Country Cousin Visits the Big City

View of Washington from Vantage Point Restaurant, Arlington

A long time ago, maybe even in another life, I lived and worked in the bustling region known as Northern Virginia. Back then it wasn't quite so bustling; it still amazes me to hear traffic reports that include the far reaches of Gainesville and occasionally even mention Haymarket. As for Chantilly, one of my coworkers used to talk about it as her country home town.

Still, it's exciting to be able to travel into the cities, especially with someone who helps out to look after all the complications of getting around. On behalf of Patrick County, then, as volunteers, Charlotte and I traveled up the Shenandoah Valley to attend the annual tourism conference, also known as the VA-1 conference. We were invited to stay with my SO's sister, Kate, in Annandale, not far from the conference site in Alexandria.

Kate went out of her way as our hostess and transportation director throughout the entire weekend. When we had a free moment (not many of those) she fed us tea and lovely little snacks (with some kick; watch those brownies). Charlotte wanted to meet with her granddaughter, Sadie, on Sunday so Kate found a terrific restaurant for us all and turned the dinner into an experience. I wanted to visit with cousin Jane, too, but she was suffering from flu shot induced plague and we had to miss out!


The Power of Travel

The theme of the conference was basically about tourism as a large part of the Virginia economy. Everyone admitted that things have been difficult lately but the tone was upbeat and hopeful. Charlotte and I went up early so we could take a couple of pre-conference seminars. We had to navigate the Metro and after some help from some very nice people, we figured it all out and managed to get to the Alexandria Hilton on time. If I lived up here now I'd love the Metro, at least the times we were on it. Not nearly the crowds I expected.

The seminar I took was on Social Media and Marketing (hey Facebook and Twitter). Speakers pointed out the advantages and power of participating in these types of marketing opportunities. I think the first time I told the county folks that we should do these things was three years ago....

The second day was mostly speeches and a ton of great information. Virginia now ranks 8th in the US for domestic visitor spending. Not bad, especially considering the current economy. TOURISM WORKS FOR VIRGINIA!!!!

Now for the important stuff:

We ate great! And not so expensively. Vantage Point on Sunday was a nice restaurant and we enjoyed the view, the company and the food. It's always great hearing about Charlotte's lovely and talented granddaughters and it was fun to see Sadie after so many years. She and her friend Tiffany are having a wonderful adventure working in the area.

On Monday evening we attended the conference opening and reception at the Masonic Memorial in Alexandria. I didn't get pictures because we had a full day's work and I didn't bring the camera, but it is a lovely building. The reception room was deafening, though, with a couple hundred tourism folks all trying to talk. I kept slipping out to look at the marvelous prints of all the Masonic buildings in the country. Not much networking there! I did get a chance to talk to some great people, though, outside the reception room. After things wound down Charlotte and I went out to stand on the steps and look at the city. Lovely to see in the twilight. The food was good at the reception and of course Kate had to feed us when we got home, despite our protests that we were fine. Just a little something was what she said.

Then on Tuesday there was food all day at the conference (even cookies) and dinner with Kate and Gerry in the evening. This was our chance to really have a good talk, since the rest of the time was pretty much all about work and tourism. It was lovely sitting in Kate's cozy English cottage in the middle of Annandale! I went home with stacks of clothes and blazers from Kate's closet, including a gorgeous new coat!


Shopping!

On Wednesday we got up late and headed slowly for home, with an eye toward quilt shops and local yarn shops along the way. We tried to get to a quilt shop in Haymarket but there was a construction mess and I got in the wrong lane. Traffic was backed up half a mile in the direction I wanted to travel when we crossed the intersection so I just kept going.

We made a couple of stops in Sperryville, Virginia. Charlotte wanted peaches and we saw a sign on the way up. The farmers market was also an antique shop and they carried Nancy's Fudge candies. I mentioned that I was from Meadows of Dan, where Nancy's is made, and managed to sell ten of her hot chocolate spoons to a customer! I picked up a few Empire apples because they look like dusky Macintosh.

Our next stop was the Beech Spring Farm Stores. I wanted to show Charlotte their lovely quilts but I fell in love with the little spinner in the picture above. And since I do so many demonstrations, I thought the handled basket from the same shop would be great to carry carded wool.

