Escaping Suburbia

I don’t like being forced into crap like that, dammit, I was busy. I’d have done it eventually.

I lost all my comments and don’t know how to get them back. Mr. Wolf thinks they’re out there somewhere on the server, but neither of us have the time to figure it out at the moment. To everyone who has commented here since I started this thing… thank you. Thanks for reading and coming back to read some more.

Maybe this is the time to start making some changes to this site. Wait… that sounds like work, so… maybe not!

In other news, I made myself this banner for my Etsy shop:

I drew the sheep. I think she’s cute, if a bit simple. I need to give her a name…

I’m going to be forced to upgrade WordPress because of these comment database errors, aren’t I?

Haven’t taken photos of the finished yarn yet. It’s pretty, but I didn’t get a lot of yardage out of it. I was trying to spin it thicker/softer, but… I don’t know.

The fiber came from Sakina Needles. Her colorways are so beautiful (and cleverly named). I can’t keep buying dyed fiber, though, sadly!

I spent part of yesterday in the kitchen, dyeing wool:

This is South African fine combed top wool. It’s really nice, just a step down from Merino.

Editing to add more that finished drying today:

I’m feeling confident enough about this second batch that I put it up on Etsy. Changed my mind!

Look what I found at the Habitat for Humanity store.

It’s got a mesh screen core that filters the light from the bulb, so it’s not just a spot of light inside the glass.

So clever. ♥

I will neither confirm or deny the rumors of a public happy dance…

Fourth of July morning, I was out picking strawberries at Davis Farm in Corvallis:

[click for full size]

There were still some to be had, just had to really search for them. I gathered about a pint and a half for seventy cents.

On to blueberries!

The most amazing, buttery-soft Merino in a sage green color, shot through with some blue and yellow and coppery-orange.

Remember that bee post I promised you and never delivered? I’m a loser. Anyway, I’m doing a little guest blogging over at the new Gazette-Times blog, Green City. And there you will find… a post about bees. From me. Yes, I poached my own material.

Okay, but I’m going to make it up to you right now by posting a few more photos of this swarm being collected outside the G-T offices earlier in the year. My husband took these photos and he didn’t get this guy’s name, but he’s a professor from OSU who just came on out and stuck his arm in and shook the branch to get the queen into the box. Awesome.

All photos can be clicked to see larger sizes:

Birdies and flowers and hearts and puffy clouds… maybe I’ll try a unicorn next. (Cuz I’m eight.)

But I like to pretend.