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Sorry no pictures for this post. And I usually don’t write about sad things if I can help it. But lately, like the past 4 years my family has been dying to beat the band. And I know most were elderly when they passed on but this is a bit much.
I watched my Mom die a very slow death (a massive stroke) beginning in the summer of 2004 and she died in January 2005. It was the most difficult experience I have ever endured. I was grateful for the time we had those last few months. Then my brother died in October 2006, completely unexpectedly, then two aunts, two uncles, our little dog Haley, my little Sheltie and our dear cat, Ursus. Last week a cousin died, yet another funeral.
And this morning my step sister called to say we need to get to Maine as soon as possible as my step mom is failing rapidly. She has been diagnosed with lung cancer and was managing but now has taken a turn for the worse. So I am making arrangements to get away from work and the farm for a couple of days so we can go say goodbye to her.
As I look at this whole death and dyeing experience, and I seem to be getting a dose of experience, I suspect it is better to be the one passing on than the one to be left behind. The finality of death, while we are still on earth, is powerful and devastating.
Just wanted to share this in case I am not posting lots of news in the next week. I will be fine and I will be back, God willing.
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One of my friends on Ravelry has posted this and I feel compelled to help her. Can you also?
We need 5×5 squares, knitted uniformly and to that size, in shades of blue,in very soft yarns, next to skin for this dear boy to snuggle up with. She needs the squares ASAP so if you cannot get to the link on Ravelry then contact me and I will coordinate. Below is the blog from Cindy.
This is Luke. He is 8 years old. Luke was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myelogenus Leukemia) when he was 6 years old. He had a successful bone marrow transplant when he was 7. He had been in remission and in doing routine blood work this March it was discovered that Luke’s AML has returned. He is now scheduled to undergo chemotherapy, radiation treatment and hopefully another bone marrow transplant.
The Warming Grace project wants to send Luke a blanket. I need 63 five inch squares in any shade of blue (Luke’s favourite colour) in a soft yarn ASAP.
Calls for squares have been so successful and I thank you all so much. We have had more than enough squares to complete 6 blankets so far which is awesome. Unfortunately, many of the squares I have received have been unuseable for the following reasons:
1. Yarn – not soft, some downright scratchy (please rub it against your face or on the inside of your wrist)
2. Size – 5″ is 5″, not 3″ or 6″ – it is really hard to put together the blankets if they aren’t relatively uniform
3. Quality – it is unfortunate that I have received squares that are so loosely knit they are unuseable, or there are huge holes in the middle or somewhere in the square.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the efforts people have put into knitting and sending squares; however I won’t send out a blanket that is not first rate to a child who is putting up such a brave fight.
I am hoping that I can get lots of 5″ squares (and kid friendly colour in a nice soft yarn – please no acrylic), particularly in the blue shade as soon as possible. If you can help out thank you sooooo much. Email me at cindy@4spheres.ca for my snail mail address. Please post my request on your blog if you can(there are so many blogs who have a much bigger readership than I do currently). I thank you so much. My goal is to get Luke his blanket by the beginning bit of May (taking into account mailing the squares, getting the blanket sewn together and mailed to Luke).
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I had made a pact with the Guardian of Unfinished Objects back in January to get all my UFOs done by spring so I could move on and so far so good, two to go! The thrummed mitts are done. I had a basic mitten pattern that I completely altered to make the yarns work with the fleece stuffing. It really was haphazard but in the end they came out okay. Sorry for the rotation view, I can’t get them to load correctly! Here they are right side out.
And inside out.
The details can be viewed on Ravelry here .
I improvised the Green Mountain Spinnery’s Basic Mitten pattern and knit a strand of my CVM/Romeldale yarn with a strand of Kid Seta (mohair/silk) and used CVM/Romledale roving for the thrums (stuffing).
They are not completely matched but are absolutely comfortable and very cozy. How ironic they are complete now that spring has arrived ~ but next year they’ll be a pleasant surprise come the cold winter.
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Okay, so I’m a glutton for displaying raw fleeces! Raw Long Ridge Farm CVM/Romeldale fleeces! What our dear loved ones spent the last year growing on their backs, through rain, snow, sleet, hail and hot sun. I love our flock and haven’t they done a fine job!
Actually I tell them….all you have to do is grow fine fleece, I’ll do the rest.
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The day we spend our year preparing for has arrived! The shearing.
Our shearer, David Hinman, is due to arrive at 9AM and Jack and I have a short list of preparations. After 10 years of preparing for the shear I have learned one thing, don’t disappoint the shearer! Organization is paramount to his arrival. By 8:30 all of the sheep are in the handling area, fleece coats have been removed and the shearing area is clean and ready. We don’t feed the flock prior to shearing as it is more uncomfortable for them if they have a belly full of hay. I like an early day shear for that reason. Here is Jack with the flock as we settle them into the handling area. Sheep, as with any other animal (or heck even us human types!) hate change and they know something is up. We do our best to make the experience as pleasant as possible for them. After each sheep is sheared we put them in a new pen with fresh hay and a clean coat while they await their freshly shorn comrades.
Here is David bringing a ewe out into the shearing area. What you can’t see as his face shows, is the effort it takes for David to coerce the sheep into the shearing area. His hand with the sheep is firm and kind.
Betsy of Crooked Fence Farm arrived to help me skirt and bag the fleeces.
While Jack and David worked the shear, Betsy and I worked away on the skirting table, preparing the fleeces for their final destinations. The morning was cool and brisk but the sun was delicious and warm. By 11am the fleeces warmed as they were prepped on the table.
Here’s David shearing Memphis. She is the face on our logo. A very special ewe and a lady in all respects. Not to mention a divine fleece with a 22 micron count.
The work for Betsy and me piled up quickly ~
Sights of the fresh fleeces ~
By 12:30 we gathered up the flock and took them back to sheep headquarters at the winter barn where they found racks full of hay and fresh bedding. The day was lovely but the weather forecast calls for cold nights through Tuesday. Although they are “just sheep” to some we consider our flock more than that. They deserve peace and comfort for all they do! See those heels kick up! They feel good!
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Here is Hazel and her newborn lambs on Thursday. Hazel, being a first time mom did a perfect job! She lambed out within 15 minutes with no signs of distress and gave two adorable ewe lambs!
Hazel took to the task instantly and is very attentive to her young. Just the way a shepherd likes it. Both lambs are a bit smaller which is normal for a first time mom, both weighing in the 8# range.
The lambs are nursing and sleeping and doing all the attendant things lambs do. Eat, sleep, grow, eat, sleep, grow.
Betsy and I pulled a name out of the hat for the runner up prize and the winner is
Connie!
Please get in touch with me, Connie, so I can arrange to send your fiber to you!
