Fiber Arts Friday: Wavy Scarf for Ramen's Favorite

In late April, I finally had a vision for this wool+silk+viscose yarn I had bought in 2012.

It had no specific purpose in 2012, but I kept coming back to it, so it came home with me.  I figured it might make a nice wrap... and here we are, 10 years later... using US5 needles.

This pattern is improvised, but took inspiration from the Rill Scarf I recently ripped out and the Forever Wingspan of a few years ago.

This project consumed my fiber-attention for about 6 weeks.

> Bound-off, Before Edging:

> After Edging

>> Blocking

>> After Blocking

It has now been gifted.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

In the Garden: Freezing Eggs

I thought about it last summer when we had a glut of eggs, but didn't get to it with all of the other things going on.

Then I thought about it more over the winter during the desert of egg laying.

So I spent a little time looking up how to freeze eggs and found this to be a good source as to how and why.

I oiled a couple of muffin tins

Broke the yolks and added a bit of salt to each one.

Then put them into labeled freezer bags.

I lost track of how many eggs we ended up buying over the winter.  So my goal is to put up about a dozen dozen and have a few frozen thus far.

I'm looking forward to trying them over this coming winter.

Fiber Arts Friday: Estes Park Wool Market 2022, part 3

So with my homework having been (re)completed in March, I double-checked my supplies and tools for each class and spent a long weekend at the Estes Park Wool Market in June.

This was my first time taking a class at a Wool Festival... and I took two. :-)

I have attended talks and watched demonstrations before.... but it was really quite special to be able to focus two days on improving skills and knowledge.

Our new place is a little further away, but still extremely convenient for day trips to Estes Park.

Exploring the Drum Carder

My first class was Exploring the Drum Carder with Henry and Roy Clemes.

Prior to this class, I had only seen short demonstrations of carding in my initial Learning to Spin class.

I do have a second-hand half-sized carder that I have been using for several (11!) years, but now with this full-day class, I think my output will be much nicer to work with.

I'm looking forward to taking the next class in their series.

I also picked up a couple of tools that will help me use my old carder better.

Finishing with Excellence

This class was everything I was expecting.

Like the Carding Class, I have finished projects, but now I know a few more techniques to make those joins and weave-ins even more invisible.

We also spent some time talking about blocking techniques.

I truly enjoyed taking Paula's class.

Shopping

In addition to the tools listed above, I did buy some yarn and roving.

So while I have said that I generally don't like crazy dyed yarns, when I do buy yarn, it is often dyed.

I like that the colors at Estes were more muted than other markets I've been to in recent years (Yarn Fest, Stitches).  I especially loved the work of the Apothefaery.  Her work is very earthy.

I actually bought quite a bit of yarn this trip.... mostly because I wanted to pair against some out-of-character crazy yarn that I bought at Stitches West in 2019...

Aside from the last few SE2SE breeds (which I did not find) and the yarn to pair with the crazy above, I wasn't really looking for much.  However, I am always looking to add interesting or unusual fibers to my stash.... and per usual, Estes Park did not disappoint.... Valais Blacknose roving!

This ranch near me has possibly the first Purebred Valais Blacknose born (via embryo transfer) in the US.  This is quite exciting.

Valais Blacknose is a carpet wool, and should go nicely with some of the other stuff in my stash.  As I was leaving the shopkeeper asked what I would be making.... and I just said, "yarn."  :-)  I really don't know what it will become beyond yarn, but I am very excited to try it.

The second bag is Scottish Blackface, which is also a new breed for me.

Demonstration

Unplanned was a spinning demonstration.  Henry Clemes ask if I would be willing to spin on one of their wheels during the market over the weekend... to which I replied, "Absolutely!"

I spent about an hour on Saturday afternoon showing people how yarn works.  Really fun!!

Animals

I stopped by the Sheep and Goat Barn... One of these years I'll actually make it to the Cashmere Goat Show.  

Cashmere Goat Show Results

I spent a few minutes speaking with a Shetland Sheep Farmer who was getting ready to show.

I snapped only a couple of photos... none of which are composed well.  

Valais Blacknose

Jacob Ram

"Cashmere" Goats

There is so much more to see, such as Herding and Shearing Demonstrations, Sheep-to-Shawl Competition, Llamas, Alpacas, Paco-Vicunas, Rabbits, Food, equipment demonstrations, and talks.

I love that we are close to this excellent show and always look forward to focusing a little differently each time.  I especially love that this show is more geared toward spinners and not just knitters and crocheters.

Yes, I wore a mask the entire weekend... and will continue to do so.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Shearing Day, 2022

Normally we shear in early-mid May.  I was not ready due to the move and the weather can be questionable in May, so I had been wanting to push it to later date anyway.

Therefore in looking at my calendar, we chose Saturday, June 18th.  But with things already scheduled for the two weekends prior, I needed to get the barn and supplies ready by the end of May.

At our last place, preparing for Shearing Day was a matter of just ensuring our hay stores were out of the way and hooking the rig up to the already established points.

Here, at the new place, I had to choose and set up a new location.

