A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Greensboro Squares

Looks like our squares have arrived.  Laura is reporting a total of well over 3000 squares at the moment.  Looks like a lot of folks in that town are going to be a whole lot warmer this winter than they might have  otherwise been.   What I’m wondering is this, once you turn on the flow of something like squares for a project, will it actually stop anytime after the deadline she gave or will squares keep arriving at her house for weeks or months afterward? Should be interesting to see.

Life

On Wednesday I found myself headed for the dentist’s office.  See, on Tuesday I decided to go ahead and eat a tootsie roll from the little guys treats from a recent birthday party.  He doesn’ t get them yet and rather than throw them away . . . . yeah, very bad idea.   The darned thing sucked the filling out of one of my teeth! So, off to the dentist to have my tooth filled.  I’d forgotten just how much fun that can be. 

And the worst part? I didn’ t have any travel knitting ready! I did take a stitch dictionary, yarn and needles but everything I tried to do to start the scarf I want to make just wasn’t working.  It did keep me busy, but I found up frogging 4 attempts.

Knitting

Has been slow lately.  I’ve actually started a scarf (see above) that I decided to do as a series of Granny Squares. The yarn is Louisa Harding’s Kimono Angora and I love it.  So soft and fluffy! I’m working up these little granny squares in color #8 and once I have a bunch done I may get some of the solid “Rice” color to make  few more squares and for the edging.  I think this is going to be a lovely soft scarf for the fall if I can get it done in time. 

The nice thing about the little granny squares I’m doing is that it only takes a few minutes to do one here and there . . . and since lately that is all I seem to have . . .

I haven’t worked on any of the bigger projects for days.  I want to start a pair of socks. I’ve got the yarn all picked out . . . and I know I want to make stocking length socks, but I’m torn between knitting them in someone else’s pattern and writing up a new one of my own.  I know I should be working on some of the design ideas I’ve had recently and pretty much every project I do now should be of my own design . . . but sometimes you just want something to knit without having to do all the thinking . . . . know what I mean?

Perhaps the answer is to cast on two different socks? One of my own design to work on when I feel able and one that I can just knit away at without having to pay attention?

I also need to start the sock for my [Hogwarts Sock Swap] pal but I have to dye up the yarn first. I know what I’d like to socks to look like and have taken into account my swap pal’s preferences for finished socks . . . I actually attempted to dye yarn the other day but I’ve had 3 migraines this past week (part of the reason for the lack of posts) and just didn’t get the colors I wanted.  Oh well, I’m sure we’ll find something to do with the yarn.

And have you any idea just how difficult it is to take sock photos when your model is only 2 years old? One step from impossible! Here are some attempts to take pattern photos of the “Grow with me” Socks:

 

We’ll have to try again to see if we can get some where the feet aren’t moving . . . perhaps during a nap this weekend.

Once I have the photos I have a bit of tweaking to do on the pattern and then I’ll make it available as a free pattern.  The idea with these socks is that they are knit in such a way that by unraveling the toes from time to time you may be able to lengthen them enough to get about 3 shoe sizes by just reknitting the toe rather than making new socks every few months, hence the name.  Our little guy loves his and I’ve had to take them back a few times and remind him he can’t actually keep them until Mommy is done taking pictures of them.  Now if only I could get him to understand that they’d be his if he’d just hold still for a decent photo shoot!

Chicken Update

The coop is nearly finished and its a good thing. Every time I go check on the little buggers they are all over Dom’s workshop! They simply won’t stay in their enclosure anymore!  I spent about 8 hours over the past two days painting the inside of the coop.  Dom didn’t think it was absolutely necessary, but I think it will make cleaning it later easier if the wood is nice and sealed up. I’m almost done, just a few touch ups and one more coat on the floor and the inside paint will be done.  He still needs to do the roof shingles, paint the outside, rig the cage inside and put in the doors.  We’re hoping to have it finished on Sunday and move them to their new digs. 

