Boys 'n' Toys
I haven't heard from any of you about your attempts at making a wool saddle pad... Is anyone besides me making one of these? I've just been referring everyone to the posts at "Just Another Day On the Prairie" instead of redoing all of her instructions and work. No need to reinvent the wheel... but I figured I could at least share pics of my progress. I've got the first round done... and now I think it'll get trickier, avoiding hooking what's already been completed.
It didn't take too long to get the hang of it, but we'll see how it continues...
A closeup of the top shows the twist that seems to happen...
But the bottom side somehow is even and regular. I didn't even try to do that.
Strange.
<doodoodoodoo... twilightzone music plays>
We needed to help out a neighbor by splitting just a tad bit of wood. That's one of my favorite chores, so I jumped in and went with the guys.
I have to be honest here.
I now have logsplitter envy.
It's powerful and long, sleek and shiny.
Just a touch and whoosh! split in two!
Seriously, look at this machine!
I've always been thrilled with my log splitter. Uncle A. gave it to us many moons ago... and I do... I love it. I can be out there for hours if there's enough logs sawed... but wow.
This, though... this is the next level. I never knew there was another level! I've been happy with mine, now... the lust has settled in!
It is so low to the ground, there's not a lot of lifting like with mine.
It is COOL!
Well, we finished up...
and then the guys decided to go from working to playing.
A friend of Daniel's joined in the fun...
and off they went!
Me?
I went to the Mills house where it was warm... and I painted and played... and left the boys with their toys.
****
December 5, 2009 HappyDance
December 5, 2008 Therapy Dog
Hi Carol - Marcia here from Crowheart. I have all the materials - canvas and roving (from my own sheep!) to make the saddle pad (I have a friend who is an expert) but...I'm working on knitting a western vest right now so the saddle pad will have to wait. I'm looking forward to watching your's progress however. I'm coming over to Buffalo this week to pick up another batch of processed wool from Mt. Meadow Wool - some new colors to play with! Love your photos of the Tensleep country!
Reply to this
Marcia, send me pics when you start... I'm interested in all the different looks we'll get. So have you gone to Lucy's Sheep Camp in Thermop? Might be an interesting stop as well...
Reply to this
Up until my mom passed away a year ago I drove over to Worland twice a month to see her and passed Lucy's every time...just didn't seem to have the time to stop but I have heard about her - didn't she do a presentation/workshop for the Tensleep kids?
Reply to this
Don't know about that... she's done some stuff in Worland... but she's great to visit with on the phone! I need to stop in and just look!
Reply to this
That is one thing that I miss from growing up in Wyoming. Snowmobiling. My family spent all winter almost every weekend snowmobiling at Happy Jack or in the mountains above Laramie. Very very fun and cold!
Reply to this
My boys LOVE the Snowies... they get much more snow than the Big Horns! If I go along, I have them drop me off somewhere and I snowshoe while they zip up and down the hills... I'm more into quiet and slow!
Reply to this
Your ahead of me on your blanket. You didn't paint the canvas? I'm going to try and get the whole tutorial on one page this week and I'll be linking it to this post because yours is looking awesome.
Reply to this
I DID paint it... with off white spray paint, so it doesn't show very well!, two coats... just like you said! Thanks... gotta figure out how to keep from snagging the other wool with this next row... and I had a question... Do you ever maybe run a rug thread through the loops or anything to keep them from pulling out? I just think about riding through the junipers and snagging this on a limb and pllllllllllllllllll, pulling a whole row OUT!!!
Reply to this
I guess mine is SO blue (cause I used up old paint.....first red and then blue) that I can't see the grid lines in it. The blanket actually "felts" itself and I've never pulled even one loop out (but then I don't ride in a lot of bush).
Reply to this
I do radio remote broadcasts at Northern Tool and Equipment twice a year or more and my favorite thing to do is use the log splitter - and I'm sure it's more like your than that humongous thing. I love a good power tool. I am wasted in the beeg city, apparently. Sigh.
Reply to this
Sybann, Northern Tool!!! WE LOVE that catalog! I almost bought something today out of it, but they were out of stock... It's one the guys ALWAYS have laying around. I love power tools too... and I hate that the handles are soo big that my hands don't fit, but the last thing I want is a PINK power tool even if it fits my hands. Shees. Can't they understand that girls that use power tools aren't necessarily *pink* type girls????? Hey, I'd take some classes on woodworking, etc if I lived in a big city... Can you sit thru New Yankee Workshop and just be amazed???
Reply to this
I bought canvas for the saddle blanket today and am ordering roving tonight. However, I need an opinion. The horse I am making the blanket for has very high withers (he's a 16+h running quarterhorse) do you think I should make the front insert wider/taller?
Reply to this
That looks mighty handy! Would sure beat an axe. LOL
Reply to this