Chickens a Success; Knitting a Failure

A fraction of the flock

One half, to be exact. They bought four Orpingtons and four Wyandottes.  There are great expectations for these little birds. I hope they live up to it. Forecast: A flurry of eggs in August. They're scrambling to make the deadline.

I don't remember a time when our son has not wanted his own flock of chickens. This week, after getting the chicken coop and run ready, the flock was brought to their new residence, where the whole family was excited to greet them.

 My most recent photo of him,

roasting coffee beans.

 'There's Mom with that camera again...'

Grandson, waiting beside the run

Granddaughter, the chicken whisperer

Making the sweet Orpington feel at home.

If I ever got chickens, I'm sure they'd all become pets
(now that my GSD is no longer here to instantly dispatch them.) 

He felt the same way about bunnies.

'Hurry up with that worm order already! Buk Buk!!

Grandson, digging for worms as the hopeful bird looks on.


Our son texted me:

"Here's the first chicken to venture out into the run. 

All the rest are... Chicken."

'Is that another chicken joke??!'

***

 Okay, that's all the chicken news for today. 

***

Last week I joined some friends for a afternoon of knitting fun. Hmmm. Right now, those two words seem mutually exclusive. I had knitted the hood of a sweater three times, then when that finally turned out right, I was building the bottom of the sweater onto it, when I picked up too many stitches and ended up totally frustrated with the whole thing. I don't know why I had so much trouble this time, for I've made that same pattern three other times. Oh well. So I've given up on the green sweater, bought entirely new yarn, and am starting over. Don't worry, it's not expensive yarn. My family is allergic to wool, so I couldn't use expensive yarn if I wanted to.

Note: If I were going to use wool, it would be from Yorkshire/Scottish blackface sheep. I think there's a place outside Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales that carries it. Be still my heart.

 Cast aside

Now a pretty pale peach color is awaiting its turn on my needles.
It better behave itself. Or else!

Knitting Tools

I use a clear zippered cosmetic bag to store my little knitting odds and ends. 

It's very handy.

I have no idea why the canning lid is in there. No idea.


***

Me too, Jazzie, me too.


***


On a cheerier note:

Look what little grandson brought his mom and dad over on Sunday after church
to spend the afternoon with us. Awwww.

***

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This post is linked to one of more of the following:

Mosaic Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and Amaze Me Monday and Our World Tuesday and  Roses of Inspiration and  Treasure Box Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Tuesday with a Twist  and  Tweak it Tuesday and It's a Party! and Wild Bird Wednesday and  Good Fences and Skywatch Friday and  Home & Garden Thursday  and Saturday Critters and Home Sweet Home and  Freedom Fridays  and Vintage Inspiration Friday

Socks and Salad

Don't my feet look warm and happy!

I got a fun package in the mail the other day. It was from Wyoming. Nancy of Wyoming Breezes had knit not one, but TWO pair of socks for me. She had asked me what color I liked, and I replied that I like kelly green. Well, kelly green is what I got. A pair of gorgeously knitted kelly green socks, made of 100 percent Merino Wool. They are soft and delicious, and fit perfectly. The color is called 'pesto.' It's prettier in person than the color I got with my camera. I am delighted!

The knitting is so perfect! And I think she knitted them up in about 5 minutes (only slightly exaggerating, perhaps). She is very fast. I admire anyone who can knit socks at all, but this was incredible.

I love my socks, Nancy!  Thank you so much.  Check out Nancy's blog, Wyoming Breezes. She is one very talented lady. I suspect that she is a master of all things textile and yarn. (That's not the same thing, right?)

***

And because I saw this photo in my January file:

One of my favorite salads

I like to make up a lot of this at one time, rather than having bits of vegetables wrapped separately in the refrigerator. Then I put it all in a 2 gallon Ziploc bag so that we have salad on hand, making it easy, and more likely that we'll eat a salad at lunchtime and with our dinner.

Mixed Spring Greens

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Peppers

Shredded Carrots

Onion

Snow Peas
Black Beans or Chickpeas

Walnuts

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

And, of course,

CHEESE

especially Kerrygold, Dubliner

(imported from Ireland)

I am embarrassed to admit that it is this Wisconsinite's

favorite everyday cheese.

Can you believe that I even dare write those words??

Whatever happened to state loyalty.

Don't worry. I love Wisconsin cheeses too.

***

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...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

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and at

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Simple Saturdays Blog Hop and Saturday's Critters

Cupcake Tea Cozy

Okay, I've found a 60 oz. teapot because I wanted one that held enough tea for a group, not two people. I've knitted the tea cozy, (free pattern on Ravelry, search for 'Fairy Cake Tea Cozy')...

You'll notice, if you find the pattern, that my tea cozy actually bears little resemblance to the one on Ravelry. I am very pleased with how it turned out, in fact, I like it better, but any time something I knit turns out like the pattern I consider it a kind of 'happy accident.'

