A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Modified Fan and Feather Triangle, started November 20th, 2007, finished December 24th, 2007
Pattern: Feather and Fan Triangle from Folk Shawls
Yarn: Sugar Maple Merinos – Kid Mohair/Merino
Needles: Size 5 Addi Turbo Lace Needles
Pattern Notes: I knit this at a smaller gauge and with a few less repeats in both the main triangle and in the lace edge.  I made it as a small shawl/large scarf for my MIL to wear over her coat. 
Would I knit it again?  Yes, I will likely make another for myself in a different yarn since I liked it so much.

a little of that . . .

The Chickens and the Eggs

We’ve had 2 more eggs – one each for the past two day.  None so far today, but perhaps this afternoon as they seem to be laying later in the day.  I’ve got 2 in the fridge and am trying to decide just what I’ll do with them . . . they are still small and I expect it will be weeks to months before they reach full size.  The hens that are currently laying should lay large eggs once they get into the swing of things fully.  I’m still waiting to see what the blue/green ones will look like . . .

I opened the coop this morning even though its snowing as I’m hoping they will eventually get over this and it really isn’t all that cold today . . . They are going to have one long miserable winter if they don’t start adjusting to the snow!

Baby update

Things continue to go well.  The first trimester syptoms are basically gone and other than being a bit short of breath from time to time I’m feeling pretty good at this point. 

Yesterday both baby and I had appointments with the Cardiologist.  They wanted to see me for the second trimester and to do a Fetal Ecco to be sure the baby didn’t inherit any of the heart issues I have.  Things went really well.  There has been no change in my condition since my appointment in September, which is great news! And the baby’s test showed no sign of her having gotten anything like what I have . . . they did qualify that by saying there are certain things that could potentially be there that they wouldn’t be able to see or find until after she is born . . . but they didn’t find anything actually wrong and we aren’t going to worry about the rest as it is unlikely. 

Knitting

I have been doing a little knitting – I worked for more days than I should have on the baby blanket . . . couldn’t wait to finally turn the corner so that the rows would start getting shorter!  Now I’m a bit behind on the 2 Christmas projects that I’m trying to this year . . . one is to add to DS’s Christmas stocking and the other is a shawl/scarf for MIL.

I’m about 75% done with MIL’s gift – its a modified version of the Fan and Feather Triangle from Folk Shawls.  I’ve changed the yarn & gauge and done a few less repeats for the initial triangle part to make it closer to a shawlette or a large triangular scarf – somenthing she can wear over her coat an then use once she’s inside if its chilly.  I’m hoping to manage to finish it by tomorrow sometime.

The other project is something that I need to add to but don’t expect to actually finish . . . I started a very elaborate Fair Isle Christmas stocking for Mimmo in the fall before his first Christmas. I designed it myself and its rather complicated – it has something like 26 colors of yarn involved!  I only managed to finish a few inches of it the first year . . . . and last year I took it back out briefly and added a few more inches . . . and this year I need to add to it again.  I actually think its kinda neat that it is growing with him for the first few years . . . . but now that we are expecting another little one I’m thinking I need to get a bigger chunk of his done because I’ll need to start another sometime next year!  Ideally, I’d like to finish his by the time he’s about 5 or so.

He seems to have gotten his favorite car stuck in a spot where it doesn’t belong so I’d better go get it before he breaks something!

this morning when I went to the coop to check on the chickens I found that one of the Austrolope hens (the black ones) was sitting peacefully in the nest box.  She stayed there while I fussed with the waterer, which had frozen, and when I was done I decided to check under her just in case.   Sure enough, she’d laid our very first egg and I know it was her because it was actually still warm and damp when I picked it up.

Its not very large but nicely shaped and when I “candled” it over the flashlight it looks like the yolk takes up most of the inside. 

And here is a shot of “our” egg next to one that is rated as “large” from the grocery store.  The home grown is the one on the left:

Looks like I’ll actually have to go inside the coop each morning from now on! And I’d guess that by the time we use up what I have in the fridge from the store that I many not need to buy any more.  Isn’t that neat?

And it will be fun, as the others start laying, to see what colors we actually wind up with . . . we should have a range of shades of brown, some white and then the blue/green ones, with each hen laying its own unique shade.  Guess I’ll have to start carrying a basket down with me when I go!

Ha, ha ha . . . .

Yup! That must be it.  The chickens are “chicken”; they are absolutely afraid of the snow!

It started with the storm the other day . . . they hid under the “barn” in the back yard and refused to come out.  They didn’t come out when treats were offered . . . ususally they “attack” any food you bring . . . and a few didn’t even come out when it was time to roost for the night; Dom had to get them and put them back in so they wouldn’t freeze.  We also had 3 that got so confused by the snow that they got stuck in the fencing (the gate was open and they went to the corner of the fence/gate instead of inside). 

Today they seemed up and ready to go when I went to check on the state of things in the coop.  It was suppose to drop to around 7 degrees here last night and I wanted to see if the waterer inside had frozen, both to know if I’d need to supply more and to get an idea of how cold it gets inside the coop when its closed up with 21 birds inside.  There was a little ice but it wasn’t frozen solid, so that is pretty good.

I went around to “their” door to let them out for the day . . . and not one of them had the guts to actually go past the ramp!

I took this photo about 4:00 today.  Notice the lack of visible chickens?  Yeah, ususally they are frantically trying to grab whatever they can before its really dark and they have to go in for the night.  Not today.  Even the treats I gave them are untouched in their dish! Every single one is perched on the roosts inside.  Wimps.   All I can say is they better get used to it since its a long time till spring and odds are good (especially if what we’ve had so far is any indication) that we will have a lot more snow before spring! Chickens!

