Month: February 2023

Reinforcing

On By CarynIn Craft

Spindles with hooks have a weak point where the hook screw connects with the wood, especially if the shaft is slender. I like slender shaft drop spindles because I feel I can control the spin better and the light weight is more comfortable. I don’t like when I drop it and the shaft cracks. To give the metal to wood join some reinforcements, I decided the wrap the weak area with waxed silk.

Clockwise: scissors, beeswax, silk cord size D, drop spindle

The method I used to wrap is called common whipping. Plugging those two words into your search engine will generate all sorts of illustrations and tutorials, as long as you get the words right. It took me an hour of searching to find the right words, I had a synonym of whipping in my head that I couldn’t dislodge. So, two words: “common whipping” are my gift to my readers today.

Common whipping on a drop spindle with waxed silk cord

I ran an arms span of the silk cord through my wax block three or four times to build up a layer of wax. The wax helps protect the cord and makes it stay in place better. I start my whipping with a loop laid along the shaft. I wrap toward the loop, run the end of the cord through the loop, then pull the loop end to draw the ends into the middle of the wrap. (This is where the internet search comes in handy if you are a visual learner.)

I used silk because I tried hemp and it wasn’t strong enough and the diameter made a wrap thicker than I wanted. Waxed linen is also commonly used, and is strong, but I didn’t have any on hand.

Egg!

On By CarynIn chickens, eggs

Then hens are laying eggs again! (And I can’t help the sound track in my head of “We’re in the money”, even though the price of keeping the chickens is far above even the current cost of a dozen eggs.)

First spring egg

It has been four months since my hens have laid an egg. I saw one do the ready squat the day before I found this nugget in the nesting box. Admittedly, I do not make them into production machines by giving them more light in the morning, so their winter laying break is a long one. The hens are also going into their third summer, which is past a production bird’s peak performance, and eight hens lay enough for my family and the occasional gift of a dozen. I don’t get enough to sell regularly.

White speckled egg

Still, it is nice to have fresh eggs again, knowing where they get their nutrition.

Cataloguing failures

On By CarynIn Cats

Still no luck catching the long haired calico that had the last litter of kittens at my neighbor’s house. While trying I may have spotted an even more elusive gray tabby female, who may or may not hang out mostly across the street but has been sight unseen at home for a couple weeks. Hm.

Tuna, Friskies wet food, Sardines

I tried several different things this time around. Sardines were outright scoffed at, the colonies regular wet food and pouch tuna were not alluring, although the tuna attracted other cats.

Box with speaker inside

I also tried putting a blue tooth speaker in a box at the end of the cage. I connected my phone and played plaintive kitten sounds. This attracted the attention of a fixed male, who investigated but did not go in, and a fixed female, who did not approach but just stared from a distance. Momma cat was sight unseen. This may have been because a neighbor dog was on the loose and running around all the houses. I turned off the kitten noises until he went away, then realized I had lost bluetooth connection. Arg.

Mass hysteria

On By CarynIn Cats, dog

“Dogs and cats living together! Mass Hysteria!” -Peter Venkman, Ghost Busters

Sophie (cat) and Missy (IAB dog)
Izzy (cat) and Missy (IAB dog)

Not really mass hysteria here, just some napping. Missy the dog does have a job: to break up cat fights. She does also likes to chase the cats, but only when they ask her to and only as far as they let her.

“Everybody wants to be a cat, because a cat’s the only cat, who knows where its at.” – Thomas O’Malley, Aristocats

Spring flowers

On By CarynIn Flora

It must be spring here, our noses are stuffy, there are flowers blooming, and Malt the corn snake is refusing to eat. All sure signs.

Veronica Creeping Blue Speedwell

It is on the list to clean out this front flower bed. The abelia bushes did not make the winter, so need to be replaced. The hibiscus needs to be trimmed back, as well as the honeysuckles. Hello Spring.