Blog

Back from the Island

denisemor 8 August 7, 2011

Langley was wonderful, and I actually got quite a bit done-

Three new skeins:

About 5 inches of progress on The Shepherd’s vest:

Found a really cool pattern at Knitty Purls, the local yarn store, and managed to get a start on it-

I also took along a couple of skeins of thick and cushy yarns I’d spun on Hank- thinking I’d do a cowl,,, but the cowl had other plans, and started turning into a poncho. So there you go-

But I’m happy to be back home now with the man and the critters.

It’s the weekend, and the sun is shining.

And I’m hangin’ with my sheeps. 🙂

Have a good week!

Hey Howdy Hay!

denisemor 7 July 31, 2011

Got me some nice local grass hay yesterday!

2nd cutting. Just over a ton.

And I’m so pleased to be able to put it in the sheep shed this year.

We finally got the roof done, and separated the sheep half from the hay/people stuff half.

Here is a view of the hay/people half from the sheep side-

And vice versa-

Here’s Edgar, having just approved the new placement of the mineral feeder-

And Felix and Griff enjoying our unusually lush late-July pasture.

Guess all this rain is good for something!

I’m still working on getting a bunch of fiber ready for my annual Langley crafting retreat this week.

I’ve got three batts of Chone all worked up (on the right), some shetland/dyed mohair blend (center), and some misc leftovers that might come along too (left).
Hope to still do some more carding tonight.

So hard to decide what to take!

Summer Sun

denisemor 3 July 24, 2011

The kind that shines and warms, casting shadows and causing contrast-y photos.

We finally got some.

Here’s my proof-

The berries are finally ripening-

And I finally weeded what veg is still hanging on in the garden-

Meanwhile, the sheeps were mostly hanging out, chewing their cud in the comfy shade of the shed-

All except Griff, of course. He tends to kind of do his own thing 🙂

Sadie the sunshine pup was all ready for a game of ball-

–

Chickens were out on patrol-

And it’s amazing how fast yarn dries outside when it’s warms out! Here’s some recently finished Edgar/Griff (top), and Felix/Frank, one of my first bulky attempts on the new Pirtle-

It’s supposed to cloud up again tomorrow.

But I think I got enough sunshine units today to carry me for a little while.

It’s brought me back from the brink of serious crankiness.

Whew. That was close.

My New Friend Pirtle

denisemor 7 July 17, 2011

So the wheel has a name!

Thanks to the fine folks on Ravelry, I’ve come to know that he’s a Pirtle.

So, he’s a 70’s-vintage guy, one of about 200 made by a retired Air Force engineer.
I’ve named him Hank.
Hank Pirtle.

And I’ve just combed up another batch of Frank/Felix to spin up all nice and bulky on him.

In addition to getting a feel for Hanks irish tension system, I’ve managed to get a start on a another vest for John The Shepherd, of Marietta Shetlands:

I took the cable motif from the Hand in Hand men’s cable vest pattern by Kathy Zimmerman. I think it’s working out nicely- it’s curvy, and large enough to stand out in the dark yarn, but still manly and subdued.

No outside photos this week. It’s July, but feels like October.
Ick.

No summer yet.