A Gift
☆ August 31, 2010
My sister came to visit. Along with her cute self, she brought me this spinning wheel. I inherited this spinning wheel from Grammy, my grandmother, when she died four years ago. This grandmother is not to be confused with svensto, my other grandmother, who is still alive and well and blogging at age 90.
Grammy lived to 90 as well. She lived on her own, self-sufficient and driving until the very end. All I ever saw her consume were Cheetos, rum and Coke, and Misty menthol lights. When I lived in Santa Barbara and then San Francisco, I’d drive up to visit her in Sacramento. We’d smoke and play cards and look at all her old photographs and tell eachother our most outrageous stories.
About a week before her 90th birthday, she had a stroke, and died a few days after her birthday. Since I am selfish and honest, I did not go to see her with the rest of my extended family during her last week. We spoke on the phone, but, since my brain works in pictures, I didn’t want to remember her strapped to a bed with tubes all over. Selfish and honest, as I said, but I’ve never regretted my choice to stay in Wyoming as she died. She was a rebel herself, she understood.
She left me this spinning wheel and all the old photographs we used to pour over. The spinning wheel was her mother’s; Grammy didn’t even know how to use it. It has been in a bag, in pieces, at my parents’ house for the last four years, but earlier this summer, my sister drove out to Seattle and picked it up for me while she was there, and then brought it with her when she came to visit.
This will be my winter project: learning to spin.
And this is Grammy, the James Dean of grandmothers:
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August 31st, 2010 @ 6:54 am
What a wonderful gift! It won’t take you all winter to learn. I think it is a part of us! Very meditative practice.
Holding on to our ways of the grandmothers – never regrettable – even the Cheetos, rum, coke and menthols…..savor!
August 31st, 2010 @ 6:55 am
check out the heart on those glasses…grammy be stylin’ =o)
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:00 am
What a beautiful wheel! Spinning is a lovely thing to learn. I find it to be quite meditative, and there’s nothing like knitting with handspun.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:03 am
The wheel looks to be in pretty decent shape and it’s lovely! I suspect the wheel itself may be on backwards, since I don’t see a crank where I expect to see one. Only the last picture shows a treadle, but you may have taken it off for the other pictures.
It looks like you have the bobbin & flyer assembly. That’s the bit that often gets lost on antique wheels. I can’t tell from the pictures if you have the flyer whorl too.
There are lots of resources on the internet
for spinning instruction. It amuses me that such a modern technology has come into service in aid of such an old, old skill.
And your grandmother sounds lovely.
signed,
handspinner for 25 years
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:09 am
ok, now i’m really jealous. as a spinner 1) OMG THAT WHEEL and 2) omg, spinning in your world!
having said that, it’s all about drafting. well, ok, not all, but a lot ;)
enjoy!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:11 am
What a wonderful legacy your Grammy passed on to you. (my grandson calls me Gammy) I have been a frustrated spinner for years and have tried a hand spindle with some success. I am so envious of your spinning wheel. We had a Samoyed dog (Cody, beautiful and pure white) several years ago and I have saved his hair to spin. He shed bag fulls twice a year. It is so soft and warm. If anyone knows of a source for good used spinning wheels, please let me know, I would love one.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:12 am
BTW Shreve, are you going to get some sheep now?
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:14 am
OK, what is drafting?!?!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:16 am
Sharon ~ I need more land with more grass before I get sheep, but I would love a small flock someday!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:17 am
Once you have learned to spin …Have you thought of saving Charlie’s shed winter coat and spinning it ?. A read an interesting book written by a couple that reared a Wolf and eventually had enough spun yarn to knit a sweeter
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:18 am
“The James Dean of grandmothers” – I love it!!!
I think your Grammy and my Gamma would have gotten along! When Gamma died, I inherited her light up platform shoes and her light up earrings (the kind with the battery pack that has to be hidden in your beehive by your hairdresser). One of the things she taught me to do was to order a drink from the VFW bar. All I had to say was, “It’s for Pearl” and they gave me a brown drink in a small glass (plus a Coke with a cherry in it for myself).
Yeah, Grammy and Gamma are buds in Heaven!
