​Welcome to the second in a series of blogs where I am introducing you to my friends – local PEI farmers who work tirelessly caring for their animals, their crops and their land.  It is only because of their hard work that I am able to share with you such unique and truly local items!
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Meet Kim Doherty-Smith and Jennifer Taran - two sisters who, along with their husbands Ken and Steven, left their big-city corporate jobs on the mainland, bought an old farmhouse and acreage in rural PEI and founded Fleece and Harmony and Harmony Meadow Farm. 

​Jennifer and Kim talk about a “slower pace of life” here in PEI but, from all that they have achieved in a little more than two years, I would have to say that they’ve been just a little busy!  Their mill equipment was installed in January, 2017 and, three months later, I placed my first wool order with them.

I was so impressed with their business philosophy.  They pasture-raise their animals and, when these woolly loves enter their “senior” years, they live out their remaining days with the flock, enjoying sunshine and fresh air. 

​Their wool is untreated and hand-dyed using organic-certified dyes.  I carry their “Signature” line of wool – a blend of 60% lambs’ wool and 40% sheep's wool.  It is a 3-ply Aran weight wool that has a gauge of approximately 18 stitches and 26 rows to a 10 cm (4”) square when knit in a stockinette stitch on 4.5 mm (US 7) needles.   The colours are so vibrant, rich and the wool so lovely to knit with!  Every time I get a fresh batch in, I’m inspired to create new patterns to showcase its beauty.
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My newest pattern is the “Picot-Edged Fingerless Mittens and Toque” shown in shades of spruce, seafoam and natural.   If you’re a novice knitter who wants to learn some new techniques, try our “Brioche Scarf and Mittens with Brioche Cuff” and “Lavender & Lace Fingerless Mittens”.   All three patterns were knit with Fleece & Harmony’s Signature yarn and are available to purchase in a downloadable format through our website or Ravelry or in print version at the studio.

They are just wrapping up lambing season on the farm, having delivered 117 lambs!!! There is only 1 more ewe who is expecting.  Jennifer and Kim are understandably punchy from lack of sleep.  No – I’m not telling tales – they readily admit it in their podcast!  Be sure to check it out.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC4tDjgTkjcsgfL6HSlTRV

Welcome to the first in a series of blogs where I am introducing you to my friends – local PEI farmers who work tirelessly caring for their animals, their crops and their land.  It is only because of their hard work that I am able to share with you such unique and truly local items!

​Meet James and Toby Hill, the owners of Blomidon Farm – a small Icelandic sheep farm about a 20 minute drive from our Knit Pickers’ studio.  You can tell from this photo that Icelandic sheep have the sweetest personalities.  A huge part of that is because of the way they are raised – in the most humane and sustainable way with loads of love, and of course plenty of sunshine and grass in the summer.

​As I’m writing this, it’s lambing season at Blomidon Farm.  If I’ve kept things straight, Toby and James have helped the expectant ewes deliver 6 sets of twins and 4 singles within the past week!  Mid-afternoon or 2 a.m. – they have to be there when Mother Nature calls.  Only 4 more deliveries to go….

Icelandic sheep have been treasured for their wool for over 1,100 years!  Their fleece is made up of 2 layers – a fine undercoat known as “thel” and a longer outer coat known as “tog”.   When spun together, this wool will keep you toasty warm and dry!
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Icelandic sheep are shorn twice a year.  James and Toby let the wool shine in its original colours – natural black (almost an espresso colour), shades of warm brown, and a light natural grey.  When the skeins are made up, they label each skein with the name of the sheep that provided the wool.

Of course the wool and the pattern for this cowl are available at our Knit Pickers’ studio or through our online store.  I would rate the pattern at an easy “intermediate” knitter level.  It knits up quickly on 6 mm knitting needles and the Icelandic wool is absolutely delicious!  I would strongly recommend stitch markers to help you keep track of pattern repeats.

Did you know there is an International Good Deeds Day?  This year, it is on Sunday, April 7th.  Good Deeds Day was launched in 2007 in Israel with 7,000 volunteers participating in 120 projects.  Fast forward to 2018.  Good Deeds Day boasted 3,500,000 volunteers working on 20,000 projects in 100 different countries!
Businesswoman, philanthropist and Good Deeds Day initiator Shari Arison states, “I believe that if people will think good, speak good and do good, the circles of goodness will grow in the world.”
A series of unrelated events this past week kindled all sorts of reflections on good deeds.  When you lend a helping hand and do a good deed, it not only benefits the recipient but it also will decrease your own levels of stress and is good for your overall physical and mental health!
On March 8th, COWS teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association, PEI Division to encourage awareness of mental health issues and to try to end the stigma and embarrassment of asking for help.  Sales of their world-famous ice cream, special t-shirts and donations totalled over $34,000 which will go to CMHA-PEI.

