Merry Christmas to all

From me, Olive and all her friends we wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Its been a busy year and a very wet one, causing problems with access to the croft and also meaning that the grass has not grown very much, meaning that supplement feed is needed earlier than planned. I am lucky that I only have a small flock and it  doesn't cost too much to feed them.

They enjoy their hay and concentrate food, they get a special treat for the festive time, a feed that contains a good amount of molassess, making it sweet tasting! Olive likes it so much she stands with her front feet on the gate so she can look over it and BAAAAAA really loud until she gets food!!

I have selected a few pics below that have been taken recently, and two specially taken  ;-)

sunset from the croft

Feeding time, heads down

'helping' fix the shelter

Fixed shelter 

Yum Yum

Croft View 

looking over to the mainland from Arnish

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Cold evening's

Winter has started and the evening's are getting cold. Last night I was out in the garden with the dogs and noticed the northern lights, well more a northern glow, a beautiful green glow over part of the island. Accompanying that was clear skies and the most stars I've ever seen, I could even see the band of the milky way. To top that I was lucky enough to see a shooting star.

I have started to feed the sheep for the winter now, they love their concentrate food, I think as it's covered with molasses!!

Seals on my dog walk

Sunday was a nice day so I decided to take my black labrador 'Tweed' on anew adventure to a different beach than normal. It is a nice walk to the beach and when I arrived I was greeted by 18 very nosey seals in the bay! I didn't let the dog off the lead here aa seals can be very vicious and attack dogs but I watched them play for a while.

Olives new friends

Olives new friends finally let me take their photo, native to the western Isles these are a little breed of sheep but have an amazing ability to jump really high when they don't want to be caught! !

Busy, busy and some new friends for olive

Well I am a terrible blogger, and cant quite believe how long it's been since I have written. It was only when a friend asked if I was still writing I realised how long I have not posted.

I have also realised I can now do this from my smartphone, I am a technophobe and usually can't make things work but if this post goes well then I will have a new string to my bow.

Olive is still naughty and will grow ever more so as the nights are drawing in now winter is here, this year it has felt like winter has not gone as summer was awful. The few warm days were appreciated even more as they came so far apart. Feeding the flock has started, but only to get our new arrivals friendly with us. I picked up 6 new Hebridean a little while ago. 2 ewes and their 4 naughty little lambs. I will post some pics of them soon but they have been busy eating everything they shouldn't on the Croft (we have no willow left! !).

Last night was an amazing display of the northern lights, the best I have ever seen, and from my Croft. I am no photographer so have no pics of it but we have some amazing people here on the island who can, have a look on line and see......

Right, if this post posts I will know that not all technology is against me and blogging in future will be (less) difficult   .......

picture of one of the many storms, whist watching for whales on Point. 

Merry Christmas to all

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Olive and her friends say Christmas greeting and hope 2014 is a good year to grow lots of yummy grass!

Weaving, Walking and Wind!

Its still busy with Tweeds, historically weaving has been slow during the winter but as it is really popular now for all things from jackets to shoes to even tweed covered radios the weaving is still keeping me out of mischief! I have done many beautiful coloured tweeds but even the more subtle tones are beautiful in their right.
Below is one of the more colourful tweeds!

I have been out in the hills just into Harris, and was fortunate enough to see Deer, 2 of which leapt across the path in front of me, I think I was more startled then them though!! It was only a small hill, but I had amazing views and was the only person for miles around

We had a huge storm here on Wednesday, a weather station on the North of the Island recorded over 100mph winds. It was really scary, the worst storm we have had since moving here but came out unscathed. Only 2 damaged hen shelters, but no hens hurt as they sleep in houses during the night which were sheltered from the storm.

Not only was there wind but hale and thunder and lightning too so it was an unpleasant night, but I was thinking of the poor sheep up on the croft. they were fine behind their shelters and they got and extra helping of food on Thursday to make up for the cold night!!

Visiting Usit's

Recently I had a little shopping trip with my mum, over to Inverness for some retail therapy. Mum had not been down to the southern islands of the Outer Hebrides, North Usit, Benbecula and South Uist (all joined by causeways) so I decided that we would have a little detour and spend a day on the Uists before getting the Ferry from Lochmaddy (north usit) to Uig (Isle of Skye). Pictures below are some taken around the Uists, which have very different scenery to Lewis and Harris.

After reaching Uig on Skye we drove to the east side, but didn't take the bridge across, we went down to Armadale, as there is a little shop we saw advertised, called Ragamuffin, and it sells really cute and unusual gifts and clothes. From here we got the Ferry over to Mallaig as  the last time I drove the Fort William to Mallaig road they were doing extensive road works and had a convoy in place so I wanted to see what had changed! Below is a picture taken from Armadale Ferry Terminal

After driving the Mallaig road, I stopped in Fort William, to visit Nevisport, a outdoor shop, where the staff were fantastic in getting me sorted with new walking boots!

