Stealth Project #1

Finished and delivered.

When I decided to make an owl for my owly friend, I searched and even purchased several patterns. But this one, available on both Craftsy and Ravelry as The Guardian Owl, was hands down the winning pattern. It last was seen here on the blog looking rather like a mysterious hat-like mound of wool. Or rather alpaca. It is knit from a bulky rose gray alpaca yarn I had ferreted out of the stash. And to make it even more personal, it is stuffed with roving from the llamas once owned by the recipient.

This is the pattern I mentioned I wanted to knit using the magic loop technique of knitting. After wrapping my brain around the concept, I think I may be using it often for sleeves as well as for socks. Especially when traveling with sock projects. It certainly eliminates the possibility of dropping a needle on the go.

Best of all with this little owly, I think it is well liked. I love knitting for someone who really appreciates the effort that is part of the gift. (Pictured here with recipient and friend, instead of Lizzy, for scale.)

 

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A Great Weekend

Lil Farm Gal's sweater is blocking on my bed. So far, Leo our humongous skinny cat is merely laying next to blocking mat.  I hope he stays there.

Some of you who follow me on Facebook may have seen some of my pictures taken Saturday at the Open House at Chickasaw Farm.  Usually they have it when shearing, but the last few years have been a bit chilly and rain.  So they videoed the shearing done early.  They had baby lambs, alpacas, demonstrations, and vendors selling some of their hand crafted items.
There was hand dyed wool, hand dyed and/or spun yarn.  One of my friends, in addition to her wool that she raises as well as dyes, brought her massage table.  It seemed to be a very popular item as well.

I took the loom that I have for sale.  No takers, but one of the vendors was interested.  I left it with the farm owner.  She and others in her co-op go to several fiber shows through the summer and she thinks she may be able to sell it for me.  Anything to avoid Craigslist.  I'm just leery about trying that.

Other than the loom, I had nothing to sell, so I mostly tried to avoid the sun.  And other than a bit of burn on one knee, I did all right.  I finished the garter band at the color change on my SWestie shawl, and was able to start the new pattern when I got home.  Great day all in all.
And I didn't quite melt.

Sheepish Frankie

Frankie has been acting a bit under the weather lately. He hasn't touched the pellets or even the papaya. The papaya was the biggest shock.

I asked one of my friends at Spin Guild yesterday what she thought and she said--take his hair off. So, not having clippers, and assuming that more than just a combing or plucking was in order, I took the scissors to the dear boy.

Those white patches you see are perilously close to the skin. I think the poor boy is a bit embarrassed. But on the bright side, I have a bunch of new fiber to card!

Fiber Festival Fun

I was at the seasons second Fiber Festival most of the day yesterday, at the Old Farm Girl's lot in White Cloud. A beautiful, although hot day. And WOW! What a change from the show she had there last Labor Day! Then there were only a few vendors, and a group of us spinning under a canopy along the M-37. This year, there were a bunch of vendors, and even a food wagon. Way too much temptation. I managed to be a frugal shopper and tried to behave myself. (I got some 25% off yarn, and a couple books, and a great sweater pattern booklet.)
And oh, the fiber. I managed to avoid buying any fleeces, mainly because I was broke by the time I heard of the bargains there. (Honestly, have you seen any recent pictures of my wool room? No, I'm embarrassed to post them.) Alpacas and a bunny for display. On Friday Mercy, Rachel's black lamb was there, but after too many people brought dogs, she left her home.

It is so much fun to see fiber buddies too. Theresa was there from Greenville. She was the gal who helped organize the festival over there a few weeks ago.

Sue Ann (AKA The Sassy Ewe) from Spin Guild was also there. Lots of tempting items. She has got to get Mondays cleared on her schedule so she can come more often.
And of course Rachel was.....
Well, she really was there, although she did a lot of child chasing and networking. (Just kidding Rachel. And thanks for the discount for helping people when you were gone. )
Mary, brought her loom to show people. She was set up near me, under the big top.
Gina, another of our Spin Guild members, had the above picture alpaca, Norman. She also had a huge red and white tent with open sides. It was a great shady place to sit and spin or weave out of the sun. I spent most of my time there and finally finished spinning the 4.5 lbs fleece I bought in Allegan last year. And I was able to begin with the red top for the sweater I want to make.

