Uncertain times

It is an uncertain time we are living through and no end in sight. Some days it’s hard to see anything but lockdown. Then there are signs and seeds of hope. As I write this New Zealand are lifting restrictions. They approached this virus differently than the shambolic UK attempts.
But going back to The Book of Qualities by J Ruth Gendler. Today my first page that opened was Terror.  She writes of the Qualities as people. Quite a lot of them are illustrated in black and white lines.
The bit I want to quote is this :-
‘When Terror wants power she has many ways to silence those who oppose her. She is willing to use violence to achieve her ends; often she prefers less obvious means. Terror knows that she can control the body by controlling the mind. When people are in states of confusion, Terror’s propaganda passes for truth.’
It seems apt for how we are being manipulated somehow.

But looking for the beauty and something positive helps me. Just look at the yarn I am plying. It’s called Samarkand from Fellview Fibres. I’ve loved spinning it, it reminds me of the sea and sand.
The cards are from my friend Sue Creative spirit affirmation cards

And I guess no surprise that I’m still knitting shawls. Here is the latest one off the needles.

Finally some friends of mine were involved in a ritual on YouTube . I think it was called pass the light  and keep the candle burning. So for hope during these worrying times I leave you with this.

Please keep the light burning.

Autumnal ponderings

Long time no speak and I have missed my blogging. Sometimes too many things can distract if you let them and sadly I did. Its the last day of August and almost time for Autumn. I have smelt her on the air so often this Summer, waiting not so patiently in the wings. The Summer has been like the rest of the year chez Mogs - not the best.

 I have this hope that Autumns gentle touch will renew and revive us both. There have been some good times but this year more illness, both physical and of the spirit. Low periods for us both and a reluctance to get out of bed in the morning almost ever day lately.

 I would hope that the magic of Autumn will bring back the sparkle and vibrancy of life for both of us. Why does Autumn hold more magic in her than any other season for me? I love the first Spring leaves, the warmth of the occasional Summer day and Winters sparkle as she dances ice across the land.

 But Autumn she resonates within my every being. On all levels she brings joy and promise. My physical self enjoys the colours as her gown takes on its russet overdress. It loves the feel of leaves under foot. All these delight me.

 My soul soaks in the wild magic, a barely heard sound on the wind that brings a sudden glimpse of faery.
My inner child fills her heart with ideas and inspiration. she has a need to create and to make. It matters not if that be spun yarn, or an elemental femme or indeed a painted journal page. There is just a Need to try and portray the very essence of joy that I feel.

 My tarot choices change in Autumn. I turn to the Druidcraft and the Faeries Oracle. I still turn my card of the day from the Wild Spirit Tarot. That remains a mystery I try to unravel each day. They don't always become clear immediately but then life itself isn't. For me the important thing is to draw a card and listen for the reply. Autumn is a time for journeying deeper. Is it for you?

The bobbin and batt are a new to me dyer Lanitium ex machina from Finland. I acquired the batts in a destash on Ravelry and today I thought they were perfect a mix of Summer colours with Autumn peeping through. This is going to be a mobius cowl for me I think.

New year greetings

Belated greetings sorry I have been missing. Happy New Year to everyone and I hope this new year brings you creativity, joy and good health.

Have been pretty busy but not sure what with. Two months plus has been lost to viruses. Starting just days after the flu injection for both of us and suspiciously like flu they didn't want to leave us. We only have the flu jab because Mr Mogs oncologist strongly suggested he should as his immune system is now challenged. But after this two months neither of us will be having it again. We both had antibiotics, 3 lots for me and steroids - 1 lot for Mr Mog but both still have snuffles. Mr Mog also had to go and see doctor as he wasn't too well and has now had chest X-ray which was clear and is awaiting ECG and bloods this Friday. But we are both enjoying each day although a spell of proper winter weather would be much appreciated.

Oh and I am now the recipient of my pension today;)

 I have been playing and made a new Goddess Altar.

I have also been spinning

Reasons to be cheerful

The sky today, and after this photograph there were no clouds at all and at 3.30pm there still aren't.

 Snow all around on the Pennines and Trough of Bowland but clear roads

January batts from Enchanted Knolls  Happy Hooves club. colourway is first snow which is very apt

remains of first half of batt as it awaits spinning

Last nights tea from left over lamb, spices and veg

 

Lamb curry.

spinning and knitting

I realised that my spinning and knitting don't mesh. I love spinning and I love knitting, but I don't spin to knit. The two seem like separate entities. I do knit some of my spun yarn but the act of spinning is complete within itself for me.

I don't consciously think of a project I want to make then spin the yarn for it. I can't seem to work that way. I like to spin bright colours, it lifts my spirits seeing the bright colour going onto the wheel. However the spun yarn up to now hasn't necessarily been right for the items I want to knit.
Take shawls for instance.

Most shawls benefit from being knit in a solid or semi solid colour way. Too much variegation in the yarn and you can lose the pattern.
But I don't necessarily like spinning all one colour or a semi.
One solution has been to add bands of variegated colour into shawls.
I don't want to limit my spinning to solid colour ways, it would take away the whole meditative practise for me.

Today is all about colour

Today is a colourful day and I thought you would like to see some of the pictures. Above is my latest shawl, based on the Vixen pattern but modified somewhat. The yarn is Posh Elinor fingering. 1 skein of Waving Not Drowning and 1 skein of Nice Weather For Ducks. I think they go well together
Then keeping with the blue theme for a moment some pictures from the full moon the other night.

It was a very clear evening as you can see

Mr Mog has strung up quite a few solar lights around the railway and they always add a magical touch to the garden when the day fades.

