The Duck Report - crazy winter round-up
Mum's had quite a February in the hinterland...
Duck Report 5 January 27th 2022
Just spotted a Goshawk sitting on the ash trees along the driveway. He stayed long enough for me to get the binoculars on him and then a helicopter came by and frightened him away. I wonder if he lives here or is just a passer-by?
I started dying today (blythe note: I had a small heart attack when I first read this, and then realized she was talking about WOOL) and have finished the first batch which is dandelion. Tomorrow will be dogwood berry dye.
Duck Report 6 February 14th 2022
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. I was just out with the crocheting group in Foxboro and showed them my dyed wool. After dandelion I went on to grape. I have now spun up a pile of Rupert, which is beige, and today I am finishing Freddy with dog hair which is all white. So, this week we will do some Rupert in grape as I saved the grape to try on the beige.
I am making small skeins to fit in my mordent jars, which has proved very interesting, as it appears, I spin inconsistently as some skeins twist when finished and some do not. The difference is not great but it is interesting. I also found the centre of the spun bobbin produces the best spun wool. The course never gave us enough wool to have these kinds of options. By limiting our wool, they gave us no chance to produce the best results. I also found that Freddy and dog hair spins quite differently to Rupert without dog hair.
I have been watching the Olympics mostly on US channels as CBC seems to be fixated with curling which is not my favourite sport. The US channels are incredibly biased but at least you get to see something other than curling.
Harley, the Hunt Terrier, has been limping around for almost a week. I think he must have pulled a muscle on one of our walks. Today he seems to be improving and only limping when he thinks no one is looking. The last two days we have been housebound as the temperature has not exceeded -13c.
I am now on my 4th fair isle toque and running out of people to give them to, but they are easy to knit, look good and use up ends of wool.
Duck Report 7 February 18th 2022
Yesterday we arrived at the barn to find it flooded. Twix’s stall was soaking wet and there was 2” of water in the aisle. No way could we keep Twix in a wet stall, and he expects the sheep to be beside him, so we moved everyone out into the two stalls in the run-in shed which was high and dry.
Today we have about 4” of snow which has drifted nicely so the dogs and I are marooned. The kids seem to like their outside stalls and had a peaceful night watching the snowfall. Rob is coming to plough us out but that will not help the walk situation unless Rodney decides to go out on his snowmobile again. Today would be lovely for a walk but with feet of snow in all directions we will stay put.
My crochet group has a bird watcher in the mix who has seen blue birds in the winter! I did not believe her but she emailed me a picture to prove it. I have never heard of them staying all winter so this is something. (blythe note: Mum's circle of crafty friends seems to be getting bigger as she gets older...)
We are once again starting the spinning group meetings and our next session is March 24th. They are going to discuss natural dyes, so I am just thrilled to find new recipes and maybe one for indigo which does not dissolve the wool. I will take my dye book and share.
Duck Report 8 February 27th 2022
I can’t believe February is almost over. I think the older you get the faster time seems to go.
This week I managed two long walks as the snow has melted and frozen so many times that I can walk on the top most of the time. The first trip was down through the woods and I received two wet feet for my trouble. The second was through the Christmas tree farm where I almost slipped on the ice. (blythe note: same thing happened to me in the city, so... *shrugs*) We now have 4 inches of snow on top of the ice which means you have no idea where the icy patches are leaving me walking the hay field which has long grass and no ice.
Roxie Rocket Ship has finally decided to come into season so I will breed her March 7th and 8th. (blythe note: WHAT? NEW PUPPIES ON THE WAY?!?!) I have already had enquiries from Newfoundland for puppies, so I think they will all find good homes and I think we will keep one so Roxie does not get worn out having puppies. (blythe note: ♥)
I am watching a hairy woodpecker on my fat feeder, which they really love. I make my own by buying suet, melting it, filling it with grain, freezing the mixture, and turning it out into an old onion bag. The woodpeckers, nuthatches and chick-a-dees all like it.
Duck Report 9 March 3rd 2022
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day and so I gathered my maple syrup equipment and tapped trees. The sap was already flowing so we should be up and running with syrup boiling soon. (blythe note: Mum's witchery continues....)
I have been monitoring my bird feeders more closely this year and believe I have yet another bird which at first glance could be taken for a sparrow, but I think is a black-throated blue warbler. Why it is a blue warbler I don’t know as it is beige above and cream below with a stripe above the eye and a white patch on the wing. No blue there at all.
