself.

He said to walk etc, but the literature says not to.

I know that no matter what, I am in God's hands and He will get me through it all.
He has gotten me through so much already.
Thankfully it is usually only one thing at a time.

Hubby is very supportive and I am still going to Seattle in September!
New orthotics on the way, I hope!

Boo Hoo for me.
Now time to move on!
I am blessed

not beautiful people

I LOVE not being one of the beautiful people.
All the folks that are in my circle, are not beautiful people.
My church is filled with the not beautiful.
I have known some beautiful people.
The ones who only have the outside.
I feel for them.

The people I know, who are not beautiful,
are amazing on the inside.
I am finding that I don't even look at the outsides anymore.
I don't notice their outer appearance.
I am looking at their defiance of Satan's grasping,
strangling hold upon their loved ones.
I see them standing firmly for their families.
Satan's grip is loosening every moment
because of these not beautiful people.

These not beautiful people love their children
with all of their faults and struggles and challenges
and what the world sees as ugliness.
They see their worth!
Which in turn makes their children see their own worth.
I see the hearts that go out to neighbors who don't value themselves.
I see the pocket books that empty for people they do not know.
I hear stories of pain and stumbling....
but I also see these same not beautiful people
continue to move forward.

I enjoy reading their blogs,
getting to know them if only from their own words.
These funny things...blogs.
Makes me wonder if we would say the things we write.
Why are we so honest and open with our not beautiful lives.
I hope you know that I see you, even if I never say so.
Funny things....
I see them laugh at their not beauty...
which makes them the most beautiful people I know.

I am privileged to know each of you.

Am I crazy?

I was confronted with a dilemma today.
Actually a recurring problem.
I, apparently am unable to hide my feelings from my face.
You, my children, and others,
can see what I am feeling even without me uttering a syllable.
Even when I am unaware of such thoughts or feelings,
others can tell that I disapprove, or am irritated by my facial ticks!


When my daughter tried to make me understand this,
I was at a total loss as how to mask feelings I was unaware I was having.
Now, she brings up a valid point.
Sometimes there are times that my children know that I disapprove,
or am angry, and all it takes is a look from me and they feel guilt!

Don't tell them this,
but I kinda like that I have this power over them at times.
It is one of those mom skills that we try to perfect over the years.
It also is a hard skill to put away when the nest is empty.

I must let you and them know, that I am trying very hard NOT to shove my
feelings or ideas on anyone.
Live and let live is my new saying.
You get to deal with your own consequences.
I may worry about you.
I may pray for you.
I may even try to lend some motherly, or friendly advise.
And most of the time I am available to come to your aid when you ask for it.

But you must also know that my mind, most of the time, is a vapid mess.
It thinks of fibery things most of the time.
Or nothing at all.
I like looking at butterflies and get distracted often.

My wonderful husband, after listening to me fret over my facial ticks,
kindly informed me that some people
may have preconceived notions about what I may be thinking.
It may even sound in their head
like something that I may have said in the past.

But I am not responsible for what you think I am thinking.
Most of the time, I do say what I am thinking.
So if I don't say it, it really means that I didn't think it.
Or it could mean that I didn't feel like sharing what I thought.
In either case, it is not for you to get upset
or concerned about what I was thinking if I didn't say it.
I am not worrying about this anymore.

If anyone sees me with a look or pain on my face, or irritation,
please do not think that you are the one I am concerned about.
My foot probably hurts or
I have made yet another mistake on my newly acquired loom.

I am writing this for a few reasons.
1. For myself..to stop being concerned about what others are thinking.

2. For my daughters...yes, I am writing ab out and for you.
So you will live your lives for yourselves.
I love that you are concerned with my feelings.
But this is your life now.
Share with me all you want, and don't worry about the rest.

3. For the other moms out there who have not reached this point yet.
You will.
And you are not crazy. Just don't get upset about it.

Thank you again Terry, for being my sounding board and my stabilizer!

allegan fiber festival

I took two days off this week.
Just for me!
I drove about two hours north to Allegan Michigan.
The weather was great.
We had a cold front come in
which kept the temps around 80.