Wonderful photos, by the way. I always get lost in your photos and your stories. Thank you!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:35 am
Since I have sheep, I learned how to spin just so I could answer fiber questions and learned that spinning is a most marvelous pursuit. It brings one to a meditative place, very spiritual. And it connects me right back with the ancestors, those women who lived before me. I feel them over my should sometimes. This fall I will send you a box of fiber from my ‘girls’ if you will send me an address.
And somehow I have a feeling you will be finding your grandmother with you…
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:38 am
A small flock of sheep sounds lovely, but maybe coyotes and sheep don’t mix too well, lol. I also hear that sheep aren’t the brightest of animals, but they always look so peaceful.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:44 am
What a gorgeous wheel! I suppose you’ve no shortage of fleece, but if you want to try some Shetland wool, let me know. I’m sure we’ve a bag to spare. ;) Shetlands are a fantastic breed for starting shepherds, too: small, hardy, and smart enough to keep life interesting.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:50 am
What a wonderful gift! I think you will enjoy spinning very much! The Interweave Press web site has excellent free brochures to download as well as guild listings to help you along if you don’t have someone close by to help you learn.
http://spinoffmagazine.com/media/p/748.aspx
http://spinoffmagazine.com/media/p/246.aspx
http://www.interweave.com/spin/resources/spinning_guilds/
Might there be a sheep in your future? :-)
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:56 am
Those are the best kind of grandmothers.. i have one. She lives in Alaska. I miss her.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:05 am
Wonderful! And the sight of the spinning wheel reminded me of something I have not thought about in years. There was a spinning wheel much like that in my great-uncle’s upstairs way back when I was about 5 (51 now). How I wish I knew whose it had been and what happened to it. It’s such a gift to have a treasure like that from your family.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:06 am
What a hard core woman… I wish I could’ve listened to her stories because this photograph just screams “good story teller.”
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:18 am
I had a granny like that – she smoked and drank her wine up until she died at the age of 96 a couple of years ago. She was kinda mean and ornery but I miss her.
Charlie hair would make a nice blanket.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:22 am
The picture of your Grammy brought tears to my eyes. Love that photo. Like Danielle, I would have love to hear some of those stories.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:26 am
“my brain works in picture”. That’s how I feel too.
I’m going to visit my Grandma in Troy MT in a couple of weeks. She just turned 90 in July. She’s a treasure for sure. Living an independent life, gardening, reading and drinking wine from a box.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:29 am
That’s a wonderful story, as all your stories are! May your Grammy rest in peace in heaven! How about a few llamas?
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:35 am
Wow! You can be your very own “Sleeping Beauty”. Just don’t stick your finger on the wheel. Your babies need you! And Mike is your “Prince Charming”.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:37 am
Drafting = pulling out a little bit of fiber at a time so that you can spin it into yarn. Check out Abby Franquemont’s intro to spinning video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPUORvO-GZE
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:46 am
Hi Shreve, when you get ready, send me an email and I’ll send you some lovely alpaca fiber to spin, (for free!). I have 10 alpacas in colors from white to black and some pretty patterns too.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:47 am
To clarify, patterned ALPACAS!
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:56 am
When my mom finally passed after an illness, I regret there wasn’t enough time to call one of my sister home as we had planned, the end just came too quick. However, I am glad she will never have the pictures I have in my head of her last breaths. It was an honor to be there, but also no shame for those who can’t bear it.
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:02 am
Now you can spin all that fur that comes off Charlie in the spring instead of sending it out to be spun. Next thing you know, your etsy shop will feature Charlie-wear!
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:25 am
welcome fellow spinner….you will quickly become an addict (although i prefer a drop spindle myself.) BTW, my mammaw and your granny could be twins…….right dwon tot he cigs they smoked…. what a long and lovely life…mine only made it to 86….
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:36 am
You know, someone will have to knit what you spin. (I -ahem- know someone who would be happy to do that.) And you really can spin Charlie’s undercoat! It will be such lovely yarn. I can imagine the lightest softest shawl… Check out Ravelry.com for inspiration, help and general fibery goodness. Look for me there: I’m ‘fuzzycakes’.
‘The James Dean of grandmothers’ What a fabulous epitaph.