Speaking of snow

The little guy and I spent some time in the snow earlier today.  First off, if you’ve never tried to dress a toddler to go play in the snow, you have no idea how long it takes or how much snow gear you really need!

After the layers of regular clothes – including a handknit sweater and handknit socks (”Mommy made this”, he said – Yes, she did) and then the snow pants, which make it so he can barely bend enough to sit, then the boots, which never feel like they are on all the way.  Then a matching jacket, the struggle to get the mittens on all the way (”and if you take them off we are coming back in, mister”) the hat and then zipping the jacket just before you go out so the kid doesn’t totally die while you get dressed . . . .

then he saw me put on a scarf and decided he needed one too!  I hadn’t made him one so I let him where my Alpaca hiking scarf.  Actually it was a good idea since I can’t zip the jacket all the way . . . . it basically fits but I think his neck is too big or something because there isn’t room to zip it that last little bit and the scarf did cover the gap . . . 

We finally, FINALLY! made it outside . . . took a few photos

Including this one, which will be our Christmas card this year (I finally ordered them after lunch, YEAH!) And then played for about 10 minutes before he lost his boot and the sock that went with it!  I am not sitting in the snow trying to get a wet boot back on him . . . so I had to carry a cold, barefoot kid back into the house.  I swear it took longer to get both of us dressed than we got to spend outside!

The other thing I learned is that not only does he need at least 2 sets of everything: Hat, mittens, scarf and socks . . .  but so do I.  He wanted to go back out after lunch but all our stuff was soaked! The jacket and snow pants are thick enough that it might not have mattered too much . . . but every thing else needs a second set for certain.  Looks like I’ve got my knitting cut out for me the next few years!

Yesterday I got a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick for a quick hat that I needed to make as a gift . . . I don’t knit with LB very often and rarely use anything that requires size 13 needles . . . but this hat was QUICK!

Last-minute Hat Pattern

Size: Will fit approx. 21″ to 23″ head 

Materials: 1 skein LB Wool Ease Thick and Quick, size 13 needles and a darning needle.

Notes: I knit this hat flat since I only had 1 circular needle that was too long for the size of the hat and then I seamed it up.  The whole thing really only took a few hours to make and seam.  You could easily knit this pattern in the round instead . . . just leave off the seam stitches and work the decreases as p2tog instead of K2tog . . .

Directions: Cast on 50 stitches (48 if knitting circular) For flat knitting, alwasy slip the first stitch and knit the last stitch, every row.  Work in K2, P2 Ribbing for 5 rows.  Next row knit all stitches.  Resume K2, P2 ribbing for another 9 rows.  Next row work a Right twist cable into each of the K2s.  Work 3 more rows k2, P2 ribbing then repeat cable row.  Work those 4 rows until hat measures 8 inches from the all knit row (it will be the bottom edge once you turn the brim). 

Decreases: Next wrong side row: Sl 1, *k2tog, p2, k2, p2* repeat across row and end K1.  Work next row in pattern, crossing cables if it is a cable row.  Wrong side row: Sl 1, *K1, p2, k2tog, p2* repeat across row, ending K1.   Right side: Working in established pattern, work K2tog into every other K2 across row.  Wrong side: Working in established pattern, p2tog into remaining p2 pairs.  Right side: K2tog, k1 across.  Wrong side: P2tog across.  Continue decreasing in this manner until approx 10 stitches remain. 

Finishing: Cut a very long tail on yarn to weave through remaining stitches and to seam hat with.  Thread yarn needle and pulling yarn behind stitches to the other end ot the row, run yarn through remaining stitches, removing them from knitting needle as you go.  Pull yarn tightly throught stitches to close top of hat.  Working from top down: use mattress stitch to seam hat.  Stitch to the all knit row then put yarn through to other side, turn brim edge up and seam that from the right side as well. Weave ends.

Baby update

I realized the other day I haven’t said much about the new baby for a while.  Things are progressing nicely with this pregnancy.  We’ve moved away from all the miserable First Trimester stuff for the most part, though I still get a migraine about once a week.  I’ve got a little more energy than before and I’m not sick to my stomach all the time.  Last month I actually gained the 4 lbs they recommend gaining . . . a pound a week.   I’ve had several other people (who aren’t pregnant) tell me they gained that much over Thanksgiving as well. . . .

I’ve also been able to feel the baby move for a few weeks now.  At first it was a very subtle little flutter that I would catch in the odd moments when I was sitting or lying very still.  Now the movements are getting stronger and I notice them several times a day on average.  She still isn’t quite big or strong enough to  be felt from the outside . . . that will be another month or so.

I’ve been doing a few things to get ready . . . I’ve been through most of the boxes of baby stuff that are in the storage area and sorted the things that we will need.  We’re using a few of the clothes and things from Mimmo but most of the clothes are actually from my nieces.  We’ve got most or what we’ll need for the first year worth of sizes; though if she grows like her big brother, that will only last about the first 9 months!  I’ve got the 0-3 stuff in the house, in a box under his bed, ready for a final washing and to go into the bureau (once we get her one!) and the small cloth diapers are ready.  I wanted to be sure that I had all the heavy lifting, the sorting through boxes etc done before I’m the size of a house and I’m feeling like we’re in pretty good shape there. 

Since she and her big brother are sharing a room which has already been decorated for a baby we don’t have much to do in terms of the nursery other than getting a bureau and setting up the crib which is all way less than the major rennovations (plastering, paint and paper) we had to do last time around. 

The biggest thing I have planned in terms of getting ready for this little one is probably the knitting I’ve got planned for her.  I’m 1/2 way through a blanket and have the yarn for a second one.  I’ve also got yarn for several sweaters that I’m going to knit her; small, light lacy sweaters for in the AC next summer and bigger, heavier sweaters for next winter . . . I’m just waiting until I finish up the gifts I’m working on before I really get started.