new technology

Today is a big day for the advancement of Solitude's technological scope. Today the Solitude blog began. You can find it here. Sue, Gretchen and I sat around for 3 hours pulling this thing together. I think it looks great. But this little fledgling is no longer in my hands. I'll help it along and guide it, but that is all I can do. When I get back, I will help Sue put together her own blog. Its all so exciting!! But I'm going home for a bit first, and I should really get my things together.

oh noes!

Today I'll start from the end of my day and work backwards. This evening we had to wrangle a sick lambiekin! After much deliberation and deduction, we decided to just keep an eye on poor little 23, also known as Blackjack. He didn't want to hang out with any of his buddies and he would just flop over. He looked pathetic. But his eyelids were pink as they should be, and he was relieving himself just fine. Before that we found some lovely ripe wine berries, something I was unaware of. They look like round raspberries, but are a little more tart than the sweet raspberries I've become used to from the patch. Tasty none-the-less. We stopped at 7-11 on our way home from the library and I forgot that my mini ice cream has a spoon in the lid. I waited til we got all the way home to eat it. But my Hershey bar was perfectly melty. At the library I found a great resource for my senior thesis. I like the book so much that I think I'm going to order it. Other than that it was hot, hot, hot!! The actual temperature today was 100, but with the humidity, it felt like 106. Ouch. I'm glad I spent the morning inside skeining. And now it's time for bed. Early to bed, early to rise!

seeing stars

Today was relaxed, as I said it should be, or at least most of it was. After sheep chores, Gretchen and I pulled out a slightly mangled sheep shelter and she and Joan are going to turn it into a pumpkin structure for the pumpkins to grow on. Afterward I went inside and skeined a whole batch of sock yarn. Tomorrow I intend to do the same and hopefully reskein some of the hand-paints. We also got almost all of Solitude's yarns up on Ravelry! Gretchen was so excited about that. I spent the latter part of the day knitting away and I've only got another 2 inches to go before the toe! After dinner and an intense game of "Bananagrams" (its like Scrabble against yourself, but way more fun) we went outside to see the moon. And out with the moon were the stars. Even with the moon being as bright as it is, there were still more stars than I've ever seen at home. It was beautiful. Gretchen says I should see it when the moon is new. Probably before I leave, I'll get to see the stars without the overshadow from the moon.

chilled out

After the first few weeks of my internship being busy everyday, it was kind of nice to take things at a slower pace yesterday. After sheep chores, cleaning the house, and a pleasant lunch, Sue came over and we counted skeins of yarn. It was nice to see all the colors laid out next to each other. Each type of yarn has a different color palate. Sometimes the colors overlap between types, and sometimes they're vastly different within the same type, but it's nice to see them anyway. We got though all the yarn in the truck, thus effectively unpacking the truck from Thursday's market adventure. Then Gretchen decided she was done. It was pretty hot out there. So, Sue went home and we came inside and watched a movie, and knitted. I finished the gusset on my sock, and Gretchen is almost done her scarf. Whip It, the roller derby movie, was fantastic.

Today and tomorrow should be pretty much the same idea. It's too hot to be outside, so we'll find things to do inside, like skeining, and re-skeining, and computer inventory things. There will be plenty to do, just not outside. Monday we should be ready to dye some more sock yarn and Sue will come over so we can finish the inventory. Tuesday Gretchen and I are going to DC to see the Textile Museum and then send me home for the week.

But now it's time for sheep chores.

breaking records

Oh.my.goodness.

