I’m taking a class at my local yarn shop to learn the art of cable knitting. We are using Debbie Macomber’s Cabled Sampler Scarf pattern, available for free here. I was intimidated by cables at first but now I’m two thirds of the way through the second cabled section and it is coming very easy to me. You’d want to follow a pattern the first time you try cables but in case you’re not sure what they are or how they work let me introduce you to the process. This is a cable needle. It is short in length and the ends are bit thicker than the middle. I bought a package with small, medium, and large (thickness) needles. They are not sized and so the size does not have to correspond exactly to your project needles. I’m knitting my scarf on size 6 US double points so I picked the medium size cable needle. To start with you knit like normal, using just your dpns and going back and forth, knitting and purling as directed. You only use your cable needle in one row out of several which was a surprise to me. Eventually you’ll reach a point where
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A Weekend’s Work
This is what I accomplished over Saturday and Sunday… 33 quarts of pears in all. They are chuck full of pears too since I hot packed them, the only one with much free space is that one there in the front since it was my last jar. Yesterday was my Grandma’s birthday so I took 3 quarts back to her (they’re from her tree!). When pears were finally done I literally ran to my knitting…I was having withdrawals. I whipped up this little booty for my friend Maria. One more to go and I can seam them up and they’ll be done. I hope you had a great weekend. Back to work today for me. We’ll be busy getting things done around here all week and then Friday morning we head out for vacation!! Wahoo!
Continue readingIt Has Begun…(drumroll please)
What is IT? Canning season that is. And no, that’s not why I’ve been missing. I’ve been missing because my blogging addiction has given way to a Ravelry addiction which has led me to begin knitting everyone’s Christmas presents now, while I’m still motivated and sort of have the time. I promise to post more soon. My order of peaches came in tonight which will lead directly in to apple and tomato seasons which might clash slightly with the vacation to who knows where that we’re taking the week of Labor Day. That will all keep me busy but it will give me lots of blog worthy material too. I leave you with this. Anyone who can tell what it is gets an imaginary pat on the back from me. 🙂
Continue readingToday’s To-Do List
Monday is my day off and I’m staying super busy! This is more for my purposes but in case you’re interested, here’s what is on my agenda: -Can more green beans (they’re on the stove now)-Bake bread-Call the builder-Call the plumber-Call on prices for an automatic cattle waterer-Balance the checkbook/pay bills-Find the title for a trailer we’re selling-Call the orchard to order peaches (Mmmm!)-Scope out vacation destinations online (this is coming up fast!)-Make the weekly menu plan-Make granola bars if time allows-Finish knitted baby shower gift and make progress on wedding gift The bathroom needs to be painted and the landscape worked on but it is incredibly hot and humid/sticky so I won’t be doing either of those things today. I’m hoping to bust through the rest of the list so I can just knit and work on the bread. I’d love to hear what you’re doing today! 🙂
Continue readingFree TV: Getting By Without Cable
We haven’t had cable or satellite TV service since we moved to the farm almost 2 years ago. Brian had satellite at the old house and when we moved we called and “suspended” it. The company offered to install it at the farm for us but we moved in the midst of harvest season and knew we’d be way too busy to watch much TV. As we approach another fall we both agree that life without a TV bill is totally doable. The Digital transition really threw a wrench in things. We used to get 5, 12, 19, 25, 28, 46, and 66. After the digital transition we get only half of those plus their “extra” channels (19 now has 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, often all with separate programming). We can still get most channels but we have to adjust the antenna constantly depending on what we want. We’ve developed a few strategies that help us deal with the “welfare TV only” lifestyle. First, we subscribe to Netflix during the winter months when we aren’t busy and are stuck in the house the most. We do the 2 at a time plan for $14.83 per month. Wayyy cheaper than cable.
Continue readingFarm Update
I’m still here! Haven’t posted much this week due to the time change (I think!). I seem to be stuck in my old schedule and going to bed much later which means I’ve been dragging and tired all week. We’ve also been pretty busy, so I thought I’d fill you in with what we’ve been up to: I know the video is a little dark but can you hear the little lamb sounds!? We had twins born yesterday. The mama had me worried as she started to have a vaginal prolapse a couple weeks ago. We fitted her with a harness truss, which is basically baling twine tied around her in a way that encourages her insides to stay in. The harness truss worked well, so well in fact that it was trying to hold the babies in! Brian came home to find feet poking out, cut the twine, and helped to deliver the first baby. Then, when he had me on the phone, another set of feet appeared! Both mama and babies are doing great, and she is showing great natural mothering instinct. So, we only have one ewe left to lamb and I think she’s getting close. She
Continue readingKnitting Socks
There has been a long running joke, or at least a funny saying, going on between my Mom and I. She tells everyone that her daughter is “growing” sheep, and she is learning to spin yarn and make socks from their wool. Everyone laughs and thinks that is the cutest thing, but it is true. My Mom took one step closer to her goal by attending a spinner’s meeting and learning the basics of that art. Now she really wants a spinning wheel but they are quite expensive. As another step on her path I surprised her with a gift certificate for Christmas. It covered the cost of a class where we are learning to knit socks! My best friend got the same gift and was also very excited to learn with us. The first class was last Saturday and we had a blast! At first we all felt like fools as we tried to piece together the information we had learned from books, the internet, and each other. It is nice to learn all those little tips and jargon you can only get from a real professional. Our teacher, Faith, is just wonderful, and so is the shop where
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