I had ordered a spindle that I have wanted for a very long time. Yes, I know, I have a spinning wheel, a small collection of drop spindles (as well as a Russian support spindle that I haven't been able to use yet as I can't figure it out. True example of someone who purchased something based solely on how it looked!) but this spindle is one that I've wanted for so long yet held out until it went truly "on sale".
It came in and it was (is) beautiful! It's a Greensleeves spindle, made in Canary wood with a mahogany shaft. It spins like butter! I so love this. Not taking anything away from my wheel or my other spindles but this is just delightful!
As I was searching for better ways to spin with it on Youtube, I came across something known as a "wrist distaff". Now, if you've never used a drop spindle, you need to wrap your fiber around your wrist so that your spindle doesn't get tangled up with the unspun fiber. Rest assured, you WILL do that at least once (and I've done it THOUSANDS OF TIMES!). But I have never seen such a thing as this. Then I found out she had made herself one! Then I found out I could make one myself. This discovery led to a different one, instead of a distaff, you can use a "chalk" bag like those used by mountain climbers. Of which I am not one. Nor will I ever be one as I don't like heights and am way too heavy to want to support my weight by my toes (which cramp up) and my fingertips (which do likewise). But the bag has "possibilities"! Theirs were homemade too, which intrigued me even more. I have stash. I have sewing knowledge.
Well, if she can do it, so can I! Now I had started the day with good intentions, I need to do laundry and since it's rained every weekend so far, I planned on doing the wash today (no rain!!!), it was breezy, I did my first load at the crack of 8 a.m. I cleaned my kitchen, and then with my first cup of coffee, found the wrist distaff.
And my day ended just like that. One thing led to another which led to Pinterest which led to many hours later. Laundry, still in the machine. STILL. It stopped at 9:15 a.m. It is now 4:30 p.m. Kitchen, a bit messy as yours truly was too busy to be about the stuff that needed to be done. Here I am, on my computer, looking up "what to do with fiber prior to spinning it" and "how to keep fiber from wrapping around your spindle". "How to make a chalk bag." "What is a chalk bag and how does one use it". Hours later. What is wrong with me?? I have so much that REALLY NEEDS ME TO DO IT, I HAVE NO KIDS AROUND TO INTERRUPT ME, HUBBY DEAREST WENT TO WORK ON A SATURDAY AND YET HERE I SIT????
I don't know what I'm angrier about with myself over, finding something that I never needed before and now can't stop feeling I need, finding something new to make (thereby using up some of my stash) or the time wasted that now I will have to stay up late doing to make up for it, thereby putting off spinning on my new toy until tomorrow. Quite possibly this weird addiction I have to all things crafty internet-wise. Or my even weirder attraction to the internet, bordering on addiction. Seriously. Get off the computer NOW. Go clean kitchen, hang laundry, vacuum and then get thy butt downstairs to do the cleaning you started to do THIS MORNING that you've ignored all day. ARRRGGGGG......
This is why I sometimes envy Amish style living. Had I not turned on my computer with my coffee this morning, I would never have found out I needed something I didn't have and would never have seen stuff that I don't have that I can make (in my free time, which coincidentally I won't have because I am on the computer instead of getting the chores done that will give me the free time I need to do the stuff I want to do......) I was happy prior to finding out I wasn't and now I won't be happy until I make something new that I hadn't realized I needed. I could be spinning right now if it wasn't for my own foolishness......
So as you sit here reading how insane I've truly become, what should you be doing and more importantly, why aren't you?
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
And one more thing to cross off my "to do list"!!!!
Normally, at this time of year, I start planting my veggie garden. I spend incredible amounts of time spraying myself with God alone knows what in an effort to keep my blood where it belongs. I don mesh hat with mesh all the way round my head, long sleeves, long pants, socks, sneakers, the above mentioned soaking of "Eau du Off" and outside I go.
