Wool, Wool Everywhere

Practicing, practicing spinning with some years-old roving,

so I will be rightly prepared when this beautiful fleece I brought back with me from Kentucky

is ready for the wheel.

Help from a friend and my mother last week. They both enjoyed playing with Freckles the Fleece

Getting a longtime WIP off the needles.

In between washing that fleece for the next step,

I wound up some cashmere I splurged on

The view out my crafty room is always nice no matter what the weather. 

and started a very special project.

It's cold and rainy here in the Shenandoah Valley on this first day of spring.

I really don't seem to mind.

Soon the outside gardens and barn will need much attention, and the wheel and needles will be still.

One last day by the fire surrounded by wool is quite nice.

~Joan

From all that friendship, fiber and sheep goodness at Equinox Farm in Kentucky, we hit the trail.

The Bourbon Trail.

The architecture and storied history of the four distilleries we visited intrigued me.

The up close tours of the systems and distillery methods were fascinating.

All that copper...

Now, that's a still.

...well, just so pretty on so many levels.

Of course, there was a bit of sampling.

Just a bit.

Shepherdess in Training

I have been here, doing this,

and working undercover in the barn to learn all I could.

They loved me....it had nothing at all to do with box of cookies I was holding. Really. Maybe.

With many thanks to thecrazysheeplady, 

Who turns out to not be crazy at all, but warm and kind and fun and oh so wonderful a mentor and friend.

Sara squeezed her vast knowledge into my brain as fast as she could,

 and gave me the courage and will to say Yes to the Sheep.

Sheep are coming to Lindenberry.

Soon. 

Thank you Sara. 

Thank you.