tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26791043125770833872024-03-23T18:48:26.104+00:00Spin Me A YarnA blog where I post about my life in Ireland, particularly focusing on my love of Spinning wool, on spindles and on spinning wheels. SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-31428768559476823562022-01-04T18:52:00.003+00:002023-10-05T21:17:46.963+01:00 Irish Suppliers of Wool, Fibre and Spinning related items<p><br /></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Here is a post with details of some Irish
Suppliers of Wool, Fibre and Spinning related items.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sandra K has the wonderful Irish Fibre Crafters in Ardrahan,
between Gort and Galway and only a hop, skip and a jump from the motorway
linking Galway to Limerick and not far from the motorway that goes from Galway to Sligo and to Dublin.
https://www.irishfibrecrafters.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/irishfibrecrafters</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sandra organises courses in felting, weaving, natural dyeing and
spinning and she sells fibre and handspun yarn, as well as Beko looms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jennifer Lienhard in Tuamgraney, Co Clare sells fabric and
craft supplies, fibre and yarns and dye materials and mordants for plant dyeing
in her shop called AppleOak FibreWorks: https://appleoakfibreworks.com/pages/about-us<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Trish K has just recently become a seller of Louet
spinning wheels and parts. More info to follow, in the meantime you can find
Trisha on FB, Irish Alpaca Yarns.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://www.facebook.com/IrishAlpacaYarns<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Annie at Killala Woolcraft near Killala Co Mayo (https://www.facebook.com/Killala-Woolcraft-113556443440901/, if you have FB) spins, knits, weaves, teaches, holds spinning meetings and sells her handmade items. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> A little further afield, but possibly of interest to people looking for rare breed fleece: T</o:p>he Wool Initiative in Northern Ireland sells rare breed fleeces online, http://www.woolinitiative.com/ </p><p class="MsoNormal">Do be aware that there may be potential extra
customs/import costs as The Wool Initiative is based in Northern Ireland, so check that out before you order. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember to join the Irish Guild of Weavers
Spinners and Dyers, www.weavespindye.ie or even just have a look at our website and FB page https://www.facebook.com/weavespindyeIE. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We currently hold a monthly Zoom Guild Meet-up. It is usually around the 3rd Saturday of the month. Keep an eye on our Ravelry group and our FB
group for details. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are some Irish sellers of Fibre for spinning:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AppleoakFibreWorks">https://www.etsy.com/shop/AppleoakFibreWorks</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/BabblesYarns">https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/BabblesYarns</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/EveChambersTextiles">https://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/EveChambersTextiles</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarkreeWoolCraft">https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarkreeWoolCraft</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyButterflyGreen">https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyButterflyGreen</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WildAtlanticYarns">https://www.etsy.com/shop/WildAtlanticYarns</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there is Kerry Woollen Mills in Beaufort Co Kerry; they
sell carded wool for spinning:
https://www.kerrywoollenmills.ie/product-category/knitting-and-felting-wools-bespoke-dyed-and-spun-in-kerry-ireland/carded-wool-from-irish-wool/</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> And finally, some interesting Facebook groups include: </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Irish Wool Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2173105972761840/, where all categories of interested people (farmers, spinners, small scale processors, etc) chat about Irish Wool and its future;</p><p class="MsoNormal">Irish Wool for sale direct from
Farmers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/211945146927779</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>European Wool Association on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/922295355332746/</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SpinMeAYarnIreland, where I share interesting tidbits about wool, textiles, textile history, Viking Era crafts and archaeology. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p></div>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-22147676358852762542021-10-16T09:40:00.000+01:002021-10-16T09:40:09.155+01:00Buying a Secondhand Spinning wheel<p> <span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px;">Checklist when buying a second hand wheel:</span></p><ol style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 1em 2em 2em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Ask a spinner to look at it for you, either in photos or in person, if possible.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Are there woodworm holes, or frasse? (That’s a no-no for me, I live in a wooden house!)</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Make sure the wheel is what the seller says it is (not just an SWSO, a spinning-wheel-shaped-object that he/she is calling a working spinning wheel). If the seller claims that the wheel is X brand, look at photos online on X brand wheels to ensure the wheel is what the seller claims it to be.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Ask for photos/view the wheel from the side, to ensure sure the wheel is not warped and ask if it spins freely without a wobble; a small amount of wobble is not fatal, but too much and it will just throw the band all the time.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Check that the axle of the drive wheel is steady and not wobbly, and that the wheel rotates when the crank is turned. Otherwise you could have a wheel that has lost contact with the axle and the axle turns but the wheel just slips and doesn’t turn.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Ensure that the flyer is there and that it has an orifice!! Is the flyer in good nick? The flyer should not be cracked or broken, preferably any metal parts should not be rusty, corroded or broken. Check that there are hooks or a sliding hook on the flyer arms.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Ideally the flyer should be the same colour wood as the rest of the wheel, if not then it is probably a replacement flyer, which may or may not actually work with the wheel. Getting the correct replacement flyer made for you can be very expensive.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Does the flyer rotate freely when in position between the maidens and do the bobbins rotate freely on the flyer?