Spent 2 nights in Inverness shopping, then off home via the Ullapool ferry. On the way back to Ullapool we had some spare time, so took the Road to Gairloch (A832). We only went a little way down the road but found, just off the main road a lovely parking spot with a great view, see below!!

Busy Busy Busy

It has been a very busy time since the last post, the animals on the croft have been well behaved and have grown in number, I have taken another 16 ducklings that were hatched this year so I am busy feeding them up so they are big and strong for the winter.

The weaving has been really busy, I have been working up in the shed until 11pm some nights to keep on top of the tweeds, but its all good!! I have not had as much time to get out in the hills as I would have liked during the last few months, being in the local mountain rescue team (Hebrides Search and Rescue) does get me out when we are training or on a 'shout' but it has been a quiet few months so I am hoping to get out a bit more in the next few months.

I am off to the mainland to get some new walking boots shortly, and taking a bit of a detour to have a look at the Uists, the south islands of the western isles as I have only been to them for specific things, so I am planning on having a really good look around, as they are quite different to Lewis and Harris.

Then its off to the Isle of Skye, using the Lochmaddy ferry and taking the scenic route up the side of loch Ness to Inverness.

I will let you know if I catch sight of the elusive Loch Ness Monster Nessie!!

We had family up to visit at the end of August, and whilst doing the tourist things around the Island (I only get to do them when showing family round) I found this book in the Calanais visitors centre, Knit your own Scotland! I am planning on making my own Nessie from it, and keep an eye out for my Tunnocks Tea Cake inspired Cushion I am planning. (If you have never had a Tunnocks Tea Cake you are missing out!!)

New Patterns For Olive and Friends Yarn

I have been busy designing some patterns and making up Kits to go with Olive and Friends Yarn, I have currently designed 3, Baby Booties, A Mug Hug and a Cushion. Available in Hebridean Cottage Crafts in Stornoway and soon to be available in my Folksy shop. Olive and Friends Yarn is already available in my Folksy shop, in both Aran and double Knitting weights, If you would like to order a Kit before they get listed please email me through the shop.

We have had some really super weather too in the last few weeks, and the shearing has been done for this year now, by me and my sister.

I leave you with a picture of some sheep with very short back and sides!

Yarns Arrived!!

My fleece that was sent down to The Natural Fibre Company returned as yarn on Thursday. It was really exciting waiting for the postman to come on Thursday and he delivered 2 big bags of un twisted hanks, 13Kilos in total (130 hanks).

I have dropped some off at Hebridean Hobby Crafts in Stornoway and I am in the process of twisting the rest. Just waiting for my labels to come that I have ordered and they will officially be on sale, both in Stornoway and on my Folksy.com shop.

 The yarn as it was delivered to me

 Opened for the first look!!

 10 un twisted hanks, and 10 I have twisted myself




I have had a split of weights made, half Double Knitting and half Aran so have a choice of patterns to design now, and for a sneaky peak I have put a picture below of my first, and soon to be made into a kit, Aran pattern, lovely little baby booties! pattern to write up now and just waiting for needles that I have ordered to add and the kits will be on sale too.

Just off for a run now, the sun has been shining all afternoon and I like to run from my house as I can see the sea! I love living here on the Island.

Change of Name, Knitted Sheep and Yarn nearly done!!

I have been waiting a few weeks now for my fleece that was sent off to be washed, carded and spun in to knitting yarn, and I had a phone call on Thursday to say it was all ready now and will be sent back to me shortly.

Really excited now and I have been designing my yarn bands and POS for the yarn so when it goes into the shop it will look great and everyone will be able to see the process behind the yarn.

I have renamed my business, as you will have seen from the blog, as I think it is a better name. Olive and Friends is now a business of Knitting/Crochet yarn, patterns, Kits and items knitted using recycled/left over yarn from weaving Harris Tweed.

A little about the name I have chosen, Olive is one of my Sheep, a very friendly and naughty Blackface sheep, and has now become the figurehead for my business. Her friends (as friendly and naughty) consist of other Blackface, Cheviot, Swaledale and Hebridean sheep, and there are a few pictures below.

When I get my fleece back I will update, and also list some of the yarn for sale online so watch this space.

I am busy weaving, and whilst I weave I also knit these lovely cute sheepies (also Heeland Coo's too) out of the leftover yarn from the tweeds, available at Hebridean Hobby Crafts and soon to be online too (see my folksy shop listed at the top/bottom of this blog)

 

I will hopefully have an update and pictures of the yarn for you next Sunday but leave you with a picture of Olive and her friends!

Well its been quite a while since I have blogged, I have almost forgotten about it as I have been so busy, but going to try to get back into the swing of it.

I have been busy with weaving the beautiful Harris Tweed in my (breezy) but lovely loom shed. The weather here has been great over the last 6 or so weeks, only the last week we have had a fair bit of rain, needed though to make the grass grow, its a costly business feeding sheepies.

