spinning my wheels

light rain for 24 hours broke a 65 year record for a dry spell at this time of year

but today was dry and not too cold so I worked another 2 hours raking leaves and pruning

I think it’s done for now – after all it is November these seed pods are so cheerful I brought some in

they are the seeds from Iris foetidissima – one would assume from the name that they smell bad

but mine don’t smell at all

and this large polypore – possibly Ganoderma applanatum or “Artist’s conk”

is growing at the base of the Japanese plum

 there is a very small one just starting, on the right

the white underside will turn brown when scratched or drawn on

there is an abundance of cinnamon coloured  spore dust on it and the tree, it is as hard as concrete

I want to try dyeing with it but had no luck even trying to sawing it off

with the month drifting along November’s backstrap weaving is finally started

handspun, 2 ply wool in both warp and weft

the pink is a blend of several natural dyed colours from a few years ago

50 grams of Bombyx silk  spun on the IST Crafts Turkish spindle and plied on the wheel

can’t wait to dye it!