tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:40:29 +0000Thoughts and observations from life around the riverrim....including spinning, weaving, knitting, gardening, chickens, rabbits and whatever wild life wanders by.....http://riverrim.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (cyndy)Blogger612125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-4440020168584215823Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:51:00 +00002009-12-24T11:01:39.038-05:00holiday ... or make a few of your own! Enjoy!http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/12/seasons-greetings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-5753438332032514815Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:24:00 +00002009-12-22T12:50:52.714-05:00alpacaI have completed the first project using the fiber from Allspice. Allspice is a huacaya alpaca who lives at Finca Alta Vista Farm. According to the Alpaca registry of colors, Allspice would be classified as beige. The individual locks of her fiber reveal exceptional crimp with good architecture and a staple length of 4 inches. This translates to a yarn with loft, memory and an overall silkyhttp://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/12/soliloquy-center-stage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-8091321201845567049Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:06:00 +00002009-12-20T16:11:42.261-05:00wildlifeCold weather, snow and wind blown days bring the wild ones in from the wood. Early in the morning hours, I count the hens. Most days I count 36 of them. Their feet point the way. Can you tell if they are coming or going? The whitetail come looking near the hen house and rabbit hutch for any dropped pieces of hay or corn. The porcupine sits up high in the Hemlock, and drops branches to http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/12/winter-moments.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-4366164859156990410Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:49:00 +00002009-12-10T19:57:52.579-05:00garden harvest Sweet Alyssum still blooms in the grow house Winter has suddenly arrived! Not without warning. We knew a storm was coming. There was enough time to get out to the garden and pull the last of the harvest. There was not much..but enough to make it worth the effort. Brussel Sprouts stored on the stems The soil was not frozen a few days ago when I pulled these carrots, but tonight the http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/12/last-haul.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-7209514631753800676Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +00002009-11-30T09:25:08.449-05:00wildlife These winter squash from the garden were on my windowsill when we left for a few days to attend a Thanksgiving celebration south of here. When we returned, the winter squash were gone! I suspect the whitetail took them all. The chickens and rabbits enjoy squash and pumpkins, but they wouldn't jump up to the windowsill to get to it. Besides, they are locked up. They will be locked up in the http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/11/another-kind-of-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-3236642113389850002Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:11:00 +00002009-11-25T07:13:39.702-05:00off topic gobble gobble! gobble!http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-8154196225159783928Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:30:00 +00002009-11-25T07:35:18.632-05:00spindle spinningGreat Wheel spinningspinning wheelsOn Saturday last, The Woodland Weavers and Spinners Guild had a meeting in Damascus. They invited Fred and Grace Hatton to speak about Antique Spinning Wheels...I was invited to do a demonstration on the Walking Wheel. The guild members brought some of their own antique wheels to display and inquire after repairs etc. They also brought covered dishes and cookies. There were two signed http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/11/woodland-wheels-and-wares.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-4565853665241068763Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:21:00 +00002009-11-16T18:35:07.427-05:00spindle spinningwildlifeI've not been walking lately. For what seems like a myriad of reasons..(all of which I will not subject you to, dear reader)...I have not spent very much time outdoors. Yesterday, I ventured out and saw the eagle. I almost didn't. I was on my way inside when he called to me. If he hadn't called, I would not have noticed. Have you ever heard an eagle call to you? He called twice before I http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/11/focus-and-distract.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-8591141330412719045Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:36:00 +00002009-11-08T19:53:35.490-05:00garden harvestchickensThe sky was SO blue today, you would not know that we are in the month of November to look at it. The sky had the clear deep blue color of a May memory. Today I spent the afternoon cleaning up fallen leaves. We have had our first frost, but we have not seen the last of the harvest. There will be a few more weeks to gather a late summer sowing of carrots... yummy Nantes and Danvers... these http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/11/which-comes-first.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-3140791390852086869Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:16:00 +00002009-10-28T20:23:53.554-04:00knitting This is Colonnade by designer Steven West. It was a quick knit! A take along companion for my hands on a 2 day car trip. The yarn is Brooks Farm Acero, the name of the colorway escapes me! It was purchased several years ago at Rhinebeck, found at the bottom of my stash. The fingering weight was not the thick yarn that the pattern called for, but the blend of wool, silk and viscose has a http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/10/of-columns-and-colonnades.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-6911043695264036004Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:10:00 +00002009-10-23T21:13:20.652-04:00flax Enjoy seeing how it was once done....http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/10/beauty-in-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-2914564578372158610Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:44:00 +00002009-10-21T11:48:22.363-04:00walk with me Wednesday As it turned out, a last minute decision found me walking around Rhinebeck, NY Sheep and Wool Festival. And what a very good place to walk. Vessels seemed to stand out and shout my name this year. I admired these vessels by Artist Heather Kerner, who graciously allowed me to photograph her work. Walking through the barns of Rhinebeck takes time...there are colors and textures - and so http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/10/walk-with-me-wed-on-sat-afternoon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-1378695364514045175Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +00002009-10-10T18:20:44.006-04:00chickensThe first morning back from the trip, the chickens were waiting at the fence to go out and range. On my way to open the gate, I heard a peep and thought, "humm...that sounds like a little peep". Sure enough. This little chicken was running around the yard! I was shocked! As far as I could tell there was never any hen that had been setting, and the last time we had a mature rooster here was