Field Trip

These loves of mine, along with Kev and baby Griffin, 

 have lived nearby for nearly three wonderful years. They will be off to a new duty station this summer courtesy of the US Military.

So as time is running short, my Kate has been on a mission to do all things DC before the move. Lately we have been going off the beaten path and exploring some of the lesser well known gems in the Nations Capital.

This week's adventure took us to the Franciscan Monastery.

Fascinating architecture,

stunning gardens,

I would love to go back when all those roses are blooming!

and beautiful mosaics along the colonnades.

It was a wonderful afternoon and I was so touched at the boys interest and reverence during the outing. 

The grounds were a beautiful, quiet place for reflection. 

So happy for the  time well spent among all the busyness of my days.

***

Sharing with

Wool, Wool Everywhere Again

         The very first step after the shearer paid a visit to my little flock was to skirt the fleeces.

This involved laying the intact wool out on an openwork table and getting rid of all the super dirty, matted or dung filled locks. Picking out very obvious pieces of hay and straw. Or in general, getting rid of the useless for spinning stuff. 

This is but a small amount of the tossed wool

        All that discarded wool will become bird nest lining material that I will scatter about the farm.
                   I hope the many birds that call Lindenberry home will put it too good use.

What was left was remarkable clean fleeces that smelled wonderful and felt divine with all that lanolin soaking into my hands. 

I couldn't help but to play with the locks. 

So pretty.

L-R: Hassie, Mac, Carnie, and upside down Leo

Leo's is not likely to be used for yarn making this year due to it's length, but I will find something to do with his fleece to make all his growing efforts worthwhile.

Next came washing. 

THE SCARY PART. 

So far I have not felted anything (she says knocking on 284856384942 pieces of wood).

And the drying.

That is less than half of Mac

And then the flicking, which is pulling out locks and fluffing them up a bit with this handy dandy flicker, a brush like tool.

 There are many other ways to prepare the wool for spinning at this point, but I only have a flicker so that's what I do. (The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is fast approaching...perhaps I will come home with some carding or combing equipment. Hope with me.)

Now that I have a basket of fluff, it is time to spin some yarn.

So curious to see what the finished product is going to look like. 

 I love Carnie's variation of color.

Many thanks to Sara, for showing me the way. 

Happy Monday

Hassie and I both think its going to be a great week.

Hope yours is off to a great start as well.

Nanny Moo

A common occurrence. Fascinating to see the cows babysitting for one anather.

***
Sharing with Saturday's Critters

Wool, Wool, Everywhere

Handspun and off the long sitting bobbins,

Spun from a fleece brought back from the Winter Wool Workshop last year.

plied and on the homemade cheapo niddy noddy,

It is my best effort yet, but I will keep working to get a little more consistency in my yarn.

just completed and hanging out on the fence,

 

drying after a nice soak and ready for knitting,

 

and my first homegrown fleeces on the skirting table.

Hassie

More on that undertaking later.

Somewhere in all that I darned a few socks and swatched for a secret project.

I have just been in fiber heaven all day!

 

My First Shearing Day

The Day Before

 Kind Sweet Leo volunteered to go first.

Hassie was next.

"I am sorry Leo. It is what I brought you here for in the first place. Please don't look at me like that"..

 Ornery Mac was putty in our shearer's hands.

 

 And Big Guy Carnie, who has been a bit of a bully lately, finished it off.

Did you expect that brown sheep to have a silver fleece?

The New Look of my little flock. 

Good Fences...

...are a fun place for engagement photos.

My Tommy and his Chelsie will be married later in the year,

right here on our farm.

{all images courtesy Daffodils Photography}  

Sharing with