New Faces, Old Friends

Dedicated Bloggers and want-to-bes

Yesterday was a real day out for me; I left home at nine in the morning and didn't settle back into the house until eight in the evening. Lots of interesting people to see and a lovely drive to Floyd in the bargain. For a change I took the high road across the ridge on the Parkway; the early spring scene and the brilliance of the sky were invigorating. I stopped off at the Jacksonville Center for a meeting. The galleries and workshops there are amazing; I didn't have time to really look at very much but the art was impressive. One gallery featured art made from recycled items; there were some beautiful pieces.


How to Blog!

One of the best parts of the day was a gathering of bloggers at Cafe Del Sol in Floyd. Mr. St. Lawrence did an excellent job of herding the group together, although keeping us all on track was probably as frustrating as herding cats for him. Walking into the group for me was like walking into a room full of people I knew. I'm really not the shy type but it was easy to be comfortable when greeted by a hug from Linda, a warm handshake from David and smiles all around.


Discussion of the whys and hows

There were bloggers I 'knew' by reading their work: Colleen, Fred, Linda and David, and a couple that were new to me: Doug and Jamie. There were also people interested in learning to blog, which set off some serious enabling around the table. By the time the meeting was over, I think all were converted.

The group immediately broke up into separate discussions, which flowed and changed with the interests of the talkers. Colleen, Linda and I, interested in personal experience, talked most about the whys of blogging, and of our different styles. David chimed in with some help on the technical aspects. I now know what a trackback is, if I can figure out how to do one. And we also discovered the permalink, the address of particular blog entries. I finally found my permalinks this morning, disguised at the time stamp. Much easier to get to than the convoluted method I've been using to find the addresses! The prospective bloggers, Tom, Chris and Rigel, were deep in discussion with the rest, offering comments and questions that made us all think even more about our motivations and how we do what we do.


So that's what that means!

It was wonderful to me to meet these special people and discover how much like their blogs that they all are. Linda is warm and witty, just as I expected, and Colleen is beautiful inside and out, just like her writing. Fred is funny, thoughtful and open; David keen, organized, and perceptive.

Floyd County is a special place, and it attracts very special people. Artists, writers and artisans abound in the communities of this part of the Blue Ridge, and blogging is one of the many ways that they are united in sharing their experience of their lives in this beautiful place. Special thanks to Mr. St. Lawrence of Ripples for putting the meeting together, and I look forward to many more discussions with these interesting people!


View from the hill

I finished off the day with a nice visit on the hill with my aunt, and we accomplished some computer work. Then friend Kym came over and we took a walk down the Parkway in the evening. Walking feels so good after long days of sitting in front of the computer, and we always have lots to talk about. We came back as shadows lengthened across the fields, and headed down to a local diner for a nice dinner and more conversation. It was nice to come home and curl up in my crochet corner, and think about the day, with all the fascinating people that I talked with. An unusual day for me, but a good one.

Addendum: Lots of the other bloggers, of course, posted their impressions of the day yesterday. Follow the links under "Neighbors" in the sidebar; almost all of them were there, and the rest are green because they couldn't be there and will show up soon!

Retreat

Yesterday dawned sunny, then clouds came over with some chill in the air again. I spent all day at home, taking care of more odds and ends of computer work in the morning. Then I spent the afternoon with the very satisfying job of cleaning more bunny trays in the bunny house. I sheared off a couple of bucks that had blown their coats before shearing time; I think the weird weather triggered that. A young cousin and her daughter dropped by to discuss getting a rabbit for the little girl, but we decided together that maybe a fuzzy angora wasn't the best choice for a busy family. I invited them to visit the shop during the summer, since they've both shown interest in fibery pursuits.

I have a couple of does due for shearing. My gorgeous pure German Angora Highland Mary has the prettiest coat right now. Very impressive when people come to call. But it needs to come off this week and probably I'll breed her to Storybook Dreams' Alm Uncle. He's kind of small and she's a really big girl, so it should be a nice match. I'll breed her daughter to Woolybuns Puff 'n Stuff when Bina is ready for shearing.

Last night I settled in to try to finish the last article on my grandmother for the Blue Ridge Gazette blog, but clouds rolled in and the first rumble of thunder warned me to get the computer turned off and unplugged. There were a few flashes of lightning and more thunder, but the storm didn't last long. Lily used to ignore thunder storms, but now she barks at them and growls back. I'm not sure if it was Lily's reaction or the storm itself but TJ was nervous. Not totally freaked like some dogs but frightened. He headed for the door, not the best idea and begged to be let out. I coaxed him back in and put him in his box so he could feel safe. Lily settled by my feet while I crocheted on the mohair purse; she growled occasionally when the thunder got louder but otherwise didn't seem bothered.

