Getting Ready

Yes, I know we haven't reached the end of April yet, but lots of spinners on Ravelry are getting ready for this year's Tour de Fleece, so I thought I'd better join them and get started too.

This year, the team I'll be joining (again), Team DIY and Dye, has some very interesting challenges.  The first week is dedicated to challenging ourselves to new or different dye processes, i.e. if you normally dye with acid dyes, try natural dyes.  Well, I'm pretty much a natural dyer, but have dyed with acid dyes in the past.  What is new to me is dyeing with Kool Aid which my friend Victoria brought over from the US a little while ago, so I'll be having a go with that.  The other thing I've never done is fermented lichen dyeing, and, having plucked lots of lichen from fallen branches whilst we were in the Highlands of Scotland (very clean air there, so lots of lichens), I decided this would be a good choice.

Just look at the amount of lichen on these trees . . . most of the trees in the area we stayed were festooned like this.

So, yesterday I spent a bit of time sorting out all the different lichens - I think I have four different types:-

This one I think is Stags Horn Lichen (Evernia Prunastri) and should give red or purple when fermented with ammonia and water.

I think this is a type of Parmelia, but not sure which one.

This one is probably a relative of Evernia Prunastri.  It's smaller and greener - the one above is white underneath whereas this one is green.

This one, as far a I can tell, is Usnea Floridana, or Beard Lichen, and this one should produce interesting colours when fermented with ammonia too.

Close up of Usnea Floridana

By the way, if anyone more knowledgeable than I am is reading this, please correct me if I've identified these wrongly.  I'd love to know exactly what they are.

Anyway, I decided to start with the Evernia Prunastri as that's what I had the most of.  I put half of it into a Kilner jar with approximately half and half ammonia and water and gave it a good long shake.   This is what it looked like after half an hour :-

and, just 24 hours later, it looks like this :-

Very promising - there are definitely red tones in there already.

I'm not sure how long this will take for the colour to develop fully, so each day I'll keep stirring it throughout the day to introduce oxygen, and then giving it a good shake, and hope it's ready to dye with before the Tour de Fleece arrives on Saturday 5th July.

I'll keep you updated.

Our 125th Birthday!!

Yep, that's right - we have 125 years between us (sorry to disappoint you if you thought it was just one birthday, I very much doubt either of us will reach that age!)

It all started on 10th March when I had my 60th birthday.  Eric took me out for lunch and the weather was so nice we were able to sit outside.

Then, in the evening, we had a band rehearsal to go to.  The plan was we'd just have a quick meal and then get down to some playing . . . except, when we got there, the house was full of people!!  Eric and our friends had organised a surprise birthday party for me. This was my first real grown up party!

The fairy lights were all set up, but not turned on when we arrived - might have given the game away otherwise.

They'd really gone overboard with the decorations and balloons.

Some of the guests

and the hostess with the most-ess :-

I'll get you back Angela when you reach the big Six Ohhhh!

As usual, the host (on the right) had plenty to say for himself.

I had a fabulous evening, and really didn't have a clue that anything was going on. Needless to say, we didn't get much any playing done!

Dopey picture time - think I was a bit overwhelmed with the whole thing :-

I think this is my best side :-

Sadly, I didn't get a photo of the two birthday cakes Katharine had made for me.  One was covered in grated white chocolate, and the other with plain and both had candles. Unfortunately, when I came to blow out the candles, all the chocolate blew all over the table and guests.  Hmmm, maybe a light breeze would have been better, not a raging gale!

Two days later we set off on our holidays.  We'd had this trip planned for a while so Eric could meet his grandson for the first time.  And, lo and behold, there were more birthday celebrations organised.  His four sons, wives and partners had rented a house up in the Highlands of Scotland, about 10 miles away from Aviemore.

The first night we arrived, we had more presents, a fabulous meal, and another cake. They could have softened the blow with the sparklers on top, but no, they had to rub it in that we were 125!

Burned-out sparklers just visible!

It was an incredibly good cake though - Banoffee pie, lovely!!

It was a double celebration for Eric, being both 65 (on 19th March) and a Grandad!

I'll leave you with a pic of the wee boy himself :-

Where's the "Awwwww" button?

Totally worn out with all the festivities!

Three Down, One to Go

We just got back late Sunday night from a long weekend in Edinburgh.  Nic (Wicked Stepson No. 3) married Viktorija (Vika) on the one gloriously sunny day of the trip. Thankfully, they chose Friday 17th to get wed and not the Saturday.  Saturday it poured with rain all day.

Father of the Groom

Nic had the brilliant idea of renting a house for the 3-day weekend so we could all assemble there before and after the wedding.

The garden was lovely that day and kept the sun until evening, so warm too.

Wicked Step-Mother

A quick sandwich to calm his nerves

Sorry Nic, not the best photo!!

The ceremony took place in a register office in the centre of Edinburgh, next to St Giles' Cathedral at 2:30 in the afternoon.

Helena, Dan (W. Stepson No. 2) and Liz (boys' Mum)

Vika's Mum and Grandmother

Vika's family (her Mum, Grandmother and Brother) had come over from Latvia for the wedding - Dimitri gave Vika away and had to wear a kilt!!!!!  He was a good sport and seemed to enjoy his wedding outfit (no photos yet - need to glean some from Facebook) even to the point where Ben goaded him into removing his nether garments, because a real Scot doesn't wear any!

The deed is done!

Emerging into the sunshine and confetti.

Nic was like a dog with two tails - didn't know which to wag first!

The New Mr and Mrs Saunders

Then it was back to the house to celebrate.

The garden was the perfect place for photos and champagne on such a brilliant day.

Rona's shoes deserved a pic!!

As did the throwing of the bouquet (caught by Helena)

Vika and "The Boys"

Inside, the food awaited us.

So, many more photos to come - I'll be boring you again in a day or two.  Just need everyone to start haemorrhaging photos on Facebook so I can steal some!

LOVE this photo!

A Perfect Day

Thought it was about time I posted some photos of Matthew and Rona's wedding last week.  Actually, I've been trying to find out how to download other people's photos from Facebook, because they're better than mine.  Haven't managed it yet though - if anyone can tell me how to do it, please leave a comment.

The fabulous venue :-

Benholm Castle

Rona's parents have been renovating this place for the last 20 years.

A minstrel played :-

while the guests assembled.

But then the bride's father had an important announcement to make :-

(Had Rona done a runner??  Had Matthew done a runner?)  No, it was Rona's Granny - she got the time of the wedding wrong and was late!

The groom waited patiently

for the bride (and Granny!) to arrive

The vows were made :-

and sealed with a kiss :-

Signing the register

. . . while the minstrel played on

Done!

The new Mr and Mrs Saunders (with the old one!) :-

And then the party started in true Scottish style

There was a hog roast, a whole salmon, and lots of other nice things to eat.  The electric ceilhid band played until we couldn't dance any more, then there was a bonfire, fireworks and more food.

A perfect day, and a perfect couple!