Early Spring Thoughts

Rainbow over Meadows of Dan

It was still kind of dark and dreary when I took this picture last week, after an early morning shower.  Yesterday it rained again, off and on, but the storms predicted didn't make it into this part of the mountain.  Sadly a lot of people in Tennessee and other areas suffered under severe storms and tornados.  Remember them in your prayers and donations.

Angora/wool yarn by Knit Knerd

Most of my week has been taken up with new projects and old ones.  I actually updated the Meadows of Dan blog, for a change, and hope to get it done at least once a week to post events and things.  Lots happening in Meadows of Dan with the coming warm weather.

And I've been updating the Greenberry House web site as I get time, adding content and some lovely new yarns from the spinning wheels of our local artisans.  I've been busy myself, spinning a lot of odds and ends that have been crowding the stash shelves.  Barnabas likes the occasional empty space.  Only the sweater drawer in my bureau makes better sleeping space for a big black cat!

Now that warmer weather is beginning it's going to be hard to keep myself inside with the spinning wheel.  I may have to set it up outside by the grape vines, in the shade of the tall spruce trees that my grandmother planted long ago.  I'm planning to put a vegetable garden nearby.  Of course even a vegetable garden needs flowers: marigold, nasturtium, sunflowers.  After my early morning walk with friend Kym and the dogs it will be pleasant to work in the garden, while the dew is still heavy on the grass!  I can't wait for fresh lettuce and home-grown tomatoes.  I refuse to eat supermarket plastic tomatoes during the winter!

Another big project I've decided to take on is a new weekly newsletter for the shop.  Only one page but I'm planning to talk about local fibers, events in Meadows of Dan, put in an occasional pattern created by me or one of our local producers, slip in a discount or two here and there and just try to create newsy, friendly columns about what things are like at Greenberry House.  Sign up in the lavender box if you're interested!

I don't often talk about all the meetings, classes and boards I belong to and have to attend every month.  But recently I started attending a series of classes offered by The Virginia Electronic Commerce  Technology Center (VECTEC).  I've learned a tremendous amount from the instructors and have been trying to apply what I've learned to the web sites, etc.  hence the weekly newsletter...I was planning a monthly but they convinced me that weekly was the way to go.  If you're in Virginia, in business, especially small business, and have the opportunity to take these classes, I strongly urge you to go for it!

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!

Spring Color at Greenberry House

Dogwood is blooming up on the Parkway


Fire Pinks brighten the soft gray of stone and shadow


The dye pots have been bubbling away!

How the Weekend Went....

Worskhop at Atlantic Breeze Alpacas

The weekend went by fast, as usual, and here is another month flown by and gone. Chilly walk this morning, though, but the early morning light is more like spring than ever.


Lovely Lunch!

The first of the Atlantic Breeze workshop weekends was a great success, with workshop participants learning needlefelting techniques from Jane Plaugher. I wrangled an invitation for lunch and had a wonderful time getting to know some new people and visiting with friends. Sandra's lovely meal just topped off a terrific day for everyone, despite a sudden storm across Buffalo Mountain!


Me and Mani

I spent most of the weekend on the computer; I'm revamping the shop web site yet again. It has been a challenge setting up a shopping cart, but thanks to help from Jeremy at Those Geeks things have gone pretty smoothly. Jeremy jumped in and pointed out solutions to problems I didn't even know how to begin to fix. "Buying Local", even in computer services, is the way to go! I'm not ready to go live with the new Greenberry House web site but I'm hoping to get it finished this week.

Confession..

Sarvis against a spring sky

But first a word from our sponsor...Mountain Spring (sounds like a bottled water company). Things are sure beautiful up here in Meadows of Dan right now; with Sarvis and apple trees blooming everywhere and dogwood getting ready to burst out any minute. Tiny green and red leaves are covering the trees on the slopes and it's really looking like we might have some warm weather at last. Of course the wind is blowing wildly and there's a chance of rain. I hear that Mabry Mill is open this weekend. People will be lining up soon for buckwheat pancakes!


A Few of My Favorite Things

So here's the confession.... the mild mannered bunny lady who wore flea market finds and thrift store cast-offs with chunky black shoes and black tights with holes in the toes? She's not real. I made her up. The real woman At the Top of Squirrel Spur prefers spike heels and sparkle to drab and flat. Brilliance and flash to dog hair and mud. Or does she? Who's really here?