Great day today; heading to Christiansburg with favorite cousin to obtain bunny feed and have a visit. This morning I was up early and went walking with friend Kym. We decided to give up the gym for the summer; neither of us was inspired to make the long trip every morning and we enjoy walking much more. Nice chance to discuss things and enjoy the beautiful day. I drove down Squirrel Spur before dawn and watched the stars fade. The mountains are beautiful to see from below the mountain as the sun's light spreads across the ridges. Red buds are spreading from tree to tree, casting rosy shadows against the gray trucks and blue haze in the distance. Animals were everywhere along the road in the pre-dawn shifting of light and time, deer leaping in herds across the fields, a mouse scurrying busily across just before the headlights, a strange winged creature that flew up from the road and looked brown against the gray pavement, a darting rabbit, a waddling and very black-looking possum that took a path straight down the road before heading to the side ditch and safety. And a raccoon, running across the road so fast it was hard to tell what he was, except for the destinctive rings of his tail.

Spin-Off

Mohair Slip-stitch Purse

Yesterday I had to go to Stuart in the afternoon, so I spent the morning on odds and ends chores after an intense weekend of computer work. Only a few rabbit water bottles were frozen, and with the bright sunny day, although still cold, I felt inspired to do some general tidying up. I filled out some paperwork for shows and other business stuff and sent it off; that felt like a great accomplishment.

TJ spent the morning outside in the sunshine. All that puppy energy is expended much better in running wildly through the yard, and he seems to enjoy wandering around and sniffing. I keep an eye on him, but so far he's been very good about staying close. Lily curled up on the couch, glad of some quiet time without a puppy pulling on her. TJ can get a bit demanding when it comes to attention, and Lily has been very patient with the fact that he nudges into her petting time. So I settled onto the couch with her for awhile, with my latest crochet project. This is another slip-stitch purse, made from the mohair yarn I finished spinning last week. I watchd the birds and worked, while Lily rested a chin on my knee and dreamed her doggy dreams.

Long afternoon at the hardware store; I stayed over to keep from having to go back today. When I got home, after tending to puppy and rabbit feeding chores, I found the Spring issue of Spin-Off magazine in the mail. The scarves on the cover are lovely, though far beyond my limited knitting ability. I haven't had time to read every page of the magazine, but there's a wonderful article on sheep in Nova Scotia, with some beautiful pictures of women spinning. Like the author, I often think of the timeless tradition of spinning and creating that we have inherited.

The Hermitage

Hand dyed Shetland/Mohair Roving

I didn't leave the farm this weekend. Really nice. I kept the dye pots bubbling while I worked on web pages and some promotion of the Blue Ridge Gazette Magazine. I finally got the Meadows of Dan web page back on-line, after a glitch that happened when the domain name ran out and we wanted to transfer the ownership to my server. Beware of transfers; they are a pain! I did a major overhaul of the site and made it a little more user friendly and colorful. It still needs some more navigation stuff but it will do for now.


Hand Painted Shetland/Mohair Roving

I also revamped Poor Farmer's Market and worked some on my business web page. Finally figured out how to do some things I've been seeing on other pages. I'm not an expert web designer by any means but I enjoy playing around with it.

I have several friends that are going through hard times; some with new struggles and some with on-going difficulties. As I work I think of them, praying for calm in their complicated lives and peace in their uncertain worlds.


Hand Dyed Chocolate Chincilla Angora

The dyeing turned out pretty well. I was going to do a step by step on the other blog but I packed away my formula sheets somewhere in a house cleaning and didn't want to hunt them up. So there was no scientific method this time around. I just dumped roving and dye in pots for the solid rovings and painted the others in my crockpot. They all turned out pretty nice. I'm itching to spin the purple but should keep it for sale. There may be another pot of the same stuff in the future. I'm longing to get some yarn done, but I don't have any millspun here right now.


Hand Painted Shetland/Mohair Roving

Peaceful days. Quietly working in my office and kitchen, with a snoozing spaniel under my desk and a frolicking puppy dancing in and out of the house. Gray clouds rolling lazily across the sky, blowing snow on the wind, sudden white fields that melt to brown only to be covered by thin layers of snow again. The brilliance of cardinals against the snow, titmice in the window. Bold blue jays swaying on apple tree limbs. And finally sunshine and stillness.


