Winter Diet

 

 

 

Taking it Outside

Nice day to be outdoors.

 

11:45 am

 

T-shirt loops for the second mat.

 

 

How to make t-shirt yarn:

Take one loop,

 

stretch it,

 

then join the stretched loops -tada - t-shirt yarn.

 

Easy weaving and it is so relaxing.

 

2:08 pm

Easy Bird ID

Early this morning, on my way to let the goats out, I noticed an unfamiliar bird near the pen. I stopped to watch it and it flew up into a nearby tree. I took several pics of it hoping the photos would help me identify it later.

After taking several tree shots of the bird it flew down to the ground in front of me and allowed me to get even better pics of it as it posed for the camera: face front, turn right, turn left, turn around.

 

 

Loggerhead Shrike, such a cooperative bird.

Friday Read

 

Audible.com

 

Weaving a Mat

You can always tell when The Man is not home: Crafty stuff happens.

I started the t-shirt project yesterday and worked through the evening and into the night.

The weaving went fairly quickly even though each pick of weft yarn (aka t-shirt loop) was beat into place with a Tapestry Beater.

 

 

End of Warp, a few picks of edge border before going to bed.

 

 

Finished up today:

Edge border hemstitched, packed down, and knotted.

 

 

 

Size of mat off the loom ~ 14.5 x 23 inches (before wet-finishing). Not too floppy it stands up by itself.

 

 

I am very pleased with the results.

 

 

This afternoon I warped the 20" Schacht Flip again with a 72" length of warp. The first warp - a sample - was only 42" long.

 

 

 I am planning to make a second duplicate mat and have leftover warp to sample another idea.

 

 

Something New from Something Old

Started a new project today with old t-shirts.

 

 

I cut across the "body" of the t-shirt to create t-shirt loops, about one-inch wide. It was easier to use the scissors (brand new) vs the rotary cutter (old blade).

 

 

Seven of my old t-shirts.

 

 

 

 

Oh, Frosty

 

 

Pretty Good

We received 0.73 inches of rain yesterday. I know it doesn't seem like much but since it hasn't rained for a couple of months it felt really good.

This morning it looked pretty good too.

Sunday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Shelter In

We are expecting a little rain this weekend. It's been so long since we've received any, too long.

 

 

 

 First thing this morning I covered the chicken coop with feed bags.

 

 

 

Not too pretty, I know, but it helps to keep the rain and wind out of the coop. Anything to keep the Ladies happy.

 

 

Pump House WIP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluke Antonym

 fluke: an accidental advantage; stroke of good luck

Monday, late afternoon, a neighbor called The Man to let him know water was geysering out of the Pump House. The Man was able to talk Peter through the steps of turning off the Main water shut-off valve as well as turning off the pump inside the Pump House. The Man called me - from Ventura - to let me know.

Tuesday, early morning, a soggy Pump House.

 

 

Thursday, early this morning, The Man discovered a puddle of water in the garage and watched water seep out from the bottom of the hot water tank.

 

 

As the saying goes, "After all, tomorrow is another day".

We can hardly wait.

CA Cold

The mornings have been beautiful and chill.

 

Sunday 7:54a

 

Monday 7:29a

Tuesday 7:32a

Just Sitting

 

 

January Shipping

Saturday was shipping day for the charity items made by the Straw Bale Knitters.

Two 8 lb boxes were mailed to Leslye Borden of Handmade Especially for You.

 Fifty scarves and six hats donated for January 2025.