Author: denisemor

Golden November

It’s been a remarkably beautiful weekend-

And I finally got some photos, just as it’s drawing to a close.

We made what I hope will be a significant upgrade to the chicken accommodations today- a second Feed-O-Matic treadle feeder.

So now we’re Feed-O-Matic only- no more open feed sources. Hopefully this will help to discourage the starlings and other small birds from hanging out in the shed eating and pooping all day, and also keep spillage to a minimum.

And in wool news, another Marta cap flew off the needles this week- this one slightly sized up.

I just can’t stop knitting them! So if you think you might need a toasty cap for this winter (or know someone who would appreciate one as a gift!) make sure you swing by the Bow Holiday Market on Dec 1. New location this year- Edison Elementary School.

Also- registration is now open for the WSU Country Living Expo. So save the date! January 26 @ Stanwood High School. I’ll be teaching two classes- The Basics of Wool Processing, and Yarn From Scratch: Handspinning on a Wheel. Should be lots of fun!

New Chigs in the Shed!

Yesterday I introduced a few new feathered friends to to chicken crew.
Marco Pollo (6 mo old olive egger roo), 2 silver laced Wyandottes (about 7 months old), and one Welsummer (9 months).

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They seem to be holding their own pretty well, so that’s good. “Welsie” as I’m calling her, is fitting in most easily. Maybe because she kind of looks like the amerucana girls. And the Wyandotte sisters appear to be able to stand up for themselves, and have claimed roosting spots on the new structure I assembled last weekend.

Marco looks like he could be Bertrand’s little brother. He’s kind of unassuming, so I don’t think Bertrand feels too put upon 🙂

I think it’s going to work out ok.

And when I’ve not been busy overseeing chicken assimilation, I’ve been able to make quite a bit of progress spinning Marta singles and working them into a Honegard earflap hat!

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Had to rework the pattern a little to account for the smaller gauge, but I think it’s working out nicely-
Really like the solid charcoal color with the different textures- garter stitch for the earflaps, and the honeycomb cables for the rest of the hat. Marta’s wool is so soft and springy.

I’d forgotten how much I like working this pattern.

Have a great week!

Shetland Sheep Tour!

Yesterday I got to visit a couple of Shetland flocks that I’ve not met before!

First down in Duvall, there was MacFinn Farm

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Sorry the photos of her beautiful critters are out of focus- they were all kinds of beautiful colors and patterns-
And there was this sweet fella, Rudy- who reminded me very much of my dear departed Edgar.

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These guys were also performed like a drill team- I wish I’d taken a video of them making their way from their holding pen to the pasture- they leaped and strode out of the gate- swooshing back behind the house, circling back around and then pouring themselves so gracefully into their hilly, treed pasture. So fun to watch!

From there, we come back up north to Sleepy Hollow Shetlands. Again- sorry for the quality of the photos- I was too caught up in hanging out with the sheeps and admiring their lovely fleeces

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And another gregarious moorit! This shetland ambassador is Iris 🙂

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I really hadn’t planned on acquiring any more wool on this tour, but by resolve left me when I spied Marta’s unique fleece-

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The frosty tips and soft hand just sucked me in. It’s not really the kind of fleece that Sally favors (not as fine and crimpy as most of her sheep), but it’s right in my wheelhouse 🙂
I didn’t get to meet the girl- as she was off getting busy making more lambies, but I did find this photo of her on their Facebook page.

Here’s another raw fleece photo
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I’ve already washed up a little batch of it- and it’s going to be a lovely heathery charcoal color- and should be a really fun spin!

After Sleepy Hollow, we ended up back at Schoonover Farm, where I got a chance to see and try out Donna’s amazing new Jocko wheel.
Truly a work of art.

Was a great way to spend the day!

Revisiting Stalled Projects

Now that I’ve finished up the vest- I’m turning my attention back to a couple of things that were left unfinished in the last couple of years.

First up- 2nd sock from I can’t remember when.

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Not quite sure when I started these, as I can’t seem to find any earlier pictures in my photostream, and I don’t generally track “standard recipe” socks in my Ravelry projects. Maybe I cast on for them when I was traveling in May. In any case, it’s time to get them finished up.

Then there is Autumn’s End, started October 2016. I got fairly far along with this sweater- but then started to doubt if it would fit me, and took a break from it. 2 year break, as it turns out. Time to decide if it goes forward or not.

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And my 99% complete argyle socks. They are truly almost done (despite what the photo suggests). I just wasn’t completely happy with the tension on the edges of a couple of the diamonds. I was trying to snug them up a bit as I was weaving in ends, and got frustrated and put them away.

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And I also hope to get a some more spinning done now that the days are shortening and we turn more to indoor pursuits.

Here are a couple of new spins that I managed to turn out this week- Esther and Bam Bam (I think), drying in a little bit of sun we got today after the downpour

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Have a great week-
Go Hawks! 🙂