Once we were out in the country, though, we found our way easily to Rachel's in Staunton. Charlotte is the quilter but I admired the lovely fabrics (and the store cat) in the unique shop. The old railway depot served to house the shop and the Depot Grill, where we had a great lunch.


Orchardside Yarn Shop

Then it was my turn to shop, although Charlotte, who is also a weaver, did her part. We traveled off the beaten path a bit out beyond Raphine, Virginia, to a delightful LYS beside a beautiful stream along a rural road. Orchardside Yarn Shop has a lovely atmosphere, a wonderful selection of yarns and friendly people! And shop dogs...what more could you ask? And who wouldn't love a yarn shop with a bottle of wine sitting in the middle of the table?


Friendly Orchardside folks (and pups)

It was tough to decide what to buy, as I already have plenty of yarn. I hovered over the lovely colors of yarn brands I recognized, then I saw one that was new to me. The two skeins in my "purchases" picture are labeled Pagewood Farm, Hand Dyed Sock Yarn, Denali. The two colorways I chose were Chuck's Favorite and Rainbow. This is a soft superwash merino/nylon blend. I'm looking forward to seeing how it knits up. Probably won't be socks, though. Even though this isn't a local product (it's dyed in California) it has a small company attitude I like.

I can certainly recommend taking the time if you're traveling up or down I-81 to stop at Exit 205 and head west through Raphine to Orchardside Yarn Shop. It's easy to find because there were signs all along the way to encourage you to keep going. Just slow down past Wade's Mill and you'll see the sign on the right.


Hi mama!

I saw some lovely sights and met some wonderful people but coming home to these happy faces was the highlight of the week. It was nice to settle in with the dogs and the cat for a quiet evening of knitting after an interesting week. Now I'm glad to be back at my little shop here in Meadows of Dan and looking forward to a busy October!

Fresh!

Heritage tomatoes from my garden


Beautiful new spinning fibers from Miss Babs here at Greenberry House!


Moss Creek Farm lotions, also at Greenberry House.


Favorite girl, Lily, enjoying cool summer breezes in the garden.

Back home in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Tired and glad to be home

We had such a lovely time, but it was great to get back home, however grubby, and have the dogs and cats be so happy to see us. I always miss my girl Lily especially, and every time I see a dog when we're away from home I have to talk to it and see if it looks like her. I even missed TJ a little when I was walking in Colorado!

First harvest...fresh lettuce!

I came back to a pile of Dad's dirty dishes, laundry and lots of weeds, of course. Could have been worse, of course. And work, which I'm still catching up on. The weeding was kind of fun, really, and I uncovered broccoli, a few Brussels sprouts plants that we had seeded before we left, and some nice lettuce. I've been eating lots of salad this week! There are little tomatoes on the plants and I staked the largest ones this week.

Getting crowded in there....

While we were gone the baby barn swallows in the nest on the Greenberry House shop porch grew and grew. Mom and Dad have been trying to get them out of the nest all day today, but the babies are stubbornly clinging to home. I've been watching them stretch their wings and then hunker back down, while the adults call enticingly from the yarn drying swing. They keep looking down like they're thinking "you've got to be kidding! What do you think, I can fly or something?"

Border Leicester wool yarn

I've spent most of the week catching up on work. It's amazing how much can pile up during ten days away! Before I left I had a huge dye day and got lots of yarn and some roving done. This week I spun up some of the Texel roving I dyed into yarn, and reskeined some dyed Border Leiecester cross brown yarn that I had overdyed with acid dyes in red. Now I'm spinning some gorgeous Corriedale I bought at SAFF a couple of years ago from Rising Meadow Farm. Hand carding it because the colors are so nice in this variegated fleece and really loving the process!


Wrecked truck in the mountain on Route 58

I've been without a car (except for on the trip) for the last eight weeks because the SO has been battling serious problems with his trucks. I had been putting aside commitment after commitment because of lack of transportation, but this week I just had to get things done. Which meant some serious running around. Normally I don't leave Meadows of Dan more than once every couple of weeks, but this week I've been to Stuart four days in a row. Got a lot accomplished, though, and we're nearly through with the brochure for Patrick County's Community trail with 'Round the Mountain, the Southwest Virginia Artisans' Guild. I also proofread the Tourism Advisory Council's other big project, which is a hospitality book to be used to help tourists find the great things available in Patrick County.

