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Randomly On a Sunday Morning

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Marla | Comments Off

1. I’ve been awake since 4.

2. This seems to just be what happens on Sunday mornings.

3. I was going to get up and be responsible and start my taxes, but that plan was foiled pretty quickly since, apparently, when you are filing jointly, you have to have all of your spouses information first. It doesn’t let you tack it on at the end…which is inconvenient when one of you is suffering early morning insomnia and the other one is upstairs sawing logs.

4. I bought seeds yesterday, peas, beets, radishes, carrots, spinach, and kale.

5. I was going to plant them this afternoon, but there is snow on the ground this morning.

6. I have no clue what I did with my citron shawl overnight. It doesn’t appear to be in my knitting basket, which means I probably brought it upstairs in case I woke up early.

7. I am downstairs because I woke up too early.

8. I am in the middle of my seventh repeat, and my yarn is telling me this will probably be the last repeat before the yarn runs out. The rows are getting really long, but I like to think I can get it done today.

9. That probably depends on how long it will take me to finish the stupid taxes.

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The Very First Goat

Posted on March 17, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

Back in late 2009 I brought home my first goat, along with a llama, to add to my menagerie of chickens. I wasn’t admitting to having a farming problem then, but the bug had surely bitten me, and once I started, there was no going back.

I had only planned on bringing home a llama that day; I had read they were excellent guard animals (HA!!!) that were preferable to dogs (no barking, cleaner poo). Instead I fell in love with a small yearling doe and she came home along with Jerry. In the car Emily decided we’d call her “Milkshakes”.

In short order we had a small farm and learned our doe was a soon-to-be-mommy. This was, incidentally, how I really met Susan. I was inexperienced and terrified, and discovered that the well-known shepherd whose blog I read actually lived just up the road (the rest, as they say, is history!).

It’s taken me a week to work up to writing this post because I needed to get my head straight and not still be too emotional; I needed the telling of it to be therapeutic, and I think I’ve reached that place. You see, we lost our infamous Milkshakes last weekend.

We don’t really know what exactly happened, or why. One moment she was fine and bratty, the next she was not. Animals like this can sometimes give you precious little to go on. What was clear is that it was the end of an era, so to speak. She was our “old reliable” in a way. She never had the parasite problems we’ve struggled through with the rest of the flock, and she mothered like a dream. It just didn’t seem possible she could leave us. But, she had a great life surrounded by companions and all she could eat.

This is the hardest part of animal husbandry. As Susan always reminds me, if you have livestock, you’ll have deadstock. It’s a fact, but it doesn’t make it a whole lot easier when you’re attached to your flock the way we are. Every loss is hard; every loss shakes your resolve and confidence just a little bit. They’re like family, and if they hang around long enough, the loss is that much more keenly felt.

We’ll miss you, you crazy broad. May you only know sunshine and the freshest green grass wherever you are.

Tagged: Farm, Pets

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Baby Corner Preview

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Marla | Comments Off

You guys, I am 35 weeks pregnant as of yesterday. That means the baby can come safely anytime in the next two to seven weeks. Two weeks is a pretty small number (though seven seems unbearably long), but it’s a possibility none-the-less. The dwindling amount of time until this baby arrives has been really kicked the nesting into high gear–well, as high as you can get and still work a 40 hour week and be nursing gigantic balloon feet. Mostly I’ve done a lot of laundry.

The bed is together and the bedding washed.

This is the baby corner view from the bed. (The laundry basket is full of enough clean onesies for three babies. We have generous friends and family…The dresser is in the process of getting a makeover.)

The super functional changing table. I love the drawers and hamper. This particular model was added to our registry because it’s brand is “Badger”. Brock is an Old English word for badger. (It also matches the crib, but you know, details.)

All of the drawers are stuffed. The top drawer has disposable diapers, which I am planning to use until the cord stump falls off. (Yup, babies are always super adorable.) The bottom drawer has burp cloths and blankets, but my favorite is the second drawer. It is chalk full of cloth diapers. I know I haven’t actually used them yet, but just having them makes me feel proud. It’s a new adventure and I was able to navigate all of the information and personal preferences and strong internet opinions to figure out what kind of cloth diapering system would work best for us. We’re going with prefolds and covers, as displayed above.

Lamb toys for the baby, hanging out in the crib, keeping it warm.

And now for some knitting!

I am flying through Citron. It’s the latest KAL I’m hosting via the Potwin Fiber Artisans ravelry group. We just cast on yesterday, so there’s plenty of time to join in!

