The Learning Curve

I am learning a new thing.  It's something I've wanted to learn for a l-o-n-g time.  And in learning this thing, I am discovering how I learn, and I'm finding that, in itself, interesting.

First, I notice.  Then, I think and watch. Then I circle it.  Metaphorically, for sure, sometimes actually walking around and around the thing.  Sometimes for years, as in this particular thing.

Oh? What am I learning?  SPINNING.  As in, how to spin wool.  I am SO excited about this.  Well.  I am this week.  Last week was my first class and no matter how awesome I can spin in my head, my hands just couldn't get the hang of it.  I know I'm just learning and to give myself time and all that, but you know when you REALLY want to learn something and you're SURE you will be great at it and then it doesn't come together the way you thought?  I just didn't even want to TALK about it last week.  Then I had my second class and tonight, while children read and built marble runs around me, I spun.  And it was GOOD.

It amazes me how just a little wee bit of sheep fluff can be transformed into something much more.  And it's funny how last week, just looking at the spinning wheel made me a wee bit sad, and this week, I wish I had more to spin!  I do, actually, have 3 big bags of BFL wool to spin, but daughter says that the BFL is so lovely, I need to perfect my technique just a bit more before I go for the good stuff.  And I think I'll dye some of it before I spin it too.

I did take a few pictures, but my camera is not that good for indoor evening shots, so perhaps I'll try again during the day.

3 cheers for learning something new!

Weekend Reading

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein was, for me, a quick and highly enjoyable foray into the contrived mind of a dog.  The story is told in the point of view of Enzo the dog, who begins at the (almost) end of the story.  It was a good one for me, when I wanted a little literary escape, without a lot of fluff or historical recounting of some bizarre or fantastical event.  I buzzed through this one in 3 easy nights.  I could say more, but I won't.  I'll save the enjoyment for you to discover.  Sweet book.  Enjoy it :)

And Now We Wait

I can't help it.  I love spring, and now, with Christmas, New Years and my dear daughter's birthday over and done, I'm now waiting for spring.

Truly, when the grey cloud of blah sits comfortably over our valley for days and weeks on end, and all we see of the sun is a brief gasp before he pulls his head back above the clouds, it's all we can do to cope.  We're not much for skiing and skating.  I think maybe we've spent too many winters in Mexico sunshine and we're now wimpy Canadians.

So, we wait.

And plan and dream of chicks and ducklings and goslings and baby turkeys and lambs!  If all went well with Mr. Man's visit, first possible lamb is due to show it's adorable face anytime after March 9.

And so, I wait.

And.

Wait.

How many more days?

Sigh.

Weekend Reading :: Winter

I love farming blogs.  As you could probably tell from the list at the right.  Ahem.

So I find this book, "The Dirty Life", quite by accident, and it's like reading an entire year of farming blogs.  Do you think I can put it down?  Nope.

This is all about Kristin Kimball's leap of faith (so to speak) from her pub-hopping, rent-fixed, take-out food city life to farming - real, permanent, dirt-andgoodnessknowswhatelse-under-your nails-forever type of farming with her honey Mark (who was a farmer, like, forever).

And since the first half of the farm deals with winter, and we're right in the middle of it in real life over here, this is the kind of book I can't wait to curl up with in my big red chair by the fire.  Ah.

Yes, it's similar to "Rurally Screwed" by Jessie Knadler, but I guess I like these sorts of books.  Kinda rings true, you know?  Although I can't say that I was ever "corporate", I did live close to downtown in my 20's, worked in offices, wore something dressier than jeans to work, and was even, briefly,  the educational director for a local business-women's group.  That was all pre - kids,-knitting, -sewing, -farm animals, etc.  That "other" life never really fit with me.

This one, happily, does.

Happy winter reading, folks!
And Happy 2013!

It's Not Over Yet!

Most of you will be gladly resting, in that after-Christmas euphoria that sets in as soon as you realize You're Done.  No more presents to make or buy or wrap.  All Done.

Not I!

We were blessed with a January baby.  She was due to arrive Christmas Day, 10 years ago, but she decided to bide her time and wait... for 9 days.  This next birthday marks a mile stone - her first decade - and I want to acknowledge this with something extra-special.

So I am embarking on a journey to parts unknown, somewhere I've never gone before but have imagined for a while.

My - and her - first quilt.

It's an easy go, strips of fabric sewn together, some new some old (parts of old pajamas that weren't completely worn out, bits and pieces from other things I've made her), but still.  I've never done this before. And it seems fitting to do it for her.  My first baby, my first quilt.  And I don't have a lot of time...

Winter to Me :: In Pictures

Cosy up, peoples, 'cuz, baby, it's COLD outside.

Keeping Warm

Brrr.  It's been chilly here the last few nights, with temps getting to -11C.  Yea, I know, that's not COLD, but it's cold enough.  My mind always wanders to my outdoor menagerie and hope they are keeping warm enough.

We don't heat the outdoor enclosures unless it gets REALLY icy, like -16 or less.  Instead, we use the old farmer trick of feeding them, and feeding them well.  Every afternoon, around 3 PM, I do my rounds, as I like to call them. Buckets of warm, fresh water to everyone and today I splurged: they all got a helping of black sunflower seeds along with their regular fare.

  Feeding birds so that they have a full crop when they turn in for the night is a good, old-fashioned way of keeping them warm.  I'm not totally sure how this works, only that it does.  They emerge in the morning, bright-eyed and ready to take on the day.  Maybe the act of digestion heats them up, I don't know.

Minerva Louise here is making sure I don't forget Her.  Giving me the old stink-eye to make sure I'm paying attention.

The ladies deserve the good stuff, I do declare.