I am surprised I am not a puddle of mush right now. Gretchen and I braved the heat, which was "record shattering" the newscaster said, and went to the White House market today. Was it worth it? I'm not going to lie. Nope. The sales were crap and the weather was atrocious. I drank 3 whole water bottles! I'm a camel; I never drink more than 2! 3!! And I started a 4th on the way home! And the sales were the worst they've been this summer. They were worse than the crap festival we went to a few weeks ago! And I didn't think much could be worse than that. The upside? I got the heel done of my sock and have started the gusset. Anyway, I'm going to keep this short tonight. I need a shower, and probably some rest.

fleece and fiction

Another day of "holy-crap-its-hot" heat, but this time there was no shopping to save us from the brutality. This morning we went out and washed out the second fleece. The first was yellows, oranges, reds, and speckles of green. We kept referring to it as the chicken fleece. This one is the fish fleece. This is some of it drying on the skirting table. We were trying to get it done as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid being out in the sun. We managed to get the whole fleece done in two hours, which is pretty good. We were back inside before 11am. I finished skeining all of the Icelandic yarn that is coming to market with us tomorrow and now all that's left is labeling it. Gretchen wanted to save that for later, just in case the thunderstorm in the afternoon forecast hit and knocked the power out. It never came. But it's fine because I happily spent the rest of the afternoon knitting away on the sample sock, of which I have started the heel. I've never finished so many projects in such a short time! I'll need to harness this for the coming year. I also finished Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, so wonderfully read to me by Stephen Fry. No, I haven't finished the series. Let's not talk about it, shall we? Just know that I am on my way. I have them all on audio book, and will get through them. Eventually. For now, I'll continue on my sock, and maybe make progress on Pride and Prejudice. I seem to be working on a classics tour alongside Harry's adventures.

shopping spree

Today was so brutally hot that Gretchen and I went shopping. Hey, its cool in the stores and its cool in the car. It was far better than being outside all day. I know, I know, I can hear you telling me its going to get worse, but at least now we have all the supplies we need to be able to stay inside... hopefully. At least for tomorrow, anyway. Right? No? No, tomorrow we need to wash out the fleece and clean out the pots before they get scary. And I don't want any scary pots. But we should be able to do that early before it gets too hot. Thursday we're going to be at our last farmer's market of the summer. Gretchen keeps telling me not to worry. We'll be in the shade early, she says, which is true. We'll bring frozen towels, she says. They work, I won't argue. The gelato people should be there. Now that's an enticement. That's something to look forward too. So I will suffer through the heat to enjoy gelato. mmmmm. Gelato.

I thought I'd take the time today to introduce you to another friend on the farm. This is Karen, the goat.
Isn't she cute?

cobbler and dragonflies

Today was an inside day. It was hot and humid outside, so we tried to stay in as much as possible. Gretchen got another 2 sock yarn colors dyed while I spent all day skeining. We're getting all this sock yarn ready for sock kits to be released in the fall. They're going to be a lot of fun!! Tomorrow we're going into town to run some errands and avoid the ludicrous heat. For now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my cobbler.

Oh! While I was picking raspberries this evening, I looked up and saw a black and yellow dragonfly with the coolest wings. They were clear with black veins, but closer to the body they were bottle green. I wish I had my camera, but I know it wouldn't be there when I got back. It was awesome.

this little piggy went to market

Today we want to our final Dupont Market for the summer. We have one more farmer's market while I'm here, and then another market in July. Otherwise we shall be creating beautiful yarns for the fall. We had a rather successful day today, despite the heat and humidity, which was awful. I thought I was going to melt, but I was saved by a short trip to a bookstore on the next street. Gretchen told me to check it out, and I told her that was a bad idea, but she urged me on. It's her fault! I bought two lovely books today. Two classic pieces of literature which I can hardly wait to devour. Like I have time to read! HA! Actually, I did get a substantial chunk of reading done this afternoon while working on the test sock I'm knitting. I got through 6 chapters of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Anyway, I was so excited after the market because we sold two, count 'em, two! of my yarns today! I know, it doesn't sound like much, but I feel like my babies are out making a difference in the world, and it makes me happy. That and the fact that I did not get burnt today! The old sun burn is finally starting to resolve itself. Thank heavens, because I am tired of being itchy! But I'm sure the mosquitoes will see to dissolving that small pleasure. They always find me. Its like they know. I should probably get some sleep. We're back to making yarn tomorrow!

