A Whirled Yarn

I am resolute...ish

I rarely make New Year's resolutions. Basically, it's because I just don't keep them.  On a deeper level,  it is because they require focus, determination and willpower.  I don't know about you, but my focus was lost somewhere way back during my second pregnancy.  And, sadly, it hasn't been seen since.  The only thing I think I've been determined to do lately has been to get a certain 3 year old to go to sleep, and stay asleep until there is some hope of the dawn arriving.  And will power...isn't that what's supposed to keep you from eating an entire pan of brownies by yourself?  Yeah, that's definitely gone too.

But this year...drum roll please....actually forget the drums...Santa brought a set for Christmas and, well...lets just say I've heard enough.

Okay, a moment of blissful silence please...I've discovered Project 365!  Post a picture everyday for a year...I can do this!  I have a camera, I have a blog.  How cool is this?!  Of course I will continue to write posts with my regular irregularity.  But now you can also check in daily and see what is going on in my incredibly exciting life as a nearly 40ish, married woman, and mother living in a small town on the endless prairie, smack dab in the middle of the United States... in pictures!

Okay, so my photos are unlikely to win a Pulitzer Prize, but you never know (please, more unlikely things have happened, look who runs our country).  There is sure to be lots of sheep, chickens, knitting, cats and kids.  But really, can you get enough of that?!

And, just in case you have felt a void without an ice storm picture...this one is for you!

Happy New Year!

Happy Boxing Day!

Yes, despite my earlier post... horrible crap made by starving children in foreign countries made it into our house this Christmas.

And what is actually played with?  This lovely box... (which I'm sure was also made by starving children in foreign countries from old growth forest trees and petroluem by-products).  Sigh....

Santa needs to attend Kyoto...

Happy Holidays!

Lights on, lights off, lights on, lights off

So that pretty much sums up our day!  The sun came out and it was like the return of Aslan to Narnia.  The whole world started to melt.  As a result, more things came crashing down and we lost power again.  But we are some of the lucky ones.  The next town over relies on a different energy company and they haven't seen light since Tuesday!

The sheep acted as if they hadn't seen grass in months and the kids had a great time roaming the melty, icy, tinkling and crashing world (with strict orders to stay out from underneath trees!).

I took the opportunity to spin, knit and dye.  I'll have some results for you to see tomorrow...maybe...we are getting a snow storm tonight...

Want some ice with that?

So Monday night it started to rain...and rain and rain.  We woke in the wee hours of Tuesday morning to a dark, cold house and the crack of splintering tree branches.  Do you know a tried and true way to distinguish between an old house in Kansas and new construction?  The old house is surrounded by the big old trees the settlers planted in a vain effort to block the constant driving wind and blazing sun,..like a deciduous oasis you can see for miles across the prairie. Old houses, at least old farm houses,are also nestled in a spider's web of electrical wires, running from the road to the house, to the barns, to the back barns, to a random post in the middle of the pasture, and then...back to the house.  All in all, not the best situation in an ice storm.  Dear Mr. Whirled risked electrocution and a severe braining to move our cars to safety. 

Doing the farm chores once daylight came was an adventure as well.  We would dash (as well as you can dash while keeping your balance on a 1inch sheet of ice with clunky Sorrels strapped to your feet) under the trees and power lines hauling grain, hay and water.  Once I stood frozen as a nearby tree branch went crashing onto a power line making the whole electrical pole shake.  The horses spent the day indoors with out their usual complaints and protests.  The sheep and goats were given water, a bale of hay, a kiss, and hearty "See ya later".

Today there is no melting yet, but somehow the world feels safer when you have heat and electricity.  You can even find a lot a beauty in the ice muffled stillness.  The horses were happy to get out and stand around eating hay in their iced over pasture (a big psychological difference from standing around eating hay in a stall for some reason).  And the sheep and goats continue completely unfazed by the cold and ice. 

I was totally inspired that I sat down and fluff spun some icy white, gray and blue kid mohair into a big poof ball.  I am going to ply it with some great iridescent snowflake sequins and silver thread.  It is going to be awesome, if I do say so myself!

Loom for Sale

This is the loom I have for sale on SpinSales.  It is a four harness Leclerc table loom (maybe a Dorothy?).  I bought it used 3 years ago and haven't learned to weave yet...so it must find a new home!  It has been used by various members of my guild, so it is in working order.

It measures 20x21x17.  It has some black electrical tape on one part (sorry, I don't know the terminology) and one of the thin metal pieces (reeds maybe?) has been replaced by string...I think.  I've tried to show it all in the photos.  I would like $150.

I prefer pick up in the Northeast Kansas area.  I will be happy to drive a reasonable distance to meet someone.  Please let me know if you have any questions as I would be happy to attempt to answer them!

The reason why I haven't learned to weave!  But he's so cute, I think I'll keep him.

Happiness is an unmade bed

You know it is cold when the barn cats are found inside, cozied up on a bed, in the middle of the day.  Ridding the house of all those bed mice, no doubt!

These two are experts at human ignoring.  Even those humans bearing flash photography.  Just look at Soccer's excellent form!

Ah ha!  I was able to break Sleepy's intense concentration briefly.  At least long enough to get a "Get a real life" stare.

I expect in a mere four years to replace one of these cats with a teenage boy.  I doubt a hibernating teenager at one in the afternoon will be half as cute!  So, dear Reader, enjoy these while you can...

Friends don't let friends buy crap...

Face it...I don't care how cool you think it is, but that little trinkety Christmas thingy was made in a sweat shop in a foreign country.  You may be in denial, but you know it's true.  Your purchase allows corporations to work women and children to death for pennies a day.  They work in factories that follow no pollution guidelines and regularly dump toxins into the water and the air.  Your lovely bit of whatever takes jobs away from Americans and took a ton of oil to just get it to this country and into the store.  I won't even mention lead paint.  Really, is it worth it? 

Instead demand quality, beauty and safety.  Buy lovely trinkety thingys that are handmade with care and skill.  Keep artists, crafters and just darn clever people in business.  Pledge to buy handmade and make the world a better place.

Hint - Check out local art and craft galleries (check out mine if your close!) and try Etsy.com.  You'll feel so good!