Stuff.

It's time to walk again....every single day if weather permits.   January and February were brutally unkind as far as walking went.

So I'm trying to make up for it.

I walk the bike path here in town, and I walk some back roads.  The fields are way too wet right now.

I also drive to other trails if I can.

On one of my walks, there are these amazing stone walls.

Look at the size of those stones.

The canal runs through town, this is the path on part of it.

A couple of days ago, L and I drove down to Lock 5.    It was a lovely walk, and a beautiful day.

The Hudson River is high, and fast.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go farther afield, or run the risk of getting bored with the same routes.
I don't think Naya minds the same walks, as long as there are tons of smells along the way.
But to keep me motivated, I need more.

 Tell me what it is about abandoned mobile homes/trailers???

They are everywhere.

This one will soon be hidden with vines.

On the weaving front.........4 m of yardage, in cotton bamboo and rose yarn.....soft as butter.
And a very pale pink.

4 m of cotton bamboo and hand dyed cotton hemp.........in crackle.

And L's project....a crazy mixed warp with a silk weft.

Smashing.

I had all day company ........and it was a BUSY day.

 

We colored eggs.

We made cupcakes.

We chased chickens, and made lots of pictures, we visited goats, we went for pizza, we got exhausted.

OK, mostly me.

The screen porch is clean, and the best place for  an iced tea and a good book.

Finally, winter is over.
Priceless.

I leave you with this:

2 chickens trying to lay eggs in ONE box, at the same time.  Neither wanting to give up.
I have no words.

Cut this.

Sometimes you just have one of those days...no matter how hard you try, you know it's not going to turn out so well.

I finally gave up the battle to make this bamboo warp do what I wanted.  I did have a loom issue, with one solenoid not positioned properly to fire off like it's supposed to.  But even after fixing that, it was still a nightmare.
I didn't realize how stretchy bamboo could be.  A loose thread here, a loose thread there.  You weavers know how awful it is to UNWEAVE.

I went forwards and backwards so many times, I was getting dizzy.  I'd weave an inch or two, get out my mirror and flashlight so I could visualize the underside of the fabric, and find floats before they got too big.
I had multiple weights hanging off the back of the loom.

After four hours this morning, and very, very little forward progress, I had to stop and reconsider.
I've been working on this warp for days, and so far, I have only yardage with floats that may or may not be salvageable. 
So as much as it hurt me to do it, I cut the warp off the loom, cut my losses and tried to accept that I have wasted a week on it.

So to date, I have found that tencel warps, and bamboo warps, put on sectionally, so the warp is at least 20 yards long, can be a nightmare.

I need some reliable, dependable cotton.


At least lunch has been a good experience.   This week is leek, potato, cabbage soup, one of my faves.

My 5 year old grand daughter fell running through the house, landed on her chin, and ended up getting three stitches.

My daughter texted me, "OMG, does it ever end?"  (meaning the worry and anxiety over your children)

I said, "Yup, it will, when you die."


As they left Urgent Care, she had obviously bounced right back, and had to be cautioned about skipping down the hall way.

Note, the bandaid on her chin.

I have been dyeing for about three years, and true to form, I have not kept one bit of record of any of it.
Until now. 
I decided it was time.
So I started a dye notebook, and this week, every morning, before I start my weaving day, I dye one batch.
In my pajamas.

I usually use some picture to inspire me, so I've paired  my inspo pic with the end results, so you can see how I'm doing.


This red and gray is bamboo, for weft.

And this green is also bamboo, for weft.

This is mercerized cotton, also for weft.
This one is my favorite of the three.

There's another one on the drying rack. 

I think spring might actually be coming, but the downside is that everything looks so brown and dirty.
I need some serious lawn work done, leaves raked, branches picked up, but finding someone who will do it and do a good job is not an easy task.
My neck dictates that I NOT do it, even though I would really like to.


I love watching the sunset, and seeing the "girls" soaking up the very last rays of the day.
If you look close, you can see  them out behind the gate.   When the sun goes down, within minutes, they will be going in........like clockwork.

Egg production has been high, all winter long.  That is not usual, and I've wondered why.  Someone suggested that it was their glass enclosed chicken run that was responsible.  I don't know that it's true, but it sure is interesting.

I do have a question for you all.
A chicken question.  A garden question.

My chickens have a huge fenced in area, and when the garden is not in use, they have that area as well.
I have decided to build a couple of raised beds outside the garden, for the few things we want to plant.  Keeping it manageable.

So the garden will be empty, unless I figure out something easy to throw in there.  I want to plant something in there that will be easy to manage, and something that at the end of summer, the chickens will enjoy.
Although, they pretty much enjoy everything,  I keep thinking that there is something that would be perfect, if I just knew what it was.

Anyone?