Dyeing

When things slow down a little bit at work I feel more inspired to do fun stuff like dye my yarn.  The safest and most fun method of dying is Kool-aid.  If you can drink it, surely it is safe to dye with.   

 

 

 I was trying to do a blue/green combo but my mind always says, "PINK! PINK!" so  threw in a little of that, too.

 

You need to be open minded to what you will end up with since dyeing can take a direction all it's own.  And since you can't 'erase' it and start over, it's just best to embrace the end product.  This hank sort of reminded me of confetti.   I love it.

 

 

 

These are ponytail holders embelished with cotton yarn and angora yarn.  The top left hairband and top right are done using the confetti hank.  These are quick little projects that can be completed in a matter of minutes. 

A Wool Gathering

John and I visited the Wool Gathering in Yellow Springs, Ohio at Young's Jersey Dairy as we do every year for the last 13 years or so.  In fact, I think we attended the very first Wool Gathering when it was held in one tent in the parking lot.  My has it grown!  It is now in 3 very large tents with multiple booths outside and the parking lot has expanded to a lot across the road.  If anyone ever thought that hand crafts are a lost art I can assure you that they are alive and well with the number of attendants and booths there today.  I behaved myself for the most part resisting the temptation to purchase more fiber or yarn and stuck to my very short list of things I needed which included 2 sets of circular needles and the standard Wool Gathering t-shirt. 

 

The shirt says, "I knit so I don't kill people."  It seemed perfect for me;)

 

 

Alpaca was very well represented.  I was surprised to see the amount of alpaca fiber and yarn available and the quality was exquisite. 

 

 

Two cute Buckeye fans checking out the alpacas.  I was as conflicted as they probably were whether or not to miss the game to come the Wool Gathering.  Thankfully we had sports tap keeping us updated.

 

 

This is what awesome husbands do when their wives need a fiber fix!



Moon Cakes

Moon cakes?  For years I have wondered about these pastries my friend Betty features on her blog ncag.blogspot.com in the month of September every year to celebrate Mid-Autumn festival.  Today John and I were driving all over Dayton in search of something else when we came across a Chinese grocery store.  I was feeling bold (he wasn't) and wandered in.  It was interesting with roasting rotisserie ducks and exotic fish swimming around in tanks but the highlight of the adventure was finding this beautiful tin of MOON CAKES! 

 

 

 

 

Indeed, they do taste pretty bad.  However, it is quite pretty to look at.  With 630 calories and 24 g of fat in each piece it's a good thing they don't taste good to me otherwise I would eat all 4 pieces. 

Blue gets a haircut

Things are a little slow in the rabbit department so I thought I would share with you some pictures of Blue, a Komondor, getting a haircut.  Blue has been featured on my blog before getting a haircut after being rescued from a bad situation.  After 3 years of good living and careful crafting of dread locks which are a trademark of Komondors, Blue's new and better owner decided he should have a haircut to help his bad hips.  These dread locks weigh a lot so it is a good idea for the comfort of the dog.

Blue is a much happier dog with an outgoing personality.  The dread locks weighed 15 lbs! 

Reign is another Komondor who has also been featured on my blog.  He is Blue's littermate brother and a very winning Komondor in the dog shows.  Sadly, Reign passed away earlier this week.  He was bred  and owned by Jill who helping me out with this shave down.  It was nice she could spend some time with Blue who is not unlike his very gentle brother.

Bye, bye birdies

This is the last photo of the Bluebirds before they flew the coup.  Hope to see them all again next year.

National Mutt Day

Depending on whose calendar you are consulting, today is National Mutt Day.  Some say today, some say December 2 but I am willing to compromise and celebrate it BOTH days!  Here are two very special mutts celebrating their mixed breed heritage.

Angus got a special Mutt Day haircut.  Doesn't he look stunning? 

Looks like Wesson just found out it's HIS special day!  He is so very excited.

More Bluebirds!

We were gifted with another clutch of Bluebirds July 20- love, love, love the Bluebirds.

First arrival.

Early bird gets the worm.

Day 2.  All have hatched.

Day 8, now you know why they call them Bluebirds:)