Monday 14 December 2015
Sunday 13 December 2015
The not a nectarine, peach.
Our peach tree is doing great this year. The reason for the name is because it was given to us as a nectarine seedling but when it had fuzzy fruit we new we had a peach instead.
I am hoping we will get some nice fruit off of it this year. I took a lot of it off so it wouldn't stress the tree out too much and have left just a few near the main trunk.
We put a new ring around the tree this year and back filled it with some of the sand we had, from under the old tank. It's holding water really well, with no run off.
The companion plant under it at the moment are; Rue, chamomile, violets, strawberries, pyrethrum and a rouge California poppy.
I am hoping we will get some nice fruit off of it this year. I took a lot of it off so it wouldn't stress the tree out too much and have left just a few near the main trunk.
We put a new ring around the tree this year and back filled it with some of the sand we had, from under the old tank. It's holding water really well, with no run off.
The companion plant under it at the moment are; Rue, chamomile, violets, strawberries, pyrethrum and a rouge California poppy.
Saturday 12 December 2015
My Spinning Wheel Timeline.
In August this year I joined the Adelaide Hills Spinners and Weavers Guild. I think it's one of the best things I have ever done. I have not missed a meeting yet and just love the atmosphere and have met so many great and very knowledgeable people.
One of the added bonuses of joining this group has been reconnecting with Ron Doley, the man who made my spinning wheel. I joined the guild just in time to help celebrate his 95th birthday.
It got me thinking of the time line of my wheel. I calculated that I was probably around 13-14 years old, which brings my wheel to around 33-34 years old, which is not a bad innings at all.
Another reason for joining the guild was that on returning to spinning I started looking things up on the internet. (Not something I have had in the past when spinning.) There was just so much there that I did not know about. Washing fleece before you spun it. Dyed and mixed fibres. Chain plying. The list went on. When I first started spinning; you took a fleece, carded it to separate the fibre and remove any vegetation. Then you spun it, grease dirt and all, washed it and then you had wool for what ever you wanted.
Since I have gone back to spinning; I have washed fleece, spun coloured roving, spun alpaca, made myself wool combs, spun silk and learned about other fibres. I think chain plying is one of my new favorites skills out of all of that.
I am hoping to learn a great deal more in the new coming year.
Hand painted roving from Kathy's Fibres. Colourway Naruce
A work in chaos.
One of the added bonuses of joining this group has been reconnecting with Ron Doley, the man who made my spinning wheel. I joined the guild just in time to help celebrate his 95th birthday.
It got me thinking of the time line of my wheel. I calculated that I was probably around 13-14 years old, which brings my wheel to around 33-34 years old, which is not a bad innings at all.
Another reason for joining the guild was that on returning to spinning I started looking things up on the internet. (Not something I have had in the past when spinning.) There was just so much there that I did not know about. Washing fleece before you spun it. Dyed and mixed fibres. Chain plying. The list went on. When I first started spinning; you took a fleece, carded it to separate the fibre and remove any vegetation. Then you spun it, grease dirt and all, washed it and then you had wool for what ever you wanted.
Since I have gone back to spinning; I have washed fleece, spun coloured roving, spun alpaca, made myself wool combs, spun silk and learned about other fibres. I think chain plying is one of my new favorites skills out of all of that.
I am hoping to learn a great deal more in the new coming year.
Hand painted roving from Kathy's Fibres. Colourway Naruce
A work in chaos.
Saturday 5 December 2015
Spinning Again
Around March I pulled out some of my old hand spun wool and made a hat.
I also found a bobbin with some old spinning on it and tried my first ever chain plying. This wool had been in the shed for years and all it needed was a good wash.
It crocheted up really nicely into a hat, with some of my other old spun wool.
It dawned on my that I should really be spinning again. (I can be a little slow.)
The last time I had my spinning wheel out it was around 1996-1997. I gave up on spinning because I was working in a factory and the last thing you want to do is work with your hands when you get home.
So July this year I pulled the old girl out of the shed and gave her a sprucing up. Everything was still in great working order and all she needed was a good clean and oil and for some of the hooks to be replaced. She even still has the original leather belt.
It crocheted up really nicely into a hat, with some of my other old spun wool.
The Tank Saga
In June this year out old rainwater tank finally failed. After around 20 years it hadn't done too bad at all, but the bottom bladder had finally deteriorated to the point where it could not be repaired.
So it was out with the old tank.
So it was out with the old tank.
The iron didn't go to waste. It now has a new life as a sheep run somewhere.
And in with the new.
We lost about 3000 liters with the change over. The old tank held 33,000 and the new holds 30,000.
In addition to this we also got two smaller tanks. 5000 liters each.
Thankfully the large tank filled before the rain stopped this year and the two new ones are partially full, along with another spare that we have behind the shed. At least I have some water for the garden this year. We are already desperate for rain though. The water truck has been in our street at least five times already, topping up peoples water tanks and that started back in October.
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