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:39 am
OH sooo envious. What a beautiful wheel! You will love spinning. Can’t wait to see what you make!
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:48 am
I am so sorry about your grandmother, I made a similar decision about my grandpa, the proud US Marine, and left for the coast with my best friend (my horse) when I knew he would be gone in days. He was such a massively strong presence in my life its just not how I wanted to remember him and I still don’t regret it even though I think it hurt my mother. Hold on to your memories and learn to spin, she probably already knows you will… my heart is with you.
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:49 am
Found some info on drafting here:
http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/begin2spin.shtml
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:02 am
wonderful tribute to your grammy….You will be using that spinning wheel ..and be great at it…I’ll bet in no time…! Marlene
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:11 am
I had a spinning wheel that looks just like yours.My son & his wife have it now.It was brought from Sweden around 1850.Some of the parts are leather.My son & his wife are both archaeologists that specialize in perishable artifacts—wood,fiber,textiles.leather,baskets etc.My daughter-in-law may use it as she has a special interest in textiles.I will be very interested to see what you spin—-coyote combings? I have had Pekingese & I always wanted to spin their long lovely hair. CHarlie has wonderful color shades.
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:11 am
The wheel is beautiful. And so is the photo of your Grammy, even the picture carries a remarkable presence.
Have a great day.
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:49 am
ohmygoodness! your grandma’s blog is touching. love that she’s 90 and using a computer! Wish I could get my Grandma on one!
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:51 am
Oh my gosh, yes memories are best left in pictures of the heart. I totally understand that being a visual person myself. At some point in time I would like to send you our song “Spindle” that we just release off of a Cassidy Haley album. It’s about all the demons that chase us… the old story of poison apple seed, loss and redemption in rock techno form. As a rebel, I think you would enjoy it. The name of the band is SunShine Rebels LOL you should relate well. Have a glorious, sunshine filled day with sweet, fun memories of your Grammy! ~A~
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:55 am
My grandmother had a spinning wheel too, sitting next to her dining nook in the A-frame house my dad and uncles built for her. She did know how to use it, and used to have a career knitting handmade sweaters. They were in demand! (In my little childhood Canadian town at least) I used to play with it when I was small, having no idea what I was doing. Fond memories :) I’d forgotten until just now, thank you.
***I do hope you’ve quit smoking by now***
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:13 am
That is a beautiful spinning wheel. My girlfriend has one similar to this and her mom has an entire modern set up for spinning and dying.
Anyway, she has a garden and grows plants specifically made to become dyes for her yarn. There are many books on amazon for growing a dyers garden! (Interesting side story, here in Texas – and probably most other states – it’s illegal for her to grow the small amount of cotton that she does in that same garden due to the boll weevil eradication program).
Anyway, might I also recommend a few angora rabbits? They’re wonderful pets and they create beautiful, soft yarn.
Anyway, good luck with your new hobby!
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:15 am
Shreve, I didn’t want to go to my Grandfather’s funeral (open casket) because the last thing I see is the first thing I remember. I didn’t want to have to get past the corpse in the casket before I could remember his smile and him always having a toothpick in his mouth. I completely understand.
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:30 am
what a great grandmother! i’m sure she was quite proud of you.
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:36 am
Awesome. Enjoy your spinning wheel and your memories. I agree with you. It sucks to have your last memory of someone you love to be them in bed sick…Ugh. I love the picture.
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:50 am
I lost my beloved mother-in-law a few weeks ago. She was 94. We decided not to have a funeral because none of us wanted to remember her that way. Instead, we share stories and pictures and continue to love her. She, too, lived alone until a stroke just days before her death. It’s what she wanted and I’m glad that she went that way instead of lingering in a nursing home.
August 31st, 2010 @ 12:04 pm
Grandmothers are a true jewel in the fabric of all our lives. They are the past and the future and eternal part of us that will always be that little piece of unconditional love. I lost my “Mutch” many years ago but her witty, dogged and unrelenting love for me always stays with me during both the light and dark times. That’s a wonderful gift.
August 31st, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
We can see where some of your spirit comes from! What an individual!
