So much of just “life” has happened in the last month that I was fully whelmed and decided to roll with it. When I wrote last I was in PA with my mother as my grandfather had a stroke on Thanksgiving.  He passed on the following Tuesday. There were the arrangements to be taken care of  along with trying to help my mother. Mom lived with Grandad and took care of him so this hit her the hardest.

However even with all this sadness, Mom insisted on decorating the house for Christmas. Which of course I was required to help. Now I do decorated my house for Christmas but the last couple of years it had become a chore. I basically decorated “for the kids sake.” I hadn’t bought new christmas decorations in years. Mom had way too many decorations from her previous house to decorate her small 2 bedroom apartment with. So the decorations got packed up and put in my vehicle for the drive home.

Christmas magic was definitely afoot, because by the time we had finished decorating I found my Christmas spirit.  I had a new attitude about the whole christmas season and wanted to spend more quality time with my family. I wanted Christmas to be special again. I had that child-like wonder we seem to lose as “life” and “responsibility” can weight us down.

This christmas was one of the best in years. I decorated with glee. I played practical jokes with the kids’ new phones(We charged them, changed the ringtones, wrapped them, hid them and then called them and the kids had to find them). I was and am thankful to have my wonderful husband home for good. I bought more decorations. I added to my Santa collection.

As I sit here drinking tea from my new santa teapot and eating 7-grain toast with jam, I am thankful.

I know I’m a day late blogging. In fact I may end up not writing too much this week. I was traveling yesterday. I am now writing to you from PA. My grandfather is very ill and my mother needed me here. So after 10 hours of driving here I am. I went to go see my grandfather first thing this morning. After we sat with him a few hours we went to the some of the local stores and the local mall. I realized really quickly I had somehow forgotten the memory card with this weeks blog research. I also remembered to bring a dye pan but forgot the dye. So I will not be doing a fiber of the week.

Doesn't Spunky sleep funny?

I haven’t been home in so long that I know of no LYS’s and this must be remedied immediately. The only pics I have for you today are of my Mum’s cats Spunky and Tipper.

Tipper

I almost forgot about the contest this week. All the driving must have addled my brain. Here are the pics of the lovely fiber I will be giving away on Sunday Morning.

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I can scarce believe it’s already this time of year. This year has gone so fast. I’m doing very little Christmas knitting or crochet this year. The exception to this rule is my mother, she specifically asked for a hooded scarf and who am I to deny her this? So I sat down yesterday after cooking the great yearly meal and started on it.

Our Thanksgiving was a lovely meal with great friends and our small family. I didn’t remember to take any pics but the memory of friends and family coming together over this large meal will be with me forever. Some things I am thankful for are , the fact I’ve been able to keep the rescue open, the fact that the hubs is home for good, my wonderful children, great friends and finally fiber because fiber becomes YARN!

All the bunnies seem to want to molt at once I took a break from grooming to ready myself for the holiday. It’s back to the grooming today.

The animals seem to be enjoying the warmer weather.

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I got my hands on some of this lovely fiber. It feels quite soft with a bit of crispness to it.

This fiber dyes beautifully. I used cushings acid dyes in silver grey green. I have noticed that this color is mottled whenever I use it but I like the way it separates.

I am going to blend this with some of the luxury fibers I’ve been collecting for an awesome luxury spinning project.

Here is a sneak peak at my latest project made from Briggs and Little yarn can anyone figure out what it is? I recieved my order from DBNY. Here are some pretties that showed up.

Some Awesome sock yarn in dk weight.

and last but also one of my favs, some aruncania multy. 

The weather has made a dramatic change here. This is the view out my backdoor.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all, I am thankful for my life, my family and my farm.

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I found some confusion when  looking up information on this wool. I thought maybe the 2 wools (polworth and polwarth) were one and the same just a variation on the word. I found nothing until I looked up a dictionary definition.

Definition of POLWARTH: an Australian breed of rather large medium-wooled sheep developed from crosses of Merino and Lincoln sheep and noted for ability to withstand damp and cold  2:  polwarth or polworth -s: a sheep of the Polworth breed

Definition courtesy of http://www.merriam-webster.com

Polwarth is a breed of sheep that was developed in Victoria (Australia) during 1880. They were of one quarter Lincoln and three quarters Merino bloodlines. They are large, predominantly polled sheep with long, soft, quite fine wool and produce good meat carcases. They were developed in an attempt to extend the grazing territory of sheep because the Merino was found lacking in hardiness in this respect. A dual-purpose (meat and wool) breed with a major emphasis on wool production(wikipedia). Since the original Polwarths were imported into Canterbury (New Zealand), in 1932, they are now established in a range of climates throughout the country. They thrive in a mix of hot and cold temperatures, with low to high rainfall, either hill and high country, or lowland environments. Truly one of the most versatile breeds available, with one of the highest returns possible from one single breed(New Zealand Sheep Breeders Association).