...and a dear soul from England has even given me the tea!

Now, can anyone out there tell me exactly how to go about making the perfect English pot of tea?
Remember, I'm dealing with a teapot that holds 10   6oz teacupsful. teacupfuls?

Eager to make my pot of tea,

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

Check out my handcrafted soaps at Soap'n'Such

Knitting Baby Hats

I had so much fun knitting the hats pictured below.
First is the watermelon hat:

The Watermelon Hat

I found this free pattern on Spud & Chloe but didn't want it to be as pointy or as pink as the one pictured on their site. I used size 8 Addi Turbo 16" circular needles, size 8 double pointed needles for all three hats and the following yarns for the Watermelon Hat: Wool-Ease 140 Rose Heather, 180 Forest Green Heather, and 402 Wheat.  For the seeds, I used bits of another Wool-Ease, some variation of dark brown.

 The Apple Hat

The apple hat pattern was also a free pattern, this one by Sara Galley, which I found at Knitting Pattern Central. I wanted a deeper red, and wanted one without wool, so I used Vanna's Choice 180 Cranberry for the apple, Simply Soft's Dark Sage for the leaf, the dark brown for the worm and stem. Rather than knitting a rolled brim, however, I did 5 rows of K2P2 ribbing. The worm is not part of this pattern, but is simply about 3" of I-cord with eyes sewn in.

My new wonderful stainless Hiya Hiya dpns which are SO much better than the nasty plastic dpns I had been using. They come 5 in a pack, so the fifth one must have rolled under the package just before I took the picture.

This hat is a variation on a theme. Found as the adult hat in the Stitch'n'Bitch book don't blame me; I didn't name it by Debbie Stoller, I cast on fewer stitches and did several rows of seed stitch, then made the crown taller than it would have been for a baby hat so that it could be turned up. Okay, to be honest, the taller crown was a mind-wandering accident. But it turned out to be perfect for folding the brim up. Stitches are picked up at the bottom of the turned up brim, then earflaps with I-cord are knitted on. Wool-Ease 402 Wheat for the main color and 107 Blue Heather love that color of blue!! is what I used for the stripe.

I like seed stitch because it looks the same front or back. (Knit 1, Purl 1).You should have seen my first attempt at seed stitch. I kept losing track of whether I was supposed to knit or purl. (I was watching Downton Abbey for the umpteenth time!) Finally, when I learned to recognize the difference between a purl stitch and a knit stitch, which is explained so well in Stitch'nBitch, I was able to look away from my knitting to watch the amazing Maggie Smith, then look back and actually be able to tell which stitch I was supposed to do (a very useful skill.)

So now that spring has sprung, I've at last learned how to knit winter hats. Oh well, there's always next year!

P.S. If you do nothing else, be sure to go to Spud & Chloe and see the cutest sheep ever outside of Yorkshire! He's the project-after-next on my knitting list. :-)

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

Check out my handcrafted soaps at Soap'n'Such

This post is linked to: Making the World Cuter Mondays
and Something I Whipped Up Monday
and Motivate Me Monday
and Making Monday Marvelous
and  Wandering Wednesday

and We Did it Wednesday
and Thrilling Thursday
and Favorite Things Friday
and I'm Lovin' it Friday
and It's a Hodgepodge Friday

Knitted Fuzzy Lamb

 My supplies

I found a great pattern online (and FREE) for a little knitted and stuffed lamb. Using 'Beautiful' yarn, both the white and a skein of gray for the face and feet, and size US 6 needles, I followed the free instructions . It was my first attempt at making a knitted toy, and my prior experience with knitting has been scarves and hats and my felted purse. So this was really fun. I enjoyed following a fussy little pattern. Something like this doesn't give you a chance to get bored because nearly every row is something different!

 Fuzzy Lamb on the woodpile

I know. The eyelashes kinda make it look like Lamb Chop, don't they. 
or maybe they make him look like Shari Lewis

 

 Fuzzy Lamb outdoors

You too can get the FREE pattern for 'Fuzzy Lamb.' My second attempt (below) turned out better because I used a thicker black yarn for the face which didn't leave little holes PLUS he has much more of a 'Scottish Blackface' look, which I like better. An Amish Scottish Blackface, that is, ...until I get the eyes, nose, and mouth sewn on.

After that, I knitted a toy pig, using instructions from the book, The World of Knitted Toys by Kath Dalmeny.

On Amazon, the book is shown as out of stock, but is still available from other sellers. It contains many toy patterns, all are cute, and definitely worth adding to your knitting library!

I finished the pig parts over a month ago, but still haven't sewn them together. You're starting to see a pattern of poor task completion here, aren't you. So we have pigs, parts missing, lying on my desk. Unfortunately, the interesting part is over and I really want to get on to knitting another toy animal, but I suppose I have to make myself sew on those ears and legs!

