Lights and Shiny Brites

Last night we picked up the elderly folks and went to Wadena to see the Christmas lights.

This place has quite the light show during December.  They have their own radio station and the lights are in tune with the music.   It was the first time my parents had been there.

On the way back home since I had my camera all set up and on the tripod for Christmas lights …we stopped by Main Street.

Nice to have one block of Main Street all to myself.

The Shiny Brite tree didn’t happen this year.  I was way to busy with other things.  However I did put some of the new/old Shiny Brites on my spinning wheel.  I bought two packages of ornaments at a second hand shop for $1.50.

There is a tree up there that hangs there all year…the Angel stayed up all year too…I added the Santa from Maddie to the grouping.  Tis very festive! ( And will be real easy to put away)

Happy Christmas Eve!

Flax for spinning

Learn something new everyday.

What do I know about Flax except it is a real pretty field when it is in bloom.

Bruce the weaver and spinning wheel fixer grew some Flax this summer.

Flax leaning against the garden fence where really tall sunflowers grew!

He harvested it recently. It is pulled out of the soil by the root and not cut.  Then it is bundled and set out to dry.  The seeds are removed and then the outer core is rotted which exposes the inner fiber…then the stalk is broken to remove the fiber.  Then it is combed to sort the long fibers from the short fibers. 

Here is some Flax fiber that was grown and processed a previous year.

Looks like a hairy mess

But eventually it is spun into a thread.  Those threads can be woven together to make linen. It can be fabric that is made into summer clothing, tablecloths, curtains and if it is very fine it can be used to knit or crochet.

This is the wheel he uses.  I guess I never thought about the whole process before…how about you?

Spin

Years ago in May of 2009 I bought a spinning wheel at my Uncle Otto and Aunt Marie’s Auction Sale.  It belonged to Otto’s Grandmother and it came on a ship from Norway about 1880 something.

It has been on my bucket list.  First to see if it spins.  Not sure if I can learn to spin but I wanted to know if it still worked.  We had so many oddball accessories, who knew what went with the spinning wheel and what did not. 

This is my wheel and the accessories.  Only two of the bobbins and the bobbin winder go with this wheel.  The blue and red bobbins are too long to be used with this wheel. The rest of it goes with some kind of Industrial Spinning “stuff.”  The one long handled piece of wood might be a laundry stick.

I met Bruce back in May.  He was anxious to see my wheel and see if it worked.

Bruce put cord around the wheel and oiled it here and there.  He said “It is in pretty good shape for how old it is.”  He also said at one time it was painted blue.

The winder was stiff, it took awhile and some more oil before he gave it a whirl.

He adjusted it here and there…see it does spin.  He used T Pins to hold the leather in place he said I could switch them out for toothpicks.

I took lots of photos because we had to take it apart to bring it home.  As soon as we got it upstairs we put it back together again. 

One of these days I will give it a whirl.  Not that I need another hobby…but at least I can say I tried to spin.

Most people name their spinning wheels.  Most of the time they are named after women.  Mine will be different….Otto Bruce has a nice ring to it!

The Auction Purchase

On Saturday at the sale, I had my list. It read like this..carving supplies, carving wood blanks, Foxfire books, old cook books, marbles, cedar chest, glassware, humpback trunk, Juicer, electric mixer, and spinning wheel. I wanted the spinning wheel so badly, it belonged to my Uncles Grandmother and it came on a boat with her from Norway in the 1880's. There was no way I could possibly hope to come home with it. I crossed it off my list. Certainly someone from my Uncles side of the family would want it.

Many years ago, my Mother shared a small inheritance with us. Three hundred dollars, we were to buy something we really wanted to remember our grandparents by. I tucked the money away, and have had one eye out for a spinning wheel. The antique ones were always too expensive. A new one was an affordable option, but I had never wanted to go there...it just didn't seem right.

When the bidding on the spinning wheel started, I was in at 100, Far Guy was standing right behind me, whispering in my ear, 'You deserve it" 150 "you have the money saved" 200 "Don't let it go" 250 then the bids stalled..I thought I might get it at 250, no such luck, "Bid again" 270 "Don't quit" 290 " keep going till 350" 310...SOLD.. I got it..and then the tears started. I had to chew on the inside of my cheeks for about an hour, so I wouldn't be a blubbering idiot. Now everyone wants to know if I am going to learn how to spin.. maybe I will..maybe I will just look at it..someone from Far Guys side of the family wants me to spin him some yarn for some socks! I haven't a clue what all the pieces do, or where they go..or if it will ever spin anything. I do have a cousin that spins and has her own wheel, she has kindly offered to teach me..someday. I have some fiber, it is all saved up from our four Shelties, from years ago. I know how to knit and crochet so at least I won't have to learn how to do that too.I need to thank my sister in law ( the eagle eye, who always sees Robin's before me) for being observant. My brother didn't like the way the bidding was going on the spinning wheel, he was about ready to start bidding..when his lovely wife said "I think your sister is bidding on it."

Now are you wondering why it was so emotional for me? Me, who rarely bawls about anything unless it involves a dog, a cat or a horse. It was such a mixture of happiness, unbelief and sadness all rolled into one. It was a circle completed. Something I apparently waited just the right amount of time for. Of all the beautiful pieces of furniture and all of the keepsakes there that day, I know that this spinning wheel was one of my Uncles favorite treasures. He would be happy. I was sad because I still miss him so much, even though he has been deceased a number of years.

My daughters may not be thrilled, another piece of odd ball furniture for them to deal with someday. I have contacted my uncles only brother for more details about the spinning wheel, hopefully he can help to recall more of the story that should accompany this spinning wheel. Maybe someday at another auction sale, someone will purchase it, maybe my brother. Whoever ends up with it, I hope they appreciate it as much as I do:)