I've had a few things on my mind and I haven't really had time to get back to this blog and write the way I've wanted. When I look back on this summer it feels like I have been really busy but then I feel like I haven't got much to show for it. I'm stuck in a bit of a rut with my homework books and I've been busily working on that all summer and recently in the last few days I have been busy getting the blog/newsletter ready for the PCSW. So really I haven't been sitting doing nothing and when I think back to that dyeing weekend retreat there in July.... well, lets just say that I made huge inroads into my level 4 homework.... but for all intents and purposes it really doesn't feel like I've been working or doing anything, probably because I haven't got anything to show for my work.... well, anything useable that is. Still the newsletter is out for another season. If you would like to view it you can go to Threads Along The Peace for a little look at what I have been doing for the last week.
I took on the newsletter as a volunteer position for the PCSW about a year ago and convinced everyone in the guild that we should modernize and stop sending out a paper newsletter (also sent as an attachment for those with a computer) and start sending out an online newsletter instead. It has been no small task to do that. Convincing people that our guild won't suffer because we publish online has not necessarily been easy. There is an issue with privacy.... so once again I don't put any personal information on the blog/newsletter about anyone who writes or is written about. Everyone can view it online and they can do so with anonymity. It can be viewed in colour and we can now see pictures... which I'm still not sure that people have figured out yet, since I hardly ever get pictures for the reports and articles that people send to me to be published. Anyway, I'm working on these ladies to get the newsletter to be something more than just a sheaf of papers that get sent out three times a year with a cheery report from each guild involved, to a newsletter that informs, and captures attention, and makes a difference in the lives of the spinners, weavers and dyers who read it. At first, the newsletter was closed to only members but at our last meeting in the spring, there was a vote to open it to the general public... it is now ok for me to talk about it here and give a link.... which I think is great because it can only further our influence and knowledge. I'm hoping it will be received well but that is not necessarily the case since some of the ladies in the guild are a little on the technical spaz side of things.... : ) but they're learning.
Meanwhile, while I was waiting for the reports to be completed and the articles to be sent in and then in between typing up the things that I received last week, I would spin. I am working on two questions at once for the level 3 homework. I am still working on the cotton summer question, though I have two spools of cotton spun and am now working on the third, and I have one spool of wool/cotton/silk blend for the baby sweater done. They are both coming along fine and the break from treadling there a week ago has helped my back... (yeah!) So now I work on the regular spinning wheel for a few hours, and then I give myself a break and read.... and then I work on the charkha for a few hours, and then give myself a break and blog/write for the newsletter for a while. It's working quite well except that it feels like I'm making no progress.... I guess I am though. I'm seeing slow and steady progress but no great leaps forward. It will probably all come at one time when I get a whole bunch of stuff finished all in one fell swoop!
Actually it is the wee small hours of the morning right now and it is raining. I know it seems like it is raining all the time here because I keep announcing the rain when it comes... still though everything around here is dreadfully dry. The rain, when it comes, is in very small amounts.... like 3 mm.... and doesn't last long and is usually followed by two days of dry southern wind which whisks away all the moisture and makes it so that it really wasn't any good at all..... the grass, which turned brown ages ago is now that grey/white of dead beyond all reckoning. The trees are turning full yellow, and now that we are getting cooler nights the leaves are starting to fall off the trees that survived the drought.... the trees that didn't survive the drought don't have leaves to turn. Daughter #1 takes her horse out for exercise and the dust kicks up from her walking feet in small little poofs. It would take two weeks of solid rain to make the water table come back up at all and even then we would have to have regular rain after that for a month to bring this place back to life.... mind you it is Aug 17th and I expect that everything will just die off for the season now.
Teapot has been culling the flock. We still have the lambs and we have Fanny, Nellie, and Xavier, which we will keep, with Krunch, Palmer, and Ipwitch next up on the chopping block... the lambs will go in the early fall. Winnie, Lulu, and Griegg are going to a friend's place to be cared for there.
Wow, the rain is really coming down right now and I think I see lightning every now and again!
I do have one bad thing to say.... Oozle the cat has gone missing and hasn't been seen for a week... we checked with the animal control guy, (who's not entirely trustworthy) and he has been away vacationing for a few weeks... his wife told us that there have been no cats brought in...the day Oozle went missing we found a dead rabbit by the hay stack.... hmm... We haven't entirely given up on finding him.... but chances are slim.... Daughter #1 is taking it well considering that it was her cat. Actually everyone is..... well, except me... which is weird since I have a real love/hate relationship with the cats. But for some dumb reason.... well, I miss the little guy. I hate that he might have been eaten or died a nasty death or is stuck somewhere starving in a slow death... it's just dreadful... I hate getting attached to cats!..... I did tell Daughter #1 though, that there would be no more cats because my allergies to them is, while not bad, has been a whole lot worse lately. So for now we will wait and wonder and hope that he returns.... (the stupid blighter.... I only just spent a fortune on him in the spring getting him neutered and getting his shots).
I just heard a clap of thunder off in the distance.... hmm... I think there is a storm on the way... I love night time electrical storms. I love to sit/lie in the dark and watch the lightning play on the walls around me.... and if I can be out in it.... well, even better.
So, while I've been sitting here writing this, time has been marching on... it is 1:45 a.m. and Teapot and the Daughters have been in bed for hours. All is quiet.... except for the in-the-distance thunder. It's actually quite pleasant sitting here working away....but I think it is time to climb the stairs, turn out the lights, crawl into my soft, warm, safe bed, and toss and turn for a few more hours before falling into an exhausted sleep just before dawn.... maybe waiting for the storm will put me to sleep.... usually if I want to stay awake for a reason that's when I fall asleep like a baby..... you know... Murphy's Law!
I'm all about Murphy's Law..... so yeah I'm off to snore or at least try..... good night.
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