A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

for the emails and comments wishing us well!

Yes, baby #2 is due to arrive around May 9th 2008.  We’re very excited as well as a bit nervous; this will be a big change and starting over with all the feedings and middle of the night stuff . . .  but very exciting and we think Mimmo is really going to enjoy being a big brother (once he gets used to the idea anyway). 

This is also the main reason I haven’t been doing a whole lot of knitting lately.  I’ve been feeling quite sick this time around and very tired so I have been having a hard time keeping up with the general day to day stuff let alone doing much of anything for knitting.   Its starting to get a little better but I’m still taking a nap with the little guy most days and very tired by the time he goes to bed at night.

I’ve also been fighting off a case of “startitis”! I’d really like to start a sweater for myself but I’m afraid to knit something that I’ll only be able to wear this year, like a maternity sweater, and don’t see the point of knitting something that isn’t going to fit until next year . . . which is why “Fern” is on hold yet again . . . not a lot of point since there is no possible way it would fit this year!  Besides it isn’t like I don’t have plenty of other things to be knitting on .  . . the toddler is going to need more winter socks and perhaps another sweater or two and maybe even a new hat and mittens (we haven’t tried on last years yet) and there is the new baby to knit for as well . . . .

Speaking of which, I think the Prairie Blanket is now going to be made regular baby blanket size and given to the new baby.  Mimmo recently got a twin sized bed and new blankets that fit it and doesn’t really need another blanket right now . . . and I’d like the new baby to have a couple of handknit blankets of their own rather than just big brothers  . . . 

I’m also about 70% or so finished with the Lacy Prairie Shawl.  I’ve been working on it again after it was suggested that shawls might make more sense than sweaters for now since they will fit whether or not I’m pregnant . . . I’m hoping to be able to steal enough knitting time to finish it this next week or at least by the end of the month so I can wear it as things really start cooling off.   Trouble is, because its from some early, very uneven handspun, it really isn’t something I plan to wear anywhere . . . its more of an around the house shawl.   That could change once its blocked but somehow I doubt it.  I’ve been amazed as I’ve been knitting with this yarn at just how much my spinning has changed in the past few years (and I dare say, improved . . .

Okay, gotta run, little guy is getting antsy . . . I’m hoping to move the shawl to waste yarn and take a photo of it sometime soon so once I do I’ll post a new picture . . . .

  

Grow with Me Socks 2, started August 17th, 2007, finished September 27th, 2007
Pattern: Grow with Me
Yarn: Knit Picks
Needles: sizes 0, 1 & 2
Dimensions: For Toddler size 8 foot
Pattern Notes: I’ll be writing up this pattern soon to post as a Free pattern on my site.
Would I knit it again? Definately! This was the 2nd pair so far and I think the little guy probably needs about 4 more pairs for this winter.

I’ll add a photo tomorrow if I get a chance to take one outdoors . . . they are predicting rain . . .

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. 

First of all, have you seen this? Sign-ups started on the 14th and only 150 people are being admitted so if your interest now is the time!

I signed up earlier today and I’ve been admitted to Hogwarts as a First-year. As part of the Swap I’ve been asked to complete the following, so here it is:

Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into? Ravenclaw
2. Shoe size? US 9
   Foot Length? 10 inches
   Foot Circumference? 7 inches
3. List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
   Any bamboo or wood is fine, I tend to use size 0 and 1 mostly but sometimes use 2
4. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length? Surprise me, see above.
   If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference? I am a Ravenclaw and I prefer the film colors of med. blue and silver, thanks for asking!
5. Allergies? Do you have any? Not unless you plan to include peppers in the socks . . .
6. Will your knitting be exposed to smoke or animals? Yes, we have a dog, 2 cats and chickens but no smokers.
7. Are you an international participant (outside US)? No
8. Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal? I’d prefer a US pal, but international is okay if needed.

I’m planning to go see the movie tomorrow night with a dear friend who just moved back here from Seattle. I’m actually very excited that she is here since it means I will have someone to go to the movies with from time to time. I think at this point its been more than 2 years since I went!

Actually, I’m in a weird place with my knitting projects right now. I’ve finished the toddler socks and they almost match; I ran a little short at the very toe of the 2nd sock so the toes are different. But one of the great things about 2 year old boys is they don’t really care if the toes are different, he just loves having bright socks.

I’ve got baby sweaters that I need to work on as the little ones are starting to arrive at quite a pace now and I’m behind on sweaters . . .

I’ve got a list of things longer than my arm that I either need to start or I’ve been asked to start or are ideas for patterns etc. but nothing really set up to go right now. . . .

And I’ve just taken Fern back out of exhile and hope to make some progress on it over the next few weeks. Ideally I’d like to finish it by the time the weater is cool enough to wear it regularly. We’ll see since so far I’ve only done 3 more rows (though since I’m working front and back at the same time and there are 5 different charts which I’m on 3 different sets of row numbers with that really isn’t so bad.

I’m just wondering what I’m going to knit tomorrow night at the movies? I know I can’t sit still through a whole movie, even a movie I like, without knitting something. Just won’t happen.

I’ve got tons of other stuff to share but it all requires photos . . . either photos that need to be taken or photos that are waiting to be release from the camera. If things go well tomorrow I’ll try for another update . . . wish me luck on the project hunting!

The current crop of sweaters is awaiting delivery. One is being mailed later today or sometime tomorrow and another will be delivered soon . . . One of the babies I’m knitting for his getting big rather quickly so he may have to wait a few more days for a larger size sweater and the others are going to their new homes in the near future.

I’m leaving toward doing the rest with the shell buttons . It makes for a nice unisex button and since I don’t know what all the babies will be it might be nice to have a few either/or sweaters on hand. I’m also going to be getting more yarn as I’m running out of acrylic or acrylic blend baby yarn in this weight! Can you imagine?

I had planned to dye more yarn today, however the little guy has had a nasty stomach bug since Saturday night and still woke with a temp of 103 this morning. We did the emergency does of both motrin & tylenol thing and that brought it down to near normal pretty fast. Boy was he ever hot though! He started to get it back around lunch time today but another does of “medcine” as he calls it and he was back near normal again. He’s whiny and difficult and watching “Cars” for the 4th time today right now . . . I’m just hoping he’s feeling better by tomorrow!

Time to go sit with him again for a bit, he’s been very clingy while he’s sick so I’m doing a lot of sitting and holding today . . . perhaps he’ll let me knit a little on sweater number 7 while we cuddle . . .