Hand Painted Shetland/Mohair Roving

I plan to leave the house today. I have to go to Stuart to the hardware store for some final work there. Probably this week will be the last. Then on Thursday Mr. St. Lawrence of Ripples is going to be at Cafe Del Sol on Thursdays from 11:00 to 1:00 for an "Open Forum on Blogging". I hope to wander over that way and meet some bloggers I know by just reading about them. Should be fun. There are more details on Ripples, if any readers are close enough to attend. I suggested he do something about obsessive blogging and maybe use me as an example!

Yesterday TJ got up in my computer chair while I was checking the dyepots and did a Google search for "9". Wonder what he was looking for? Does he want to join the "K-9" corps?

My Secret Project

For the last month I've been quietly working away at a new web site. This project was the brain-child of D. L. Ennis, the blogger that created the Blue Ridge Gazette blog. He invited me to write for his blog and then other writers joined, for a really creative team with different viewpoints and talent. I've been doing web pages for awhile, and suddenly I found myself designing a magazine format to take advantage of the great writing that was flowing into the blog. So, as of today, the premier issue of Blue Ridge Gazette is on-line. I'm co-editor, thanks to the generous nature of Mr. Ennis. We're hoping to sell advertising to support the magazine.

I've thoroughly enjoyed working on this project. Now that the format is done the monthly publication won't be very difficult, and I can continue writing articles for the blog. I think this type of writing, although new to me in a way, is growing more comfortable. I used to write articles for small magazines years ago, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoy this. I'll probably always tend to write more from personal experience than from any other viewpoint. "Write what you know" is good advice. Even when I write about something for the magazine or blog, it will always be something where I feel a deep connection.

So go visit the Blue Ridge Gazette, when you have time, for a look at our wonderful mountains. Then come visit us!

Viewpoints

Three bloggers about one evening in Floyd:

Ripples

Fragments from Floyd

At the Top of Squirrel Spur

Ladies' Night Out

Things warmed up a little yesterday, and last night we had another little snowfall. Overcast skies promise more snow and ice is predicted. March. I'm disappointed because Sandra from Thistle Cove Farm can't come over to play in the dyepots. I'll still be getting them out; really need to get some fiber ready for spring, and for the web page. There's not much on the site right now at all.

I spent part of the morning wrestling with making forms for a web site; after getting that monster subdued I thawed rabbit bottles for the second morning in a row and then tackled this messy house. I love having a tidy house but I hate being the one to do it. Kicks up my allergies, too. Puppies that enjoy frolicking in the mud don't add to the general beauty of my floors. I mopped, but the red clay we have stains my light colored floor in the living room. It needs painting, but maybe after TJ is grown!

In the evening favorite cousin and the aunt on the hill and I traveled over the beautiful roads of Floyd for a special treat. We met a neighbor and friend, Beth, who is a postcard dealer that lives just down the road. We had a nice meal at the Blue Ridge, with lots of talk about all sorts of things, and then drove over to the Presbyterian Church in Floyd to await a talk by one of my favorite authors. We were a bit early. So we found a strategic spot in the parking lot to await the opening of the doors. More fun talk, of course.

Lee Smith. The name for me evokes memories of long days spent happily lost in books that speak to the minds and hearts of mountain girls everywhere. Oral History, Family Linen, Black Mountain Breakdown, The Devil's Dream, Saving Grace, and my particular favorite, Fair and Tender Ladies. I know so many of the women in these books, and I have been one or two of them. Thought provoking, funny, tender, haunting; each book has a meaning far beyond the story. The richness of detail about mountain life, the deep understanding of the people and their ways and thoughts, and above all the portrayal of the changes that the modern world has inflicted on a proud people are woven into the stories.

The Friends of the Library in Floyd, with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is hosting a wonderful series of author talks entitled "Celebrate the Past/Look to the Future". Lee Smith was the speaker at last night's gathering at the Presbyterian Church in Floyd, Virginia. Surrounded by wooden paneled walls, purple carpet and stained glass, Lee Smith was as charming and funny as her books. Haunting as well, as she spoke of personal experience and personal loss, inspiration for the writer from Grundy who grew up surrounded by story. Mountain people love story, playing with words and evoking emotion with family tales, complicated jokes and the richness of memory. Lee Smith's writings capture this love.

She spoke most about her book, The Last Girls, another favorite of mine. I didn't realize that part of the plot was based on a trip she took in college down the Mississippi on a raft. Smith's description of this trip and the girls she traveled with rocked the large audience with laughter. Readings from the book describing the characters, accented in a true mountain voice, were both hilarious and touching. The charm of the writer echoed the charm of her books; she was funny, tender, thought-provoking and haunting, just like her written words.

