Monday 20 June 2016

++ hill walking in Aude

 on cooler days
it's a joy to walk in the hills with my friend Suzie
the views, the sounds, the fresh air
wild flowers, cow bells, big skies
past old shepherds huts
dry stone shelter
as we climb higher
the views are breath taking
snow on the peaks of the Pyrenees
we pick wild thyme, oregano, rosemary and lavender
the smell was amazing!
we put the fresh herbs into a dehydrator
the next day they re put into a paper bag
for me to take home and use on my 
roasted vegetables, stews and soups

there's something deeply satisfying 
about provenance 
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Thursday 9 June 2016

** yarn travels

 on my recent trip to Aude
I was lucky enough to visit Andie & Adriaan Luijk at
Andie kindly gave us a tour of her dye house 
she shared the story of their craft
with so many tips and knowledge
each stage of process
sustainable and natural 
keeping the carbon footprint as small as can be
bottles of brew
horsetail and elderberry
weld and woad
real plant matter used to make the colours
even onion skins!
the wool is beautifully fine 
in weight and quality
couldn't resist these two skeins on the left
poll dorset & blue faced leicester 4ply
thank you Andie & Adriaan for taking time for us
*