Sherbert the Entari is slowly chugging along. Its possible it will be done for investiture, but I am starting to doubt it.

I didn’t kill my Mulberry Tree over the holidays. It is starting to bud in the carport. This means the Silkworm project may be only one more year away. It all comes down to how much growth I get this year. I really should get it in a bigger pot soon.

I am working on a turning project for my mom. It involves hundreds of pencil crayons being glued together. I have turned alot of stuff thats been laminated together, but never anything quite like this. It just might kill me =D.

I am building a game board based on a version of Hnefatafl, but it reminds me more of the Irish game Fidchell. I am calling it Boot Licking Toadie in tribute to the whole weirdness of the C______ War politics. The bootlicker with the help of the Toadies have to avoid being captured by the significant Minority all the while trying to suck up to the assorted senechals living in the corners of the game board.

Working on a Pilgrim Badge cast in a stone mold. Stove broke, so I am stuck for the moment.

More research on the Turkish Rug. I think I have my design sorted out except for the center element. Still looking, and thinking of dying my own wool. I have to figure out a rough estimate of the wool I will need, and then figure out if I have enough capacity to dye everything at once. If I can I dye, if not maybe not. Don’t want to thave the colors change mid carpet.

Still going to give the orange turmeric dye one more shot, then I will share the good and badness of my recent dyeing stuffs.

etc….

• February 7, 2010 -- Day of Dance / A&S Defenders 2010 (3)
• July 28, 2009 -- Flora & Ash update (0)
• July 12, 2009 -- Purple Heart Dye (0)
• June 6, 2009 -- Mulberry Tree / Silkworm Project (2)
• April 1, 2009 -- Milk Paint v1.2 In Search or Red (0)

The Mulberry Tree (Flora) is doing fantastic. The tempature from this heat wave is making it shoot up like mad. If it keeps up this rate, and I don’t manage to kill it over the winter, the silkworm project might get an early kickstart.

Ash the turnip has many health leaves , and seems to have regain some of its hardness (was spongy when I rescued the poor dear). So glad my mascott has pulled through…It was looking touch and go for awhile. (yes I know my devotion to the Turnip is weird and some what alarming…I talk to it you know)

The other two plants are mystery citrus fruit (orange, lime, or grapefruit…), and Osage Orange. The OO has developed some nasty spikes.

• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• June 3, 2010 -- Archery & Heavy Defenders 2010 (0)
• April 11, 2010 -- Siege Engine Boules (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)
• March 30, 2010 -- Break Apart Eric Stands v1.0 (4)

I have got it into my thick skull that I will enjoy raising Silkworms.  The whole selective breeding for specific traits appeals to the farmer in me.

I could be raising silkworms right now, as everything you need to raise silk can be bought on line. Somehow buying silkworm chow  seems like cheating, so long before I even think about silk worm racks, and eggs I must grow a mulberry tree. Back in December I received a packet of mulberry seeds, and promtly started stratification of the seeds (soaked in water for three days, then in the fridge for three months). I then planting them back in March in a plastic seed greenhouse. Three months later the biggest of the seedlings has now been planted in a large pot. Periodic updates on the tree will follow.

I have found a fair amount of pre 1700 books on the cultivating of  silkworms (google book search is your friend). This will be the longest term project I have ever started.

• February 8, 2010 -- Status Update (0)
• July 28, 2009 -- Flora & Ash update (0)