Hey, 2017 is Really Here!

Started the week with Lily hangin’ around the barnyard doin’ nothin’. Judgin’ by the size of her underments, I moved her to the jug, which in April becomes “The Shearin’ Shed.” She didn’t mind. She didn’t want to move. I brought her Gatorade and Power Punch and plenty of water, and she was content to be fussed over. And that was that. For two days.

This morning, I got down to the jug in time to see these two dudes bawlin’ their heads off. “Where’s mah bawbaw?” She still has a lot goin’ on back there, so tittie findin’ is not all that simple.

That’s not stoppin’ em, though. They are determined little buggizz.

This feller is Eddy, named after the great #15 Eddy Pineiro. Not sure of his average yet, but he is the younger of the two, so we’re stickin’ with Eddy. Ah, the older feller, of course, is Steve, named after the other great kicker of all time, Stephen Gostkowski. Sorry, but there was no doubt they’d be named for kickers. I do believe my shoulder is dislocated from the moment I felt her belly hopin’ to feel a lamb move. Ka BOOM. Yeah. THAT’S why she was layin’ around alright!

Post-Matthew Farm Update

Jaanet – Gettin’ Big!

Since the last update, there have been several changes! Yes, Jaanet is gettin’ big. She has beautiful Perkins characteristics — ooooh that fleece! She’s sharing the pastures with seven other sheep; a dozen have gone, temporarily, to a friend’s farm for “grass camp” so that our pastures can be regrown.

While the grass grows, Elle has been working on illustrations for The Adventures of Curly Lumpkin. What began, 5 years ago, as a 35000 word novel, is turning into a series of illustrated books. I hesitate to use the word “children’s” in reference to the Curly stories. They fit all of us.

Also, we have a few active “adoptions” this year. These are part of our CSA, and allow us to buy things like grass seed and any extra special care the flock needs. We’re making every effort to send out monthly updates and fleece samples to our CSA participants this year. So far, so good.

And speaking of good, we had no problems at all with Hurricane Matthew this week. He roared along the east coast of the state, and although we got a bit of rain, we didn’t lose power for one single second. The sheep divided their rainy time between the sky blue barn and the pasture…and all are just fine!

Thanks, every body, for your continuing support – moral and otherwise!! HA!

Red Hot Diamondbacks

 

A HO.

One down and one to go. Used more than half of the handspun…but there was quite a bit of singles yarn (orange) left on one bobbin. I wound it off and weighed it…and I’m 2g over what I need. Phew.

Another HO.

This is the 2nd stage TdS ’16 sock. I Love It. Really cushy. Halfway done with its mate.

Front of the Remember Sock

Back of the Remember Sock

Save

Red Hots ~ Update

Red Hots Yum Yum

Down below there, on the ol’ blog, there’s a post about Rolags for Red Hots. I forgot o’mitey to tune y’all in on the finished skein. Here it is. Going to be, possibly, short socks. Oh My.

Marled

Dove’s Roost Ragg for Socks

Here’s 340 yards of gawjus soft marled yarn. One ply is tawny alpaca; one ply is Gulf Coast Native. Since March, I’ve been a sock-knitting fool, turning out several pair for Sock Madness’ Team Kweechah Knotweed, and now for Tour de Sock’s Team Cool yer Heels. This yarn is for Stage Two of Tour de Sock, a lurvley cabley design which I’ll happily brag about lateron.

Moreningwalk

Passiflora Cave

Bisco was standing in this little cave of adorableness when he snagged my attention. Can you see the passion fruit?

Big enough for fairies, and cats

Flowers for the vase and for dyeing

Another view, with oregano

Tomato nests

 

Bisco, my deary, who loves to go on walks

 

Mothersday is Here

Sock Madness Round #4 – Sweet Nuttins

Well, when the shearer came, that was it. Two days of sheep rodeo and I was out of the running. It’s okay. I’m almost done with these beauties, and I’ll knit along on the sidelines. The round officially ends on Thursday, the 12th, but my team is a fast team and the first 20 slots filled up right quick. I couldn’t catch up to save my skin.

Beads, cables, and lace, and all done up in Sally’s fleece spun into a fine fingering weight and dyed carrrrazily. Looks like we have made an accidentally self-striping yarn. Hm. Wild. At any rate. I am not dead. But fell ill with some mean-ass bug after the shearing. I did manage to try to get the fleece dried before I collapsed into a heap. We had a downpour that leveled us all…and yea, we had a crowd. Sheep soaked. Fleeces soaked. Shearers soaked. Mats soaked. Good Lawd.

Could be worse. He might not have come til the end of June!