Polwarths are now mostly found in the higher rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia that have improved pastures. Polwarths have been exported into many countries, including South America where they are known as Ideals(wikipedia).

Mature ewes weight 50 to 60 kg (110 to 130 lb) and mature rams weigh 66 to 80 kg (150 to 180 lb). Ewes are excellent prime lamb mothers producing lambs that have good lean carcases. The high yielding fleeces weigh an average six to seven kilograms, with a fibre diameter of 23 to 25 microns (58-60s)(wikipedia).

Polworth ewe, Photo Courtesy of Huddersfield Stud of New Zealand

 Here are  a few pics of my undyed polworth roving.

Here are a few items from the Etsy Outlet.

Rocky Mountain Parnassium

Lime and Orange Batts

Here are some great pics of the animals as they all wanted to be a star today.

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I have something of importance, I would like to share with everyone. I was contacted by a local pet shelter in Los Angeles with a pygora goat.  I would love to take him however the cost of shipping him here is not within my budget. So If anyone knows of a fiber farm that takes rescues in the area please contact The north central animal care and control center at (888) 452-7381. Here is their web link as well and you can find a picture of this gorgeous animal here.  http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=LACT4.A1258879

In other news I finished my moebius cowl. The pattern is already available in the etsy store and will be available here soon.

A few more items available in the Etsy Outlet.

These are 2-ply recycled silk. Why is an animal rescue offering recycled silk you say? 

The answer is because my wonderful friend Nicole at Darn Good Yarn helps to employ impoverished women in India and Nepal, by buying recycled silk that they spin. I love it when we fiber people can help out other people or animals.  Anyway, you can imagine some of the newer spinners “over spin” the fiber. So I did an experiment with the over spun fiber and plied 2 overspun singles together to make a more balanced yarn and this is the result. Nice bulky, smooth,and colorful 2-ply silk yarn.

The animals had a great time eating all the vegies when I cleaned out the fridge they had a salad of watercress,basil, cilantro, carrots, apples, and other greens. Here they are after gorging today.

Wow I can’t believe it is Wednesday already. After rough week with tooth issues last week I’ve been playing catch up with farm work. The bunnies have needed a little extra attention(mean 3 hours in the barn grooming).

I decided after I was done instead of writing my post then I needed to make a few phone calls and check out a new yarn shop that opened 15 minutes away. That means no more driving an hour to find an LYS. Whoooohooo! They are  called Sisters X Two and are located on North Street in Dover- Foxcroft, ME. Nora and Dorothy are wonderful. Here are a few pics the Hubs shot with his phone for me as I forgot my camera. Cute Shop!

 I’ve also decided to tear apart my Ruched Yoke Tee. I don’t wear it because it doesn’t fit right so time to recycle the yarn for a better use.

Now I’m off to figure out that darn ribber on my circular sock knitting machine.

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I really didn’t want to dye the camel fiber as I really like the natural color of it. I did spin it up a sample for your viewing pleasure.

I’m almost finished with my beautifully soft cashmere blend cowl. I think one more repeat of the pattern will do it. I think there will be enough yarn left for matching fingerless mitts.

My Lia sweater is almost just need to finish the shoulder shaping on one arm , block it and , sew it together.

The animals are doing well this morning.

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Happy Veterans Day and Bless All You Veterans for choosing to give of yourself to keep us Free!

A couple pics of my favorite soldier from when he was in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a desolate but beautiful place.

 Many  of the soldiers show they have big hearts by  sheltering abandoned animals. This is Terminator he became the mascot kitty.

The Humane Society has a program now for soldiers to bring home a new animal friend that they adopt overseas. You can ask to donate to this specifically.

The soldiers definitely know how to keep a sense of humor.

Don’t forget to thank a veteran today!

On a knitterly note I finished my demo pattern for my new tweed stitch cowl. It will be available in the store soon. My daughter did a lovely job modeling it for me.

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I had to make a few changes to the website. As I was doing this I hit with a terrible head cold and abcessed tooth. Needless to say, I was down for the count for about a week. I’ve also decided to go with a biweekly newsletter as well. It would be easier as I know I’m going to be going for some oral surgery in the near future.

However, I was able to update the look of the site and add a new direct store as well. I don’t currently have an items in the store but that will soon change. I would love to hear your thoughts about our new page. Drop me a comment and let me know what you think. Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter.

Here is a cute bunnny pic to hold you over until wednesday.