The day after the Folk Fair

New Earrings from Rocky Cross Studio

I didn't get any pictures from this year's Folk Fair, although I saw the Chairman of the Community Association floating around briefly with her camera. We had a fantastic day, though, and saw a lot of great people. I was so tired I could barely enjoy a visit and dinner with my landlord last night but appreciated their good food and company!

I saw the earrings above on Barbara's blog not long ago and fell in love with them! They are more beautiful than I can capture in a photo. Barbara is a talented artist and these unique pieces just shine with her originality and her personality. Each pair is different from all the others and the colors are striking!


Gramy's Old Fashioned Hard Candy

I made another serendipitous connection this weekend as well, with a candy make from Dobson, North Carolina. She was selling her hand made artisan candy at the Folk Fair, and I really like her product. It's nice to be able to sell things you love! This is what I would call a "sanded" drop candy, with lots of wonderful traditional flavors such as peppermint, spearmint, sassafras, horehound, blackberry, orange and more. Very much a local product.


Broccoli from the garden

Tonight's planned menu includes fresh broccoli from the garden! I also picked the last of the blackberries this morning, so I may make up some blackberry milkshakes for dessert. According to my sources these broccoli "flowers" that I cut out of the top of the plant are just the beginning...the plants should produce some smaller ones at the sides. After fighting the cabbage worms for the past two weeks it's nice to have a reward!


Mani and Me

There are lots of senior citizens among the animals here. Lily is getting older, at twelve, while several of the rabbits are seven years old and beyond. Mani, a cat that reached his fifteenth year this summer if I'm remembering correctly, was one of the oldest. This summer "Old Kitty" had become quite feeble. I started feeding him special tidbits, fish, well-cooked chicken, and so on to build him up and he had been looking a bit better the past couple of weeks. But on Wednesday evening he vanished and we haven't seen him since. Unusual in an elderly cat that rarely left the yard by the back door. Nothing out of the ordinary happened this week with the animals so I feel like "Old Kitty" decided his time had come and he slipped away.

When Mani came here fifteen years ago, shortly after I moved in, he was a tiny kitten with a badly injured eye. My aunt in Connecticut helped me pay a rather staggering vet bill because he required special treatment to heal the wound. For many years it took a very close look to even notice that anything had happened to him, however, and he thrived as an outdoor cat. Even as a youngster he never got the hang of what a litter box was about, or he was too independent to care. Mani was one of the old-fashioned, cobby bodied tabbies that I used to have here on the farm as a child. I'll miss those black-velvet little paws!

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!

Gardening and gathering

Lettuce in my garden

I could bore you for hours with "garden porn" 'cause I love the way the plants look in the evening light. Green comes in so many colors.....and leaves have so many wonderful shapes. But I'll restrain myself here but if you really want to see garden pictures....


Rewards: Amish Paste tomato and wineberries

I've been busy gathering lately, from the garden and beyond. But Sue brought over these delightful red berries that she's been picking out in the wild. She calls them wineberries and they are almost too pretty to eat. I wanted to string them together like beads. I didn't, though. They taste a little like blueberries only better. You can get them from her at her shop, along with fresh sweet corn and beans. Just down Squirrel Spur Road from Greenberry House! Hurry, though, because I don't think they stay in season long and I know people that know about them will snap them up!

I picked enough peas, at last, from the vines yesterday evening to make a nice little meal for me tonight. And I've been picking blackberries, always a favorite of mine, from the brambles right around the house. I'm still getting lettuce, too, from the garden, to eat with local tomatoes, onions and cukes from below the mountain. I've only gotten one little tomato from our plants so far!


Hand Painted Texel Roving

We had a damp morning on Wednesday, a day I had planned to shear a couple of rabbits, so I pulled out the dye pots instead. Hadn't planned on a dye day and didn't have much ready, but I popped in some Texel Roving and did some painting with blue and red. This time I was more careful with the heat and the roving turned out softer...I'm very happy with these results. I'll be banding up the roving this weekend and putting it out for sale here at the shop.


Sandra's Unique Project

I forgot to take my camera to our Stitch 'n Chat gathering last week, but Mary remembered hers and took this shot of Sandra. She's knitting (honest) on Size 50 needles with a thick single made of alpaca, wool and nylon (I think). It's going to be a stole and it really is gorgeous. Sandra says she'll have some similar yarn from this year's alpaca fleeces! We had a nice meeting at the Atlantic Breeze Alpaca boutique and it was lovely admiring all the beautiful alpaca creations.


Barnabas: "This blog needs a cat photo!"

I'm So Lucky!

People just keep bringing me wonderful new yarns for the shop!


Wild Iris Wool

Bulky yarns from Ann Catlett

And then, just when I think it couldn't get any better:

Atlantic Breeze Alpaca Yarns and Roving

Come out to Meadows of Dan and see how gorgeous this stull really is.  Pictures just don't do it justice.