She also talked about Fair and Tender Ladies, a novel written during a time of personal crisis for her. I think for a true writer the characters often take over the book, and Smith talked of Ivy Rowe, the main character in Fair and Tender Ladies, as if she were a friend. Ivy Rowe is the one character in all of her books that I can call to mind as a complete person. She is plucky and sensuous, proud and loving. Some of the reason may be that I saw an actress portray the character several years ago at the Reynolds Homestead here in Patrick County. After the program the director introduced favorite cousin and me to the actress. Mary startled me by describing me as sensuous. A bit of self-realization there, thanks to Lee Smith.

I looked around the audience as Lee Smith spoke. Floyd County is a unique blending of cultures. Women with deep roots that span generations in these mountains sat with women of different backgrounds, drawn to Floyd by the beauty of the countryside and feeling of community. Every face has a story, all unique, but all about the experience of being women in changing times. Lee Smith has captured these stories in the pages of her novels, speaking with tender understanding of the mountain people that are so often misrepresented and ridiculed. Speaking with pride in an accent that is fast becoming rare because of outside influences, these novels, as fiction, reveal more than truth about a disappearing time and generation.

Cold Day

Gourd Bottle Necklace

If the temperatures outside yesterday passed 35 degrees I'd be very surprised. Cold and sunny all day, with some wind to remind us that winter hasn't given up yet. This morning it's 22 degrees again; more frozen rabbit water bottles. I have SO much to do in the rabbit barn, but this weather is discouraging. Sandra is supposed to come down tomorrow for a dye day; I may have to steer her clear of bunnies!

My sister-in-law spent the day here yesterday, and we worked a lot on her web site. Most of the festival pages are up and we started working on her gourd business, which is at the same URL. I still have lots of scanning of pictures to do for her. She brought me the charming little gourd necklace. I guess I've made it clear I like purple! I didn't know the type of gourd she worked with could be so small; it has a little cork in the top and matching beads on the strand. It's quite charming and I have it hanging on the computer so I can look at it. We're having a ladies' night out tonight and I'm planning to wear it then.

Today is house cleaning day, in anticipation of company. The dogs disemboweled a toy in the livingroom last night and I have to dispose of the fluffy remains. And sweep up a layer of dog hair and mop the floors. Nothing horrible but I'd rather be out hauling manure!

F is for....

...Friends.

Friends are generous....

Supportive and knowledgeable...

...and interesting.

Some friends are shy.

Some friends are relatives.

Some I've never met.

But all my friends have one thing in common, besides knowing me. They are all wonderfully special, talented and creative people, and I'm lucky to know them. Thanks for being my friend!

After the Weekend

Blocks for shop foundation

Cold all weekend. I had lots of plans as to what I was going to do, but you know how planning goes. The SO was here. Nice when he visits but nice when he goes back, four hours away! The block came Monday for the store building; the foundation guy is coming "next week". Uh-huh.


Two Ply Mohair Yarn

Since it was cold and I was feeling a bit under the weather with the new regime of allergies, I spent most of Saturday working in the house. I straightened up the office, a real necessity since I have so many projects going right now I didn't know which way was up. It's not the way I like it too be, too much going on, but much better, anyway. As anyone can tell you, I'm not a fanatic about housekeeping. But I do like things arranged!

I finished plying one bobbin of the mohair yarn from the hand painted roving. Lovely stuff, and it turned out interesting, with long expanses of the same colored yarn. There will only be two skeins so I'm thinking of making a purse out of it.


Slip-stitch Crochet Bag

And speaking of bags, I finished this last night. I really enjoyed this technique, and plan to make some more of these. The mohair one will be larger, and I may try felting it. I dressed up this little bag with some vintage beads and tassels, and there's a vintage pin as well.

I've been waiting all weekend for a doe to kindle; she has placidly gone about her business with no sigh of a bunny. That happens sometimes. The rest of the rabbits have been quite active with the cold days, bouncing around the cages and demanding attention when I come in. Spring is in the air, despite the cold! Today it's quite gray outside, which will quiet them. It snowed last night, one more bit of excitement for spring, but this morning it's already melting on the road and warm spots.

Still reading Stillmeadow Sampler by Tabor. This type of peaceful memoir is always comforting to me. Not great literature, or great personal revelations, but the quiet tenor of passing days does have a place. So many lives seem so desperate now. Others live day by day, thinking that their lives and world are boring. To me it's about finding the meaning in the simple tasks that make up living. Or maybe it's about creating a meaning for yourself.

Broody

Yesterday was one of those dark, glowering days when it looks like it will rain but it never does. Occasionally things would lighten, then the clouds would loom overhead and threaten. Very unsatisfactory; we need the rain.

I spent the morning with the computer here, finishing up a major project. Then I headed to Stuart. We're almost finished, or at least my part is nearly done. The young woman who is taking over the job is very good. She listens well, understands what is going on, and has a good sense of humor when things are screwy. All valuable attributes!