​This past Saturday, I received an e-mail asking about new patterns for our adjustable looms – specifically mittens.  I’m currently working on our “Volume II” pattern book for loom knitting but it is nowhere near ready for distribution yet!  The person who was asking about a mitten pattern is a fairly experienced loom knitter – she just finished the beautiful scarf in the photo below.  So, even though I didn’t have a pattern ready to send out, I did write a quick blurb for her on how I would knit a mitten on the adjustable loom.  I was surprised by her reaction!  She was so appreciative that I took a little extra time to help her out.  It made me realise that something you might consider a small “good deed” might make a much bigger impression on someone else.

Then this Monday, I was the recipient of a good deed.  I was headed to a workshop hosted by the Central Coastal Tourism Partnership in preparation for the upcoming summer season.  This session had been postponed twice due to storms.  This winter has been a rough one – not a lot of snow but it always seems to be followed by freezing rain and ice pellets.  So many parking lots and fields are little better than skating rinks and this parking lot was no exception.  Earlier this winter, while taking out the trash, I took a hard fall on the driveway.  There was a large ice patch under the snow.  Knocked the wind right out of me and, at the same time, it knocked out my self-confidence about walking on ice!  I slowly made my way into the hall, walking through the snow adjacent to the parking lot rather than risking the ice.  At the end of the workshop, a friend walked over and offered to fetch my car for me so I wouldn’t need to navigate the ice again.  It was a small, unexpected, and completely lovely good deed – and I was gobsmacked by the impact this good deed had on me!  (Yupper – that’s me hiding in the back row, second from the left – and the good deed doer (Julia Cameron, Executive Director of the Kensington & Area Chamber of Commerce) is beside me above the “w”!)

This week I finally decided to take some time to organise my knitting and weaving materials.  I seemed to be spending so much time searching for what I needed rather than being productive.  I also find that, for me, a messy workspace blocks my creativity.  While sorting through everything, I came across an old Knit Pickers calendar from 2004.  The calendar featured 12 different sweater designs and my friends were my “models”.  Anna Howard was featured in December.  Anna was a delightful person who founded Random Acts of Kindness PEI.  She loved being able to do good deeds for others.  Sadly, she lost her battle with depression in 2017 but her sweet, funny, kind soul will never be forgotten.

​Just imagine – if one day of good deeds can help grow goodwill worldwide, what would happen if, every single day, we each did one good thing, one simple act or word of kindness?

And we believe in living life luxuriously!

Luxury is not based on a price-point, it is giving yourself the gift of indulging in what gives your heart joy and brings joy to others. It may be the luxury of giving back to others through volunteer work, of learning something new, of spending time with your favourite people, of caring for the world in which we live, of the sheer simplicity of enjoying your favourite things.

One of my favourite things is the simplicity of farm to table meals.  And here in beautiful PEI, our local farmers are also our neighbours!  Today we are celebrating Canada’s Agriculture Day – the perfect day to introduce you to some of our friends and neighbours.  And - February is PEI Potato Lover's Month too!

Last night, we prepared a cosy meal to ward off the winter chills.
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​​Our roast chicken came from Larkin Bros.  We participate in their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, picking up a selection of grain-fed, medication and antibiotic free chicken and turkey goodies every couple of weeks.

​Mashed potatoes?  Of course – PEI potatoes come from the spud capital of Canada (if not the entire world)!  Potatoes give you more potassium than a banana and are a great source of Vitamin B6 – which may lessen depression and anxiety, promote brain and eye health, ease inflammation and even reduce your risk of clogged arteries and certain types of cancer!  And what would mashed potatoes be without some sour cream and butter – direct from ADL which is owned by 165 dairy farm families.  Did you know that PEI has the highest milk production per-capita in Canada and 2nd highest in North America!  Our dairy products are free of growth hormones, antibiotics and ADL does not add any modified milk ingredients to prolong shelf life.

​​If you want to make potatoes creamy and delicious without a lot of added fat, you really should try adding Ferme Isle St Jean’s yoghurt made with sheep’s milk.  Rich and thick, not too tangy - a personal favourite!

The word "feminist" wasn't even part of day-to-day vocabulary when my father was growing up. But - his father passed when he was only three years old; his mother returned to her teaching career; and he was raised in large part by his grandmother, Catherine McCormack (her tintype is to the left).  These women were strong, intelligent and resilient. How could he not grow up to believe that women are capable of anything that they set their minds to and that they should be treated respectfully as equals.

He married a remarkable and loving woman whose mother was a widow and also a strong, intelligent working woman. Their union was a true partnership in every way and resulted in four daughters and one son. We were all raised to understand that you never know what life may bring your way. You needed to have an education and a career path. With his daughters, our father impressed upon us that our well-reasoned thoughts and opinions were as valid as any other person's, regardless of race, gender or social station.

