The End is Near!!

This is good thing and a bad thing.
For one thing, its the last day of the month.  This is my last post for November.  The end of the month of daily postings.  Yea!  Maybe now I can actually get some knitting done.  And maybe even wash the dishes! 
Not that I haven't been knitting and doing dishes, but this made a good excuse.
But the other thing is that between fiscal cliff, Mayan calendar, election, and Tax-megeddon looming on the horizon, I have been feeling rather negative about the future.
Maybe not an end of everything, but it seems like the outlook for the future is gloomy.  I feel like breaking into the song they sang on the "Hee Haw" television show years ago: 
Gloom, despair and agony on me.
Deep dark depression, excessive agony!
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
Gloom despair and agony on me.
So excuse me while I go sit under a cloud somewhere.

Almost At an End

Once again, I will be brief.
But, I am nearly done with Little Guy's Baby Surprise Jacket.  And almost done with my month of daily blog posting.
And may I add...if it had not been for the second, the first would have been done by now!
And now, excuse me while I get back at it again.

Making Progress

As you can see, I am chugging right along on Little Guy's BSJ.  I am on the short rows, and then I just have seventeen rows after they are finished.
So I think I will be brief here and return to my regularly scheduled knitting.
See ya.

At Least There is Snow in the Village

Our history center has been decorating for winter.  One of our volunteers gave us her Christmas Village.  We spent all last Friday spreading out the snow batts and setting the houses, stores, trees and people around just right.
Then my boss lady decided we better put the lights in the buildings.
Sigh.  Never let it be said that we did things the easy way.
So today we burrowed holes in the fleecy snow and ran the cords from each building.  Since we also received a package we used the chunks of styrofoam to make a few hills.
There are cords galore.  More than we have outlets for, but it is looking great.
At least it looks like winter in the window.

Knit Worthy, Part 2

While putting Little Guy's Baby Surprise Jacket on the back burner for a few minutes, I wanted to revisit yesterday's topic.
Knitting is something I do for fun.  I like to make my own kniting plans.  Things like Little Guy's sudden appearance don't upset me, as I was planning on knitting his BSJ anyway.  And sweaters for kids are something parents usually appreciate.
In most cases I don't even mind being asked to knit something, especially if I have time.
But there are some, not particularly close friends that sometimes ask for a knit project.  Sometimes they want something that I just finished for myself.  They are usually non-knitters, who have no concept of the time involved.  Or the expense if it is good wool.  Or the care involved with wool.
These are not usually someone I want to do something like that for.  It would not be fun knitting.
Calll me self centered, but they would be not knit worthy.
Now, back to my knitting.  And Pride and Prejudice, followed by Wuthering Heights.
I love old movies.

Knit Worthy, Wool Worthy

As knitting away on the Baby Surprise Jacket for Little Guy, I got to thinking about knitting for others.
For example, I never knit for for my guys.  For one thing, they would not appreciate it.  Nor would they be careful with whatever I knit them.  Far from wool worthy, they would not even be considered knit worthy.  My boys especially tend to leave their hoodies and/or coats all over the county.
Other friends I trust with wool.  I have gifted some shawls and scarves.  I have knit sweaters and shawls for some of my fiber friends.  I know they appreciate wool.
And while I know babies would appreciate fine wool, for their mother's sake, I usually stick with washable wool blends, even if they are wool worthy.
But back to my BSJ for Little Guy.   I am steaming right along.  The sleeves are nearing the end, and I will soon start increasing.  There will be more white stripes and a few yellow stripes once the arms are finished.  I like how they stand out against the blue tweed.
I know I doesn't look like a baby sweater yet.  That is the magic of the Baby Surprise Jacket.  It is fun watching it develop.

A Baby Surprise for a Surprise Baby

Well, the baby wasn't a total surprise. The parents knew he was coming.  In fact they were hoping he would be a few days early, to avoid a new co-pay period from kicking in.
The Little Guy decided to cooperate in a big way, choosing this morning over his January 4 due date.  According to his tired mama, he seems ok and weighed in at a respectable size.
Of course, the unexpected November birth caught this knitter by surprise.  I was planning on not starting his sweater until mid December.
I started the classic BSJ, (Baby Surprise Jacket, an Elizabeth Zimmerman creation) this morning. 
Little Guy, I'm knitting as fast as I can.

A New Affliction?

