Alaskan Hen House

Having just purchased our first sheep in spring of 08, the desire to spin wool even more than before has become very aparant. The spinning of wool became a fun, relaxing activity on them cold winter nights a few years ago using a drop spindle. This year I buckled down and bought a used spinning wheel. Yes, it has a squeek in the foot pedal but it's a rythmic sound that is actually quite relaxing.

With the birth of our first son in 85, I learned to crochet and was really good at it. But I never picked up the nack of knitting. So...I got a simple weaving loom and a knitting loom also this year. I made many gifts for christmas this year using the knitting looms but am still struggling with the weaving loom. 

Another favorite hobby this time of year is carving eggs. I use a dremel tool, draw out a pattern on a blown out egg with a pencil and just start carving. I'm not real intricate yet and yes i've wasted a few more shells than i've completed but I know the Lord will provide more supplies for me to work with in the spring.

Oh yes, now I remember. This is Alaska and it's suppose to be like this, right? No. We have had a really really long cold snap this year. And an early one to boot.

Keeping water bowls thawed has become a full time job around here. It's been hitting -20 for weeks now and it doesn't help at all when the wind occassionaly joins in. Usually with the wind comes a rise in the temperature making it easier to hide from the cold. But not this year.

The windows inside the house are laden with ice from boiling water on the stove all the time. But it's the only way to keep thawed water outside. Not to mention all the moisture in the air sure helps my skin feel better and the kids can't shock me so well when they drag their feet across the carpet. I keep promising the girls (farm animals) that it really will warm up soon. After all just how long can this cold snap hold on?

So far all the critters are holding well. I've only had a few frozen eggs that the ladies have mistakenly laid on the ground. I've actually been surprised the ladies are still giving me eggs in this frigid of weather.

On the plus side of the weather it has given me lots of extra time to work on spinning my wool. making different weights and plys and been interesting. I've also been whipping up items (hats, scarfs, face masks, slippers) and tearing them back apart. Learning as I go.