SO...anghora bunnies cannot live out of doors in the Southeast.  Consensus from the Pagan_Homestead, a breeder in Indiana, and a woman in VA is that they'll overheat even if trimmed, and likely suffer flystrike and fleas as well.

If I stayed at home, I could freeze large water bottles for them and replace them 3 or 4 times per day every day that ( Read more... )

I want to be able to produce fiber on my property.  Hemp is illegal of course, so I've read up about flax.  Flax looks quite labor intensive, and also I would not have much space for it each year.  I have yucca, which can make cord, but I want to make clothing not just rope.

Looks like my best option might be angora bunnies.  They would have to be ( Read more... )

Ermahgerrrd!  Yucca leaves can be used as fiber source!  Maybe I'll try this before attempting flax.  I have yucca in my garden right now.

http://stoneageskills.com/articles/yuccafibers.html

Just need a couple of good rocks, one as a "pounder" and one as a "scraper."  Also, apparently, need a tree trunk.  It remains to be seen how fine this fiber is ( Read more... )

In my quest to make Sundog Manor & Fae Gardens a miniature of self-sustainability, I want to grow something that can be made into cloth.  Things traditionally used for this are:  sheep, alpaca, yak, cotton, flax, hemp, angora rabbit.

My options are fairly slim;  I don't have time or space for more critters, so no alpacas, sheep, yaks or rabbits.  ( Read more... )

Once again, I'm an orphan for this most fabulous holiday.  I work tomorrow, the Fae is with her dad, Ryk's family decided on Ryan's for Thanksgiving, and I had an important art project to wrap up.

Happily, workfriend Rachel adopted me for THanksgiving dinner.  She LOVES to cook, refuses to visit family fights on holidays, and her S.O. is celiac, so ( Read more... )

Having recently cut 4 of my baggy t-shirts down to fit, I find this blog fascinating:

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

I wonder if the wear is good, considering that the seams would be new?  Threadbanger lists a similar project:

http://www.threadbanger.com/secretlife/episode/SLB_20100806_2/secretlifeofabionerd-back-to-school-vamping-up-an-old- ( Read more... )

I may try this at Mabon!   Author notes:  Cut down or leave out the sugar altogether.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-apple-butter-recipe.html

from workfriend Vicki:

I mixed approx 2/3 via of essential oil with ¾ cup vodka-you can use it in a spray bottle, or pour it over a potpourri, or even leave it in a votive-as the vodka evaporates, the smell permeates the house.

I'm re-posting this without permission.  Because it is fabulous in many ways.  How to make perfect rice ( Read more... )

I want to learn how to knit socks.  This looks like what I'd like to accomplish, and it refers to the size needles and yarn I've got. http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/socksbasic.htm