I seem to have had a sore thumb recently.  And it has been happening fairly often. 
I was blaming it on the weight of the Leftover Pi shawl while working on that.  But now I think it is perhaps something else.
I notice it hurting while texting.  Not that I text that often, but I have been blogging everyday, mostly on my phone.  I read Facebook and I follow a lot of blogs on Google Reader on my phone. I notice that using my phone in my right hand has been a bother. (I am a leftie.). And probably my iPad hasn't helped things.
Is,there such a thing as Texting Thumb?

The Home Place

This picture is looking towards Hubby's home farm, which is just down the road from where we live now.

The picture was taken a few weeks ago, on a dreary day, when I happened to notice the rainbow ending on the farm.
Actually while then land shown there was all his parents farm, the next owner sold the home and barn with a small parcel of land and built a pole barn and set a modular that shows on the right center of picture.
But the large white barn, with silo is part of the old home place.
I do love being close to the heritage of our families.  The home Hubby's father grew up on is just a couple miles away, owned by the grandparents who came from Germany.  His mother's was a few more miles farther west.  My family came from different counties, but both ended up in our county.  My brother and sister-in-law live in the next township.  Even my most far flung nephew and his family still live in the same state.
I am thankful for family, and heritage.  Freedom and faith.  Rural living and (some) technology.
Thank you everyone who reads and follows my musings.  You are appreciated too.

Conumdrum

I am in a bit of a puzzle.  A conundrum if you will.
I am not doing a big deal for our Thanksgiving meal.  Knowing my Older Son, no one alive would be able to get him off either a tractor or combine, so I don't expect his smiling (?) face. 
I am just having a humble menu of turkey breast cooked in a big crock pot, ditto for the home-made from scratch stuffing. Some baked sweet potatoes and some baked beans popped in the oven late. Cranberries--either jell or sauce; I got both.
And aside from pie, not much else.  But I want to make the pie tonight--pumpkin of course.  The hard part there is keeping it till tomorrow.  Hubby regards baked goods as a challenge to eat before bed time.  I suppose I could make two, or a large for tomorrow and a small for tonight.  I have to mix pumpkin for almost two pies to have enough for one full pie, so that wouldn't be so bad.
But, after the baking, I will still need to keep him out of one.  Would it be easier to bake pie tomorrow instead? 
Maybe I will go for two tonight.  And perhaps bake the Razzleberry one tomorrow that has been hiding in the freezer.  Just for insurance you know.
And if Razzelberry won't get Older Son out of the corn field, nothing will.

The Closing

I haven't posted much this past summer about the recently ended NASCAR season.  But.....wow! 
I suppose I shouldn't have been quite so surprised.  After all Jimmie was not the champ last year, Tony was.  That 2011 race, ending in a points tie was great. 
but this year Jimmie was back with a vengeance.   But I do think it was nice to have a Michigan guy win the championship.
Now I need to watch for the banquet to be televised.  And wait for next season.

Doubling Up

The stitches have been doubled on the Red Rover Shrug.  If you look closely at the picture, you will see a small white marker.  That marker makes the start of the return to knit two, purl two ribbing for the next 40 rows.
Of course those rows are now twice as long as they have been.  But I remain hopeful that I can finish it this month.
So I better go pick up the needles.

Happy Birthday Blog!

Today marks the five year birthday of Farmmom's Musings. Yup, this little blog has been rolling along since 2007. I planned to share my knitting and farm life with anyone who happened to join in.

Near the end of that year I was completing a February Baby Sweater for my nephew's baby.

I still went to breakfast on Saturday with my crazy Aunt Glenna. Santa joined us that year too.

Older Son and Younger Son were still at home driving me crazy. Here they are on the "slowmobile" they had running one winter.

Hubby still finds ways to baffle me at times. This is what happened when Hubby got a brush hog and didn't stay far enough away from an extension cord.

I don't think I will run out of things to share for another five years.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Just a Little Bull

Since there has not been a lot of progress on the Red Rover Shrug, I thought I would share a picture of Speckles, our new bull.  The old bull has gone to a nearby Amish farm, to frolic with some heifers for the winter.  We get one less mouth to feed.  They, hopefully, will end up with some red Holstein calves in next summer.  After he comes home and makes up with his girlfriend here, he will be sold to another farm.  After that Speckles will be able to have his turn.  That fickle cow.
Not quite sure what breed Speckles is.  Sort of like a red Holstein, but he has a beefy look to him.  Thick legs and neck too.   Any ideas as to the breed?  Of course as always, Lizzie thinks we got him to be her playmate.
Still about seven inches of 1 X 1 ribbing on the shrug before I can double the stitches again.  Leonardo thinks he is a great help.  The reality is, not so much.  So while he is sleeping, I think I will go knit now.

