Author: denisemor

Constructive Distractions

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Spring is coming.

It has to be, because I am so done with winter.

There are a lot of late/winter/early spring garden tasks that need doing, so there is no problem finding things to keep the hands busy. I’ve been making slow but steady progress on pruning. Roses done, started on fruit trees this weekend. I find that being outside does help keep my mind off the news, which continues to be depressing and distressing.

I am happy to report that the first of our seeds that I planted last weekend are coming up- it’s cukes in the lead

followed closely by the melons

So happy to see these guys- I was a little worried that the cold nights earlier in the week might have doomed my early start.

There are a couple of tiny ‘maters popping up, but they are so little that I couldn’t get a good picture. Maybe next week.

In other “keeping the hands busy” news, I whipped up a cute little hat with some of that Jacob fleece that I prepped for the Expo

The basketweave cabling was a little time-consuming, but gives a nice cozy thickness over the ears. I have to say, I’ve really enjoyed working with this Jacob wool. a little bit short stapled, but really soft and springy, and I love the way the soft gray is marbled throughout . Here’s a little bit closer look

I also got all that newly dyed Esther wool picked and carded. So pretty. I just love the Wool Tinctures colors.

Here are a couple that seem most fitting today

Seeds and Samples

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Seeds started!

Tomato varieties

Pepper varieties

and others-

And I managed to get a sample skein of Blood Orange spun up. I think it might need a little more twist, both in the singles, and in the ply, but will reserve judgement until I’ve seen how it knits up. So excited about these colors.

They may need to be a sweater.

February Color

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I was inspired the other day to do a little color blending on the drum carder.

So I dove into my dyed wools bin, and came up with a couple of fairly satisfying combos

But found my stash to be a bit heavy on the pinks and purples. So today, since it was so nice and spring-y I decided to remedy the situation, and got the dye pot out to do a little colorizing of my stash of Esther fleece.

I chose a few Wool Tinctures shades that spoke to me- Midnight, Deep Water, and Blood Orange

Here they are straight out of the pot

Midnight- about a pound total, first batch on top, exhaust batch below. Like indigo, but easier!
Deep Water, about a pound total, first batch on top, exhaust batch below
Blood Orange, a little less than a pound, all done at once until bath exhausted.

I do so love those colors. Can’t wait ’til they are dry and ready to play with!

For now they are hanging out in the hoophouse, next to my earliest seedlings

If you look closely, you can see little broccolis, onions, peas and thyme popping their heads up. No sign of cilantro yet, but it’s only been 7 days.

And just outside the hoophouse, my plan for a new potato and squash bed is shaping up nicely.

The lawn slopes town towards the hoophouse, so I wanted to establish an edge on the bed to level it a bit and prevent it “flowing” into the baseboard and rollup sides.

The oval shaped ceramic thingees are from the upper part of a chimney we had disassembled last year, and in-between them I’ve got short sections of corrugated metal roofing from the old chicken house that used to be on this site.

And behind the metal I’ve got bricks (from the chimney again). Think I’m going to build those up a couple more layers, but it’s feeling nice and solid already. Also going to fill the oval elements with soil and plant with probably herbs or flowers.

Was cool to be able to repurpose some miscellaneous bits to serve the purpose!

February Sun

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Puxatawny Phil has advised us that there is plenty of winter left, but today sure feels like spring.

Everyone out the pasture is really appreciating it.

Smart chickens basking in the shed entryway, out of sight of eagles and hawks.

The sunshine also inspired me to start some early cool-season seeds

I’ve got snap peas, broccoli, bunching onions, cilantro and thyme there in egg cartons. Thinking that if I can get the peas and broccoli going quick, I can maybe get a crop in the hoophouse before I’m ready to plant tomatoes, melons and other warm-season stuff in the ground. Goal seed sowing date for most of that stuff is 2 weeks from now.

And speaking of tomatoes, the two little volunteers from last year’s garden are still going strong in the laundry room under lights- and one is even blooming!

It was kind of a slow week wool-wise. Still spinning up the rest of the Jacob fleece that I picked up for the expo class. It’s so sweet and sproingy! Can’t seem to find any focus knitting-wise tho.

Maybe more mitts this week? Just a little somethin’ to keep the hands busy.