I'm baaaaaack.............celebrating Bi-craftism

Hello everyone..........been a looooong time! So sorry, as I've said, sometimes I can't get out of my own way!

This episode dedicated to Buddy, our cat, may he rest in peace! Thanks for the good times old friend! And thanks for sharing........


Bi-craftism...........a new term for me which refers to those of us who both knit and crochet..............so I suppose Tri-craftism includes those of us who spin?!?

Fiber Conquests!!

Sizzling Hot Hat!! Done! Done! Done! I've worn it twice since completion----once at the NH Sheep & Wool Festival and then again last night when I couldn't shake a chill! Your mom was right---if you're cold, put a hat on----you lose a lot of heat through your head!





In celebrating BI-CRAFTISM, I am going to swatch and start the Kristy Cardigan designed by Maureen Clark of Green Mountain Spinnery. This cardigan utilizes BOTH knitting and crocheting---fun! fun! fun! I've gone stash-diving again and have come up with a pretty red (my favorite color!) yarn for this sweater: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light which is a 50% Super Fine Alpaca, 50% Peruvian Wool blend. Yay! Can't wait to get started!!!







Iris Crocheted Shawl----made from 100% cashmere---I just have a photo of it as a work in progress as it was no sooner done, then out of my hands to a worthy recepient--my mom! Pattern available from WEBS (America's Yarn Store).

Frosted Windowpane Pullover is on hold as I am making a baby blanket for a co-worker. I'm sewing the squares together now----another work in progress!!

Still in pieces, but essentially done is the I'm a Convert Sweater from Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution. I crocheted mine in Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK (I misspoke on the podcast and said it was a worsted weight---ooops!)





Crochet Shirret--------remember I'm teaching this at Fiber College this September (8-11) in Searsport, ME. This the "Mexicali Tote" that I'm making as a sample of what you can do with this technique.








What's happening in the barn? and around the farm?

Muckin' is done finally after figuring out why the John Deere wouldn't start---misplacement of the battery!

Harvey came down with a serious case of bloat after gorging himself on grain------a very worry-filled time on the farm, but we got through it and learned from it!!

The damaged boards from Fergus' 'renovation' have been removed and now the sheep have an even bigger window to look out. The damaged boards were re-purposed into laying boxes for-----you guessed it---CHICKENS!!! Waaaaaa-hoooooo------the farm-fresh egg is on the way! We're looking at a delivery of 5 or 6 pullets in July or August. The chickens will make their home in part of the rabbit annex of the barn----we have two rabbits left---Hershey and Midnight---thanks to a referral from the Green Mountain Spinnery folks and the NH Sheep & Wool Festival. Hopefully, Midnight will give us one more litter (with hopefully a female in there!) and then I will retire her to a leisurely life on the farm.

Our gardens are planted. The vegetable garden is featuring Brussels sprouts, Mesclun lettuce, carrots, bush beans, two kinds of tomatoes, a pepper plant, zucchini, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and two kinds of pumpkins this year. I've done my usual flower planting as well since I'm in need of a color besides green---- of which the summer gives us plenty. My irises are blooming and my peonies are just on the verge of blooming------GREAT time of year when everything is waking up!

May I introduce you to Ray and Doora, our newest editions to the household. Since a house is not a home unless you have a cat (it's true), I went to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society to see if I could offer two of their cats a "forever home." Ray and Doora came to the shelter after a barn rescue of quite of few of their kind. They were the last two left of the barn group to be adopted and had been living at Lucy Mac for almost two years----so they got pretty used to shelter life. Since coming home, they've been a bit put out by Bentley's effusive hospitality, but they are slowing adjusting, and I'm happy to say that both of them have been out today spending some quality time with me and Bentley. These photos were taken at the shelter (they are the two on the right)----I don't have any of my own photos of Ray and Doora yet---I didn't want to spook them with the flash of the camera----so we'll all have to wait for that opportunity!

Sleeping on the Job

Just long HAVE you been doing this...............? And what does having "experience" mean anyway?!?


Yammer


Events past and present!

New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival was a blast (May 14 & 15) as was the Jamaica Fiber Festival on May 21st----thanks to Margie Miller-Silva who organized the Jamaica event!!


Upcoming: World Wide Knit in Public Day this Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Hartland Public Library in Hartland, Vermont. 10 am - 2pm. Bring a drink and your knitting and let's show the world what we've been up to!!

Fiber College: September 8-11 in Searsport, ME
Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival: October 1-2 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT
Stitches EAST: October 20-23 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT
New England Fiber Festival: November 5-6 at the BIG E in Springfield, MA

Hope to see ya there!!