Freshisle Fibers

Internet Friends

You meet the nicest people on the Internet.

Stacie, of Stacie's Adventures in Knitting, is raising funds for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.  She has a newly launched Etsy shop where you can purchase wonderful knitted items (think holiday gifts!!) and all of the proceeds will go to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Go have a peek!  There still might be some things available that are knit with my yarns!  Plus, if you make a purchase and mention that you heard about it here, she's offering free shipping.  All in all, a great deal - wonderful knitted items, supporting a worthy cause, and free shipping.

Leslie, of Greenberry House, is an extremely talented lady.  She spins the loveliest yarns, takes the most glorious pictures that make me envious of her mountains, and has the cutest pets.  She's also started a new podcast - Knitting in the Round. 

They had a little contest at the podcast blog site for the naming of the latest furry addtion and ... I won!  One can never have enough yarn.  I'll be sure to share pictures when it arrives.

Deer Season Week

Deer season is almost over.  Deer season on Manitoulin is quite unlike any other week of the year.  We laughingly joke that it should be declared a holiday as all semblance of normal life ceases.

Students of all ages are away from school, some to actually hunt, some to just go to the hunt camp with dad.  The number of people on the island is estimated to increase by 7000-8000!  Many take their holidays this week and other businesses are staffed with family members and temporary staff just for this week.  There is one topic of conversation - deer.

I will be happy to see the end of deer season and have life return to normal.  I like venison but I'm tired of early mornings and late nights.  I want to talk about something other than deer!

Years ago I knit this monster orange sweater for my deer hunting husband.  Miles and miles of hunter orange yarn.  He wears it all the time when he's hunting and loves it.  When I look at it now I can't believe I knit that much orange and still retained my eyesight!

 
And, as disgusting as it is, the Dusty puppy has discovered he likes venison, too.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is a big day at school.  We have an assembly and some classes go to services and activities within the community.  Students have been working on poems, essays, and posters for the Royal Canadian Legion contest for days.  It's a big deal.

My favourite video for remembering is Terry Kelly's, "A Pittance of Time".  It is sad, and perfect, and brings me to tears every time.

 

Freshisle Fibers Fans

Nothing like a little self-promotion!

After months of debating with myself, I've finally taken the plunge and created a Ravelry group for Freshisle Fibers yarns and patterns.  Heaven help me.

 

I'm hoping it's one way to answer questions all at once, give notices about shop updates, and save myself a little time on emails.  Hoping.  I also realize that moderating the group is going to take some time.  Catch 22.

I've spent the morning dyeing and getting the group ready so now I'm off for some 'me' time.  Some Dusty and me time.  A walk in the bush on this gorgeous November day is in order.

Happy Hallowe'en

In the Meantime

My site was up and running fine earlier this morning and now seems to be down.  Looking into the problem.  Edited - late afternoon - I'm back up and running!!  Thank heavens!

In the meantime, try this fun quiz - Which Ewe Are You?

Here We Go Again

Introducing ... Dusty.

 

We are back to having hair everywhere, dog treat smelly, paw prints and drool on the floor, totally messy house.  Yesterday we brought home a new puppy - Dusty.  He's a mutt, a total mix of who knows what, and we're already in love.

Dusty's mother was abandoned at our local garbage dump and was taken home by a wonderful lady.  They suspected she was expecting puppies and sure enough, six puppies were born.  He's missing all those brothers and sisters but we're trying hard to take their place and keep him entertained.  He'll be eight weeks old tomorrow.

 

If I thought I was busy before and didn't have any time, I think it's about to get worse.  But, it's time well spent.  He's totally adorable and I'm loving every second of having a dog again.   

Feeding the Stash

We're back from our last little get-away before school starts.  School.  I'm trying hard to not think about it.  I do have to go in for a bit next week to start to get things ready.  Not thinking about it.

Our vacations always include some kind of yarn shopping.  This time we visited Camilla Valley Farm.

It's hard to beat a visit to a beautiful farm on a warm, sunny day.  It was wonderful.  There is a shop located in a separate building that is full of the most wonderful yarns, books, weaving and knitting supplies, and looms.  I was in heaven.

I have never seen so many Fleece Artist yarns and kits in one place.  Amazing.  I just purchased another Fleece Artist sweater kit on our visit to Ottawa so I restrained myself and didn't get another.  But, it was so tempting.

The walls of Jamieson's yarns were almost overwhelming.  Almost.  I did manage to make a list prior to our visit and I pretty much knew which of the 200+ colours I was looking for.

 

There's more of some colours, but this is a sample of the yarns that came home with me.  Three different weights - Ultra, Double Knitting, and Spindrift - for three different projects.  My summer obsession with Fair Isle continues.

Coping

I want to give the biggest hug and thank you to everyone for your comments and e-mails about Shadow.  We're coping.  Some moments are absolutely the worst and other moments are better.  We miss him terribly but are trying to adjust to life without our furry friend.  Your thoughts and kind words are a comfort and I appreciate them.  Thank you so much.

In Memory of Shadow

This has not been a very good day.  This has been a very sad day.  This morning we lost our dearest, sweetest, most precious Shadow puppy.

He hadn't been himself for the last couple of weeks and this morning he was worse so my husband took him to the vet.  He was in the vet's examining room when his heart gave out.  Very quick and unexpected.  And from what my husband and the vet said, fairly painless.

I found this poem this evening which made me cry - again - but it helps.

He had a heart.

He had a soul.

He had a purpose.

He had a goal.

On my heels, or in my lap.

Protecting me while I took a nap.

He wasn’t just a dog to me.

He was a friend you see.

Always happy to see me.

Always eager to please.

Just having him by my side

Put my mind at ease.

He wasn’t just a dog you see,

He was part of our family.

It’s so hard to let him go.

I miss him so much.

His wet kisses and his furry touch.

But I know he’s in Heaven,

And I know he’s okay.

But I just want to hold him

For at least one more day.

Because he wasn’t just a dog to me,

He was momma’s baby.