Milkweed

Milkweed or Asclépiade

This is a toxic plant, to be exact the sap/latex is, so waiting to collect until the plant is drying out is a must.  Once dry it is safe to touch it.  It's good to keep few plants around to help the monarch butterflies as it is their primary feeding, they do lay their eggs on it and the caterpillars will munch on the leaves.

I had few pods left on the dried plants and I wanted to experiment with some of it.

This is how it looks like when you open a pod.

This is what I get once I pulled off the seeds.

The fibers are softer than silk and very light, it's good to work in an area without any drafts or it will fly all over the place.  The thermal properties of this fiver are higher than wool and even duvet, so this could be used as filling/insulation.

I have mixed some with some wasted wool and spun a little for a test run.

This could make a wonderful yarn to work as weft weaving, it's lustrous and so soft.

I will have to experiment more but I really like the way it feels.

Comfortable socks

I finally washed and been taking few pictures of my winter socks, they are simple no lace, no cables but the most comfortable socks.

I used the over spun yarn and the same template as usual except I made them longer so for the last part of the ribs I used two sizes larger needles, that way I can turn it into a cuff or not.

I'm very happy with the result and the yarn is feeling like silk shiny and soft and they will last longer than regular yarn even without nylon, it's really the pleasure of pure wool, warm and dry.

It worths the effort to have cozy feet next winter :)

Apple picking...

Last weekend it was time to go pick some fresh cortland apples.

It was a gorgeous sunny day.

I like this place, beautiful orchard (Joe Giguère) Ile d'Orléans 

great people.

They do sell some delicious ice cider and of course vinegar the real thing unpasteurized, I take 1 tsp a day ... 

Time goes by...and heal

It was a busy time picking from the garden... I forget to take pictures.

tasty grapes

and my favorite green :)

For the first time in months I have done some combing and spinning.

this is some of english leicester locks I didn't processed from last year,  this been taking forever 500 yards of extra fine 2 ply... it is over spun to weave,

but for some unknown reason I can get back to weaving, maybe it's because the last time I did it was the placemats for mother's day, so I changed my mind and started knitting socks...

I did use a cone to make my life easier, over spun yarn just want to twist on itself so it's safer on a cone... and who would say you can't spin lace yarn on the ashford country spinner....

Summer Time

The spinning wheel been singing a little and today a new born skein is soaking in the sun.

This is from leftover combing the English Leicester... it will need to soak all day and still will probably need some dye... maybe I'll try red onion skins... 

The orchid is in full bloom at the moment

I'm mostly busy outside at the moment... things are growing nicely

peppercorn squash... hmmm this will be tasty

This plant is huge, Turk's Turban, it was just for experiment and seems like it's working so far

potatoes ...another experiment this year... it's flowering at the moment

The blue grapes are not blue yet...

my sweet table green are doing very well...

and surprise a cucumber in the strawberry bed.

All used up...

I just finished knitting all the yarn spun from my Pickwick fleece...

fingerless mittens and this mini skein is what I got left.

The pattern is Dalkey from Carol Feller, but I didn't make the rolling rows as I did the first time.

Few pictures from the garden...

Lots of fruits and vegetables growing.. so little time to weed...

Emergency room knitting part 2

I've spent so much time at the hospital the last few weeks, I did most of my knitting waiting at the emergency room. I knitted a second neck warmer for myself and a hat.

As you can see it's very plain...

no patterns...just things I have done over and over the years

I couldn't simply focus anymore... I guess too much stress lately didn't help me.  Lucky me my brother is doing better and even back to work.  Now it's time for me to relax a little.