I thought I would give an update on my three remaining hens. They are all over seven years old. The Faverolles I raised from chicks, and the black star came to us through a family member later, but is about the same age. It took me this long to realize the dried insect bits I use as treats last longer if I throw them out into the run where the hens have to search for them in the leaves. They like the activity better too, rather than just a handful in a pile.
I haven’t seen an egg since Spring. Wing Ding the Black Star is the most regular egg layer, and even she has slowed production to a standstill. They all have their favorite places to roost for the night in the coop, none of them roost together, but they all head for bed way before the light fades.
I finished weaving a 2-inch-wide band on my Inkle loom using cotton yarn with a metallic gold thread, and string heddles. I like how easy it is to change the thread with every other string secured with the heddles. It doesn’t make for very interesting patterns, just a plain weave, but it is quick, solid, and I can weave more of the warp.
Photo description: Inkle loom warped with cotton yarn at the end of the weaving. There is some unwoven warp threads, but not as much as with the wide rigid heddle I tried previously Photo description: cream colored hand woven band removed from the loomPhoto description: closeup of the band to show the gold thread that goes through the yarn
So on this inkle loom I have used a rigid heddle and string heddles. Next will be weaving a band using tablets.
I’m a little chagrined. I have changed out the strings on nearly every musical instrument in the house, but haven’t on my husband’s Seagull acoustic guitar because I didn’t intuitively know how to deal with the bridge pins.
Photo description: Seagull acoustic guitar, ready for new strings
On classic guitars and ukuleles, I can see how the strings are twisted to attach, on my mandolin, the ends of the strings are handy loops, on a cello there are little colored cylinders (called balls?) that hook into a fork like apparatus, all very straight forward. Turns out the guitar is also straight forward, if you have the right tool (and YouTube).
Photo description: pin pulling end of a guitar string winder and cutter tool
Once the tension is released from the strings, the bridge pins pull straight up, releasing the ball (still don’t know why the little donut is called a ball) on the end of the string. I put the pins back in place so I wouldn’t loose them or forget which was the matching hole (theoretically they should be the same, but the guitar is 31 years old, and things shift). Putting the new strings in was straightforward, although I appreciated the tip from one YouTuber about bending the string at the top of the pin hole, it helps keep the pin from popping up until tension is applied.
Photo description: Seagull acoustic guitar with the frets polished, everything dusted, and new D’Addario strings installed
I tuned up the guitar, and all the the other hand-held string instruments because I like to, and played it a bit, but it hurts my left hand, not the fingertips, those are developing calluses nicely, just the position of my hand on the neck. Hm.
I did look it up, and the ends of the strings for instruments did used to be a small sphere or bead, it is just easier to manufacture and wind cylinders, but the “ball end” name stuck.
Photo description: twist of wire decorated with twisted plastic ribbon hanging from a tree in the woods
The wind spinner spun for about six years before the fishing line holding it up broke. I did not hang it back up. I do like the shape I made with wire, but the application of the plastic string was more hassle than it was worth.
