A Fiber Play Date

     Today I had a blast!   And the great thing was I had a total blast here...at home... and it didn't involve shoveling poop, collecting eggs, or grooming a horse.  It did involve food, though, and you know how I like to eat.  You see, my friend, Angel, came over.  She's a fabulous crocheter and knitter.  That's cro-shay-er, by the way, not crotch-et-er.  I know someone that says they crotch-et.  I think it sounds like they have something amiss in their pants.  
     Anyway, Angel seems to get the knack of fiber arts stuff pretty easy and just flies with it.  She's shown me how to crochet a bit, and knit with two different strands of color, and she's only been knitting for around 6 months.  Lately she's started spinning fiber.  She has herself a spindle and has had the opportunity to use another ladies spinning wheel.  She seems to really enjoy the process of hunk of lose fiber to yarn.
     When I saw Angel last Tuesday at knitting class petting the yarn I had spun and was knitting with, I told her she should come over and get into some of the fiber I have around here.  There's no shortage of fiber colors, breeds, and textures.  She said she'd come over and help me card some fiber for me to spin.  Well, I had other plans.
     It's not often I get someone over here, let alone someone that shares some of the same interests (that doesn't involve various kinds of farm animal poop, lambing, or parasite control).  There's no way we were going to work on stuff for me.  We were going to work on stuff for her.  It was a fiber play date ~ woohoo!!

     Of course, when Angel got here, we took a bit of a tour around the farm so she could see the animals.  Z was very accommodating and let Angel scratch her under the chin.  Then Rain decided it was her time for some attention and was thoroughly spoiled.  At one point Angel was standing between Tucker and Rain, scratching them both.  The rams must have been impressed with seeing Angel the stranger, because they showed off, doing some play head butting and jumping around.  Showoffs!

     Then we went in...and I took her into...the cellar.  I've pretty much given up on hiding my fiber stash down there from Hon.  It's just not feasible anymore.  He's been down there fixing the water system, so the jig was kind of up anyway.  That was okay, though, because I could haul stuff out without feeling like I was being sneaky.  We took bags of stuff upstairs and I showed Angel how to use the hand combs, blending hackle, and the drum carder.  I also showed her the hand cards, but neither of us are that impressed with them.  They're there if I want to use them.  She carded, combed, and created a great looking batt with  Icelandic and Leicester Longwool fibers from our sheep.  I also sent her home with a variety of fibers to fool with and she left me with some nice Angora and (I think it was) silk rovings to play with.

     Oh, and I have to mention the food before I sign off here.  Can't forget that now, can I.  I made some potato soup and bread.  She topped it off by bringing a variety of tea (I am a tea enjoyer), scones with vanilla sauce, and a three cheese bread.  She also made my day even further by bringing a bottle of wine and chocolates...and an incredible Bar-b-cue sauce you can only get in South Carolina - she's a southern girl, by the way.  I'm enjoying a scone as I type, and I can attest that they are deeeeelicious!  I'm tremendously full.

     So, there you have it folks.  I was like a kid in a candy store today (especially since there was chocolate).  I had a great time having someone over to talk fiber and whatever else came to mind.  It's always nice to pass along what I've learned and share in something I thoroughly enjoy ~ the fiber arts.  See you next time!  That chocolate's calling...  Smiling & Waving, Sharon 

     

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