Dyeing Icelandic
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: M/A/R/R/S "Pump Up the Volume"
Topic: Fiber
Today I'm working on dyeing some Icelandic wool. I washed the fleece and before it dried, I put it into the roaster to dye.

Washing Icelandic is different from other fleeces. Icelandic will felt *easily* if washed in water that is too hot. Warm water works just fine since it is a low grease fleece.

I had a nice Icelandic fleece from True North Farm in my barn, which even after sitting for a year, was still lovely and in perfect condition. So I decided to wash that one. It was snow white. "Was?" you ask? Now it's this color:

And how about a picture of these two cuties? They are both bucks, born here back in April. Aren't they sweet?

If you are interested in purchasing the one for sale, e-mail me. I can tell you all about him. His background pedigree is spectacular!

More dyeing today
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Sting "Fortress Around Your Heart"
Topic: Fiber
I've done some more dyeing today. More Border Leicester, which is one of my favorite wools (besides Icelandic and Corriedale). All of the dyed wools are outside drying in the sun. Now it is time to dye some angora, which I'll do in the microwave.

Denise asked about dyeing in a roaster. It's fairly simple, and I do mine outside on the deck.

I presoak my fibers in some liquid dish detergent and water for a short time. Then I fill the turkey roaster up about half way with water and add a couple of good glugs of white vinegar. I set the temp at 300 degrees to start, and then add the fiber. Once I have all the fiber in that I want, I add enough water to cover it. Then I sprinkle dye over the fiber. I drop the temp to 250 degrees, and let it cook for about 2 hours. I unplug the roaster and let it cool on it's own. Once the roasting pan is cool enough to handle, I dump the fiber out on one of the custom made fiber drying racks that my friend Deanna makes. I allow it to completely cool, then I rinse it with water from the garden hose.

Here is what we have today:

The Dyepots resume
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: Badfinger "Baby Blue"
Topic: Fiber

I'm back working at the dyepots. I have 35 days until Rhinebeck, and the weather is perfect for dyeing! I'm using the roaster method for this batch. Usually I like to use a microwave, but that isn't practical for dyeing more than 1 pound of wool (and even that is a lot for my microwave to handle!). This is Border Leicester, which will be blended with other fibers for batts and roving.

And just incase you interested, I've put this Bobbin Tree up on eBay.

Spin-In in Amherst, MA
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: The Spinners "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love"
Topic: Class Information & Shows
I want to let people know that there will be a Spin-In on the Amherst Town Common on October 1st, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fiber Arts Center (http://www.fiberartcenter.com/) is hosting this event to kick off National Spinning and Weaving Week.

I'm looking for spinners that might like to spend an hour or two teaching people how to spin; either on a wheel or on a spindle. If you would like to teach, please e-mail me privately at Baycolonyfarm@aol.com so that I can put you on the schedule. Linda Diak and I will be there all day, teaching spinning to those that want to learn, but we'd love more people to help!

If you would like to join us, either just to spin, or to teach, please come! The Apple Harvest Festival will be going on at the same time, so this promises to be a fun event, with LOTS of people!

Busy, busy, busy!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Jennifer Paige "Crush"
Topic: A bit of everything

What a weekend so far! We've been busy looking at new vehicles. The $100 fill up on DH's truck is getting a bit high, so we are looking for something that is more fuel efficient. If we buy something, I'll get to use the truck for farming stuff whenever I need it (rather than wait for DH to get home from work). :)

I'm hoping I can wash some fleece and dye some today too. The weather is perfect, and I have 41 days till Rhinebeck to get everything done that I want for my booth space. I will it filled to overflowing!

Here are some more pictures from vacation. Since I have no fiber stuff to show you, I'll show you some pretty pictures instead.


Vaca photos

More Coming!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: The Fixx "Saved By Zero"
Topic: A bit of everything
I have some pictures to post! I'll post more tomorrow when I upgrade my Tripod service.

My favorite sheep at the Historic Cold Spring Village

See all those buildings in the distance, that appear like they are out at sea? That is Atlantic City, located 20 miles north and east of Sea Isle. We can easily see them on clear days.

And here is a picture I took yesterday at the flag rededication at the Amherst Big Y grocery store. This flag is 19' x 24'. It's one big, beautiful sight to see!