The alram went off Wednesday am at 5:45.
WAY TOO EARLY FOR ME!
I loaded the car with clothes, water and yarn.
I got the the Allegan County Fairgrounds just on time.
The class of 10 was introduced to the continuous strand loom.
8 of the 10 were working on seven foot triangle looms and
Ila and I were working on seven foot rectangle looms.
Honestly there is quite a bit of difference.
Carol Leigh is a great teacher and she and her family
have been making looms and weaving for decades.
What inspiring things they have made.

I spent the first hour taking notes and learning terms.
Then the work began.
For the next six hours, I wove and wove and wove.
I took my own "bulky" yarn and added some merino with it.
Should have used just one color because I wasn't too happy with the
end results of the color combo.
But I wanted to learn everything I could learn.
And did I ever!
By the end of the first day,
I was so confused as which loom to buy the next day.
I had come for the rectangle,
but they were doing amazing things with the triangles.
Then there was the square.

I finally went to the hotel in Holland,
got some spaghetti at Goog's...lol...and a milkshake,
and settled in for the night.
I tried to read the loom literature, but my eyes were crossing
and only seeing rows and rows of yarn!

SIDE NOTE:
I really do enjoy getting away from the every day routine once in a while.
I love my life and my family and friends.
There is just something about being on your own,
in a new place, with new ideas and people and spaces.
Where I can focus on one thing only.
All my concentration.
I was totally exhausted each night, and totally absorbed.


The next morning, after an invigorating breakfast
of banana, chocolate donut and apple juice,
I returned to the Youth Building at the fairgrounds.
I had decided on the rectangle.
I had spent this much time on it so far,
I dare not try to learn the triangle in one day!
Maybe another year.....

I was moving along so quickly that I thought I would be the first finished!
Until I sent that text telling my loved ones how wonderful I was doing.
My yarn broke, and I got the strands twisted several times.
I finished almost last.

Thank you God for putting me in my place and not letting me get so cocky!

I learned the leno lace technique, and finsihed off the weaving.
Took more notes on fringe...way cool...
and bought my loom...
and accessories!
Gotta have them tools!

When I got home, Joe put the loom together for me.
After rearranging my family room, and moving lots of things out,
I have room for my lovely rectangle loom.
Yes, I even started a 7 foot scarf before bed that night,
just so I wouldn't forget what I learned.

New adventure for my continuing fiber obsession!
Thank you Terry!

KOOL AID!

I should be in the kitchen canning all of my bounty today.
Picked over a dozen okra...
sneaky little buggers grow 3 inches over night!
Picked ten tomatoes
and with the other twenty three I have ripening already,
I better decide if I will can tomatos, salsa, or juice.
Maybe salsa since I picked two green peppers and seven hot peppers.
The yellow squash has petered out a bit...yea
and the zucchini looks kinda pitiful this year.
Cantaloupe next week and I did discover a watermelon!
I truly love gardening.
Again...will be feasting this winter!

I suddenly got into a fall mood tho.
Fall meaning the colors for spinning.
I went a bought some Kool Aid today...
the lady thought I was a kindergarten teacher!
Looking forward to mixing the colors and dyeing some roving!
Oranges, reds, purples, greens, greys, and browns.
Also got some cheesecloth to begin dyeing with my avocados and walnut shells.
I'll post photos when they get done in the next two weeks.
Not really looking forward to the smells of those last two~!
Maybe I should do Kool Aid at the same time....cancel each other out?!

OK.OK.. off to can!
Have a glorious day!

makin money

Yup,
I did it.
I made $51.00 spinning roving for a friend of my aunt's.
It was fun.
I never know what to charge, so
most of the time I give my work away.
Stupid, I know.
My time is valuable.
Have another friend who spins for folks
and charges $3.00 an ounce.
That's what I did and it went well.

I am so excited for next week when I travel to Allegan Michigan.
Fiber Festival.
I am taking a continuous strand weaving class.
No warping or shuttles for me.
I am hoping to make shawls, scarves, table runners, etc
with my homespun and making a bit of a profit there.

Am also planning on attending a master spinners class in November.
It is a 5 year program.
Whoot whoot!

Funny what one sale can do!