November 22, 2009

Floods and other stuff

Dreadful flooding in Cumbria and in Dumfries and Galloway, both places we have lived and Cumbria is where many of our family and friends still live. My heart goes out to all affected by these latest events. To see places you love surrounded by water is dreadful and more so for all the people who have lost homes and possessions. One of the most poignant things to see from a woolly persons point of view was the devastated wool shop in Cockermouth and all the yarn and display stuff floating down the street leaving only a jumper hung up. Many of the people flooded had no insurance as the insurance companies would not insure them after the last floods. They will need all the help they can get to resume their lives.
Back in the 1970s I lived in Fleetwood and we had major floods there. The rescue and relief organisations were hampered by all the ghoulish onlookers who drove from many miles away to watch the tragedy. After speaking to my sister in law yesterday it would appear that this still happens. Why do people have this desire to see other folks misfortunes? If they are going to go there could it not perhaps be for something positive like helping to clear up? It is the same on motorways when there is an accident, traffic on the opposite side to an event is just as bogged down due to the self same thing.
It makes me ashamed to be human:(

On a brighter note;-

We were supposed to be up in Cumbria yesterday at our spinning guild. After seeing the warnings not to travel we decided to be sensible and not do so. We still had a spin in, Laal Bear and Mr LB invited us over for the day. 3 spinning wheels whirred along while Mr Laal Bear made us all a fabulous roast lamb lunch, followed by a blackberry crumble and custard that Laal Bear created. Yummy food and great company. I got to see the painted wheel that Mr LB had done, very very pretty wheel. He is a super artist. He also has a touch of whimsy in his writings if you check out his blog. You will find out things about the fairy folk you never knew:)

I have been knitting as well as spinning. I've finished my first Baktus scarf, a quick easy knit

I'm also currently making a shawl in a mix of mohair from the Woolclip and a furry eyelash yarn. This is the most silky furry shawl I've made in a long while. Very tactile and warm.
Here is a picture of some of the finished spinning. It is waiting for a dry day to set the yarn. The red one I had difficulty spinning for some reason so I did a single slub style and plied it with rayon embroidery thread. Will be great for femme's hair me thinks.
As you can see the upright swift is getting plenty of use as is the windmill one Mr mog made me.

Mr Mog and I decided we could do with a bedding box or chest each to keep our fibre stash in. I'll leave him to show you pictures of the one he has, suffice it to say he now has enough fibre and fleece to fill a chest:) Thanks must go to Laal Bear and Artis Anne for sending him spiralling down the stash route.

Mine is quite a Gothic storage chest , it came flat pack and despite having a very painful back Mr Mog put it together for me.
I managed to find enough fibre to fill it as you can see.

Mind you I think the amount I'm spinning lately is helping to use some of it.

3 comments:

Laal Bear said...

Wow you're sure catching up to me :0)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I'm glad you're not affected by the flooding. We've been seeing news items about it here in Canada and it looks so bad.

Roobeedoo said...

Mr Mog is spinning too? That's brilliant! Thanks for your bday wishes - much appreciated!

Poetry for Brigid Imbolc

  The Lake Isle of Innisfree BY  WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay a...