</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Check that you have at least 3 bobbins, that they all fit the flyer and are in good nick. Replacement /extra bobbins range from €15 each to €35 each.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Is it the wheel you need for the yarn you are going to spin? Old antique flax wheels look amazing but they often have tiny orifices, small hooks and small bobbins and are designed to spin flax into fine linen yarn, so they will not suit you if you want to spin chunkier woollen yarns. They can also be temperamental and not easy for beginners to start on, and getting replacement parts for them is costly.</p></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0em; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 1em; line-height: var(--line-height-base); margin-bottom: var(--line-height-base-rem); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">When going to view a wheel, watch a few youtube videos first of somebody spinning on a similar wheel, and search for a manual for the wheel online to print off or just save on your phone so you can check if the parts are there and how it should ideally work.</p></li></ol>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-33259846032420062552021-03-27T09:36:00.002+00:002021-04-03T23:12:34.488+01:00European Sellers of Spinning and Weaving related items, now that Brexit is upon us<p>This list might be useful to folk looking for alternative suppliers to our much-loved UK suppliers, now that Brexit is with us. These recommendations came from other spinners in Netherlands and Germany. Please note that I have not personally used any of these sellers, so as always, check out reviews etc, before you commit to anything. </p><p><br /></p><p>European wool and spinning wheel sellers</p><p>**Netherlands:**</p><p><br /></p><p>1. DutchWoolDiva has an online shop https://www.dutchwooldiva.nl/store/</p><p>She sells hand dyed spinning wool and spindles (which might translate on the site as either spinning tops or spiders). Also hand dyed yarn. </p><p><br /></p><p>2. Wolop-lien shop https://wolop.nl/winkel/index.php?route=common/home</p><p> Sells hand dyed spinning wool, and beautiful handmade spinning tops. Also hand dyed yarn. 3D printed bobbins and parts for Louet and EEL electric spinner. Specialist in vegetable paints and eco-printing. </p><p><br /></p><p>3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wolbeest sells hand-dyed spinning wool and yarns. https://www.hetwolbeest.nl/</p><p><br /></p><p>4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spinspul sells spinning wheels and looms and parts, as well as fibers and yarns. You can find her shop here: https://www.spinspul.nl/nl/</p><p><br /></p><p>**Belgium**: </p><p>There’s lost craft in Belgium, http://www.lostcraft.be/ selling a wide range of things: Spinning wheels (Ashford, Majacraft, Spinolution), combs and carders, Looms: rigid heddle, table looms, inkle and a floor loom. </p><p><br /></p><p>**Germany**: </p><p><br /></p><p>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You can buy fiber in Germany from Das Wollschaf. They have a large collection. Link to the store: https://das-wollschaf.de/</p><p><br /></p><p>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wollinchen https://www.wollinchen.de/ </p><p> Majacraft, Schacht, Kromski und Ashford spinningwheels and weaving looms. </p><p><br /></p><p>3. Wallmonte https://www.wallmonte.de/</p><p>Everything to do with Spinning, weaving and Carding. Stocks Ashford, Louёt and Glimåkra.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Flinkhand https://flinkhand-shop.de/ Ashford and Kromski wheels and looms, also Woolee Winders. </p><p><br /></p><p>5. Knitart https://knitart.net/de/ Ashford, Kromski, Louet, Majacraft and Schacht spinning wheels and Woolee Winders for these. </p><p><br /></p><p>6. Wiesensalat https://wiesensalat-wolltruhe.de Schacht wheels and weaving equipment.</p><div>And </div><div>I was given some further recommendations by a weaver B in Ireland:</div><div><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Belgium</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Meta.be<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />They make looms, all sizes, sell spinning wheels and fibre, also spare parts which are very hard to get for looms</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">For Germany</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">Rudi Kunzl<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />He also makes looms, sells weaving yarn, sells spinning wheels, 2 brands only</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">naturfasern.de<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />This is a really nice Company, they sell all sort of fibre, plant dyed, natural, different typ of fibre, as well as knitting and weaving yarn. Great selection!<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />They have a small Company making one type of spinning wheel as well a drumcarder.<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />There are no prices on the website, but please ring them, very helpful people.<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />( B says she has been ordering from them for many years!)</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;">finkhof.de<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />a really lovely place to buy natural carded wool, anything wool related , beautiful felt for sewing into clothing,<br style="font-size: 0em; line-height: 0px;" />Knitting yarn, and so much more!!</p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fbfbfb; font-family: Verdana, "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p></div>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-12376330309009628402021-02-21T16:30:00.000+00:002021-02-21T16:39:58.042+00:00Where to buy spinning wheels 2021In this post, I try to answer the question "Where can I buy a spinning wheel?"<br />
In Carndonagh, County Donegal, there is a spinning wheel maker and repairer, Johnny Shiels. His website is here:<br />
www.spinning wheels.ie.<br />
Johnny has followed in his father's footsteps, and also, if I am correct, in the steps of his grandfather. The family featured in the TV series 'Hands' which was filmed by David and Sally Shaw-Smith in the 1980's. Johnny is still spinning and making and repairing spinning wheels in Carndonagh. The wheels from the Shiels workshop have a distinctive look. They turn up occasionally for sale secondhand. <div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtVG0X8pwVGB1MAcNfua_Bhm79b5tX4Fd6N2ABXE_5Moy_ixvrIc-vrGN5YO_5t1xIOcBKIWagwt3aCmTRVg41kEwcIwrh00YXeStPFdGq-PPN8bIj2TaiM3YtoWB3XBiabx3wF4StkU/s1600/edited+for+blog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="138" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtVG0X8pwVGB1MAcNfua_Bhm79b5tX4Fd6N2ABXE_5Moy_ixvrIc-vrGN5YO_5t1xIOcBKIWagwt3aCmTRVg41kEwcIwrh00YXeStPFdGq-PPN8bIj2TaiM3YtoWB3XBiabx3wF4StkU/s400/edited+for+blog.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Johnny Shiels wheel in action, Summer 2017. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The UK has several distributors of spinning wheels. Try Winghams wool work, Frank Herring, PM Woolcraft, The Threshing Barn, Weft Blown, Fibrehut. Now in January 2021, what with Brexit, one has to be aware of Customs and all the other extra charges that could apply. <br />