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

Check out my handcrafted soaps at Soap'n'Such

This post is linked to: Making the World Cuter Mondays
and Something I Whipped Up Monday
and Motivate Me Monday
and Making Monday Marvelous
and Wandering Wednesday
and We Did it Wednesday
and Thrilling Thursday
and Favorite Things Friday
and I'm Lovin' it Friday
and It's a Hodgepodge Friday

Knitting a Felted Bag

I was trying to replicate a little felted bag my husband had bought for me at the farmers' market last summer, so I bought some inexpensive Lopi Icelandic wool at the local discount store and a pair of size 15 knitting needles. I already had a crochet hook.

Having knitted the bottom in a garter stitch, I set that aside (which is not how I'd do it another time) and knitted the body of the bag, adding in a couple stripes of a plum color. I finished off the top with the plum color crocheted in, and made two 28" handles of I-cord.

The bag at that point was 13" tall. I was hoping it would shrink down to about 7 inches. I threw it in the washing machine along with a couple pairs of jeans on hot wash and added a little Gain detergent. I had been told I should run it through maybe as many as three cycles.

After felting

I ran it through EIGHT cycles and the thing didn't felt down like I'd wanted it to. I was so annoyed. Not only didn't I get the dense, thick bag I'd wanted, but using all that hot water didn't help our electric bill either!

I showed the bag to my friends at Bible study the other day and they all commented on how wonderful it smelled! At least it smelled like Gain detergent and not dog, which is a nice change. Gail offered to take it home and run it through her washing machine which has a heavy agitation action. I'm hoping that will help. But then again, maybe I'm expecting too much out of that yarn. Maybe my needles were too big. And I really hope Gail doesn't run up her electric bill trying to solve this problem for me.

I do like the cool I-cord handles...

...and the garter stitch bottom

Believe it or not, I'm eager to try a felted purse again, but I suppose I should stick to a pattern and use the recommended wool and recommended needles. Sigh.

I'm still battling this stupid headcold/sinus problem and trying to avoid going to the doctor. Sleeping and knitting seem to be the only things I have energy for right now. Yesterday afternoon I worked on a hat and after making the body and then decreasing for about 6 rounds, realized that somehow I'd dropped a stitch a few rounds back. So I guess it's time to learn how to pick up a stitch. And that's why there's www.knittinghelp.com.

Hope you all have a good week!

Author, Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

Check out my handcrafted soaps at Soap'n'Such

Knitting a Quick Scarf

 Okay, I played around a bit with photo editing on this one.

This is a pattern I found when the amazing Judy of Stitch Along With Me directed me to Yarn Harlot for this scarf pattern. It is simple! (You should see the gorgeous yarn she spins. I cheated - I purchased my yarn.) And be sure to visit Judy's website to see the many beautiful items she has knitted!

For the red scarf, I used a chunky yarn and size 11 needles.
For the blue scarf, I used a medium weight yarn and again used the size 11 needles. It gave it a more open, lacy look.

I made it just long enough to wrap around my neck and tuck into my coat. It's nice to have that little bit of extra protection against the wild winter winds of Wisconsin - to go with my down-filled coat, my insulated boots, snowpants, polar fleece hat, and gloves. ( Oh, must not forget the ear muffs!)

Re. Knitting: Am I the only one who doesn't seem to get the ends woven in until weeks after a project is made??

Be sure to enter my handcrafted soaps GIVEAWAY.  Deadline for entry is February 2 at midnight. The winner will be announced here on my blog on February 3 :-) 


This post is linked to:
We Did It Wednesday
and Wandering Wednesday
and Thrifty Thursday
and Thrilling Thursday
and Making the World Cuter Mondays
and Motivate me Monday
and Making Monday Marvelous

Lillie's Little Sweater

I had to show you the sweater that my friend Beth knit for Baby Henry. It is the most darling thing ever! I love her choice of colors, an enchanting frog green. And the leather buttons make it look so preppy!

Lillie's Little Sweater is the pattern she used. In fact, she once started me on this pattern but I think I wasn't ready for it at that time. I'm not sure I'm ready for it now, but I may just give it another try. I'm so inspired by this cute little green sweater she made.

Look at this sweet little hood! There's just something about the hood that really makes it a spectacular little sweater!  

You can find the Lillie's Little Sweater pattern at Halcyon Yarn. The yarn she chose is extraordinary, a beautiful, soft, washable wool by

 

and I think the color she chose is 'Happy Forest.' You can see some of the other colors at Dream In Color's website.

And, a photo of some of the Dream in Color yarn I found at the 'Darn Knit Anyway' shop in Stillwater, Minnesota.

I'll be sure to post a pic of Little Henry in his Lillie's Little Sweater - as soon as he's wearing it! By the looks of this latest pic, it shouldn't be too long. :-)

This post is linked to Just Something I Whipped Up Monday
and Motivate Me Monday
and Making the World Cuter Monday
and Meet and Greet Monday