Done.
Finally.
This sweater seemed to never, ever want to end.
They were going to have to bury me with it one day, needles still firmly stuck in the unending yoke.
I persevered, however, and Oona is thrilled. The buttons are not on in the pictures (I couldn’t wait, since the light was right for pictures)and the ends are not woven in, but you get the idea.
This sweater has taken up so much of my life lately that now that it is done I almost don’t know what to do with myself.
Almost.
We’ve gotten much of the work we needed to get done this week for school completed already (just some math and reading to do later) so I am taking some time to spend on knitting. I’ve got a case of that “Finishup-itis” that seems to be going around the Knitting Blogosphere of late and I am trying to get Oona’s Drive Thru cardigan done. I’ve got the body and one sleeve finished. The second sleeve has been cast – on and then there’s just the yoke and finishing, so I am feeling like I am in the home stretch.
I also cast on some super yummy Juniper Moon Farm Worsted Weight in a colorway I cannot remember (Aegean Sea? Storm Cloud? Dunno) using Brooklyn Tweed’s Guernsey Wrap pattern. It is going to to be AMAZING. The pattern is gorgeous and the color of this wool is just perfect.
The knitting has been a balm for my mind and soul as we deal with a lot of things around here, both good and bad. There’s much going on, and there will be a few changes in the coming weeks. You’ll have to stay tuned to see how that unfolds.
I also should admit I’ve become rather obsessed with the King Arthur Flour website. I want to try every recipe and order all of the neat gadgets and ingredients that look oh – so – fun to bake with. I haven’t given in to the impulse much, but I did do something that made sense. I bought a 25 lb.bag of flour and a bucket for it. This winds up being way cheaper than buying the 5 lb. bags at the grocery store like I’ve been doing, since I go through so much of it. I am also thinking about ordering up some of their gluten – free fare, since so many of my friends are living gluten – free these days.
That’s a big – ass bag o’ flour!
I wonder how long it will last in this house???
I don’t think I have to tell most of you it’s been cold. Even here in Virginia we’ve been suffering with it the past few weeks.
For me, nothing fits the bill for the winter better than some good knitting to work on. So,with the help of some luscious Juniper Moon Farm yarn I cast on the Madelinetosh Honey Cowl and worked on it while Sushi enjoyed the fireplace.
If you’ll recall, my first attempt at the cowl ended in frogging because I had a twist in it. I re-cast it super carefully and ended up with about 300 twists, so I gave up and knitted the darn thing the whole way, twists and all.
It worked out okay; I had to do some creative “steeking” (a scary procedure whereby you sew a seem and then cut your project and re-sew or pick up new stitches) I managed to straighten it right out.
I really love how it came out otherwise. The color is just ridiculous gorgeous (thanks to the always fabulous Suzy Q who dyed it for Susie last fall) and super soft and scrunchy.
Can I tell you how hard it is to be friends with someone who sells yarn???? I have to talk myself out of stealing some every time I am over there.
The good news is I have plenty of yarn and projects already lined up and waiting for me to just get to them.
Some day in 100 years when I have free time.
A few days ago, I taught Neve how to knit. At least, I cast on 10 stitches and taught her the knit stitch. It was quite a trial of patience. There was a lot of trying and re – trying and frustrations and dropped stitches and knitting into the wrong loops, and I was ready to call the whole thing a failure. But she kept going back to it, and now she has about 6 inches of garter stitch knitted up. And it looks pretty darn good, too.
She might just have a scarf by Christmas.
I have also been knitting.
Paul bought me a nice LL Bean barn coat in a Navy / tan combo for, well, barn work and I have been wanting a nice warm hat to match. It took awhile for me to find just the right yarn, but I settled on some Malabrigo Rasta in colorway “Luna Negra” . It arrived yesterday and I got right to work, using the Yarn Harlot’s Unoriginal Hat pattern.
By last night, I had this:
It’s so ridiculously soft I can’t even believe it.
The colors match my coat perfectly.
I know I should have posted this ages ago, but between the turkey – induced sleepiness and the craziness of the weekend that followed I just have not had the time.
Turkey Day managed to be an enjoyable day for all of us,even the middle and little ones. Those little turkeys started off the festivities wearing pilgrim caps we had made in school while watching the Macy’s Parade (am I the only one who wants to say Enough with the stupid side acts and just let me see the damn parade and floats go by!!!)??