On the way down the mountain yesterday I saw this accident. Didn't hear any details so I hope the driver was OK. It caused one of our rare traffic jams in Patrick County, though. I always bring crocheting, just in case, and was fine with sitting in the sun for a few minutes!

Crocheted Cotton Shawl

Another finished object. I spent most of the trip crocheting this piece, meant for a local consignment crafts shop. Haven't gotten quite ready to send it away, though! The yarn was a cone of cotton bobbly yarn and I really like how soft the shawl turned out. Nice for summer!

We Did It!

The garden, at last!

Somehow, between rain showers, we managed to get all the seeds and the tomato plants into the ground.  Some of the peas are up, the tomatoes look pretty good despite the wet and we planted broccoli, brussel sprouts and two hills of watermelon.  Planning to get lots of other veggies from Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market through the season.

Other than gardening it has been a busy week, despite the rain.  I sheared one of my favorite rabbits, Blueberry Belle.  Belle is the doe in my mom's lap in the picture on this page of the web site.  I also sheared Jack, a nice chocolate buck, also featured on this web page.  Did some necessary cleaning down in the bunny house as well, all before the rains came again.

Imprinting

Speaking of birds, the barn swallows are back on the front porch at Greenberry House again.  Mom looks to be sitting on her eggs, although I can't be sure.  She isn't leaving the nest very much.  Down in the barn there's another nest, and I noticed little heads peeking at me over the side this morning during rabbit feeding time.

During the wet weather I've been inside most of the time, and spinning and knitting.  I don't have pictures of the spinning projects but I finished seven or eight skeins of a brown Border Leicester fleece that has been here for a little while.  The yarn turned out lovely, but I'm still thinking I may over dye it for a variegated effect.  That has proved popular with the customers.  I just started a bobbin of hand dyed red Texel and I'm enjoying the way it is spinning up.

Knitting on a pillow

Last night at Stitching group I made a lot of progress on this project, while I had a great visit with Candy.  I'm hoping to finish this while we're on the way to and from Colorado.  Great time to knit, imprisoned in the front seat of a car!  

Yesterday I had to take the dogs to the vet and it was the usual adventure.  TJ is an angel at home, getting much better at behaving when we're walking together, but is an absolute lunatic in the car.  He seems deliriously happy, but I'm not really sure what's going on in his head.  He barks and whines the whole way with a huge smile on his face and his tail wagging frantically.  Not much fun as a companion on even a short trip.  We managed, though, and on the way home he sat up front with Lily and was a bit quieter.  She didn't love having him there, though.

We got the full set of shots for the dogs because we're going to have to board them while we're away.  I'm groaning with the expense of it all.  I know the cost has more than doubled for regular shots over the past couple of years (although having to change vets may be part of the reason for that).  I adore the dogs and don't really mind the expense, but in the back of my mind is the fact that a lot of people don't feel that way.  I'm afraid that there will be still more abandoned animals because pet owners don't want to pay the high costs of caring for them.  

Lily got sick last night...not sure if it was the heat, putting up with TJ's excitement during the trip or a mild reaction to the shots.  She was restless all night after throwing up all over the living room and then mad at me because I didn't give her supper!  This morning she seems back to normal.  I'm glad I didn't stop off at the library for books-on-tape for the trip after all, though, because I would have felt guilty about leaving her in the car when she got sick.  The vet visit didn't take very long and the library wasn't open yet, so I headed home rather than wait the extra twenty minutes.  I'm going to miss my books, though!

So, Colorado here we come!  I have so much to do before we leave!

Getting ready for the festival

Getting ready for the festival

It has been a lovely, if busy week!  Lots of meetings, gatherings, some demonstrating and then more meetings.  Today I'm concentrating on pulling together all the stuff I need for the Sedalia Spring Fiber Festival.  Fortunately friend Chris from Connecticut decided at the last minute to come down with her darlin' Kiri!  Here she's sorting through her gorgeous angora blend yarns, from sock weight to fingering, and pricing them to take to the show.

New Yarns from Wild Iris Wool

One of the highlights of a week filled with fun and interesting stuff was a visit by Linda of Wild Iris Wools.  She brought lovely new yarns to sell here at the shop.  See that shiny green one?  Gorgeous mohair single!  And look at the sparkles in that pink and the yellow!

