Cumbrian Floods

 As most of you will know Cumbria has been devastated by the worst floods ever . I have no pics but if you go here  you will see just what the damage is .The weather was bad when we were up there in the Summer but this just pales into insignificance now . Cockermouth and Keswick , two of my favourite places have been hit the worst . Cockermouth is especially close to my heart because of the Woolfest .

I hope that the waters receded quickly and the clean up can begin . I know the good folk of Cumbria will rise up and stoically carry on . If you would like to contribute to the flood funds you can donate here .

Please give generously to these lovely people .

I should have been going up to Cumbria today for Spinning Guild but I am heeding police advise and not travelling up there, as there is more rain to come and high winds . The thought of driving over Shap in the wind and rain doesn't bear thinking about.

As I am not going to Guild . Ambermoggie and Mr Mog are coming here for a Spin-in and a roast lunch . I will post pics later of our day :0)

Ta Dah !!!

It's all finished . Doesn't it look fab . I am thrilled to bits with it .

Wild flowers , roses . toadstools and snails .

Butterflies have been important in my life since I had a bad breakdown 25 years ago . Some one gave me a card with the inscription .

"True happiness is like a Butterfly

Chase after it and it will fly away .

Wait patiently

And it will land in your hand "

For years I wore a silver butterfly around my neck till it fell apart .

This butterfly is very special . Readers of this blog will know of my dog, Skipper , who is no longer with us . I got her in 1990 again I had ,had a bad breakdown and she pulled me out of it . Well she was named after the Grizzled Skipper butterfly and DH remembered and painted this little hommage to her .

I am going to take the wheel to Spinning Guild on Saturday . You never know DH might get some commisions :0)

The Transformation Progresses :0)

A few ladybirds and bees are added to the bars .

Close up of a bee . You can see how rich the wood looks after it's waxing .

The Artist at work .

Can't wait till it's finished . I'm hoping it will be ready for Saturday when I go up to Mungrisdale for Spinning Guild .

Dull November gets a little Brightener :0)

My dull November is getting a Brightener . My darling DH is personalising my Traddie spinning wheel .

I got a new sliding hook flyer this morning and a tin of Ashford wax polish . After DH had waxed the flyer he went on to clean and rewax my Ashford Traditional .

Then he got his paints out and whoah hoo . These are the pics so far .

A close up of the flowers .

Ain't they purdy .

And a Jacobs sheep on the mother of all base . The wood has been transformed with the waxing and looks absolutly fabulous . Ain't I a lucky spinner . It's certainly cheered me up :0)

I'll post pics of the transformation . Watch this space .

Bloody November

In the words of Billy Eckstine " I Apologise " first for bad language in the title and second not posting for a fortnight . As the title of this post suggests I don't like November . It's cold , wet ,miserable and worst of all dark . It seems to be a family trait , as when I visited my Cousin the Mechanic on Monday he to was feeling low and morose . But fear not dear readers I have been busy in my gloom .

I have been reducing the Patons Jet Mountain in my wool room . I've made these simple mitts .

In various colours for the stall .

I've also made matching cowls . All to warm and brighten the dull November days :0)

I've also been very busy at my wheel and it's been a joy .

This is the finest I have ever spun and I'm so pleased . 420yds 100grms of Corriedale fibre .

These will end up as nice warm socks I think .

I've been having a play at doing art yarns as well . Spinning thick creamy Merino fibre then plying it with rayon machine embroidery thread .

I did this one with glitter but the pic hasn't come out very well .

A nice selection of natural coloured spun fibres and coloured Merino /Silks

I'm afraid the pics aren't good quality , see November again no bloody pardon , no blinking light .

The Winter shows began last weekend . I was at the Manchester Yarn Day and it was brill . I only booked 10 days before as well . This Sunday we will be at The Dalmeney Hotel St Annes . Then a short break next weekend before we head into Grassington for the 15th year .

Now for an update on Bobby . I've not put anything on my Blog for a few weeks mostly because I've been to upset to write about it . He was moved a few weeks ago to another hospital for rehabilitation and not to put to fine a point on it they cocked up bigtime . I won't go into to much detail but suffice to say his progress has been put back at least a month . I'm really angry ,as the day before he was transferred I'd been to see him and he was looking more like the old Bobby instead of looking like my Dad did before he died .

Anyway I went to see him last Monday and thank the Gods he's starting to look better agin and we even manged to get a couple of chuckles out of him and a definate " NO " when I asked him if he liked Johnny Ray ( a 1950's singer )  Lets hope this continues .

BTW did you know that six weeks today it will all be over ( Christmas that is ) :0)