<br />
What brands are available? Ashford Spinning wheels, Lendrum, Kromski, Schacht, Timbertops, Louet, among others.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP4f87TmCXvwjnP886onWvxvx9Q-HHmVXQCKLNpaoLGQYhobQ214de5q_eLZ2NwyE-2iMxfO6X-ZrMRQPIbviRUQAXHmAu5hyzEO7K-hTSPgDtplSaK4eY8874d8bWjXdUiLCuU88FJM/s1600/ashfords+edited+for+blog.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP4f87TmCXvwjnP886onWvxvx9Q-HHmVXQCKLNpaoLGQYhobQ214de5q_eLZ2NwyE-2iMxfO6X-ZrMRQPIbviRUQAXHmAu5hyzEO7K-hTSPgDtplSaK4eY8874d8bWjXdUiLCuU88FJM/s320/ashfords+edited+for+blog.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On left above: Ashford Traditional, from 1982, approx and on right, sideview of the Ashford Joy I</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
. </div>
<br />
<br />
Buying new does not suit everyone's budget. I keep an eye on www.adverts.ie and on www.donedeal.ie for spinning wheels, but I would not pay some of the crazy prices being asked, like 300 euro or more. For that you can get a new wheel, see below!</div><div><br /></div><div>Buying secondhand from a website like adverts or donedeal in Ireland has its hazards. You may end up with an incomplete wheel, that will cost a lot to get it ready to spin. </div><div>
There are wheels that were built as ornaments, which never designed to work as actual spinning wheels.<br />
There are wheels that are extravagant lamps, they look like Spinning wheels, but they were made without vital components, such as the orifice (the opening at the front of the flyer for the spun yarn to go through from the spinner's hands onto the bobbin via the hooks): if there is no orifice, it is very likely that the wheel was not originally built for actual spinning.<br />
There are wheels that are missing vital parts, such as the flyer, (u-shaped piece with hooks), or bobbins; these parts can be almost impossible to find for antique wheels and can be very expensive to have made.<br />
There are old wheels, that are difficult to keep spinning, with rusty hooks, dry wood, tiny orifices suited for spinning linen not wool, and warped drive wheels that stick, or throw the drive band.<br />
There are people, who know nothing about spinning, selling wheels with problems like the above at exorbitant prices.<br />I would suggest that you always try to get the opinion of an experienced spinner before you part with your hard-earned money. Take somebody with you to try it out or ask for lots of photos and send the photos to an experienced spinner. <br />
<br />
There is also the option to turn to the secondhand market or to vendors in UK or in Holland, or further afield.<br />I have bought secondhand wheels from people selling their wheels on www.ravelry.com, especially in the groups Irish Spinners, UK Spinners and/ or UK Classifieds. Once again, be aware that with Brexit in 2021, we are now liable for customs charges etc for goods purchased from the UK. <div><br />I have bought secondhand spinning wheels from Holland from Marianne at www.wolplantage.nl/ger; her site is in German but do not be put off, Marianne speaks English and replies promptly to email enquiries. She mostly sells Dutch wheels, as well as wool, and sometimes hand carders. She will post to Ireland. You could find a Louet S10 wheel on her site sometimes. <br /><br />I have also bought Dutch wheels from the Dutch equivalent of ebay, ie marktplaats.nl. Here are the hits for Louet on that site. https://www.marktplaats.nl/q/louet/ You would need to look for an ad where the seller says they will Send . You can always send a message to a seller, the messages get translated automatically. Postage for a Louet wheel from Holland to Ireland is about 35 euro, as of summer 2020. </div><div><br /></div><div>Buying New Wheels from European sellers:</div><div>
<br />Here is an affordable option for buying a new spinning wheel.<br />
There is a company called Woolmakers.com, a daughter company to the well respected Dutch company, Louet. Woolmakers make and ship a flat pack spinning wheel, called the Bliss. The cost for a single treadle wheel with 3 bobbins and including postage to anywhere in the world is just under 300 euro. You can pay extra to get 3 more bobbins; that is a highly desirable option in my opinion. You can choose a double treadle if you wish, or you can order the conversion kit to convert your Single treadle to a double treadle later on. Here is the link: https://www.woolmakers.com/product/bliss</div><div>Woolmakers also sell a small and a larger drum-carder, both also in white. https://www.woolmakers.com/products<br />
Here is my Bliss, wearing her 6 bobbins recently.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKadaouzTmSjUTkYSjmOh4M-N_yLAHBEqP1SQHzMP6pW1MAcnoI0jFEb41dk5wPQqhPpbIhK1nD_GU1bujJDQBLESV6Rv_BES6_Jhv7YgRIdPmR_Mv6ZHd7xMqH88ihRI0v5Eqqnsac/s1600/IMG_20171031_104928.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKadaouzTmSjUTkYSjmOh4M-N_yLAHBEqP1SQHzMP6pW1MAcnoI0jFEb41dk5wPQqhPpbIhK1nD_GU1bujJDQBLESV6Rv_BES6_Jhv7YgRIdPmR_Mv6ZHd7xMqH88ihRI0v5Eqqnsac/s400/IMG_20171031_104928.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bliss spinning wheel, www.woolmakers.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The Bliss is a great wheel to buy, very adaptable , affordable, tolerates travelling to Guild meetings and friends' houses in the car. I think I have to say that I love my Bliss!!<br />
<br />And of course, one can look at the full range of Louet wheels here , directly from Holland: https://www.louet.nl/product-categorie/spinning-spinning-wheels/?lang=en&v=d2cb7bbc0d23<br /><br />I have friends who bought spinning wheels from Wollknoll, who sell Ashford wheels and Louet wheels, as well as their own brand Merino wheels: https://www.wollknoll.eu/shop/tools-equipment-machinery-895/spinning-wheels-915/</div><div><br /></div><div>You can also rent spinning wheels from the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, so you get a chance to try out spinning and perhaps discover what you like to spin and what you like/dislike in a wheel. Contact the Guild here hello@weavespindye.ie</div><div><br />
Keep searching, keep trying out wheels till you find one you can get on with.<br />
Then just keep spinning!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div></div>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-11153188092334946082020-12-09T22:24:00.000+00:002020-12-09T22:24:15.982+00:00Still here! <p> It has been over 3 months since last I wrote in here, but not to worry, all is well. </p><p>I have been back teaching at school and that has gone surprisingly well, thankfully. Only 2 weeks (or less, even) till we get our Christmas holidays, and thankfully a vaccine has been approved in UK and Canada and the first people to get the vaccine got it yesterday in the UK. </p><p>School is a great way to make time fly!! The days go by, the weeks go by and I hardly feel time passing at all. </p><p>This week is all about Christmas craft and art. We will play our few Christmas songs on our recorders outside in the covered shed so the village will hear Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, Twinkle Twinkle and In the Bleak Midwinter. </p><p>Paper plates will be painted red and homemade cards will be made. Clay stars will be decorated as Christmas tree decorations. </p><p>I am very happy to relate that I am powering through my Geologi course with Stockholm University, learning to identify metamorphic rocks among others. (Who know that eclogite existed and that it looks so distinctive: green crystals, interspersed with red - pyroxene and garnet, awesome!). I finished a module in Introduction to Biology with Uppsala University back at Halloween, phew. </p><p>There are choices to be made about what wool I will use for the English Long Draw module of the Foundation Certificate in Spinning, but that decision might wait a week or two while I try to eke out time to practice more Long Draw spinning. </p><p>The Christmas tree is up, my son is working his way through the chocolates behind the little doors on his Advent Calendar. Christmas is coming. I personally am looking forward most to the opportunity to get a walk in the winter landscape every day, in the morning. </p><p>I hope you are all well out there. