Month: June 2022

Spinning upgrade

On By CarynIn Craft

I’ve been stalking online spinning groups, reading others’ questions and the answers given. On a post about drive bands on spinning wheels, I read a discussion on cotton versus hemp bands and adjusting the tension, and in that discussion someone causally mentioned stretchy drive bands. Hm? What an intriguing idea. I dug through my stash and found some stretchy cord usually used for jewelry. Only the largest diameter (1.5mm) was still in decent condition, the rest had dry rotted and was brittle. Taking the warning for the long term stability of rubber, I tossed the useless bits and used the thicker cord for my bicycle spinning wheel.

Clear rubber cord used as a drive band

I had been having trouble with the cotton cord drive band slipping, even with a couple coats of beeswax. So I removed it and tried the clear rubber cord with surgeon’s knot. While I was experimenting, I also wrapped a couple tiny rubber bands around the spindle’s hub to give some grip. It took a couple tries to get the tension right, but then everything worked even better! Hurray!

Blooms

On By CarynIn Garden

Hurray! The hearty hibiscus bloomed!

Hibiscus bloom

We have not won the battle with the Thrips, as I had to cut off several buds that were thrip damaged. If the bud opens, but doesn’t burst forth, I assume thrips are to blame. I cut these damaged buds off and throw them away to disrupt the thrip life cycle (they need some dirt time). The Neem oil, Peppermint oil, and Castor soap solution helps some against the insect invasion, so I’ll continue the regimen. I’m not sure I want to delve into stronger methods at this point.

Suspected Thrip damaged buds

When you’re pretty

On By CarynIn Cats

Our local pet shelters strongly recommend “If you feed them, get them spayed or neutered.” So if I helped take them out of the kitten making business, I don’t feel guilty giving them an occasional treat. Their main meal station is still my neighbor’s house, but Mr Tom is so pretty. Which is good, because his social skills need work. He is charming enough to get an egg now and again, though. Maybe one day he’ll stop greeting me with a hiss, then a meow. The hiss has no accompanying body language indicating fear or aggression (tail is high, head is high). Maybe that’s just his name for me. “Devil woman, give me treats.” Hm.

Yes, he charmed some egg
Then he brought a friend (no worries they are both neutered)

Mr Tom has a long-haired black buddy that hung out in the meadow with him before their abduction (a.k.a. neutering), that he brought with him to the egg station recently. Even though Mr Tom has a name, in my head they will now be Paul and Stevie.

Tiny guardians

On By CarynIn Garden, Wildlife

I spotted tiny tree frogs hanging out on my melon vine leaves. They are very welcome little guardians since they eat the bugs that eat my plants! And they’re cute.

Two tree frogs on melon leaves
Froggy close-up

Paparazzi

On By CarynIn Wildlife

Well that is an interesting picture. A little frog was perched on our back window, and my eldest went outside to take a picture, and I took a picture fron inside. The reflections are combined with image past the glass, all surrounding the little frog.

Pictures of reflections around a little frog, photo credits to my eldest

My frog tummy picture was quite blurry. Bummer.