Changes

These photos may not look like much however, they tell the start of a tale.  On my walk the last few days there has been warmer than usual weather.  It has been calm with minimal wind and a lot of sunshine.  The weather forecasters are warning about an abrupt change in the weather- and I believe them.  Today has been mostly cloudy and quite a bit windier.  The temps are again way above normal for us at 68 right now.  Tomorrow the predicted high temperature is to be 38!  That is actually below average.  Funny how averages work.  I am, perhaps one last time, going for a walk outside.  I noticed these dandelions blooming and stopped to marvel at their fortitude to continue to bloom this late in the season.  Sudden weather changes have been interesting to me. 

I have taken today to reflect on the change of seasons, plan meals for this week, shop for groceries, and start moving furniture making room for the Christmas tree.  Decorating will commence very soon.  Looking forward to family arriving home and all the craziness that will ensue.

Hopefully this post will find you taking time to relax, reflect and planning to celebrate.

Frost

Artistry in frost.

Fall

I just love the colors this year. Enjoy.

New Baby

As followers of the InterlockingLoops podcast, you likely have heard about our latest addition.  This ram lamb is our first sheep born on the farm.  He was born August 30.  He has his coat on to protect his fleece from vegetable matter.  His name is Harvey.  Cutie pie too.  

He is the first of new endeavors for us on the farm.  Stay tuned for more adventures. 

Summer Fruit

The fruit trees are loaded this summer.  We have apple, pear and peach trees.  We are hoping for more rain to allow the produce to fully grow.  Here are a few photos.

TDF 2017

And so it begins.

Started with hand dyed Romney wool.  Spun on my Ashford Traveller spinning wheel and plied on my Schact Matchless.  

This spinning will complete the spin for the sweater I want to knit.  Stay tuned for that this fall.  

Here are a few photos:

Sheep

Iowa Sheep and Wool has come and gone.  The new facilities were roomy and had excellent ventilation.  Many vendors some new and some returning.  I took part in most of the Shepherding 101 classes.  I learned quite a bit and made several contacts that I can call with questions. 

The hall of breeds included adorable sheep.  I will include a few photos.  If you are free next June you will have to stop by the festival.  

Knitting Life

I have been working on the usual things blankets, socks and I have finished a very nice shawl.  The Find Your Fade shawl that can be found on Ravelry.  Ravelry makes it so easy to find knitting patterns, see finished projects and purchase and then download so many patterns.  I really enjoyed this shawl pattern and I will likely make another.  

Here is a photo of it finished however unblocked.  Looking forward to wearing it this winter. 

We are Kidding Again

This is my newest favorite farm photo.  One of my angoras with her set of triplets.  Two black bucklings with a few stray white hairs on their head and one brown doeling.  The boys were needling a little extra help and are bottle babies.  All are doing well.  

New Babies on the Farm

We have a variety of animals from pets to a menagerie of 4-H projects.  For the goats kidding season is underway.  Here are a few pictures of lively, wiggly critters.

These are angora goats.  The Nubian dairy babies are so wiggly they are quite challenging to photograph.  I hope to get pictures of them and our pigs soon.  Stay posted.

What's in the dye pots?

Weighing out one ounce increments of Romney wool roving in a light gray.  Then I tie them with cotton.  I add two to each crock pot to dye.

They soak in a water bath with a couple splashes of vinegar for 20 minutes.  I can then prepare the dye solution. 

Then I add dye.  This time three colors.  A blue, light green and teal.  I turn on the crockpot on high.  I let it sit covered until heat set or starting to steam.  I turn off the crockpot and I leave alone until cool.  Rinse and let dry.  

The top once was my first attempt.  No natural color remained and a bit dark.  The second a bit too light.  Similar with the third.  Getting closer though.  One spun into a two ply it looks like this:

  I have washed and hung to dry.  I hope to start the sweater spin soon.  Ended up with a Dk weight.  Now off to pick a pattern.  

Start How You Plan To Continue

I am starting the year off with a bang!  I have started several projects in knitting and am in the process of learning to crochet.  As part of my cast on projects I started a couple of blankets including a mitered square blanket technically Memory Blanket by Georgie Nicolson found on Ravelry.  I am casting on 64 stitches with 3.0mm needles. I am hoping to make one square a week for awhile- in hopes to get to a lap sized blanket. Here are a couple pictures of my progress.  

 

It is coming along well so far and is quite enjoyable.  I encourage you to start something new for 2017 and begin as you plan to continue this year.  May we all make it a good year.