Yes I've Been Dyeing Colors Colors!

So I got up into the rafters, pulled out some Salish,Alpaca,Llama,CVM and Merino and I started dyeing. I have all kinds of colors! Here's what I did yesterday. You can also see my old man, that can hardly get up and down with out help, found a way to get to his favorite spot! He is so sweet. I have to help him with a towel to get in and out of the house, and sometimes just to move from bed to bed, but somehow he managed to get here from the bedroom! That's not unusual for Great Danes when they get old. Most die around 7 or so. Pete and Penny will be 11 in February! As they age they seem to loose track of the hind end. They don't know where it is or what it's doing :( They aren't in pain at all, it just does what it wants. So when he tries to get up, sometimes his legs get under him and work and sometimes he tries so hard and then looks at me and waits. It is very time consuming, but we love him and he has been such a good friend, he will be taken care of until he leaves this world on his own, or gets so uncomfortable he wants too. His sister is much more agile, and she has had both her hind knees replaced! We thought she would end up with arthritis so bad she would be in pain as she got older, but she is doing so well. Some people really think we are crazy as our lives really revolve around these guys now that they are old, but I don't want someone putting me down just cause I am a little extra work! Our little rescue Jack, he's 155lbs now :), is doing very well, he has fit right in and actually has perked up the old guys. We were worried they would have a problem with him, but they tolerate him quite well :)) He was only 95 when we got him, he had been in the pound for 3 months, had an infection and was so sick. My vet called and asked if we would take him as he wouldn't last another night. So what could we say? She took him home, treated him till he was on his feet and home he came! He hid in the bedroom for 2 weeks! Ducked every time we would reach out to pet him, as felt so scratchy :( Now he bounces and leaps, plays tug a war, and tries to curl up on your lap in the evening to watch TV! He is so sweet! If you can't tell, we love our dogs :))

So here is some fleece I combed, thought I would take a pics as it shows how different fleece and lengths comb up together. I think it turned out nice and fluffy!

So now I need to get busy and get all the wool I dyed today dry!

I've Kept Up This Week!!

This is my second post this week! Actually it's because I have worn my self out and I figure if I am doing something on the computer, I'm doing something constructive. So I finish spinning my lavender Shetland,Angora, it's been so long I don't remember what else!

Here is the 3 ply Alpaca,Salish and Merino I plied for the SIL a scarf, it actually felt alittle scratchy so I thru it in the dryer,dry of course, and fluffed it up some. Made it bloom alittle and soften it right up:)

Yesterday I had blended some Oatmeal Merino I had gotten from Jean Near a couple of years ago with some light brown Alpaca. I didn't think I had anymore washed so I dug thru my stuffs and came across the CVM I had gotten form The White Barn Farm and couldn't help washing just a little so I could see how it looked. Come to find out, I had already washed the Merino so it was ready to go. Here is a picture of the CVM. This is amazing fleece, not cheap, but worth every penny as there is hardly any waste and it is so easy to wash for a fine wool. This year I got a cream and a varigated brown. Last year I got a varigated grey and a cream. Next year I will have to mortgage my house to pay for what I have reserved!

This is the Merino and light brown Alpaca. Isn't it yummy? It is sooo soft, I'm just not quite sure what to use it for yet. I guess I will wait till I spin it and then it will talk to me, hopefully it will whisper MY name.

I also blended some silver Salish and grey Alpaca. Very soft, will have a little more hand than the Merino blend, so I am thinking something with texture. I just love the Salish, it is so soft and

fine, yet a long fiber with strength. I haven't made and socks from it but I expect it will wear well.

Anyone tried Suri?? Here is some I combed. It is as soft as silk. Amazing, I already decided if I get a Alpaca, it will be a Suri. I am going to use this for a woven blanket, I can only imagine the drape and softness it will have.

So while I have been so busy, here is what the rest of my family is doing all day :)))

So I got 2 more things ready for my Etsy store, I separated some of the grey Alpaca locks. I have 8 oz. Absolutely no veggie matter and no dust. I have run all the Alpaca thru my dryer and it is very clean and very soft. It has little black tips, no gaurd hair.

Then I mixed some Salish and black Alpaca on the blending hackle. It really turned out soft and pretty. I need to spin some up for a sample skein.

So now I have kept up on my blog. What everyone going to do over the 3 day week end? We are still dismantling our shed. Hopefully by Sunday we will start putting it together again! We are going to have great weather,in the 70's and low 80's. Low humidity. Boy is that nice this time of year. Another month and yuck, won't want to go outside. It's like walking into a sauna only you have to wear clothes!!

Have a nice week end everyone, and leave a comment while you are here!!!