There is nothing like a cattle dog. Just hearing you clearing your throat, and she's back to you. A dear friend said that the cattle dogs were off leash in San Francisco since they're recall was so amazing.
That is so cool to hear about San Francisco —and have my own experience confirmed. Beryl is my third cattle dog and I have to agree that there is nothing like them at all.
How lovely to have those pears and plums! And little zucchinis and squash! Sounds like a bit of heaven to me. Giving the knitting it's due for keeping you happy on your travels is so wise. As well as letting it become a better fit. It is such lovely yarn!
I do feel so fortunate to have all the pears and plums for the picking (and processing and eating). Such abundance feels like — well— abundance—and is ever to be treasured. At least until I’ve eaten it all! One nice thing about yarn though —it’s like you get to eat it again and again 😂
Funny, all that twisting and spinning, but wind just blew through my brain like the hot howler that brought trees down yesterday. Huh? find?! ... Thanks for stringing us along! ... Wish Beryl could teach my girls a thing or two about subtleties.
How difficult it must be to learn English with words like wind/wind. I’ve just started spinning again after a gap of about 40 years and have discovered the utter joy of making good yarn not knowing what I will use it for. And unraveling knits that weren’t comfy enough to make something better.
Welcome back to spinning! I’m thrilled to hear this and am wondering if your hands feel all at ease even after 40 years? “Oh yes, we know how to do this—just give us a minute or two to practice and we’re off…”
Hi Sarah, all this talk about Milkweed! I’ve never used (for cordage or spinning). You’ve mentioned this time of year a good time to pick. I’m going to try it! Then what? Do I pound or break up stems to get the fibres out? Do I need to rhett like nettles or flax? Please, If this requires a long answer maybe just direct me to somewhere you’ve described it all before!🥰 Enjoying your stories so much 🤗
I wil add to these that before peeling the outside fiber filled “skin/bark” off of the stalks, you can also stand on the stalks to split/ mash them, then open them up and kind of bend backwards so the inner stiff stalk pieces break off — thus peeling the inner stalk off of the bark if you will, instead of peeling the bark off the stalks as in the first video of the post. Hope this helps!!!!
Also — some people do ret the stalks, but personally I’ve found that the fiber is prettier (whiter anyway) and stronger if I peel it out this time of year as in the videos. You can also, however, let the stalks stand into/through the winter an let the weather do the retting for you, in which case the process is much the same except hte strands are a lovely grayish color, not quite as strong, and you can get them off with much the same process, as shown in the videos in this post: https://sarahcswett.substack.com/p/drunk-on-nettles-n-milkweed
I read this as I also just returned from a journey through Kansas and Colorado and just now, back to New Mexico. In Colorado along highway 50 I saw a large stand of milkweed. You came immediately to mind. There was not time or space to gather but someday I will try this project.
What a grand sounding road trip! Three glorious states—and I love to know that milkweed called to you from the roadside, if only as a purveyor of dreams.
I agree English is weird. Wind, find. Wind, ....finned??😁 I'm the same, disoriented after travel. Maybe because I'm out of travel practise? or the noise of travel reverberates in my mind after?
I love that phrase, “the noise of travel reverberates in my mind after.” I think it is so true. So much to absorb in bodies that were designed to move a good deal more slowly and absorb things at an engine-free walking pace!
I love that you are harvesting all you can now! I too, am in the garden today after 2 weeks of rain. Gleaning the last of some, and pulling it up. Cotton is drying out and popping, so that stays! The trees on the mountain are beginning to turn a bit. Just in time, for next weekend is Colorfest in our town! Fall gives us such a refreshing change in our minds, doesn’t it? Fall On, y’all! 😃🥰
There is nothing like a cattle dog. Just hearing you clearing your throat, and she's back to you. A dear friend said that the cattle dogs were off leash in San Francisco since they're recall was so amazing.
That is so cool to hear about San Francisco —and have my own experience confirmed. Beryl is my third cattle dog and I have to agree that there is nothing like them at all.
That blue/green color palette 😍
How lovely to have those pears and plums! And little zucchinis and squash! Sounds like a bit of heaven to me. Giving the knitting it's due for keeping you happy on your travels is so wise. As well as letting it become a better fit. It is such lovely yarn!
