Category: Blog

Straightaway, I’m happy to report I’ve gotten a start on the Shepherd’s Vest- and here is the proof

It will have ribbing at the bottom hem, but I’ve decided to start above that and come back and work the ribbing downward as part of the finishing. My current plan is to use some of the yarn that is a little lighter weight for the ribbed edges at neck, armholes and waist.

The other big development this week was getting drip irrigation installed for the hoophouse plantings.

Was a little bit fiddly with all the little lines and fittings, but glad to have it in! Should save a lot of time and trouble with the watering can.

And here are a couple quick videos of sheeps and chigs that I grabbed while out giving everyone treats this evening-

It’s a good thing that Dottie is standing in the back so you can’t see her bad haircut! She was being such a bugger when I sheared her that she ended up a little lopsided/lumpy 🙂

Have a good week everyone-

Just a few snaps of the homestead as the sun sets on a lovely weekend-

Wool work will resume shortly, once our cloud cover returns 🙂

Yeah, I can dig it, man.

But it wears me out more that it used to. Whew!

No footage of the digging, and the subsequent soil sifting and rock hauling. While necessary, it is not a particularly photogenic activity. And we’re anxious to put that behind us. So lets skip to the planting!

So far, I’ve got cucumbers, melons, okra, and two kinds of tomatoes in the ground in the hoophouse. The tomato varieties are Cherokee Purple and Super Beefsteak, both of which I traded for. They are the only ones I’m growing in cages. Everyone else will be trellised.

Also potted up a bunch of herbs- some grown from seed (Basil, oregano, cilantro) and others acquired in swaps (lemon verbena, rosemary, savory).

Still have to decide where these little roses grown from seed last year will be planted.

But they are shaping up nicely- in fact the larger is on the verge of blooming!

Such promise in a bud. 🙂

Have a great week everyone!

Took part in a garden swap event this afternoon over in Alger-

and found homes for a bunch of extra seedlings. In exchange I got bunch of other cool stuff- rosemary, lemon verbena, wild bergamot, bee balm, echinacea, shasta daisies, golden hops, calendula, and some beefsteak tomatoes. So that was awesome. Nice that it was good weather for the outside event.

Some shots from around the garden-

And in wool news, I’m planning another sweater vest for my friend The Shepherd, of Marietta Shetlands. So, getting to know the yarn, and swatching to find the right gauge for the project

The lighter yarn above is for the vest. First one I did (on the right) on size 5 needles, second one (top) size 6. Think I like the feel of the second one a little better. So now it’s time to do the math and get this baby cast on.

But what is that other pretty little swatch? the smaller gauge on in the rich brown? That is a sample of a fleecy treat that I acquired as a prepayment for the vest project. Just couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Really beautiful stuff from a sheep named Cali.

I know. Like I don’t have enough wool. 😉