Indulgences
On Tuesday night Rob and I had a long talk. Wednesday morning I received these
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at work. There are sixteen blooms in all, one for every year of our marriage. This sort of thing is really not what I would typically think of as being in character for him. He is trying very, very hard, folks, and it’s hard not to fall in love all over again with a man who is willing to try that hard. The card that came with the flowers (although I will not reveal its contents in such a public forum), touched me almost as much as the flowers themselves. Maybe more.
Well. Onward.
I have not yet fully revealed the extent of my acquisitiveness at the Fiber Retreat. The truth is, I drove away having purchased this:
A Kromski Symphony double treadle spinning wheel, with a mahogany finish. It included its own matching tensioned lazy Kate, which you can see there in the corner of the picture, and three matching bobbins.
Isn’t she a beauty?
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She also came with an instructional video,
which so far I have been unable to watch because I no longer have a VCR.
When I first started spinning, I learned that it’s pretty common among serious spinners to have more than one wheel. In fact, it’s not that uncommon to have many wheels. (Like one in every room of the house.) I pooh-poohed this habit, thinking “Why in the world would anyone need to have more than one spinning wheel?”Â
Now it makes perfect sense to me. You absolutely need more than one wheel. My new Symphony has both a double drive and Scotch tension. The Ashford Joy has only Scotch tension. The Symphony can be fitted with a bulky-weight flyer and a lace-weight flyer. The Ashford has just one flyer that fits it. The Symphony has larger bobbins and more open flyer hooks than the Joy.  The Symphony is a gorgeous piece of (fairly) permanent furniture, and the Joy can be easily packed up and carried along for the spinner on the go.
Perhaps most importantly, this new wheel just goes and goes and goes with just a few treadles. She spins like buttah.
Admit it. You need a new wheel yourself, don’t you? Go ahead. Indulge yourself. You have my permission.
March 23rd, 2007 at 12:46 am
The flowers are lovely, as is the sentiment.
The wheel absolutely glows. I think this is the real reason I won’t let myself start spinning. I just know I’d start dreaming of wheels and bobbins and carders and combs and…well of course all the lustrous fiber itself. Nope. Just best not to let myself think about it too much. I do look forward to seeing what you do with that new wheel though!
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:11 am
Gorgeous flowers…
And the wheel! Oh my god, I’m swooning. I simply love the styles that look traditional, with all the delicate turnings. Yeah, yeah, I know plainer ones will get the job done just as well, but I’m the daughter of a woodworker. (Not his main job, you understand; Dad actually worked in the USPO. But he was a woodworker and house builder the way I’m a knitter/spinner/jewelrymaker/umpteen other things.) Which is why I do have two wheels; the first one I bought (with *no* indication as to mfr., it’s a mystery wheel, albeit modern – more or less), and one Dad custom-built for me. 😉 Your Symphony resembles my first wheel quite a lot – is she super-fast? ‘Cause mine is. I love the thought of double treadles, but even without those on my first one, I have to remember to treadle sloooowly, or things get totally out of control! And I’m totally envious of your Lazy Kate. Hoe you’re having much fun with her!
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:44 am
Beautiful flowers and a beautiful wheel too. I’m still waiting for mine to arrive in the post 🙂
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:36 am
As a non-spinner, I have to say that I was more immediately appreciative of the flowers. Heresy, I know.
As I mentioned to you on the phone, Sarah, when Matt and I separated (lo these many years ago…), he did nothing but issue ultimatums, he refused to engage seriously with the issues we had, he spent all his time blaming me, he went back to live with his mother for a couple of weeks… That’s one model, a model that means your marriage is over.
Another model is Rob’s, where the response is, “I don’t want to lose you, I love you, what can we do to make this right?”
Whatever happens, I think Rob’s actions show deep and abiding love for you. That has to be good no matter what you two ultimately decide is best for your future.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I love you, Sarah. Don’t ever doubt it.
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Please feel free to moderate and exclude the previous comment.
Love,
Man
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
The deep good-ness of all of this is a delight to hear. Regardless of any decisions that end up as necessary in the future, this sounds really Good, and I am so happy for you. Which is to say, I agree with Ellen (always wise!)
That said, Ellen…I’m going to dare to disagree about the wheel! 😉 I think it is pretty fantastic. The closest I ever came to even witnessing spinning was probably at the very many historical sites I tramped through as a child in Virginia–but I am a huge, huge fan of hobby-related aesthetic objects. I grew up riding horses (again….Virginia), so, despite inevitably cramped dormrooms, in college I deemed it necessary to hang my saddle where I could admire at all times. I completely understand: the wheel is gorgeous and, clearly, essential!
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I hope things turn out happy for you, Sarah, whatever happens.
I love the Kromsky wheel, and I don’t even spin (yet). I own two learn-to-spin spindles. But they’re technically not mine; I bought them for my man. He has yet to touch them. When do they revert back to me?
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
The flowers are just lovely and it sure sounds like the two of you are communicating…don’t stop!
As far as the Kromski…yummy! The Kromski wheels feel, to me, the most like the wheel my DH made for me. Yep, DH made my spinning wheel and I love it dearly. I did get a little Hitchhiker last year, just so that I no longer had to risk banging the other wheel in transit.
April 15th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
[…] 3. I’m close to being finished with the wool and silk that I’m spinning on my new wheel. […]
December 28th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Ok I have to admit to owing several wheels. I love them all and I have difficulty deciding which to spin on at any given time. I understand them far more then I do men, so I just stick to spinning!!