After scouting about, I figured one of the stalls would work best.  We have power and places to tie off.  However, stalls being stalls, I'm concerned it will be a bit narrow for a large crew.  We will also need more shade in the morning.

The good news is that our new place makes it much easier to corral the herd for shearing, so I didn't need a lot of extra hands, or to take a break from shearing to help catch animals.  I penned them in the night before, then we let them into the pasture after each was shorn.

I sorted my tools and sent a supply of combs, cutters, and shears out for sharpening.

I created the check sheets, labeled the fleece bags, and ensured the rig would work in the selected location.  I also set out my folding table to ensure we have the traffic flow figured out.

The previous owner left a large amount of horse manure behind.  Much of it was frozen to the ground by the time I was able to get to it last fall.  So barn prep included mucking for horses that I am not responsible for, ground leveling, and placing stall mats for padding.

I am happy to report that our first shearing day at our new farm was successful!  We identified a few kinks that should be relatively simple to remedy before next year.

Lot's of sunbathing and rolling in dirt occurred after each haircut.

Everyone is happy in their summer do.

Skirting of fleeces is next on the agenda.

As always, we couldn't do this work without the help of a few great friends.  I'm grateful to them.

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece 2022, part 1

This is going to be an unusual Tour de Fleece for me this year.... 

I have a significant commitment during the Tour, so I don't expect to be able to spin or post regularly.  Also all of my yarns are already in work, so measuring progress has to be based on the starting bobbin+yarn weight.

As usual, the Tour de Fleece runs parallel to the Tour de France (men's race, July 1-24).  

This year there is also a Tour de France, Femme, immediately following the men's race (July 24-31).  I am not aware if there will be a Spin-along, but I intend to continue spinning in support of the women.  So my wrap-up will be after the Women's race concludes.

On my Clemes&Clemes Modern Wheel, I have Tibetan Mastiff - Ramen., 143 g (bobbin+yarn)

On my Louet S10 DT, I have Dorset Horn for SE2SE, 233 g (bobbin+yarn)

On my Ledbetter Drop Spindle, I have Cashmere, 24 g (spindle+yarn)

My goal for 2022 is to spin 15 minutes per day.  My hope is more, but my reality is what it is.

The 2022 Tour de Fleece begins Today!  I invite you to find a team you like and play along.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

#Moosewood2022, part 4 - May and June

Continuing on with the Moosewood 2022 Challenge... 

May

Recipe #15: Tomato Curry (new), page 175

I was saving this one for the glut of summer tomatoes, but Hubba and I both bought tomatoes in the last few days.  So we're starting out May with another delicious curry...

I'm glad that I'm tracking this as we go.  Because at the end of May, I thought I had made zero Moosewood recipes this month... Don't worry, we're not starving.... just eating other things.  ;-)

June

Recipe #16: Eggplant Scallopini Marsala (new), page 83

I don't know what makes it "Scallopini" but this is delicious... even if I had to improvise on the Basil and use a blend of Italian Spices that we received as a Christmas gift.  I didn't bother to check our inventory, because who doesn't have Dried Basil in their pantry?  Me, that's who... and the settling in from the move continues.  lol.

In looking at the Dictionary, Scallopini means thin slices of meat sauteed or fried... however, my eggplant is diced, and not meat, so technically this dish is not scallopini.  ;-)

Stats:

• 12 + 2 = 14 (new) = new-to-me recipe...  ie, one I have not made before
• 2 + 0 = 2 (standard) = recipes I have made frequently over the years, because we love it so much
• 0 + 0 = 0 (repeat) = previously made in the #Moosewood2022 challenge

16 Total Recipes as of Month #6 and Week #26 of the year.  So while I've slowed down significantly, I'm still ahead of my overall goal of 2 per month.

Thoughts on Roe v Wade and the ERA

 When I was coming up there was a lot of talk about the Equal Right Amendment (ERA).

We were told, that companies would do the right thing by women, and therefore the ERA did not need to become an Amendment to the Constitution.

50 years after it's inception, not only have women NOT achieved parity, but today, we no longer have authority over our bodies.

Over the years I've seen decisions for companies such as Hobby Lobby to prevent Birth Control from being covered by company-provided health insurance.... when even the employees pay a significant portion of the premium.

We see society (right-wing, especially) saying that people just need to work harder... that if they could not afford to care for those children they should not have had them in the first place.... when the other hand is removing the safe guards.

We see a constant push against funding for health care, education, clean air, water, technology... all things that would make being a human and caring for human children easier.

We see a push to remove "entitlements" such as Social Security and Medicare... even though they are not "entitlements," we pay for them with every single pay check received.

I have been a feminist since I learned what the word meant.  It was a derogatory term at the time, but it was clear to me, at that young age, that I and I alone, was responsible for my personal care and well-being.  I have been fortunate to find an excellent partner in life, but that is not true for everyone I know.

This is a sad, sad moment in our country.

There are so many other things to say, but let me finish with this...

If you think that you don't know anyone who has been raped, had an abortion, or been sexually harassed, or discriminated because of their gender... Know that you do know women who have experienced all of these things.... You just don't know any women who trust you enough to tell you about it.