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Another January

Jan16

I didn’t check to see when I last posted. I know it’s be awhile. Not a heck of a lot to post about in January. We had our snow at Christmas, and since then it’s been mostly sunny and cold. Pretty much 24 every morning for the last couple weeks. A bit after 2 pm it reaches the high for the day, lately brushing 40 degrees, it was 41 today before it starts dropping again. Days are getting longer but since we have a late, bright moon, the day seems to start about 3 am! A bit longer than I’d like.  I manage to sleep until about 4 am then nap for another hour. Makes the days seem longer, anyway.

I have been doing a bit of weaving, playing with stitch designs and textures. Did this one today. I think I’ve figured it out enough that I can chart it and maybe get a good one. This one will get frogged so I can reuse the yarn. I have to figure out how to center the design and how many will fit and also do something about the edges. Simple, right! lol I’ve been working on single color pattern for the new Fine Sett looms as well. And making a chart that lists the yarn amount needed for each of the looms. I guess I didn’t realize how many different looms we make when you count size and shape and type!

As for the rest of the day… I seem to be busy all day but I really can’t say at what. Strange how that works. The days just fill with little things , nothing memorable but seem necessary at the time. Well, I mean the dishes have to be washed, the laundry also, dinner has to be planned ahead of time, It’s not like we could afford to eat out every night even if we wanted to and had a restaurant closer than 40 miles from us. Then there’s always work in the shop making the looms and packing up the orders and getting them shipped off to waiting weavers. And of course, the Infamous Internet. Yes, emails to answer, posts to read & someone is sure to send a link to a funny or interesting You Tube, just a quick glance you tell yourself. It’s amazing how fast an hours gets by!

I did knit myself a pair of bed socks. They fit well and stay on all night or until I kick them off.  Those were knitted during the evening movie, mostly. We take turns picking one of our many DMVs or video tapes and swap off between reading evenings. Pretty lively around here of a winter evening!

But I mostly just wanted to let you know, anyone who may still be interested in my “Life in the Country”, that I have been worrying over not posting or more specifically, over not seeming to have anything of interest to post about. I hope you are enjoying your January and hoping it’s a comfortable one. That you aren’t in the big snow blizzard back east and sitting in the dark with no power. Tho if you are you are not readying this! duh.

With that brilliant observation I’ll bid you all a good night!

Sweet Dreams!

New Years Day 2022… Good wishes for the future!

Jan1

I hope you all were able to welcome the new year in the way you most enjoy! And stayed safe!

Randy and I celebrated as old people tend to do!

Today I finally got my new patchwork top out and got a photo. I don’t know if I mentioned but the yoke turned out to be too short, so I added another row of squares and I think it’s much better. Not my most flattering color but I like the way I did this neckline.

Pretty slow in Trinity this time of year. We had a lot of snow a week or so ago and it’s still here along with an impressive display of icicles along the roof line. We hit our winter low this morning at 14 degrees f.  The Wizards say we are in for more snow on Sunday and Monday and then they think it’s going to warm up and rain at our elevation. That’ll be a nice mess! Well, we are still in a drought so not all bad. This last snow was pretty dry stuff. Which is nice when you have to shovel it but doesn’t add much to the water tables.

Well, l Himself has mentioned a couple times that there is a cake mix and a can of frosting in the pantry, so I guess I’ll go make him a cake.  Hope your new years day is going well and that it continues to be well throughout the year! If we all do our best to stay positive and friendly and safe I’m sure the world will be able to recover.

Be kind, be positive, be safe! And do lots of weaving!

Merry Christmas, Happy new Year, and also happy anything else you celebrate this time of year!

Dec23

I don’t have to  be “Dreaming of a white Christmas” this year. It’s already white and the Weather Wizards tell us we’re going to have Nice nice new snow on Christmas day and it looks like, the whole week after! Delightful, since we have no travel plans this year. Staying home by the fire! But my poor Tennessee Red cedar doesn’t seem to like Trinity winters. It broke away from it’s support. I think it may need a cage until it can grow a thicker trunk.

 

We’ve been working like crazy in the shop this month. I did not plan well. Those of you who’ve had to wait for your looms know this. I really didnt’ expect the new fine sett to be quite so popular! But I think we have just about got it done. The last one goes out tomorrow, then no more until after the holiday. And of course, in the middle of this rush, the Loom maker got sick and then with the snow storm the power was out for three days! One of the special woods that was ordered decided it didnt’ want to play. Randy had to make those looms 3 times before he got one to do what it was supposed to do. You would not think a lovely board could be so troublesome!

