Woolfest

We have just got back from Woolfest. The weather was much better this year, last year the steps from the carpark became a spectacular waterfall. We were woken by heay rain on the caravan roof early on Friday morning, caravans keep you dry but noisy in the rain. The rain stopped later on Friday morning and the rest of Woolfest was dry and warm! We were busy and saw many people we know, I did manage to look at some of the other stalls and bought a few things. Woolfest always seems to fly by and before We knew it we were packing up and heading home. Now I have 4 weeks to Fibre East and Hovingham Market at the end of this week. I think it will be  a busy few weeks.

A busy day

As Woolfest is getting close I am finishing making my stock. Today was the last of the yarn dyeing. We had a scheduled powercut as Northern Power Grid are replacing poles in the area The electricity went off at 11am and was back on just before 7pm, so only jobs which didn't need electricity got done. We lived off grid without mains electricity for nearly ten years, we only had the generator on for a few hours a day but we did have batteries to power low useage items such as the internet and lights. The washer, iron and vacuum all needed the genny. Its amazing how quickly we got used to being back on the mains when we moved, just flick a switch and electricity, no more having to fill the genny with diesel, keep an eye on how much is left in the batteries and an another engine to maintain.
The sheep were all sheared a couple of weeks ago and they are enjoying the sunshine in grass taller than they are. I need some really good drying weather just after Wolfest to get there fleeces washed and dried.

Knitted Throw

I am currently knitting a throw using my hand painted Yorkshire spun yarn.  It is a six row pattern that I chose to use with only two pattern rows so it is not difficult to remember. I find it difficult to knit on circular needles, in must be that Yorkshire thing of tucking them under your arms, but I did find an extra long pair which can hold all the stitches.

Caerlaverock Castle.

On my way back from a trip to Dumfries and Galloway I decided to visit Caerlaverock Castle. Over the years I have visited many castles and Caerlaverock is my favourite.
There are two castles at Caerlaverock: the original castle was built around 1220AD based on an old fort dating from 950AD. The old castle as it is now known was built close to the shore and harbour, which has dried up as the shore has moved further away.

The photo above shows the old castle had a relatively small inner bailey with just a few buildings as there was a much larger outer bailey. The Maxwell family who built and inhabited the old castle found it too small, the soft ground caused structual problems and the site kept flooding and after fifty years they moved about 200m further inland to the new Caerlaverock Castle.

Built in the vernacular red sandstone of Dumfriesshire, Caerlaverock is an impressive unique triangular castle. It has four round towers built into the curtain wall, two towers form the gatehouse pictured below, and a moat with a bank and outer ditch.

Positioned on the Solway Firth close to England, Caerlaverock was frequently attacked. In 1300 there was a well documented seige written by a herald of Edward I when seige engines demolished large parts of the castle. The Maxwell family rebuilt Caerlaverock, with better defenses and improved domestic ranges.

The Nithsdale Lodging has some amazing stone carving and fabulous fireplaces.

In 1640 Caerlaverock was under seige for the final time and after the seige The Covenanters demolished parts of the castle to ensure it could not stand again.

The facade of the Nithsdale Lodgings.

The damage done by The Covenanters

View from the top of the tower, complete with spiral staircase, towards the old castle and shore.

Through the anceint woods towards the old castle.

View across the Solway from the shore.

I really enjoyed visiting Caerlaverock Castle, I have visited a few times before. I have been busy with my house and wool recently but this visit really inspired my to visit some more heritage sites, some of my favourites places are Threave Castle, Byland Abbey and Cardoness Castle.

New Natural Coloured Tops

New stock!
I have some new tops:
White Il De France £2.50 per 100g
White Super wash Wensleydale £2.80 per 100g
White Super wash Merino £2.50 per 100g
White Shropshire £2 per 100g

Falkland tops are back in stock £2.50 per 100g

Carded white Merino is back in stock

Cut silk cocoons on £2 per 10g

New Rainbow Terrific Threads

New Moorlands Merino silk Selection

New Organza Packs

I have been busy washing fleece and dyeing fleece and tops. Mother and I have been replanting one of the large flower beds we emptied last year, we have planted through woven weed barrier fabric in the hope of keeping the weeds at bay and to stop the chickens scratching up the plants. The plants have been carefully chosen as they must be very hardy and like full sun, it can be very hot here in a south facing garden in the summer but temperatures plummet in winter (-12 in Pickering this winter). If the weather warms up there should be a stunning display of flowering shrubs and hardy perennials.
The grass is now growing well in the field and I have a happy flock of sheep.