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-90852707044784476792020-08-17T10:18:00.003+01:002020-08-17T10:28:38.571+01:00Lacy petals<p> Hello all!</p><p>Monday August 17th and just about 2 weeks left until we go back to school on 1st September. Enough about that!</p><p>I am happy today because I have finished and have submitted the final paper for the Textiles Material Science course I have been doing with the University of Borås in Sweden. It feels great to have pressed the 'Submit' button at last and to have one less thing on my list of Things to Do This Summer. </p><p>I still have some written work to do on the Foundation Certificate of Achievement in Spinning, so you know, there is never a dull moment. </p><p>The weather is overcast, still, warm and humid today. Grey skies, a soft drizzle and humidity of 70%! I have to say I got a bit of a shock there when I saw Relative Humidity of 70%. I rarely look at the humidity levels, but even I think that 70% is high, no?</p><p>We had some fine sunny days last week and I discovered that a small leaf-cutter bee has been utilising the petals of some flowers I have on the side deck. The petals had begun to look 'lacy' I thought, but I just presumed they were dying back or something. Then when I was sitting outside last week, I noticed a small bee carrying pieces of petal to a gap in the wood of our house wall. Then I watched her emerge and to my surprise she flew down to a bright yellow flower (Black-Eyed Susan) and cut an oval shaped piece from it, then flew back to the gap and in with her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SJnN9_ZfFSN87uJwuLbo1-kBm5PvaV2jp7v4Px9m544h2hkSct8hcS5XUjeTio9ju4K83Pz0QBT8y701lhVtCeoaYNfHqaYd1x08051hbSJTdE8LSM050Ag44M4yE67eQSzr-7YEEH4/s2048/20200814_101619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SJnN9_ZfFSN87uJwuLbo1-kBm5PvaV2jp7v4Px9m544h2hkSct8hcS5XUjeTio9ju4K83Pz0QBT8y701lhVtCeoaYNfHqaYd1x08051hbSJTdE8LSM050Ag44M4yE67eQSzr-7YEEH4/s640/20200814_101619.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w7WvQVVPYKnmkhdTdA54L6yKHKawGcbEw1YKmyK4XWD6hYE6kdUki3sMHA8LT6-ZEu1yW_9a1cOT-gFfCmSuuh9hHOkVpi36v9aYGXq3bnEOKaCtHS4tKl_6CZDPtodSF26-7HIv2tQ/s2048/20200814_140955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w7WvQVVPYKnmkhdTdA54L6yKHKawGcbEw1YKmyK4XWD6hYE6kdUki3sMHA8LT6-ZEu1yW_9a1cOT-gFfCmSuuh9hHOkVpi36v9aYGXq3bnEOKaCtHS4tKl_6CZDPtodSF26-7HIv2tQ/s640/20200814_140955.jpg" /></a></div><p>As you can see from the photos, which were taken a few hours apart, she took pieces from the yellow flower first, then later on took pieces from the orange flower. </p><p>Quite amazing to witness. I read later that she is a solitary bee, a leaf-cutter bee, and she uses the pieces of petal/leaf to make individual nests where she lays one egg. </p><p>I hope to get a photo or video of here, but perhaps she is finished laying her eggs, or maybe the grey weather doesn't suit her. I live in hope!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-53712066612935890502020-08-05T23:51:00.004+01:002020-08-05T23:51:54.709+01:00August 5th 2020. D-Day minus 26.Well people, it seems like a long time since I first started writing about lockdown and covid. I remember the freshness of those days on April when we were all walking along the country roads and getting out fix of fresh air and exercise 2km from home. <div>All is well here thankfully. I am still trying to get my fix of fresh air and exercise along the road. I do notice though that there are far fewer people walking and cycling then there was back in April. I also notice the loud and quite constant hum of the traffic from the main road when I walk. And when I drive to town, the roads are almost as busy as they used to be. </div><div>The seasons are beginning to turn a little again now. It is August, and still summer (even though in Ireland August is technically the first month of autumn). Still, one can see that the evenings are a little darker, a little earlier. It doesn't help that we have had so much rain for the past week on and off. Last Wednesday in Kenmare, Co Kerry, the town square was flooded and some shops lost lots of stock and shop fittings. Some days you would think the calendar had just gone straight to October. </div><div>On the bright side, we are going to have some warm days in the coming week, I hope they might even be dry and not humid and rainy. Definition of winter in Ireland: cold and wet. </div><div>Definition of summer in Ireland: mild and wet. </div><div>Nevertheless, one has to get out and enjoy the days the best we can. </div><div>All too soon it will be time to go back to school. That is what I mean by 'D-Day minus 26' in the blog title today. 26 days until I have to go back to school on 1st of September. My son might go back the previous week. My daughters will go back on 28th September. </div><div>I am going to enjoy the days I have now without alarm clocks and deadlines. </div><div>I hope all reading this are well. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-7569446236686076562020-07-23T01:46:00.002+01:002020-07-23T01:46:34.850+01:00Wednesday July 22nd 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
All is thankfully well here. I have just been a bit busy with online courses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I am pleased to report that I finished 2 teachers' CPD courses in the past 2 weeks, as well as doing the Final exam in my Geology course with Stockholm University. I have an application in for next September, continuing with Geography/Geology, as well as which I have applied for a course in Introductory Biology. Gotta keep these brain cells turning over!<br />
I have sold 2 spinning wheels since last we spoke: a beautiful shiny metallic Alpha Herring spinning wheel (see photo below) which has made its way to the UK and a Donegal wheel (pictured below) which is now in Dublin. I also ended up buying a wheel, along the way, an Ashford Kiwi that will go to a beginner spinner before long, I just need to replace some small bits that are missing on it. <br />
<br />
<br />
I have some Textile and Spinning written work to complete and I am going to get it done! Determined as all get out here....<br />
I am also attacking corners of the house where stuff has build up over the past year eg, today it was time to move out some soccer boots and hiking boots that my DS has outgrown. Some school and college books also had to go, so off I went to the charity shop with them all.<br />