We were raised to believe that women and men are equal but different. There are distinct, physical differences that cannot be overlooked. Women are the ones who become pregnant and give birth to the next generation. This certainly does not make us the "weaker sex" - far from it.  But it saddens me when I see a gentleman berated for holding a door open for a woman. Unless it is done with a sneer and an ogle, it should be taken as a sign of simple courtesy, not a sign that women cannot handle this simple task for themselves.  I have held the door open for men whose hands are full! 

Men are not the problem. Men who are narcissists, men who are insecure when faced with a stance that differs from their opinion, men who are uneducated and thus believe that gender (or skin colour or race or religion) make you less valuable to the human race - they are the problem. I've also encountered women who are a part of the problem - women who belittle other women who choose a career path or who choose to stay home to raise their children; women who mock and ridicule other women for their appearance and thus foster the stereotype that appearance is more important than a person's mind, heart or soul.

I listened to a discussion today about whether or not women identify as feminists in this day and age, depending perhaps on their political persuasion. In my mind, all genders can be feminist if they believe in equal rights for everyone, equal pay for equal work, and equal opportunities for advancement in careers and in life. Gloria Steinem stated, "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."

Today is International Women's Day. On this day, and on every day moving forward from today, let's respect one another and treat one another with dignity, compassion and as equals regardless of gender, race, religion or income. Let us all join forces to put an end to biased behaviour.

2017 has been a wonderful year as well as a year of farewells.

It has been a year of saying goodbye to friends too soon - most recently Neil Matthews, a classic, old-school gentleman and beloved Island musician who left us only yesterday. But these goodbyes have also served as a reminder of what is truly important in my life. Our journey is short and very precious. Don't spend it worrying about "what ifs". When a change needs to be made, make it and move forward. Don't spend your life wishing it could be different. Treasure your friends and family - and be sure to let them know how much they mean to you.

It has also been a year of hope. The pink hats and "Me Too" movement clearly show us that while, on the surface, equality for all races and genders appears to have made progress, much work still needs to be done. The hope springs from the fact that so many people are willing to stand up, step forward and bond together to create a better world.

It has been a year of thankfulness.  The studio was abuzz with visitors from near and far. I've had such fun sharing the love of knitting and the passion for wonderful, local wool.  I've met the most delightful people.  It has truly been an honour to weave the MacEachern tartan for so many - and to hear their stories of what the tartan means to them and their memories of family past and present.

A friend shared some words of wisdom today that really struck a chord with me. I'd like to share them with you.

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone bumps into you and you spill your coffee everywhere.  Why did you spill the coffee?  You answer, "Well because someone bumped into me, of course!"  Wrong answer.  You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

Whatever is inside of  your cup is what will spill out.
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Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out.  It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.

So we have to ask ourselves, “What's in my cup?"  When life gets tough, what spills over? Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?  Or anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?  You choose!

​Rather than wrapping myself in sadness over the loss of dear friends, I am choosing to be grateful for the chance to have known them.  I choose to be grateful for the friends and family who are with me. I truly am grateful every day for the support you all have shown my business. Your comments, photos, e-mails, and visits are like fuel - feeding a creative flame.

As we say goodbye to 2017 and welcome the new beginnings of 2018, I wish you joy, good health, love, peace and prosperity. I wish you the wealth of life.

Last evening, Prince Edward Island lost a treasure. So many people today are feeling the loss of this wonderful, generous, kind, gentle man. 

I first met Wayne Bernard 15 years ago when I was working at Avonlea Village on Sundays doing weaving demos on a volunteer basis. It was Wayne who encouraged me to audition for a role at the Village. His encouragement helped me rediscover my love of theatre work. Watching Wayne interact with visitors to the Village was THE best lesson one could be taught about tourism. Each person was treated with respect and dignity. He shared stories about animals, about the Island, about life. His smile was the most genuine smile ever!

One bitterly cold night on the Cavendish shore, my sister and I came home to a door lock that was solidly frozen. No lock de-icer was going to help this problem. With winds howling and the beast that can be an Island winter night just waiting to freeze your fingers and toes, who is willing to come out to help? Yes, Wayne was there with all the tools needed. It was probably 20 minutes in this brutal cold that he worked on the door - and he kept telling us to wait in the car so we could stay warm. 

In this day where the news is filled with reports of inappropriate behaviour, his hugs were heartfelt, safe and cozy. His laughter was never malicious. The love and care he showed his animals was so rewarded with the love and affection they gave back to him.

​Tonight, look up to the heavens. That bright star you see in the December night sky over PEI is Wayne. Farewell, friend.

