Not Just Talent

While meandering around at the Farmer's Market yesterday, I found a gal who was selling wool at her booth. being the fiber addict that I am, I couldn't help but strike up a converstaion with her about her sheep and the wool she was selling. Her wool was very nice quality; very clean with a beautiful length and luster. However, I only brought $8 with me, intending to buy some fabric for a skirt, and I knew she was probably selling the wool for more than what I had.

Curious though, I asked how much she was asking for it. She smiled and said, "I'll sell it to you for twenty."

"Oh." :-/ I told her that I would come back next week, since I didn't have enough with me today.

"Well, how much do you have?" She inquired.

After telling her my grand total that was in my purse [wink], she smiled again and said: "Done! I'll sell it to you for $8!" :D

It wasn't until I got in the van that I looked at the price tag on the bag of wool. She was originally selling it for $30!!

I was also given a pound of mohair (it comes from angora goats and is super silky) for free a couple days ago too. :)

Dad says I have a natural talent for getting things for good prices (or free!), but I think this is a bit more than talent. After all, who else but the lord would know that I've been looking around for that exact kind of wool? Dad thinks I should try asking around for a log splitter now..... ;D

God is so good.....

~Caitlyn

Would I still sing that if....?

All day long I've had the hymm, 'Surely Goodness and Mercy' (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called anyway) stuck in my head. The song pretty much repeats itself saying:

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, all the days of my life."

While quietly singing that, this evening, Dad's pager went off (he and big brother Chris are volunteer firemen) for a structure fire a little ways up in the hills from us. Dad and Chris tore out of the house and began driving to the fire station. They called a few moments later and told us to go outside and look east. There, sure enough, was a black column of smoke rising into the sky, billowing larger and darker each passing minute. We took a walk up a road that gave us a good veiw of the angry pillar and watched the firetrucks, tenders, brush rigs and ambulances zoom up towards their destination.

"There goes Sheridan!"

"Hey, I think I saw dad!"

We watched as Sheridan, West Valley, Amity, Mcminnville and a few other places send their firetrucks, all coming to conquer to fire.

We finally gave up trying to count after truck number 18 and began our way home. The smoke was showing signs that the firefighters were giving it all they had, but it still continued.....

On our way home, I heard mom humming the hymm, and it made me wonder who the people were, that owned the burning house.....

It made me wonder, "could I still sing that hymm, 'Surely goodness and mercy', if I was the one watching my house burn and smolder to the ground?"

It made me wonder, "Would I still find myself humming that song after a tragedy?"

I certainly hope so.

Another song that I feel goes hand in hand with that hymm is the song 'Count Your Blessings."

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed. When you are discouraged thinking all is lost; count you many blessings, name them one by one, and it will suprise you what the Lord has done."

We just need to remember that, no matter what happens, the Lord is there to comfort and guide. We sometimes get caught up with the questions: "Why?" Or "How could a loving God....?"

We just need to trust and obey......

Just a thought..... :)

~Caitlyn

Pictures! (poor quality but they're still pictures!)

Before you go any further, I want to say that the pictures were taken by me and that is why they are of such poor quality. My blog photographer (aka, Emily) told me that I was on my own for pics this evening, so I had to fend for myself. :-/ I'm sure there's some sort of button you can push on the camera to make them turn out better; I just don't know which one it is. ;)

But here are some pics of my new spinning wheel! :D

Yup, a bad shot. Unfortunately the wheel only fits in one spot of our sewing room, and there just happens to be a window right there, which is why it's been so hard for us to take any pictures of it.

one of the names of this kind of wheel is the 'walking wheel' because you do indeed walk back and forth in a slow manner while spinning. Pioneer women would often walk twenty miles in a day spinning on one of these!

Here's a pic of my Ahsford wheel and my kick spindle next to my Great wheel (these huge wheels are known as Great wheels, walking wheels and wool wheels). You can't even see the top of it! :D Suprisingly, it's really light; probably around 12 pounds in all.

Being the odd person that I am, I had to give it a name (yep, I'm strange ;D). My Ashford's name is Patsy and my Great wheel is Melba. For some reason I've always liked the name Melba.... And Elaine..... ;)

~Caitlyn

An All-American Trade

I'm so happy right now! :D You'll never guess what new toy I just got!

I got a beautiful, huge, 6 feet long and 5 feet tall, 100+ year old, Spinning wheel!!

And best of all, I got it for almost free.

I had noticed this wheel on Craigslist about a week ago and fell head-over-heels in love with it at first sight. I later found out that a good friend of ours was the one who owned it. She was selling it for a super good price, but I didn't have enough to buy it, and when she heard that I was interested, she offered to do some bartering. :)

So we traded. She gave me the wheel, and I am baking her some pies!!

It's a perfect, all-American trade. Pies for an American wheel. :D

It's missing a piece, so I can't spin on it just yet; but I found the exact piece I need on ebay for a good price.

My Ashford Traditional wheel looks so tiny next to it. It weighs 17 pounds (the Ashford that is) and I used to think that it was big, until I got this new wheel.

Maybe when I've got it up and running I'll have Emily get a video of it. It's beautiful to watch someone spin on it; it reminds me of doing a slow graceful waltz.....

I will post pictures as soon as possible! Right now the lighting upstairs isn't good enough so Emily and I have to wait until it gets better.

~Caitlyn

Forgive my silence of the late....

But, 'tis the season:

Canning season....


It really does seem like we've canned everything under the sun this summer. From zucchini pickles (suprisingly, they taste like pickles! ;D) to blueberry jam, and everything in between.

