From Russia with Love!

 A few months ago, my daughter and her family took a trip to visit their missionary in Irkutsk, Russia.

If you are like me, you need a map to see where Irkutsk is....

 It was a wonder to get updates from them through texts-we were 12 hours apart 

so had to coordinate communication so we could have conversations!

 Today, I received a package of souvenirs;

my daughter had saved them because we were supposed to take a trip to Georgia to see them

last month but I wasn't feeling well enough to travel.,

But look at this yarn!!!!

At the open air market, they met an older women who spun yarn 

from her own little flock of Kaza--nanny goats literally. 

 It feels like mohair but oh, so soft!

 I mean, look at that halo!

The wool is single ply-I can't wait to swatch this!

 Bill was gifted socks made of camel fiber--the man selling them reminded Marsel of her Dad!

(Loud and telling corny jokes to the market shoppers!)

After trying them on, he left them on the floor where Nyki promptly killed them 

and then laid on them.

 After she walked away, Lena moved in for her turn.  She took a few tentative sniffs, jumped and then settled down for a nap!

Birthday Bill!

Bill enjoys a birthday today.

To celebrate we will babysit some newborn twin goats for our neighbors who have medical appointments today, hang out for a delivery of all the stucco supplies-yes, the stucco work will begin this week! And we will take a siesta this afternoon as temps reach 100 again today! Dinner will be a home cooked meal......Bill has his heart set on an all you can eat seafood buffet in Orlando that he heard about but is saving the date until I am feeling better-thank you.
Bill did buy a used garden cultivator as his old one finally died. He put it right to use in the garden and was pleased with his purchase!
Our retractable screen door finally came in-it has been on special order since April!

The list has peaked for to-do's to get ready for the stucco work and Caleb called and asked to go out on the boat this week on his day off because he bought some used water skis at a garage sale and wants to try them out! Never boring!

I ripped out an old sweater that I had begun 7 years ago-all the parts were there but it turned out too small and I never sewed it together. Since I could put the yarn (#5 pearl cotton) to good use in the weaving realm, I ripped it all out and have reassigned it-I can just see it as warp in my first Jeans rug!

I have been distracted............

This arrived on Thursday afternoon-Grandkids! And the pace has picked up around here!

We picked oranges at a friend's tree.
We sit and talk and laugh and tell stories and watch the kids and get sun-kissed.

(We taught my sister to knit!!!-this is a milestone!)
Mom played 'dress-up jewelry with Abigail.

And investigated a sanddollar with David.

The new baby goats next door get a visit and a snuggle!
Alicia and Amanda make quick friends with the new kids!

I finished my bamboo scarf-it is so soft and drapey! (and twice as long as my Mom's!)

I am using the last little bit of the bamboo skein to make a headband from KnitPicks. Lace and quick and beautiful ..........

Fridays Pleasures

We worked on the wicker bells after the morning chores. It was difficult and we took a break to go and feed our neighbor's baby goats! This was a pleasure Marsel had never experienced and she thoroughly enjoyed it-so did the little goat! The little buck teasing was a bottle baby, too, a while ago and he still remembers the joy! David fearlessly took off like a fellow 'kid' and enjoyed the energy of all the young goats (50!).

Abigail was frightened last visit but held on to her stick to keep the Great Pyrenes at bay and she was quite the sheperdess this time!

Bruce took pictures of his family but I did manage to get one of him, too! Caleb got to stay for another day and so was able to enjoy the farm visit-his role as uncle has priority with him as you see!

We finished our bells in the afternoon-against all kinds of set backs we have a pair of bells for each of us! We had felt pretty confident of our basket weaving skill; progressing from beginner to advanced beginner kits but this one is labeled intermediate for a reason! It shields its story as it hangs on the door..........

Kids and Kids and a Deere

Isn't it appealing to see baby animals with children-they sure do attract each other! Gratefully our neighbor is willing to give tours to our friends and family!

And speaking of attractions............it must be the color! While my daughter is here for a visit, we are able to connect with a former NewYorker who is also a southern girl now, Jessica Stewart Wandtke, and her four wonderful boys...thanks for the visit Jessa!

Spinnin' Finn

I have tried a new fiber and I love it! It is wool from a Finn sheep, very long fibers with a nice sheen so the finished yarn has a luster! The fiber spread out is to show you how I separate it before I spin it. I split the whole roving into 2 equal parts and put one away-this will be the second skein. I then split the remaining roving into 2 equal parts and set one aside for the second bobbin. The remaining section I separate into 6 parts along the length of the roving this time and wind them into little nests-these will be spun onto the first bobbin. I pick up a fluff ball and gently pull the fiber apart (called predrafting) to make it thinner and much longer-at least twice as long as the little nest was previously. Now, I spin! See my breathing slow, see my hands and feet work into a perfect rhthym that will transform this fluff into yarn-truly an amazing art.

Give it a try if you ever have the opportunity to-don't miss the chance due to any excuse!

Nursery Kids

I have been at my neighbors most of the week helping out with their orphaned Boer goat kids. They rescued a herd of maltreated goats-31 -and the stress of the move induced several malnourished moms to give birth. Most of them and a few kids didn't make it but the little ones that did needed bottle feeding! What fun! What work! This one is my namesake-now that is an honor! (Yeah, the fact she is willful and stubborn had nothing to do with the inspiration!)