what weather??

More. wet. weather.   All morning I slogged my way through another garden.  I can’t remember why I didn’t get the gardens cut back last fall.  Big mistake on my part.  Maybe I remembered how easy it was last spring to get them in order, but I had put them to bed properly the autumn before.  I’m paying for my carelessness.  The iris still wear last years rotting leaves.  Soft now, but still far to strong to tear away. Now, with the wet weather, too soggy to cut easily with shears.  The height of the lilies keeps me on my knees pulling last years’ maple leaves away with my hands, for fear of ripping this years’ new growth with the rake.  At least the weeds pull more easily in sodden soil.  Next, I’ll get to my large shade garden.  Now, my gloves are next to the wood stove, drying.

Missing the fun at the NH S&W, though I really AM sorry I missed out, hardly slowed me down.  Saturday I ordered my new to me Fricke 405 carder.  I’ve been checking out stash and figure I have more than 12 lbs to card.  I need a bigger carder.  I used to always send my stuff out.  But, unless I have loads of one kind, or plan to have many pounds blended,  it just makes sense to do it myself.  I lose far less.  Many times I’d be disappointed to find that I had lost 35% or better.  That’s a lot of fiber ( and lanolin.. and dirt).  Besides, carding and blending fibers is sort of fun.  Next time, I’ll go electric.  But for now, I have only 12 lbs. waiting… waiting.

The Trek-A-Long starts in two weeks.  Before then, I’ve decided to get my last Opal pair off the needles.  If the weather sticks with us, I’ll wear them this weekend.  Four more inches, including the toe.  Not bad.  And, I’d like to have the Adagio shawl off the needles too.  The Great Lace starts at the same time.  Summer knitting.  Summer fun.

Before all this fun started I had thought I’d spin some Shetland I have in two colors for a sweater.  I realized as I wandered through my projects that I have nearly enough of a lovely wool / mohair from Persimmon Tree spun to knit a sweater.  Now, for a pattern.  It has to be something simple, the yarn has many color variations in it.  I think it was named Autumn Beech.  Any suggestions?  It’s too fuzzy to take much of a pattern stitch.  It’ll probably knit best on a fairly large needle, maybe 6-9.  And for summer spinning.. I have many pounds of Lincoln roving in a beautiful medium grey.  Perfect for dyeing.  It’s a bit rough for my taste.  I’m thinking of following Sara Lamb’s promised tutorial on learning to weave.  No pressure, Sara.  It’ll be a LONG term project for me.  Summer is busy.  I’ll get started on the spinning.  During the summer.