lazy days and wild nights

Like such a thing exists on a farm. Today was pretty low key though, which was nice. After last night's wild party, I needed a break. Ok, it wasn't really a wild party, but it was fun. We went to an opening for one of Gretchen's friends. Her exhibit about racism and prejudice opened last night. I thought it was powerful, and tactfully put together, which is important to me. Afterward, we went out for dinner. We stopped at a sandwich and pizza place called "Lost Dog" and I really enjoyed my sandwich. But we didn't get to dinner until nine, and then we had to drive back to get the truck and then go home. We didn't get home until eleven. I was so tired, I went straight to bed. And for me, the night owl, who, during the semester, stays up all hours of the night, this is very strange behavior. I've been getting up early and going to bed at a reasonable hour, not because I know I have to, but because I'm honestly tired. It's going to be so strange settling back into my "normal" schedule again. But I still have time before that can happen. Tomorrow I have to get up particularly early. We are going to market tomorrow, and we're leaving somewhere around 6:30! And we still have to do chores in the morning! Guess who's going to be asleep in the car! But it'll be fun. I like market days. It may be hot, and the hours may be long, but I don't mind being in a retail situation. Dare I go so far as to even say I like it? I do! I do! I also like seeing what other people bring to market. But enough rambling*. I'm going to go knit something.

*Ok, I have to break off for just a tiny tangent here. I need to tell you how great Joan's cooking is. Today, for lunch, she made raspberry pancakes. Have you ever had raspberry pancakes? If not, you should try them. The raspberries melt just a little and are so good! And she showed me how to make the easiest berry cobbler on the face of the earth. Its perfect with ice cream on top. And everything she makes tastes wonderful! I won't torture you with details, but I won't lie to you either. I need to learn to cook like her. :) Ok, I'm done now.

prepare for...

pictorial overload.

First, as I promised, the yarns. Particularly, my yarns.
This is the solid sock yarn we're dyeing all hung out to dry. This, along with several other colors are going to get turned into sock kits for release in the fall.
And now for your dose of adorable. And the best sheepy picture.

Ok, it wasn't as much of an overload as I was expecting, but there's enough there.

day 2 down!

Today was substantially productive. We rinsed out the blue and gold yarns, both of my "special" yarns, and got the second wave of colors going. All of the solid colors are going to go in a kit for crazy socks. We've got a ton of colors we want to dye up, but we're running out of bunches of yarn! I'll post pictures tomorrow after their skeined up; I think they'll be prettier when they're all mixed together. Right now they're a little too stripy for me. But they're going to be beautiful. What am I talking about? They are beautiful! But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them!

i've been 'dyeing' to tell you...

Today was fairly productive, and definitely exhausting. Gretchen and I started "Dye Week" and it did not start off lightly. We dyed sock yarn solid blue and solid gold.

After we got the solid yarns going, we got another fleece going, but I was awful and didn't take any pictures of it. But then we started hand-painting, which is not only fun, but beautiful. This is Gretchen's, and her graceful coloring.

And this is mine. She gave me the freedom to design some of my own batches. I used a different yarn. Gretchen was using a Dorset sock yarn, but I'm using a Tunis and Romney blend. My yarn started out grey, while Gretchen's was white. Say hello to Fiery Maple.

I did another one, with purples, blues, and a little magenta/fuchsia, but you'll have to wait until its done to see that. Apparently, I had a hole in my glove, and this is what my poor hand looked like. All I could think of was my mom, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. "Pumpkin, you're turning... pumpkin!!"

Now, after the hand-paints are all tied up tight in their plastic, and we've taped the dickens out of them, the little jelly rolls get put in the steamer for 45 minutes.

Aww, don't they just look yummy? Warning: Do not eat. Not only is yarn bad for your digestion, but the dyes would probably make you really sick, if not kill you. On a less morbid note, the scarves are blocked, dried, and ready to be labeled. :)

And now I can enjoy a cup of Lavender Earl Grey Tea.

new responsibilities, or sheepies!!

