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This year’s apple harvest is not impressive.

Usually we are overwhelmed with apples in early October.
I’ll maybe cook up a couple batches of applesauce, and some dried rings for snacks and that should about do it.
Just wasn’t much fruit out there.

But branches we have lots of,, and though I know it’s not the right time of year to be doing any significant pruning, I can’t deny the sheepers this special treat-

Edgar says “thanks Mom!”

Even Griff gave an appreciative nod as he headed back out to the yard

Bunch of satisfied Shetland boys hanging out and digesting-

Frank-

Felix-

Chone-

I’m glad the apple tree is at least making the sheep happy this year!

In knitting news, the stashbuster sweater is coming along nicely. Going to have to finish with a slightly lighter shade of Border Leicester than I started with,, but I think it will work-

And I did manage to get a start on the toe-up socks-

But I kind of cheated on the cast-on. I did a long tail and then divided the stitches up between two DPNs. Since then, I think I’ve figured out Judy’s magic thingamajig,, but I’m not about to start over,,, so this will have to do for now!

The Stashbuster Sweater (it probably deserves a better name) is coming along nicely-

But it’s getting large enough now that it’s kind of awkward to knit on the bus. I’ll probably still haul it around with me every day,, but now it’s kind of an evenings and lunch hours kind of project. 🙂

So, I’ve got to get another bus project going! (can’t see wasting those commuter moments).

And I’ve always liked the idea of knitting socks from the toe up.

It makes so much sense.

But I am in some ways very much a creature of habit.

And I have my basic sock recipe down pat, so I don’t really have to think about it. Just cast on and go.

But I am finally going to reach beyond my sock comfort zone and give this new-fangled method a go.

I’ve had this beautiful Mountain Colors Bearfoot (colorway: Ruby River) in the stash for a bit, and I’d really like to have a cool new pair of red socks-

the photo really doesn’t do the yarn justice. It has all kinds of really beautiful purple and orange-y tones in it. Will try to do better on the next round of in-progress shots.

And, I’ve even done two swatches on different sized needles. I started on size 2s,, but at 7 stitches/inch, I think that the fabric might be a bit too loose. So, I think I’m going with the 1s to get a firmer fabric. Hopefully this will make my beautiful Ruby River socks last a good long time.

So, now I’ll sign off and cast on.

Wish me luck!

Denise

Meet Wallace!

We brought Wally home from the Whatcom Humane Society yesterday.

He’s a Bassett/Lab mix. Kinda like a long lab on short legs!

Wally is such a great guy. Gets on well with Syd, doesn’t chase chickens (!) and is willing to be friends with Boo kitty if she’d give him a chance.

He met the sheep yesterday too, but they were a bit much for him. Edgar rushed him and he got kinda nervous.

Those sheepers are pretty bold. It was probably too much excitement for one day.

He slept really hard last night.

And in Wool News, it was a knitting week:

Almost down to the armpits on the stashbuster sweater- and I really like how it’s turning out. The colorwork is a nice easy every-other stitch-type thing, with some purling thrown in to make the little color specks pop out. Thinking that I might cardigan-ize it once it’s done, but am not sure yet.

Also not sure whether I’m going to use a different dark-brown wool to finish the bottom, or whether I’ll be going back to the fleece stash to spin up the remaining Border Leicester.

We’ll just see how it goes-

Cheers!

Yep.

I finally got him.
Was just a matter of using the right bait!
Turns out that the little bugger just can’t resist apple leaves and pea vines.

I’d been working on him all week. Getting a little closer each time.

Sometime Wednesday or Thursday I actually had him distracted enough with the goodies that I got to scritch him behind the ears, and I don’t think he even noticed!

So today were were going for the full on catch and hold.

I showed everybody the goodies, then walked them into the shed and plopped them in the feeder.
All the guys, including Griff, came in for the buffet.

Ahh. Sweet victory.

Here we are all hanging in the temporary sheep shed

I did hold and pet Griff twice, and there is photographic evidence, but apparently I look pretty goofy in the pictures, so you’ll have to take my word for it!

Chone says “Hey, what’s the big deal about petting him? I thought I was your little buddy!”

And here is my “Hug A Sheep” picture:

Little Edgar is such a sweet boy, even when he’s soggy.

In Destashing News, we’ve got more white Romney flying off the wheel (thick singles go pretty fast):

And on the other wheel, I’ve got bargain shetland that has been hibernating for some time up in my office-

Almost on the needles-

This pile hopefully going to work up into a nice simple top down raglan.
Another designing-on-the-fly kind of thing, I think.

Just my style.

Have a great week!