The spinning is still slow, a little faster due to the bulk of the yarn. Quite a bit faster, but not as fast as wool. And unlike wool, I actually have to pay attention to what I’m doing.

In other news, one of the chickens was startled right over the hedge this morning. So first thing I get to do is go knock on the neighbors’ door and ask if I can retrieve my chicken from their back yard. The neighbors are nice people and let me into their yard, we chatted a little while. Elle emerged from a bush, screamed “Raaaagk!” and ran right to me.

It would have been less embarrassing if she’d just acted like a normal chicken and let me chase her around a little. Now the neighbors probably think I’m a crazy poultry whisperer.

Then there was the whole walk around half the block holding a chicken. A chicken that can’t even pretend to be a chicken and act somewhat put off by being carried around. No, Elle just coos happily and enjoys the ride.

I was tempted to just go with the whole crazy thing, I could have perched her on my shoulder and pretended to be a pirate. Instead I just hummed the banjo strains from Deliverance, but I don’t think anyone heard me.

So, because my life is like this; one of the other neighbors stops me (still holding the prodigal chicken) in my driveway. I don’t know what’s worse; the fact that I’m holding a chicken carrying on a conversation with my neighbor, or that my neighbor thinks this is a normal enough thing for me that there were no raised eyebrows or puzzled expressions.

Every once in a while he gave Elle a little pat on the head, like I’m holding a poodle or a cat so it’s not like he didn’t see her.

Maybe he has a crocodile or something in his backyard and that’s why the chicken as a pet thing isn’t freaking him out?

It’s fabulous, very similar in handle to Shetland although I tend to want to add more twist to it. I like the rich dark color of the black best, it’s a very deep espresso– so much so that I can almost smell it brewing as I spin.

I am also the proud new mama to three little chicks, the post about them is here (with picture.)

And I found my favorite sun-screen/moisturizer on sale for $3.99 at the local discount grocery outlet (usually this stuff is way out of my price range but this time it costs less than the shoddy stuff I’ve been buying.) Good moisturizer is cause for celebration.

The miss: I dyed three batches of silk noil, I thought I was being very bold and complex, however when I rinsed out the dye wash and carded samples I could see that if there’s ever a market for muppet entrails– I’m in business.

Can we say “Destined to be over-dyed black”?

The husband says I’m harder on myself than anyone else would be, and I argue it’s because everyone that knows me is used to having lowered expectations. Noil is cheap though, so if it comes down to losing some noil I’ll definitely live through it.