A busy girl neglects her blog

School has started, my days are childless, and I'm making the most of every moment. (Whose idea was it to throw a 3-day weekend in on the first weekend that school is back in session?) The tomatoes have started:

This is a typical daily harvest. We eat a lot of tomatoes now.

I dyed yarn.

That's some Real Vermonter (Weybridge blend), but it all went to one of my LYSs. Remember A Piece of Vermont, that online store where way back when, before summer vacation started, I actually used to sell yarn? Fear not. I have just finished a small but awesome order of Ashland Bay Colonial Superwash fingering weight yarn. As soon as I get the pictures uploaded, I'll be updating the shop and the blog. Sock knitters, rejoice.

I've been knitting, too. Crazy but true.

My felted mittens are done but not adequately felted, so I'm still working on them. This picture is one of two cuffs of Rogue, my new obsession. I have actually done about twice what you see here, on both cuffs, but it's not easy. I'm pretty new at reading cable charts and because of near-constant interruptions (see "three-day weekend" above) I can usually only manage a single row before I have to stop. This is a really cool pattern and I only tackled it because someone on Ravelry made one as her very first sweater. One of the things I love about Ravelry is that you get to see the same sweater made by 100 or so different people, with comments about it. Rogue gets consistently high marks for being a clear, well-written pattern, and so far it hasn't let me down. If only I had more time!!!

You asked for Milo pictures. Here he is helping my daughter wrap a present:

 

To his credit, he is so wild during the day that he generally sleeps all night.

You also requested other animal pictures. Ed and Trixie are growing fast, and seem to have developed a real sense of identity (at least as far as a creature with a peanut brain can). They have started roosting with the turkeys instead of the chickens.

The growing chickens will soon start laying eggs. (Yes, I have 11 birds and due to age, gender, etc. I have not had any fresh eggs in months. Pathetic.) Genevieve, the banty, is back on another clutch of eggs in the soffit of the turkey house. These probably won't hatch either, only this time I don't have any chicks to give her. We'll see in a few days...)

Last night we took the goaties for a walk out to the apple trees, which a friend just cleared for us. They were surrounded by boulders and debris for some reason. Trooper likes apples.

 

I love to watch goats run.

Snowy is growing up.

As I have mentioned, there will soon be sheep and more goats. My husband spent most of the three-day weekend (with my constant companionship, if not actual help) finishing the sheep/goat barn:

He has to make the doors and I have to paint it.

And look what came to us, thanks to a sizing error on Jillian's part:

That's Rusted Root, apparently in a child's 8/10. Oops. Jillian did a beautiful job and my daughter LOVES it.

I'm heading back out to the shop to dye more yarn today. I think I'm going to stick with sock yarn for awhile. I've jumped all over the place trying out different yarns and weights, but it seems like the sock yarn is the most popular of all. Shout if you're looking for something else. There will be more Vermont yarn and fiber going up soon, as well.

The cool weather we've been having is set to go away for the weekend. Temps in the 90s don't bode well for knitting. But the cold will come soon enough....

I'm not the first to post a picture like this, but I couldn't resist. 

 

Comments

[Joan]

Yay, goat pics! Gotta love those crazy goats. They have lovely digs too. Looking forward to sock yarn, everyone in the family is getting socks for Christmas this year.
Enjoy the peaceful days, Jessie!

[Diane]

The skein colors are great! Always wanted to knit Rogue, what yarn are you using?

[Jane]

Yum! Sock yarn!

That sweater looks great on your daughter!

[Heather]

What a gorgeous rainbow of yarn (and I agree about the sock yarn). Summer is rough on the work life, isn't it?? The barn and farm are looking fab - I love the airplane ears the goats have when they run! And Milo, oh that Milo! What a great helper. lol Your daughter must want to eat him up (or kill him, one of the two! lol).

[Heather]

Oh! re: Rogue -- I have the yarn and pattern all ready for one. Maybe I should cast on with you! Just DON'T go too fast! lol

[Carole]

I can't resist your sock yarn!

[yvette]

Your goat pictures are great. Your new sock yarns look fabulous, I for one am not looking forward to the cold, though it does mean I get to wear handknit socks.

[alotta.knittin]

Oh what beautiful yarn!! If I didn't already have half a house full of yarn already....and a special thank you for the other animal pictures! I truly look forward to them!!!

[Kathy]

The yarns looks pretty! Your daughter is adorable and that sweater look just right on her. I've got Rogue waiting in the wings -- what yarn are you using?

[Bea]

Your daughter is SO cute, and her Rusted Root is beautiful! Is that your actual house? It's amazing! Those tomatoes look so good, a lovely neighbor of mine brought some over for me, and they were the best tomatoes I've ever had, I keep looking longingly over there hoping she'll bring me some more :) The yarn is beautiful too!

[martha in mobile]

I had to laugh at your eggless dilemma, as mine was the same until a few weeks ago -- half my flock too old and the other half too young. Now I have tiny eggs laid in inconvenient spots until the new girls get the hang of the nest boxes.

[margene]

It's great to hear from you again! When you neglect the blog you neglect us;-)
Love the animal photos and seeing your daughter, too. I'll be waiting for yarn!

[Jasmine]

Hey -- good to see you and glad that you are finally getting some childless time -- oh the stories of comiseration I could tell if my mother didn't read my blog. The rainbow of yarn looks amazing and those tomatoes -- well, I have a few ideas that I could use on those -- the drought around here has been hard on the veggies and I haven't found a good price on tomatoes as I'd like to slow roast and freeze some for the winter

[Agnes]

Did you know that Milo's pictures were on Cuteoverload yesterday? I was so happy to see that ... he certainly deserves to be crowned "Prince of CuteOverload"!

[Elisabeth]

Love the goat pictures! Just had half my labmates over admiring them. We love the one of them running.

So, why do you think Genevieve's eggs won't hatch?

[Entropy's Biznatch]

Came over here from CuteOverlord. Got lost in your blog. What a wonderful place to spend some time. I love goaties, and chickens,and kittens..and I'm learning to knit, so I'll be back.

Lovely. Just lovely.

[Little Miss Curious]

Wow, I think those goats are actually flying! Those colors are lovely. They make me feel like leaping around like those goats. Love the Rusted Root on your daughter. What a lucky girl! I think I might need to cast on one for myself.

[Carol]

That's a great color on your little girl! She looks lovely in that! Milo sure looks settled in ;) I'll keep my wings crossed for Genevieve, the motherly instinct is strong with her :) love, love, love tomatoes~shlurp~

[Kim]

That Rusted Root looks adorable on your daughter!

[lynne s of oz]

Your husband is a wonder. So sweet with Milo!

[Heide]

Mmm, your tomatoes look delicious. I love the goat pictures. Milo sure has grown. Your daughter is beautiful in her new sweater.

[jillian]

Awwww, she's so cute! I'm so glad it worked out. As always, love all your animal pics.

[Princesscathy]

I actually found your blog via cuteoverload and I loved the cat pics and you talk about yarn which is one of my passions as well. Forget the people who left nasty comments, they obviously don't see the beauty in everything you do.

[sahara]

Your daughter looks great in her sweater. I'm always scared when I knit sweaters for kids, because of the sizing differences, and (mostly) because of my slowness.

Do your goats have any down that can be spun? I don't know much about goat hair.

[Robin]

Love the sweater! What a great picture of the model!