Sneak Preview

Pssssst! There might be some knitting!! A sleeve has been sighted on the left side of the shrug.


Close-up of the stitch pattern. Unfortunately the cables are not visible in this shot...


And we went to visit the "girls" last weekend. We are looking forward to welcoming them home in a few weeks.




Work on the barn is almost finished. Fencing is in progress and should be complete at the end of this week or next.



Grass is seeded and now we are hoping for just the right amount of moisture so there is no rotting and no seed swimming away in a torrential wash.


With more news soon, Happy Knitting!

A Week in Wool

Last week was very crazy, hectic, exciting, and full of many experiences. (Barn-raising, middle school festival concert, playing the viola in my symphony gig, teaching school and commuting all the while...) It was therefore lovely to get several shipments of woolly yarn throughout the week to infuse some calm moments into all the activity.

First up on Monday was the arrival of the new sock club yarn and patterns.

The photo intentionally does not show the full glory of the dyed yarn, as this color way and its accompanying patterns won't be released to the general public until January. The yarn is beautiful and so soft! The patterns look wonderful too!

Second, I finally decided to finish the Adult Tomten sweater that I started a few years ago. The yarn that arrived in record time on Wednesday from Beaverslide and was an absolutely perfect match! That means I don't need to do any fancy knitting to incorporate old and new colors. It still means that I have to frog the original knitting. Just not happy with what is going on with the sizing and front closure options. This jacket needs to look perfect when finished.

Oh, and don't forget to order honey next time you order from Beaverslide. The honey is DIVINE: light, fruity, and you can almost taste a little bit of the dusty mountains from the environment it was collected in. Delicious!

Third and last, I did make an impulse purchase over the previous weekend.

Jared Flood has come out with his own specially designed yarn called "Shelter"on the first of this month. You can read about this amazing yarn on his blog here: brooklyntweed.net/blog. I should have waited to order the yarn, because he published the pattern I want to make (Wayfarer Scarf) the day after I ordered the yarn. So I am one skein of yarn short. Never mind, the yarn has a wonderful texture and color (Soot colorway) and will make a lovely product.

Now, I hear what you are saying: Will we ever see any more knitting from you this year? I do hope so... though I do confess that the output has been extremely limited this year. Maybe the next time I will show you something??? Till then, Happy Knitting!

Barn Raising

The Shady Grove Alpacas need a home, so here is a little photo journal of their barn raising...

Day 1: 10/4 - Posts are drilled and framing begun.


Day 2: 10/5 - More framing


Day 2: 10/5 - Animal entrance framed


Day 3: 10/6 - 48 TONS of fill dirt delivered and distributed


Day 3: 10/6 - Dirt fill raising barn to flood-free level, sub roof installed


Day 4: 10/7 - Front framing continued + window in the back


Day 4: 10/7 - Animal entrance framing continued


Day 5: 10/8 - Three walls of siding installed and agricultural lime delivered


Day 6: 10/9 - Metal roof installed


Day 7: 10/10 - Trim work is starting to make the barn look classy and finished


Day 7: 10/10 - Trim work installed overhang near animal paddock


Day 8: 10/11 - Ag lime spread on barn floor


Day 8: 10/11 - Sliding doors installed on animal entrance, paddock


Day 8: 10/11 - The farmer gesticulating at the paddock and animal entrance side of barn


Day 8: 10/11 - The farmer looking out of the human entrance


Day 8: 10/11 - Awaiting inspection, garage door, water and electricity


And fencing, and pasture, and rain, and guard dog, and alpacas... There's still a long list of things to do around here. Until then:
Happy Knitting!!!