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 . . . .

and priorities.

Now that it is September I’m thinking hard about my knitting projects and trying to prioritize what I really need to get done.  Its hard because I’m torn between wanting to work on what I consider my own projects and the things I’m designing . . .

I’ve got several patterns that are waiting for decent pictures to be taken and to finalize writing them up so I can post them to the site or submit them . . .

I’m also evaluating what the toddler needs for the fall & winter in terms of sweaters, socks, hats and mittens.  Since he just keeps growing he is going to need more . . . several of last years sweaters may still be big enough for this year but we need to dig them out to try on before I’ll know for sure.  I think his hat from last winter will still fit but as I expect we’ll play outside more this year a 2nd one probably wouldn’t be a bad idea . . . and I figure he’ll need at least 3 pairs of mittens to allow for drying time.  And of course, he’ll need more warm socks.  Those silly cotton ones from the store just won’t cut it when things get cold and wet . . . and he does love his handknit socks.  Luckily at 2 most of his stuff is still relatively small.

And with everything else that is going on I’ve got to reevaluate how much knitting time I’m going to have.  I don’t think I’ll wind up being able to finish all 3 of the larger projects I have going on right now: Prairie Blanket, Prairie shawl and Fern.   I think perhaps I’ll get 1 or 2 finished but not all 3.  I need to finish the blanet as I think the little guy is actually going to need it soon (the other 2 blankets he’s using are getting small) and of the shawl or the sweater which are both for myself I have a feeling I’ll use the shawl more often . . . therefore I think I’m going to return Fern to the UFO pile until next year . . .  I’d really like to keep working on it as I’ve finally been making progress but I just don’t think its the priority right now.  Perhaps I’ll do another couple of rows before I relocate the project box back to the storage area . . .

I’ve also decided to stop doing the baby gift sweaters . . . for the time being anyone we really need to get a gift for will get something purchased . . .  and I do need to do a sweater for the other niece for Christmas and finish off Megan’s but its basically done.  And it wouldn’t hurt to make them each a set of mittens as well . . .

Time for a new list!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  There have been some things going on that I have needed to take some time to deal with, nothing serious, no one is ill or anything like that, just some family stuff that  is too much detail to post about . . . though I can tell you its a bunch of ick!

All this life stuff has been seriously eating into my time to work on stocking the new site for the shop, has almost completely wiped out my knitting time of late and has even left me a bit low on sleep . . . not a good combination!

lack of sleep + lack of knitting = one cranky mama!

IY Site redesign

The work on the new site design is creaping along . . . I’m hoping to get to add some of the products to the new version today and I believe Daisy is working on setting up the shipping stuff.  I’m hoping to have the site functional if not complete by September IY’s 3 year Annivarsary! 

Knitting

I haven’t done much since last week, though over the weekend I managed to get 6 whole rows of Fern done! That is the most I’ve done in a stretch on this sweater since I started it!!! Of course, its only about an inch worth but its something.  And since I’m knitting the front and back at the same time its sort of a double something, right?

I also did about an inch and a half on the Prairie Blanket yesterday.  I had a rare hair appointment and was out for 4 whole hours! Of course, the only place I got to go afterward with my fabulous new hair was up to Topsfield to the Coop for more chicken feed! Oh well, it isn’t like I have a glamorous lifestyle at this point!

Chickens

They continue to grow, and they eat more and more . . . they are up to about a 50 lb bag of feed in a week to 10 days time now! Thats a lotta scratch

They also really enjoy their kitchen scrap treats, bits of fruits and veggies, some bread and pasta that sort of thing.  They go on a bit of feeding frenzy when I bring it down.  And they can’t wait (but may have to) for their run to be built so they can spend their days outdoors! They are almost big enough to let them loose, I’m just worried they are still a little too small to fend off our cats! I want the cats wary of them before I go turning them loose . . . I don’t think Mimmo would like having the cats bring him a chicken . . . ya know?

Bathroom

We heard back from the concrete folks.  They are going to do the right thing regarding our floor with bad batch which is great . . . now Dom has to go in an chip out the top couple of inches of stuff to get ready to pour it again.  He’s also ripping the siding off that part of the house, partly to put in the windows, and partly because it needs replacing anyway . . . but now he’s thinking he may replace the whole outside wall in that portion! And that we may be without a wall there for a couple of days depending on how it goes! Talk about a can of worms!

Seriously, I’d like a finished functional bathroom, with walls and a floor before the snow flies!

And on that note . . .

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.