Jack Frost and A Walk In The Woods

Jack Frost hit the windows on the cabin tis morn'n and altho its warm and toasty with the woodstove going I wanted to get out in the woods and see if we could find any deer antlers and check out the creek.  Oh was it cold yet the woods is so pretty with the frozen creek with spots of water flowing.

I didn't fall on the ice but my hubby almost did.  Need to work on falling skills!   We didn't find any antlers. Tracks along the creek was the only signs of critters, the woods was silent.

Ok I'm a tree hugger, who wouldn't want to tap some energy from this massive oak.  In the spring I like to sit under this big old tree.  Thoughts of its beauty and a big tree house but it will be left alone to just hug and read a book under, maybe a nap to ; ).

It was a nice walk on this cold day and really nice to get back to the heat of the woodstove and a pot of coffee.

This weekend I canned a few cranberries, I bought lots of bags after the holidays ,bags were 50 cents each.  Not only for eating but I am dyeing some wool spun with alum mordant hoping for a nice cranberry color.  I have blackberries, blueberries and elder berries in the freezer to can up and use for dyeing. I hope to blog a pretty page of natural dyed yarns someday.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week
linda

Hats Off The Needles

 

I've been working on hats in the last few days, knit up fast and fun to do.  The sheep hat I have had in my queue for some time.  With Wool of the Andes and the Short Interchangeable circular needles from Knit Picks, I did it and was it a great pattern to follow.  I will do a couple of more I'm sure. 

The bunny hat is half wool and an unknown yarn (white),  

                                    

I'm hitting my stash of unknown yarns to use on these other hats

I 

The last two projects was a fun hat and super fast to make.  The red headband was crochet.  

 Right now on the woodstove I have some wool yarn I spun dyeing in cranberries.  Mordant with alum with a bit of cream of tartar.  I hope I get a pretty color

I'm excited about natural dyeing and all the experiments that happen from using forage materials from the gardens and woods.  I plan to keep journal of all the recipes and the finished yarns.   From sheep to socks (hats) and all the colors that can be achieved, I hope! 

Take good care

linda

Wild Birds

The wild birds leave the chicken feed alone when they get their own scratch. Birds are happy, chickens are happier!   Need to pick up more wild bird seed but today they get chicken scratch.

Their dinner table is right outside the window for photo shoots and I got to be so slow not to scare them away.  They take turns from the different types of birds.  First these Tufted Titmouse is first shift with Bluejays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Blackeyed Juncos, and others waiting either with patience or intimidation.

I'm on the lookout for Eagles in our area.

Winter time is great to get out and observe nature from tracks in the snow to seeing animals and birds through the bare cold woods.