Like I said, I seem to be flying through this shawl. According to the pattern, I am about 3/4 of the way done, which is nuts for two reasons. One, I just started knitting. Two, this shawl so far is just about the right size for my cat, and no amount of blocking would change that. One is easy enough to explain. I spend a fair amount of time on the sofa with my feet up, because otherwise they swell like balloons and it’s really uncomfortable. That’s a lot of built in knitting time. Two is a bit of a head scratcher. I knew I wasn’t going to get gauge using a US size 6 needle. I’ve needed to go up two needles sizes on anything knit flat for a couple of years now, but I like the fabric I got with a size 6 needles out of this yarn. I should be getting 6 stitches per inch if I followed the pattern. Right now, I am getting 8, but the shawl seems to be about half the size it should be at this point. I have also barely made a dent in my yarn…So I suppose it was a good thing I planned on knitting this thing until the yarn ran out, because I’m going to have knit beyond the written pattern quite a bit to even get this thing wearable. The only question is, which will come first, a finished shawl or a baby?

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Tagged changing table, citron, citron KAL, cloth diapers, crib, In The Works, knit a long, Knitting, nursery, Potwin Fiber Artisans, Pregnancy, Uncategorized

Ewe Snuggle Me…..

Posted on March 12, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

……and I’ll snuggle you.

Here’s the smallest ~~lambs~~ yearlings cuddling to make you smile on this Wednesday.

We’re halfway to the weekend, y’all!

Tagged: Farm, Pets

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Seed Season!

Posted on March 11, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

Look what arrived in the mail yesterday!

We order all of our seeds from Baker Creek – they sell only heirloom varieties. This means no GMO’s, and no ties to Monsanto. For the last few years I have been studiously avoiding any and all seeds from companies that you would generally find in places like Target or Lowes, as these are almost guaranteed to be connected somehow to them. The only thing I cheat a bit with are herbs – I tend to buy herb plants at Lowes since we don’t have a lot of other options.

I am now officially impatient for spring (which means we’ll get one last huge snowstorm to close out the winter, right?).

Some years by this time I’ve had my earliest spring seeds already in the ground, but this year has been colder and snowier (there were still patches of mounded snow on the ground as of yesterday). I’m feeling pretty confident, though, that soon – very soon – I’ll be putting these first seeds in:

Here’s hoping for a fruitful and easy year of growing!

Tagged: Farm, food, Garden

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Tagged Farm, food, garden, Uncategorized

Lose An Hour, Gain An Hour?

Posted on March 9, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

As everyone knows, we sprang forward this weekend. And it hurt. But, that’s what happens when you’re still awake at two a.m., socializing and playing Settlers of Catan with friends (it’s quite possible we didn’t get to bed until around 5 this morning…….but if that were true I definitely wouldn’t admit it!).

The morning end of this change is not great; it means it’s a bit darker in the mornings for awhile.

On the evening end, though, it feels like we’ve won more weekend. We can push back evening feeding an hour or two, making the overnight stretch between feedings shorter.

Despite our lack of a full night’s sleep, Paul found inspiration and energy to get outside and do some yard work (which is very, very sorely needed right now!), and Oona kept him busy playing with her in between chores. Having the gift of a very warm day certainly helped.

Tevye, the rooster.

Orzo and the other dogs were enjoying the sun and warmth as well. He is turning out to be the same kind of perpetual happy that defines his half-sister, Sabine.

We even spied some daffodil bulbs starting to push up! I got some ranunculus bulbs to plant in there this spring, and I submitted my order to Baker Creek for our gardens this spring. We’re due for a decent gardening season, right???

Last year’s lambs have gotten big! Rosamund back there is almost as big as Cosmo now.

Darby.

Hopefully spring sticks around for awhile and summer doesn’t push in too soon or strong.

Tagged: Farm, Garden, Pets

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Tagged Farm, garden, Pets, Uncategorized

Another Glorious Snow Day

Posted on March 4, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

We got several inches of snow yesterday and Paul’s office was closed, so I declared an actual snow day for the kids. Normally we have school no matter what the weather, but it looked so blizzardy, and inside was so cozy with the fireplace (and having Paul home throws off our routine anyway), so I let everyone curl up under their blankets and just relax all day.

It worked out well for me; I got the front right half of my Shepherd sweater done!

It worked out well for Gulliver, as well – he had Paul’s lap all day.

No one, though, seemed to enjoy the snow more than Gnocchi.

He had his goofy self a grand time while the snow fell.

While Cosmo and the smallest lambs enjoyed the dryness of the shelter with a few chicken friends and the pigs.