Getting Ready for the Weekend

A wreath of fiber

New yarns!  New Fiber!  And great new little bags to put your special project in!  it was great going to the festival, but even better to come back with new consignments for the shop.  Under the Dark Star is a new vendor for me, from Central Virginia (Sally, I need your address!) and she has glorious angora and angora blends, along with some other beautiful yarns and spinning fiber.  I'll be putting them up for sale on the web site before long.  But I have a feeling that when people get the chance to touch these wonderful fibers and yarns in the shop, they won't be staying here long!

Hand dyed yarns from Under the Dark Star

It has been a beautiful day, and I've been watching people getting set up for the 4th annual Hit and Miss Engine Show that is taking place this weekend here in Meadows of Dan.  I can see that a lot of hard work has gone into promoting this festival and there should be a lot of fun, music, antique engines, heritage demonstrations and more to enjoy out in the field on Concord Road.  I'll be at the shop all weekend, so come up and enjoy our beautiful breezes and all the things to do here!

Handmade Buttons from Lawre's Laine

Lawre has honored me by being a vendor here at Greenberry House since last year's Sedalia festival.  Her workmanship is wonderful and we also have some beautiful little project bags she calls "Bagettes" that are just the right size for that sock project or other small, take-along knitting.  Clip one on and go!  I've got my eye on a black one with an Oriental print...always go for the drama!

New Yarn!

New yarns from Lil' Bit o' Heaven Fibers

Almost everything is back to normal here at Greenberry House.  Yesterday it was sunny enough to get some work done, and I washed some things and hung them out on the line for a change!  Bravo sunshine.  I had to "do up" the first piece I ever made with the handspun singles I spun on my great-grandmother's wheel.  It's a shawl in silvery tones and so heavy and warm.  There's a little hole in it, though, that I noticed.  Need to get out the crochet hook and make a repair.  I also sheared Amber, one of the oldest rabbits here.  She still produces quite a bit of lovely wool!

Thanks to Sandra's suggestion, I'm going to turn the old refrigerator into a feed bin.  Perfect idea and very clever on her part!  And friend, fellow spinner, expert knitter, (and probably cousin) Kristen down the mountain has a refrigerator!  When I can get a pickup and some pals to go along to help we'll be back in the kitchen business!

Nice responses to my very first newsletter!  When I get the full version of Constant Contact, I'll be putting the issues on my web site in an archive.  Since they offered two free months before signing up, I'm taking advantage!  I'm starting to work on the next issue, which will feature Linda's lovely yarns above, some information on llama wool, what's happening in Meadows of Dan, and whatever else I come up with before next week!

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!

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!

Another Meadows of Dan Folk Fair Success!

Friend Jane teaching weaving at the Kids' Tent. Jane graciously agreed to spend the day and camped out in the yard the night before!



Me playing hillbilly and spinning with lovely Tammy who came to visit! It was so nice to see her. She gamely spent the afternoon talking to people about spinning and it was fun to have someone to spin with. She's wearing a lovely shawl she knitted here; there's more about it on her blog.



Sweet Mary helping with our butter churning demonstration. The local antique dealers loaned me different churns to help show how butter was made, but I was afraid to use their pieces. So I got an old blue jar off the shelf at home and we managed to get some butter out of milk from a local Jersey cow. Nex time I'll use a solid lid, though, instead of the kind with a ring! It didn't really take long to get butter, once the milk warmed up!



Meadows of Dan Folk Fair. I didn't get to see much of it, of course, but there were activities all over town, music all day and lots of great things to eat! We thought there were twice as many attendees as last year!

It's a Beautiful Day!

Greenberry House and the new look

I finally went shopping and found some ferns for the porch; I had the idea I wanted to go for a cool, bistro look this summer. The porch furniture was serendipity earlier in the year, and I at long last finished the Leaves sweater. The avocado seedlings are fun, too, and get some attention.

Jane Plaugher is teaching a workshop here next Friday, July 25 at 12:30 on Entrelac Knitting. $25.00, Number 8 knitting needles and knitting worsted, basic knowledge of knitting required. Drop me a note if you're interested at leslie@greenberryhouse.com.


Forecast:
Meadows of Dan, VA
(Clear 83*F)
Today Mostly Sunny 68-83*F
Sun Mostly Sunny 68-83*F
Mon Chance of Storm 67-83*F

Come up and beat the heat this weekend in Meadows of Dan! I've got a cool shady porch!

On the Shop Porch

Where's Mom with dinner?


Look! I'm a bird!

Woosh! That was June going by!

My new neighbors

And July is starting out just as busy! It's lovely to just stop a moment and watch the clouds drifting easily across the sky. The hummingbirds have been visiting the hosta blooms by the window, and a noisy sparrow just hopped across the ledge fussing. There's a swallows' nest on top of a post on the porch. I've been watching their progress. Mom and Dad Swallow are both busy feeding the little ones now after an anxious watch and wait. Apparently all the activity around here doesn't bother them.


