From Fleece to Fibre ( and a Woolfest visit )

A Zwartble fleece ready for a bath

Such stunning colours and gorgeous texture.

Sent from my lovely friend with invaluable help added in, thanks Dawn.

Bathed and drying in the sun

Hand carding, quite a task

Always better with a pretty basket to pop things in.

Spinning

And spun.

My very first fleece to fibre, still tons to use

Wondering what to make, socks maybe.

A Saturday visit to Woolfest in Cockermouth, Cumbria

Full of fleeces, yarns, wheels, heaven in a cattle shed.

No yarn bought but oh so many treats to spin.

Yarn Dying

Deliciously easy and quick

Soaking handspun merino for around half an hour

Into a dye bath of koolaid

Gently heat

Dry and admire

Butter in a Jar

Shake and shake and shake

And then shake some more

Double cream in a jar with a marble

Thinking its never going to work

Children off to play

Then thud

And slosh

Buttermilk and butter

Pour off the liquid, great for scone making

Rinse the butter

Have fun with the butter pats

Layer thickly on scones, add jam

Delicious 

Cordial Making

Summer in a bowl, the wonderful scent of elderflowers, steeping in a bath of sugar water, lemons and limes.

Then bottled, 3 days later.

Ready for hot days in the garden, topped with lemonade, fizzy water or champagne.

Bliss

From my Week

Radishes and Sugar Snaps, lunch

Monster double yolker

Fathers Day, hammock time

Special buttons on a handknit for a new little lady

In the air above Lincolnshire Show 

Tutti Frutti Spinning 

Far too proud of my first knit, using my very own handspun

Maths the Broad Bean Way

Longest

Shortest

Guess how many beans

Count the beans

Our kind of Maths, straight from the garden and edible to boot.

In the drink

In the sunshine with good friends

Paddling

Picnic bags 

Toy cars for dirt racing

Early morning ice creams and dreadful coffee

Soggy shorts and shoes

Smiles

Summer has begun