Author: denisemor

One year ago today The Man and I pulled the plastic over our hoophouse, wiggle-wired it securely into place, and breathed a big sigh of relief in getting it successfully enclosed in time for starting garden seeds.

This year, we’ve been able to going a bit earlier, and so the veggie starts are well underway.

Everybody is coming along really well so far. Those I started earliest, broccoli and onions, have been off heat for a while now and I planted some out this weekend.

The new garden bed is shaping up nicely, and I think I’ll have room for squash (Jarrahdale and Delicata) and potatoes (yukon gold type and some finglerlings) there. Some stray Russian Banana taters that escaped harvest last year have become the seeds for this season and are the first things to go in the ground over there.

I was thinking I might have gotten a start with shearing this weekend, but I kind of overdid it with digging and weeding yesterday, and my left wrist is kinda tender, so I thought I shouldn’t push it. Maybe sometime this week I’ll get a little clipping in 🙂

In wool news, I continue to play with color, blending on the drum carder for nice heathery semi-solid effects.

I think the next round might be darker shades. Some of the same color mixes, but blended with small amounts of black or charcoal grey.

The growing rainbow palette has me starting to think about possible sweater projects, but all I’ve got on the needles right now is a Hat Du Jour- using up leftover bits and little sample skeins in squishy garter stitch, the comfort food of knitting.

Take care, and have a good week everyone-

On this beautiful sunny day in what can be a very gray and wet time of year, I am finding joy in the many simple, beautiful things I have to be thankful for and happy about.

Seeds germinating

Quick colorful spins

Beautiful eggs

Sowed more seeds this weekend, too. (Because I must grow all the things! ) – Celery, Jarrahdale and Delicata squash, Zuchinni, and Okra. Though I am being mindful this year to not grow crazy amounts of all the things. 🙂

Also, on a bit of a lark this morning, I decided to try and plant some of the black oil sunflower seeds that we add to the chicken scratch. Don’t know what to expect, but would be super cool if they grew into a blaze of tall yellow blooms in the summer.

Soon it will be time to shear, so I’m sure sheep will be featuring heavily in upcoming posts. I fear that Daphne and Fiona are pretty felted,,, but won’t know what I’m up against until I dive in. But I do love diving into the fleece.

Take care, folks- and have a good week-

Spring is coming.

It has to be, because I am so done with winter.

There are a lot of late/winter/early spring garden tasks that need doing, so there is no problem finding things to keep the hands busy. I’ve been making slow but steady progress on pruning. Roses done, started on fruit trees this weekend. I find that being outside does help keep my mind off the news, which continues to be depressing and distressing.

I am happy to report that the first of our seeds that I planted last weekend are coming up- it’s cukes in the lead

followed closely by the melons

So happy to see these guys- I was a little worried that the cold nights earlier in the week might have doomed my early start.

There are a couple of tiny ‘maters popping up, but they are so little that I couldn’t get a good picture. Maybe next week.

In other “keeping the hands busy” news, I whipped up a cute little hat with some of that Jacob fleece that I prepped for the Expo

I also got all that newly dyed Esther wool picked and carded. So pretty. I just love the Wool Tinctures colors.

Here are a couple that seem most fitting today

Seeds started!

Tomato varieties

Pepper varieties

and others-

And I managed to get a sample skein of Blood Orange spun up. I think it might need a little more twist, both in the singles, and in the ply, but will reserve judgement until I’ve seen how it knits up. So excited about these colors.

They may need to be a sweater.