A tribute to Lady Stardust

This is going to be a sad blog to write but I need to record what a special friend I lost and buried today. Lady Stardust 2012-2016. It was a very sad day yesterday when I awoke to find Stardust dead on the kitchen floor. Everything points to her having eaten poison. She was a hunter and ate everything and that seams to have been her down fall.

Lady Stardust just a cat some may say but the house is so quiet without her. She had such a character she would meet me every time I come home. She would cuddle me when I needed one, sleep on my knee. Follow me and supervise on the smallholding. When I bought animals home and had sick animals she would stand and watch rather then attack them. She been there from the start of this venture and was hoping she would be around for a good few years enjoying the field and the country side. Nothing phased her she was definitely ruler of the roast and me  her mere human.

Don't get me wrong she had her moments mainly when it came to eating human food at times she tried to steal my food. She would pat me on the head once the alarm went off in the morning to make sure I got up and fed her of course.

She would run along the fence wind up the birds, pounce on the mice and even chased a frog. She would come in soaked wet through when it rained I am sure for effect.

Well my very faithful friend you had an excellent life shame it was cut so short as you were a remarkable cat. You will be missed but I am glad you didn't suffer and I am glad I had the honour to share your life.

Farewell my lovely Lady rest in peace.

Operation fleece part three

Carding away 

Waiting for a spring to come for the spinning wheel then will try making some of the below into yarn. 

Have found a book on natural dyes too so in spring will pick and dye. 

The cats are joining in too. Shame I can't get them to card wool! 

Blackberry wars

The weather hasn't been up to much so I left the weeding and pruning of the blackberries. Today first spot of weeding! Before

A bit of terminator action and A few scratches later 

Soon have it cleared!! 

Felt making

Take the below equipment and let's make felt. 

Take some carded wool. 

Place a towel on work surface. Add bamboo mat place carded wool. 

Add netting 

Add water and soap suds

Flatten the wool beat it roll it a few times and then a few times more. 

Roll wool in bamboo may very tightly. Unroll turn 90 degree roll again. Respect quite a few times. 

Repeat rolling a bit more and..........

And a bit more and you have felt. Picture below is me holding up said felt vertically!! 

It worked not bad for first attempt!! 

operation Fleece part two

 

. Before I start Happy New Year.

 

Left the fleece to dry since the last blog it took till this morning to dry!!

 

 

Today I started to card the fleeces to get all the lumps out and make the fleece into more manageable material.

 

from this to this lumpy mess to this................

 

next stage is to carry on carding more wool so I can work with the fleece and make some creations.

 

The sheep I don't know how they carry their fleeces in this rainy wet weather. They seem positively healthy those sheep and cleaner then I expected.

 

Well its a new year and I am already plotting and planning for the coming season. I cant wait to increase my livestock and get planting vegetables!

 

I think stardust needs welly boots its so wet bless her she still insists on talking to the birds. The woodpecker has been absent from the garden since moving the ducks and chickens. However he/she returned today to shy for a picture though!!

 

Chickens and ducks - ducks don't mind the awful weather and splash about in puddles in the rain. The chickens however don't like it!

 

Today we saw blue sky so took the opportunity to repair the shutter that the wind took off its hinges. it and its back to how it was. So all sorted.