By the way, there are two words that sound the same (pore, pour) but are different. When used to mean go through stuff the word pore, as in ” we used to pore over those things together,” is the one. On the other hand, you pour out water, or your feelings.
August 31st, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
I love your descrription of your grammie – the James Dean of grandmothers! You were a blessing to her, just as she was to you. I am glad to hear you embraced her for who she was, I wish more of us could do that with each other!
Enjoy the love in the wheel! And excellent meditation tool as well!
August 31st, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
A lovely tribute to your grandmother, including your decision on how you wanted to remember her. The way you describe her, it’s clear she understood, even approved.
Here’s a poem I wrote for my sister, mother and aunt, all witnesses to my maternal grandmother’s passing…
Legacy.
A torch of blood, a torch of years;
a family’s strong deep strong.
A mother’s breath, three daughters’ tears;
the stars can cast no wrong.
Words flow and ebb, her legacy sings;
in memory, faces, lives.
The story runs on, our loss still stings,
but to be true we still can try.
August 31st, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
My mother’s mother was Grammy, too, and an iconoclast. She was college graduate _and_ a fashion model in 1917, and married Grampy – a doctor – instead of marrying the local farmer and raising chicks and children. She became the town librarian. Tall, black haired and black eyed, skin as white as paper. She taught me to read before I was five. I honor her to this day.
And you have a spinning wheel! Congratulations! I like to spin but had to give it up when arthritis got into my right hand, darn it. You will enjoy the scent of the wool, the feel of the thread, and the sound… it’s wonderful. Do you plan to clean and card your wool as well? That’s the task I didn’t like, so I usually bought cleaned, carded undyed wool, dark brown for preference. I look forward to seeing the results of your spinning, though Eli might want to “help” too. :-)
August 31st, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
Great source for Wyoming wool roving
http://www.wyowoolworks.com/
and there is that place between Worland and Thermop. Can’t remember the name.
August 31st, 2010 @ 1:37 pm
Recently a friend got a spinning wheel too, and plans to use it in her tapestry projects. She even found a tutor!
Maybe she’ll share her progress on her blog:
http://shannawheelock.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-beginnings-in-teaching-and-art.html
August 31st, 2010 @ 2:47 pm
what a wonderful way to remember & connect with your grandmother plus the spinning sounds like fun – i second the angora rabbit suggestion! i’m imagining that charlie may want to interact with the wool & look forward to hearing about that, too! your grammy sounds like a great person – mine was a bit of a hellraiser in her youth too (founding member of the ilgwu & a communist) – i think we’ve both inherited a good part of that rebel spirit!
and, as always, your photos, writing, & sharing are a joy – thank you!
August 31st, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
I agree with you about not wanting a mental picture of your beloved in a hospital with tubes coming out of her. My Dad died last October. Neither my brother nor I got back to CT before he died. The funeral director asked if we wanted to see his body, and we both replied “no.” My last mental picture of Dad is him and Mom waving from their porch as I drove away a few months before Dad died. Much happier that way.
Back to the subject of spinning, has anyone made anything out of that beautiful “Charlie Wool” that you showed us a while back?
August 31st, 2010 @ 3:52 pm
Gosh– you’ve gotten lots of offers of materials to spin… you have the best readers!
I don’t have any spinning stories to spin (hee) but absolutely LOVE your granny’s pic. The rhinestone heart is ~priceless~!
August 31st, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
Sally, those saddle blankets are fantastic ! I love the front pictures with the mules, dogs and cow boys. I get such great addresses from you guys !
I am old enough to have watch my grandma spin wool( she passed in 1975 at the age of 95). Back home you had to spin,and knit everything. My mom had a modern knitting machine, she was so proud of it. Grandma would spin though, and talk and talk and laugh a lot…Gee, that picture sent me back a way !!! Your grandma looks like my mum, 84, smoking. Selfish but honest, I like it.
and drinking a glass of wine and reminiscing, never complaining, doing her thing.
August 31st, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
My grandmother came to this country all by herself from Hungary at the age of 16. She married and made a life and never spoke of Hungary. Tough, strong women breed tough, strong women. She died 25 yrs ago and I wish I had talked to her more. And I wish I didn’t go see her in the hospital also – no shame in wanting to be selfish that way.
