Gratitude in Challenging Times

Spanish Peacock 2021 Year in Review and 2022 Look Ahead

In episode 16 of The Peahen’s Ponderings, Mike of the Spanish Peacock and I discuss the events of 2021 and peek ahead at what we might have in store for 2022. SUMMARY: In episode 16 of The Peahen’s Ponderings, Mike and I review the roller coaster known as “2021”, which had a significant number of challenges and thankfully is now over. We also share our hopes and dreams for 2022, namely that it look nothing like 2021! [https://thepeahenspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/snapshot_8.png?w=1024] You can find the video version of this podcast on YouTube here [https://youtu.be/7xTue-NdEro]. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: * The Spanish Peacock website soon to be migrated to a new hosting platform: https://spanishpeacock.com [https://spanishpeacock.com] * The Spanish Peacock Flock group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishpeacockflock [https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishpeacockflock] * The Cedar Springs and Fiber Arts Center and Retreat fundraiser: https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time [https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time] * The Cedar Springs Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/cedarspringsfiberarts [https://www.facebook.com/cedarspringsfiberarts] * The Cedar Springs YouTube Channel where you can enjoy the videos of our experience so far:  https://www.youtube.com/channel11/UC2IyPxf5WwyUOv4uX-b_tQQ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IyPxf5WwyUOv4uX-b_tQQ]

Tenmokus “Spindle Bowl” Review

In episode 15 of The Peahen’s Ponderings, I discuss what to look for in a supported spindle bowl, provide tips for purchasing bowls online, and review four different Tenmokus tea cups I repurposed for use as supported spinning bowls. SUMMARY: I’m always on the hunt for beautiful supported spinning tools to add to my repertoire. Bonus points if the new tools match any of my existing spindles and / or fiber! Recently a member of the Spanish Peacock Flock Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishpeacockflock] shared a new potential source for spinning bowls and I just had to give them a try. Tenmokus Spindle Bowl ...er, Tea Cup [https://thepeahenspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/zoomed.jpg?w=1024]Tenmokus Spindle Bowl …er, Tea Cup OK, so technically they were exquisite porcelain tea cups, not spindle bowls! But I got them and tried them and recorded a review of the “bowls”, so others would know what to expect if they decided to purchase them as well. I also recorded a YouTube version of this podcast, which you can find here [https://youtu.be/SwJS2TgwB54]. Trust me, you want to watch this to see these four bowls – er, tea cups – in action! The four "bowls" I review in this podcast: Aurora, Bloom, Golden Peacock and Lava [https://thepeahenspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/teacups.jpg?w=1000] The four “bowls” I review in this podcast: Aurora, Bloom, Golden Peacock and Lava Side note: In the podcast, I forgot to mention stone as a material for spinning bowls! As you can see from my previous blog post about supported spinning bowls [https://thepeahenspod.com/2019/08/24/choosing-a-supported-spinning-bowl], I own a few stone bowls but I do not use them regularly. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: WEBSITES: * The tea cups (aka spindle bowls) reviewed: tenmokus.com [http://Tenmokus.com] * John Galen: https://johngalen.com/ [https://johngalen.com/] * Stephen Willette: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StephenWillette [https://www.etsy.com/shop/StephenWillette] * Jeri Brock: https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/home/jeribrock [https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/home/jeribrock] * Spanish Peacock: https://spanishpeacock.com [https://spanishpeacock.com] * Dan Tracy Designs: https://www.dantracydesigns.com [https://www.dantracydesigns.com] * Straddle Creek Spins: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StraddleCreekSpins [https://www.etsy.com/shop/StraddleCreekSpins] * My Tour de Fleece 2020 Spin, which would have coordinated beautifully with Lava: https://thepeahenspod.com/2021/01/27/tour-de-fleece-2020/ [https://thepeahenspod.com/2021/01/27/tour-de-fleece-2020/] FACEBOOK GROUPS: * The Spanish Peacock Flock fan group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishpeacockflock [https://www.facebook.com/groups/spanishpeacockflock]