More corners and attics await during the rest of the summer. There are knitting machines and spinning wheels to go, too.<br />
There is also some planting to be done, so I am working on clearing a space for the flowers I have to go in to. Hopefully I can also begin to prepare a space for vegetable growing next year.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXAIJNzTMrE550fqa9yisACSQClAVQGy4URIpHa_GyIlrJqtpRgske1IxxjYkER0NudMVue7gYqrlVBGmwkmPhg8qA4ESw2vRB0pD03OsitHF-B8u46DEvd0xOQIxf4OaDtqNaHE4tKA/s1600/20200625_120108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXAIJNzTMrE550fqa9yisACSQClAVQGy4URIpHa_GyIlrJqtpRgske1IxxjYkER0NudMVue7gYqrlVBGmwkmPhg8qA4ESw2vRB0pD03OsitHF-B8u46DEvd0xOQIxf4OaDtqNaHE4tKA/s320/20200625_120108.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alpha Herring spinning wheel<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRLctPrpJNOjIRrj_IqjGKNFYhmA2cNtfyOJOCIuMNqNQ2E4X5xQ-6ssltlIvjctJwcntZX17re8BTC2Izh-etKDGvxJIH9AeuM2MjyCLbdhqs4_86TpqtvA74_1TA7zutus6y07WG-s/s1600/IMG_20200620_013332_544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRLctPrpJNOjIRrj_IqjGKNFYhmA2cNtfyOJOCIuMNqNQ2E4X5xQ-6ssltlIvjctJwcntZX17re8BTC2Izh-etKDGvxJIH9AeuM2MjyCLbdhqs4_86TpqtvA74_1TA7zutus6y07WG-s/s320/IMG_20200620_013332_544.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donegal wheel made by the Shiels family, Carndonagh. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><br />In other words, there is still plenty on my to-do list, which awaits me every day on a hulking huge Sticky Note when I start up this laptop.<br />
<br />
I am reading Icelandic thrillers by Ragnar Jónasson. Usch, the Hulda series are blood-curdlingly scary. The Ari Thor books are not so scary yet, the author seems to have honed his craft as he wrote the books. There is a sense of menace and oncoming disaster in the later books, which frankly has me refusing to read the books late at night!<br />
One result of all this Icelandic stuff is that I have started dabbling in learning Icelandic! Online language courses are great things.<br />
<br />
I hope people are well.<br />
This Covid situation looks like it will go on for a while yet. I do not yet know what school will be like in September. Take care everyone out there.<br />
<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-87365273293404165072020-07-01T00:02:00.001+01:002020-07-01T00:03:06.804+01:00Day 4 of Tour de Fleece, 30th June 2020 (Day 110 since school closures)Tuesday, 30-6-2020.<br />
Day 4 of the Tour de Fleece 2020.<br />
I have been spinning some purple-blue-pink-silk fibre for the Tour. It is lovely; my only problem is that I tend to spin so fine. It takes me ages to get to the end of a braid. Also it is a strain on the hands.<br />
So maybe it is time for me to change my practice and aim for a thicker yarn by default.<br />
In the meantime, here is a photo of a bobbin one third full with very fine purple yarn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtltm4ztzmhtydIL3-3XG5dHZ3b0Qr75kI23btgAKQjPBzRMRmKNou0Rb_udBi7Gt_51k_6Ted_545_sIrhFpVoPFwPdqN0jFW-rfzP8fgRsGKmSET5oZktvU5gG4fxaeAeekentsMdE/s1600/20200627_132305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtltm4ztzmhtydIL3-3XG5dHZ3b0Qr75kI23btgAKQjPBzRMRmKNou0Rb_udBi7Gt_51k_6Ted_545_sIrhFpVoPFwPdqN0jFW-rfzP8fgRsGKmSET5oZktvU5gG4fxaeAeekentsMdE/s320/20200627_132305.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I said Goodbye to a special spinning wheel: my Alpha Herring spinning wheel is now making its way to a new home. I decided recently that I need to reduce the amount of wheels in the house, and I found somebody who had wanted one of these wheels for a while. So contact was made and the wheel was sold. I am sure the new owner will love it to bits. In the meantime I have 15 others to enjoy. Here is the photo of the Alpha: metal frame, metal drive wheel, metal bobbins, metal flyer, metal lazy kate and wooden treadle. Such a beauty.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9OF3E1WDN6glNlGEZpnCfMNSJrnxnCDBlwfoW5t5LpATvBSY9Eq-vEwzLD-t74l4-iJHjwLZEs-l5HjUqjJxXuVXTlUV-xbhRFV4adaO1OQu6Y2i_z009PRWnnW4DzNyeFjOnWVJR6w/s1600/20200625_120108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9OF3E1WDN6glNlGEZpnCfMNSJrnxnCDBlwfoW5t5LpATvBSY9Eq-vEwzLD-t74l4-iJHjwLZEs-l5HjUqjJxXuVXTlUV-xbhRFV4adaO1OQu6Y2i_z009PRWnnW4DzNyeFjOnWVJR6w/s320/20200625_120108.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-7789290301702442692020-06-27T14:52:00.000+01:002020-06-30T23:51:17.901+01:00Tour de Fleece Day#1 27th June 2020 (Day 107 of restrictions)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello all, </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Today is the first day of the Tour de Fleece 2020. What is
that, you might ask? Well, </span><span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The Tour de Fleece (TdF) is an
annual event, in which spinners around the world spin along with the Tour de
France cycling competition. The Tour de France has been postponed this year,
but the Tour de Fleece will go ahead. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">So on the days, they (would normally) spin, we spin. And there are challenge days and rest days. It is non-competitive. you just decide on your own challenges and goals. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Today I am hosting a Zoom Spin Café for spinners (and other crafters) and that is going to be very interesting. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Hopefully I get the chance to spin a bit myself too, though I may mostly be making sure everyone else is ok. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I will be back to put in some photos of my spinning as it proceeds during the Tour. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Best of luck to all spinners out there! I hope you have an interesting and productive Tour. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4alhDGQ1rWU2eA5V9-GpW5QG9jg9L33cv0VDSXxlMn0ysOanPlw5nVoK3SdtZwkkw1GJybPXRVX826CmMRKcWzExrQVSpd9V2YNKbMc14Dp4AdXHUyHJoK2x7mI0uhOeJCq1Y34IWw4U/s1600/20200629_113809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4alhDGQ1rWU2eA5V9-GpW5QG9jg9L33cv0VDSXxlMn0ysOanPlw5nVoK3SdtZwkkw1GJybPXRVX826CmMRKcWzExrQVSpd9V2YNKbMc14Dp4AdXHUyHJoK2x7mI0uhOeJCq1Y34IWw4U/s320/20200629_113809.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purples, pinks and blues in this fibre, with some silk. Yum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: #FBFBFB;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-32523070031729454482020-06-21T23:00:00.000+01:002020-06-22T01:16:18.186+01:00Sunday 21st June 2020 Day 101<br />
101 days since schools closed. Hard to believe.<br />
I got my Summer holidays last Friday.<br />
The weather turned all wet, windy and cool.<br />
Not to worry, usual Irish Summer weather so...<br />
Swedish Midsommar last Friday and we had nypotatis and sill, (new potatoes and herring)etc,<br />
Father's Day in Ireland today Sunday.<br />
I am still trying to finish the Geology and the Textiles courses, and there is also the spinning of course, and the gardening and the spring-cleaning,<br />
and the walks to be had and the plants to be spotted and the family to socialise with...<br />
Have a great summer.<br />
I will pop in here as and when I can.<br />