Sue of Dan River Books in Meadows of Dan talking to visitors at Lambsburg

On Tuesday there was a Chamber of Commerce gathering in Meadows of Dan that was well-attended and lovely. Got a bit of bad news about a dear member of the community, though, which I pray will turn out all right. Had to rush away and attend another meeting in Stuart, which was also very interesting. There are some clever people around working on some amazing projects.

Wednesday was another fun day, although I was really tired when I got home.  I went with a small group of Meadows of Dan representatives to the Virginia Welcome Center at Lambsburg, which is on I-77 just north of the North Carolina line.  We set up demonstrations of traditional crafts and talked to over 300 people over the course of the day.  Lots of folks from all over...Michigan, Ohio, Canada and beyond.  I always enjoy this type of demonstration and the staff at the welcome center is just amazing.  So friendly, knowledgeable and helpful!

Beautiful new raw alpaca!

Mary Martin, who lives in Bluefield, came to Meadows of Dan on Sunday and brought lots of wonderful alpaca fleece.  There was one bag I snagged right out of the box...too beautiful to pass up.  She brought rose gray, fawn, brown, gray and especially black.  This is all raw fleece, blanket and also some blending fiber.  Can't wait to get into my bag!  We'll have some if it at Sedalia.

Finished Glittering Capelet

The sun has finally come out, after such a long time hidden by rain clouds.  The yard has finally been mowed and I planted tomatoes, peas, and lettuce early in the week.  The sky is lovely right now, with soft-looking puffy clouds skirting the horizon.  There's a bit of a breeze and I'm hoping this is a good sign for the festival tomorrow.

Chris and I have been catching up on the stories and in general having a great time along with working on getting ready for the festival.  Her puppy, Kiri, has been an angel.  My Lab, TJ, less so but he's working on it.  He's too much dog for Kiri to play with but she made a game try at it last night.  When she comes back next year she'll give him a run for his money!

We're through playing now....

and I reckon I'm content with the blog.  Next to work on the web page.  Time to pack up and be ready to head out to Thistle Cove Farm in Tazewell tomorrow!

This blog is under construction.....

Time to tidy things up and get a fresh new look for spring!

Road Trip!

Texel Wool from Border Springs Farm in Patrick County

After many days of being sick with miserable cold and flu-type stuff, and then more days of frantically trying to catch up on all the things I needed to get done, it was a pleasure to put everything aside for a (ta-dah) ROAD TRIP!

Friend Linda of just-up-the-road-and-under-the-hill-near-Buffalo-Mountain was able to get away, too, and we set out on a long-anticipated trip to the Central Virginia Fiber Mill, near Ruckersville.  Linda drove and we piled five bags of wool into the back seat of her truck to make the three hour trip.  For once we didn't get lost!  It rained most of the way, though, so I didn't get any pictures of the drive through the lovely valleys of Virginia.

Julep, Mill Dog

Julep met us when we drove up.  She's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a breed I'd never met in person.   Farm life with the alpacas and at the mill seemed to really agree with her.  Julep greeted us graciously after a proper introduction!

Processing fiber into roving

I heard about the mill on Ravelry, in reply to a post I put up asking about possible Virginia fiber processors.  Since my shop mostly attracts tourists that are interested in Virginia and Virginia products, I thought I'd like to have a Virginia processor handle the Texel Fleeces I bought down in Patrick Springs a few weeks ago.  I was thrilled when someone replied with the information about the Central Virginia Fiber Mill, and Mary graciously agreed to allow us to bring our fleeces up and see the mill for ourselves.  Note: the lovely roving in the following pictures is NOT from our fleeces!

Mary watching the new roving carefully

It was wonderful to finally see how a wool processing mill works at last, after sending wool out to be processed for years to distant mills I've had no chance of visiting.  Everywhere in the spacious building something was going on.  Wool and other fibers were drying on racks; there was a picker back in a corner ready to go to work and the machine that makes roving was working hard.  The next step, Mary explained, was putting the fiber through a pin drafter and then finally on the big spinning machine to create a beautiful yarn.  The machine I envied her most for was the skein winder, which could wind six skeins at once of carefully measured yarn.  Automatically!

I'm excited about working with Mary, who was a delightful hostess and taught us a lot about how she processes the wool.  The Texel we left is going to be made into roving.  I want to spin it myself at first and see what kind of yarn it makes.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product!