Oh yes, the Pink Ball of Fluff was there in its finished glory. Betty was pleased. Now I have to finish the next one I am working on.

Frankie and Joni go to a Show

Once upon a time, a little girl bunny named Joni and a little boy bunny named Frankie went to a rabbit show. Their owner plopped them in their divided travel cage and off they went.
Both bunnies put up with their owners craziness and managed to have a good time. Frankie found out that he wasn't a plain old blue or even an agouti colored rabbit. He was a "blue otter" and as such, a fairly rare color pattern. His judging group only had one entry--Frankie--entered in both shows, so blue otter Frankie got two blue ribbons.
Broken blue Joni, even though she does had a Leg from a previous show, came in 3 out of 5 in her divisions. Not bad though considering the last time her owner showed rabbits they were both disqualified. (Ahem. I might add that one of those same rabbits, Christine's Cisco was placed as best over-all Jersey Wooly at this show, with Christine showing.)
For the bunnies however, the highlight was when their owner opened up the cage to take pictures.

Hey, there good looking! Want some company?

Some Bunny Loves Me

Frankie was excited when I came home from the Rabbit show with a new home for him.

He was even more excited with what was on the other side of the blue wall.Frankie, meet Joni. Another Jersey Wooly. I had so much fun but managed to refrain from buying a bunny, only because Christine offered this doe to me. Now if I can just manage to convince Hubby NOT to let them visit each other.
I really enjoyed myself, I may even go again sometime. After all, I do have one travel cage. Hmmmmm. Joni has longer fur, but he is a rarer color. And when I had them in to groom, Frankie does sit up in a more compact stance.

Anyway, on a related note, I started my niece's nursing shawl, in Knit Picks Shine, in Ebony, which is a pretty soft black. It isn't even too hard to knit that color in the evening, and so soft.

FarmMom Gets Hopping

A new experience for FarmMom this Saturday.

I have been the the big agricultural arena at Michigan State University called the Pavilion several times. Hubby and I have attended the Beef Expo, and brought home some animals for our herd. I have also visited there when my sons and some of their friends were there for Dairy Days. We don't have dairy cattle ourselves, but we have "hung out" with dairy farmers a lot.

But this weekend, I will be attending a Rabbit show there.

No, Frankie will be staying home but I will be riding down with Christine, one of my fellow Spin Guilder members. She has horses, alpacas, sheep, one rescue llama, and bunnies--several varieties--both eating and showing. I know she has Satin Angoras, which are my favorite.

She is showing and I am tagging along. And keeping her awake.

I have to be at her house (about a half hour drive or so) at (Lord help me!!) 4:45 AM.

Yikes.

On related note, I will try to post a picture of me in the Pink Lady, as well as show some pictures of my new sweater I've started. I have knit past the 4 row stripe above the ribbing and I love it.

Gorgeous Morning

Cold and clear nights make for some beautiful winter mornings.
Don't you agree? It makes running out early for bunny chores much more pleasant when it looks like that.

Weeds?

Just a scan around the farm.

Its amazing just how pretty weeds can be.

And Frankie S said it had been a long time since he had his picture posted. So here he is too.

Frankie S Bunnie

His fan club has been clamouring for pictures. He has really grown and is acquiring a taste for papaya.

Saturday Travels

Saturday, Sadie went to a better place. No, I didn't do her in, although I was sorely tempted the day she bit me. (And I am still nursing the spots where she bit me.)

No, I took the scenic route to the not too far north central Michigan where Sadie came from. On the way I found a yarn shop I had been wanting to visit. I got some yarn for a stealth gift project. I had my audio book in one ear, and thus finished "Tess of the D'ubervilles" on the way.

Kelly graciously took back Sadie. I explained that a friend thought her problem may have been raging hormones. After all, it is spring, and she is a bunny. Kelly said she would put her in with Mr Vanilla, to help mellow her out. As I said, she is in a better place.

So, yes I also came home with the little blue boy you saw in a previous post. Blue eyes and blue fur, with some apricot touches on feet and ears. I am naming him Frankie S for Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.


