Wool Rug

Wow!  Blog entries two days in a row.  Feeling homesteady, I guess.
Today I started an experiment with my loom.  I'm making a rug out of wool fiber. 

I card this and twist it into a long rollag.  Then I use it for the weft in the rug.

I know there has to be an easier way than the way I'm doing this.  I plan on washing it after it's done so the fibers can bind better.  I'll post a picture when it's finished.  (But only if it turns out.)

Today...

Today-I was going to tell you about all of the ugliness that the melting snow had revealed in my yard...

 I woke up to this...

It takes care of the ugly.
So, today-I finished doing my taxes!!!! And celebrated by downing a bag of Doritoes.

Today- I will practice my dulcimer-

Today- I started collecting eggs for the incubator.

Today-I'll grab a cup of coffee and a good movie and not feel guilty about it.

And that's it for today.   Hope your today is blessed.

January!!

I'm no longer complaining about how warm it is.  We finally have some real January weather.  It's been -30 two mornings in a row, now.  Finally weather we can brag about.  :)

Have you been over to Mama Pea's  blog?  She's been making some beautiful rugs.  I like making rugs though mine never look as nice, or lay as flat as hers.   I took a class on weaving last October and fell in love with the rigid heddle loom.  This loom is much easier to warp and set up than the standard table loom that I never used and finally gave away.
This is the one that I gave away-

I've been practicing on my new loom and thought I'd try a rug.

I am pleased with the finished project.

So is Houston, he thinks it's his new bed. The rug isn't as tight a weave as my great-grandma used to do on her rug loom, but I think it'll hold up alright.  I used t-shirts for the weft. I'm ready to start another one.  I'm loving this.

I also have a sweater to finish. I've lost my enthusiasm for making it, but I know it has to get done.  It's made out of alpaca that I sheared, dyed and spun.  I like the look, but I'd rather be making rugs, now.

January is a great time for these projects.  Christmas behind us and taxes ahead of us.  January is time for a break.

December????

Pumpkin Shortage

Reading Yahoo News this morning and they said there would be a shortage of canned pumpkin this fall.  They were urging everyone to pick their pumpkin up now if they wanted pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure what  is causing this shortage. (I didn't read that far.)  I'm thinking most people who are reading this don't buy canned pumpkin anyways.  Pumpkins from the garden always make the best tasting pie.
Below is this year's crop.

 A great spaghetti squash year.

These are the biggest pumpkins I've ever grown.  The big one in front is over 100#.  Not a prize winner, but what do you do with it?  Too big to eat???

 The sunflowers are all drooping and ready to be cut.

 The kale is getting kinda shabby.  The animals love it.

 The rutabagas are quite healthy this year, also.

 Some of the tobacco growing on the south side of the house.  Why do I grow tobacco???

And my newest present from my honey..a W-6.  I used to make hay with a W-4 that I had to crankstart.  Reliving my youth. (This one has electric start.)

This was just a show and tell post, I guess.  But if anyone has a pumpkin shortage, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.