Wyoming Flowers Inspire The Dyepot

On the hike up at Happy Jack, were some spectacular blooming cacti and flowers. We tried to name them but, for accuracy's sake, I won't do that here because I am sure we are way off. I was surprised to know that cacti grew so abundantly in Wyoming. I guess they are an adaptable sort of plant that can grow in lots of places. You probably all know this but I had fun being delighted by such a revelation. My simple mind can be delighted fairly easily...in fact, the simpler pleasures I enjoy the most as I get older. This must be why the AARP keeps sending me membership applications, cause I'm getting so old and wise?LOLLL.

Okay, onto the flora pics. By the way, I might just have to show you the new roving colorways I was inspired to dye from these flower photos (next post, too many pics today). They will be offered for sale at our booth at the Kittitas Valley Farmers Market this Saturday, June 19th. I'd love to see your shining face there so if you make it, please stop by and say hello!  

Whew! Happy trails...I'm outta here!

Spring Road Trip - photo intensive

Happy Friday! I got the pictures of our road trip to Laramie, Wyoming off of my camera. Thought I'd share some gorgeous shots taken 2 weeks ago. Some are truly out the car window shots and others we actually stopped to shoot. When you drive 2,200 miles in 5 days (including the family visiting time), pretty soon, the hubby says "we've got to keep driving!" The drive to Wyoming from Washington (we take 2 different routes for variety to and fro) is truly a gorgeous one. The west is a fantastic landscape and although I am always saying I want to move to Ireland or some such craziness, I would not live anywhere else than the west. It's the wide open spaces for this girl!


And awayyyyyy we go....next post I'll show you some flora and fauna close ups!


Happy trails.

Fresh from the Studio - "Windbreaker" Scarf

I get plenty of inspiration to create from the sheep and the colors of the seasons on the farm. Also, the weather...not sure if it's inspiration or necessity-- is the mother of invention and here in Ellensburg the wind blows A LOT. Not much in the winter but every other season it does blow much of the time.  I don't like wearing a coat so instead I wear scarves and a vest. My arms are free thataway. A girl's gotta be able to move around freely, well this girl anyhow.


Now I see that every clothing catalog coming in the mail lately, yes, even the summer ones, have the models wearing scarves. Linen, viscose...those look pretty and all but they do not keep you warm. They are accessories, not necessities. 


Introducing....drum roll.......the "Windbreaker Scarf". Using wool and fabric in a sewing project makes me happy. Added in some different ric-rac trims and it's extra fun. Here are a couple of designs so far. 

These scarves remind me of a mullett (spelling) haircut....you know the saying about "business in the front; party in the back"? That's so corny really but makes me giggle nonetheless. Wellllll, these scarves are party on the outside and business on the inside although the wool felt is dyed to coordinate the fabric so they aren't too far from "party" either. Maybe I should have called them Mul.....nevermind. Way too weird.  

I will be listing some soon on the website and on Etsy and they will be for sale at the farmer's market in Ellensburg if we get accepted. I just put in an application. Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy trails until next time. 

Meet "Socks", the Border Leicester ram

This post is all about sheep today and dog puke. Prepare thyself accordingly.

I would like to introduce you to my Mother's Day gift to me..."Socks!" No, not a new pair of socks but they are looming in my future! Took a trip across the valley yesterday to Starshire Ranch and picked up this lovely little guy. He's about 2-1/2 months old. He has a twin brother who is equally as cute but had a teensy bit of black on his face and I have a thing about having my flock of all-white sheep, not for any silly prejudicial reason but for common sheep-sense reasons...can't sell meat lambs to Superior Packing with black fleeces. Marks on the face are okay but I like to avoid any possibility of black whenever possible due to that.