He was one of the lucky ones. He was hospitalised in England and was finally deemed well enough to be shipped back to a hospital in Halifax nearly 9 months later.
 
As a result of his injuries, his right shoulder had limited range of movement. This injury directly contributed to his death in 1929. His half-brother, Joseph Wilfred McEachern, was digging a well when he was overcome by natural gas in the well. John James went into the well to rescue his younger brother. Unable to pull them both out, he died alongside his brother, leaving behind a wife and 5 young children ranging in age from 3 to 9 years old.

His son, my uncle Gerard Joseph McEachern, was not lucky enough to return home. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. His plane was shot down over the North Sea on May 19, 1943. His name is recorded at the Runnymede memorial in Surrey, UK.  Just one of 20,000 airmen, 3,050 of whom were Canadians, whose bodies were never recovered.
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I am struck by the difference in these two photos. The youthful innocence in the photo on the left, and the weariness in the photo on the right.

I can't even begin to imagine what these two young men experienced: one in "The Great War" otherwise known as "The War to End All Wars", and the second in World War II, barely more than two decades later.

Wars continue to be fought. Young lives continue to be lost. Families continue to mourn. It is important to remember their sacrifice - not only on November 11th of each year, but every single day. If history does not teach the human race the necessary lessons, we are bound to be caught in a repeated cycle of bloodshed, loss and heartbreak until we do learn.

Earlier this evening, I went to a lovely networking event hosted by TIAPEI (Tourism Industry Association of PEI) and Meetings & Conventions PEI at the beautiful PEI Preserve Company in New Glasgow. I had a great time chatting with some folks I know well and others that I met for the first time. 

Of course, at events like this, the conversation will turn to the question of what you do for a living. Tonight, someone wondered why they should learn to knit or purchase locally made knitwear given the higher price point when there are so many cheap knitwear options on the market. Here are my thoughts...

1. Learning to knit has so many benefits. It keeps your mind active, helping to ward off what I'll call "aging brain syndrome". If you don't continue to learn and keep those brain cells active, they simply won't continue to work as well! It also helps to alleviate arthritis - keeping your hands in motion. It has been proven to reduce stress. Yes, you certainly can purchase a sweater for less than you can purchase the wool needed to make a lovely sweater. It's all about diving in and enjoying the creative process.

2. When you buy a locally-made sweater, you can learn about its "heritage". All of my knitwear and tartans are made from 100% Canadian wool. Why? Well, first and foremost, I want to support our hard-working Canadian farmers. I also can be assured of the welfare of the sheep who graciously provide us their wool. There are certain sheep farming practices that have been banned in North America that are still prevalent in other countries. I firmly believe that healthy and well-cared-for sheep will provide you with a much better quality of wool. And they are just so darned cute - how can you not want to make sure they lead a great life?

3. There are also serious environmental considerations. I choose to purchase wool that is dyed with environmentally friendly dyes and where wastewater from processing the wool is handled in a manner that is healthy for our water's ecosystem. I choose wool over man-made fibres which shed microfibres at each washing. These man-made microfibres are too small to be captured at water filtration plants and end up in our rivers and oceans, ultimately making their way into our food chain as they are discovered in our fish and other aquatic creatures. Another environmental consideration is one of logistics. What is the impact on our environment when we consume vast amounts of fuel shipping cheap sweaters made in factories in Bangladesh or Thailand? These clothes are not meant to be quality items - they are not made for longevity. The end result is that we find mounds and mounds of one-season clothing fabricated from man-made fibres in our landfills. This clothing is not biodegradable. It will still be in those landfills for future generations to "enjoy".

4. When you shop for locally made goods, you are supporting your local economy. You purchase a sweater from me. I purchase more wool from a local mill who sources their wool from local farmers. I'll celebrate a good month perhaps with an evening out, taking in a local theatre production and enjoying a lovely meal at a restaurant that sources its menu items from our local farmers and fishers. Local business owners - both small and large - contribute in so many ways: donations of items for fundraisers, volunteering time for local causes, donations of money to support food banks, cancer research,  Anderson House....the list is endless.

5. Last but not least is the issue of human rights. Here in Canada, we fight for higher minimum wage, public safety, health care, comprehensive education. We have safety nets such as employment insurance, workers' compensation benefits for workplace injuries, child benefits. Granted, you will not be living a grand lifestyle but programs such as these provide some level of financial security when needed. What is offered to those workers in factories churning out our cheap garments? An unlivable wage, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions. Oftentimes, child labour is the norm. They have no human rights - those workers are barely even considered human.

Is that inexpensive garment - bought on an impulse because it was such a good deal even if you only wear it a couple of times - really worth the price?

(Photo credit - Fleece and Harmony Woolen Mill, Belfast PEI)