Which would be me.

I have no good excuses. Plenty of excuses, but none that really hold any water. So, here’s a recaplet of the last six months or so.

My favorite place/LYS/workplace, Unique One, has kept me busy. I worked there all summer, then two days a week up to now. I’ve knit a lot of lovely things because of the amount of time I spend at the store. I’ll post some soon.

I took a job as an English as a Second Language tutor at the local school district. I have three students in elementary and high schools. They all speak (natively) languages from Asia and range from close-to-fluent to “new arrival”. They are great students and I learn new things from them daily!

My kids are always busy. T2 has come to work with me a few times over the last few months and he’s been bitten by the knitting bug! Here’s his first Finished Object:

He found the pattern in Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter. It’s the Elf Hat and he knit the whole thing himself. He also did most of the finishing work (one of those tasks I hate). Good job, T2!

I’m happy to be back. I’ll post some Christmas presents tomorrow (yes, I know it’s January, but better late than never!)

Finally (finally for me, my lovely swap haul showed up on time), here’s what my swapper, Nicola, sent me (please note the amazing dark chocolate):

This was her first time dyeing roving and I think it’s marvelous! The fiber is blue faced Leicester from the UK (where Nicola lives). She was concerned it was a bit felted, so she sent along additional white fiber for me to dye. It’s the perfect goodie package for me . . . especially with the chocolate. It’s not easy to find bars of Lindt chocolate in the wilds of Maine (though I have been known to track down stores in Boston!).

Nicola is having a fun Tour de France competition on her blog. It’s too late to enter, but it should be fun to follow along (it’s guessing how many days during the Tour that it rains).

Now, if I can ever find time to spin, I’ll be making stunning yarn from the UK! Thanks again, Nicola!

(which took place the weekend of June 9)

Every year in Windsor, ME people flock to the Fiber Frolic to see the Llama Drill Team, sheepdog demos, and fiber creatures of many sorts (llamas, alpacas, goats, sheep and bunnies for sure!). There’s an absolutely lovely fleece “tent”, filled with hundreds of fresh fleeces. (click to make it bigger).

This year prices ranged from $5.50 to $25 per pound for raw sheep’s fleeces; up to $30 for alpaca. I personally sold a black Romney fleece from Joe Miller for $25/lb. What a fleece! The prize winning alpaca fleece was from Village Farm Alpacas in Waldoboro (click to make it bigger):

I didn’t get pictures of judging because I was busy volunteering, but, to I’ll give you an idea of what goes on. For this show, you must enter your fleece to be judged (you can sell a fleece without having it judged). The show fleeces are marked as such and kept separately. Most of these fleeces were for sale, and some were bought before and after the judging.

A double table was set up for judging (two 3.5′x8′ tables, long sides together). Each fleece was unrolled onto the table so that all portions of the fleece can be seen. The judge looks at consistancy (is it all the same thickness, is it the same length throughout?), soundness (no tender tips or breaks), how it was prepared (well skirted, no second cuts), and how well the fleece fits the standard for the breed.

For instance, a long wool like Coopworth has a standard that is focused luster and length; a fine wool like Merino has a standard that is focused on fineness. A judge wouldn’t want to hold both fleeces to the same standard.

After looking all over the fleece, the judge writes down his/her findings. There’s usually a matrix with plenty of room for notes. A great judge writes extensive notes, so the exhibitor knows why one fleece is better/worse than the next. While the judge is writing, a volunteer rolls up the fleece and puts it back in its bag.

Each fleece gets a significant viewing at the Fiber Frolic, although at events where every fleece is judged, sometimes that’s not the case.

The winners’ fleeces came from Pam Child of Hatchtown for wool (a lovely dark Coopworth off of Celeste) and Bonnie Callery of Village Farm Alpacas (a crimpy fawn of off their new stud, Aureus Magnus). Both were fabulous!

I only bought a few things (well, only a few that I want my DH to know about ;-).