New Fiber!

Jane brought a lovely bag of dyed roving in this morning, sent by Miss Babs. This is wonderful stuff, Blue Faced Leicester, merino and a lovely merino/silk blend. Miss Babs is so talented with color and her roving bundles get snapped up quickly here!

A few brief minutes at home....

Redbud branch in Woolwine, Virginia

between meetings and work. It has been raining, though, which prevents me from doing much rabbit shearing. Damp rabbit wool isn't much fun to work with, although I imagine it's easier to handle than wet sheep!


Barbara's felted projects

Despite the wet weather we had a nice weekend at the shop. My new neighbors opened their bookstore; more on that at Life in Meadows of Dan. I'm proud that I'm starting to get some regular customers and a couple of people that are becoming friends came by. Barbara from Vesta visited on Sunday to show me her lovely felted projects. I adore the purse, made with fiber she purchased here from one of my vendors. The tapestry beneath is a work in progress, and will be a splendid mountain scene when she's finished!


Jack's Creek Covered Bridge

I've spent most of the weekend writing articles and working on a new shopping cart for the Greenberry House web site, so it was a rest for the eyes and mind to get out yesterday. Despite the rain, I had a pleasant trip down the mountain to Woolwine for an event featuring the presentation of a grant to restore one of Patrick County's two covered bridges. Redbud is still in bloom and dogwood is starting to brighten the edge of the woods and lawns. I ran across the top of the mountain into a wall of fog, but below the ridge it was only raining. A few drops fell while we were standing at the bridge but they didn't dampen the event.


Crystal's Covered Bridge T-Shirt

Woolwine is tucked in under the mountain; if you want a real adventure take Belcher Mountain Road down. In the spring I wouldn't go that way, though, especially after weeks of rain. At one time, I understand, Woolwine was called Rock Castle; the present name came from a prominent family in the region. Along with the covered bridges, Woolwine has wonderful views, great people and some lovely apple orchards. It's one of the many areas of Patrick County that doesn't get the attention deserved by the place or the people. I hear that's a great new restaurant in Woolwine, too, but I haven't been able to get to visit. The Covered Bridge Festival takes place every year in June; it's June 21 this year. Music, food, crafters (I'll probably be one) and lots of fun time visiting with the locals. Come see us if you can!


Odd Bird

On the way home I came across this odd fellow. He was standing bolt upright on the pavement at the edge of the road, for all the world like a tin soldier at attention. His back was ramrod straight and his bill was straight up in the air. I stopped, backed up and got out of the car and he never moved. His entire attitude was "You can't see me" even though he stood out plainly against the wet pavement. By the time I got the camera out and set it for a close-up picture, he settled out of his "invisible" pose and started ambling lazily across the road. I suppose, since I didn't try to grab him, he figured his strategy had worked. He didn't seem at all concerned about an audience as he wandered along the edge of the road, and he never once looked my way. From a quick bit of internet research I think this guy is an American Bittern; the looks and behavior fit the description.


Spring Mayapples

Last night was the first time in awhile I've been able to do Monday Night Dinner, which is now Tuesday because of my weird schedule. I forgot my camera for food pictures, but Kym got some, uh, interesting shots. Be sure to click the photo for a close-up!

This morning at long last we were able to have our walk. I got out just before daylight under cloudy skies, and heard a wild bird call that I later realized, upon seeing the bird, was a killdeer. Even in our lovely little community, it's rare that everything is totally still. There's always the distant hum of an engine, the bark of a dog, the low of cattle. But this morning, just as I reached where the dirt road crosses the wandering creek, everything seemed to go suddenly still. Just the ripple of the stream and the soft rustle of leftover rain falling from the leaves. Even the dog paused, head up, body quiet. It only lasted moments, then a vehicle passed on the main road and Lily pulled toward an enchanting scent and we walked on to meet our friends.

Spring Morning

Shady nook

After another foggy morning the sun is out bright and the sky is wonderfully blue, with big puffy clouds drifting lazily over town. I got out early with the dogs and let them romp through wet grass while the owl-eyed cats hovered near their food dish.


Baby leaves

This is one of my favorite times. The leaves are just coming out on the trees. Bright greens, pale greens, yellows and golden tans; each tree is an individual right now. The shapes will soften into deeper green later.

Bell is busy making a nest in the bunny house; so there may be babies later today!