http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/10/while-you-were-out-or-which-roo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-6230335560320614745Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:01:00 +00002009-10-08T10:46:11.168-04:00off topic I've been away. An impromptu trip. All along the way, the trees were in fine color, but I was awe-struck by the view of the city. Was it the elevation, the altitude, or simply the eminence of the vantage point? Made me think of learning to fly. Maybe it was something else. No matter, it is a good place to do some thinking.http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/10/wings-to-fly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-1490735704754364717Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:51:00 +00002009-10-08T10:52:02.538-04:00phenological eventsphenological events September 2009 3rd- harvesting green peppers 12th-harvesting winter squash and pumpkins 14th-maples turning color 20th-harvesting beets and kale 22nd-Black Bear sighting 24th-Hummers and Catbirds migratinghttp://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/phenological-events-september-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-1975578855444201739Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:37:00 +00002009-09-28T08:44:21.983-04:00spindle spinning Catching a few moments of sun, watching the colors flow by, thick and thin... the sunlight strengthens and fades as it plays through the leaves and dapples my world. The glow illuminates, and provides a kaleidoscopic view... the patterns excite my eyes. Endless combinations of color appear, as one runs into another. So simple a pleasure, spindling in the sun.http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/illuminate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-1693303920051264449Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:00 +00002009-09-25T09:38:33.879-04:00garden harvest At the end of the growing season, it is time to reflect upon what crop was outstanding. This summer was the "year of the pepper" at the riverrim. They have grown to perfection. It is time to pick. AGAIN. It does not take long to fill my basket (which btw used to hold blue claw crab or clams when we lived near the bay, but works just as well for peppers now that we live near the river). The http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/pick-and-pack-peck-of-perfect-peppers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-3182886172833172210Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:29:00 +00002009-09-22T20:56:40.032-04:00walk with me Wednesdaywildlife My walking stick sits by the front door..I have tied the bells to it so I make noise when I walk...so they can hear me coming. I think twice before going out for walks lately...and there are times when I decide not to go outside at all...I've been thinking about the bears. They have been behaving badly. There is one bear in particular. who has been hanging around at the dumpster near the end http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/bears-behaving-badly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-2570773166375904604Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:34:00 +00002009-09-15T10:42:49.951-04:00off topic My 7th blogiversary was this past weekend...(has it really been 7 years!) I was spending it at the Endless Mountains Fiberfestival. I had a great time. I had so much fun meeting and visiting with friends....old friends..new friends..some friends were online friends, that I have never met in real life before...you know...IRL. A url (Uniform Resource Locator, or previously Universal Resource http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/blogiversary-url-and-irl.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-7633980846634332248Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:03:00 +00002009-09-10T11:08:16.774-04:00observationsgarden Goldenrod...there are over 100 perennial species of this plant in North America..this one grows in my garden. I'm not sure which one it is... Goldenrod, of the genus Solidago....it often gets the blame for hay fever. The real culprit for hay fever is Rag Weed..a different plant entirely. Rag weed is wind pollinated. Goldenrod depends on the insects for pollination. If you want to meet some http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/indicator.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-7570880909169079960Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:58:00 +00002009-09-03T10:01:32.597-04:00walk with me Wednesdayobservationswildlife ...the fall migration commences...did you know they live seven years on average? ....diplopoda They are so large, I can see them walking across the road. I drive around them. They are beneficial to the environment. They are detritivores...and a good help in the compost pile. The word 'milli' is latin meaning thousand and 'pede' meaning foot. I don't think this one has a thousand feet...I http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/walk-with-me-wednesday-millipedes-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-6052969091991193469Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:51:00 +00002009-09-01T20:13:58.097-04:00spinningspinning wheelsflax The Fiber Festival at Fort Delaware was so busy, that I didn't have time to take any photographs. My good friend Judy was kind enough to email these photos that she took of me while I was demonstrating double-flyer flax spinning. Thanks, Judy! Looking at the photos gave me pause. The idea behind the double-flyer wheel-was obviously all about production...and it is by far, the most http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/09/quantity-vs-quality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-9196050901329351195Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:12:00 +00002009-09-03T10:14:24.615-04:00phenological events1st- rain 5th- harvesting summer squash 7th- harvesting green beans 8th- black berry bushes ripening 10th- elderberries ripen 11th- harvesting sweetcorn After this date, I just got overwhelmed and didn't have time to keep up with records. It has been a very rainy, buggy, humid month...the garden is bursting with life!http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/08/phenological-events-august-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-3037227889863339789Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:59:00 +00002009-08-24T10:08:45.870-04:00flax Since I'm planning to spin some flax in public next weekend, my fingers needed some reminders..a little practice was in order. Using some flax tow that came off the hackle (Tow is the shorter and or broken pieces that came out in the hackling from the line flax), I dressed the tow distaff that I picked up at the Mannings in June. I placed it on my Ashford Traditional Wheel. The flax from the http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/08/tow-from-line.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5789839.post-909454915970770433Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:47:00 +00002009-08-16T16:57:02.013-04:00wildlifebuttonsHow much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? The word woodchuck- according to several sources- was taken from the Algonquian/Narragansett tribe word "wuchak"... also called Land Beaver, Whistle Pig, or Punxsutawney Phil..a sciuridae marmot...otherwise known as a Ground Hog. And while this woodchuck was not chucking wood, I have been. There are buttons to be made http://riverrim.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-much.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (cyndy)8