It is...

....very dry here in Victoria. A recent fire across the road with the wind helping it along, was some concern, more because it could have been here with the wind blowing in our direction. But all good and 4 units put it out fairly quickly.
The garden is needing very regular watering but no weeding is getting done unfortunatly. While Leigh milks I do the garden in the mornings only.
Aso have to help my mother at times, sharing a few jobs with my sisters', as she is coming up for a shoulder repair.

Handwoven scarf from handspun Natural coloured Corriedale/Merino wool, plain weave
 



Machine knit summer cotton cardi...Bendigo cotton 4ply

Hand dyed grey fleece in 3 colours, blended once and handspun.

I have been spinning a lot, and machine knitting cotton  garments for our summer so am being very busy. I constantly look out for patterns to use or make up a few.
Above are a few items I have recently created.
Have organised a little trip to Papua New Guinea at the end of the month to visit my daughter Rebecca(Rebecca and the World) with her partner's mum as well.

Christmas...

...is alsmost here, so a little slow down on the crafting side, whilst I get ready for my family's Christmas lunch.
I had a good market last Sunday at Mooroopna, selling yarn as well as crafted accessories. It is summer here so wool items still sell. I find that if I continue the markets all year, it is advertising and allows those knitters/spinners out there to purchase for their winter projects.
But I do have some summer cotton garments that I have made on the knitting machine. and I will post a photo of another sample.

So just in case I don't get back here, I wish everyone a safe and Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Bear with me...

... have been lots of tidying, gardening, and a little craftwork. with the farm on the market so much work to do.
Plus Leigh's 60th birthday today. Having a couple of his mates stay over on the pretense that they want to take him out for tea with a surprise from some of my family and a couple of other local mates. Not very big but you need to acknowledge the milestone. Leigh's sons are so far away with one overseas, that I feel bad not inviting them, but  know there would be difficulties, particularly when I started organising only 3 weeks ago.
christmas breakups are on the go at the moment with one group yesterday, lunch out for leigh today, me out again tonight. The birthday tea out on Saturday night. Girgarre market Sunday morning. I think I'm worn out already....
So keep watching,  because I do have work underway.

More Yarn...

Carnival 8ply

Freesias 4ply
 

Machine knit cotton top in Blush
 

...added to the website. My plans are to gradually add my handdyed yarn in 1kg lots divided into 10 skeins of approx 100gms each as  they are dyed.
The colour of this garment did not come out as well as I thought it would so nay have to check the camera and do another on. A simple lace pattern with boatneck and garter stitch edging at the sleeve area.



Hanspun from hand dyed blended fleece.

This yarn I am still working on, origially deing 900gms of grey fleece in 3 colours , blending on the carder and then spinning as singles(approx10-12ply)
 

News..

...
After a big decision by my partner, he has finally decided that the farm is not up to the mark and even reopening the dairy is not able to produce enough income to keep us going as well as feeding all the cattle and the sheep. The upgrade to the power after an unfortunate accident, (unwitnessed) and the future upgrade to the irrigation system is going to be too much to handle. Leigh is 60 next month and I am 59. We could have rattled on for awhile as we were but now with no real spring rain all the feed has gone off,
So the farm is going on the market, with photos being taken on Monday, and the signs going up as well for internet access to the real estate agents.
Unfortunately one does not know how long this could take considering the poor economic climate.
Being as it may, it is a good property for someone just starting out with extra money to put into the things that we can't financially do. Lots of shedding as well, including my studio.
My crafting will go on as usual, and hopefully I will access other markets as I won't have to think of too many animals.
Leigh's mother is aging and is becoming more frail and so has been needing a lot of help, and there is nowhere for her to go, yet.

I remember...

...when I started this blog that I would keep up to date. But life, including family, new grandchildren and issues surrounding them did get in the way. Hopefully some of these issues will settle down so I can get back to what I should be doing.
The sheep have been shorn, with some fleeces with barley grass through them, some of which I can process myself, and the better ones may go to Baling Day for ongoing commercial processing into tops, or yarn.

Handspun, from Hand dyed wool tops

Handspun natural camel coloured wool

Handspun from hand dyed fleece

Machine knit from Natural 3ply yarn

Machine Jacket from Bendigo Wool 3ply

Hand dyed 4ply Pure wool

So I will add a few photos for you to peruse so you know I have not slacked off on the craft side of things.

Dairy up and running...

We bought new Jersey cows for the dairy and it has been a bit stressful for them as well as us, but hopefully soon things will settle down. Also I got the dreaded "cold" with sinus problems and the sore throat, which did not help. cell count has been a problem but hoping to get on top of this.

So, up early at 5am with a bit of breakfast, then down to the dairy yard forr me to feed my sheep and shut them into their other paddocks away from the dairy, and then the cows into the yard for milking. we have 54 milking cows at the moment and 4 calves we are feeding which will be sufficient for this season. A nice Jersey bull has been hired and arrived yesterday, and was extremely happy to see his new girls. He is a quiet boy which is good because I do not like being around bulls.

My craftwork has to continue, but sadly I have lost some hours, but as it approaches the warmer months I hope to get some spinning done. I will still be attending the 3 regular markets I attend, Nagambie, Girgarre, and Mooroopna, plus some sharing days and of course the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.

I continue to work on my machine knitting and have made a few more garment over the last few months, and hope to produce some summer cotton garments soon.

I have some fleeces washed waiting for picking and carding, so never a dull moment and more organisation will get me going.