Stay well, thankfully we are well too.<br />
<br />
Liz<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYellvMwnjShhMvm_s2KXUtRNlwFy_adXGkwsCyeVit9d7xsY82UxvUXHG8DQMXy1-H3E5PDCs_xb5dXgsFfHbpfVVSQDg8XrrdouxV31QSZarUuRM9HhljohNElueA4l3xst4hTewBc/s1600/20200603_091913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYellvMwnjShhMvm_s2KXUtRNlwFy_adXGkwsCyeVit9d7xsY82UxvUXHG8DQMXy1-H3E5PDCs_xb5dXgsFfHbpfVVSQDg8XrrdouxV31QSZarUuRM9HhljohNElueA4l3xst4hTewBc/s320/20200603_091913.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-44524628717586769982020-06-09T23:50:00.000+01:002020-06-10T00:19:06.138+01:00Day 89, Tuesday 9th June 2020Tuesday, 9th June 2020.<br />
It is almost 13 weeks since the schools closed. Today I went into my classroom to tidy it up and to prepare for the coming school year. I had to move books from my room to another room, then collect books from a different room for the class I will have next year. I was there for 6 hours!<br />
Tidying always feels great, moving stuff on, throwing stuff out (i.e. bringing things home to recycle them) and making plans for the coming year.<br />
The past few weeks have been very busy. I had end of year school reports to write and I had two online exams to do in the part-time Geography and Textiles courses I am studying. All went well, thankfully, and now there is just the last 2 weeks of school as such, and then I have my school holidays for July and August. It is going to be very interesting to see how we are are going to return to school in September, what the guidelines are going to be, etc.<br />
I have been getting my walks every day, not always 10,000 steps, as the right foot is giving me a bit of grief if I walk too far on it, but I still walk , just in two shorter walks instead.<br />
I have been taking photos of wild flowers and grasses, but they do not turn out too good, they just look like a mass of greenery, so not much to post here really. I will see if I can find a few good ones.<br />
Ireland has moved into Phase 2 of reopening the country. Phase 1 meant people could travel up to 5km from home to exercise etc, whereas before that people had to stay within 2km of home. With Phase 2, we can travel anywhere in our own county and if a person lives at a county border, then they can travel up to 20km into the neighbouring county. Shops have opened up again, yes even IKEA. Penneys (Primark) is going to open in a few days time.<br />
I have zero desire to go shopping. I buy online now. I bought a pair of new runners online, just like the old (torn) ones I already had, same brand, size and colour. Perfect. I bought 2 music magazines for my husband; he had been talking of going to town to look for the magazines, but a phone-call ascertained that they weren't in stock; in fact, they hadn't come in from UK at all so I just went online and bought them for him instead. I bought cutlery from Sweden, just like the ones my dear Swedish mother-in-law Inger in Karlstad used to have, and they remind me of her everytime I open the cutlery drawer. I have a very cute little item coming next week, which I will share with you when I get it.<br />
I even bought a spinning wheel from Holland and some baby houseplants! I need to order extra bobbins for the spinning wheel from Holland also. I bought a hand-embroidered picture of a kitchen with a spinning wheel from Sweden also. I am looking online for a Rock kit, for my geology class.<br />
I may never again leave home!!<br />
<br />
All is well here, thankfully. I am so lucky to be living on this quiet country road, with fantastic cows and calves grazing in the green fields all around, with birdsong and wildflowers blooming and thriving, and with friendly neighbours. Life is good, and I hope it is good for all y'all too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVARMfZ304BlGYz-g4kb7Ja0_fAuAKnH6RHEbTazP0m9zay1XmTpmZoNdyBwPREKcPlUeN5Jed3DEUUTxdrUqt0yxjLoaVyGJQEdMjhCaPcRreUtLaEgiPXna-FYVcFf2sdkKrRYlXCB0/s1600/20200605_124144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVARMfZ304BlGYz-g4kb7Ja0_fAuAKnH6RHEbTazP0m9zay1XmTpmZoNdyBwPREKcPlUeN5Jed3DEUUTxdrUqt0yxjLoaVyGJQEdMjhCaPcRreUtLaEgiPXna-FYVcFf2sdkKrRYlXCB0/s320/20200605_124144.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9zHOm5wu_Vtz69bM34Z9MKRqH-xYyEUwnIm7ZOOndsqUY9xd6nNhzFOFcbaq1ftNwFcHPXsbhj_W7BLSSU1c6UwHKVUYXrPtXeL8jWdVrK4Ul3PM_8_Tth6DsKC3y1xddsvL9slImdY/s1600/20200604_212407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9zHOm5wu_Vtz69bM34Z9MKRqH-xYyEUwnIm7ZOOndsqUY9xd6nNhzFOFcbaq1ftNwFcHPXsbhj_W7BLSSU1c6UwHKVUYXrPtXeL8jWdVrK4Ul3PM_8_Tth6DsKC3y1xddsvL9slImdY/s320/20200604_212407.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSxcat2W6hlKam1TsOoFkoVekLAPlv5gqJhtx3Qwqa-k-iFWsl_xGiYTC9J1PJI06-VZGvrM6Va9crVuQkU0DWk06mV1NpVfNk__9uOLDOlyV04uhIlU0HF4NnEV5sS9F9MVb4OAVNyI/s1600/20200603_091913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSxcat2W6hlKam1TsOoFkoVekLAPlv5gqJhtx3Qwqa-k-iFWsl_xGiYTC9J1PJI06-VZGvrM6Va9crVuQkU0DWk06mV1NpVfNk__9uOLDOlyV04uhIlU0HF4NnEV5sS9F9MVb4OAVNyI/s320/20200603_091913.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunTDpnrdOKnIiz-i5XuP-WvPxxkiRGyat6ANWv6PPCvwzptWxeaa6NUoRBWOGjnuaO3RmgtwHYsGqFTNByIrzHAZ0uM8N2E1uj0mH3BeiowjtwMARmo7CBgfEtxCI3B8bwK3yDQdnyHo/s1600/20200606_200453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunTDpnrdOKnIiz-i5XuP-WvPxxkiRGyat6ANWv6PPCvwzptWxeaa6NUoRBWOGjnuaO3RmgtwHYsGqFTNByIrzHAZ0uM8N2E1uj0mH3BeiowjtwMARmo7CBgfEtxCI3B8bwK3yDQdnyHo/s320/20200606_200453.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-22806357471348820622020-05-31T20:09:00.000+01:002020-05-31T20:09:01.690+01:00Day 80, Sunday 31st May 2020The weather is absolutely smashing at the moment. The sun shines all day, there is great heat there, (25 degrees I think), there is no rain and the wind (yes of course there is wind, this is Ireland!) is not chilly.<br />
This means that I have to retire indoors during the hottest part of the day, I usually end up having a siesta (the nearest I am going to get to Spain this year and next) and then I stay up late as I can actually do something when the evening comes and the temperatures cool down. Rinse and repeat the next day.<br />
I am going to go for my walk now shortly. I did some shopping this morning, early, in Lidl and i Argos. where I bought a flat pack black desk for our son. Of course that meant I had to help him to put it together in the afternoon. His room looks very stylish now.<br />
I have 3 weeks left of work(ing from home). The 2 middle daughters have finished college, the son finished First Year in secondary school 2 days ago, and the eldest daughter who is almost quarter of a century is working from home reading for her Ph.D.<br />
Husband is also working from home. Bless him, he is stuck in front of 2 computers all day in his little office.<br />
I don't even have an office table, it is the kitchen table for me.<br />
The best thing though is the country road, and the walks.<br />
Have a good week everybody.<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-11510777346958169052020-05-29T12:43:00.000+01:002020-05-29T12:43:48.935+01:00Day 78, Friday 29th May 2020Good morning!!<br />
11 weeks and 1 day since schools closed.<br />