Roving as it comes out of the machine

Linda and I had a wonderful time together, as usual.  And as usual we talked ourselves hoarse about everything under the sun.  On Mark's recommendation we headed back toward Harrisonburg to stop at Hank's Smokehouse for a late lunch, and had a wonderful meal.  As both Linda and I would say "Goood.....I reckon!"  We shared a Bourbon Chocolate Chip Pecan pie with ice cream for dessert that could ruin you for any other pecan pie ever (except for maybe your mama's).  Then we headed back down the Interstate toward good old Meadows of Dan, glad to have had the chance for a fun trip to meet fantastic people.  Nice to be home, though!

Fresh from the Farm at Greenberry House!

This morning I dutifully trotted up to the shop through the rain for my first day back with spring hours.   Doesn't really feel like spring yet, watching the rain fall down and the fog crowd in over the bare trees.  But it won't be long until folks are heading for the Blue Ridge Parkway to admire the beautiful bloom of rhododendron and flame azalea, so I'd better be ready.  Greenberry House is now open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Thursday to Monday, until December!

Can We Say "Spring" Yet?

Pussywillow Catkins

Probably not, but the weather has been lovely for the last few days.  Only a hint of ice in a couple of rabbit water bottles this morning!  Lily was positively frisky on her walk around the farm.  I think she smells spring, although I don't think it's quite here yet.  I saw a robin, foolish bird, but the red-winged black birds are nowhere in sight and the pussywillow pushes the season a bit.

Fresh Texel Fleece

Last weekend I received an invitation to go to Border Springs Farm, here in Patrick County, for sheep shearing day.  Linda and I headed out early for the lovely drive down the mountain from Meadows of Dan.  The trees are still bare but the sun was shining and it was wonderful to look out across the mountains as we traveled.  The farm is at the back of beautiful Patrick Springs, Virginia, and it's a lovely location with beautiful mountain views.

Craig and Joan Rogers were delightful hosts and Linda and I plunged into the work of skirting fleece with joy.  I forgot my camera, of course, but there are some wonderful pictures on the farm site that look to have been taken later in the day.  And some great videos of sheep shearing in action!  It was fantastic to watch the dogs at work.  The farm is planning a "Lamb Day" sometime soon...watch this space for more information when I receive it.

The fleece were very nice!  I haven't worked with Texel before so I can't say what the resulting yarns and roving will be like, but the wool that Linda and I brought home looks lovely.  It's nice and soft, very clean and of good length.  At the moment I'm looking for a Virginia fiber processor for these fleeces.  I'd like to have a totally "Virginia" product with these fleeces...good selling point!   We had a lovely time at Border Springs, even though we both wore out and left around noon.  I understand that lots of wool was sold that day but the farm still has some left.  According to articles on the Internet, Texel is good for felting.  These fleeces look like they will be good to spin, too.  So contact Craig if you're interested in trying this interesting wool!

TJ: Ready for a mission

Every morning I take TJ for a long walk.  He's behaving so much better...walks nicely by my side and seems to enjoy every minute.  He does better when we're alone, although we enjoy the walks with Kym and Bently more.  Most of our walks with Kym are very early, before daylight for most of the year.  So on weekends we get to sleep in....until 7 AM!

Stories

Alix's Prayer Shawl

Where does a story begin?  Take this shawl, for example.  Does the story of the shawl I'm making for my mother begin with her request that I make it?  Or does it start with the book that Debbie Macomber wrote, Back on Blossom Street, that my mother loved and seems to make her realize something new about knitting.  Or does it start with the designer, Myrna A. I.Stahman, who created a beautiful piece with clear instructions that even I could understand.  Or does it start with the yarn, chosen and purchased awhile back from Mosaic in Blacksburg, with the careful help of Gina and the other girls?

I've been thinking a lot about story lately.  Or, rather, perhaps I've always thought about story.  In the mountain communities where I've lived most of my life, story is important.  When you meet someone here you quickly figure out where they belong in the story of the community...who their parents and grandparents are or were and where they lived.  Who they are is much more important than what they do or what their economic bracket might be.  As soon as you hear that "Oh, Mama was born down in the Bent and her mama was a Bowman" you know exactly where that person fits into the scheme of the community.  I'm sure it's funny to hear us angling for information when someone unknown crosses our path.  