Sadly, Indigo Moon Farm has gone out of business. MaryLynn has gone on to other pursuits and I wish her much luck. PJ and I dropped by her farm and picked up some fabulous dyed batts (PJ bought those), some old issues of Wild Fibers Magazine and some nice blue/purple roving.

I bought another hand spindle from Hatchtown Farm–a Kaari. It’s become a tradition to buy a new spindle from Jim every Fiber Frolic. Here some of their other offerings:

At Golding I found a set of dp knitting needles size 2, 5″ long. They are EXTRA pointy and I absolutely love them.

I did NOT buy a fleece this year. I’m proud of myself. Even after Pam and I looked over some fleeces at the last moment, I couldn’t find one I couldn’t live without. Sigh. Another Fiber Frolic is over. I can’t wait for the next one!

I used to post two or three times a week.

Apologies. I’ve been away for awhile. It’s the end of the school year for the kids and I’ve had a health scare. Both, I say with relief, are over. I’ll be catching up over the next week or so. What did I miss blogging about?

The Fiber Frolic
Dye-no-mite exchange
Camden Farmers’ Market
Lupines and Columbines in bloom
50 chicks, no waiting
Sooper Secret knitting project
My new favorite tv show

That should keep me busy any time our internet connection is up

I haven’t written about Wild Fibers Magazine in a while. My lead time in writing articles is so long that sometimes I’ve forgotten what I wrote by the time the issue comes out.

As always, Linda has published another beautiful magazine that I’m proud to be a part of. I love to write for her–she’s a fun and easy-to-get-along-with editor. If you’ve got ideas for articles, drop me a line, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I’ve been remiss this week in posting. After all the fun of T2’s birthday we got sad news. DH’s grandfather, the reason we moved to Maine, passed away at the age of 98. This wise and wonderful man was an incredible husband, grandfather and great-grandfather. We were greatly blessed having lived near him for most of the last eight years.

I’m sure that at some point I will was poetic about him. He deserves it. Today I leave you with a glimpse of Maine in May.

Please click on this picture. It’s the side yard of the Blair House (the governor’s mansion), looking towards the Capitol building (shown is the Capitol office building). The trees are in full bloom, the sky was brilliant blue, and the gang of fourth graders full of life and laughter. The Way Life Should Be.

We survived T2’s birthday week! And, here’s the reward:

Of course he immediately put on his socks (you gotta love a kid that loves to wear what you make for him!)

I’ll put up some birthday day pics later, but it’s late.

We’re nearing the end of T2 week

For my birthday T2 gave me the project he completed in a school arts residency. The students all embroidered symbols of the State of Maine. T2 chose the Seal of the State of Maine. In a week, working every day (I think) he drew out the design, learned to embroider, and did all the stitching. Very impressive IMO.

Last week, continuing their studies of the State, the kids went on a field trip to the Capitol. I went along. In the House I saw this rendition of the State Seal and thought I’d share it, too. Personally, I like mine better!

Earlier this year my kid, T2, spotted an owl outside the window. Yesterday another winged friend was making fist-sized chunks of wood fly outside my bedroom window.

I’m told that it’s a pileated woodpecker, the largest of the woodpeckers found in Maine (perhaps anywhere, excepting the supposedly extinct Ivory Woodpecker).

The pic was taken through the screen in my window, so it’s not too clear. You can see the striking red crest and, I think you can tell that it’s one BIG bird. Like a crow–I’d say over a foot long.

This post is another in the series of birthday posts for T2. Everything I’ve posted this week has been about or for him! His completed birthday present pics will go up on Sunday (his birthday!)

My second child loves origami. Particularly origami cranes. From 2×2 inch pieces of paper to huge present-wrapping pieces of paper, this child folds cranes. In honor of T2’s birthday coming up this weekend (see posts on geodes and T2 socks this week), here are some special origami cranes:

Made out of won ton skins, these are some of the cutest, most useful origami creations I’ve ever seen. They come from EvilMadScientist where you’ll find complete instructions. I’m looking for won ton skins for this weekend. I’m sure T2 would make plenty for us if we ask nicely.