I am so utterly fed up with waiting that I’m not going to speak of those four legged fiends in the barn! Seeing that I don’t have a first kid of the year to show you yet I’m going to show you the first primrose instead.
I had to look hard to find it yesterday. Things are a bit slow here this year (and don’t I know it!), possibly because of the recent cold snap. So much for global warming!
Devon and primroses are inextricably linked. It’s the county flower and has to be one of the loveliest sights when walking along a quiet lane or through a wood. There is theoretically a scent but I’ve never been able to detect it. In past times, Devon paper mills used to send primroses to customers because the flower was seen even then as a symbol of a breath of Devon fresh air. It was chosen as the couty flower after a nationwide poll by Plantlife. Every county in the UK now has its own special flower. For the full list see http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/plantlife-discovering-plants-county-flowers.html
Many people who know I have a new set of Martin Hill’s wool combs have asked about them. I thought I’d upload this pic to show the relative proportions.
I do find them absolutely excellent. For a really good video tutorial on using them go to Amanda Hannaford’s brilliant 4-parter on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcYY1xF-JvY Amanda has to be one of the very best spinners in the UK and an excellent teacher. Her website is www.mandacrafts.co.uk
The wool in the photo of the comb is Jamieson and Smiths Pure 2ply Shetland which I bought recently to see what its like. I’ve never handled a pure Shetland before so was curious. The wool is beautifully spun but feels very coarse to me. Not at all what I was expecting. I’ve been spoiled I suppose after Bowmont.
Speaking of Bowmont – I had a skin back from our tannery last week. This was a male we had kept as a potential breeding male but who turned out not to be good enough. The fleece was just the right length for a rug so we thought we’d have a go. Wow! What a result! Even the man in the tannery was impressed which is saying something since he sees thousands each year. I haven’t decided what to do with it yet as I can’t bring myself to sit or stand on it!
