Monday, March 28, 2011

A pair, a pair, a pair ...

... of socks!! I finally finished my first pair of socks. They are not perfect, but I consider them my sampler socks. They are a little bit too loose - OK. There are three different types of increases - OK. There are holes at the heel - OK. I don't think I'll go on with more little things I've found, but I sure have learned a lot! Never mind the hiked up sweats... it was just to show you that they were knee socks.


Two of them! I didn't really have the "Second Sock Syndrome", but I did knit a couple of smaller things while knitting the second sock. The looseness at the top is because I totally forgot about the 1x1 or 2x2 rib to help them stay up. I think I could go back and re-do that part, but then again, maybe not. LOL

Here is a scarf in garter stitch with a bit of a fringe that I knitted during the second sock. Very simple, just CO 20 and knit to your hearts content until you come close to running out of yarn. I took the tail end and cut as many fringes as I thought I would need and then knit until the yarn ran out. I think the yarn was Vanna's Choice Tweed, and the needles a 7 or 8.

I, of course, had to knit a bunny with Easter coming up. The pattern was "Bunny Nuggets" from Danger Crafts, and it came out sooo cute. Only about 4 inches to the top of the ear, and a big fuzzy tail.  The ears are not quite the same length, but that makes him cuter!!  Simple I-cord.  The eyes are light blue beads, and the nose is embroidered pink yarn.

I'm working on a shoulder wrap for my Mom, but I'm not far enough along to bother taking a picture as it looks like lots of stitches (233 at the moment) on a circular needle. I want to finish it by her birthday at the end of August, so she will have it going into winter. My Mom will be 84 and has trouble staying warm during the Danish winters, so I though I'd knit her something useful.

I will probably cast on for another pair of socks in the same type of yarn, but I will try a different toe that is more rounded. I am still experimenting with different methods of doing things, but I figure socks are a good way to practice some of these methods. Only I will know...

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Oooh, I'm healthy!!!

Last Wednesday, I had my 'clean out' day ... no food, only clear liquids and some of that cleaning stuff that keeps you close to the bathroom ... the colonoscopy went so well, and I was sooo clean that the doctor wanted to do the surgery the next day (Friday) so I didn't have to go through this again. Thank you doc!!!

They did a laproscopic appendectomy - try saying that three times fast!! - on Friday. It seems the troubles I've had over the last 18-24 months was really my appendix acting up, but not enough to put me in danger of having it burst. I think the doctor was saying that the growth I had came about to protect the appendix from further damage, but it did HURT BAD about 4-5 times during that period. Everything that was to be removed came out without a hitch. It was all sent in for a biopsy, but the doctor doesn't expect any surprises at all - he told me so.

I got home yesterday around 2-2:30 pm, and of course as I was taking it easy, I over did it. Every heard of something so silly?? ... me neither ... I slept until 10:30 am (after changing the clocks) and feel like most of my day has disappeared!

There are so many things I need do get done, but will only do the vital ones. Like baking bread, cleaning the dreaded cat box for tomorrows garbage day, and baking dog treats ... that one may just have to wait until tomorrow even if we are out! I will knit, I will knit, I will knit, or so I keep telling myself ...

I also need to do some laundry ... but I do have enough clothes to last for another week, but my favorite things are dirty (whine, whine & whine some more!)... I will wait, I will wait, I will wait!!

Thank you for all your well wishes over the past month, I really appreciate it a lot! I am fine and on the mend. Thank goodness this is all over, except paying the bills ...

Many hugs to you all!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Babies that Baa and Cheep!

The pictures were taken at Dale's (goats) and baby chicks at my house. The goats are growing like crazy - these pictures were taken, maybe a week after the "infant" goat pics. It is hard to get a picture - they never hold still!! LOL.   By now they are 5-6 weeks old and have been put outside in their own pen, but they are still bottle fed - 3 bottles each; I don't know how many times during the day.  Thank goodness it isn't my milk bill!!!

I wish I could have gotten both their little faces, but all I got was one face and a butt!!!

Then there was the sale at our local Grange Co-op, buy one fifty pound bag of chick starter and get 3 chicks for free.  How do I pass that up when I know several (3) of my older girls have slowed wayyyy down on the egg production.  The two Ameraucana's lay green eggs and I haven't seen one in about three weeks now.  I do realize that the cold weather cuts down on the production, but these girls seem to have been on strike.  The oldest, Cinnamon, a RI Red, is about 7 years old and I think she has has enough of this laying thing.   The Ameraucana's, Cloud and Frazzle are also up there in age and I think it's their time now too.   Now I have my own new little babies, which I never thought I'd do - I wanted pullets that were ready to lay so I didn't have to go through this.  They are living in my craft studio for now - got to keep the cats and dog away from them.  Now to the mystery box - -

Here are my three little baby Barred Rock chicks in their new home.  I have a regular 60w light bulb hanging in there to keep them warm.  The associate that helped me said that they like it around 90 deg., and we are right on the mark.  It stays that warm because of the towel.  They bundle up to sleep, but they are also very active.  That tells me the temp is right on!  In about a week I can lower the temp to about 85, and slowly go down as their permanent feathers grow in.  The already have som wing feathers starting ... I love this ...

Now I just hope that all of them are girls ... no roosters allowed here!  I've cleaned the water dish after the mess they made (see above pic), I've also checked their little butts to make sure there isn't any dried "stuff" - I don't want them to plug up ...

How'd I do? - I might even like this Taking care of Baby thing ... hmmm??  I'll see if I'm willing to try it again next year.  Hope you all like the baby pictures.

Have a great day!!