He is settling in just fine, but seems lost in the cage that Sadie seemed almost cramped in. And speaking of the old gal..Kelly wrote me that she sheared off her wool and is sending me about 4 oz of angora from her.
She is going to be too embarrased to meet the buck.

Bunny Behaving Badly

Sadie is dern lucky I am not reporting her demise here.

She has been a bit frisky lately, and as a result I haven't been able to groom her regularily. A couple times recently she has nipped at me, and twice left tooth marks. This morning she had been in a snit apparently, and had knocked her litter pan from the corner. When I reached in to move it back to get her food, she bit me quite hard. I have 2 bandages--and do you know how hard it is to put them between my index and middle finger? It is apparently quite a tender spot too.

Anyway after an e-mail to my spinning friends e-mail group, the gal I purchased her from is offering to take her back. She even offered me a replacement bunny--a jersy wooly that she says won't get as big.

The jury is out on that at the moment. But here is a picture of a possible candidate bunny.



What do you think? Should I try yet again?

Shearing at Sheila's

Lots of fun and fiber today. Went to a friend's home whose sheep were being sheared by a well know West Michigan young man who is a friend of Youngest Son. He has won prizes in competions nationwide. And he was quite impressive to watch.

The sheep, after being shorn, were feeling delightfully free, especially the ones they call the "Shitlands".

After the shearing was done, we went the the store to knit, spin, eat and warm up. I also bought wool. I couldn't resist. Afterall, I had just met the sheep face to face!

I had recently discovered that these friends live in the same home that my great-great-grandfather had lived in before he died in 1899. So I went home the longer way, so I could pay my respects to GGGranddaddy James Henry.

Which also meant that I had to come home through Baldwin. And any self respecting West Michiganian knows that means. Jones' Homemade Ice Cream.

Sorry, no pictures available of myself indulging. But I had black raspberry and black walnut on a sugar cone. YUMMMY!!

Dare I Say It?

I looked around.

Actual green grass popping up. Enough to pluck and feed to Bunnie Sadie.

Real buds on my lilac bush. And they don't look frozen.
Kitties lolling on the grass in the sun.

Could spring be close?

Dang. I'm gonna mist the snow.

My Bad--No Recent Posts

I know, I have been delinquent here. Busy with not much time on the computer. I have been doing much spinning and knitting--finished a braid of roving from Yarn Hollow in pink, red and grays that is so soft. I finished one of the blue socks started quite some time ago, and have been working as well on the rose green cardigan. I actually grafted one of the underarms while watching Pride and Prejudice today. (New version, not the classic Greer Garson one.)

New Year I spent with a friend doing our usual ladies day out. We saw the movie "Australia" which I heartily recommend. It was great. And...well Hugh Jackman is easy on both the eyes and the ears.

This afternoon, amid the softly falling snow, I had to help Hubby clean the "chicken" coop, which he has filled with 2 calves. All I had to do was push the wheelbarrow to the door once he was in, then slide it back when he wanted out. As you can see, the barn kitties figured I needed help.

Later I helped cut slab wood. We have to find a better way to do that. I had to bend over and hold my breath, to keep from sucking in sawdust and exhaust. Not fun.

I did spend some time with Sadie yesterday. She has been becoming a feisty little bunny. I got out a drawer to have her sit in while being groomed and it seems to work better. She fluffs out to one big Bunny.

Blowing in the Wind

Snow I mean.

I was rather relieved on Friday when, as I was getting ready to schlep my spinning wheel and supplies out to the car, to get a phone call. David was telling me he would watch the store in the afternoon, so I didn't have to come to spinning and work. I was greatly relieved. While I love snow, I don't love driving in it. Mainly because driving is a necessary evil and I don't enjoy driving in any weather. Even the library, my other job was closed, although it was my day off from there anyway.

But I do enjoy snow. It did let up yesterday so I could finish my shopping and get my groceries and stocking stuffers. (Mind you, nothing is wrapped yet, although this should have been the day.)

Last night however, when I peeped out to see where Hubby was, I saw the most delightful sight. Even Hubby commented on it. Snow was beginning to lightly fall, like diamond dust showering down. You could see waves of it hitting the ground, and the glistening as it fell past the open door.

