All about CVM/Romeldales
Just published! An article I wrote for the fabulous online fiber resoure, Ennea Collective about our CVM/Romeldale sheep Enjoy!
Whirrr go the shears
Shearing is done. The weather cooperated with a bright sunny day and no adverse weather for days ahead. What not to wish for is wet and cold. If the sheep are subjected to wet conditions before shearing it affects the shearer’s progress and also management of the fleece after it is “on the table”. In addition, I am not fond of plummeting temperatures after shearing when the flock is compromised with no fleece. The shiver and shake as they go…
Shearing began…we had three helpers in the shearing section and three helpers in the skirting section. Here is our shearer, Andy Rice, throwing a fleece on the skirting table. 
Griffin is a yearling and he was not happy about this…watch the bad boy here.
Hours later, shearing done, we let them out of the barn and whoosh! With no lead and one controlling sheltie (Kalie) the flock was back to their regular digs and full hay racks….ahhhh
We all took a break for some venison chili, warm garlic bread, wine and camaraderie after the shear
Midway through shearing shows the signs of our breed’s wool. It’s greasy by nature and that manifests itself on the shearer’s blades….
Always an event and magnificent each year!
French Bleu
In anticipation of my upcoming trip back to France I found myself once again in a love affair with woad, the royal blue of France. I spent the day in the studio, immersed in bleu…here is the vat before I began dipping….I wasn’t pleased with the color here (eye test) but my eye proved me a bit picky. All turned out stunning! 
below are silk ribbons…center: indigo dyed a few weeks ago, right: deeper dyed woad, left: lightly dyed woad…note the difference in the hues 
added my CVM light worsted at the bottom for comparison…. 
my end of the day; silks in the top photo are still drying, here are ribbon and yarn dyed in woad along with a run of Victoria (in honor of the royal wedding coming up!) pip-pip!and a bientot!
Great pieces of functional art
A yarn bowl. Artistic yet completely functional. I love my yarn bowl! It has a wonderful opening to let yarn feed fron the bowl to the needles, a great shape for all balls of yarn and rubber grippers on the bottom to keep it from slipping. I have even set it on the dashboard when riding and knitting (not driving!). It’s kept me company with my Cascadia Mitts…
It’s kept me company with knitting up some cotton washcloths….
and a cup of coffee….
and currently a pattern from Ravelry my cousin and I are knitting together, the Shroom Slouch
you can find one for yourself at Neal Pottery
Luna has created her own piece of functional art. A snow cave. It faces the sun, has protection from the wind, is cool on the underbelly and beautiful to boot!
A Bit of Ireland
I was in the barn doing chores this morning on this beautiful St Patrick’s Day morning and Danny Boy came on the radio. I wanted to hear it again and found this version…short but absolutely lovely.
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying
‘Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow
‘Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You’ll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an “Ave” there for me.
And I shall hear, tho’ soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you’ll not fail to tell me that you love me
I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