We ate at my parents’ house, as we try to do every year. My father happens to be an amazing cook, so it’s kind of a no – brainer. No canned yams for us, thank you very much. (In no way do I mean to denigrate those who enjoy canned yams…….I just don’t).
As always, there were two turkeys: one roasted, one fried.
Grilled brussells sprouts!!!!!! So very yummy.
Also on the menu: Butternut squash with chipotle and honey, chunky cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed peas with pearl onions, and two kinds of stuffing (Oyster cornbread stuffing and Mushroom & Sausage stuffing).
Maddie kindly made the apple pie so I didn’t have to (SO glad I taught her how to make those!) ans Uncle Eric made several pumpkin pies.
The girls love sitting by my mother’s fireplace because it’s REAL. Hear that all you new- home builders??? REAL fireplaces are superior to gas!!!
Ahem.
Neve looooooves Uncle Daddy.
Traditional turkey day photo. Not an easy feat with squirming kids.
Hard on the heals of turkey we had a sleep-over with the kids and their friends and a big cleaning to finish so the tree and other holiday decorations could go up. I still haven’t come up for air just yet. I had planned some nice relaxing knitting to keep me sane, but the cowl I was working on with Juniper Moon Farm yarn turned out to have gotten twisted on the circular needles after I’d gotten about 3 inches in (that’s a lot, considering it’s 44 inches around, plus the 3 inches wide) so I had to undo it all this morning.
I’ll cast it on again later.
After some wine.
Although, I think that may be what got me in this mess to begin with……
It’s been so busy around here that I completely forgot to mention that I finished a knitting project last week!
I know, you’re speechless.
I finally, and at long last cast off my Noro striped scarf, in colorways I cannot remember because I started it so long ago.
I am really pleased with how it came out, and although I was a bit concerned with its scratchiness, I was reassured by my friend Suzy Q that it softens up beautifully with wear.
I initially worried when I started homeschooling that it would leave with me even less time to knit than I had before (which was not much), but I think I may have found even more time. While I am waiting for the girls to complete reading, writing or drawing assignments, I knit. While they are test – taking, I knit.
Now, it doesn’t always work out this way; sometimes I just can’t stand looking at dirty dishes anymore or I am desperate for some clean laundry. But, more often than not, that time goes to knitting.
And snuggling the cutest baby on the planet.
What a weekend!
The fall shearing celebration at Juniper Moon Farm was this past Saturday and it brought not only an excuse to snag wool and watch Emily the Shearer at her art, it also brought many of my friends from their various corners of the US to stay at the farm. The weather was gorgeous, the food was excellent, and all of the people made the day just perfect.
Wool, sheep, goats, friends, food, perfect fall weather. Ummm, I didn’t die and go to heaven, did I?
To see more pictures please check out Susie’s blog.
Alpacas!!!
There were incredible little felted woodland creatures.
AND…….
All Things Llama! Complete with felted llama wool slippers:
I am craving these pot pies again. The line for the tent was ridiculous long, but they were well worth it.
The Rhinebeck House Party crew.
My very small stash of fiber – I did not really have a budget for it this year (next year, however……). I did snag this super soft hank of Maple Creek Farm Merino Superwash in colorway “Spices” and two hanks of Fine Wool Sock yarn from Juniper Moon Farm in Colorways “Sea Witch” and “Merlot”. And I have to admit I bought those directly from Susie here in Va and not exactly at Rhinebeck. It’s to die for. Can’t wait to knit all of it up!
I also brought home 3 big bags of Maple cotton candy. Yum!
If you’ve never been to the Sheep and Wool Festival I highly suggest you try for next year – there’s a huge amount of people there and you’ll need to plan your accommodations well in advance but it’s a great time. We had a blast!
I’m still having fun with my camera. I haven’t discovered half of what it can do yet, but I can’t help taking pictures of everything around me. Which means there’s about a milli0n pictures of the cats, the kids, etc.
Like this one of Sushi, who has recently taken up sleeping on Neve and nibbling on her nose, fingers and toes all night long. This makes Neve very grumpy and she has decided that Sushi must be dreaming about eating sausages all night.