Slip-stitch Purse

I was late getting in, and took the dogs out with me when I went to feed the rabbits. When I came back up Lily was growling and lunging toward the old dog house by the apple tree. TJ was dancing at her side, trembling with suspense. I heard a hiss and peeked into the dog house, flashlight aimed, to see a very frightened possum cowering in the back. Lily allowed me to drag her away, reluctantly, and TJ, who knows he's still little, ran right along with us, as close as he could get to his big dog. Lily spent the evening on the couch, guarding the window from possum invasion.

After we got settled inside, I spent some time trying to help a young friend set up a shopping cart on her web page. I was dismally unsuccessful. She has the page on Geocities, and for some reason I have a lot of trouble getting their system to work for me. I had the same problem awhile back on another project, but at least this time I could get into the system. I hope maybe we can work something out; she has some nice yarns to sell!

After I gave up on the computer, I settled in to working on the purse. I really like this technique; I wasn't sure I would enjoy it because slip-stitch can sometimes be fiddly. But I do like this; ya'll will probably be seeing more of it!

The moon looked strange on rising last night, with dark clouds on the horizon. Not the golden of autumn, but a grim pale orange, heavy and slow arising. The slow wind held a chill absent lately, and the night sounds seemed muted. Briars rustled heavily in the thicket.

A little time with Gladys Tabor and her Stillmeadow Sampler lightened my mood. But there are a couple of lines in Millay's Second April that I've been thinking about. "But the music of your talk/Never shall the chemistry/Of the secret earth restore." My life is a simple one, and happy, but I've had my share of loss, as everyone. Of those I've loved that are here no longer, I think I miss their voices the most. Mountain voices, slow and muted, roughened with age, a Long Island young voice, quick but mellow and caring. And most of all an English voice, gruff and low, hoarse with moodiness and quiet in passion.

Uninspired

Crocheted purse in mystery yarn

Being away from the house so much has left me with very little to write or think about. The people I'm working with are really nice but it's more than I'm used to dealing with them on an everyday basis. Have to get used to it, if we finally get this store building up. But I'll be in my space, then, and there's a big difference.

Last night, despite the fact that there's a scarf on the knitting NEEDLE that I need to figure out how to bind off, mohair singles on the spinning wheel that need to be finished and plyed, and a crocheted scarf about three quarters done, I started another project. This is one I've been thinking about since last summer. Scarves have done well, shawls OK, hats so-so, but I think I may need to jazz up my 'spring line' with some purses. So I started this one last night. I'm making it with a technique known as Old World or slip stitch crochet, which is just what the second name implies. It's simply rows of slip stitch crochet, worked in rounds in either the front or back of the stitch in the previous row. You can make a textured surface by varying the placement of the stitches. The yarn I'm using for this is a very loose three-ply that I bought at an auction awhile back. It was very cheap, so it cuts the cost of the purse a bit.

It's still cool but the wind has finally died down a bit. Yesterday I thought it was going to tear out the old pine tree here by the roots. My watering can flew across the fields, with TJ behind it, but he's still not quite big enough to carry it back to me. So I walked out to retrieve it, buffeted by wind, while he danced around my feet with ears flapping wildly.

Away from Home

Dad and TJ, watching a movie

Monday was gorgeous, with sunny skies and lovely spring-like temperatures. I had too much to do inside in the morning and then I spent the rest of the day down below the mountain working on the hardware store accounting project. Really hoping to get it done this week; the young lady accountant is catching on fast and we're done with the hardest part.


Forsythia Hedge

I went around and took a couple of pictures of the progress of spring. The forsythia out by the apple tree is blooming, and billowing gold branches rustled in the lazy breeze. I disliked the gaudy color of forsythia for years and years, but now I welcome it after a long winter. Sometimes it tries to bloom in January, the silly stuff. Like the quince, the birds eat the blasted buds when frost comes and bites it back.


Old Daffodils

The early daffodils are blooming. These bulbs were planted by someone who lived here before I did, maybe generations ago. Although this house is only a little over one hundred years old, another house stood on the property, probably fifty feet or so closer to the creek. The daffodils here are small, lightly scented and of a much deeper color than the modern ones I planted when I moved here. I love seeing them when they come up, and I think of the many women who lived here before me. Some I know, the lovely young bride who was married here that died in childbirth, a mother of thirteen who was the wife of a minister, my father's mother who was not always happy here, my mother as a young wife. Each made a garden, out of necessity to provide for her family, but some one or more planted flowers to cheer her days. With the help of some fellow bloggers, we tracked the probable name of these daffodils as campernelle, an old variety from the 1600s. There is a doubled form of this flower, which is also here.

