Getting Ready for the Kentucky Wool Fest

Wow what a day! I got all my wool weighed labeled and boxed up and ready. I put a coat of wax on the little cup pin keepers and felted the tops on two more. Did a littl more work on the crows and pumpkins. I also waxed the bowl, the vase and new spindles Glen made today. I have to tell you how much I love them and all the stuff he has been making. I showed him a picture of an ancient carved spindle and he just made in his shop for me. I waxed it all up to show the beautiful grain and it's drying over night. I can't wait to try the spindle tomorrow. I did a little test earlier and it spins beautifully. Tomorrow I'll try it with wool roving!

I still have more stuff to prepare but I'm feeling good about it. Tomorrow I will work on some more felting and running another fleece through the picker. I still have to bag up some special wool for dolly hair and pack up some felting needles into kits. This is going to be so much fun! Pictures hopefully tomorrow.

Kaving in Kentucky

One of the most amazing experiences that I've had since coming to Kentucky is learning how to explore caves. This is not something that I had ever given much thought to before. Once here I was introduced to the sport of caving by my neighbor who is a founder of the Ft. Knox Grotto, part of the National Speleological Foundation. The way he described it, it was an opportunity for adventure that I could not resist. I was ready for experience. My life had always pretty much been safe. But once i stepped onto the road less travelled, adventure and opportunity seemed to be everywhere. So I went underground, one cool autumn day last year. I was hooked. There is an entire new world underground. There is beauty that borders on the surreal. There is a gentle peaceful quiet that cannot be matched. Ocassionally there is the sound of sweetly lapping water if you chance upon an underground spring. There is the fresh coolness of the very breath of Mother Earth. There is the chance of discovering a place where human eyes have rarely if ever set upon.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to help The Ft Knox Grotto with the Annual Cave In. Nearly 400 cub scouts, boy scouts and explorers camp out for the weekend on donated lands. Members of the Grotto lead groups into the caves for first hand experience of one of natures most amazing wonders. For all, it is an adventure of a life time and experience that will hopefully create a consciousness of how alive the earth is.