I.made.yogurt (directions from Liz at PocketFarm.com) And it was such a smashing success that I will likely try to make cheese next.
Although I personally would like my yogurt to come out a bit thicker and creamier, the kids give it a thumbs up (mixed with a bit of strawberry jam or a sprinkle of sugar and some pure vanilla extract) I'll have to play with ingredients a bit and see if I can get something a tad thicker.
Here I was thinking that a full batch would be too much for us (or rather, fearful that it wouldn't turn out and no one would eat it) But here is jar 2 of 2, already dipped into.. it won't last past lunchtime.
Last night, while I waited out the period of time that the yogurt needed to sit and fester, I picked up my knitting basket. Originally I planned on casting on the Wing Of The Moth shawl. I had my pattern, my needles, and my chosen yarn all ready to go. But I kept messing up the first few rows. Seriously, how do you not once, not twice, but 5 times consecutively end up with either one less or one too many stitches by the 5th row? I figured it was a sign, and picked up my Flower Basket shawl instead. On the 10th repeat, and damn is it taking forever to finish a repeat now. I noticed how my ball of yarn is shrinking at this point. So I may only get 12 repeats done before I need to start the edging, and thats not a bad thing. It means I'm nearly done!
Yesterday, Richard walked in the door moments after I pulled my bread from the oven. I can't remember exactly what he said, but essentially it was something like "wow that smells awesome" And it did. I rate that aroma right up there with the smell of newborn babies and lanolin rich wool. I used King Arthur white whole wheat and unbleached all purpose flours (the only flour I'll bake with!) and also some local goldenrod honey that I picked up at the shearing festival a while back. Again, the recipe was from Two Sheep, and has already passed the taste test!
Last night once the kids were off to bed, I set about plying my finished bobbins. I still have a few "fat spots" but far fewer than previous attempts. And I continue to have issues getting the yarn onto my bobbin (you can tell, can't you?) In some places it goes on loosely for some reason, others not so much. Weird. Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that I get into the rhythm and forget to sit up and switch to the next hook. If only WooleeWinder would make a model for a Baynes wheel, I'd be golden! I only have a bit more to ply then its time to wind, wash and hang to dry. For what its worth, this is plying up somewhere between lace and fingering (I was shooting for lace weight)
Edited to add.. Its done! (Approximately 320 yards)
I haven't touched my knitting needles in days. It has to be some sort of record. However I am completely in the spinning zone.
This is the "Gryffindor" corriedale that I dyed back in May. After finishing the Tamarack and Spruce, and the green (pictures maybe tomorrow.. I forgot today) I have 8oz total that I originally dyed, so I split it into four sections and am spinning 2oz at a time (I'm on my second batch of 2oz), then I'll ply two bobbins worth together. Since I'm only 2 strips of wool away from finishing the second 2oz bobbin (the first is there on my wheel's attached lazy kate) I should be able to ply tonight.
It is certainly no longer anything like Gryffindor house colors, and more like sherbet. Like I said.. gotta love the way fiber changes color as its spun.
My Tamarack & Spruce from Susan's Spinning Bunny is complete. I finished up the final ounce last evening, and had it plied by midnight. I'm a little disappointed in my spinning skills, but it was my first time spinning anything with alpaca or silk in it. I think I'll go back to targhee or corrie to practice lace weight. My singles seem OK with the exception of the occasional "bump" (usually where I start another piece of wool) but I'd consider those minor compared to my first few attempts spinning. So I'm confident my problems are in the plying. Mental note: approach plying differently than from both ends of a center wound ball.
I'm always mesmerized by the way hand dyed roving changes color as you spin. In this particular color-way, the blues turned silvery, almost matte gunmetal gray with a bit of sheen from the silk. The burnt oranges turned almost to a cantaloupe. All in all it was this beautiful mixture of pastel and earthy. How can you not love that?
Also worth bringing up.. Diana mentioned the green corriedale I was spinning at Knitstock. Its been plied, washed and is now hanging outside to dry. Once its done, I'll braid it up and show the world. I do think its my best spinning thus far.
Something else I can't stop thinking about.. Homemade bread. Its August. I never start thinking about home baked bread until the leaves start changing. But here I was a few days ago, surfing around, and came across a lovely knitting blog, with homemade bread, Two Sheep. I may just have to subject the family to the heat of the oven and give into this craving.
I've been meaning to join the Saturday Sky blogring for a very long time. Many a Saturday has gone by where I've gazed up and meant to go to the computer and join.. but I'm bad like that. Call it short term memory loss if you will.
But here is my Saturday Sky, taken from my front steps looking straight up. Cloudy, overcast, damp humid, blech. The kind of day that makes your hair go boing!
Speaking of hair, I got mine cut this morning. Its a drastic change. DRASTIC. My hair has been one length, typically to my shoulders, for a very long time. I was sick of it. I will not post pictures today however, maybe tomorrow. As I said, its a boing sort of day as far as hair goes.
This is a horrid picture, but the natural lighting today sucks. Its the Tamarack & Spruce merino/alpaca/silk from yesterday. Once I got my wheel working right, I couldn't stop. I'm nearly done, with maybe another ounce or a hair less left to spin up (today) I'm hoping to ply and end up with a lace weight. This is some seriously slippery stuff, but I'm so enjoying the process. Its like buttah.
While at Knitstock (pictures here and here) I loaded up an empty bobbin and started my alpaca/merino/silk blend "Tamarack and Spruce" roving from Susan's Spinning Bunny, but look whats happening.
I can't figure it out. I don't realize its happening until I move to the next hook (I can't see my bobbin as I spin)
Here is my tension set up. I had it looped the opposite way at first, but I was having SERIOUS problems with it taking up fiber, especially as I plied, so I reversed it. Oh, and my wheel is making all sorts of nasty sounds as I spin. I've oiled it.. but the sound never goes away. At first only one bobbin made the annoying sound. Now all of them do. Frustraing!
Calling all spinners.. any ideas?
Update at 1:30PM.. I talked with Susan via email and I think we found the fix. I ended up removing 2 inches from my drive band (I use Susan's poly drive bands.. easy and quick modification) And the noise, I think, was being caused by a slightly loose screw. I'm not sure how my band could have stretched THAT much though. So even though I seem to have a fix, I'm still a little stumped as to how it happened.
Anyway.. THAT is customer service. A reply to my email almost immediately, with an offer to replace the little bit of merino/alpaca/silk roving that was junked because of the drive band (and so unnecessary!) Susan..if you read this.. THANK YOU!
And spinners..(NAYY, except for my wonderful experiences thus far) this alpaca/merino/silk is lucious. Much easier to spin than I anticipated, and Susan's colorways are lovely (I'm partial to the Roses For You colorway, and dying to try Clematis, one of her newbies) Check her out!