During the night Monday I heard the roar of the wind and the thunder of rain on the roof. Rain has been rare this spring, and the torrents that fell were welcome. I got up to warm temperatures but the day cooled quickly, and by the time I got back home the wind felt harsh and bitter.

I spent the day yesterday on the road with Patrick County. The Virginia Tourism Corporation invited us down for an orientation seminar to let us know what VTC is doing for the state regarding tourism. Some impressive stuff going on, with some amazing and intelligent people working hard to promote tourism with the new initiatives that are happening in Southwestern Virginia. We had a lovely trip down and back, although I was really tired when we got back to Stuart. The group of small business people that traveled together are all very unique in their viewpoints and it was fun for me to be with them. I'm alone by choice so much these days that a little outside energy is good for me.

March winds are blowing again this morning, ripping at flowers and shivering bare branches. A typical spring; warm one day and cold the next. The dogs are having their romp inside this morning; Lily didn't appreciate the wind at all when we went outside earlier. She'll spend the day curled up on the couch, while TJ coaxes her off occasionally for play.

Changes

Laurel Fork Creek

As you may have noticed, despite some good advice, I did change the name of this blog. One of the reasons is that this journal has become less about bunnies and fiber and more about me. And sometimes I feel that it isn't quite enough about me.

I started the blog at Homestead Blogger, which now carries the name Greenberry House Days and Dreams, to see if I could separate the business blogging from the personal blogging. Neither, I think, will ever be purely business or purely personal; my life isn't like that. But I realize in reading back over some entries here that there were chances to reveal more of myself that I neglected in favor of an entry about some aspect of my outer life rather than about my inner one.

Perhaps what I'm really trying to say is that I feel some changes coming; it happens to me every five or ten years or so. I'll always be dreaming, I'm sure, and watching the beauty of the mountains and fields. But I think if I separate business and personal blogging a little more definately, with a name that isn't Greenberry House, I'll be able to understand the directions this personal journey is taking me. So welcome to At the Top of Squirrel Spur and I hope you'll travel along with me.

A Day in the Sun

Lily, TJ and me on a country bridge

We took the afternoon off and went for a walk down a dirt road. Dirt roads are becoming an endangered species in our area. Part of Concord Road that borders the farm here isn't paved, but almost every road I remember as dirt as a child is now blacktopped. When we were little the edges of the road weren't mowed, and the long grass and little shrubs would be covered with dust. There were places where the dirt was sandy; you could wade through it with bare feet and kick up little puffs of dust. When Dad drove down a dirt road, plumes of dust rose in the air behind us like waves.

The little winding road where we walked yesterday was one that my dad showed me last fall. I had been on it before, but didn't realize it. My best friend and I had horses, and we rode almost every day. For awhile we kept the horses at a stable near Buffalo Mountain, and another friend would come with us and show us some new places to ride. We came into this particular road on an all day ride that cut across the country from the mountain and then followed this dirt road through a beautiful valley. There were two wooden bridges over Laurel Fork Creek, and an amazing old house, far away from anywhere, that looked Gothic and unexpected in the surroundings. I never went back and I had to give up the horseback riding when I started looking after my grandfather. But I've always wondered about that old house. It must have quite a history.


Old House

The house is empty. The fields are mowed so I assume someone is still getting hay here, but there were only a few cattle, maybe half a dozen, behind the house. I'm thinking of using the pictures we took of the house to illustrate an article for Blue Ridge Gazette.

Yesterday morning I cleaned more in the bunny house, hauling trays of manure up to the compost pile by the old apple tree stump. It was lovely and warm; the dogs stayed out all morning and romped while I worked. TJ was exhausted last night after all of his adventures.

I fed the birds but the usual chorus of hungry flutters was absent. There are some different birds coming to the feeder now; yesterday I saw red-winged blackbirds and the finches seem to be dwindling. I haven't seen the chickadees lately but I suppose they're still here. The tree-creeper spent a lot of time at the feeders yesterday, moving so quickly I never got a look to see what he might be. Carolina wrens are much in evidence and the starlings are nesting in the eaves.

Contemplated Changes

I'm thinking of changing my name. Well, not my name, but the name of the blog. Maybe it's spring cleaning, or my substitute for cleaning the house (like that is going to happen). But Greenberry House Days and Dreams just isn't appealing to me anymore. I'm thinking of changing it to At the Top of Squirrel Spur. What do ya'll think?