Long and Lean

After having two rather short chubby dogs, including my current Lizzie, having a long lean Siamese has been enlightening.   While both Gilbert and Lizzie tended to be built like me, but still enjoyed a chance to run and play.  An adolescent cat is in a whole other activity level.  And I love it.
Watching Leo go from crouching on my footstool to a full out flying leap to the other side of the room, just to terrorize the old cat is a delight.  And when he melts into a pool purring fur is equally fun.  I'm glad I brought him home.

The Country Life

Have I mentioned before how much I enjoy living in the country? As I drove into work this morning the co-op had a long line of tractors, wagons and trucks waiting to unload their loads of corn.

The Bi-Polar Combine, at co-op during the Harvest Festival this past October

Outside at home on the farm, while walking Lizzie, could hear the sounds of gunfire, signaling the annual rites of fall: Opening Day. Even though there are several special hunts prior to this, (Youth Hunt, bow season and who knows what) November 15 is marked by bright orange coats, deer camps, and the occasional deer being page added around town in the back of a pickup truck.

The smell of fall is everywhere. Some good--the good earthy smell of fields being cut up while harvesting. Some not so good--as the liquid manure pits get emptied before winter. (Whew"!)

Life continues. Happy fall.

Posted with Blogsy

Another Day, Another Post

Well, here it is day 14.  I've been posting every day, all month.  Actually, I also posted on October 30 and 31, so that means I have already made it 16 straight days.
Which is why after all this time, you are getting a bit of drivel and nonsense.  Now let me post this and get back to knitting and The Maltese Falcon.
Thank you.

Growing Ribs

Despite Leonardo's helpful assistance, my Red Rover shrug is growing merrily along.
Of course being at Knit Nite tonight helped.
As did Leo's lengthy nap with Hubby on the couch helped too.
I am past the half way point of the middle section, so I have clear sailing from here.
Yippee!

Training Session

You may have noticed a lack of knitting content here on the old blog.  The reason has four creamy paws and loves wool.
I can't really blame Leonardo for his good taste.  I mean who can blame him?  It's hand-spun, Navajo-plied wool in a glorious handpainted red.  Yummy!
So, Leo is learning some restraint.  I am learning patience. 
But I really want to finish my Red Rover shrug this fall.  We'll see who cracks first.

Thanks Vets!

This posting today is copied off my alternate blog, The Cemetery Divas.  I have used this picture before, when I first started my blog nearly five years ago.  (Five?  Already?)  I wanted to share it here for those who only follow my musings here.  The picture below was taken on Memorial Day, probably in 1946, by their "baby" sister, my Aunt Joycie.   I love this picture.

Happy Veterans Day to all veterans, whether they served in war or peace time.
For Dad (center) and his two brothers, Uncle Don and Uncle Howard, who served in World War II.  This picture sits proudly above my desk at the history center.  "Dad and the Unc's" as I call it.

For my favorite veteran nephew, who served in Afghanistan more recently.
For my first cousins, once removed.  These two brothers both served in the Marine Corp, one of whom was there when the barracks in Beirut was bombed.
For all my brave family members, living and dead who put their life aside to fight for our country.
And for all those who have worn the uniform of one of the branches of the armed services of the United States.
Thank you all.
And, just to make this different from the Divas post, I leave you with these words by Katharine Lee Bates, that brought tears to my eyes today in church:

O beautiful for heroes proved 
In liberating strife. 
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life! 
America! America! 
May God thy gold refine 
Till all success be nobleness 
And every gain divine!

Ahh Choooo!

This was my Saturday to work.  I no sooner got there today when I started sneezing like mad.  I am assuming it is something musty at work.
Old paper can be like that some times.
Pardon me while I find more tissue.
Gazoonheit!

Geek Alert!

I will freely admit.  Farmmom is a tech geek.  I love my smart phone.  Several years before that I had a PDA, with an auxiliary keyboard.  I used to take minutes att meetings, typing away into something not much bigger than my current cell phone.  I use my laptop often, when knitting doesn't get in the way.  I even have a Nook e-reader, which I also love.  I think I have read much more since getting it.  I blog (of course), read other blogs on  Google Reader, and I track my knitting online on Ravelry.
And now I have a new toy, an i-pad.  I loaded my pictures onto it, a couple reading apps, and even a knitting app.  I found a deal on a first generation tablet, that looks brand new.
And yes, I have some games on it.  Siege Hero, here I come.

WIP or UFO?

