tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57898392008-07-26T14:09:57.088-04:00cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comBlogger482125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-73316814667975249352008-07-21T08:13:00.003-04:002008-07-21T08:31:12.843-04:00

The cicadas started to sing a few days ago...six weeks till frost. Taking some time to pause, and notice summer in her finest moments... This years fawn is sleek. Hard to tell if it is a buck or a doe yet. Is that a small bump I see at the base of the ear? Is it a buck? The buckmoon is waning. Always a puzzler for me, buck moon..... seems like that should be during our hunting season, but

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-2803181736875646302008-07-18T08:37:00.003-04:002008-07-18T08:46:38.375-04:00

I've been wanting to tell you about my peas since I planted them this past April. I have been photographing them along the way...since they were few inches high. I am now harvesting them! Almost ten years ago, there was a little seed company called Shepards Seeds. They were brought out by Whiteflower farm, and do not offer the same vegetable seed variety that they once did. I used to order

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-87144674148612934772008-07-17T08:43:00.004-04:002008-07-17T09:03:57.690-04:00

Last weekend, The Greene-Dreher Historical Society hosted an open house, and Grace Hatton and I were demonstrating and speaking about spinning, spinning wheels and general topics related to the craft. It was the first time I "dressed" for an occasion. My ensemble included a pinner apron, and the Lacy Winged Shawl that I knit from linen. I carried a authentic reticule, and wore a pair of

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-11192586211863227082008-07-13T21:46:00.002-04:002008-07-13T21:54:37.281-04:00

It is tedious work, but finally the currents are picked and jarred. It isn't as fine as Bar-le-duc jam...I don't have any spare goose quills with which to de seed my currents...so I smash 'um up with my potato smasher. After a trip through the jelly bag, the sugar is added to the juice...(it is best if you warm your sugar first) ...and bring the mixture to a rolling boil for exactly one

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-76932328565813573562008-07-10T21:07:00.002-04:002008-07-10T21:15:21.826-04:00

The day lilies lined the roadsides all the way down to Gettysburg where we spent a few days over the holiday. They were also waiting for me in the garden when we returned home. A hot spell, humid and still, has been replaced by breezy fresh air today. The day lily blooms with the bold oranges and reds, that catch my eye and hold it. I studied them. At dawn, a bloom opens to catch the sun

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-7174136427844358442008-07-01T18:28:00.002-04:002008-07-01T18:34:37.136-04:00

A few weeks ago, we shared the company of a childhood friend, who had traveled East to help celebrate an anniversary of the elementary school that we had attended. Upon arrival, my husband was presented with the very thoughtful gift of a Fuchsia. (more about my gift at a later date). We have never owned a Fuchsia before, though both of our respective mothers had. We talked about how we had

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-7932000403012971992008-06-30T19:10:00.002-04:002008-07-01T19:12:54.854-04:00

phenological events June 2008 1st - Blackberry flower sets 2nd - planted corn Hellgrammites pupate 3rd - planted beans scarlet tanager 4th - cahills hatch red belly snake gypsy moth caterpillars numerous eastern milk snake 5th - flax germinates 9th - wax wings build in oak 11th - corn germinates 14th - second plant beans 15th - whitetail fawn 24th -

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-84382232909450715962008-06-25T08:39:00.002-04:002008-06-25T08:45:28.490-04:00

The cedar waxwings are one of the last birds to build a nest around the riverrim. They dine on fruits and insects, so they raise their young in time to coincide with the bounty that mid summer provides. They sometimes nest in colonies. My husband has noticed that there are two nests in our oak tree near the river. We go walking in the early evening to look for more. We notice the elderflower,

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-3284577642472656532008-06-23T08:09:00.003-04:002008-06-23T08:22:01.461-04:00

On Friday, late afternoon,I had a chance to go down river and see a cria who was just one week old. For those who are not familiar with the word, a cria (cree-ah) is a baby Alpaca. Meet Isabella...(KIMBERLEE'S RC (RIVER COUNTRY) ISABELLA ). She belongs to my friend Louise of Kuhn's River Country Alpacas and they are very happy to welcome her to their world (er- herd). Here is photo of

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-18617496993258068862008-06-19T11:27:00.002-04:002008-06-19T11:33:46.521-04:00

This time of year the garden gets invaded. It is amazing to see how many life forms want a piece of it. It is a battle trying to raise things, and protect them from the many forces of destruction. I don't like to interfere too much...I like to let nature take her course and decide what will be-- most times. But enough is enough. I've had to plant my corn and beans twice this year. The

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-39692594333048500882008-06-17T09:28:00.003-04:002008-06-17T09:51:35.351-04:00

I've been working with a Rambouillet/Karakul sample that I received from Cathy, ah...I don't remember when. (I really need to start taking better notes.) It was already washed, so I just teased it out. Spun on the Ashford Traditional..supported long draw....forgot to check the ratio. I was curious to find out the yardage of my singles. Wound off onto the nod (which seemed to take

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-27095633484755094842008-06-11T09:19:00.003-04:002008-06-11T09:25:19.422-04:00

I live in a green world, it is a green time, full of growth. Chlorophyll surrounds me. The grass is now knee deep. If I lived in the suburbs, the neighbors would not like it. They would leave notes on my door, with phone numbers for a lawn service. Around here, I let grow. No smell of fresh mown grass, just sweet and wild smells. Of earthy goodness, clovers, wild rose, ox eye daisy and

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-36179580059042624922008-06-10T08:03:00.002-04:002008-06-10T08:09:40.224-04:00

I was going to post today, but then I realized that Valerie is back from her trip... You should go here and see what she made, it is beautiful. I spent most of my free time this morning with my coffee, viewing the photos from her Penland trip. Dreaming.

