Wild-eyed

I have a lot going on in this post, but let's face it: You want Milo. If you want calm, affectionate Milo, I have managed to capture just a few such moments. Here he is with my daughter and Sophie, who sleeps with one eye open around him:

Most often, shortly after I catch him acting civilized, like here, where he's sitting on a wholesale order to One Planet Yarn and Fiber (check out their site),

it's just a matter of moments before he goes off:

He likes to sink his teeth into the fleshy part of your hand between your thumb and forefinger.

Which really hurts.

Moving on. I forgot to mention the best part of the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival (which I did not attend). I was visited by Indigo Di and a friend of hers on their way south. So far I have met a number of people I had known only through blogging and it's fun to get together with someone you already feel you know. One of the things we discussed, however, is that as far as we know, there is no definitive Blog Friend Etiquette. For instance: Do you hug goodbye? (We did.) Someone ought to write a handbook on this. Anyway, we had a wonderful time and talked out on the porch until after dark.

If you recall, last week I ruined some silk/merino top. Then I dyed more. Luckily my friend Donna (blogless) invited me to spin with her at the Shelburne Farms Harvest Festival. Shame on  you for not attending; it was fantastic, your kids would have loved it, what with the animals, the crafts, the music, the food. Best of all, I got more spinning done in a day there, surrounded by huge crowds of curious people, than I have in months at home. This:

became this:

which later on was plied into this:

(I'm not showing you the areas that I overplied just a bit.)

The goal was to create a yarn in time for our trip to Oklahoma (tomorrow) so that I could work on a simple scarf pattern for traveling. I ended up going with a feather-and-fan. Voila:

I took this picture early this morning with a flash so it's not quite as impressive as in person, colorwise, but the silk gives it such a glow:

There's an awful lot going on around here at the moment. Not only are we packing up to visit my stepson in his new apartment and to see an Oklahoma State football game--Go, Cowboys, I guess--but I've been working on a lot of yarn and fiber. I recently updated the shop with some Real Vermonter yarns and fiber. Here's the roving, with enough mohair to make it perfect for spinning sock yarn:

 

And I meant to take a group photo of the five yarns but I forgot.

(Actually, the green already sold; if you were on the Piece of Vermont mailing list you would have known about this earlier...) And if you are loving the Colonial Superwash wool/nylon sock yarn, hold on: There will be a shop update later today, including a redo of the Faded Blue Jeans, which was met with underwhelming enthusiasm. I overdyed it slightly darker and I think you'll be pleased. Check back later today if you want to see what I have. (Did I mention you could get on the mailing list and get notified sooner?)

And in case you are still reading, I'll close with more animal pictures. I tried getting good goat photos yesterday but they move around a lot. Snowy and Lucy clamoring for grain:

Trooper eating my pajamas (yes, I usually feed the goats before I shower, don't you?):

And in case you thought I don't care about them anymore, Lars and Roy and assorted poultry:

Ed and Trixie are growing up fast:

As are this summer's chicks, two of which are shown here:

They should be starting to lay in the next month or so.

Current animal inventory, in case you care:

2 dogs
2 cats
3 pigs
3 goats
3 peacocks
5 turkeys
2 bantams
8 chickens

With 3 goats and 2 sheep waiting in the wings. Sheesh.

And last, more of the wild-eyed Milo:

He is evil.

   

Comments

[heather]

You have to check out this video Cheryl Kemp posted on her blog. OMG -- too funny, and all about MILO for certain! It is called Bad Kitty http://www.divaknitting.com/blog/?p=484

[Amy Artisan]

Love the evolution of the scarf, from the dying onto the needles. Feather & Fan is a great "go to" pattern.

Milo pics - makes me remember when my cats were wee ones.

[janna]

He may be evil, but he's adorably evil!

[Marcia Cooke]

He is cat!

[alotta.knittin]

I care!!! I care about each and every animal you have!! Don't stop sharing with us. Love the animals, love Milo (I guess he qualifies as animal...or is he the devil??), ADORE THE WOOL. Have a great trip. Oh, and if I manage to make it up north (from NJ) within the year, can I let you know and sit on your porch and talk? I'd so enjoy that!

[Natalie]

I still think you should do a series of sock yarns dyed to match your chickens & other birds! :)

[Libby]

It's a good thing Milo is cute, if he's so evil ;)

Have fun at OK State! I heard their football games are a lot of fun.

Also, more peacock pictures! :)

[Elisabeth]

Have a fun trip to Oklahoma!

I've been wondering about the pigs. Haven't heard much about them lately. Probably not a cute as Milo, I'd imagine. :)

[Carrie]

The most adorable ones always are, aren't they?

[donna lee]

Milo is a cat. That is just another word for evil. Let's mot talk about the mess my cat made as I was winding a ball of beautiful(and expensive) sock yarn. It took my very patient husband several evenings detangling the mess. The scarf looks beautiful. The glow comes through the photo just fine.

[CindyCindy]

Milo may be evil, but he's adorable so he gets away with it. I absolutely love your handspun feather and fan scarf. I cannot wait to see it completed. Have a great trip and wave when you go past Missouri, K?

[kitkatknit]

I care! I can't see a chicken in someone's front yard with out thinking of you. Now my Knitting Hubby even takes pics of chickens in yards when he is on biz travel...

[kitkatknit]

I care! I can't see a chicken in someone's front yard with out thinking of you. Now my Knitting Hubby even takes pics of chickens in yards when he is on biz travel...

[Punkin]

I was hiking last weekend and met up with a goat that had a pack on. The goat was a cross between nubian and saanan (spelling?) - she was adorable, had a wonderful disposition. Your goats reminded me of her. I hope to have one of my own someday.

[stephanie]

Yep - you've got the Noah's Ark gene too. :)

[Angie]

I have two words for Mr. Milo....neuter ASAP!

I have 4 words for your sock yarn...I didn't get any. But there's always next time! (smiles!)

[Sylvia]

Do you know Aubrey of Goodies Unlimited? She's in Oklahoma (I know, it's a big state, but she's really something.)

Milo may be evil, but he's good evil.

I like how you pulled the colors of the pastel silk together. The feather and fan is perfect for that yarn. Nice work!

[Liz]

He may be evil but oh so cute to watch from the safety of the blogosphere :)

[Em]

Oh, that kitten is wickedly cute! You silk spun up just beautifully, but I have to ask: what happened to the Felted Rope? Are you going to do some clever project with it?

[Susan]

Hope you have a good time in my state!

[Jasmine]

Quite the managery you are collecting

[Ruth]

Jessie...I love your posts, animals and all. It would be my dream to have a farm in Vermont and I look forward to each time you have more pictures. And let me tell you that I am gonna have to get me some of that sock yarn, right after I come back from FL. They are beautiful colors.

[yvette]

Your scarf is looking very pretty, I love seeing updates of everything, animal counts and all.
The pictures of Milo are as always much enjoyed chez moi.

[Kristen]

The pastel yarn is just beautiful. You've got a nice little farm going there, and to a non-farmer like me it seems like a lot of fun, but I realize a lot of work goes into tending the menagerie. Thinking about the ultimate fate of your pigs, B. Kingsolver makes me feel less guilty about being non-vegetarian with her reasoned explanations about raising and eating meat. Her family only eats meat they have raised or that they know has been raised humanely. Hopefully more people will demand meat that is not the product of industrial "factory" farming.