Brisk It Is

What can one say. It is downright cold outside here in Holtwood, PA. But though it was cold outside, my day was a warm one. And though this is not fiber related, it is well worth sharing. You know, it's the little things in life that make the world a better place. I stopped at Darrenkamp's to get a few items. It's freezing out, it was a long day, kind of feeling a little blue, and when I returned my cart to the cart return in the parking lot, Ted (Darrenkamp's Outside Services)(and I looked at his name tag) said "Thank you for returning your cart". That kind word actually made me tear up. He took the time while working out in the cold to say "THANK YOU". I got in the car and thought, if he can take the time in this cold weather to say "THANK YOU", I can surely take the time to let him know I appreciated that SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS. So, I pulled up to the front of the store, said "excuse me" and explained to him that his "thank you" meant a lot, and gave him a small token of appreciation (to get a cup of hot anything for working outside).

How different the world would be if we can remember to use our manners, talk nicely, and be kind to one another. Even in tough situations, it can help to be the calm, kind one.

That's it for tonight. Yes I am going to go play in the wool. Got some pickin' to get done.
Stay warm, stay safe, stay dry.............

Tea for Two

Listen to the wind crinkle outside. Cold, crisp, and a good day for tea. Went to a wonderful tea room in Delta, PA and had tea with Santa, and my mother and my daughter. Enjoyed a decafeinated chocolate mint tea, and my little girl had Candy Cane tea. Santa gave each little girl a gift (teacup and saucer, and crayons and goodies). We also delighted in finger sandwiches, cookies and scones. The house we were in was built in the 1890's. It had beautiful wood floors, large or should I say LONG windows and a beautiful staircase. The original owner also owned the bank which still sits across the street, but is boarded up. He also owned a theatre, livery stable, and I believe the slate quarry. It was an enjoyable day.

Washed up some Romney X fleece. It turned out absolutely beautiful. Snow white.

BeforeAfter

Oh how good it felt to touch and smell the wool. A nice lanolin to it, and soft after washing.

Just absolutely beautiful.

Creative Flow

Do you ever have those nights or days where you just can't shut your brain off? My brain has been on overdrive with creativity and I don't have enough time to do it all.
Wool, Roving, Washing Fleece, Studying Fleece, Playing with Fleece, Spinning Fleece, Knitting, Crochet, and all the other ideas I come up with. Oh and I can't forget making my homemade lip balms and soaps. Can you smell the Lavendar? Oh and many more scents.........

I have just finished a CVM fleece, and will be working on 2 Romney Fleeces. The smell, touch, texture of the fleeces. I'm in heaven.

See, my mind is just flitting from here to there.

I really just finished updating my website www.folklorefibers.com Updating the Education page. Offering lessons, and the new Wool/Fiber Study. Also put together an order form to purchase products. Now I just have to get the products posted.

Hope everyone had a Wonderful Thanksgiving. It's only 22 days away from Christmas. Like I said in a previous post. It's here.........whoooosh..........it's gone.

Have a good night.....see ya on the flip side.

It's Here............whoosh It's Gone

Holidays/Christmas...............they are here...and they will be gone. How do we slow them down? Or, how do WE slow down to enjoy them? Well, in my structured, organized fashion, I map out the calendar for what I want to get accomplished on what days. I make lists....gift lists, meal lists, chore lists, project lists......then set out to get one item done on a list at a time. To truly enjoy the holidays though, I make sure I set time aside for me. And being the fiberholic that I am, yes, it has to be fiber related. Yes, I even plan that spare moment. I sit and knit or crochet or better yet, spin........hhhhuuuuuummmmmmmm..........yoga for the brain.........whirling whorl....which gives off a nice breeze.......softness flowing through my fingers as the roving passes through it.........and oh yes, a little exercise as I treadle. Enjoy the Holiday Season as it is upon us. In my mind, the Holiday/Christmas Season is a lifestyle I try to keep all year long with a short celebration November/December. We have family, friends, people in need, all year long. Why not be kind to them all year rather than for 30 days from November to December?

