One of life's lessons

Monday morning I learned that the chicken tractor was not predator proof. Sunday I saw a strange cat in the neighbor's yard, eyeing my little pullets while they pecked around their pen unconcerned. I spent the next two hours reinforcing said pen. They were so cute-coming over to see what I was doing and hoping I might have something for them. They had finally begun eating out of my hand. They were bigger than in this pic-not even two weeks and they were starting to look like miniature chickens instead of chicks.
I got up Monday morning and peeked out the window, as was becoming my habit, to see them pecking around in the grass-but there was no movement. I saw my favorite one lying in the middle of the pen-taking an early dust bath? No-too long-I ran outside. Two in the pen-one carried off to who knows where.
Apparently, the roof connectors were not sufficient to hold the weight of a stalking predator. Several gave way. I'm not over it. I'm actually hoping it was a racoon and not some fat, bored cat.

Spinning

Thanks so much for all the kind comments-wishing me a speedy recovery. I am on the mend. Lots of homeopathic tabs/tea/rest will do that. The weirdest thing? When a cold sweeps through our house, I am the one who can keep going. Not this time! I was laid out while everyone watched. Freaky.

Anyway! I did some combing/spinning today. More red Romney/mohair. Looking like socks to me.

Ugh

A violent cold has taken up residence in my head! I've been sloshing* around the house with no energy to knit more than a few rows. The cablenet socks are complaining that the yarn I am using is too splitty, so I've cast on the Fool's Rush socks as well. I haven't given up the Cablenet-I'm too charmed by the fascinating pattern emerging. I suppose I'll slowly knit on both until I can make a decision. Maybe once this cold wears off I can think clearly enough. Hopefully I will have some progress to show you by next time. If I'm still torn-I hope I can count on you guys to help me decide!

*my favorite teas have been enlisted to help in the recovery process

Tagged

Peggy tagged me with the seven random facts meme. So here goes!

1. I am completely terrified of those enormous yellow/brown grasshoppers. When I was little, I would walk through the fields with my Dad as he went to check fences, etc. I would not walk beside him because they would jump on us and their little hooked legs would cling to my clothes/hair. If I walked behind him, he would scatter them and thus shield me from the terrible onslaught. He used to call me his little Indian squaw.

2. I know all the words to the songs in the old Howard Keel musicals and most of the Jeanette McDonald/Nelson Eddy ones from even further back. And yes, I do sing a few lines around the house from time to time.

3. One day I would like to get back into dog obedience training. I've trained all of my dogs to some extent--the current one the least of all, because she has absolutely zero interest. She humors me with the longsuffering expression of a martyr. She knows only the bare essentials-Come when called, Sit, Stay, Down, Bed, Out, and she will sometimes bark on command. Her laid back personality is simply perfect for this busy time in my life!

4. I am pretty distractable. I went through the storage closet last week to re-acquaint myself with the fabrics/sewing misc that I have stashed away in banker's boxes. I found over 30 items that I had cut out in various marathon cutting sessions, bagged up-often with the pattern, and then forgotten. Some of these where baby things for my oldest-he's now 9.

5. I re-read a few LM Montgomery books each year. I'll never be too old for Anne! This year it was Rainbow Valley, Jane of Lantern Hill, and Emily of New Moon. I don't own the other two Emily books-I'm hoping they come up on PaperbackSwap!

6. When I was little and people asked me "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" I was always stymied because I just wanted to be a Mommy. I knew this was not what they were looking for. If I responded with an answer it was usually"maybe a teacher". Yay! I'm both!!!

7. All the dc were born at home with a wonderful Christian midwife attending. I am so grateful for God's care of us during these miraculous events. Jesus' presence was very near, and my faith was strengthened by going through that valley with Him to sustain me. I wish more expectant mothers could see what a blessed, peaceful experience birth can be. While I felt plenty of discomfort and very real pain, I can honestly say that those were peaceful, even sacred, times.

Thanks, Peggy! Now you all know more about me than you really wanted to ;~)

Peeps!

I was busy yesterday, although not with knitting. I built a pen for these instead. This has been a goal of mine for-oh, 6-8 years maybe. I had called the zoning office when we moved back here five years ago, and the employee said no chickens allowed. I still picked up the occasional chicken book at the library, and did see some mention double checking the actual printed code because often people in the office don't really know. Well, last week, I found out that my gardening neighbor two doors down finally got some-yeah, we've had conversations about this before. So, I told dh and he was more receptive than I expected. I guess he figured that the chicken thing wasn't gonna go away. Got online-checked code. Just guess what it said?!? Make sure your coop is at least 18" high and that you're not bothering the neighbors with excessive stink/noise. And that was for within city limits-which we aren't. So.....three little Ameraucana chicks came home with us yesterday. You can see the third one better if you click on the pic. They're so fun to watch :~) The one with the gold head is well on her way of being the Boss.
This whole scenario makes me think of one of my favorite lines. "Once you establish yourself as an eccentric, you no longer have to explain your actions to anyone." I wonder if this is true for me yet? I have quite a list of odd quirks that the extended family has raised brows over.