(No, this picture is not the surface of the moon, but the surface of one of the panes of the window on the back door. Single figure temps tend to make pretty pictures.)

Today--not alot of snow, but WINDY!!. The next county over--1 mile away--is now under a blizzard warning. We are still a mere winter storm warning. Good old lake effect snow. I was unable to venture out to church--4 foot drift in front of the garage still. I snuck out the back door with a camera and got a few of the pictures shown here. Other than that I only ventured out to do bunny chores and come back in. Poor Sadie. Snow has been blowing through the top of the door and drifting down on her. I tried not to touch her. Didn't want to disturb her insulation of fluff.

And so it blows.

Congratulations to Angora Girls

My Miss Sadie would like to send her best wishes to the Angora Girls.
After riotous overnight with Blueberry while their Humans were spending an evening away a couple weeks ago, both Crystal and Godiva have recently been spotted constructing nests and are reportedly becoming quite chubby recently.
Rumors abound.
Mr Human has refrained from comment as to how this happened, but press releases state he apparently did not replace the gates of the palatial bunny barn known as Mocha house, inviting the apparent conjugal visits.
The eagerly awaited event should come sometime in the next week or so.
My Sadie also states that since she is safely protected by her cage with no access to maurading male bunnies, she is not constructing any nests.

Denial, Not Just a River Somewhere

That's right, I was in denial. Last Tuesday I calculated the math for the raglan decreases and for the neck decreases. I thought, "My, that would take an awful lot of rows, but the math looks good. So I merrily knit along for 1 1/2 inches (mind you, in DK weight yarn, enough to circle my volumptious bode at above the joined sleeves, so over 500 stitches). Finally I calculated again, and took out a measureing tape yesterday.

Hmmmm, 22 inches. Not good. EZ says it is always about 10 -11 inches for most people. I'm big, but not that big! Can you say Rip-It?

So I recalculated and ended up ripping back to just past the first decrease row. Those interchangable needles area great for this, especially since I have a extra long cable. I put on a tip 3 sizes smaller and then picked up the stitches as a lifeline. I ripped back to that with no problem. Now I am decreasing at twice the rate as before and it looks much better.

On another note, Sadie and I spent some quality time tonight. Lots of combing and she looks quite spiffy.

Sadie Takes a Walk

I took Sadie for a walk today on her little blue leash. Then she got all combed out and some fresh litter and greens. The little lady was all tuckered out, but condescended to pose for a picture.

Life is rough.

West Branch Pictures

Well, time to post some pictures from last weekend. I haven't been able to post from the laptop all week, but finally, here are some of the pictorial highlights.

I mentioned we arrived and unloaded on Friday evening. We found most booths already set up as we carted our stuff to the far end of the building. Some, the Watson Spinning Wheels were set up and covered, but others were still putting on final touches here and there.

It didn't take us too long to unload the van, We then started sorting out items and putting it at least somewhat together.

After that we went for supper, a very unimpressive meal at the local Big Boys, but apparently it WAS almost closing time.

Next morning we finished setting up and settling down for business. Rachel had a class on making bobbin lace. The rest of us sat and spun or knit or shopped. It was a long day. Especially when they had someone give a lecture at the vendors supper in the evening. We finally skipped out of that and headed to Wal-Mart (as Rachel had ruined her last change of clothes shearing sheep) and then home.

The next day, I tried to stop shopping but Jane dragged me down to a booth owned by Yarn or a Tale and I was "forced" to buy 2 bags of hand painted roving--one a sock blend in shades of blue and green, and a lovely soft silk/wool blend in pastel pinks and melon.

Here are a couple more random pictures. Those two fuzzy friends are the newest friends of the AngoraGirls. Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Jane had been told she could not come home with a bunny. So she didn't come home with A bunny, she got 2 little boys.

One of the last items I was forced into purchasing, late Saturday was my little lady, Sadie. I have been calling her a black Satin Angora, but while her head and feet are a glistening black, her body and the long hair is more of a charcoal gray. The satin really shows as she just glistens, and she is only about 13 weeks old now. She has been handled by children since birth so I have a much easier time grooming her. She is a perfect little cuddler.

Plus-she is litter trained all ready