Today I gained the responsibility of taking care of the sheep. It's pretty simple, so far. Go out, give the sheep clean water, give the big sheep hay, feed the lambs some grain, and make sure they have some minerals in their big, round, mineral-holder-thing. Similar task in the evening, with the possibility that the big sheep don't get any hay. They have grass, they won't go hungry. Don't worry. Maybe tomorrow I'll take my camera out with me and get some pictures of them in the pasture. I also finished the second scarf. We'll probably wash them tomorrow. I'll post pictures soon. For now, it's bed time.

day of rest

Actually, day of high productivity. I wove an entire scarf today in 6 hours. I made a very tasty berry cobbler with fresh raspberries, fresh blueberries, and fresh wild blackberries. I did the dishes for the first time almost all by myself. My sunburn has blistered across my back. And apparently I figured out one of the biggest mysteries of Ravelry for Gretchen. (Ravelry = Facebook for Yarn Crafters, only way cooler) And now I am too tired to think.

owies

Official review of the Festival we were at this weekend: Total bust!! There were more people today, and we did sell some things, but it was not enough to warrant return in following years. But I do have somethings to show you! This was me in our booth before we started tearing down.

And this is what happened to me while I was sitting in the shade.

Apparently, I missed a few spots. At least I know my sunblock works! I got all of whats still pale on my arms. Now the rest of me just hurts. Good thing I sleep on my stomach.

OH! I saw the prettiest thing today. There was an orange butterfly floating around this afternoon and it kept landing on the orange hat we had out. But I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to catch it. But it looked awesome!!

i've been in the elevator too long

Today Sue and I went to a new market for Solitude and, quite honestly, I was not impressed. Now, there are a few things going against us today, and I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer" but how do you have Port-a-pottys and not have a hand cleaning station?! I don't want to get too negative before the whole weekend is over, so I won't. Gretchen and I will be going back tomorrow, and then there will be a real review. In the mean time, the title. It was hot today, and Sue and I were trying not to fall asleep. Over our shoulders this guy was playing keyboard (and he wasn't that great either.) and of all things he was playing, he was playing what we like to call "elevator music". We almost fell asleep like 5 times. And now, I'm exhausted.

my first market

That's where I was today. It was a block away. I walked over after we had set up the tent and put out all the yarn. It was on my way back that this curious critter stopped me to ask for directions, or food. I couldn't tell. I don't speak squirrel.

After the market, we went to Sue's to see her baby turkeys. Aren't they cute?

And her chickens were all hanging out too.

But this isn't about cute chicks and squirrels. Its about the yarn, baby! So, here it is.

We're going to another market for the next few days. And I have to get up early tomorrow.

off day?

I guess you could call today my "day off". Not really, because I did a bunch today, but we didn't do any yarn-specific things. We did life-specific things. Gretchen and I went to the Tractor Supply Co to get me a pair of muck shoes for being messy outside. The shoes live at the door when I'm not outside. Then we went to Goodwill to find me a sweatshirt. I know, why a sweatshirt in the middle of summer? It was 60ish today! I was freezing! We also went food shopping for this weekend, picking up some snacks and drinks for the market this weekend. We will be at market for the next 4 days, and decided to get some trail mix type snacks. After we came home, we just chilled out. I was tired. So I sat in the library and knit for a while and watched one of my favorite movies on my laptop. Joan made a very tasty veggie pizza for dinner. And now, I'm all showered and relaxing in bed. I may even get around to sleeping, if the tree frogs let me. This is the loudest I've heard them. Usually I hear crickets the loudest. Here, they are just a soft background noise.

rain, rain...

Don't finish it, because it is very much not the case. We like the rain here. It just means that we have things to do today other than dye. But I can finish posting what I was babbling about yesterday. I was so tired, I didn't even know what I was talking about after the flowers. Everything else is true. Ok, flowers first. Sue is going to plant them in her garden. Now, the good stuff. After Sue and I returned with our fleeces, Gretchen and I finished washing out the fleeces we dyed yesterday. They are beautiful!! Here they are drying. I think we're going to split them into warms and cools instead of lights and darks. We're planning on blending this with the natural black merino we picked up yesterday and some natural black alpaca. I think I should be able to see the finished product before I leave.

