Wave ghost

On October 8, 2022 By CarynIn Cats, Craft

I found an LED light that casts wave like forms in selectable colors. What a perfect thing to set under a ghost!

I set up one of my chicken wire ghosts and draped with with fine netting fabric. This is a basic version using my wire ghost instructions (which are currently selling like hot cakes on Etsy, wow). The ghosts in the instructions are more detailed with stylized netting, this version has no arms and uses just a long section of netting thrown over the top. I tried just setting the light under the ghost, but didn’t like that I could see it. I found a dark pot (which is actually part of a helium can that I cut off the top and painted black a while back), and placed that under the ghost with the light inside. I had to adjust the lengths of steel posts that stabilize the ghost from an X formation to parallel to accommodate the can, but it worked.

Wire ghost lit from beneath with a wave light

The white light is quite bright, but I think the blue color is nice.

Meadow cats checking out the new decoration

Probable cause

On October 7, 2022October 4, 2022 By CarynIn chickens, Coop, eggs

We have continued to get eggs, way past when the hens stopped laying last year. I think I know why. We have kept the people door open to let the breeze through the coop because it was so blazing hot this summer. The door leads out into the chicken run, which is completely encased in welded wire, which makes it fairly secure against large predators. When we let the dogs out in the morning, we turn on the back porch light, which happens to shine into the runs. This gives the hens enough light to feel comfortable getting off the roost, so they are up and about earlier than last year. Extra light also encourages egg laying. Ah. They finished their molt, had enough light, and a couple have gone back into laying mode. I could close up the door, but they really do like coming out as soon as they can, and they are safe in their enclosure from twilight predators. As it gets colder, I will close the people door to keep in the heat and keep out drafts, but I may keep the chicken door open.

Nice try

On October 6, 2022 By CarynIn Wildlife

No Ms Toad, you really wouldn’t like it inside, trust me. Nice try, though, sneaking around behind me as I came out the door, and making for the opening as I try to go back in. There are things in there that would curl your hair. Oh wait, my apologies, things that would give you bumps. Uh, more bumps.

Combing alpaca

On October 5, 2022 By CarynIn Craft

I decided to try my new wool combs with the alpaca fleece that I washed and dried a year ago. I love them! Combing removes so much more vegetable matter and short cuts than carding. The fibers pulled off the comb are light and airy and beautifully aligned. I do get much more waste; I’m putting that in a bag to put out for nesting material for the squirrels and birds. I was going to comb all the fibers then spin, but the preparation was so fluffy I just had to spin it right away and not risk compaction in storage.

I tried spinning directly off the comb, but my skills are not that advanced yet, so I pulled off the fiber then spun on my vintage Befra Willy wheel. I now see how the yarn on a Irish tension wheel (flyer is slowed down) has to be thicker. There is more strain on the yarn and thinner yarns snap. I’m still pleased with the thickness of the yarn for multipurpose projects, but this will not be lace yarn.

Spun alpaca fiber on the bobbin of a Befra Willy wheel

Cutie

On October 4, 2022 By CarynIn Wildlife

I think it is the bright button eyes, the large head to body ratio, and the fuzzy appearance that make High Eyelashed Jumping Spiders so cute. I don’t mind bugs, but they don’t usually hit the “cute” note for me. This one does. It was also calm and inquisitive for the photoshoot, which I always appreciate.

Critters and Craft

Author: Caryn