Winter Quiet: Reflect in the Stillness

HEY!! GO PLAY IN THE SNOW!
Clear your head, problem-solve, gain perspective, or just groove on the season!

Fiber Conquests

Knitting!!
Mayflower Vest---on hiatus (as well as EZ's rib warmer) due to the start of the Shawl Collar Vest Class @ www.yarn.com
Instructor Annie Foley is excellent---learned several tips/tricks already. Vest's cables start in the ribbing (I haven't done THAT before). Need to knit up to the armholes by next Sunday's class! Time to get cracking!







SOCKS!! Check it out:
Rockin' Sock Club by Bluemoon Fiber Arts!! Yay! How did I miss THIS for 6 years?!? Please let me NOT have Second Sock Syndrome during this!!! Sorry, can't post pictures of yarn as some participants may not have received their shipment yet---I promised not to be a "spoiler."

Crocheting!!
Riverstone Cardigan by Mandy Moore
Up to the armholes on the body--this part is 'resting' whilst I work on the arms which will be joined eventually with the body. Stay tuned!

Still working on the Pinebark Hood!

Started a crocheted hat from my handspun ragwool from my sheep. Pattern: Crocheted Seamen's Cap by Beth Hall. Download the pattern free at www.seamenschurch.org. The Seamen's Church Institute cares for the personal, professional, and spiritual needs of mariners around the world. Founded: 1834.



Spinning!!
Alpaca!! 2009 clip is done and delivered!! John, owner of the alpacas, surprised me this week by showing me a hat he had knitted (on a round peg loom) from the yarn I had spun. 'Back to the land' at its best!

Felting!!
Northeast Fiber Arts Center
Felt Boot Kit......





and Fitzwolle Slippers Kit

What's happening on the farm?

Sheep are getting grain on the frigid days (when there's a minus sign in front of the number). Grain is crack cocaine to sheep---get out of the way when administering.....






Mr. Squirrel @ the bird feeder.








Buddy survives a trip to the vet and is surviving his medication regimen! Thanks to all the vets and vet techs of the world and all the good that they do! :-)

Sleeping on the Job

Anesthetizing children can be a challenge.........to say the least.

Yammer

Marrying knitting with papercraft----creating a container for your knitting needles. Brought to you by Knitting Daily.


My blog: www.countingsheepblog.blogspot.com
My e-mail: countingsheepblog@gmail.com
Find me on Ravelry: I'm rabbitlady
Join our Ravelry group: Counting Sheep Podcast
Find the podcast on iTunes by searching for 'Counting Sheep'
If you like what you're hearing, leave a review on iTunes; helps me and it will help others find the podcast.
You can also find the podcast on Libsyn: www.countingsheep.libsyn.com

Until next time.........stay warm, go play in the snow if you have some, and be kind to other folks.

Warm Woolie Weather!!

Episode #3 is Live!
Getting out during the winter---to stave off Cabin Fever, I'll be taking the Shawl Collar Vest class at WEBS in Northampton MA starting this Sunday, January 23rd. Looking forward to knitting up this Meg Swansen design from her book, Handknitting. Check out other WEBS classes: www.yarn.com

Camp KIP: Check it out----a knitting retreat sponsored by Jackie at KIPing it real Podcast. Day passes still available. I'll be donating a sweater's worth of yarn from my own flock of sheep as a a door prize. Find Camp KIP at:
www.campkip.com

FIBER CONQUESTS!!!!
Knitting: Work continues on the Mayflower Vest despite a disconcerting needle faux pas!


EZ's rib warmer knitting up in handspun:


Crocheting: Riverstone Cardigan by Mandy Moore featured in Interweave Crochet Magazine Winter 2010 issue. Loving it!










Also: check out Pinebark Hood by Shannon
Mullet-Bowlsby. I'm making mine in KnitPicks
Gloss, color: Fedora.

















Finally, made two of the Blooming Hat by Robyn
Chachula from the Mission Falls goes Crochet
booklet. Stunning little hat done up in 7 different
colors with texture.








Spinning: Alpaca clip from 2009 almost done---yay! Onto 2010 clip which was processed by Zeilinger's Wool Mill.

















Also spun up some ragwool from Robyn and
Dugel's fleeces.








Felting: not much done on this front. New kits in the future.

What's happening on the farm?
Robyn's epiphany----Robyn learns how to eat in a flock of sheep who are not fond of him!
Feeding frenzy----watch your knees while feeding these ovines!
Rabbits----more protein needed for a small-ish babe
Bentley the SNOW dog!!
Birds: welcoming the sighting of a male cardinal!

Sleeping on the Job: Do you talk in your sleep?

Yammer: Sunflower Yarns
Fiber arts by Amanda Dahl
check out the DK, fingering/sock, sport, and worsted weight dyed yarns (formerly NH Knitting Mama) She's on Facebook and Twitter too!

In the news this week: Tuscon, AZ shooting rampage. Thank goodness for the miracle of modern medicine, but REALLY, should it be THIS necessary?

"It's important to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking to each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." -President Obama

Contact info: countingsheepblog@gmail.com
I'm Rabbitlady on Ravelry and our new podcast group is "Counting Sheep" on Ravelry.
Find the podcast at iTunes by searching for Counting Sheep or at Libsyn: www.countingsheep.libsyn.com

So until next time, keep your needles, hooks, and wheels humming; be kind to other folks and I'll talk to you soon!
Ruth