I finished up the last weaving projects for Little looms Magazine and actually did a little knitting making my mini dolls new Christmas outfits during our evening movie. I was asked why the green theme. I had to admit convenience, it was handy! lol

And I did actually finish the patchwork shirt in the previous post. after I fulled it became apparent that the yoke was too short. While I was looking for the yarn to weave more squares, I lucked out and found just the right number of already woven squares in that yarn! I promise to get a photo wearing it, one of these days when there is a little light for pictures.

But meantime…………………

     

 

December Oneth already!

Dec1

Hasn’t improved things, I’m still behind and still losing things. Story of my life lately. Bah Humbug! Finished the 4″ square Christmas sweater for that Brazilian ladies’ yearly JAL. White on white just doesn’t work. So after 4 tries I went to a pale blue back ground and finally got a good photo. Even made a file especially to put it in.  Computer tells me this file is empty. Cannot find that picture anywhere on this perverter machine! Not going though all that again so too bad. I do have a picture of Piper wearing it, tho.

I’m mostly working on the stitch patterns for the continuous weave looms. So far mostly the 7″, both regular and fine sett. And finishing up some magazine submissions. And I have to make bread today. There’s stuff in the yard and flower beds that need some pre-weather cleaning up. It May happen. And the ravens are hanging around in the neighborhood today, being noisy. Not common here, wonder what’s up with that.  They have been before during fledgling season but I told them to come back Nevermore!

Okay, with that I guess I’d better get the laundry started and the roast ready to go in the oven. Hope your December is starting out more cheerful!

Up-date for WAL

Nov7

I’ve moved the end date to Saturday, Nov. 13 to help make up for the confusion I created earlier this week. Hope it isn’t just more confusion!

But this will give a few more of you a chance to finish your Red Bird and get entered into the drawing for the Grand prize!

Thanks all who joined, whether you are able to finish or not! We’re are delighted to have so many weavers helping us celebrate our 20th anniversary party!

Winter work…

Nov6

It’s November even tho with temps in the 60’s as high and the lows just in the low 40’s it doesn’t really feel very wintery. Well, except for the rain and gloomy skies. And gloomy husband. He doesn’t do well in continual darkness and besides has jobs that need to be outdoors in dry weather so that’s adding to the frustration. I’m fine tho it worries me a bit that it’s not getting cold. We are still picking pole beans and when I cut greens yesterday there was a bee buzzing around in the borage. Not normal winter conditions for these mountains. Well, I guess we’d better start getting used to the “not normal”. They are suggest a vague possibility of some snow on Monday. Not holding my breath!

But meantime, with the WAL coming to an end, I got out my cardigan project. My favorite orange sweater is wearing out. When even Himself notices it’s sort of ratty condition I guess it’s time!  So I’ll be weaving 12″ squares for some time. I’m reusing a frogged knit sweater that turned out to be a bad idea, mostly a bad fit. And I have another one that is in line for frogging as well. I guess I’d better stick to weaving! lol I balled this yarn up but it hasn’t been washed before weaving with it. I’ll find out if that’s a good idea.

     

But today I have to finish up a batch of apple sauce and sand a couple looms as well. The sweater is going to take awhile to finish.

  And there’s enough apples  left for a pie.

 

Last Week….

Nov3

Looks like I was mistaken about the enduing date! The WAL will end on Wednesday November 11. That adds a couple more days for those of you who need a little more time to finish! Go! Go! You don’t want to miss a chance at this prize!

The last Week of the Anniversary WAL. It ends Monday midnight. that gives you 5 1/2 days to get your red bird finished up. Remember, you don’t have to make anything of it to qualify as a finisher, just need to have the chart woven and assembled. Of course I’ll be delighted if you do manage to get it made into something so try for it! How about adding a waist band and making it a Hostess apron for your Thanksgiving get-together?! A  little old fashioned maybe retro!, but I remember Momma wearing her prettiest aprons for those festive occasions when she had to be in the kitchen as well as in entertaining guests and family. But in any case I hope to see a few more finishers getting a chance at our BIG PRIZE!!!

A few pieces woven on the fine set. the lacy bit used the Croquette. It’s about the size of #30 crochet thread, I think. Has a bit of metallic sparkle which never shows in photos.

Post a comment to let us know how you are getting along with your project!