Friday, October 29, 2010

Making The Most Of It


Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments on my post this Wednesday.  Although I'm not entirely ready for winter, sometimes you just have to go with it.  The sun came out this afternoon and much of the snow has melted already, and so far, no flooding.  (crossing fingers)  Yay! 

Now, I've been on the lookout for enough oakmoss lichen to do some dyeing with but haven't had much luck.  I've found a tuft here and there but most of it seems to be higher up in the branches of... pines.... wait a minute! 

Why, I have a number of pines just laying in the wood pile, courtesy of the storm!  So I said to myself "Self, it's time to get the gathering basket and rubber boots" and out I went.  Sadly, Self did not pipe up about gloves or warm socks but I still gathered a good amount of lichen before I sissied out and returned to my post in front of the wood stove. 



Oh, look!  Fungus!


I gathered enough oakmoss (I guess I'm no rolling stone, huh?) to make me happy.  I brought in some needles too, just to enjoy the scent.  While gathering I was surrounded by the scent of the pine mingling with the smell of the wood smoke from our fire.  When the day comes that we leave this place, that is the smell that will take me back here.


The lichens are now soaking in a jar with some wool, and I hope to show you some natural dyeing results soon.  The pines are in our tree pile and will be cut up for firewood eventually.  We heat with wood throughout the winter and there is no shortage of downed trees to help keep us warm. 

Have a great weekend, everyone.  I hope yours is warm and cozy.

8 comments:

Marilyn said...

It all sounds so warm and "woodsy"....lichens and pine and fungus....the smell of wood smoke.....bunches of needles on the table.....for the scent of the outside, inside.....just wonderful.
Don't spoil it by telling of the reality!!!!!!
You have a wonderfilled weekend too..... :) ♥

Karen Larko said...

Reading this reminds me of the past when my kids were little and I was young. Here you go again...bringing back those wonderful memories.

Lisa-Marie said...

How utterly lovely. I so miss living in the countryside!

Margie Oomen said...

can't wait to see your results

joanie said...

I saw the same type of orange fungus on my woodland walk this morning - makes me feel like we were walking together! I think I can smell that wonderful wood smoke from here :)

Mona said...

Uh, exiting. I was gathereing oak lichen the other day - for making yule decorations - and was asking my self: "Self, do you think it's possible to dye with these lichens?".
I'm looking forward to see your results - and what methods you're trying out. I'm about to try the lichen growing on my elder :)

Vintage Tracy said...

Sounds like a fun little adventure! And then I said to myself "Self, what the heck is Oak Moss and how would I know it if I saw it?" Self still has not answered, so maybe you could...?

Unknown said...

oh my... was that snow I saw??

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