Spanish Peacock 2020 Year in Review and 2021 Look Ahead

In episode 14, Mike of the Spanish Peacock and I discuss Spanish Peacock highlights from 2020, and peek ahead at what we expect for the new year. SUMMARY: That’s right … we did it. In this episode of the Peahen’s Ponderings, Mike and I recounted some of the Spanish Peacock highlights from 2020, and dared to speculate on what 2021 might hold! We also provide a very important public service announcement about how Spanish Peacock handles notifications about shop updates. We also recorded a YouTube video for this one, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/2cdz594JZyE [https://youtu.be/2cdz594JZyE] RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: The Cedar Springs and Fiber Arts Retreat fundraiser: https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time [https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time] Support Spindles Anonymous Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/406145993582158 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/406145993582158] My original “Choosing a Supported Spindle” podcast which I may need to update: https://thepeahenspod.com/2019/05/02/choosing-a-supported-spindle/ [https://thepeahenspod.com/2019/05/02/choosing-a-supported-spindle/] My Supported Spindle Fashion Show – search this blog, or check out the video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/347901779500830 [https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/347901779500830] Oh, It’s You Bob Nissan Sentra commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHBYtvSXO-w [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHBYtvSXO-w] The previous podcast, about why spindles wobble … https://thepeahenspod.com/2021/01/01/why-spindles-wobble/ [https://thepeahenspod.com/2021/01/01/why-spindles-wobble/] … and the YouTube version of the same https://youtu.be/O1dzRodsgv4 [https://youtu.be/O1dzRodsgv4] The Spanish Peacock Tote Life Product Listing: https://spanishpeacock.com/shop/ols/products/tote-life-spindle-storage [https://spanishpeacock.com/shop/ols/products/tote-life-spindle-storage] MidAtlantic Fiber Association: https://mafafiber.org/ [https://mafafiber.org/] Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival: https://sheepandwool.org/ [https://sheepandwool.org/]

Why Spindles Wobble

In episode 13 of the Peahen’s Ponderings, Mike of the Spanish Peacock and I discuss why hand spindles wobble, and what can be done about it SUMMARY: In this episode of the Peahen’s Ponderings, Mike and I discuss a subject we are very passionate about: what makes a hand spindle wobble, from design to manufacturing process to transport and storage. (We may have also played with the special effects on the audio mixer, namely the “elf voice” that appeared in our pre-Christmas [https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/442287293826358] and post-Christmas [https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/140348457852319] live steams!) RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: The link to the YouTube video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/O1dzRodsgv4 [https://youtu.be/O1dzRodsgv4] My Supported Spindle Fashion Show – search this blog, or check out the video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/347901779500830 [https://www.facebook.com/81855936772/videos/347901779500830] Spanish Peacock spindle storage stand selection: https://spanishpeacock.com/shop/ols/search?keywords=storage [https://spanishpeacock.com/shop/ols/search?keywords=storage] Video tutorial on assembling the slim Spanish Peacock spindle storage stand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Oz5WXE8dU [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Oz5WXE8dU] – the same instructions apply for the “doublewide” version which holds up to 10 spindles Video tutorial on assembling the “tote life” Spanish Peacock spindle storage stand: TBD! Once the video has been made and posted, we’ll share the link here! Goodwater & Co: https://www.goodwaterandco.com/ [https://www.goodwaterandco.com/]

Gratitude in Challenging Times

In episode 12 of the Peahen’s Ponderings, I share the last five months of life at Casa de Peacock, and give personal examples of being grateful even in difficult times. SUMMARY: Honestly, I could have talked for several hours on the subjects of gratitude, its importance, and all the things I feel grateful for, despite how f’d up 2020 has turned out to be. The actual start date of COVID-19 “quarantine” for our family was March 13, 2020 (incorrectly stated as the 15th in the podcast), which means we have been trapped in the same house together for FIVE MONTHS. Join me as I explore about what COVID has done to our year, and how I am still finding ways to be grateful despite the challenges. UPDATE! I have a MUCH better example of being grateful even when bad things happen than the lame band-aid story I made up during this podcast. You can read for yourself in this blog post [https://thepeahenspod.com/2020/08/19/the-day-the-trash-panda-died/]. A selfie taken while recording this podcast ... I am grateful I don't have to earn a living from selfies! [https://thepeahenspod.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/still_take_terrible_selfies.jpg?w=768]I am grateful I don’t have to earn a living from my selfies, because they are still terrible MUSIC CREDITS: You may have noticed there is no music this time around. As much as I love Blue Dot Sessions [http://www.sessions.blue/], I realized I was spending too much time trying to force the music to fit. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: A few articles about the importance of gratitude: * 14 Health Benefits of Practicing Gratitude According to Science [https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-gratitude/] * 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Gratitude That Will Motivate You To Give Thanks Year-Round [https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round] * How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain [https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain] The glossy “new” (as of summer 2019) Spanish Peacock website: https://www.spanishpeacock.com [https://www.spanishpeacock.com] The glossy and even newer Flashdance Designs website: https://www.flashdancedesigns.com [https://www.flashdancedesigns.com] Cedar Springs Fiber Arts Retreat fundraiser on GoFundMe: https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time [https://gofundme.com/f/one-spindle-at-a-time] TailorMade Garments, purveyors of masks (as well stage and historical costumes): http://www.tailormadegarmen [https://tailormadegarments.wixsite.com/tailormade/mask-store]t [https://tailormadegarments.wixsite.com/tailormade/mask-store]s.com/ [https://tailormadegarments.wixsite.com/tailormade/mask-store] Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, our last great hurrah for 2020: https://www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfestival.com/ [https://www.shenandoahvalleyfiberfestival.com/]