~Caitlyn

Errands

I just realized that I have some urgent shopping to do. I've got some pantry needs and stuff to finish projects. Here's my list;

1. A can of striped paint

2. A set of waterproof towels

3. Dried water (good for trips. Just add water!)

4. A can of elbow-grease

5. A bucket of steam

That's all I can think of for now. I'd better take my list with me in case I think of anything else.
I'm off for a fool's errand. :D

~Megan

A forest Gem.....

Wild Trilliums are so lovely.....

I have decided

I have officially decided:

I like it here in Oregon.

We've lived here for thirteen years, but somehow I just couldn't seem to like it. Until now.

It's rainy today, with an ethereal mist slowly creeping down, covering the hills that I have come to love so much. I walked barefoot outside; enjoying the cold and wet.

The sheep poked their adorable faces out from the barn but decided to stay put, rather than coming to see me.

I look around, and think about all the beauty that fills this valley; how could I have ever not liked this state? Everywhere you look you see emerald green, with subtle earth tones blending perfectly. It's so amazing seeing how the Lord created everything so beautifully, so perfectly. From the smooth pebbles in our creek, to the ancient pines that murmer at night.

It is beautiful.

It is perfect.

This is the Oregon that I love.....

~ A blissful Caitlyn

"There is one vision that never fades from the soul,

And that vision is of mother and of home.

No man in all his weary wanderings ever goes out beyond the overshadowing arch of home.

Let him stand on the surf-beaten coast of the Atlantic, or roam over western

wilds and every dash of the wave or murmer of the breeze will whisper

Home, sweet home!"

~ S.C. Ferguson and E.A. Allen

~1882~

A neat, accidental picture

While attending a wedding last Sunday, Emily accidentally took this picture while moving her camera. While it's blurry, it's kind of a neat shot.

But maybe I'm the only one who thinks so? ;)

~Caitlyn

He's starting to get that sweet 'little boy' face....

He's so cute. :D

~Caitlyn

It's Fixed! It's Fixed!

Hurray!! My spinning wheel is officially fixed and working!!

Dad and I took the wheel up to the spinning wheel guy today to see if he could fix it, and he did! He was a really nice man and told us stories while he worked. He's retired and fixes spinning wheels for a hobby; it was so neat seeing all the different wheels that people have brought him to fix. He showed us each wheel, telling where it was made and what was wrong with it. There were wheels made in Germany, Austria, Wales, America (veeery old ones from pilgrim to colonial days!), Finland, Holland, England, Scotland, and who knows where else!

We had been told that he was a nice man, but we weren't expecting him to be as nice as he turned out to be. after working on my wheel, sanding it, putting new leather pieces on, giving us a new scotch brake, giving me a handmade orifice hook, cleaning it, tuning it and some other things, he wouldn't let me pay him!!

His stories were great. He told us about how his great-grandfather escaped from being enlisted into the Franco-Prussian war by stowing away on a cargo ship bound for America, at the age of 17.

He showed us a beautiful wheel that he's been keeping for someone for five years. The gal who it belonged to, disappeared one day and no one knows where she went. The spinning wheel guy searched high and low for her, following every lead, but still couldn't find her. He keeps the wheel in hopes that someday she will return, so he can give it back, fixed, and no charge to her. I like that. :)

And two guesses as to what I am busy doing now! Spinning!! ;D I have missed having a wheel, that's for sure.

~Caitlyn

Time's Up!

Okay! The week is over! I've posted the answers for the Pop quiz, and you may be suprised at some of the answers! Just scroll down to the post "Pop Quiz".

~Megan

What is a Mother Marion Kick Spindle?

So you probably know what a spinning wheel is, but have you ever heard of a mother marion kick spindle? A lot of my friends have asked so I decided to put a picture on here so ya'll can see what I am talking about.

It's basically just a drop spindle that has a little wooden wheel at the bottom and is on a permanent stand. You can either sit or stand while spinning with it and all you do is just give the wheel a whirl and you're spinning! When I get mine I'll have to have Emily get a video.

~Caitlyn

The Power of Prayer

Hello everyone!! It's been a while hasn't it? It's been HOT up here in the hills and while I like heat, 105 degrees has been a leeeeetle much. ;)

So while trying to stay moderately cool I've been working on getting my spinning classes up and running. The Lord has blessed me beyond belief and I should be ready to begin next week!

In the last post I did about spinning lessons, I was having a troublesome time with my wheel and figuring out times and places.

It's so wonderful being able to cast our burdens to the Lord and leave them there, knowing that he will take care of them. I prayed and told the Lord everything and he has worked everything out in the most perfect detail.....

He provided a lovely Mother Marion Kick Spindle that was in my budget. (It should be here by Friday!)

A friend sold me 22 oz. of roving at a wonderful price and then suprised me by giving me 6 more ounces for free!!!

A friend of my mom's offered me her drum carder to use as long as I like. (this was a HUGE blessing as drum carders cost $400 to $700!)

The Lord has given me eight students so far.

I'm getting my spinning wheel fixed hopefully tomorrow.

There's a chance that I may be getting a paying job, spinning yarn for a small yarn company; while staying home!

There is a possibility of my getting another spinning wheel for free! (this is another big blessing, as I could then have a wheel for my own use and then have one for teaching).

A guy up in Clackamas is offering alpaca, llama and sheep wool for $1 a pound! I think we might be going up there in a week or so to get some.

The list continues on and on.....

God is so good! :D

~Caitlyn