I do feel so fortunate to have all the pears and plums for the picking (and processing and eating). Such abundance feels like — well— abundance—and is ever to be treasured. At least until I’ve eaten it all! One nice thing about yarn though —it’s like you get to eat it again and again 😂
I am so comforted by this post. Thank you!
You are so welcome. And thank you for saying this.
Funny, all that twisting and spinning, but wind just blew through my brain like the hot howler that brought trees down yesterday. Huh? find?! ... Thanks for stringing us along! ... Wish Beryl could teach my girls a thing or two about subtleties.
And tonight I happily raveled a sweater that just wasn't going to make it. More colors now for my bag on a box!
Hurrah for raveling and beginning again with a fresh outlook and pile of treasure. So darned much fun.
How difficult it must be to learn English with words like wind/wind. I’ve just started spinning again after a gap of about 40 years and have discovered the utter joy of making good yarn not knowing what I will use it for. And unraveling knits that weren’t comfy enough to make something better.
Welcome back to spinning! I’m thrilled to hear this and am wondering if your hands feel all at ease even after 40 years? “Oh yes, we know how to do this—just give us a minute or two to practice and we’re off…”
Hi Sarah, all this talk about Milkweed! I’ve never used (for cordage or spinning). You’ve mentioned this time of year a good time to pick. I’m going to try it! Then what? Do I pound or break up stems to get the fibres out? Do I need to rhett like nettles or flax? Please, If this requires a long answer maybe just direct me to somewhere you’ve described it all before!🥰 Enjoying your stories so much 🤗
Hi Val — Just went looking through the archives (because of course I have neglected to label anything) and found a post from last November with several videos of process! Hurrah. https://sarahcswett.substack.com/p/the-purpose-of-no-purpose
I wil add to these that before peeling the outside fiber filled “skin/bark” off of the stalks, you can also stand on the stalks to split/ mash them, then open them up and kind of bend backwards so the inner stiff stalk pieces break off — thus peeling the inner stalk off of the bark if you will, instead of peeling the bark off the stalks as in the first video of the post. Hope this helps!!!!
Also — some people do ret the stalks, but personally I’ve found that the fiber is prettier (whiter anyway) and stronger if I peel it out this time of year as in the videos. You can also, however, let the stalks stand into/through the winter an let the weather do the retting for you, in which case the process is much the same except hte strands are a lovely grayish color, not quite as strong, and you can get them off with much the same process, as shown in the videos in this post: https://sarahcswett.substack.com/p/drunk-on-nettles-n-milkweed
Thank you so much Sarah for all this Very helpful info! I’ll look back at those back posts too!
I read this as I also just returned from a journey through Kansas and Colorado and just now, back to New Mexico. In Colorado along highway 50 I saw a large stand of milkweed. You came immediately to mind. There was not time or space to gather but someday I will try this project.
What a grand sounding road trip! Three glorious states—and I love to know that milkweed called to you from the roadside, if only as a purveyor of dreams.
What a good girl!
I agree English is weird. Wind, find. Wind, ....finned??😁 I'm the same, disoriented after travel. Maybe because I'm out of travel practise? or the noise of travel reverberates in my mind after?
I love that phrase, “the noise of travel reverberates in my mind after.” I think it is so true. So much to absorb in bodies that were designed to move a good deal more slowly and absorb things at an engine-free walking pace!
Videos of your walks with Beryl are so soothing and uplifting. Thank you.
OH, I am so glad. Spurs me on to keep doing it. Videoing that is. The walking happens no matter what (cuz Beryl insists and so do my legs…)
A good post. Plenty of Beryl amongst all the excellent fruit and thread. Thank you.
You are so welcome. More this week I hope! Sending hugs across the pond.
I love that you are harvesting all you can now! I too, am in the garden today after 2 weeks of rain. Gleaning the last of some, and pulling it up. Cotton is drying out and popping, so that stays! The trees on the mountain are beginning to turn a bit. Just in time, for next weekend is Colorfest in our town! Fall gives us such a refreshing change in our minds, doesn’t it? Fall On, y’all! 😃🥰
"Cotton is drying out and popping" -- what a marvelous and evocative phrase.
And
And Colorfest??? What a marvelous way for a town to celebrate itself in autumn.