Part III - Wooldreamers, Windmills and Wine

On our third full day of the tour, we piled into the bus and ventured to La Mancha - Don Quixote country.

First we stopped at the mill at Wooldreamers in Mota del Cuervo. 

There were merino sheep outside in the rain but they didn't seem to mind.

Inside was a full mill operation. This woman was skirting fleeces; sorting parts of the fleece and removing unusable bits. There is only a small area on the back of a sheep's fleece that is good for processing fine wool and yarn, the other useable wool is used for carpets.

Fleeces here are from all over Europe.

This was a 3m high pile of fluffy merino wool fibre after being cleaned and picked. It was ready to be carded and made into rovings for the final steps of spinning and plying.

We then were driven to a high point of the area where some iconic windmills remain. Of course, there were statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. (factoid: 'panza' means 'belly' in Spanish. Cervantes was a real joker)

In their day, they were used to grind grain into meal and flour.

We also toured Belmonte Castle - from Medieval times. It was a key fortress and a symbol of power in turbulent times - the mid 1400s. It is a very unusual equilateral triangle shape with 6 towers/turrets.

Photo from Google Maps

Belmonte Castle is a representative example of Gothic-Mudejar architecture. The fortress is designed in a star shape, an uncommon structure among castles in the Iberian Peninsula. Its geometric design, with turrets at the points, allows for more effective defense and provides a panoramic view of the surroundings, as it has towers 22 meters high.

There were many rooms, lots of furniture.

One of the really remarkable features was all the woodwork - floors and ceilings.

 

After lunch we were taken to the Wooldreamers showroom and outlet in downtown Mota del Cuervo. I didn't take any photos there for some reason. 

This photo is showing the wooden cheese presses. 

The chevron design and grass periphery is iconic to Manchego cheese. 

I was this many years old before I realized manchego cheese comes from La Mancha. D'uh!

In the local gift shop I tried to find a personalized story book for Ernesto but to no avail. Enzo's book title translated is 'Enzo, the magicians need YOUR help!' Ernest left empty-pawed.

This was our group photo in front of the Wooldreamers shop in town.

Then we were off to the Mont Reaga winery for a tour.

They were ready for us. This was all set up when we walked in.

After the tour, we participated in a wine tasting. 

Of course we sampled some sausage and manchego cheese.

We piled back on the bus for the rainy drive back to Madrid. 

That night we were on our own for dinner. Poppy and I visited the local grocery store 1/2 block from the hotel and picked up snacky food for supper.

It was a very full and informative day.

The next day would be our day with Carol Feller and her knitting instruction.

(to be continued...)

At Long Last!!

UPS delivered the long-awaited parcel just now. And a very pleasant surprise! There were no arbitrary fees.

There were several charts, threads, fabrics, and accessories. In no particular order:

Esther Hawksworth by NeedleWorkPress

called-for fabric,

and Classic Colorworks threads.

It was an exclusive to Hobby House Needleworks. Here is the original and the re-charted model.

A needlebook chart, threads, and perforated paper.

A. Carter 1833 with fabric.

A sampler, perforated paper,

and frame.

and Fluttering Butterflies sampler with fabric, threads and tart tin for finishing.

This .pdf is still on my wish list from Hobby House Press. I need to find the right red before I order the pattern.

Sometimes it's nice to do a piece with just one colour. On 40ct, 1 over 2 it would measure about 10" x 6" and half that if over 1.

A Big Mistake and the Ensuing Frogging + A Favourite Thing

I was happily stitching away this morning (with Everett supervising) and watching YouTube videos.

I was so pleased with myself that I got the outline of the lower border finished and had rounded the corner. I went back to add something to the long bit and realized I had started the corner 15 stitches too soon!!! I had to remove all the stitches encircled in blue.  (insert bad language here)

So I hauled out my trusty seam ripper and started frogging.

What's left of those threads.

Oh well. It just means I get to stitch more. (insert eye roll here).

I am rather enjoying stitching with these Pony Black #26 needles on the 40ct linen.

The steel is black and the eye is painted white. They take a bit of getting used to, however, if you drop one on something light, the black makes it easy to find.

Conversely, if you drop it on something dark, the white paint shows up really well.

I have signed up for Kimat Designs' June 12 stitch day at the Lemonville Recreation Centre. The room is really well lit - great for stitching. Our fee includes light breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages; show and share - usually very inspiring; Kimat's exclusive boutique; and a special guest.

There are still a few spots left on both June 12 and 13. I have other plans for the 13th so am only going for the one day. Other scheduled days are Saturday, August 22 and Saturday, October 31.

Update, a Review, and a Rant

I stitched a bit on this at stitching on Monday and more today. There was a counting error with one of the motifs (I won't say which one) but rather than pick it all out, I am carrying on as is.

I'm pleased the border is correct so I can fill in the bits around it at stitching again on Monday. I may even do more on it this weekend.

Last night I finished the first black and blue helix sock. The light-coloured yarn is where I'll insert the afterthought heel.

Generally I prefer a ribbed cuff as it hugs my leg and ankle better than a stocking stitch cuff. I also cast on over both needles for extra stretch to the top of the sock.

This is a closeup shot of where I started the second (blue) yarn after knitting the black cuff. That's the only jog that appears since the rest of the sock has the one yarn chasing the other (described in the previous post).

I've been subscribing to food kits on and off for the past couple of years. When I was cooking for two, we liked the Hello Fresh offerings. However the minimum order is three 2-serving kits per week. With leftovers, that's 6 meals per week for me on my own. A friend recommended ChefsPlate which has a minimum order of two 2-serving meals per week - a much more manageable quantity. I used ChefsPlate a lot last summer and fall. Before Christmas, I discontinued my subscription to ChefsPlate as I wanted to eat down the food in my freezer - lots of leftover bits of this and that. 