This year, I marched my rather large self outside about two weeks ago and planted almost 50 tomato plants. I planted loads of lettuce, 1/2 a bed of Brussels Sprouts, bell peppers, and now, Memorial Day, I finished planting my carrots, beans, cukes, zucchini and peas. Not to mention (but definitely to brag!) 2 peach trees, 2 concord grape bushes, and almost 100 strawberry plants.
For all the "nay sayers" out there, a rather large raspberry to you! I was repeatedly told that my plants would drown, my plants would never survive as it was too cool (not cold mind you, just cool!) well, for all you out there, my plants are thriving! This is not my doing mind you but 90% of the dirt in our raised beds is swamp dirt from our stream. Gary tractored it up and filled my boxes with it.
First thing you should realize about swamp dirt is the smell. It will hit you broadside. Worse is while working in that chocolate cake, spongy mess, a bug decides to land on your face and you swipe at it, well, let's just say that if any of God's critters can stand that odor, there is nothing I can do to harm them. It makes cow manure smell divine! That is the most rancid, foul, noxious odor around. My plants LOVE it. Like kids around forbidden food, my seedlings think they've hit the jackpot.
As you can see here, my rewards for my early effort extended to less bugs around when I planted but also to the appearance of "baby" bell peppers! Early! Almost all my plants have at least one of these wonders of nature, some sporting two or three. Now, if the rest of my garden grows as good as this, I will be one happy camper!!
I did notice a few things though, chiefly fewer bugs! When I started planting, the black flies hadn't come out yet. For the record, they love the swamp dirt even more than the plants. We planted our seedlings much easier without the constant slap, scratch and under breath swearing that accompanies my later planting. Today however, the bugs are out and out with a vengeance! I have bug guts in my ears, my hair and in places down my shirt that I can't figure out how they got there. I hate bugs. I shouldn't hate anything this much.
Well, now off to clean my kitchen. Memorial Day brings with it a larger than life dinner and with such a dinner comes a larger than life dishwashing detail! I can't believe that the 3 day weekend is over! Summer is here (mostly) and all is right in my patch of God's world.
This year, I marched my rather large self outside about two weeks ago and planted almost 50 tomato plants. I planted loads of lettuce, 1/2 a bed of Brussels Sprouts, bell peppers, and now, Memorial Day, I finished planting my carrots, beans, cukes, zucchini and peas. Not to mention (but definitely to brag!) 2 peach trees, 2 concord grape bushes, and almost 100 strawberry plants.
For all the "nay sayers" out there, a rather large raspberry to you! I was repeatedly told that my plants would drown, my plants would never survive as it was too cool (not cold mind you, just cool!) well, for all you out there, my plants are thriving! This is not my doing mind you but 90% of the dirt in our raised beds is swamp dirt from our stream. Gary tractored it up and filled my boxes with it.
First thing you should realize about swamp dirt is the smell. It will hit you broadside. Worse is while working in that chocolate cake, spongy mess, a bug decides to land on your face and you swipe at it, well, let's just say that if any of God's critters can stand that odor, there is nothing I can do to harm them. It makes cow manure smell divine! That is the most rancid, foul, noxious odor around. My plants LOVE it. Like kids around forbidden food, my seedlings think they've hit the jackpot.
As you can see here, my rewards for my early effort extended to less bugs around when I planted but also to the appearance of "baby" bell peppers! Early! Almost all my plants have at least one of these wonders of nature, some sporting two or three. Now, if the rest of my garden grows as good as this, I will be one happy camper!!
I did notice a few things though, chiefly fewer bugs! When I started planting, the black flies hadn't come out yet. For the record, they love the swamp dirt even more than the plants. We planted our seedlings much easier without the constant slap, scratch and under breath swearing that accompanies my later planting. Today however, the bugs are out and out with a vengeance! I have bug guts in my ears, my hair and in places down my shirt that I can't figure out how they got there. I hate bugs. I shouldn't hate anything this much.
Well, now off to clean my kitchen. Memorial Day brings with it a larger than life dinner and with such a dinner comes a larger than life dishwashing detail! I can't believe that the 3 day weekend is over! Summer is here (mostly) and all is right in my patch of God's world.
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