And with the information there often comes a story.  How Daddy and Mama moved to Draper back when the textile mills opened, or that funny story about great-grandpa and the possum that was passed down through the generations.  Along with the stories of the people come stories about the places.  Old houses, stores, names for creeks and mountains...all of them have a story of some sort attached to them.  I once went with a native of the Buffalo section on a ride through the area....he had a story to tell about every curve, tree and bank.  The odd thing about mountain people and story is that they aren't just stories that we experienced ourselves.  I know family stories that have been passed down since before the Civil War, thanks to family members that preserved and told them.  

 This prayer shawl project will be a story.  How my mother read the book and saw the pattern, how she asked me to knit it.  And part of the story will be my determination to make this shawl....despite the fact that this is the first time I've attempted anything so complex.  The story will include the softness and fineness of the yarn and the dainty elegance of the stitches.  Part of the story will be the warmth of the Springer Spaniel at my feet as I knit the pattern, and the curiousity of the Labrador as he watches my concentration.  The tidy black paw of a playful cat will be a chapter in which the knitting bag is overturned.  It won't be an exciting story but it will be a comfortable one...and comforting, as a prayer shawl should be.

Dog Days

Time to go OUT!

Winter is my favorite time...with long days spent in the house with the spinning wheel, crochet hook and an occasional knitting project. During these days there's always a quiet spaniel at my feet or on a rug or couch nearby. And most of the time even the crazy Labrador is curled up sleeping the cold days away, after his long morning walk in the cold, cold world. When I sit with a book a big black cat crawls into my lap, even if the sleeping spaniel is still nearby.

Winter days take on a calmer feel. It seems like the days will stretch on forever, even though at the back of my mind I know that soon I'll be as busy as ever. And I'm busy now, with hauling water to rabbits, shearing when it's warm enough, keeping the spinning wheel bobbins filling so I'll have something to sell in the spring.... But with winter's chill I feel calmer about it all...I know that somehow it will all get done. And if it doesn't I don't mind.


Easter Egg Dyed Yarn

Every morning TJ and I get out for a walk...oh, so early! If it is warm enough. This week we've been walking alone. Bentley is at puppy camp and Kym is vacationing. It will be good to see them back next week. Then I take Lily for a shorter walk. She's gotten a bit stiff in the joints and doesn't seem able to take the cold or the distance of our morning jaunts. Then I take George out for Dad...he's not my dog but he's been staying inside because of the cold. If I'm not the one to take him out I AM the one to clean up the messes!

TJ is learning manners at last, so at least once a day we do some obedience work. He's very reliable on sit, if nothing happens to distract him! We've also done a lot of work on how to walk on the leash. I haven't fallen into any more holes (running into a tree in the dark was my fault, not TJ's).

The dogs are a big part of my life. Lily, especially, is the dog that is always with me, except when I'm at work. And sometimes when I'm just checking emails and fooling with the computer she's here with me as well. TJ likes to keep Lily and me in range, although he seems content with less attention. Lily is his boss, after all.

There are three dogs that have been visiting the farm lately. And another big red hunting dog that runs through once in awhile. He's skittish, and also purposeful as he heads up and down the road. He has a plan. The other three dogs are more leisurely. Two of them, collie types, are very friendly and will stop in to visit if I'm outside or at the shop. The third is a spaniel and won't come to me.

I don't know who these dogs belong to. They seem to be well-fed and have the required shots and licenses. They are nice, friendly dogs, but they are dogs. Yesterday I had to rescue my very old and almost deaf cat from them. I dont' think they really meant any harm. The cat wouldn't agree with me, though.

I keep my dogs home and close to me mostly because I enjoy their company. They seem to like being with me ok, too. I'm not quite sure I understand why someone would let these nice dogs just roam the roads. Good thing I already have all the dogs I can manage!

What have we been doing in January?

Snuggling 'cause it's cold!

Bitter, bitter temperatures in these old mountains lately. Meadows of Dan has seen one below zero two days in a row...not exactly normal for us. It has been quite a chore keeping rabbits well-watered and eating...I have to leave again for another round of watering in just a few minutes! This takes up a lot of time I'd rather be blogging, I assure you!


Winter Sunset

Still, there are some good things about winter. The skies are wonderful. I love the brilliance of the stars on that last walk out with the dogs at night. There's time to spin; I've gotten a few skeins done for the coming year and have several more planned. Lots of wool around the house for spinning and some gorgeous dyed silk and angora. There's also time to crochet and knit and a few projects are slowly getting closer to finished object status.


