Day learning more about my spinning wheel and quinoa salad

Once again Norman and I had to get the chores done quickly and our walk in early. Molly greeted us first. 

It may not look it but it was chilly and the day didn't get past 44*.

Norman didn't mind and just wanted to get out into the open field. 

I had an early class at the Fleece Factory of the Rockies.  This is the year I want to spin wool, really get in to it and do it right. My friend who begun to teach me had move to Missouri.  I have bags of lambs wool and alpaca that were just sitting there.  My spinning wheel is now 3 years old and needs some action. 

The class was Romancing the Wheel with Laurette. 

She taught us about so many wheels. 

And how to service them, what to look for when buying a used wheel, and we begun to use them today. 

Here is my wheel. It was such a fun class and students were engaged.  We didn't want to leave!

Dinner tonight was chicken and quinoa salad. I made a huge batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week. 

Added onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, goat cheese, parsley, and olives to the quinoa along with salt, pepper, olive oil (I  used less than a tablespoon) and a squeeze of a whole lemon. 

Mixed it all up. 

I loved it. Dude liked it and said if we add ham it would be perfect!  *smile*

peace

Getting gardens ready, mint and today's reading

Dude brought in the big guns to help me with my smaller kitchen gardens. I was so grateful for his help. 

 I found our old garden arches for our grapes to grow up and support. 

I am going to work on this peach "stick" that the dog gnawed at when a pup.  There are new growth shoots at the bottom so I am hopeful. 

Before we moved to the homestead we took down and brought our old wooden fence with us.  The winds picked up so we just laid them out for today. 

Our mint is always the first thing in our garden to show off how well it does here. I love the stuff. 

We celebrated the beginning of spring with a water of lemon and mint. I will have many of these this week. 

Next I got the Quinoa out to make tabbouleh for Meatless Monday. Quinoa is a grain full of protein. 

It is delicious and uses great herbs that easy to grow... parsley, basil and of course, mint! Looking at the picture, I think I need to add a little goat cheese.

I later got ready mailed a few squares for a yarnbomb project in Virginia. I wish I had more but I was only able to get four finished. 

Today's reading John 15: 1-8

Today's reading, like so many, are relatable on the homestead. 

Gospel  

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

It is so hard to prune when a plant appears to be doing so well and full of life but if we don't it won't grow full and beautiful the next year.  It is often hard to let go of our way of thinking and the material world  to the way of God but once we do the results are beautiful. 

We ended the day with a walk.  The dog is behaving more (well, except for when a butterfly flew in front of us and he took off after it).  It was windy and overcast but we had company with a hawk who followed us. 

We hope you had time to rest today. You deserve it. 

peace