Author: denisemor

Hey Howdy Hay!

Got me some nice local grass hay yesterday!

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2nd cutting. Just over a ton.

And I’m so pleased to be able to put it in the sheep shed this year.

We finally got the roof done, and separated the sheep half from the hay/people stuff half.

Here is a view of the hay/people half from the sheep side-

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And vice versa-

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Here’s Edgar, having just approved the new placement of the mineral feeder-

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And Felix and Griff enjoying our unusually lush late-July pasture.

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Guess all this rain is good for something!

I’m still working on getting a bunch of fiber ready for my annual Langley crafting retreat this week.

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I’ve got three batts of Chone all worked up (on the right), some shetland/dyed mohair blend (center), and some misc leftovers that might come along too (left).
Hope to still do some more carding tonight.

So hard to decide what to take!

Summer Sun

The kind that shines and warms, casting shadows and causing contrast-y photos.

We finally got some.

Here’s my proof-

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The berries are finally ripening-

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And I finally weeded what veg is still hanging on in the garden-

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Meanwhile, the sheeps were mostly hanging out, chewing their cud in the comfy shade of the shed-

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All except Griff, of course. He tends to kind of do his own thing 🙂

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Sadie the sunshine pup was all ready for a game of ball-

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Chickens were out on patrol-

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And it’s amazing how fast yarn dries outside when it’s warms out! Here’s some recently finished Edgar/Griff (top), and Felix/Frank, one of my first bulky attempts on the new Pirtle-

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It’s supposed to cloud up again tomorrow.

But I think I got enough sunshine units today to carry me for a little while.

It’s brought me back from the brink of serious crankiness.

Whew. That was close.

My New Friend Pirtle

So the wheel has a name!

Thanks to the fine folks on Ravelry, I’ve come to know that he’s a Pirtle.

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So, he’s a 70’s-vintage guy, one of about 200 made by a retired Air Force engineer.
I’ve named him Hank.
Hank Pirtle.

And I’ve just combed up another batch of Frank/Felix to spin up all nice and bulky on him.

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In addition to getting a feel for Hanks irish tension system, I’ve managed to get a start on a another vest for John The Shepherd, of Marietta Shetlands:

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I took the cable motif from the Hand in Hand men’s cable vest pattern by Kathy Zimmerman. I think it’s working out nicely- it’s curvy, and large enough to stand out in the dark yarn, but still manly and subdued.

No outside photos this week. It’s July, but feels like October.
Ick.

No summer yet.

New Developments

New roof on the old half of the sheep shed! (near side in the photo, for hay storage)

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Not quite ready to pack in hay for next winter yet, but we’re getting there.

The sheep are impressed with the progress so far. They’ve been supervising very closely-

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In other news, we’ve got nothing in the way of cherries this year (boo), but little quinces (yea!)

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and a few pears

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I just love how the little pears grow upside down on the tree. They look so cute and perky.

And…..

(drumroll)

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Introducing Mr. Bulky Spinner!

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Isn’t he handsome?

Here’s a closer look at the flyer-

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Cool, eh?

It’s bobbin-led, of course, so it is really different from spinning on my other wheels, but I’m starting to get the hang of it.

Gonna make me some nice think squishy yarns.

🙂