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7.7.22

CROFTING

 

CROFTING

Crofting wasn’t the dream life they’d envisaged. The stony ground broke tools and backs, the sheep vanished into the hills, and they couldn’t even give the fleeces away.

That first winter they hardly spoke, neither wanting to be the first to admit their mistake, then Morag found the spinning wheel.

Fergus washed the fleeces, Morag spun, and in the long evenings they knitted by the fire. Scarves and hats, bedecked with hopeful pom-poms, sold enough at the Christmas market to restock the freezer, and there was just enough money left for a bottle to celebrate their first year as crofters.

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My mother had a spinning wheel for many years - she still has a cardigan of very fine wool which she spun, dyed and knitted herself. Her hands, sadly, are too arthritic now, and her eyesight too bad, to do any of the many crafts she once enjoyed, but she's content. I've spent the past few weeks sourcing a new care home for her, as the one she's lived in for three years is closing. She's settling down in her new place, though it's bigger than she's used to, and at 97 her memory isn't great so she gets lost, but as she says to me, "I'm perfectly capable of asking for help, dear." And she is!  

20 comments:

  1. What a lovely story of hope and positivity, Lizy.

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  2. Yes, it is wonderful how these seeming isolated communities had a great skin at spinning wool and making tweed cloth.

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    1. Skin? In this case the couple only knitted, but it worked for them

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  3. Glad to hear your Mum's doing well, and at such an age! Lovely story.

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    1. Thanks Iain - Yes, Mum's still going strong(ish)

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  4. Crofting is hard. You can really only make it work, like your characters, by adding other income streams

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    1. It's certainly not the romantic dream.

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  5. Nicely done, Liz. A good outcome is always worth a bit in a bottle. :-)

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  6. Oh my heart. I hope this is the start of a beautiful and happy life there!

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    1. That's what I hope too.

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  7. A delightful tale, Liz. I really like your mother's possitive attitiude!

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    1. Thanks, Keith. Mum's attitude is what eeps her going!

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  8. Dear Liz,

    Lovely story of a difficult life. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thanks Rochelle - subsistence living is always tough.

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  9. A great story about resourcefulness. Hand-made items keep their value, even today. And I'm glad for you and your mum. She sounds like a wonderful lady.

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    1. Mum's quite a character!

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  10. I like this turn in the story: "Scarves and hats, bedecked with hopeful pom-poms," Sorry your mom had to move from a place she'd gotten comfy in after 3 years. Glad she is ready, willing, and able to ask for help when needed.

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    1. Thank you for commenting, Jade.

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