Todays Agenda Is......

     I love weekends!  I stand around the print shop all week doing nothing much in the way of physical labor and then the weekends come and I get to move mountains by hand!....LITERALLY!   Today's project is not too bad......I just need to bust up and remove a concrete slab, dig out a couple trees, move a bed of daffodils and some irises, take off all the weeds and sod from an area and double dig the entire spot to plant asparagus.  There has been 1 asparagus plant growing here since we moved in 20 years ago but since I planted it wrong and its choked with weeds and grass, we have yet to get anything off of it.  This time we are going to make a better job of it and prepare the bed the correct way so maybe in a year or so we can actually EAT some in the spring!

     I decided to post this NOW rather than wait till after I get back in because I have a sneaking hunch that I will be in no condition to post anything.  I'd say that by that time, it will be a soak in the tub, a couple aspirins, and a session with the heating pad!  Having said that, enjoy YOUR day!  Here we go...out the door I head!

It's Now Official!

     After waiting for nearly 2 months, the paperwork has finally been completed and all the necessary signatures and notarization's are in place and Robin from the bank has FINALLY been able to call and tell me to come and pick up the deed to the farm.  You would think that by now the giddiness of the situation would have taken hold but the continuing "drama" in our private life has taken much of the joy out of this milestone.  Now that we no longer have an "official" farm payment, the money that had been going for the mortgage is now going into paying the taxes & insurance directly rather than through the bank and the beginnings of rebuilding much of the house due to being unable to afford repairs AND a mortgage.  I'm not sure exactly where the repairs will begin but with all that needs done, it will be a coin toss and away we go!  With the family situation being what it is, putting a massive amount of effort into repairs and remodeling may be a good thing....something "new" to dwell on as we start a new chapter in our life.

     I can also report that the 2013 Pima cotton crop was started in origami pots this past Sunday and in only 3 DAYS, we are already seeing germination!  Now.....if the weather will EVER warm up enough to get the garden worked up, we may be able to get something planted.  In the normal scheme of things in Tennessee, we are able to start turning the garden (I do the whole thing by hand with a fork!) in January.  This year however we have managed to get a whopping 2 days in the garden so far.  Between the colder than normal temperatures and the unusually wet winter, gardening hasn't been an option. I for one am praying that the summer we are about to face is not as hot and dry as last years.......last years summer STUNK!

The Jokes On US!!!

     OK....I have to admit that I was having a little fun with the last posting just to see who was actually reading this blog and so far it appears that one person does.  When I posted that we were "expecting twins" I was actually expecting just 2 of these Russian spindles but low and behold, we ended up with THREE so the post should have read "triplets"!  These spindles were hand crafted for me by Joshua Lynch out of Texas from some flame birch lumber that I had been hoarding for 20 some years.  To say that Joshua did a superb job is a gross understatement!  In my emails with him, he said that this wood was some of the hardest stuff he's ever dealt with but we could not be more happy with what he sent back. So....without further ado let me introduce you to the newest members of our growing spinning family!  (Yes, we are rather like the Duggar family but with wheels and spindles!)

    The three Russian spindles pictured above are Theona, Hepzibah, & Finn.  Having just received them in the mail, I haven't had the time to take them to the shop and put them on the scale to know their weight. Most Russian spindles used to spin Gossamer lace weight need to weigh around 12-15 grams.  I'm pretty sure these will weigh more due to being made from flame birch which is a heavy wood.  The three will add to our growing number of fiber tools that now number (I think!) at 8 wheels and somewhere around 24 spindles.  I hope to one of these days take them ALL outside and make a "family" portrait with them but may need to use a wide angle lens!

Surprising News!

     I know this is going to come as a big surprise but we are expecting a new addition to the family and its going to be TWINS!!!!  I will share more on this next week so stay tuned!

Surprise Package!!!!

      A couple weeks ago I had placed an order for printing supplies at work from Mike Weist over at Printers & Duplicators Services out of Nashville.  Besides being a supplier of printing chemicals and equipment, he and his wife Melody also own Double Creek Farm in Lebanon Tennessee where they raise alpacas.  Susie & I have purchased fiber from them in the past and have really enjoyed the quality of their fiber and their knowledge of their animals fiber.  Imagine my surprise when Mike came in with my printing supply order and asked if I had a moment to go out to the truck with him only to be given TWO bags of alpaca fiber!!!!   One is black and the other is a really nice fawn color. I'm now chomping at the bit for some warmer weather so I can get them into the wash tubs on the porch and then out into the warm sun to dry!  We are not sure yet what this fiber will ultimately "become" but I know we are going to enjoy working with it regardless!

THANKS MIKE & MELODY!