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Aug. 22nd, 2006
a closer look at the wasps
Aug. 22nd, 2006 14:02i spent some time this morning identifying these critters. which would have gone faster had i started in the right family, but unfortunately, i had it in my mind that they'd be vespinae. not so; they're polistinae.
( cut because i should really cut all images, but sometimes i forget )
knowing that it's an invader, and seeing just how much the population has grown here in the last couple of years means i should really destroy these nests, *sigh*. i find this excruciatingly difficult.
( cut because i should really cut all images, but sometimes i forget )
knowing that it's an invader, and seeing just how much the population has grown here in the last couple of years means i should really destroy these nests, *sigh*. i find this excruciatingly difficult.
distraction
Aug. 22nd, 2006 22:47to get away from the decision about the wasps, i drove down to duncan today, to the tiny, packed to the rafters yarn store run by a dutch woman, because i wanted to get my hands on a proper drop spindle instead of fiddling with my homemade one -- just to see what it should feel like. she only had one, and it's a bit on the large side, but since it's by ashford, and a high whorl to boot, i am happy with that. it's 3.5" diameter and weighs 2.76 oz.
even more happiness resulted from the 8-pound bag of dark brown sheep fleece she had sitting outside for C$20. OMG. it's nice, soft fleece too, though she didn't know what breed. i'm thinking maybe shetland, though that would be an unbelievable bargain -- 4.5" staple and nicely crimped; about 7 crimps per inch, ends not a whole lot lighter -- unwashed, but very little cruft in the fleece. it might be some kind of crossbreed.
so here i am sitting, spinning in the grease, straight from the fleece; i've only picked out a few bits of straw. wow, this really is nice. the spindle is heavier than my homemade one, and the lanolin makes the yarn glide very nicely. i'm already spinning a more even size, after just 10 minutes, and without preparing the wool at all. mmmh, i love the smell of sheep.
even more happiness resulted from the 8-pound bag of dark brown sheep fleece she had sitting outside for C$20. OMG. it's nice, soft fleece too, though she didn't know what breed. i'm thinking maybe shetland, though that would be an unbelievable bargain -- 4.5" staple and nicely crimped; about 7 crimps per inch, ends not a whole lot lighter -- unwashed, but very little cruft in the fleece. it might be some kind of crossbreed.
so here i am sitting, spinning in the grease, straight from the fleece; i've only picked out a few bits of straw. wow, this really is nice. the spindle is heavier than my homemade one, and the lanolin makes the yarn glide very nicely. i'm already spinning a more even size, after just 10 minutes, and without preparing the wool at all. mmmh, i love the smell of sheep.