Spindles and More

When I went to Sedalia I didn't have much time to look around but I saw some customers carrying around these beautiful spindles. I made a dash out and picked up a card, and Darcy is graciously allowing me to sell these lovely pieces in the shop. Each is signed and numbered and would be such a pleasure to spin with. Darcy also has a sense of humor; I love "Blaze Orange" for spinning during hunting season! Can you guess which one is called "Teach Me to Spin"?


Fayetteville, West Virginia, Demonstration

I spent last weekend in Fayetteville, West Virginia, dodging raindrops and spinning some lovely Jacob wool I bought from Perfect Spot Farm. The New River Gorge Heritage Festival was very nice; new, maybe, because it was small but it should grow. The location was lovely. I was set up next to a Civil War encampment on a quiet town street. Two of the residents were kind enough to offer shelter if the storms became too frightening. I made it through two nights in my tent, though, sleeping on straw and tossing ants and some sort of friendly black bug out into the night. It was charming to sit spinning as twilight fell and the lightning bugs rose out of the lawns all around me.


Completed Some Sock Yarn Shawl

Since it rained a good bit last weekend, I finished this crocheted shawl. More details on my Ravelry page, but it's a simple pattern of double crochets and increases to make a triangle shape. I went over to Blacksburg yesterday to pick up bunny feed and stopped in at Mosaic. I'd been dreaming about that Noro sock yarn....

Quick Note

Last night I walked out late, to check on a computer upload at Sue's shop. Lily went along with me to enjoy the cool breezes of the evening. A few lightning bugs drifted across the fields in lazy archs, just above the waving grass. In the little field beside the Parkway it seemed very dark; clouds piled heavy above the tree line. I looked up at the lightning bugs, signaling as they have done for centuries, against the deep shadows of the trees.


New Greenberry House Yarns

As you can see from the pictures, I have a lot to do today!


More new yarns!

Claudia and Ann came by on Thursday, and left this lovely selection of beautiful yarns. I love their stuff; the yarns are as individual as the spinners! I also have two of Claudia's special knitting bags. Hoping to get everything on the web site as quickly as possible. The yarn will be on the shelves today.

Then yesterday a local farmer brought me some fleeces. He's a shearer and had several different varieties. I bought the Jacob he brought; love spinning that and it sells well as yarn, and took some other fleeces on consignment. I'll have to do some investigating on the uses of the fleece he brought; one of them is from a hair sheep. I know nothing about them, but a quick search on the Internet indicated it might be used to make rug yarn. I thought I'd wash a bit and spin up a sample to see.

And while I was waiting out a stormy afternoon while sitting and knitting with my neighbor while she quilted, a big box came in the mail that was full of yarn from another North Carolina Jane. She included some kits so I'm looking forward to diving into this box!


Ripples in the Corn Field

The Summer 2008 Spin-Off came into the shop this week and I read it cover to cover. Some really good articles but I was really taken with the Handspun Gallery this time. Some lovely scarves in the Morning Surf pattern by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer. Since I'm such a beginning knitter, it's surprising that this captured my fancy, but it's really quite easy, despite the multiple yarn overs. I've been having fun knitting it in odd moments. I needed to make a sample for the shop in Crystal Palace Yarns Maizy, anyway, so I'm using the Indian Corn colorway. The yarn is nice, not as soft as the Panda Cotton but it looks nice in this pattern so far.

And the days spin on by..

Sally's Farm

It's amazing how fast the time is flying; here June is already upon us, with more shows, festivals and gatherings to look forward to. I had a nice day yesterday when Sally, who went to Sedalia with us this past weekend, stopped by for a visit. She brought some interesting mystery fiber she was gifted and this wonderful hooked rug she recently completed. This is all her own hand spun, hand dyed and natural colored, and a charming original design. I especially love the tree and the sheep, and how inviting the house looks with the bright windows in the evening light!


New Yarns at Greenberry House

I'm very excited to have another new spinner here at the shop! Rae Jean is from Blacksburg and her yarns are beautiful! She spins beautifully and her offerings here range from a very delicate laceweight to some lovely soft worsteds. Fibers range from wool to mohair to camel. There's a beautiful set of skeins in dark grays that would be perfect for a sweater!

It's supposed to rain in Meadows of Dan today but so far the sun is shining! A few people are wandering through the community so it looks like a great day. As far as I can hear, the festival last week was a great success, and so was the movie at Chateau Morrisette.

My car broke last night. Not sure what is wrong with it but I'm disappointed as it's going to knock me out of a gathering with friends this week. I've gotten spoiled! I didn't miss not having a car when I didn't have one but it infuriates me to have one that won't work!