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-2011307304004916822008-06-05T09:34:00.003-04:002008-06-05T09:43:09.590-04:00

biodiversity (now that is a word to ponder the meaning of!) is important...over the past few days, these (and many other) different species have been noted along the riverrim. some are considered beautiful, others are not. there are good creatures, and oh, shall we say, undesirable creatures...and just like in the real world, they duke it out in the garden. Right now there is a battle

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-47563108638482342702008-06-03T09:52:00.003-04:002008-06-03T09:59:01.298-04:00

I just finished spinning up another Shetland sample from Cathy. This one was labeled "Peeps". Since I know that Leigh has been keeping such good notes about her Shetland samples in her notebook, I suggest that you stop by and look at her entry about "Peeps". She was spinning it last September. She has an image of the actual fleece sample. (By the time Peeps got to me, the sample was already

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-71714656339292216442008-06-01T17:45:00.004-04:002008-06-01T18:08:57.596-04:00

Elizabeth of Trailingyarn tagged me, and she wants to know... What was I doing 10 years ago? Ten years ago, I was pretty much doing the same things I am now....but differently. The years buy experience, knowledge, and skill. They spend physical strength, (ahem) physical appearances (ten more wrinkles?, ten more lbs?), and a certain amount of innocence. There are "trade offs" for the time. If I

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-88664852953320661252008-05-31T22:00:00.000-04:002008-06-01T18:16:42.288-04:00

phenological events May 2008 1st - Yellow warblers 2nd - Indigo Buntings - wasps wake up 4th - Towhee 5th - hummingbirds 7th - scarlet tanager 8th - common yellowthroat 12th - green currants 14th - asparagus bugs 22nd - crabapple sets 26th - till garden I have now kept at least a year of phenological events...and now on the side bar, I can reference the label for phenology, and

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-56149677835190666392008-05-25T20:48:00.002-04:002008-05-25T20:58:43.060-04:00

Sometimes nature just needs a helping hand. I was very happy to discover that the crab apple flowers cross pollinated with the cut blossoms. The tree has started to make fruit...some even have a blush to them already. I found an old photo that I took of the garden last year during the first week of June. When I looked at it, I was surprised to see how much more had been accomplished last

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-35063895849656612072008-05-18T18:17:00.003-04:002008-05-18T18:25:47.189-04:00

The canopy has opened... the ferns are up and starting to unfurl. The lilac blossoms tumble down the hillside, and release their perfume into the hills. They mix with the cold rain and smell wonderful. The gooseberry drops it flower almost as soon as you notice that it has set. There is so much happening in the wood at once, if you don't make time to see it, it will be gone for another

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-28358446895442525232008-05-16T10:22:00.003-04:002008-05-16T10:37:40.552-04:00

Mid spring, and the mint arrives. It is now tall enough to harvest. Bergamot It sprawls and reaches into places in my garden where it should not, and sneaks into areas unnoticed. Orange Mint It surprises and delights the nose when it's aroma is released. One looks down to realize they have walked on top of it, crushing the square stems, the decussated leaves. Pineapple Mint As a

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-30182824435294705302008-05-12T12:31:00.004-04:002008-05-12T12:40:42.063-04:00

A few weeks ago, I was working on a project for a Cathy. She has been very generous in sharing her Shetland Fleece samples, and I wanted to make something for her to show my appreciation. I decided to use up the rest of the Shetland fleece...the bits that were cast off, not suitable for spinning. I decided to make some felt with them. Cathy likes petroglyphs and pictographs. So do I. So I made

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-33862539466113971442008-05-07T21:04:00.004-04:002008-05-08T09:10:16.169-04:00

A white pine floor and a low ceiled room, A wheel and a reel and a great brown loom, The windows out and the world in bloom. I have never seen so many Orioles around the riverrim before. We have had up to 15 in one Quince bush at a time. There are Orchard Orioles as well as Baltimore Orioles. Their song is as delightful as their appearance. My walk today had a purpose. The crabapple

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-79678805813907433352008-04-12T21:52:00.002-04:002008-04-12T21:56:22.695-04:00

It has been at least ten years since I've had deer inside the garden fence. These two have cost me several days of repair (hard labor) and about fifty dollars worth of new fencing materials. The little yearling is the culprit. He made his way in through a small hole, and his mother must have followed. I don't know how long they were in there...long enough to eat all of my day lily collection,

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-91111538912619120212008-04-09T20:31:00.003-04:002008-04-09T20:43:50.784-04:00

The warm weather has brought the frogs out. They are still dark in their coloring. This one has lived here for several years. I pass by him (or her, maybe he's a she) anyway, I pass it twice a day. Once in the morning, when I walk on my way to the henhouse to let the gals out...and once in the early evening, on my walk back at the end of the day to lock the gals up. We exchange pleasantries.

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-40250987224341511892008-04-07T10:03:00.002-04:002008-04-07T10:10:57.310-04:00

Tension is a word that a fiber artist uses a lot. Knitting requires an even tension. A Spinning Wheel has a tensioning device to tighten or loosen -depending on the type of fiber and twist needed. Sewing machines have a dial to set the tension of the thread for the fabric that will be sewn together...and I am now discovering weaving requires the right combination of tension distributed across

cyndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18006126625281714507noreply@blogger.com