There’s many more of Jasper cat because he loves all the attention and enjoys posing for pictures.
Oona begs to have her picture taken and it’s hard to get one of her acting naturally rather than making funny faces or contorting into some weird position that she thinks is hilarious.
Most of the picture – taking has been happening inside because it’s only 10 bajillion degrees outside and the humidity is so bad it’s like walking into a sauna. Maddie and I got fed up waiting for the excavation of the pool site to be completed so we headed out with gloves and shovels to get the ball rolling ……
but it was just way too hot and we were miserable. I think we lasted maybe 20 minutes and got next to nothing accomplished other than drenching ourselves in sweat. Where can we find some good, reliable, cheap labor around here??????
So, we still have no pool. And because of this, and despite the heat, I keep telling myself that summer hasn’t really started yet. We’ve had no days of swimming and nights of s’more roasting, no firefly catching, no picnics out on the deck, nada. Hopefully we’ll get there before August. Maddie goes back to school on the 9th and she’ll be really upset if the pool isn’t done by then.
I’ve been working on some frou-frou chiffon petticoat skirts for the girls, and let me just say…it has to be the worst sewing project in the world. I detest it. Yet I seem to be getting better at it at least as it drags on. Pictures to follow soon.
I have done no knitting, despite wanting to very much.
BUT.
I did make an acquisition relating to all things wonderful and fiber – related. I’ve gained part custody of this:
My friend Kim’s loom!!!! She’ s had it hanging around for years, but lately it’s just been gathering dust. So for now I get to try my hand at weaving until she is ready to get back to working on it. Not that I really need anymore projects, but how could I resist??????
Ok, y’all know how much I love Susan over at Juniper Moon Farm. Not only is she my hero for doing what I want to be doing (um, raising sheep and goats and making yarn? Hello!!!) , but she is also one of the best people you’ll ever meet.
Today, she and her assistant Maggie, along with numerous other friends and helpers, staged a fun – filled day of Sheep Shearing, eating, spinning and knitting. Who the heck needs MD Sheep & Wool???Well, lots of us do, but that’s besides the point.
I brought blueberry cobbler. Good thing I made two batches, because I was so overwhelmed with the incredible food everyone else brought that I never even made it to dessert. (I know, I am as shocked as you!!!!)
They started out shearing the angora goats.
Then came Ernie the sheep. He is massive. Huge. Unbelievably ginormous. You can certainly see him from space.
And petite little Emily the Shearer is totally badass hauling that 300 lb sheep around like a ragdoll.
Despite his size, he was rather compliant.
Post – haircut. Still huge……but decidedly less – so.
With all the action going on around him this little lamb (Rushworth, or “Mr. Tiny”) enjoyed a quiet snack with his mama. If you follow Susie’s blog at all you’ll recognize him as the touch- and – go preemie from this past week, and you’ll be happy to see he is nursing on his own.
Can I please, please puh-leeeeeeeze have this as my backyard????? Talk about the most serene, happiness – inducing scene imaginable. Happy, healthy sheep grazing a fresh pasture.
This is what happens when Neve gets the camera. I have to say…..I think I may hire her to take all future food pictures for this blog.
And though Hattie just might kill me for posting it, this also happens:
Hattie drove up from Charlottesville and rode along with us for the fun. Despite how close with live to each other we don’t see each other very often, so it was a good day for it.
We stayed for quite awhile but the kids were getting restless and my head was threatening a migraine, so as much as I did not want to ever leave, we left late afternoon, while most of the visitors had migrated indoors into the living room and were very cozily spinning and knitting and joking around having a great time. I was very sad to leave that scene!
Fortunately Paul has Oona out for a short car trip this evening and for the first time in far too long I have a chance to sit and relax and I think I will work on a striped scarf (with some scrumptious Noro Silk Garden yarn) (and maybe catch up on some brain – rotting South Park or Deadliest Catch on Hulu) instead of the many other things I should work on.
But first!!!
I have opened my etsy shop at last. I have several flannel tote bags listed that I made this past week.
Some with sheep,
Some with chicks.
I really need to make some llama ones. But not ones with bad haircuts, I promise.
I’ll be adding to the shop on and off as I am able, so check it out!!!!!
Merry Magpie Farm 
