journal

Journal February 2010

Monday 27th
    Garden report: We now have 19 tomatoes plants sprouted. It is to soon for the peppers to sprout yet.
   I have spent the last two days working on ideas, samples and an outline for my second book. I am back on a writing schedule. I will be spinning and dyeing yarn, weaving samples, taking photos, or writing almost every day until the book is finished.
   After trying to work with my old Print shop 21 program I have decided to buy a more advanced software program for publishing. Hopefully it will be here in the next week.
Until it arrives I'll be working on selecting weavings, spinning wool for more weavings and planing the dyeing I'll need to do for weaving the book samples to photograph.
   I am spinning up several pounds of roving from a 70/30 mix of wool and Mohair.
   Work on the knit bag has continued.but I'm not certain how it will come out. It is another design as you go project.
   I started spinning the Collie hair yesterday.. There is very little veggie matter in it but it is loaded with dog dander. I have to have the vacuum handy before I sit down to spin so that I can reach it to clean up without standing up and spreading it all over the room.. It doesn't look like much now- I'm interested to see what happens after it is plied and then washed.
My socks and lace scarf are still waiting their turn for attention again.
For a change from my fiber work I'm working on learning new magic tricks and also learning more rhythms on my Doumbek hand drum..
   We have been having more sunshine and temps are starting to edge back toward normal- winter has to be retreating.
Starting March 1st I hope to get in the habit of posting every Monday.

Monday 22th
So much for me posting weekly in the Journal. The new meds don't seem to be working so it will be back to the doctors in the next week. Very tired of this cough that has been around since Sept.
I have been working in the Studio this month. I finished weaving my first large shawl in over a year. I'm wearing it in this months photo. More photos and general directions are in the Fiber Studio section.
I have also been busy spinning up a pound of wool roving. I have a large bag of Collie hair to spin next.
   Yesterday I started a new knitting project- it was going to be a scarf done with a fuzzy novelty yarn. After knitting the first 10 inches I decided it would look better as a tote bag. So I knit off the edge and will pick up stitches to turn it into a rectangle. I am still working on a pair of socks and a lace scarf.
   Last summer we acquired a mixed breed dog in need of a new home when her owner had to go to a nursing home. Lucky loved having a buddy to run with and she was great with people.
   She was not as good with other dogs and animals. She had had no training during her first 2 years of life and was part Pit Bull. When a neighbors dog came onto our property she attacked him and badly injured him. The neighbor also said she had attacked his younger cattle dog.
We regretfully made the very hard decision to have her put down. Once she started a fight she had no "Off Switch". She did get along with dogs that were friendly toward her.
In a few months I think we will find a puppy to raise as a companion for Lucky. We just are not willing to take on the possible problems of getting another rescue dog that wasn't properly socialized as a puppy.
    Today it is really cold, windy and we had a dusting of snow but it does feel like spring will soon be starting. Yesterday we planted the first of our garden plants . They will be ready to transplant outside in May.


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