Heavy rains rolled in on gusts of wind this week but I still managed to do a bit of walking. Sort of. More like baby steps.
2013 started off with a string of sunny days and frosty ground. A wonderful reprieve from the seemingly endless rainy greys of December. It was wonderful to get out and walk almost daily last week. Across the bridge,
Past a farm where young alfalfa shrugged off the frost in the sunlight.
Pampas grasses glowing in the early morning light caught my eye.
I’d planned to walk with the friend again Sunday afternoon before the coming rains descended but felt miserable again with all the symptoms of the cold that had threatened on New Years Eve: headache, stuffy nose, sore throat and tight chest. Drinking a cup of hot water with a spoonful of local honey and cinnamon first thing in the morning and continuing throughout the day (sometimes in steeped tea) seems to help.
Ed brought something into the house that cheered me immensely. Something that had been in the plans for months which he started working towards during the autumn months. But first he had to prepare his shop, make some forms and jigs and carve out time. Last week he devoted plenty of time to the making.
Becoming acquainted
No need to rush
Baby steps will bring
New rhythms
The dance will come.
Sunday afternoon I watched a number of youtube videos of people using a Great Wheel, also known as a Walking Wheel. A couple of favorites: Riverrim – Cynthia makes it look so easy and graceful; and LadyLilith who seems almost nonchalant in her ease; Frazzlehead for showing the spinning from the fold technique.
I’ll be writing about some of the making process details on our yarntools.com blog within the next few days but I wanted my faithful blog readers to be the first to know about Ed’s latest, and greatest :0 spinning tool.
January 9, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Wow how beautiful, a new wheel is born!
January 10, 2013 at 7:36 am
Wow. Just.wow.
January 10, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Beautiful Wheel!! Wanda I hope you have as much fun working with this wheel as Ed did in the creation process. I’ve seen walking wheels being used and it’s awesome but never had the opportunity to try it out myself.
January 10, 2013 at 4:13 pm
What a beautiful wheel! Do enjoy.
January 10, 2013 at 5:34 pm
I echo the WOW!
Can’t wait to see the video of you using it, Wanda!!!!!
January 10, 2013 at 7:42 pm
Oh my! Wow is right! I’ve seen the walking wheels being used but they were all so old, I feared they would fall apart. This is exciting!
January 11, 2013 at 6:07 am
It is BEAUTIFUL!!! Here’s to many happy steps along the way.
January 12, 2013 at 11:51 am
Enjoyed your walk, beautiful images….could almost smell the fresh air!
And VERY BIG SMILES from here, indeed, the dance will come!
(and thanks for the honorable mention!)
January 19, 2013 at 8:11 am
I know I’m very late with this comment but–wowzers! Ed, you rock!! I have a date with a friend at the end of January for my first lesson on her spinning wheel. I’m so excited to finally start learning. Enjoy your walking wheel!
January 26, 2013 at 9:54 am
What an absolute beauty! That is a truly graceful wheel, and a real work of art. And it looks like you’re having some success spinning on it already. I can’t wait to see the results. (Also, I am sympathizing with your rain and lack of walking – I had big plans for an eight or ten mile walk today, but it’s pouring. I don’t mind shorter walks in the rain, but that’s nearly two hours of hard work – not much fun when wet…)