Like another hole in my head....

Jacob Wool

....that's how much I needed more fleece. But this was a deal in a farm's fiber destash, not quite up to selling standards because the sheep managed to get wood chips in their wool on shearing day. I just got it yesterday and haven't been through it much, but it certainly looks worth the price, even with the chips!


Just doin' my job, ma'am....

Once upon a time someone started remodeling the closed in porch of my house. Then he went fishing....and after a few years we split up. The porch still isn't finished, which is convenient for the outside cat, Deuteronomy, because he can get inside whenever he likes. And he likes to come in frequently, as there are luxury accommodations and plenty to eat out there. At noon I went home for a break and there was a mouse lying neatly just where I would step on it when I came into the porch. Thanks, Dude....

And this morning when I got up there was half a mouse in the kitchen, thanks to Barnabas and his diligent guarding of his food bowl, no doubt. Fall must be rapidly approaching, since the mice are trying to come in.


We got a new toy.

I've been spending my one day off a week trying to keep up with the rabbit chores and do a bit of gardening. About a month ago we bought this little thing, which is really a riding lawn mower but I'm calling it my garden tractor. At the age of might-as-well-be-50 I mowed my first lawn on Tuesday and Wednesday. Can you believe I was terrified the whole time? Oh, and that's not me in the picture....

Tuesday we went and got a little cart for the tractor to pull along and on Wednesday I filled the wagon up with bunny poop and proudly drove it up to dump beside the garden. Not so scary that time, so I guess I'll get used to it. I got half the bunny house cleaned out, since my hired helper isn't able to help anymore. Hoping to get the rest next week. A brewing grumbling storm drove me inside before I could finish, so I worked on freezing tomatoes and pears. After the little bit of rain that fell with all that fuss, I went out and got Zeke, a nice German buck, and sheared him off. He seemed very happy to get rid of all that fluff! After a nice supper of grilled fresh local veggies and salad, I settled in to more spinning of the blue dyed Texel roving. I'm going to empty that basket one of these days!

VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) is outside on the main road. Looks like they're painting lines. I always want to run across the wet paint and leave footprints!

Taking a Deep Breath.....

Vintage and collectible spoons at Greenberry House

I'm sitting here reminding myself to STOP for a minute. It has been a busy week, with the usual good stuff along with getting ready for the Meadows of Dan Folk Fair tomorrow. There have been a few more errands and a bit of advertising work extra but I'm looking forward to the event.

I had a nice surprise when I posted about the Folk Fair on my Facebook page this morning. Deb Goodrich invited me to call in to her radio show way out in Kansas to talk about the Folk Fair and my shop! It was great to talk to her after so many years. We went to school together and Deb is a talented author with a deep interest in local and Civil War history. It was wonderful to reconnect!

I spent most of the Sunday pricing our auction finds from Saturday so they'd be here for people to see at the Folk Fair. Lots of lovely vintage linens and fabrics, books (of course) and some really interesting collectible spoons. Some are older souvenir spoons and others are truly unique...there are some made of old coins, some sterling and some lovely silver plate.


Little Wagon at Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market

It's still all about the garden here on my days "off" and I've been picking peas and replanting lettuce in the hopes of having a fall crop. I really enjoyed my Black Seeded Simpson until things got too hot and it bolted. I've been getting tomatoes every day and mixing them in with lovely squash and eggplant I bought locally at Sue's market. Sue got this cunning little decorative wagon from J. D. Briles (336-462-1369) down in North Carolina. It looks great beside her shop.

Wednesday was one of those lovely, perfect mountain summer days. Sunshine, a light breeze and a thunderstorm in the evening. I got out early walked with friend Kym and the dogs, and we enjoyed the last of the moonlight as the day dawned. Then I played in the garden most of the morning, weeding out, replanting, and just enjoying the smell of earth as I picked and shelled peas. Finally I sheared one of my older rabbits, grand dame Highland Mary, sitting out under the spruce trees. She went to sleep and I nearly nodded off myself in the quiet!

Late in the day a thunderstorm blew up, and I settled in with the dogs napping by my side to spin more of the Texel roving. I finished one bobbin and I really like the variations in color from light to dark blue. Natalie and I talked about Texel on our little podcast last week, and I think this week we're going to talk quite a bit more about Natalie and her dyeing and fiber projects. I hear that "What's Needlin' Ewe" is going to be opening in Mount Airy on August 20! I'm going to try to figure out a way to get to the grand opening on September 5!

Cold Week in Meadows of Dan!

First Snow!

It's hard to see in the photo but we did have some snow yesterday; two showers of it that didn't amount to anything. It was pretty as it fell, though, and fun to take an early morning walk. This morning it was clear and cold, cold, cold, with a biting wind. The moon and the stars were so crisp and close in the sky.


We is CUTE!

We had a newcomer to our Monday night dinner this week. "Beast" is the new puppy that belongs to Trinity and Josh. I can see the beastliness, myself. The little guy was all snuggles, a little scared at first but he soon calmed down and he and Bentley, Kym's fine dog, spent the evening entertaining us and playing. Banjo, Kym's tidy little black and white tuxedo cat, had to show off with all the attention that the dogs were getting and paraded around, finally settling to purr in my lap!


The theme was Cuban

I can't tell you the names of the dishes but everything was marvelous! An amazing chicken recipe from Kym along with yucca and a black bean-rice-and-banana wonder. I'm not fond of cooked bananas but Kym can make anything wonderful. Trinity made some great dips and a sort of stuffed beef with cheese pastry thing that was splendid!

The rest of the week has been lovely, if not exciting. Favorite cousin and I spent a morning together, which was nice, and then on my day off I sheared rabbits and straightened the house a bit. This really cold weather makes the rabbit chores a little harder, with frozen water bottles. The rabbits seem to much prefer the cooler weather, otherwise! It's a cozy time to curl up in my big chair after chores and knit, read and crochet.


No, you can't have it back, Mama!

Lily likes to lay at my feet and she takes more than her fair share of whatever lap rug I drape over me!

New Babies in the Bunny House!

Time for Fun!


Things to do, people to see...


Let's Have Breakfast!


We're getting sleepy!