But, the day that had begun so snowy and stormy finished out sunny, and they all came out to enjoy some hay.

It’s hard to believe that two days ago it was 73 degrees, and that a few weeks from now is the first day of spring. It’s still rather frigid outside and the snow has not begun to melt yet. Soon enough it will, though, and we will be installing a heat lamp into the big chicken coop for the arrival next week of our ducklings! Winter may have some life left in it, but spring is nearly upon us!

Tagged: Farm, Homeschooling, Pets, Seasons

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Tagged Farm, Homeschooling, Pets, Seasons, Uncategorized

Getting Too Ambitious

Posted on February 27, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

It’s almost March. March means St. Patrick’s Day. It means my wedding anniversary. It means it’s almost spring.

We’ve already started digging out our books about Irish folklore for school, and searching out just the right shade of green polish for our toenails. My iTunes playlist has been updated with plenty of Irish artists (John Cunningham is a favorite).

We’re starting to think about watching Darby O’Gill And The Little People.

We’re craving the look of green grass and the sound of new lambs bleating and sproinging around in the fields.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

March is a month of contradiction. It heralds the vernal equinox but it also usually is the month of our biggest snows. Actual spring is still a ways off. Even though my spring seed list is complete it is too early to start them just yet.

For now we must content ourselves with mostly indoor projects and finish those things we can before we move on to the outdoor ones. And in doing so, it’s been difficult not to be overly ambitious. After all, I have had some wonderful things lined up for quite awhile awaiting my time.

These two fabrics just scream “early spring” for me. They’ve been sitting on a shelf for several years now, patiently waiting to become a quilt. I’m hoping I can start some cutting on it today.

And then there’s this incredible llama-themed fabric Susan bought me last year for my birthday. I am just as smitten with it today as I was when I first saw it (look at the llamas! And the knitting needles with balls of yarn!!!), and I can’t wait for the perfect quilt project for it.

Let’s not forget this adorable British-themed fabric I have been collecting in small bits here and there over the last year. Just looking at it makes me want to go pour myself a cup of tea and look through one of my British Country Living magazines.

See? Fairly overwhelmed with sewing possibilities!

But what about knitting? I have about a million and one projects lined up to go on the needles, but for now I am thrilled to be moving along nicely with my Shepherd Sweater:

I’ve reached that magical point in knitting it where I can begin to split out for the sleeves and the front.

The most miraculous part? I am not even remotely bored with this yet. I don’t know if it’s the yarn, the pattern or the combination of both, but this is still thoroughly enjoyable knitting. I can see myself casting on another one as soon as this one is complete. No, I am not even kidding. Maybe I can use some of my cream-colored Aran weight yarn? Or the teal blue one?

Either way I need more hours in my day. And more months before spring, apparently.

Tagged: Homeschooling, Seasons, Sewing

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Olympic Winter Knitting

Posted on February 16, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

We’ve been thrilled around here to once again have the Winter Olympics on tv to enjoy. Even better, we’ve had actual winter weather to go along with it!

And so, there has been much knitting.

This is the Cypress Cowl from the JMF Marlowe pattern book. I also knitted the matching hat for my friend Julianne, but sadly forgot to take pictures because I was in such a hurry to get it sent off to her.

I also knitted up the Amalthea Cowl from the JMF Moonshine pattern book.

This is the Cypress Cowl again to show detail – I just love how it looks, and the yarn (Marlowe) might be my new favorite silky soft yarn to knit with. I want to make a massive blanket from it with which to wrap myself up!

I’m also spending a lot of Olympic viewing time working on my Shepherd sweater. There’s a knit-a-long going on on Ravelry and seeing everyone’s progress has really pushed me to try and get further along.

I just love the cables. It might be slow going for me, but it’s incredibly enjoyable in the meantime!
I’m hoping to be able to wear it at least once before winter is totally over, but I am not counting on it. I’m just thrilled we’ve actually finally HAD a winter this year! We’re trying to enjoy every moment of it.

Tagged: Knitting, Pets, Seasons

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Hey Hey, It’s A Snow Day! (Photo Heavy!)

Posted on February 13, 2014 by WoolyMama | Comments Off

So far at the farm we’ve got 8 inches, and we’re expecting another one or two before it’s all over. I took the break between snowfalls to take pictures of everyone outside.

There’s plenty of shelter, hay and fresh water for all of them, so we are all able to relax a bit and enjoy the snow.

It’s especially nice when we start our day with a recipe from the always wonderful Smitten Kitchen! This is baked eggs ranchero from her book. The eggs came from our chickens, who have started laying again now that the days are getting longer.