Duck Report 5 January 27th 2022
Just spotted a Goshawk sitting on the ash trees along the driveway. He stayed long enough for me to get the binoculars on him and then a helicopter came by and frightened him away. I wonder if he lives here or is just a passer-by?
I started dying today (blythe note: I had a small heart attack when I first read this, and then realized she was talking about WOOL) and have finished the first batch which is dandelion. Tomorrow will be dogwood berry dye.
Duck Report 6 February 14th 2022
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. I was just out with the crocheting group in Foxboro and showed them my dyed wool. After dandelion I went on to grape. I have now spun up a pile of Rupert, which is beige, and today I am finishing Freddy with dog hair which is all white. So, this week we will do some Rupert in grape as I saved the grape to try on the beige.
I am making small skeins to fit in my mordent jars, which has proved very interesting, as it appears, I spin inconsistently as some skeins twist when finished and some do not. The difference is not great but it is interesting. I also found the centre of the spun bobbin produces the best spun wool. The course never gave us enough wool to have these kinds of options. By limiting our wool, they gave us no chance to produce the best results. I also found that Freddy and dog hair spins quite differently to Rupert without dog hair.
I have been watching the Olympics mostly on US channels as CBC seems to be fixated with curling which is not my favourite sport. The US channels are incredibly biased but at least you get to see something other than curling.
Harley, the Hunt Terrier, has been limping around for almost a week. I think he must have pulled a muscle on one of our walks. Today he seems to be improving and only limping when he thinks no one is looking. The last two days we have been housebound as the temperature has not exceeded -13c.
I am now on my 4th fair isle toque and running out of people to give them to, but they are easy to knit, look good and use up ends of wool.
Duck Report 7 February 18th 2022
Yesterday we arrived at the barn to find it flooded. Twix’s stall was soaking wet and there was 2” of water in the aisle. No way could we keep Twix in a wet stall, and he expects the sheep to be beside him, so we moved everyone out into the two stalls in the run-in shed which was high and dry.
Today we have about 4” of snow which has drifted nicely so the dogs and I are marooned. The kids seem to like their outside stalls and had a peaceful night watching the snowfall. Rob is coming to plough us out but that will not help the walk situation unless Rodney decides to go out on his snowmobile again. Today would be lovely for a walk but with feet of snow in all directions we will stay put.
My crochet group has a bird watcher in the mix who has seen blue birds in the winter! I did not believe her but she emailed me a picture to prove it. I have never heard of them staying all winter so this is something. (blythe note: Mum's circle of crafty friends seems to be getting bigger as she gets older...)
We are once again starting the spinning group meetings and our next session is March 24th. They are going to discuss natural dyes, so I am just thrilled to find new recipes and maybe one for indigo which does not dissolve the wool. I will take my dye book and share.
Duck Report 8 February 27th 2022
I can’t believe February is almost over. I think the older you get the faster time seems to go.
This week I managed two long walks as the snow has melted and frozen so many times that I can walk on the top most of the time. The first trip was down through the woods and I received two wet feet for my trouble. The second was through the Christmas tree farm where I almost slipped on the ice. (blythe note: same thing happened to me in the city, so... *shrugs*) We now have 4 inches of snow on top of the ice which means you have no idea where the icy patches are leaving me walking the hay field which has long grass and no ice.
Roxie Rocket Ship has finally decided to come into season so I will breed her March 7th and 8th. (blythe note: WHAT? NEW PUPPIES ON THE WAY?!?!) I have already had enquiries from Newfoundland for puppies, so I think they will all find good homes and I think we will keep one so Roxie does not get worn out having puppies. (blythe note: ♥)
I am watching a hairy woodpecker on my fat feeder, which they really love. I make my own by buying suet, melting it, filling it with grain, freezing the mixture, and turning it out into an old onion bag. The woodpeckers, nuthatches and chick-a-dees all like it.
Duck Report 9 March 3rd 2022
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day and so I gathered my maple syrup equipment and tapped trees. The sap was already flowing so we should be up and running with syrup boiling soon. (blythe note: Mum's witchery continues....)
I have been monitoring my bird feeders more closely this year and believe I have yet another bird which at first glance could be taken for a sparrow, but I think is a black-throated blue warbler. Why it is a blue warbler I don’t know as it is beige above and cream below with a stripe above the eye and a white patch on the wing. No blue there at all.