June 2020

EVE? Sure!

Like clockwork, every year I seem to return to EVE Online. I get excited about a new project, or friends are playing, or a new campaign starts. No exception this time. I don’t remember what all I was working towards, but I’m getting myself situated easily enough and already thinking of activating my second account.

First? I needed an R&D agent that handled graviton physics, because my old one hates me. Not sure how I messed up my faction, but there you have it. I’m still doing a lot of drone crafting and these datacore help me out a lot – though I hear there are other ways of getting them now.

I’m looking to what I want to fly next. I’ve got my orca as support for mining, and my tengu for most combat. I want to swing back into PI and hopefully make weekly trips to Jita to sell. A bunch of friends are playing and I think that’s awesome. I’m excited for them.

A lot has changed with the UI since I played last. I forgot I had to hit the journal to find the agents I’m working with. There’s a lot more hand holding for those who want it. In true EVE fashion you’re welcome to play any way you want, but it’s nice to have some guidance if you’re new or returning.

I know people tend to waffle around and next week we may all be playing something new, but it sure is nice to be flying the skies again.

Truman’s Fleece

I bought a 3.7lb sheep fleece from a vendor not too long ago, and when it arrived, I was SO excited. I created a grand plan of cleaning this fleece and preparing it from start to finish, including spinning it, and then knitting it into a cardigan.

So far I cleaned the fleece (scoured, it’s called) and it’s ready for some flicking (opening up the locks) and then I’m going to drum card it to prepare it for spinning. The Tour De Fleece starts up at the end of this month and I’m hoping to have it ready for that. Once it’s all spun up I’ve even picked out the cardigan pattern I plan on knitting.

Honestly the entire process just speaks to me. I have loved every single second, from removing vm (vegetable matter) and lanolin, to drying the fleece. It’s so soft, so much work, and it just makes me croon with contentment.

Processing Fleece

I recently came into a 3.7lb fleece, from a leicester longwool sheep named Truman. While Truman was not a coated sheep, his best friend was – so the fleece came with minimal vm and cleaning it was pretty easy. What I didn’t realize is just how much floof 3.7lbs of wool is! I processed a tiny portion of the darker fleece to begin with, just to get the hang of things. Then a few weeks later I did the remaining fleece. I wanted to get it all cleaned and ready for storage.

My goal is to use my new drum carder (on the way) to create roving – and to spin it for the Tour de Fleece that’s happening at the end of this month. It will be the first fleece I’ve taken from start to finish, and I have plans on knitting a cardigan with it once it’s all spun and plied.

I’m incredibly excited! So far the entire process has been a learning experience, and it really speaks to my soul.

Nomadic Gamer