A Little Work Here, A Little Work There

Yesterday was one of those disjointed days, with odds and ends needing to be done everywhere. I worked on the computer, starting an exciting new project and finishing part two of the articles I'm doing about my grandmother for Blue Ridge Gazette. Posted that this morning. Then I did a few bunny chores and headed down the mountain for another session with that computer. Came back to fix my little dinner, wash dishes, and work more on the computer. Finally I settled down to the spinning wheel late in the evening, glorying in the colors of the mohair singles.

Amazing that you can cover an entire day filled with activity in one short paragraph!

This morning early a thick fog settled over the mountain, with spatters of rain hurling against the windows. The wind was wild during the night, roaring over the eaves and rattling windows in their frames. Pale sunshine is streaking across the fields, as low clouds purple the horizon. A lazy spaniel is curled at my feet under the computer desk, while her adventurous puppy flies across the yard outside, chasing the invisible currents of air that flap his ears and steer his tail.

Tiny Shopping Spree

Spoiling myself a little, but it's business, right?

Spent yesterday with the favorite cousin on our usual weekly trip to town for conversation and bunny feed. Conversation takes priority, along with our favorite place to eat. We had the same charming young waitress, who makes us feel special. That's a real gift; we'd both like to take her home and adopt her!

Not much shopping for us, although I did head back to the bookstore where I saw these last time we were there. I know I'm hopelessly behind with Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch, but I'm just now learning to knit, ya'll. Again. Inspiring to know how long it took another knitter to get into it! There's a SnB about an hour away; I have some transportation issues right now but I'd like to get into it sometime.

The felted crochet book is beautiful. I probably won't do a single project in it; I'm not much for following patterns these days. But, like the other crochet publications I've obtained recently, it serves as inspiration and has some techniques I haven't tried. I've been working on some patterns for pocketbooks; need to dig out the yarn and start my prototypes.

Lovely morning; we went to the gym and watched the sun rise through a haze of clouds over the mountains as we drove home. The dogs are out; romping in the sun, and I'm gathering my ambition for a day at home. At long last. More bunny chores and hopefully a bunny haircut on the agenda!

Needing Color

Mohair Singles from Painted Roving

I should be spinning white Coopworth to use with the colored singles that I already have spun for the barber pole yarns, or I should be indulging in the gorgeous white Shetland fleece that I bought from Sandra that makes such wonderfully soft yarn. But this bag was just sitting there last night, calling me from a corner where it has been hiding since SAFF. I bought this mohair roving from Connie at Delly's Delights Farm. The colors are wonderful, soft roses and greens. I don't remember if she dyed it herself but I'm really enjoying the colors. This mohair is a bit trickier to work with than the last batch I had; slicker for some reason. But the color is more than worth the little bit of extra trouble. There are long stretches of the reds, then greens, and I think this will ply beautifully.

When I got up yesterday morning and made a list of all the things that had to be done during the day, I almost got discouraged and went back to bed. But somehow I managed to complete the list. I'm not normally a list maker; perhaps that was my mistake. I didn't want to miss anything, because most of the tasks were for other people. I did pack up the merino fleece I bought from Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm, along with about the same amount of white angora. It's on the way to Still River Mill in Connecticut to be spun into a two ply yarn. I have a gray fleece to blend with colored angora; figured I'd do them one shipment at a time, with the white first so I can start dyeing.


The Greenberry House Cats

Morning chores are becoming quite pleasant. Everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and bright sunshine, and soon I'll be able to get the rabbits out for their daily exercise. The woods are gray but there is a shift in the way the limbs are catching the light as tiny buds start breaking with the warming temperatures. I think my need for color in spinning may have something to do with this feeling that spring is a-l-m-o-s-t here but hovering on the edge of another cold snap.

E is for....

Emerging.


Tiny Iris in the snow


Daffodil Shoots


Forsythia Buds


Pussywillow Catkins

Weekend

I don't want to talk about it.

Absolutely lovely weekend, beautiful weather and good company. After a glorious trip down the mountain for grocery shopping on Saturday, Sunday was a fun time heading out to an antique show in Floyd. The show wasn't much but we stopped in at an antique shop for a lovely browse through all sorts of fun things. I found these:


Farm Memories and Gladys Taber

Taber is an old favorite; I just love curling up in my reading chair on a cold winter's day and visiting Stillmeadow. The first book I remember reading by Taber was about one of her cats, when I was quite small, and I've enjoyed her writing ever since. Gladys would have loved blogging!

I haven't run across Marion Nicholl Rawson before. This book is a detailed study of the American farm, according to the dust jacket. Nice drawings of old farm equipment and old farm buildings. It was written in 1939, and it's interesting to see that on the dust jacket the writer comments this early about disappearing small farms.

