A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

who said something like “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait 5 minutes.”

Today is a great example of that.  If you were to scroll down a little to the botttom of yesterday’s entry and examine the photos that I took yesterday of the little guy on his bike and of the chickens, outside on bare ground in the yard you would see that we’d had enough of a warm stretch that all the snow we got in December had, finally, melted.

Apparently, Mother Nature decided that since its January there was something wrong with that picture and this is what we woke to this morning:

 

So, much to the disappointment of a certain toddler, it is no longer bike riding weather!

However, being 2.5 he managed to make the best of it and got out there to play in the snow for a bit.

 

He didn’t last too long because after rolling in the snow for a bit he decided to remove his mittens to get a bitter grip on some snow and his little hands froze!  I think he was really only out there something like 20 minutes before I heard “Mommy, Cold!” and it was time for us to head inside.

While he was playing I went to feed and check on the chickens.  Here is what their coop looked like when I headed down there this morning:

 

I decided, based on past experience with these particular chickens and snow, not to bother trying to let them out today . . . they aren’t going to go anyway so why not keep the coop shut tight and warm.  Actually, it was warm enough inside that the water wasn’t the least bit icy or anything which means they should be just fine inside today.  There were 3 eggs waiting for me, a darkish brown, a pink and a blue.   After getting 9 yesterday it will be interesting to see just how many there are today.

Knitting wise I’ve made a little progress on the Minimalist Cardigan; the fronts are at about 5.5 inches so far . . . I hope to work on it a bit more today as time allows.  I’m also hoping to go to knitting group tonight but we’ll have to wait and see how the roads are later. 

Time to go do a bit of the “dreaded” housework so that I can claim some knitting time . . .

A bunch of us from the Monday night knitting group are doing the Minimalist Cardigan together.  There is also a group for it on Ravelry where we are tracking our progress.

 We cast on as a group this past Monday night and for the most part got several inches done during the meeting.  I ran into a slight snag.  I really wanted to knit this from stash, but if you can believe it (Dom couldn’t) I really didn’t have much in the stash, in solid colors in the right size and amount to knit a sweater for myself! Imagine that?

I decided to knit it from some Steadfast Fibers Wonderful Wool in Denim that I’ve had in the stash for ages.  I managed to get my swatch finished and wet just before I left for knitting that night but didn’t get to check the gauge until I was at knitting.  Turns out the blocked gauge for the yarn was 4 st/inch, not teh 5 st/inch that the pattern calls for.  I could have dropped a couple of needle sizes and gotten gauge but I think if I did I loose the nice texture the fabric had; it would have been tight and stiff insteatd of drapey.  So instead I’m attempting to work the pattern by refiguring my stitches to fit the new gauge while still making the 39.5 inch version of the sweater.  As long as my finished pieces actually behave the way my swatch did when washed and blocked I should be just fine . . . though that is a decent size IF to have floating over a sweater project.

I’ve got about 7.5 inches of the back knit so far:

 

Chickens & Eggs

We’re getting about 5 eggs per day on average now (yesterday was 7!) and for the past 3 days there has been 1 blue egg each day.  Dom took a 1/2 dozen to work for the manager yesterday (including the day’s blue egg) and got to show them around to everyone.  Afterall, they’ve been listening to him talk about chickens for nearly 7 months and without the benefit of the photos like you get here

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!

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. 

Need a giggle?

Okay, I don’t usually post this sort of thing . . . .

but if you are a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the spin-off series they did, Angel, you might find this article amusing. http://http://www.teevee.org/tvcc/business/cheney_to_join_wolfram_hart.html

Someone had posted it on the Off-topic section of KR and since I am a big Buffy/Angel fan I just couldn’t resist. I’m just glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee yet!

Speaking of links to things.

I found out recently that my site has been getting a bit of “press” in the pod casting world. I’m only just starting to listen to podcasts which is funny because I used to be an “early adapter” on anything like that, but lately I’m lucky if I’m behind the curve at all.

Check out this site,http://limenviolet.blogspot.com/ its LimenViolet. I tried to lisetn to the actual podcast but only got most of the way through before my computer timed out or something and just wouldn’t play the rest. They are really funny, often off-topic (sometimes by miles!) but and interesting listen. I’ve book marked them so I can go back later.

As for the day to day and the little guy . . . .

We’ve got a fairly busy week this week. Today is all about things like cleaning and book keeping & filing that needs doing though we may take a little car ride later this morning to pick up a couple of things at the store.

Tomorrow we are having company. A very dear friend of mine whom I haven’t seen in something like 4 years is in town and we are planning to spend a good chunk of our day with her. She hasn’t even met the little guy yet so she’s in for a treat! I bet by the end of the visit he’ll be climbing all over her, just wait.

Thursday we’re helping Nonna to bake for Easter. Partly because she really will need help and partly because I need to learn how to make this stuff (okay and how to prounce and spell it as well) so that is going to be a busy time.

Friday looks like our playgroup is heading to the Children’s Museum where I hear they have a fire engine the kids can ride on and some sort of a climbing structure. I’m probably going to need help bodily removing the little guy from this place!

Knitting wise

I’m still working on design projects. I actually got to go to the Monday Night knitting group last night. I don’t think MIL was too thrilled about being stuck with a crying toddler but she managed and he was asleep when I came home. He’s been going through a clingy phase, or at least I hope its a phase. Anyway, I actually got to knit on the swatch I’m working on for th efirst time in days. I’ve really got to find some time to finish it up and get this project off to be submitted and knit up. Hopefully the next couple of evenings I’ll manage to get it finished.

I’ve got so many ideas floating around in my head right now for projects that I’m finding it a bit hard to focus. I’ve been writing them down as they happen but everytime I get one down another takes its place. Don’t get me wrong, I love having so many ideas, its just hard to keep up and to concentrate!

Okay, off to fix breakfast for the boys.