Bathroom Update

At the moment the bathroom is sitting.  We’re waiting to hear back from the folks that make the cement that didn’t level.  They sent someone to look at it the other day and were going to run their own tests on some of the same batch of stuff.  It looks like perhaps we got a bad batch of it.  If that is the case they may do something for us.  I suspect we may get a refund on what it cost and possibly enough new, correctly mixed, stuff to fix the floor.  Dom is hoping they will send someone to chip out the old stuff and put the new stuff in for him.  I’m thinking that is less likely.  Here’s hoping we have a finished bathroom before the snow flies!

Friday night we went to a wedding!

My brother and his fiance got married Friday evening at Stagefort Park in Gloucester overlooking the harbor.

  

The ceremony was simple but lovely.  Here is the happy family together:

  

The Bride’s family took everyone to dinner at the Gloucester House Restaurant after the ceremony where we had a nice meal, toasted the happy couple and had cake. 

  

Knitting & such 

I spent a little bit of time today working on some design ideas and packing up the package for my Hand Dyed Yarn Swap recipient.  I’m hoping to actually mail it tomorrow . . . 

I’ve also decided to increase the size of the Prairie Blanket to fit Mimmo’s bed as he could use a new blanket for this fall.  Eventually, when he’s outgrown it as his bed blanket he will be able to use it as a lap blanket for the couch.  I”m planning to make it at least 48 inches and possibly larger.  I’ve adjusted the progress bar for it accordingly.

The Hogwarts Sock Swap is having a design contest for the participants.  The idea is to design something that can be somehow tied into the story or one of the characters.  I’ve got an idea or two that I’m working on . . . I’ll keep you posted.

Bathroom update:

My husband’s nephew the plumber came by this morning and moved around a few of the drain pipes from the upstairs bathroom and made it possible for Dom to put in the new floor joists.  This was a big step toward being able to get this project moving.  I believe the walls may be next.  We’ll see.

Chicken update:

We started building the chicken coop today. And I can actually saw “we” as I was right out there with Dom helping to build the floor.  By the time he was ready to start cutting the wood for the walls his mother’s friend Paulo had shown up and the little guy was up from his nap so I switched jobs, but I was out there for the floor.  This is what we have so far:

  

Dom ultimately decided to go with an 8 x 10 so it will be pretty good sized. The side closest in the photo is where the people door will go and just inside that door will be a space something like 4 x 4 or 5 x3 or something with chicken wire wall and a “screen door” type door into the area the birds can live in.  That way when I go in to take care of them they won’t be able to just fly out and I’ll have a little bit of space to work in when needed.  That will still give them something like 64 square feet of space. 

We also had a few out for some fresh air today.  Mimmo decided they really needed to go for a ride in his car.  The birds were not exactly thrilled with his plan but a lot more tolerant of being picked up 20 times each and put into this car than I would have guessed they would be. 

 

Guess what I’ve been up to? L (from the Monday night knitting group) came over today and helped me to get started using my weaving loom! I’ve had a Kromski Harp Loom for 4 years now.  I tried to use it once but warped it with yarn that was far too fuzzy and it just wasn’t working so I put it away and hadn’t used it since.  Today we started over with a different yarn, cotton this time, and its finally warped and ready to weave.  I’ve done a few rows but at the moment its all just practice.  When I have something worth showing I’ll take a picture. . . . Thank you L

I’ve worked a little on the knitting, did a few rows of the Prairie Blanket and the Prairie shawl each last night.  And I’m thinking of starting some mittens tonight  . . . I brought in some yarn and may play with setting up a traveling bag with mittens.  August feels like a good month for mittens.

Ravlery

I’m on the waiting list (but who isn’t?) and here is the status:

• You signed up on July 7, 2007
• You are #14817 on the list.
• 7044 people are ahead of you in line.
• 7754 people are behind you in line.
• 33% of the list has been invited so far

Bathroom update

Today D got the final layer of concrete poured in the bathroom but unfortunately the self-leveling concrete he got didn’t work as well as he’d hoped for. It even bubbled across the surface of it.  I suggested he contact the company . . .  On the up side, the toilet has been reinstalled now that the floor is dry . . .  This weekend several drain pipes from upstairs are being moved and the floor joists to replace the screwed up ones are being installed.

Chicken Report

The big hen is up to 8.4 oz and the small is 3.6.  Several of the cockerals are starting to get their waddles in. Just little nubs so far but clearly starting to sprout.

