Another night where I am wondering if I can squeeze my daily post in before the bewitching hour...yikes! It is 11:47 and I may not finish in time...but at least I started on the right day, so that counts....right?
Do you see that basket of lovely goodness? Can you almost reach in and feel the softness? I will talk more about this in a moment.
Ken and I went to our favorite little place up here in the Mountains to hear "Cherish The Ladies". Oh my............if you want to be entertained, please go see these women perform!
I discovered this group quite by accident a few years ago. I had stumbled upon Heidi Talbot's solo album one day in Best Buy and it quickly became one of my favorite albums. (Her first album, Distant Future is on my side bar.)
Heidi was the lead singer for Cherish The Ladies for a number of years, so when I saw that they were performing at the Stone Mountain Arts Center, I bought the tickets. This is the second time they have done a Christmas special up here. I hadn't realized that Heidi was no longer with the group.
At first I was a bit disappointed when Heidi was not with them....until I heard Michelle Burke's voice. She has the voice of an angel......truly beautiful. The ladies mix up their performance with Irish instrumentals, vocals and some Irish step dancing. Truly............if you get the chance to see them, you will NOT be disappointed!
Ok..........back to the fleece. Holy crap....I will tell you I am a fleece snob and this is T.H.E nicest fleece I have ever worked with. It's been some time since I have been motivated to take a fleece and process it myself. There was no way however I was going to trust this fleece to anyone other than myself :)
Given that it is a merino blend fleece, it did take a number of washes to remove all of the grease, but what was left is incredible. I have been hand picking it while watching tv at night and enjoying it immensely. Ken and the girls have asked if it was boring doing this and I honestly told them that it was a joy. In a way it transports me to a simpler time in history and I love it. (I don't think they believe me.)
Softness and crimp that would make any spinner swoon. I love it so much that I ended up buying the other half of the fleece yesterday. Now I have to decide what all of this beautiful softness is going to become!
To tie the fleece and spinning with Cherish The Ladies, last year when I picked up my wheel from Norm Hall, we got chatting about music. I think that he and I share a similar love of music. He mentioned to me that one of his favorite groups that he has come to know well personally over the years.......are the Ladies.
It is a small world at times, isn't it?
I am so fortunate to have such wonderful gifts in one day :)
It looks so fluffy soft!
Posted by: tiennie | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 01:07 PM
I think you included a feel-o-meter with your post. I get the softness!
Posted by: Laurie | Saturday, December 06, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Thanks for the Cherish the Ladies recommendation! I loved Celtic Women, Riverdance and Gaelic Storm! Do a search on Youtube for Connie Dover and/or Mary Black. Absolutely awesome Celtic voice.
Posted by: Kate/Massachusetts | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 06:34 PM
The fleece is gorgeous! Lucky you!
Posted by: Debbie | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Oooh, lovely fluffy soft fleece. Yes, reaching into the monitor to cop a feel did enter my mind! Lol
Posted by: Manise | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 10:44 AM
That fleece envy is welling up inside of me again. It must be heaven if you bought more!
Posted by: margene | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I saw Cherish the Ladies in Houston a few years ago. They're wonderful!
Posted by: Wool Winder | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Just FYI, Cherish the Ladies released a new Christmas album this year. I've heard them several times (lots of folk festivals, plus Philadelphia is a pretty good place to find Irish music) so I bought the album without thinking twice.
Posted by: Elizabeth D | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 08:00 AM
ooh! They're going to be in Nyack on the 20th! Argh. I have the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm Open House that day. Gotta check the times....
Posted by: Jean | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 07:46 AM
wow. They sold out in Maine! I'll have to let my aunt know for next year. I think she'd enjoy that. You're killin' me with the fleece, Kim. lol. I know what you mean. I sleyed my reed last night (not well, but that's a story for another time. lol) and Daniel asked if that was boring and I said no. I think he believed me but Dan or Joe wouldn't have.
Posted by: Jean | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 07:45 AM
That must have been a really special concert. I bet you've got the Christmas spirit now!
Posted by: Carole | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 06:38 AM
How neat! That fleece looks so soft and yummy! Are you going to comb it? Card? I want to reach through the monitor!
Posted by: Kathy | Friday, December 05, 2008 at 06:18 AM