I had a bunny delivery on Sunday afternoon, and met the delightful young lady who purchased the little black buck near the Interstate. I really need to remember to bring a camera; she was thrilled with the little puffball! I think her younger sister was as taken with him. Erikah wants to learn to spin; I'll be interested in hearing how things go. This was a very nice bunny and it's great to see him get such a good home.

The highlight of the weekend was a vist from JAG. She and the favorite cousin came over to meet TJ and pay homage to Lily, with a peep at the rabbits along the way. TJ was a little rambunctious and had to retire to his crate, but Lily was gracious in her attentions and glad to see RJ, who is an old friend. We went to dinner, chatting all the way about blogs, books, movies and other important issues of the day. JAG loved her scarf, and I chased her down with the camera:


JAG modeling Coopworth Scarf

Well, almost made it. JAG is swift and I thought there might be a sharp snickersnee in reserve in that darkened room. Sorry, Cathy.

JAG is going to be stunned this morning. We went to the gym under cloudy skies with a threat of showers hanging over us, and came back out to see snow falling. The ground is white and it's still coming down. I saw robins in the yard on Saturday, so I was expecting snow soon. But RJ says the red-winged blackbirds are here, too, so spring isn't so far away.

A Trip Down Squirrel Spur Mountain

Tall Slim Trees Along the Winding Road


Rolling Valleys in the Blue Ridge Mountains


Near the Pinnacles, from Squirrel Spur


Southern Mountains, With Pilot Mountain on Horizon


Small Mountain Stream


The Blue Ridge Mountains, Home

For a year I've been planning to photo-document a trip down Squirrel Spur, a winding road down the mountain with some of the most beautiful views in our area. I finally remembered the camera when we headed down toward Mount Airy for errands yesterday, and the weather was glorious for photos. My camera can't capture the real beauty, only a vague idea comes across of the glory of standing beside this road and looking out across these soft rolling mountains. When I came back I found an email in my box directing me to this new photo blog: CTG's Photos. To see the real beauty of Squirrel Spur, check out the stunning views he captured. (Folks might recognize this photographer from commentary on Hillbilly, Please.)

Grrr! Day

Jane's Scarf

Managed to get Jane's scarf finished last night, an accomplishment in an otherwise not very productive day. I discovered something, though, for me crochet is MUCH faster than knitting! I'm sure it's inexperience on my part; I've seen folks make the knitting needles fly! All the Olympic knitters proved how much knitting can be done in a short period of time.

Happy Blogiversary to me!

Yesterday. I thought it was going to be Sunday, but in checking back I see that I started blogging after a visit from Chris on March 2, 2005. I'm not very good at remembering anniversaries.

Sweet Hearts

Exhausted and Happy

It was a beautiful day yesterday, despite a cloudy beginning. Sandra wasn't well so I didn't get to visit with her, so I plunged into work here. Sad not to see her but hoping we can get together soon.

The dogs had a wild romp for a long time outside, enjoying the warmth of the day while I did morning chores. TJ ran wildly after me to check out what I was doing, then charged back up the hill to wrestle with Lily. They came in, exhausted, and collapsed in a heap by my computer chair, snoring away while I got started on a few computer tasks for the day.


Greenberry's Thomas Delaplane

The afternoon was pleasant and still so I sheared this lovely buck, Tommy. He's my favorite fellow in the rabbitry, a sweet, gentle boy that is always at the front of his cage for petting. He's a dream to shear, lying quietly for however long it takes to harvest his lovely, thick coat. His color is lovely with the rich pewter tones that I so enjoy spinning in black angora. Can you tell black is my favorite angora color?

Cleaned more trays in the rabbitry; it will be nice to have things tidy again. I don't know if it was the gym yesterday or the hauling of a heavy bucket of manure, but my shoulders are sore this morning! It was nice, though, working out in the afternoon sun. I saw that my daffodils are peeping up and the pussywillows are starting to break out of their little covers.

When the weather gets warm I like to walk out with the dogs for their last run of the evening. The wind picked up in the late afternoon, and when we went out it was roaring in the trees. In the darkness it sounded like a wild sea nearby. We went out into the fields and I looked back to see that the moon had risen above the house, a upturned crescent in a satiny sky. The stars are warmer now, twinkling and seemingly nearer than the crystal brilliant distance of winter. The house looked cozy under the sky, with a lamp in the window behind a curtain of ivy. Then the wind rushed down to toss the dry grass at my feet with a chill that reminded me it was still winter, and we headed back in.

I worked on the crocheted scarf last night; hoping to finish it before Jane comes home but now it's not looking likely. Still possible, as it's a cold, gray morning and I may not be inspired to tackle more bunny chores!