Today’s cute photo

 

Knitting, knitting and more knitting . . . .

Let’s check in on some of the on going knitting projects, shall we?

First up is Fern.  I’ve been knitting the front and back at the same time so that I only have to work through all the charts once.  I’ve only done about rows since I picked it up again but I’m hoping to work on it for about an hour each night now. At least that is the goal.

Baby Sweaters – nothing to report really. I did a couple of rows on one but I’m still way behind on the baby sweater gifts.

 

Lacey Prairie Shawl – Its a little squashed since its on a shortish needle but I have been working on this one lately and hope to finish it off in the next couple of weeks. Ideally, it will be done and blocked before the weather gets chilly.

 

Prairie Blanket has stalled out at 24 inches.  Since I wound up giving a different gift to the child I started this for I’m considering making it longer than the recommended size and using it for Mimmo for his bed. He’s going to need a new bigger blanket this fall when the weather gets cold as he’s gotten too long for most of the ones he had.  Here is a detail shot of the eding:

 

 

Megan’s Sweater – I’ve actually sewn the bottom but I need to put some sort of an edging and work an I-cord tie for it but other than that its finished.  I’m going to write up the pattern for IY and work a smaller one for her little sister . . . though I may do her’s just a little different so they won’t be entirely identical. We’ll see.

Knitting for Greensboro

  

 These are the squares the ladies from the Monday night knitting group made to send to Laurie for the Greensboro KS blankets she’s putting together.  As a group we managed to come up with 13 squares and I dropped them in the mail earlier today. She mentions on her blog that she doesn’t get a chance to confirm that packages have arrived so I’ve included a SASE postcard and a note asking her to drop it in the mail.  That way we’ll know when they have arrived. 

Oh, and in case your wondering, I made the 3 red ones . . .

Swaps

I want to say “Hi” to my two swap buddies, [Kena] from the Hand Dyed Yarn Swap and “Victoria” from the Hogwarts Sock Swap 2.  I’m currently working on both of your packages . . . and might even post a peak in a few days. . .  I love swaps, they are so much fun!

Stash enhancement and craft projects

I know I don’t need any more yarn . . . but look what I got the other day:

 

More sock yarn . . . everyone’s been talking about the Tofutsies so I wanted to give it a try . . . I’m going to come up with another pattern for IY using this but I haven’t actually started it yet . . . and the Louisa Harding Kimono Angora is pricier than most of what I tend to buy but I was having a very stressful day and really needed deserved a treat so this is going to become my new fall scarf . . .

I’ve also gone through the entire shop and personal stash and reorganized it recently.  I’d take a picture, but its just too frightening.  Though not as bad as some I’ve seen lately.

And just because I haven’t had enough to do lately, I’ve been making these:

 

I finally sent another note to the KnitUFO Group.  I hadn’t been in touch with them for a while, partly because I’ve been busy and partly because I just haven’t been working on the UFOs!

Farm and Home updates

Bathroom report – not much to say, currently without any fixtures as Dom has put some sort of bonding agent on the floor in preparation for putting the “Self-leveling” concrete down to finish the foundation of the floor.  And the nephew is coming by tomorrow to look at the pipes that need to be temporarily moved to fix the floor joists that the previous contractors cut. 

Chickens

They are growing fast now. The smallest is about 3 oz and the largest is 7.5 oz. Here are a few photos:

 

This is the smallest one. We aren’t entirely sure what it is but think it might be Dom’s Sicilian Buttercup Rooster . . . looks like we’ll have to wait and see.

 

The black and white one with the yellow head is the one we thought was the Buttercup but now I think it might be the extra one they throw in and I think it may be a Dominique . . .maybe.

 

This is the big one.  I think its an Aracauna (Easter Egger).

 

This is one of the Speckled Sussex hens

 

This is “Buddy”. Yes, she has a name.  She has figured out how to work the system and has buddied up to the little guy and earned herself permanent resident status.  Smart little girl.  We believe her to be a Black Australope. 

 

This is one of the white rocks.  A few of these are staying but some of the 10 are only here temporarily.

 

This is one of the two I believe to be the Barred Rocks.  If it is then its one of my laying hens. 

Okay, thats all for now.