A close up of the shawl modelled by Minerva my new mannequin

 This was the pink fluff I made a donation for at Wonderwool, I've plyed it with a fine glittery thread, you can't see the glitter in the photo but it is there as a sheen more than overly brassy.

I had a few curls lying around and decided they would look better with a little colour so into the pan they went, they will become another free form shawl or wrap I think.

This outfit was a very pale greyish green and a bargain at the charity shop. Viscose always dyes OK so I thought I'd give it a go

As you can see it didn't come out too bad

While at Wonderwool I obtained a skein of Silver Sparkle lace yarn from Andy at Bluefaced.com. It is  75% extra fine merino, 20% silk and 5% Stellina which gives the subtle sparkle. 100gms has 800 metres. I wanted something citrusy so this also went into the dye pot with 3 different yellows, a touch of orange and a smidgen of lime green. I deliberately left some white showing.

 

 The sun has shone here all over Easter so the roads and beach have been very busy. We have stayed at home, I usually don't like to go out on bank holidays if I can help it as it gets way too hectic for me.

The pain levels haven't been good this past few days, it is hard to focus on 1 sore point if there are lots. Distractions have included citrus and raisin muffins, spinning merino silk, finishing the shawl and starting another Elsewhere jacket. The jacket is being made with some destash yarn I purchased and there won't be enough for a full jacket. I'm going to do short sleeves or none and I'm going to adding occasional stripes or splashes of other colours to the dark purple/twilight  I have.

I'm also rereading the Moonheart/Spiritwalk books by Charles de Lint as I felt the need for some urban fantasy:) I love Charles's books they always take me out of my pain zone with the poetry of his writing. 

Beltane approaches fast, how will you be celebrating this turn of the wheel? We had hoped to go to Glastonbury but sadly both the places I like to stay are full up. I think it may be a Beltane at home:) I can feel the energies starting to rise and the warmth of the festival approaching.

Sunshine

A glorious day today the colours are so vibrant. We went for a walk in the local park

I love the sunshine, it almost makes me purr with the warmth. It seems to massage my aching joints and body.

 As you can see everything has well and truly woken up and the flowers are bursting out all over.

 Lots of blossom everywhere and the park was full of bird song. I think the birds felt as happy as I did.

 Magnolia flowers come in many shades from creamy white to deepest pink but I loved these with the blush of pink.

 Colour always makes me smile and feel better. I don't like bland clothes and I don't like to spin or knit with dull colours. The colours I use do affect my mood.

 So many shades of green in the park today from acid almost yellow to deepest olive.

 We weren't alone on our walk, can you see this fellow?

The ponds have been restocked, hopefully the fish will remain.

 Tulips are my favourite spring flower.

 The chestnut "candles" are out. The flowers always remind me of church candles for some reason.

Last weekend we were at Wonderwool and I met the very talented Maureen Preen. She is a stunning artist who uses peg looms and weaving sticks to create with. She kindly donated some weaving sticks for the interactive area and showed us how to use them. Of course Mr Mog and I  had to purchase our own set and this is the start of a bag I think, it uses Colinette point5 yarn.

This is a shawl I've just finished using Wollmeise sock yarn. I hated every minute of it. The yarn felt like cotton to knit with and hurt my hands.




I made a donation for this fluff that someone generously donated for fundraising for the Air Ambulance. I decided to spin it as it came and love the candy stripe effect. I now need to spin something to ply with it. It is unknown fibre but I love the effect of the different pinks.

 


 It is the full moon tonight and the sky promises a lovely clear night so hopefully I'll get some pictures

Passing fair

When ever anyone asked my Nan how she was she always said "passing fair". I've no idea why or what it actually meant but the saying came down to me:)

So, how am I? Well I'd say passing fair also. Not good, not as bad as I've been this past few months. Having said all that I had a really bad asthma attack yesterday, it came out of the blue and floored me.

But the days are lengthening, the sun is shining today and it is warm. What more can we ask? It is no use wishing for good health, a fortune, or other such impossible dreams if they aren't meant to be ours.
We just have to look on each small thing, each day, as a precious gift and enjoy it for what it is.

Too many people dwell on the negative, their glass is always half empty, never half full. some have nothing but negative things to say about others.
What good does it do them? It reflects back on them and it rebounds back also.

Far better to try and reflect the good things, the nicer side.

Not to be Pollyanna, that would be far too hard and unrealistic, but to try and be mindful in deed and word.

I've been knitting and spinning. Enjoying both very much.

The photos are a selection that made me smile. The shawl is on my new model her name apparently is Minerva. I made the most basic error making this, I didn't read the pattern. It was designed for DK yarn and of course I used 4ply hence the smaller size. The yarn is Zauberball.

The handspun is Humbug BFL copper colourway from Freyalyn's fibre. There is 85gms, 575 yards.

The penguins came to visit the other day and are now house guests. Miss Violet Jane Marple and so called Professor Rufus Isambardd. I suspect the title is an honorary one:) Miss Marple wears a handmade shawl and the Prof has a bell. Those who know us would say they are dressed in a very apt manner.

The hat is something I came up with to use some of my dyed curls.

The other 2 pictures are from our visit to Wingham Wools. A brilliant place to visit and they offer a great try before you buy service on spinning wheels. You can also book a play day where you are allowed to spin any of the fibres and take away the results. No charge. A very generous offer. All they ask is that you vary what you try so obviously not one fibre all day. They also have cottages where you can stay for a very reasonable fee, these are exceedingly comfortable and one has a bed settee and downstairs wet room/toilet so is ideal for those of us who struggle with stairs.
Phew think that will do for now, I do appear to be getting my blogging mojo back so expect more posts with hopefully less space in between