With my recent attempt to continue knitting without casting on anything new, I have dived into the WIP pile.
I usually refer to my knitting projects languishing on the needles as WIPs: Works In Progress.   But I was reminded the other day that some knitters call them UFOs: UnFinished Objects.  That set me musing, as I am wont to do.
Is there a difference between WIPS and UFOs?
Those pictured below are current WIPs.  All have been worked on in the last week.  They are in progress, definitely.
There was the black mohair shaw I resurrected last winter.  It had not been worked on for 5 or 6 years.  And there are a couple of projects that have also been patiently waiting for about that long, and are sitting still.  I can think of at least 3 that are pre-Ravelry!  Since I plan to continue with them, someday, they are also WIPs.
I guess, for me, that UFOs are projects those below the radar.  I haven't touched them for a long time.  And I have no foreseen plans to pick them up.  And my WIPs are just that, still in progress.  And I still plan to work on them.
You know, after this sock, that gift, and perhaps, a commissioned work or so.
So, which term do you use?  Or do you finish every project you cast on?
(Oh, by the way, the projects below are the Dove gray socks, the Red Rover shrug, and the blue gansey cardigan, all in progress.)

Well That Was....Interesting?

If I hadn't promised to strive for daily posting this month, I would have skipped today.
I know that if supporters of "the other guy" were in my place they would not understand my feelings.  I've seen the gloating and hate on Facebook and other places  If in their shoes, I think my feelings would be relief, and hope.
Instead, I'm struggling with a sense of hopelessness and real fear for the land.  I am struggling to be cheerful.
So far, it isn't working.
Sure, I've earned my right to complain.  I hope I don't need to.  But I'm not holding my breath.

Merrily They Go Along

Lizzie and Leonardo have adjusted just fine to being "brother and sister."  They love to plan and run back and forth.  Lizzie barks and pretends to snap at Leonardo (or Leo as I usually call him.) And Leo leaps over Lizzie, and bats Lizzie around, with his claws safely sheathed. 

But for all their chasing and playing, I was very happy to catch this sight the other day.  Leo and Lizzie catching a few zz's together on the couch after an active morning. 

I think they are going to do just fine.

One More

Hopefully, only one more day of the campaign calls.  

One more day of anxiety over the election.  Yes, I confess.  I worry about what the outcome will be.  

One more Finished Object--The Leftover Pi Shawl.  I like how it looks, although I have not yet decided if it will live life as a shawl or afghan.  It is very warm.  And I don't know if my internal thermostat will adjust to all this will.  It is very, very warm.  Also please excuse the picture.  I had the wrong setting on my camera.  Outside picture was washed out a little, and the inside picture was too dark.  I will try again to get pictures at Knit Nite tomorrow. 

And one more sock to go.  

Again, lousy picture, after dark with cell phone camera flash.  But the sparkles show, and you can see the gray braided ridge left from the Greek, or zigzag bindoff.  So much nicer and easier than the cursed Kitchener stitch.  (Sorry Sir Kitchener, but it is true.)  And it is small enough that I don't think it will be noticed while being worn, especially since it is on the top of the toe.  

One more day of daily posting. 

Twinkle Toes--Really!

With the completion of my Leftover Pi shawl (or afghan/throw), I have been browsing the WIPS.  (Works in progress to the non-knitting reader.)
I certainly have a good selection to choose from.  After a conversation at Knit Nite last week about a gansey class offered at a local yarn shop, I dug out the lonely blue gansey cardigan in the unfinished pile.  I worked a row, after finding my place.  That may need to be mostly "at home" knitting, since the charts are needed for both sides.
My Duchess of Cambridge featherweight cardigan, also blue, is another, less intense option.  I do want to finish it this winter.
For the time though, I picked up the dove gray sock.  This is the first of the pair.  I would like to cast on the second today or tomorrow.  But first I want to try a different toe treatment.  I am going to make a short-row toe and use either a 3-needle bind off on top of the instep.  Or a similar Greek bind off.  I found the instructions in "The Sock Knitter's Handbook".   I like the look, and no grafting!
I'll keep you informed as to how that works out.
Oh, I forgot to mention that while the color is more yellow than in real life, the picture does show the twinkle of a strand of real silver.

Off the Needles

Victory at last.  The Leftover Pi shawl is off the needles. 
Blocking, of course, is in its future.  But as it is, it still looks pretty good.
Not that I can call it done and turn to something else yet.
After all there are a couple of ends to weave in.

November is Post Daily Month

Post daily is the goal.

Stretch thoughts, drivel and profound

Taxing brain when blank.

I will either be blogging here or on The Cemetery Diva's blog everyday this month.  Or at least making the attempt.  I did this last year and faithful readers may remember from then that there was a lot of nonsense.

So, don't say I didn't warn you.