I was emptying out a basket yesterday evening, removing a couple of ziplock bags with fiber and bobbins in them, and found this little bag in the bottom of the basket. I can’t remember where the bag came from, if I bought it or it was a gift…been too long…but as soon as I saw it I knew what I’d find inside: my grandmother’s bone tatting shuttle and some unfinished tatted lace I set aside ages ago. It’s in the living room next to my chair now so I can work on it and get it finished.
The year our daughter was born my Aunt Kathleen came to visit, which was a surprise since she and Dad didn’t get along and hadn’t for a long time. Well, the reason she wanted to see him was to make amends and let him know she had brain cancer and didn’t have long to live. Before she broke the news to him she handed me a small box with this tatting shuttle in it and told me she wanted me to have it since none of my three cousins were interested in tatting and she wanted it to stay in the family. Then she and Dad went outside to talk. I am thankful that they had time to make up and he was able to see her again before she died. She passed away just before Easter in 1978. Dad passed away at the end of September in 2000. Our baby girl is forty-five now and has a house full of children and a wonderful husband who adores her.
I’ve made another full pass loading this bobbin and started on the third pass yesterday. There’s a little over an ounce of yarn on the bobbin and this bobbin will hold four ounces, even as much as five if I really cram the yarn on it. I have a total of one pound and seven ounces of this lovely stuff and I’m going to enjoy every moment of spinning it.
My new Fitbit band is very nice and I like it a lot. It’s woven metal mesh with a magnet on the end of the strap that lets you adjust it to fit in seconds. I’ve got it well above the two itchy spots on my wrist and it isn’t bothering me at all so now I can start over with wearing it regularly, four days in a row to get the full benefit of monitoring my sleep, etc.
I also got a nifty little gadget in the mail that is a little tripod to hold my phone so I can take photos or video, hands free, with a bluetooth connection activated with a key fob. It’s perfect. I can set it on the desk in my studio and use it to video myself spinning so I can work on keeping my left hand stationary while I draft the fiber with my right hand. I could also use it to do demo videos if I ever get around to trying that.
When Brad got home this afternoon he had his hands full of stuff from the post office including our monthly Melaleuca shipment, some otc stuff I ordered from Humana, the Fitbit band, the tripod, and our monthly shipment of coffee from Black Rifle Coffee Co. He was a busy guy today and got a lot done, was grateful to get back home. Before he headed home he was able to pick up more hay stretcher cubes for Audrey at the farm and had a look at Grover the bull. He’s been in a tussle with the neighbor’s Red Angus bull and had blood all over his face and neck. Not his blood, btw. He’s out there being groomed by his ladies and strutting around being the baddest bull in the area…mighty proud of himself to be sure.
The guy came out to service the Generac today and replaced the spark plugs, air filter, oil filter and oil, and gave it a test run to make sure it was running properly. We are all set for the winter, so bring it on Mr. Weatherman!
It’s time to think about brewing coffee and having some breakfast before I have to head to town for an appointment and to drop off some stuff at the farm. Have a blessed Tuesday, ya’ll. Stay warm!
Rural Texas Knitter 