Keeping Your Kids Safe
Mood:  sad

We never went down to KIX on Friday evening. Unfortunately, a small boy fell off of the dock down in Avalon and drowned. We saw the air search taking place from the beach, but didn't know what was going on until around 8 that night, when my SIL found out from her friend who was renting down closer to the inlet.

We all felt so bad about it happening, that it didn't feel right to go out and have fun. Instead we all just wanted to be with our kids that night, and thank God that they were safe.

I sent healing thoughts and prayers to his family, and still do. I hope that they can eventually find peace and continue through life, with happy memories of their little boy filling their hearts.

Greetings from the Jersey Shore!
Mood:  mischievious

Been wondering where I've been? Right here!. This is one of my favorite places in the world to be.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures to share (yet!), but will soon. I've taken dozens of pictures which will appear in a photo album for all to see.

To give you a brief recap of our adventures here:

We've had a lot to drink. Lazy Girl Margaritas from the lovely Claudia made their appearance on Monday evening while my brother Luke (an exceptional cook) made marinated tri-tip for dinner. The margaritas were so successful that my SIL Debbie, my brother Luke (not Greg, the brother married to Debbie), Dale and I went down to KIX, a bar 5 blocks from our house, conveniently within walking distance (and by the time we went down, none of us were in any condition to drive). Karaoke was on the sign, but hey, we were up for anything. I have to say that some of the singers were really good; especially one guy there (with beautiful grey hair) who was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife. He could sing! Unfortunately, alcohol makes people actually *think* they can sing and dance, so we did have to listen to some really awful renditions of popular dance tunes, but hey, we had fun anyway.

Tuesday night I cooked spaghetti with bolognaise sauce. I have to say that it was the best sauce I've ever made, a combination of a recipe from a North End (Boston) Italian cookbook, and a few things that I decided to add (like prosciutto ham). Yummm! Dinner was topped off by a trip to Springers down in Stone Harbor. They make their own ice cream, and I do say that it is some of the best (if not the best) ice cream I've ever had. This is just a partial list of what they have every night: flavors. The coconut ice cream is to die for!

Wednesday was spent at the Historic Cold Spring Village. I have lots of nice sheep photos to share soon from here.

Yesterday, we went up to Ocean City, to the amusement park. It is a lot of fun to take two little boys to something like this, especially when they get a chance to ride "the big rides". Their favorite and mine was the log flume.

Last night found us having marinated pork tenderloin for dinner (again, prepared by Luke) and then back to KIX to listen to the Chatterband.

Tonight, we'll be heading back to KIX (thank goodness my oldest brother Greg has been so kind in staying back at the house we've rented, to babysit all the kids). The Flamin' Caucasians are playing up at KIX, and they are my all time favorite (local) band to hear live.

We'll head home tomorrow. I hear the rabbits are all doing fine, as are the cats. I miss them all, but have really enjoyed my time here at the shore.

Twist's Haircut
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Blue Swede "Hooked On A Feeling"
Topic: Rabbits
I started shearing Twist on Sunday. This is as far as we got before he decided he was done. :) And sometimes there is no sense in fighting a rabbit who does NOT want to be on your lap. Besides, it was hot, so I wanted to give him a break. We'll finish the haircut up today, since it is much cooler.

Check out that crimp in his wool!

The clippers I use can get a lot closer than that, leaving a velvet-like coat, but this is what I prefer for right now, knowing that we'll start getting a few nights where it's in the 50's.

How is this for fur??
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Spinners "One of a Kind (Love Affair)"
Topic: Rabbits

I've had some people ask to see a picture of a German Angora in full coat. Since it has been so hot here, I'll post a picture of Samson's Twist, who has a 2 month coat on here. The rest of the rabbits here have much shorter coats.

Twist fathered a whole bunch of babies earlier this summer, which will be available for sale in October. With his body type and density, I have very high hopes for those babies!

He wasn't exactly thrilled with being on a slippery chair, so this was the best pose I could get out of him. But he's beautiful!

On another subject, I just love this song that is playing now. I relate it to music that I used to listen to as a kid while on vacation at my grandmothers, in Deptford (south Jersey), which is just outside of Philly.
It makes me happy just to hear it! :D And reminds me of many happy vacations as a child. Doesn't music have a powerful hold on so many of us?