Love the spinning wheel, my sister is a “spinner.” She goes to fiber fairs!
August 31st, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
Lovely! That’s a wonderful story, and she sounds amazing! I can’t wait to see what you make with the spinning wheel!
August 31st, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
What a wonderful memory of your Grammy!
See if you can find “The Care and Feeding of Spinning Wheels” (I think that’s the title). It’s out of print but it’s so worth buying or borrowing, especially when starting on an older wheel. And try working with a drop spindle for a little bit first, it really helps get the rhythm down for handling the fibre!
August 31st, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
Beautiful wheel–welcome to the addiction!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
I have a wheel exactly like that. Your wheel is really old. Mine has documentation that says it’s from the seventeen hundreds.
Now on to the rest. My grandmom was the only person on earth who got me. She used to race the trains with her quarter horse. She refused to send her picture to the huge ranch where she applied as a teacher, because she looked too young. At the age of 22, she went alone to teach the ranch hands’ children. She was the most amazing women I have ever known and I will miss her until the day I die.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:17 pm
Your grandmother was one special lady – what a beautiful soul. I always have admired those who move against the grain, and give love and nurture those they so love and care for! You are one lucky lady Shreve – can tell how much she meant to you and shaped you to be the free spirit you are! My grandmother was the rock of my life too!
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:27 pm
I wonder…. if you could use Charlie’s winter coat when it sheds to create yarn? It would be an interesting idea.
You are a very blessed person to have two such wonderful strong grandmothers. I read your other grandmothers blog each weekend and smile at her grit and wit.
August 31st, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
Hello ! I read your blog every so often. Growing up in a city all my life, sometimes I yearn for a different lifestyle. However before I actually go around to achieving it, I’ll be content with reading your stories.
I remember you mention something about Charlie fur on your Charlieblog some time back. Why don’t you try to spin some Charlie yarn ?
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
Wow, what a badass! No wonder then, where you get it from.
Grandmas rule.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:20 pm
What a wonderful gift grandmothers are. :)
Good luck with your new learning project.
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
Shreve, your stories are spellbinding…just never know how they will end.
Your spinning wheel brought back memories of when I was small and had a toy called the little red spinning wheel. It was fun then to spin and I can only imagine the wonderful winter you will have spinning. Sure beats a “spinning” exercise class for relaxation. :-)
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:40 pm
Shreve–So much to love about your blog today. I’ll keep it short; just wanted to let you know.
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
Grammy rocks!
August 31st, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
I too love the post today. The spinny thing looks way too cool and who wouldn’t love to learn how to do that! Your Grammy sounds like she was a total riot and someone who was probably fascinating to sit and listen to. You are not selfish and I love your honesty. You probably have her feisty spirit, no doubt!
August 31st, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
NICE!
August 31st, 2010 @ 11:43 pm
I couldn’t bring myself to go to the hospital when they put my beloved uncle — my “other dad” — on a respirator to give his deteriorating lungs a rest. Other people in my family went…and have described his suffering. I felt weak about this, until the morning he died very, very early in his own bed, and I stood there holding hands with my aunt, my last memory of him peaceful.
I had two grandmothers too, of course; never knew my dad’s mother, a Scottish immigrant who died when my father was just 13. However my mom’s mother, whose parents came here from Norway, was crazy funny. She spilled almost a whole can of black pepper into the hash she was making, served it and told everyone it was “pepper hash.” She dressed up and banged on the living room window to scare the hell out of my cousin when there was an urban legend of an unusual creature on the loose in our area. She told terrible jokes; she said she stopped at a farm once and the farmer’s chickens got loose and he yelled “Quick! Catch my cock and pullet!!” She laughed when my grandfather broke wind.
Spinning I don’t know. Nana, I do, and I lost her suddenly at age 79, waaaaaay too soon.
September 1st, 2010 @ 12:41 am
My, my, my…ain’t she GRAND?!?!