Today is a lovely morning, a bit breezy but sunny and bright and no cold in the breeze. Two days ago we had the men in to widen and re-stone our driveway and put down kerbing at the side where we had no kerbing. It looks wonderful now, if a bit too clean, but time and rain will dull it a bit.<br />
They put in some top soil in a strip on the other side of the kerbing and as that is south facing, I am thinking: perfect gardening spot. never look a gift horse in the mouth! So I am aiming to get my new raised beds out and set up on the new topsoil. and sow some seeds!<br />
Also I plan to make a flower bed! I have bought lots of small flowers the past few weeks, It seems the petrol stations purchased the plants that would have normally gone to the Garden centres, so every time one goes to buy milk and bread, one has to resist buying just one more little plant too!<br />
I have ordered the anti-weed fabric and also this edging material to keep the weeds from spreading sideways into the flower bed. So as soon as I get that stuff I will get going on planting and sowing.<br />
<br />
My children are 'attacking' the patio: weeding between the slabs and power-washing the slabs to bring them back to shiny newness! And yesterday finally I managed to buy a new electric grass trimmer, our old one has given up the ghost, it turns on but it only chugs, it doesn't go fast enough to actually cut the grass, sadly.<br />
Speaking of which, today I am about to buy a new washing machine as the one we have is about to also give up the ghost, it makes a sound like a helicopter taking off. Thankfully I have found out that the local family electric business can do disconnection and installation for us, if we buy from them.<br />
Off to review some work sent in by my pupils and also to buy a washing machine!SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-39248983838362612302020-05-24T23:13:00.001+01:002020-05-29T12:07:14.317+01:00Day 73, Sunday 24th May 2020Thankfully the sun cam back out again today. We have had 2 and a half days of fierce wind and some rain. I didn't really want to do much the past few days, but thankfully I woke up motivated and determined. So after a quick trip to the shop for the Sunday papers, I got a lovely walk to the end of the road and back. over 7600 steps before 12midday. I am pleased with that!<br />
I had a trip to Lidl for veg and fruit. Then home again to brunch and a nap in the afternoon, ( it was a late night last night).<br />
After dinner, I had to do some of the paperwork for school for the week. It was a lovely evening and I had another walk, watching the sunset.<br />
All good here.SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-39602461853241813052020-05-21T18:56:00.001+01:002020-05-29T12:07:00.096+01:00Day 70, Thursday 21st May 2020.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thursday, and there is wind, and rain, gales even, coming tonight. We had some lovely sunny days yesterday and the day before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been taking it easy for a day or two, I think I need to push myself back out walking again, tomorrow, I guess. Still, it was good to get some small jobs done inside the house too. Plenty of small jobs remaining, though....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I got 4 beautiful baby plants on Tuesday, from Online Baby Plants in Holland. The plants are very cute and taking pride of place in the middle of my kitchen table for now. Here they are, from front left and clockwise: a <span style="background-color: white;">Ctenanthe Burle Marxii (belonging to the</span> Calathea family), <span style="background-color: white;">Alocasia Black Velvet, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and </span><span style="background-color: white;">Fittonia Verschaffeltii.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SAi4JufEV4aWv5f_2-heV3qDNHuAZgpIoyDtIMPyMrkj-aa3o7PECQrtyNT6LTtcr3DKHazSLWfdYXFAdDK6LScnGazrdbLiWyPTxtkrEt8Ja-5UIZbQrLRIKl3t9iVX2UARFXLXsZY/s1600/IMG_20200518_190156_902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SAi4JufEV4aWv5f_2-heV3qDNHuAZgpIoyDtIMPyMrkj-aa3o7PECQrtyNT6LTtcr3DKHazSLWfdYXFAdDK6LScnGazrdbLiWyPTxtkrEt8Ja-5UIZbQrLRIKl3t9iVX2UARFXLXsZY/s320/IMG_20200518_190156_902.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Everyone here is well, thankfully. I have been baking bread, both yeasted bread in the bread maker and brown soda bread in the oven. The bread went really well with homemade leek and potato soup. It also went well with my homemade Red and Green Lentil dahl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One daughter is painting a geometric pattern on one wall of the upstairs bathroom. The hardware shops opened again on Monday. Our son has just finished mowing the lawn. I need to get out and move some of the pot plants off the deck, before the wind and gales arrive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-14970436357112453122020-05-17T21:37:00.001+01:002020-05-17T21:37:28.659+01:00Day 66, Sunday 17th May 2020, where do the days goWednesday May 13th: combination of computer work, washing clothes at the laundromat in the nearest village, and going for walks.<br />
Thursday: Birthday of my husband, and see Wednesday above for other details!<br />
Friday: my sister's birthday, rest of the day, see above.<br />
Saturday: well, no birthday, but pretty much the same as above?<br />
Sunday: a grey day, but dry, and thankfully the wind was milder than all week.<br />
The restrictions are going to lift in phase 1 tomorrow, the 18th.<br />
Meantime, life continues peacefully here at home. Nobody going anywhere much as yet.<br />
<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-5446162432592304222020-05-12T22:30:00.000+01:002020-05-13T16:54:45.088+01:00Day 61, Tuesday 12th May 2020, better day. After yesterday which was mostly spent in front of the computer, I had a much better day today. Up early, showered dressed and out for a walk. Got 5000 steps.<br />
Home for a bit of work and then to the shop for the parents.<br />
Nice fresh day, bright and sunny. but windy and definitely cool in the shade. North East wind.<br />
Another walk in the evening at sunset. I love that time.<br />
Finished with 10,000 + steps.<br />
Early to bed, before 11pm.<br />
PhewSpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-74905928994836515622020-05-11T23:49:00.002+01:002020-05-11T23:49:57.978+01:00Day 60, Monday 11th May 2020A bright breezy cool day, and apart from hanging out the clothes from yesterday and taking the paper to my parents, very little outside work done today. Hmm, I need to work on that tomorrow, not good to be in front of this computer all day.<br />
Plenty work done for school, but some of the uploading took ages or didn't upload even after waiting ages so I am going to leave that and try an easier way tomorrow. Darn Seesaw and Youtube and Videos and PDFs!<br />
Time to write a list so I hit the ground running tomorrow morning and get more stuff done!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-30459377547020733632020-05-10T23:30:00.000+01:002020-05-11T10:24:42.562+01:00Day 59, Sunday, 10th May, 2020I think I have been burning the candle at both ends a bit too much. It caught up with me today! Read on.....<br />
I got up early on Sunday (for a Sunday) around 8.30am and headed off to the local village to buy fresh veg and the Sunday papers.<br />
Home and edited the Notes for the week for my pupils and practically fell asleep into the computer keyboard, so back to bed with me for a nap.<br />
