A bit of this and that.......

The children have started using words like 'obsessed' because wherever we went, and we did get out a fair bit this weekend I kept exclaiming at various dyeplants that I saw on the roadside or in the fields. They say they never want to hear the word goldenrod again. I pointed out to Amber that she'd probably be doing all this stuff when she got into her 40's but she looked horrified, mumbled NEVER and scarpered. My only ally is Raj, who suggested the blackberry dyeing in the first place but he's getting a bit bored too. But not so his Mum I'm pleased to report. Having reserved all these books from the library last week I'm trying to branch out a bit:

Over the weekend I tried carrot tops, dahlias and comfrey:

Carrot tops on the left and funily enough the other two are dahlia (and so different). The comfrey was a dead loss and I'll probably try it again later in the summer. The nice thing this time was that I did the carrot top over a fire in the garden.

Tom had burned a lot of garden prunings (branches) the night before and the fire was still going in the morning so we stoked it up again and cooked lunch over it. Remind me to start a fire the night before if I want to cook outdoors again. It wasn't so hot that it scorched and burned everything as it usually does. We had a lovely lunch with gratin dauphinois that Amber made in the Aga and courgettes from the garden. Then as the fire was still going I put my dyepot on top - good old pioneer stuff.

So what else have we been up to. On Thursday we went to the American Museum and marvelled at the quilts and Shaker stuff on display and ate snickerdoodles. I think I spent Friday poring over my new books whilst Tom took the children swimming. Saturday was campfire cooking and stirring of about four pots that I had on the go - inside and out and can you beleive that Sunday was cold, damp and miserable and we spent most of the afternoon playing games like scrabble and moaning about the weather. Boy, do the English love to moan about the weather - a few weeks ago it was TOO hot and now it's TOO cold. I don't know how many people I've seen where the opening line is about the weather. On Sunday morning we went to pick up a spinning wheel that I bought on eBay which just happened to be about 10 miles away. Hello we said on arrival and it was followed by something like isn't it a horrible day etc etc....

Aside from the weather Amber is still knitting. Here's the progress so far:

and Raj has joined in too. He will be knitting in Class 1 in September but about six months ago he asked for some needles and had a go. I already had a book from when Amber was learning and we got him started on the knit stitch with this rhyme from the book " under the fence, catch the sheep, back we come, off we leap" isn't it lovely. He repeats this to himself over and over again. Here's a pic of the book and his knitting:

It does help when you have nice wool and some homemade knitting needles - they're just made from some dowel with fimo at the ends - oh and the needle gauge which Raj insists on having!

I fogot to mention my main bit of news. On Friday a lady I know from school came to drop off a couple of fleeces that I wanted. Well, I started to show her my dyed wool and blankets and ...she bought most of the little skeins, some dyed fleece and some blankets.  I didn't charge her much partly because I was on the spot and hadn't my wits about me and partly because she wanted them for the toddler group that she runs. Still I got a cheque for £28 so I didn't do too badly.

Well, computer time is over - the children are up. It's Tom's birthday and we are trying to squeeze in celebrations because he is working from home today. That means we might get lunch with him and possibly tea before we dash off to Giffords Circus........

Comments

[bethany]

Hope the circus is fun..
Love having a fire in the garden.. Maybe we will get a chance to next week..
Had someone dear to me mention how lovely your blog is, especially all the wool. She is coming over on Saturday.. wait until she gets to see to doll you made!

[Dannielle]

Great book finds!

I am amazed that there is an American Museum in England. That strikes me as so funny. I love it!

Now I'm wondering why there isn't a British Museum here. :)

Are snickerdoodles considered "American"? They're Isabelle's (my dd) favorite.

You're dyed wool is lovely! It would make great doll hair. I love the colors!

[suse]

Oh I love your little one's knitting. My boys all knit too (good Steiner children) and every time I post their knitting/weaving/felting efforts on my blog everybody is amazed. It's so nice to see other little boys' knitting!

[prairiemouse]

its me!
amber's knitting is coming along well and raj's knitting is just great. i has another rhyme for the children that went 'in through the front door, scarf around the neck, back through the same door, off jumps jack!
happy birthday tom!
simmy, write to me on flickr mail. i am going insane here, cold turkey and all that!!!!!
xxx

[prairiemouse]

its me!
amber's knitting is coming along well and raj's knitting is just great. i had another rhyme for the children that went 'in through the front door, scarf around the neck, back through the same door, off jumps jack!
happy birthday tom!
simmy, write to me on flickr mail. i am going insane here, cold turkey and all that!!!!!
xxx

[prairiemouse]

sorry, tried to edit that and it just repeated itself. you will have got excited that there are 3 new comments and its just me!