Spinning, now that is oh-so-meditative…a most perfect winter enterprise for a rebel :>]]
September 1st, 2010 @ 7:13 am
What a great gift, and a way for Grammy to live on through you! Even though she didn’t spin, she recognized the wheel’s value. I’m sure you’ll make good use of it, and maybe add a sheep or two to your farmily…
September 1st, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
[…] or not. After careful consideration I decided against it and I made this decision, to quote another blogger – because I’m ‘selfish and […]
September 1st, 2010 @ 1:48 pm
For fun I went to Sventso’s blog..I LOVE IT..she is an adorable woman and I look forward to reading more!!
September 1st, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
Wonderful! Love your “James Dean of grandmothers” and that fabulous heart on her glasses!
September 1st, 2010 @ 3:24 pm
I love it beautiful Charlie is still with you…can’t wait to hear what will be spun from your Grammy’s gift. I must say with great respect, you come by “it” honestly. Good for you.
September 1st, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
I can see it now. Next you’ll be buying sheep. At least that will give Chloe something do to all day.
September 1st, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
Wow, Shreve —
I have one that looks exactly like that, and it came from my greatgrandmother, too. There must have been something about western women a century ago…
I’ve gotten into a lot of fiber projects, but not yet trying to spin. I had a friend who does spin look at it years ago, and she was very dismissive that it was for spinning flax fibers into linen thread. I think she said that based on the shape of the “thingy” that is supported horizontally between the two small posts opposite the big wheel. I think you’ll need some string to go around the big wheel and the little wheel part of the “thingy” so that the rotations caused by pumping the floor pedal will transfer from the big wheel to the little wheel.
I have some lovely merino roving which is said to be a great material to start handspinning. I’m sure your local sheep farmers have resources where they send their fleeces to be cleaned and processed.
I think it would be a huge amount of work for you to learn from sheep to yarn, because the kind of sheep around there probably have short staple wool (i.e. short hairs) which are harder to learn to spin. Merino has a longer smooth staple. It took me a while to learn to card newly sheared fleece so that I had consistent flat mats of it on the cards.
But so fun and cool! Can’t wait to hear more!
September 1st, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
Granny got BLING with the rhinestone heart on her glasses! She be cool!
September 2nd, 2010 @ 7:52 am
great story
September 2nd, 2010 @ 9:23 am
Oh wow, it’s so weird to all my interests collide in one blog. I love Charlie and Chloe and Ricardo and Frisco and the rest of the Farmily, and I love to knit and spin. Weird.
Can’t wait to see your first skeins! Best of luck, don’t get discouraged when you start – even ugly yarn knits up nicely ;)
Virtual hugs and kisses to all of you!
September 2nd, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
I was sitting here, crying. Then, “The James Dean of Grandmothers” made me laugh. Spin light, spin well…
Bless darlin’ woman…
September 3rd, 2010 @ 4:07 pm
You can just see the lanolin on that wheel! Gorgeous! And your James Grammy Dean too!
September 4th, 2010 @ 11:46 am
You should spin DOGHAIR! i mean..COYOTE HAIR? or make friends with someone who has a bunch of sled dogs.. :)
September 5th, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
now you can spin to your hearts content, with grammy in your heart…we had sheep on a farm in Ireland and I befriended a “pet lamb”…well he grew up big and strong and whenever I came home to visit, when he saw me he broke from the flock and came “barrelling” down the hill to greet me!
my mum, now 86, taught me how to txt! and we send messages now every day.
September 5th, 2010 @ 6:44 pm
I just came across a book on spinning that I bought for school. I’m excessing all of my classroom books but decided to keep this one because it teaches spinning not only with a wheel but also a drop spindle and I wanted to learn drop spindle.
September 7th, 2010 @ 12:42 am
Love the picture of your grandma! Her glasses are so fly.
October 4th, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
Jaimie (#27) – what a lovely post and so greatly appreciated; I couldn’t agree more.
My grandma died recently @ 101. She was an itty-bitty Southern belle, but make no mistake about it, she was a spitfire and had the James Dean spirit written all over your Grammy’s marvelous face. She could smile and look way too adorable while she gently shredded someone to pieces, and they never knew what hit ’em.
April 23rd, 2017 @ 6:38 am
Ohso Modern Enjoy Twirling
[…] or years and have tried a hand spindle with some success. I am so envious of you […]