Tuesday, August 30, 2011

And now for something completely different...

For some time, I have been watching a pair of (get this) Black Vultures.  They've nested in an empty building on our property.  I like these craggy, crusty, old looking creatures.  When one considers the vulture, the mental picture usually isn't pleasing.  But over time, I have to come to see them in a different light. 

There was an old, dead tree near our property some years ago.  It was home to various creatures.  But Black Vultures would use this tree for what I like to call 'conventions'.  They would silently gather in large numbers and talk about their day, plan for the future, gossip...I assume!  I would sometimes go out to stand near this tree and see them-and even talk to them.  I always think of the vultures talking to each other in their best English accents in the movie Jungle Book... "What do you wanna do?"  "I dunno, what do you wanna do?" 

I've lived in a farm-like setting for all of my 22 1/2 years in the South. I've always been somewhat amazed at how quickly vultures can eliminate a...problem. (we shall say for lack of a more genteel word)  I began to realize that these completely hideous creatures were "God's clean up crew".  Everyone and everything has a purpose, and as unpleasant as it is to see these birds for who they are, I now appreciate them.

So, back to the little vulture family in my building.  The Black Vulture incubation period is 37 to 41 days. Young are capable of flight about 75 to 80 days after hatching. So, I've been waiting for quite some time to see their little darling!  When I first spotted their little hatchling, it's body was absolutely covered with light brown fuzz.  Every time I passed this building on the way to or from our house, I was lacking my camera and never got a shot of him.  Finally one day, I had my camera and "Buzz" was sitting on a window sil. 

"Buzz"  
You can only see traces of Buzz's baby fuzz.  I wish I had been able to get a photo of Buzz when he still had it.  It was definitely cute.  I'm also glad I didn't shoo the parents out of this building.  I was told how unpleasant they would be...  But so far, all I'm seeing is the joy it's given me to see this bird grow and change and watch his parents care for him.  I haven't' seen Buzz in several days now.  So I assume he has finally learned to fly and has gone on to better activities-other than cautiously observing me in my car as I pause to talk to him. 

So the next time you see vultures congregating in trees or soaring on updrafts, you might think of them a little differently.  You could be watching Baby Buzz.  :)

Monday, August 29, 2011

If necessity is the mother of invention...

I can say I'm giving it a pretty good work out!  I decided to weave a "wrap " (I dislike that word...too old for me) for a late September wedding.  Since I have a project on my floor loom, my mind began to wander-thinking of how else I could facilitate my desire with my loom already in use.  I thought of using a large picture frame-into  which I would have to hammer nails.  Not good.  I could cut some wood and make the frame myself-too much work!  Other ideas came to mind and left as swiftly as my children are able to devour a bag of sun dried tomato and basil potato chips I purchased over the weekend....

Finally, after walking past my floor loom, I spied my 2 raddles!  This is what I came up with...

My new, no cost to me loom!

This is a 4 X 6 sheet of particle board-to which I have screwed my 2 raddles!  I strung my warp directly on the nails of the raddle and started weaving.  I'm using my own handspun and/or hand dyed single strand yarns.  The list of yarns-A deep purple mohair single, dyed some time ago with Log wood, multicolored bamboo single, a natural colored taupe Alpaca single and from my friend Annie the Romney, a lilac single strand.  I love all these yarns together.  When I put all the skeins next to each other, it instantly felt harmonious.  So, without further ado, I  started weaving.  There's only one problem.  I don't like!  This project was in as simple as can be my head.  Just a loose, plain weave with beautiful, harmonious, luxurious fibers.  But when I look at what is already woven, I fall completely
out of love.

Partially woven wrap I don't like!


So now, the whole contraption is sitting on my living room floor.  It's waiting for me to make some momentous decision, some small change (that does not involve ripping it out and reweaving it!), that will make me fall in love with it all over again... I am wishing myself luck...!


Here is the dress that goes with the 'wrap'.  Maybe now it will make more sense.



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Dreamy Blue Softness.

I recently had occasion to spin some beautiful blue fiber comprised of Merino wool and Bamboo.  It was so lovely to spin. I wanted a fairly fine yarn so that when plied, would be something close to dk weight.  

After the yarn was spun, set and dry, I began to knit a lovely hat with a scalloped lace edge and a beautiful star closure at the crown. :)  I spun and knitted this hat for my cousin.  She is going through a rough time as she is receiving chemotherapy.  Her mood is wonderful.  I only see what she posts on Facebook-I'm 500 miles away.  But I haven't 'heard' her complain once.  I have witnessed other people I know go through the process of chemotherapy and it is debilitating.  She has every reason to be crabby and complaining.  God bless her, she is cheerful and positive. 

I hope to be like her when I grow up.  



This is the lovely hat I made for her.  I hope she likes it.




Hopefully. she won't catch my blog and see this.  But if she does, *Surprise*! :)







Heartfelt Haiku - "Serenity"

I'm longing for blue Waves and tides and beach campfires The October cape.