Thursday, June 18, 2009

June Doings

Wow, I have not written in such a long time, and I keep wondering, “What have I done that has taken up so much of my time? What have I actually ACCOMPLISHED?” Well, both Don and I have done a HUGE number of little things but nothing actually BIG up to this point.

I have been working on wool. I got some really pretty BLACK WOOL while I was at “Stitches In Time” last Saturday. I don’t know if I have elaborated over “Stitches” in my blog, but Stitches is an event held every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Senior Center in Storden, MN. It was the brainchild of Candy, and quickly passed on to my BFF & PIC Connie, and they were so thoughtful to invite me in on the venture! Thank you so much, guys! I will not let you down! The event is open to ANYONE in the community who: knits, crochets, weaves, rug-hooks, spins…or anyone who wants to LEARN how to do these things! So anyway, this particular wool that was given to me was from a black sheep, and the Shearers will not accept it because it cannot be dyed. BUT! Many spinners really like the black wool because it has such a variety of interesting shades in its locks. Here is the wool. It sort of resembles a Brillo Pad right at this stage!!!:

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After washing and carding the wool, I started spinning it. This is only the 3rd project that I have started on Merlin, and I am so astonished at how far I have come in my spinning! Not only that, it is wonderful and so calming to spin the wool. Very satisfying too.

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Meanwhile, I was messing around with Arthur’s wool. You remember Arthur, don’t you? Little Arthur Godfrey from last spring, whose mother broke his little leg and killed his brother and sister? Don helped me splint his leg and I bottle-fed him. And he grew. And grew, and grew. He had wool that was SO LONG and SO THICK that he has almost enough wool to have covered 1 ½ or 2 sheep! He lives at Connie and Norm’s Ash Lane Farm.

So I dyed Arthur’s wool. With…KOOL-AID!!! Isn't that awesome?! It was so much fun, and just look at the results:

LEMON-LIME
(OH, THIS COLOR IS JUST SO YUMMY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ROLL IN IT!!!)

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LEMONAID

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CHERRY

(Looks like a 'Tropicana Dream', doesn't it?)

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GRAPE

(The grape came out nicely mottled, just like I hoped that it would.)
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I also made some Berry Blue, and some Pink Lemonaid. These colors are wonderful, and because you heat the Koolaid and the wool, and add vinegar to the mixture, it will make the stain stay, and not wash out. Look it up on Google: "Dying Wool With Kool-Aid."

After I do all of the carding, etc., I will finally spin it into a fine yarn. And after that is done, I will ply some of it with the black, and I think that I will have a really interesting blend. I have found a very interesting project that I would like to knit and felt, and I hope that it will be a money-maker for me. I will keep you posted!


AND, last but not least, I am now going to a Spinal Clinic in Sioux Falls, SD. I am undergoing a lot of therapy. More tests, and possibly some surgery. The head of the program, a Dr. Hanson whom I do not particularly CARE for, has told me that I am a FOOL to have my goats. That was the very first sentence out of the man’s mouth upon entering the room. And further, he asked: do I like beating myself up like this? Carrying water to them in 5-gallon buckets; moving them around to different locations in order to feed them; going out in the wintertime and freezing to death and hauling hay to them; making that hay in the heat of summer; then banging out the frozen water buckets and adding more freezing water in the winter… and just exactly who do I expect my back to heal when I am dong all of these things? Well, it pi**e* me off that he is absolutely right. So, I am forced to sell my goats. And I am NOT happy about it… Here they are. If you are interested, please email me.



The twins Willow and the un-named male, along with their mother, Miri. She is a marvelous milker.

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My favorite doeling, Fern Gully. She makes me laugh so hard!!!

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Big Daddy Nimrod. He is such a handsome man! I tell him that all the time. He is a very nice buck goat. Very gentle, for a male.

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I am very proud of my herd of goats. I love them dearly. This is one of the things that I have to accept with my damaged back: no more lifting, raking, shoving, pulling, or carrying beyond my weight limit. I will miss them awfully.