A couple of weeks ago I tried GoodFood. They also have a 2 meal minimum. I received two boxes and have cooked three of the 4 meals so far. I am not impressed. 

Pros: 

• excellent packaging
• sturdy boxes
• reusable clear bags with handles containing the produce
• well-packaged meats

Cons:

• frozen blocks contain a gel which I don't want to just pour down the sink once thawed
• the inserts are foil-lined so I had to peel it off before recycling the cardboard
• the food was just not that flavourful
• entrees not that impressive. For example the salad last night was a head of leaf lettuce and radishes. The chicken dish with pesto was OK but there was no vegetable, or starch. 

So I have cancelled my GoodFood subscription and re-subscribed to ChefsPlate. The first box arrives on Monday.

And now for my rant. I cancelled my spot at a retreat I was going to attend last fall at a stitchery shop in upstate NY. Because it was past the cancellation date and I had already paid in full, I did not receive a refund. However, the proprietor last September offered to send me the materials I would have received had I attended. In the past, they shipped an item that I had won as a door prize via UPS. When it arrived here, I got a card asking me to pay $20 in fees to pick it up from their depot. (This was before any tariff silliness). Basically couriers charge an arbitrary customs brokerage fee to their international customers. I was not amused at having to pay $20 for something I won. CanadaPost on the other hand only charges a flat rate of $5 for customs brokerage fees - if they levy the fee at all.

I explained this brokerage fee anomaly to the shop's proprietor and requested that he send the materials from September's retreat via US Postal Service instead of using a courier.

Then I waited. Every month or so, I would email requesting an update on the status of this parcel and requested USPS rather than a courier.

Then Poppy and I decided to not attend another retreat there we had planned for this June. All but $100US was refundable and Poppy got her refund a few weeks ago. I still have not received my refund. So I emailed the proprietor again asking about this. I also requested a tracking number for the materials from the September retreat and again requested shipping via USPS. 

Earlier this week I received an email that a label had been created for my package, a tracking number,  and it would be shopped via UPS!!!! What the heck?!?!? (insert bad language here)

Finally, as of today, the package has been picked up by the courier, and is schedule for delivery tomorrow late afternoon. The notice doesn't mention any fees but I'm not holding my breath.

All that being said. I am not impressed with the customer service of this shop. I'm annoyed it took 6 emails over 6 months to get this parcel sent. And I still have not received the refund I requested at the end of last November. 

Grrrr.  (Rant over)

One bit of good news, though. Kristi Noem has been removed from her position with US Dept. of Homeland Security. She really took a (well-deserved) drubbing for her lies. I don't expect her replacement to have any moral integrity either but I'm glad to see Noem gone.

Finishing a Knitting UFO

I started these Black and Blue Helix socks in May of 2024. I abandoned the project shortly thereafter having knit only a little farther than this.

I'm half-assed trying to organize my office/craft room and found the project last week. I needed something to knit while I watch TV other than little bears for a while.

I'm this far as of last night.

I tried to do an Eye of Partridge heel in black but I couldn't see how I could continue the helix pattern when I pick up the stitches on either side of the heel flap so I frogged back and just inserted a contrasting yarn. It will get removed once I've completed the foot and toe, leaving live stitches which I'll pick up and knit an afterthought heel in black. 

Actually, I'll wait until I've knit both sock 'tubes' before I do the heels.

When knitting a helix pattern there are no 'jogs' between yarn colours except at the very beginning when the second colour is added and at the very end when that yarn will get dropped and the toe knit with one colour. Basically the two yarns chase each other around and around.

It's easy to do. First, knit a round with one colour. In this case, the ribbed cuff was knit. Then add the second colour and knit around until 3 sts before the first colour. Drop the second yarn and slip the 3 sts, reaching the first colour. Pick it up and knit around until 3sts before the second colour. *Slip the next 3 sts, pick up the next yarn and knit around until 3 sts before the next colour. Repeat from * until you've knit as far as you want to. 

Yesterday, Alexa and I booked our flights to Amsterdam for our Christmas Market Rhine cruise. We're going there a few days ahead and will do some day tours before embarkation.

The other girlies are looking at other crafting tours for 2027. I've been leaning towards KnittingTours of either Denmark/Copenhagen, Scotland/Shetland, or Barcelona. More discussion is needed.

We are also looking at a crafty road trip in SW Ontario this summer or fall - whatever will fit in their schedules.

Speaking of road trips - this Sunday some of us are heading into The Big City to the Knitting Loft and Country Clothesline for some retail therapy (not that I need to buy anything - eye roll). It's always fun to spend time with whatever girlies are available.

And finally, I got around to ordering another crochet kit from WoolWarehouse.co.uk. It's another Janie Crow pattern - Mystical Lanterns. I selected the Original colourway with a wool/blend DK yarn.

I should have ordered it last week to ensure that it arrives before the March Break retreat I'm attending. I'll be taking all kinds of crafts to attend this retreat. Most of the others will be quilting. My niece wants me to teach her how to crochet. I plan to take Sashiko, knitting, stitching, and hopefully the Mystical Lanterns project if it arrives in time. 

International shipping via Royal Mail was only £4.99 and will take between 7 and 14 days. Both packages I received from them in the past arrived between 7 and 10 days. Fingers are crossed...

Scooter will be here to house-sit during my absence. I'm sure he'll enjoy having the place all to himself.