So what, dog?

Barnabas is ruling the roost around here, although he still pays appropriate deference to Lily's wishes about the bed. He parades into the living room with tail in the air and the dogs are on "stay" until he settles down. TJ has been getting some intense training since December. He still has quite a good way to go but he's pretty reliable on sit and stay. OK, most of the time.....

Another New Year at Greenberry House!

Sassy Eunice

OK, I'm probably the only cynical optimist you'll run into, but somehow I think this year is going to be better. Not that last year was bad for me, really, but I'm seeing signs that there will be some improvement in at least my little part of the world. TJ, the exuberant Labrador, is finally learning to walk like a gentleman beside me instead of hurtling to the end of the leash all the time and ripping my arm out at the shoulder. We've got plans for gardening this year...don't know if that will come about but it's so nice to think about...And there's a lovely set of antique metal lawn furniture sitting out by my grape vine trellis...a little paint and some cushions and we'll be set for summer! And I'm seeing a few customers at the shop during the last few days.

Part of the reason for my contentment is having a wonderful visit with friend Chris, who is well-known in the blogging world as Woolybuns, from Connecticut. We had a terrific time, although she had to sit around the shop and knit a lot while I worked. A terrible fate for a fiber person! We did go out of town one evening to see a movie, Marley and Me, an interesting documentary on how NOT to raise a Labrador, I think (No, TJ, put that down!). Chris gave me Eunice up there in the photo..there's more about these sheep on her blog. This is my favorite outfit for her, although she looks fetching in her big yellow rain slicker as well. There are some really, really sassy outfits, though, that I'll be sharing during the season! It was so much fun having Chris here...wish she could have stayed much longer!


Mitered Squares Scarf

I'be been holding on to a skein of Brooks Farm Four Play yarn that I bought at SAFF last year (or was it the year before?) I was waiting for the perfect project and this season's issue of Interweave Crochet (Winter 2008) finally came up with it. This is the Mitered Squares Scarf, in crochet, by Annette Petavy. Really like the way it's working up...an fairly easy pattern with a little challenge in the construction.

Merry and Happy Christmas!

Christmas Kitty

Barnabas represents the crew to wish everyone a blessed Christmas and wonderful New Year! Well, he's a cat...photogenic but only interested in what a new year might bring to him! Fewer dogs...yes, that would be good, he says (not happening, dude).


Back to the spinning wheel

Things have slowed way down at the shop this past month so I'm going on short hours this week. From now on until April I'll be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Give me a call, though, if you plan to be in Meadows of Dan during the week. I can be at the shop at your command!

Besides trying to get the house put back together after a busy summer, I spend most of the winter spinning new yarns for the shop. It has been a long time since I've done any spinning, seems like, and I've really enjoyed getting a few new skeins out on the shelves. This black and white single is one I'm not totally sure what I'll do with yet; perhaps I'll ply it with a soft black wool single I have here, or ply it back on itself. Either way it will be lovely, I think!


Tank Girl

Back in November of 2007 I started knitting this project, then put it aside as other things caught my attention. When I was cleaning up the livingroom I found the basket this was tucked into, so I cleaned off the wads of dog and cat hair and started knitting again. Got the back side done with one major mistake but maybe no one will notice....

Looking forward to the arrival of friend Chris this evening, after her long trip from Connecticut. It has been a quiet Christmas so it will be fun to have her for the weekend. Got together with friends Kym, Trinity and Josh last night...they gave me a beautiful and comfy purple suit to walk in and stay oh-so-cozy!

This morning I wore the comfy suit, but wasn't so happy when TJ somehow managed to slip off the brand-new-and-very-expensive training leash I just bought for him. I'm not sure yet what went wrong but one minute he was on the leash and the next he was cruising up the road without me. Fortunately it was very early and the traffic hadn't gotten started. I went back and got my car and drove around in a panic up around Meadows of Dan...no dog. Cruised the churchyard and cemetery, where he was heading when I last saw him...no dog. Came back toward home to wake up the clan for a major search...and he was standing right where he left me. Guess he was wondering where I went!

Anticipation

Of Late Summer's Sweet Harvest


And Looking Forward to Fall


Watching for a Share of Mama's Lunch


Joyful Hope Springs Eternal!