These grew along the highways back in TX-I put some in one of my herb beds. I sowed the last of the annual seeds this morning-some Zinnias, Asters, Bachelor Buttons, Black-eyed Susans, and Hollyhocks. Hope they come up. I'm notorious for watering faithfully for a few days and then forgetting them altogether.

One last photo for you today. The promised shot of the sock yarn Log Cabin afghan. Pretty wild, eh? Well, yes, I am knitting this totally random-how'd you know?

A possibility

I've started these socks for my Sockapalooza pal. Only a few rows into the pattern st so there's nothing to see here, folks. Maybe next time. I'm using some plain yarn(Knitpick's Essential in Fawn) from my stash so I wanted the pattern to provide the WOW factor. So far, so good. I could still change my mind, though. The yarn may not be entirely happy-it's threatened me with splitting a couple of times. I do love the velvety feel of this yarn!
When my mom was here last week, she gave me this recipe. I've made it twice so far. Now, tell me the truth, did any of you guys have this recipe and not tell me about it? Could it be any easier? More delicious? Hershey's SKOR bar has some competition as my All-time Favorite Treat. Well, maybe. I had one the other day. And I'm still thinking about it.

It's a..., it's a...

finished quilt top! I like the author's color choices far better-this is from the Start Quilting with Alex Anderson book. But, for my very first-I'm satisfied. Next time, I won't rush through the meager choices at Wal-Mart because I'm impatient to get started. ;~)

I saved some fabric last year from C's window topper to incorporate into a quilt for her. Probably, SQwAA's next project, the 9 patch variation. If I make two of the projects, and add borders, I should be in good shape. This wall hanging was started on Monday-granted it's far from completed-but I don't think that a twin size bed quilt is too big of a stretch for the next challenge.

I plan to use cotton flannel in place of true batting for this one, since it's just a wall hanging. Maybe I can get it finished next week. I have gobs of sewing to do yet-my rayon top did not get much attention this week-OK, OK, one measly seam is all I did! So, I need to finish that, and then I have 3 pairs of pants waiting. Reading this makes me laugh at myself just a little! What kind of time do I think I have anyway?!?

I have done some knitting on the Log Cabin afghan, maybe I'll post a pic of that next time. The colors are shockingly loud-so brace yourself.

I'll leave you with a pic of my japanese iris-aren't they lovely?

This one was fun!

Your Vocabulary Score: A+

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary!You must be quite an erudite person.

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Swappin' time!

I finally got my Sockapalooza 4 pal info today! Yeah, it took me this long to figure out how to get it-hey, my mom was visiting-I was distracted! I am eager to get knitting on her socks. I had considered using the pink hand-dyed for my swap partner, but have decided against it. I'll have to pillage the stash to see what jumps out at me. Oooh, the possibilites...
I also signed up for KTS3 this AM-hope I got in! Last time was such fun!
In my next post, prepare to be astonished by what I am doing with the time that I apparently think I have way too much of. Nope, it's not knitting or spinning, or even sewing the things I cut out-although I am doing that, too. Let's just say-it's way overdue.

Where were we?

My mom came for a visit and my blogging time went right out the window! I didn't knit very much on my pullover-I'm ready to put the sleeve sts on holders, but still need to sit down and do it. I did get a dozen new napkins done, though. What do you think? We had a bunch already, but not very many that matched. Most of ours were made back before the babies came. I had been thinking of making some more after seeing Melissa's, and Mom's visit was just the push I needed. She always gets me motivated to sit down at the machine! They are a traditional mitered hem dinner size napkin. Super easy.
We went to Hancock's, where we again lamented the dwindling supply of fabrics suitable for garments(largely quilting goods, these days) She bought me a book when she saw how entranced I was with it, Pants for Real People, which goes very nicely with their McCall's perfect pant pattern that I purchased a few weeks before. I even have some fabric in the stash that should work well. They did have some rayon on sale, and I find it hard to turn down a nice rayon. So, a long sundress was finished on Saturday. It's So Easy Simplicity 3819-in case you're interested. Don't be charmed by the flutter sleeve option-it does not work on a grown-up. I tried.
I liked the red rose print of the sundress so much that I went back and got enough to make Sandra Betzina's T-shirt from No Time to Sew. Cut it out this afternoon. Also cut out a couple of pairs of her full pants after having a long talk with myself about how if I like this pattern(which I do-maybe too much)then I just need to get over the idea that no one wears this loose, beautiful style anymore. Anyone else feel a little peeved on occasion about fashion trends and how we should/shouldn't wear ____ anymore? It can't be just me.

But let's not end this post on such a disgruntled note! Take a look at my first peony bloom!