It was a long nap, but the weather outside wasn't conducive to much else, so not to worry. It was a windy, cool, overcast day. Totally different to yesterday, with its sun and 22 degrees.<br />
After the nap, I headed off to the other local village to the outdoor Laundromat there, as my washing machine started making ominous grumbling noises and I think it might be the bearings that are going.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupgd_vF-coiBC0A3Fw07MKCYtCtUQsuh1-Qo_bcK11FeYJf3ZhK8X6oCWJTYbm8bISN_ARSQE8czCBdgJ4AAw5IUK0c24AQsnYAZ3vcxXxPdCITiwSHtu6R9Jhky-XH7yy4z1eMLlB6Y/s1600/20200509_164826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupgd_vF-coiBC0A3Fw07MKCYtCtUQsuh1-Qo_bcK11FeYJf3ZhK8X6oCWJTYbm8bISN_ARSQE8czCBdgJ4AAw5IUK0c24AQsnYAZ3vcxXxPdCITiwSHtu6R9Jhky-XH7yy4z1eMLlB6Y/s400/20200509_164826.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I foresee lots of dates with this machine this coming week!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The sun came out! While the wash was on, I got a walk and saw the river, and some interesting wildflowers. That reminds me I need to put my wildflower book on the kitchen table, to have it near me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHZ0zEGvqprEnn5drtcrf0EH2ag230w9t-xPuuGXicGTo3l7kg8elGhkphOBGyJ-ZAkTMxeO38UbNz0mS3JRov1F6GO3iPScR1LaWIt9I8AORFSZcbuFUOEugeWXKypeG4vlS-9KJd84/s1600/20200510_194406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHZ0zEGvqprEnn5drtcrf0EH2ag230w9t-xPuuGXicGTo3l7kg8elGhkphOBGyJ-ZAkTMxeO38UbNz0mS3JRov1F6GO3iPScR1LaWIt9I8AORFSZcbuFUOEugeWXKypeG4vlS-9KJd84/s320/20200510_194406.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Home, finished editing the work for the kiddos, and sent off a Module 2 of a course I am doing in Spinning, complete with pictures and diagrams.<br />
All good!<br />
New week tomorrow.<br />
Stay well!SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-39446737864185954292020-05-09T23:00:00.000+01:002020-05-10T00:48:36.409+01:00Day 58, Sat 9th May 2020, #darknessintolightI woke early with the Dawn Chorus, got up and went out to see the sunrise. It was great to be up at that time.<br />
Today should have been the Darkness Into Light sponsored walk in aid of Pieta House.<br />
Instead of walking together, I just went out myself and had a little walk and took a few photos.<br />
It got foggy, so the sun was very faint in the sky.<br />
A cuckoo perched in the tree near me, the nearest I have ever been to a cuckoo; I couldn't see him but his call was loud. I think i got it on my phone.<br />
When I went home, my DD#3 was up, she had work at 7am.<br />
After I had come home from dropping her to work, I went back to bed. So tired.<br />
<br />
The day was smashing! over 20 degrees and bright sun all day.<br />
The odd rumble of thunder off in the distance just to make us feel alive.<br />
I had to go to town to get medicines for my parents from their chemist. I was surprised that there was no Garda Checkpoint on the main road. Have they stopped checking people? Or gone elsewhere?<br />
<br />
Later I had to go to the nearest village to the Laundromat there, as my beautiful washing machine needs new bearings and I cannot use it right now. The laundry got washed and I got it home and hung up.<br />
Helped hubby by mowing some of the lawn. Read a book on Earth and Geology. Very interesting.<br />
Almost fell asleep, then decided to go for a walk at 9pm to see the sunset, like I usually do these days. Strolled along, about half a mile or so.<br />
Suddenly got a text from a friend and realised I had forgotten that we had a Zoom meeting at 9pm. Had to stride back fairly lively! almost jogged at one point.<br />
Got a call from the priest, I had called him earlier, today was supposed to be the First Holy Communion for my pupils , but it had to be cancelled. The priest himself is in his 80's so is cocooning. I wanted to check in with him and just mark the day.<br />
Finally got onto Zoom with my friends and we had a great chat! I now have the paid version of Zoom, so unlimited meeting length. Yay! Go Me! Go Zoom!<br />
<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-5104157361576412402020-05-08T22:00:00.000+01:002020-05-10T00:59:11.787+01:00Day 57, Friday 8th May 2020, sunshiney dayFriday dawned and the sun was shining.<br />
I had a Zoom meeting for work, our first, in the middle of the day.<br />
Did a bit of work on the computer to catch up for school.<br />
After that, we just enjoyed the sun and the rest of the day.<br />
Phew...<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-24985455878663491832020-05-07T23:00:00.000+01:002020-05-10T00:55:47.424+01:00Day 56, Thursday, 7th May. 8 weeks and a Green Flag. Thursday and it is 8 weeks, 56 days since we closed the school.<br />
Hard to believe it.<br />
Who could have imagined that this would ever happen?<br />
Today I did the usual, worked on the computer, proof read my daughter's essay for grammar, got the papers for my parents and food and stuff, tried to get good photos of wild flowers to make a Virtual Nature Walk activity for my pupils, got a lovely walk in the evening, looked at the sunset.<br />
I will miss all these good parts of quarantine when it is over.<br />
Great News in the emails: I was successful in achieving our Green Flag in Travel for the school!! Phew.<br />
Very pleased about that.SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-2203668738841207442020-05-06T22:30:00.000+01:002020-05-12T00:04:40.727+01:00Day 55, Wed 6th May 2020.Another windy day and I was even more reluctant to go out in it today then yesterday. Ah well, nothing for it, but to go out. Got the walk!!<br />
I got petrol later at a small petrol station on the main road and I just have to note the price of the petrol: 119.9 c per litre with diesel at 114.9c per litre. Wow!<br />
I got an aquilegia and two Bucopa flowers at the shop, to join my Wallflowers, pansies and Bidens at the kitchen door.<br />
My washing machine developed a funny groaning noise when I rotate the drum, so I am thinking that the bearings may be gone. Eeek! Repair shops and laundrettes are all closed until 18th May.<br />
Oh well, thankfully we have self-service washing machines in a nearby village. Not ideal but the best I can think of now for the next 2 weeks.SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679104312577083387.post-15357514567067459252020-05-05T21:00:00.000+01:002020-05-07T01:22:11.247+01:00Day 54, Tuesday 5th of May, 2020The day was windy. It looked cold and windy, and it took me a while to get out for a walk. I soon discovered that it was kinda mild and windy! Along the way I picked up leaves that had blown from trees. I hope to do a little video on Seesaw for my pupils of a virtual Nature Walk. So I popped the leaves into a jar of water when I got home.<br />
I joined Zoom on a paid basis to get unlimited meetings. I had a Zoom meeting at 6pm with the other spinners and we had a good turnout: 9 people I believe! I got some carding done upstairs while on the Zoom meeting. I need to get some spinning done too, soon!<br />
<br />
The evening turned dark and cool later and I just stayed at home.<br />
<br />SpinMeAYarnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11986376083536594071noreply@blogger.com0