Some of the tasks here at Circle M are so truly mundane they defy mention, but these few are some of my favorite seasonal chores: washing the wool from my spring shearing and making stock from last year’s frozen soup bones and stewing chickens. continued »
Yarn and hats and purses, o my!
I’ve been busy. Not as busy as I would have liked to be with Maidmarion Cottage Industries, but busy enough to have produced a few pretty things to sell this holiday season. continued »
Big ole’ Honeybun is most definitely comfortable now in her role as the mascot of my Summer Kitchen Dye Studio (the gussied-up name for my garage workspace equipped with an old stove, an old washer and a slew of shelves full of wool fleeces). continued »
Honeybun, our timid new angora bunny, has finally left the cage of her own accord. Nearly a week of soft words, crunchy treats, and food placed outside the door wasn’t enough to make her budge. But finally today she did, on account of a PRODUCT. continued »
Well, after two days of coaxing and dog biscuits, Honeybun isn’t much closer to coming out of the cage. But she’s managed to win over the girls, who’ve been feeding her carrots and enjoying petting her gigantic velvet ears through the wire door. Both daughters tried to dissuade me from taking her when she was offered. “I’m sorry, Mom,” apologized Emma, crouched in front of Honeybun, who was nibbling pellets out of her palm. “I’m so glad you got the rabbit!” continued »
We’ve welcomed a new member into our crazy mixed-up Circle M family this week – Honeybun, a delightfully large and fluffy buff-colored angora rabbit that is to be my companion in the summer kitchen dye studio. Lovely new friend and fellow spinner, Laurie, brought her down yesterday from Madison, where she was getting to be a bit bossy with the small children and cats in her home. I find her just darling – twice as big as I expected and three times as soft – and hope she’ll be happy with the cool concrete floor and quiet atmosphere of the studio. So far, she won’t come out of her cage. But I’m working hard to coax her out with pellets, carrots, and dog bones, so I can pluck her belly. continued »
I fancy myself an effortless and elegant multi-tasker. I think that’s why homestead farming appeals to me so much. I see myself walking from garden to pasture swinging a wire basket of brown eggs, a bundle of carrots slung in my colorful vintage apron while I inspect the fluffy white sheep on my way in to make a delicious organic supper. But truth is, I’m prone to rather splendid explosions when it comes to tending all the irons in the fire. continued »
