Author: denisemor

Sorry to have skipped out on the blog last week. Got back from my little adventure a bit later than planned and was really pooped.

The mini road trip took a friend and I across the Edmonds ferry to the Kitsap Peninsula- where we stopped in at The Artful Ewe, then checked out an area new to me- Chimacum.

Super cool little market at the intersection of Center Rd and Beaver Valley Rd. Great produce, a cool range of local products and a plant nursery as well!

In addition to some tasty treats I found some locally grown seeds for next year’s garden

We stayed at a little cottage by Discovery Bay- an interesting little place distinguished by it’s unique rock garden features

The view from the property is pretty amazing

The following day we made our way up to Port Angeles to visit the Pacific Northwest Fiber Arts Expo.

It was a beautiful day, and the event was lovely. Lots of interesting vendors- I had no idea so much fiber milling activity was going on out on the Olympic Peninsula!

Brought home a few select items from the expo-

That’s the Curiosity colorway from Jadawoo Designs, and some recycled sari silk from Siren of the Skeins.

Also picked up a bit of a sweet fleece from Taggartshire Farms

Just a short stay in Port Angeles- felt like there was a lot more to see in the area. Might have to start looking around for a good retreat place in the vicinity.

Back at home this week I’ve made some good progress on the Shepherd’s next vest-

Just finished the upper back today, so only the upper front (and arm and neckline edging) to go.

Think I might be cutting it kind of close with the yarn I have remaining, so I might have to spin up a bit more before it’s all said and done, but there is plenty of roving in reserve. So no worries there.

Have a great week folks!

Spent a little time at the drum carder today blending up some fresh batts to take to the Alger Sunday Market tomorrow.

Seeing as how the seasons have shifted, I went with some deeper, more shadowy shades.

It’s always interesting to see how the colors interact and play against each other.

And sometimes I can’t tell if I really like a combination until it makes a second pass through the carder and I peel it off

These purple/violet/blue/grey ones I think look particularly yummy, but the photos don’t really do them justice.

Hopefully the clouds will get themselves thoroughly wrung out overnight and the sun will come out tomorrow, but I’ll be out there rain or shine with the woolies!

Last of the garden tomatoes

Just harvested squash yesterday-

Jarrahdale

Delicata

And a volunteer pumpkin hiding near the compost pile

Dug the last of the potatoes as well, but they aren’t as photogenic 🙂

Zinnias hanging in there-

But the Black Night Scabiosa that I thought I might try dyeing with are long gone to seed. At least I got a batch of marigolds cooked this summer. Maybe the Scabiosa will self seed and come back next year to give me another shot at it.

Last but not least we’ve got the warm taupey grey shades of Octavia fleece, fast on it’s way to becoming a vest

It’s kind of slow going, but I am really enjoying working this pattern again. And I’m pleased that the yarn seemed to be a good match for it. It’s nice having a substantial project on the needles.

Alrighty folks- that’s all I’ve got.

Last Alger Sunday market of the regular season is next weekend. Hope to see you there!

It’s funny how mostly people speak of “fruits of our labors”, with fruits always being the result.

I suspect that if more folks had fruit trees they would more commonly say “labors of our fruits”.

This time of year when the trees are are finishing their work, it’s time for us to get down to the business of laboring over the fruit harvest. But we’re happy to have it!

Apples have started to drop, so I picked some today. But then I ran out of bins and boxes to put them in.

Pears have been picked over the last week, and have reached peak ripeness, after which they don’t last long. The Man has been busy drying

and also making Spicy Pear Butter

Also making progress on the Shepherd’s new vest.

Harvested a little fall fleece from Fiona the other day- just around the neck and shoulders. I’m excited to see that her fleece appears to be improving with age (that seems to be a theme with the two Icelandic girls) but it wasn’t as long as I expected (more of the bulk turned out to be the girl herself!).

More floof, less scritch. Nice.