Twill and Dot

They came to us when they were only days old, now they are almost 4 months (and growing FAST!). These chickens of ours are Barred Plymouth Rocks, they are a traditional New England breed, and the will start laying eggs for us in the fall. Their names are Edith, Agnes and Maude. They are a delight to have around, they are quite social with us and with each other, and they all have very distinct personalities. This is my first experience with chickens and I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I did not expect them to be as entertaining as they are. They hunt for bugs, they scratch for goodies in the yard, and they love treats: pasta, cherries, cheese, yogurt. Agnes is the most adventurous, and she likes to sit on my shoulders and head when I permit it. There is the problem of those very large, very messy poops that come with little warning (a mere shake of the tail feathers) so I try to limit the hang-out time on my head.



The Nantucket Farmers and Artisans Market is well under way, and a big success so far this year. While we'd like to see more growers and food vendors participating eventually, this is only the 3rd year of the market, and it takes time for things like this to catch on. We have lots of talented and entrepreneurial craftspeople to be sure!



Since my last post in May, I have acquired a 48" Macomber loom that now lives in the shed in our back yard. The word "shed" probably does not accurately convey the environment that now doubles as my fiber studio - aside from the fact that I share it with the lawn mower and weed whacker, it's really quite lovely with a wood floor, skylight, and an electric wall heater. With two looms I am weaving more than ever, here's a sampling:

Things are selling great at the Farmers Market (bamboo flies off the rack) and I've met some off-island shop owners who may be interested in carrying a few of my things.  A great way to connect with people.