Ooh! I learned how to skein yesterday. That was fun. It makes the bundles of yarn so we can dye them. Then later, it sets them up for packaging. This is Debbie, showing me how to skein. So now thats on my growing list of things to do on my downtime. But it is relaxing, so I can't really complain about it. I like it, now that I get it.

I should probably get on with my day. There's gotta be something that I should be doing. ;)

the begining

Today I left the farm for the first time since I arrived here. I spent the day with Sue. First we went to a guild meeting. They were working on baby blankets. Here's a few of the squares they were working on. After the meeting, we went to skirt. No, I wasn't buying skirts to wear to the next square dance. I was picking out the shorn fleeces for the yarns. This is where yarn really begins, with the sheep. We picked out a few grey fleeces, a few white fleeces, and some beautiful black fleeces.This one is considered black. The lighter patches are sun-bleached. It will all get blended together when it's ready, but I think it's pretty as is. We also picked up some pretty flowers today! There will be more pictures later, for now, its bedtime.

the reveal! ...sorta...

The contents of those huge pots are none other than fleeces! The great masses of color that you see before you are the beginnings of what should be a beautiful yarn!


I know, they look kind of scary right now, but fear not! These brightly colored messes of fluff will be rinsed out in the morning. They're cooling tonight and will eventually be blended with black merino, being that the contents of the pots are indeed merino, and will also be blended with naturally black alpaca.

I've also started some smaller scale projects, particularly translating an existing pattern for a new yarn. I'm using some beautiful colors. Those pictures will be up when there is something to take a picture of. As for now, I think it's bed time.

in the meantime

The Garden Stakes that I made yesterday
And George, the rescue kitty.

What's inside these pots? You'll have to wait and see!!

night falls

Its my first night on the farm and I've realized two things. Number 1, its dark. I don't think I've ever been in dark this dark naturally. Number two, its a very different kind of quiet out here. Neither of these things are bad, they are just very different than I am used to. But change is the whole reason I am here.

Today, I made stakes for the veggies in the garden out of blinds. I can't wait to see them in the garden. Pictures will be up when I get my camera and my computer in the same room. Already I'm spreading out. Tomorrow (I hope) we'll start dyeing.

the eve before

Drove all day, gunna sleep all night. Tomorrow, my adventure begins!!

distractions

So, apparently, I'm leaving tomorrow. I was expecting Sunday, but now there's a hotel, and my grandparents, and I've just learned to shut up and get in the car. Now I'm getting all my stuff together tonight, or at least trying to, but I keep getting distracted. By the book I finished this afternoon. By the cute little foxes I've been knitting. By the unanswered emails and facebook posts that I should be replying to. By the recipes I want to take with me. And by this blog post. What am I doing?!

damn dryer sheets

I tackled almost everything on my to-do list for today. The exception: getting dryer sheets. So I attack the stores with my grandmother tomorrow in attempts to appease my picky need for particular dryer sheets. I did find a new comforter for my bed though. In the meantime, I will continue to try and cram far to much in a space far too small.

still packing

Packing makes me anxious. I always feel like I'm forgetting something. Usually it's because I am. I like to break it down over the course of a few days; pack all my clothes on day 1, pack all my necessities on day 2, and use day 3 for all my gadgets. Day 4 is to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. Day 5, I travel and that's usually when I remember what I've forgotten. Luckily for me, day 5 is only to my grandparents' home, so at least if I forget anything, I'm close enough to go back and get it. This plan should ease my anxiety. And yet I'm still concerned I'll run out of something, or forget mouthwash or deodorant. It's not like I'm going to be in the middle of nowhere. There are supermarkets out there too. It's not camping. I don't need to bring the collapsible frying pan/canteen kit. (Don't worry, I took that out of the suitcase, along with the 4 bars of soap that I was convinced I needed too.) Maybe I need a nap. Or a frying pan to the face. I'll settle for a cup of tea.

the first of everything

This is a summer of big adventures. For myself, a whole new kind of environment and a whole new life style; For my friends, I know their summers are all taking off as well.

Today, I've started packing and already I can't find my bed. It's buried under everything I'm going to attempt to pack into a large duffel bag. Here goes!