So, Socks came alone to the farm and as you know, sheep are not alone kind of critters. They must have companionship to eliminate stress and help them adjust. But, we have a pretty strict health policy around here of a 3-week quarantine time for new sheep on the farm away from our flock. So, we grabbed "Rosebud", a yearling ewe that because of being a bottle lamb is very tame and was easy to catch. Threw her in with Socks and she was not a happy critter! She thinks boys have cooties (I can't say I disagree some days) and his pestering did not help. He's already showing signs of his future job around here...surprised me! DH said...won't THAT be interesting to have fall lambs. Not! I am sure Socks is free of any sheep diseases and in 3 weeks will be put out with the ewes (along with Rosebud) and lambs until we wean in June and then he will go in with the ram lambs. The older rams are WAY too big and ornery for this cute baby. In fact, since being out on pasture they have ballooned into gargantuan rams. My goodness. 

In case you're wondering, I have broken down and bought some sheep coats and begun the process of coating our Coopworth and now BL sheep. Makes cleaning them up for processing a breeze and their value more as well. It's a pain in the brain as the coats have to be changed as their wool grows but hopefully it's going to be worth it. I HATE skirting fleeces! It's boring, back breaking and tedious and BORING. I have a very short attention span for this sort of work. I'd rather be dyeing, spinning, carding, anything but skirting.

Anyhoooo, Socks is going to be bred to all of our old Coopworth ewes this fall in hopes that we will get a nice bunch of BL/Coop replacement ewes next spring. Coops are a breed developed from BL/Romney breeds so this cross is going to be hard to tell from a purebred BL. With our scrapie certification status, it's difficult to find other pure Coopworth ewes to buy. It's nice being certified but it's a pain for bringing in new bloodlines. Hard to always rely on rams to do that for us. Also, BL have wool that is very very nice for sock yarn....can't wait for his first shearing next year and the babies to come!

And now folks, I promised you I would write about dog vomit and I will not let you down. I must go and clean up the dog barf that Daisy just deposited on 2 rugs and put the comforter in the dryer that she proceeded to urp on earlier! This happens always after the farrier visits...because she insists on over-indulging on hoof pieces. Life on the farm....and dogs in the house. On that happy and distasteful note....off I go!

Happy trails. 

Check out this cute "new" sewing machine

Okay, so I'm driving home from town yesterday...see a bright pink "sale" sign on a telephone pole pointing to a dead end road. Wouldn't you know, my truck took the turn automatically so I had no choice but to stop in? There was the usual household stuff. I asked if they had any old sewing machines for sale and the gentleman said, "like an old treadle or something like that?" I told him, "nope, something electric." He said he did have one that they hadn't used in a long time and he hadn't thought of selling it. Went back to a room and came out with this cutie pie, a Sewmor 606, a Singer clone from the 50's, made in Japan. All metal. She's a straight stitch only machine in great condition and the stitch quality is excellent. He made me a deal I couldn't refuse. Just set her up in the old Singer cabinet, a family heirloom/gift from my MIL, Pat. Fits perfectly. Might have to keep her? (meaning the machine...of course I'm keeping my MIL. Ha!) I have a thing for machines as you might know by now. I cleaned her all up, oiled all of the parts that you oil and she purrs like a little kitten. Don't you love the little cubby where the thread sits? There are a few paint chips on the bed but otherwise, perfect condition! And this color! The picture doesn't do it justice...more of a green than this turquoise in the picture. Two-toned green...I could drive an old pickup this color from the 50's...how come everything from then has the cute factor going for it?  : )

Well, that's my find for the month. I've been sewing a ton lately with the crummo wind cranked up like a banshee, staying inside more than usual. The lambs and ewes are out on pasture full-time and are out the window of my studio...an enjoyable sight for sure. I'll get a picture soon and you can see too!


Over and out for now. Happy trails.

Lambing 2010

When A Man Loves a Farmgirl....

He brings her flowers and she smiles. He takes her on a surprise destination anniversary trip every year and she's happy. He catches her horse for her when she wants to go for a ride and she's pleased. He is up in the night with her lambing and she's comforted. But he makes her swoon when....

after busting her shovel handle off transplanting overgrown bushes, he comes home and says "there's a surprise for you out in the garage." And there leaning against the wall so seductively is a handsome and steely new fiberglass handled gardening partner just for me! Oh be still my heart...he's a keeper...yes, the shovel, but the hubby first and foremost. He gets me like no one else.