How I spend a Rainy Day...

Dolls for Sale! Dolls for Sale!

My partner went to a local auction yesterday, and came back with boxes of porcelain dolls from a collection. So this morning, while the rain fell wildly and the wind blew, I washed little porcelain and bisque faces and hands and tidied ribbons and bows.

Now the sun is trying to peep out, through a haze of steam rising from wet roads and pavement. I can still hear a low rumble of faraway thunder. Green things outside are startlingly bright.


Barbara's Farm

Here's a great example of what a bit of fiber, some time and some talent will do. Barbara's second felted project, a delightful tapestry based on an old homeplace, is charming! I love it when a customer comes around with something she has made. Barbara is so enthusiastic; she has plans for lots more lovely creations!

Spinning in Public

Old English Southdown lambs and little goat

A last minute invitation this week resulted in my heading down to Stuart on Friday to demonstrate spinning at the Farm Services sponsored "Ag Day" in DeHart Park. Lovely weather for it (I got a little sunburned again, despite hat and long sleeves). Children and animals, it was a perfect combination and seemed very well put-together. I did some spinning and talking and enjoyed watching the kids with the friendly little goats and lambs. Mom was kind enough to watch the shop for the morning for me, so I could go.

My really good camera has dead batteries, so I dug out the old Sony yesterday. I know there's a pack of really good double A batteries somewhere in my house, so I'm too stubborn to go buy some. Until I find them, no nice pictures of spring on the farm, I'm afraid!

Still updating the web site. So much stuff here, y'all. Better go buy it!

Baby Showers and Spring Rain

Lovely baby things

Most of the people I know are grandparents now, and have been for awhile. Or they have grown children that have decided against babies. So there aren't many reasons to celebrate new life around here, except in the bunny house and alpaca fields. It was fun to head north next weekend with the SO's sister to attend a baby shower for his son and daughter-in-law. The sister will remain nameless to protect the innocent (or guilty, as the case may be.)

We set out early because we were crossing the entire state of Virginia, under cloudy skies. Occasionally the sun broke out, though, highlighting the blaze of redbud that bloomed wildly all along our route. I never get tired of redbud, which doesn't grow well on our mountain. It was putting on a show all the way up the valley of Virginia, though, and into Charlottesville and beyond. It was hard to get a picture and drive, though, so I refrained from trying.



It was lovely to see good friends when we finally arrived in Fredericksburg, and we soon settled in to chat, eat and admire all the lovely things the mother-to-be was showered with. She now has enough clothes for this child until the age of two, plus a lot of the necessities that the modern baby requires. A lovely little bed, stroller, diaper pail and humidifier...and some things I have no idea what to call them!

Later in the afternoon we headed even further north, and I spent a lovely evening with friends, including a nice meal out and talk about recent books we'd read. I didn't take a picture of the meal; I was almost too tired to eat but it was lovely!


Atlantic Breeze Alpacas

Then home again to a busy week; we received some more gorgeous yarn from Little Bit of Heaven Alpacas and I've been running to meetings again. Sandra from Atlantic Breeze came in and restocked her booth, making some beautiful changes. Wednesday I spent a pleasant day in town with a dear old friend and then yesterday I traveled with a group from Patrick County to a Virginia Welcome Center to do demonstrations (more on that later). We saw some snow flying earlier in the week and I thought it would never stop raining. But today is an absolutely perfect spring day. I saw some bloodroot on the west-facing slopes along the Parkway; another one of my favorite signs of spring!

It's Really Cold....

four degrees by the porch thermometer this morning. It might be up to ten by now!

A lot of the snow melted off on Friday, and the evening was a glowing gem. I fed the rabbits in a stillness that seemed unreal as the day faded. There was a ring around the moon that night, with two bright stars inside. Yesterday was overcast with a fuss of snow during the afternoon, some wind and then this morning was bitter. Four degrees and windy, with bright cloudless blue skies. More hauling water to the rabbits, hoping to keep them eating and happy!


Leaves Sweater

In the evenings I'm spinning, working on that delightful silver fleece, but during the long days with few customers I'm crocheting or knitting. I don't want to haul the wheel around in the cold. I started this crocheted sweater yesterday. I've been eyeing the pattern in Crochet Me since I got the book. It's by Annette Petavy and will have lots of swirly leafy things hanging off, if I have enough yarn. I'm using a nubby wool yarn that Bernat doesn't make any more, that wandered here somehow and has stayed for a long time. There's no yardage on the skein band, worse luck!

In other news, I put up a Facebook page for Greenberry House, go be a fan if you're on Facebook! Or join Facebook and become a fan. I thought it might be one way to do quick updates for the shop and get some more exposure.

And I've been busy updating the web site with more of the vendor yarns. I'm thinking to really expand the shop this spring; I keep getting hints that maybe the book store building will go up this year!