I have sent off my collection of fleece from last years shearing, 24kilos in total, to the Natural Fibre Company, in Cornwall to be spun into yarn. 2 big bags went down last week and it is in the process of being washed, carded and spun into beautiful yarn, which will then be available for sale in Hebridean Cottage Crafts, Point Street, Stornoway.

I am also hoping to make some patterns to go with the yarn so I can sell some kits so watch this space for pictures of my new patterns.

I am also knitting wee sheep and Heeland Coo's out of harris yarn, I make them whilst im weaving, to sell in Hebridean Cottage Crafts too, pictures of them to follow.

I leave you with a picture of the bags of fleece that got sent off.

Oh Dear, Broken Technology!

Well my plan to blog more often has not really worked, I have a camera that wont turn on and have just gone to charge my FlipHD video camera and noticed that I have cracked the lens cover! I have been on line and it can be replaced by a watch repairer so that the plan in town tomorrow, after the Olympic torch as gone as I wont be able to park when the torch is going through town!

My next blog was going to be pictures of my knitted donkeys, that I am knitting for the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon. I have made 3 mini wooleys and 2 large woolies at the moment, more to be made before my trip down to visit in August.

If anyone wants the patterns for these (and there are crocheted patterns for items too) you can contact Ruth Burrough through the Donkey Sanctuary website and they can be emailed out.

If the stills camera really wont work, I will be getting another in August, but going to try everything I can (short of hitting it! - well I wont hit it too hard).

Ducks and Donkeys

Well its been ages since I have posted, so have decided to start to post a little more regular now. I have a new Laptop so its much more easy and quick to upload pictures, and thanks to my coming second in a competition I now have a very cool Flip ultraHD video camera! Never had one before so I have been experimenting, and below is my first movie!

The 3 drakes that are on the beginning of the movie have been removed from living with the ladies as they are a little too amorous and keep leaping on my ladies! The other 2 drakes still living with the ladies are much more sedate.

I am making this year my year for charity knitting, and although I have only made one I have decided to make lots of knitted donkeys for The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, in the South West of England. I love donkeys and when we lived in England I used to go and see them, now whenever we visit family down in England we make a point of visiting the Donkeys. I have until the End of August to knit a whole heard so watch this space!!

Long time, New arrivals and Learning New things!

Well its been a very long time since I last blogged, I can't believe where the time has gone really. Since the last blog I have taken on some new sheep, 2 lovely Blackface ewe's called Olive and Minty, 2 Hebridean ewes called HS1 and HS2 (Hebridean sheep 1 and 2, and also local post codes!) and 3 Hebridean Rams, PopEye, Brutus and Kevin! Taken from a friend that could no longer look after them they have settled in well and are super friendly (able to give them a cuddle, friendly!)

                                          My 4 New Girls (Olive is at the front, as usual)

I have also decided that I get 'second Sock syndrome', now for those of you that have never knitted socks its the feeling that you get that once you have made one sock, you have no desire to make the other, leaving one very lovely but sad single sock.

I decided to remedy this by getting the book, Toe Up 2 at a time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes and give it a try. It is also a first for knitting toe up too and to me seems like the perfect thing to do, as you don't run out of yarn, you just knit the leg as long as the yarn let you as the toe and foot are done first.

I have cast on and done the toes tonight, and I'm already addicted to doing it this way. The increase for the toe looks really neat and both socks will turn out the same. I would recommend this book! Pictures to follow of socks in progress!

We had last night very high winds, some parts of the Island recorded 101mph. The power was off for 16 hours and has been on and off all day, all OK, but glad the powers back on so the heating works!!

Pictures of sheared sheep, at last!

Finally got a few pictures of the sheared sheep, our friendly sheep, Timmy, was not too keen to come up and have a cuddle this morning as he usually does but none the worse for wear after their eventfull day yesterday. Timmy is the one with the T on him, it is harder to tell now they have been sheared so we sprayed him!

The Shearing is Done!

Today in the post the clippers came, just on the perfect day to start the shearing of the sheep. This is the first ever time we have done this, but my sister is a dog groomer so had a good understanding on how to handle the clippers!

It has been the most beautiful day here today, blue skies with a few white fluffy clouds, so we thought we would start. We didn't know how many would get done as the last time we caught them 2 got out and we could not get them back in the pen. We caught 4 to sart with, the black on evaded us but after the white ones were done, and with a little pursuasion with a bucket of food we got him too, we got them all sheared in under 3 hours, and I have 5 lovely fleeces that are ready to be washed for spinning.

Take a look at the pics, there is only one of them sheared at the moment, and as you can see they are not too keen to get too close at just yet, it will take a day or so for them to come back down and let us get near!

From This

To This!

As you can see, they are not too keen to come too close!

The Black sheep has faded over time, the ends are brown and the underneath is grey!

Pictures to follow of the sheared sheep, when they like us again! There was no one spare to take pictures while the shearing was being done, it was all hand on deck. The sheep do look very cute now they have their summer cuts, they look like lambs again and were running and playing after being sheared, I bet they feel better with out all that fleece on now.