sheepshepherdess

EYE CANDY FRIDAY

                                                                                               FOUR GENERATIONS SHAWL

This is the crochet shawl in the current Spin off magazine.This is being done in random leftover balls of silk either samples or what was left from a project.   I love silk it is my MOST favorite fiber.  Don't get me wrong  I enjoy being with my sheep and taking care of them.  They are much more social than silk worms.

I was reading Margenes blog on the humble hook and thought I'd add a pic of a 1800's corset cover that I made several years ago, it is a filet crochet pattern from the 1800's .  I enjoy the process of crochet.  I do think knitting has a lot more to offer but some of the most beautiful lace I have collected has been crochet.

Here is a random pic of my CHAI recipe from my friend who went through the nursing program with me in 1987. She was from India and this is what she shared with me.  So this was before Chai was popular.. I brew the spices,  add tea leaves and turn it into a simple syrup that can be mixed with soy milk yum!!!

Eye Candy Friday

"Merino Baby Lamb" Also the end of lambing season here, also the reason there is no spinning or knitting.  The farm has become time consuming.  Christmas will come at the end of April when my shearer arrives and the coats come off to reveal long clean staple.  That is also a job and then most will be sent to the mill. 

This was the hardest birth of the year.  Assistance was required as she could not get the heads out.  After being a nurse most of my life, then staying home to raise children and animals, my skills come into use.  I can save money by not having to have a vet out.  But I am not beyond having the vet out, last year I helped pay for his new building, but on the other hand I learned how to use antibiotics in animals.  Vets here in California have experienced abuse and immunity to antibiotics so they become more careful how they dispense.  Which is ok because it is the same as in humans if we abuse antibiotics strains become stronger and our Big Guns (antibiotics) no longer are effective.  So on one hand I can understand but it is hard when you aren't the abuser.  I do not overcrowd my land so I do not need the medication large farmers need.  All this is also an issue in our food chain but I won't go there that is a personal rant.   Maybe now I can do some fibery things.  I did go get a nice bottle of Husch Chardonnay to CELEBRATE a good end to the season.

Eye Candy Friday

i LOVE lambing season

Writing on the Train ECF

This could be a controversial one but here is is any ways. This was on the side of the train when I took the shots of the Cowboys.

Eye Candy friday

We are in the citrus season my favorite time of the year.  Oranges,   Meyer Lemons ,Clementine and Satsuma mandarins , Ringpur and Bears limes,along with kumquats. I will try to post the variety this week. The E.C.F. pics are of my summer silk and still on the plant Hibiscus blooms,and a couple Meyers lemons.  The flowers this time of the year in my area are amazing, the cold does something to the colors.  They are not droopy from the heat or sun bleached from the summer sun . The flower is Hollyhock it almost looks like tissue paper. Then more of my amazement of the glassblowing at Nicholsons. 

Summer Silk, Meyer lemons, and Hibiscus bloom.

Hollyhock December 1

" The Master and the Apprentice "

NOTE:    I have been tweaking my blog and I noticed my entry was scrambled, kinda like my brain the last few days.  So I am not really that crazy just trying some new tricks with typepad.

Eye Candy Friday

These are my Eye Candy My Family. I took 145 pictures  on this shoot and I got 2 good ones.  When your family is this big it is hard to keep them all still and smiling at the same time.  I am not one for posed pics but this will be the Christmas card. 

Eye Candy friday

This beauty is pin draft Romney now spun and plied.  The rose is a vintage collected rose from my rose rustling days  the photo was taken yesterday it really smells awesome and unlike some vintage roses it blooms more than once.

Eye Candy Friday

Wellington and his wife Bella. John John The Birthday Boy.

Breeding season has now come to an end. I will be anticipating spring lambs.  I can't wait!  I will soon have the whole flock in coats for premium fleece, as I have been notified of shipment on their new coats, they go through about 3 or so sizes as the fleece length increases. so my rams are now separated from the ewes and will settle in for the winter in the new shelter my huband built.

Eye Candy Friday

Roots Of Fall

Eye Candy Friday

This has become one of my favorite places to visit.  It is about 20 min from home.  The rocks are incredible.  This is a creek that feeds eventually into the North Fork American river.  There are still mining claims and some scary folks around, but the nature is awesome.  I plan to go back as the seasons become more noticeable.