Okay, brain shifting gears. This weekend is the SAFONA Fiber Show. Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 9-4. Lancaster, PA http://www.safona.org/ for more information. I will have christmas gifts available. Rovings, Batts, fiber related odds and ends, teas, tea pots, tea cups, books, patterns, etc. I will be available to accept fleeces for processing. Or, just come and join me as I spin and enjoy all the fiber.

Quiet

It's 1 a.m. and quiet. Only the hum of the computer. Just finished working on labeling fiber for the SAFONA Fiber Festival on November 20th. http://www.safona.org/ I enjoy working and creating with the wool/fiber so much I simply lose track of time. And I never seem to get tired when I am one with the fleece. Colors, patterns, ideas always running through my head. A cup of tea (decaffeinated for sure) and a few deep breaths and off to bed. Slow down the brain for a few hours.

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."
----Native American saying

Mellow

I am still in a mellow mood. Listen......it's raining (here in Holtwood)....the music of the raindrops. Seriously...listen....each raindrop has a different tone. It's saying....go work on your wool.....LOL.... Definitely a nice evening for a cup of herbal tea and hands down deep in a fleece. The sky is gray and calm. The damp cool air says go snuggle....with hands in a fleece.. or in a blanket... with a book... in front of a fireplace..... or with knitting or crochet or oh whatever you do.

Okay then, I'm gonna go play in the wool.......enjoy your evening and remember to.....ssshhhhh.....listen.

A very productive evening. Pickin' wool.

From: To: Rambouillet

and From: To: To: Karakul

Remember to watch my website www.folklorefibers.com for the upcoming Fiber/Wool Study Program.

Also, catch Folklore Fibers and Crabapple Yarns at the SAFONA Fiber Festival in New Holland. Check out their website at www.safona.org

Reflection

I noticed the frost on the grass this morning. The sun reflected off the shiny surface making a rainbow like a prism glistening in a sunny window. Each blade of grass touched by beauty. Silver glistening. Crisp, clean smell of the air. Natures artwork left on my windhield. Look close and see how the ice crystals form pictures. Plants and trees ready for rest after expending their energy when they gave us stunning colors in their leaves, buds, and flowers. Its nap time, but just enough energy to give us colors of the earth to remind us again of where we live and how blessed we are with all the simple things we have been given. The earth.....giving us everything we need to survive. Food, clothing, shelter, medicine, music, art, and yes.....love.

Working on wool. Smell the lanolin...the life of the animal is in that smell. The softness of your hands while working with it. And each one is different, just like us. Each one is different. But each one gives something special.

A night of reflection and thanks.

First Post

My first post. Had a hard time designing this one. The application just wouldn't do what I wanted it to do. The design in my head just would not come out through the application. So this is what I got.



The autumn weather yesterday was stunning, and stimulating to the brain and the body. I felt spunky.....the way a horse does when the weather gets cooler. Jumping around and ready to run through the cool brisk air. My energy in turn was put to good use processing fiber. The smell and feel of raw wool fleece to me are like when a runners endorphins kick in and they get that "runners high". It was a productive day for the most part...... the other part.......well.....the lasagna didn't fair too well. Sadly, the lasagna fell off the tray (omgoodness, Bethy Crocker made frozen lasagna) and all over the oven, cabinet doors, and floor. Oh well, I got to eat out and my wonderful husband cleaned everything up.



Back to the fiber......an order completed. A CVM fleece turned out beautiful. It was quite short stapled, but it turned out soft and the different shades of color blended together evenly. This picture was obviously from 10/12/2010. You should see the pile of bumps when I got the order completed.

Working with the CVM just wasn't enough to give me my fiber fix, so I did some more picking of a shetland fleece. Very soft fleece. Well, that still wasn't enough.......so I readied some samples for the Guild meeting this coming Thursday. (Okay here's the pitch) If you love fiber/wool, want to learn more, want to experience the fiber high, please feel free to join us at the Lancaster Spinner's and Weavers Guild. Check out our website at http://www.lancspinweaveguild.org/ . Okay I'm done with the pitch. Enough for now also. Talk with you on the next blog.