Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Very Superstitous

Grandma & Grandpa Burnette--December 1977


When I was growing up, I was fortunate that my Grandpa & Grandma Burnette were my babysitters. Much of my life was shaped by both of them and I would not change it for the world! Both of them taught me wonderful values and that you have to work for what you want.

I do not think that either of them were truly superstitious, but there were certain things that they would always say or do and it rubbed off on me.  I mean, really, why tempt fate?!

Here are some of the ones that I remember and I still do most of them.

Don't rock an empty rocking chair. Grandpa & Grandma both always sat in wooden rocking chairs and I was forever sitting on the couch with my foot on one of the chairs and I would start rocking it. They both always told me that I would have bad luck if I did that.

Always leave a house by the same door that you came in. I typically always went in the back door when I visited them, but sometimes I would start to leave by the front door. Many times, they would be sitting on the front porch and Grandma would always tell me to go back through the house and go out the back door.  I still have a tendency to do this no matter where I am.

Don't open an umbrella in the house. I'm sure that much of the reasoning for this one is so that you do not poke someone in the eye with one of the umbrella ribs, but I still will not open an umbrella in the house because Grandma said that it would be bad luck.

Make an "X" on the windshield when a black cat crosses in front of your car. Grandma used to always tell me of a lady who lived just down the road. If a black cat crossed in front of her, she would refuse to go any further and would return home!  I'm not quite that bad.  Just to be safe, any time that a cat runs in front of my car, I make THREE sets of THREE "X"s on the windshield and I do that no matter what color the cat.

Knock on wood--Always knock on wood after you say something so you will not be tempting fate. An example might be, "Our potatoes are sure growing good this year. I haven't seen a single potato bug so far!"  Always knock on wood.  I still do this one, probably at least 3-4 times per week!

The ever popular "don't walk under a ladder." I suspect that just about everyone has heard this one. Of course, it makes lots of sense because a couple of bad things could happen: If you bumped into the ladder, you might knock someone off of it and of course, you might knock something like a tool or paint bucket off off the ladder onto your head. 

Never say that you are going to so something tomorrow unless you say "if the Lord's willing." My Grandma was a big believer in this one. I remember that I would be so excited that I was going to go stay at a friend's house the next day and I was just chattering on and on about it. Grandma finally told me that I should always say "if the Lord's willing" when I was talking about doing something in the future.

Copyright 2013--All Rights Reserved--The Wheel & Distaff by Kimberly Burnette-Dean

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Fiber Fun--January 26, 2013


Some superwash Merino wool . . .
(Fiber from "The Dyepot")

. . . spun into a 2-ply yarn
Shetland wool spun into a 2-ply yarn
(Fiber from "Sheepish Creations")

"Rapture" superwash wool
(Fiber from "The Dyepot")

. . . fractal spun into singles
(Plied photos still to come!)
Started knitting "The Cowboy Cowl" . . .
. . . from my 2-ply handspun natural Falkland wool
Merino/nylon/wool blend that I just started
spinning into a laceweight yarn
(Fiber from "Sheepish Creations")

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Fiber Fun--January 13, 2013

A project complete!  I finished blocking it today.
I started it on September 22, 2012 and finished it on January 6, 2013
To read more about this project click HERE

Hand-painted commercial sock weight yarn that I dyed today!

"Autumn Splendor" Handspun yarn
Merino
212 yards
2-ply

"Calm Before the Storm" Handspun yarn
Merino/Bamboo/Silk blend
248 yards
2-ply


Friday, January 11, 2013

Folk Sayings #4

Do you use these sayings or have you heard them before?

Since the temps are supposed to be in the 70s tomorrow and it is 1/11/13,
I thought that a glimpse of snow might be nice!

Like a bump on a log.

Sneezing three times in a row is a sign of a stranger coming.

If your ears burn, someone is talking about you. If it is the right one, someone is "talking good" about you, the left, someone is "talking bad" about you.

If your palm itches, you will receive money soon.

If your nose itches, company is coming. Right side a man, left side a woman.

Teach your granny to suck eggs.

To be down in the mouth

If you kill a snake it can still bite you because it is not truly dead until after sundown.

Scarce as hen's teeth.

Old as the hills. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Fun at the St. Distaff's Day Celebration


Yesterday was the first annual St. Distaff's Day Celebration & Yarn Swap at the Vinton Branch Library.  As with most programs that I am involved with, I am always nervous.  Nervous about whether people will attend, nervous about whether they will have a good time, nervous about being nervous!

About 19 people came out for the celebration. We had a mixture of knitters, crocheters, and spinners. Of course, some could do all three! Most of the people who attended lived locally, others drove about 45 minutes. A couple of folks drove almost 1 hour and 45 minutes!

One of the components of the event was the yarn/fiber swap where you could bring yarn or fiber that you wished to trade for something else. Before the drawing began, the trade table was chocked full of yarns of all descriptions, grab bags, fiber, books, and magazines. It was enough to make me a bit giddy!

Here are the items that I traded for:


A grab bag of colors that I plan on weaving into squares
to add to my collection.
Some day I will join them all to make an afghan!

I have never tried boucle yarn, so this will be fun to play with!
Love the colors!

Handmade bamboo size 3 double point needles and handmade case
by Wild Iris Wool, Floyd, VA

4 oz of raw llama
LOVE this color!
I am going to try using wool combs to prepare this

It was a wonderful opportunity to see old friends and to make some new ones. Lots of fun, food, & fiber.  I hope to have this event again next year!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you a blessed New Year!

Godey's Lady's Book February 1849