a precious gift

The first egg! I hope of many, but I'm not thinking about that now. I'm enjoying this sweet bliss for what it is.
I love how the curious most-likely culprit photo-bombed the moment. It is very fitting to her personality.

I had been planning on making this 'first egg' post my next post for weeks now- and it took longer for our girls to grow up than I'd hoped. I see the folly of my ways now. Since Ngaio's 'being' I've tried not to rush to the next fun phase of life or development. I've tried to savor every second while I could.

And yes, chickens are not my children- but I feel that I missed out on so much because all I could focus on was this pinnacle. I wish I could say it was a let-down... but I danced a little bit! And gave Polka Dot a nice snuggle. And wiped away a tear.

Yes, chickens are not my children- but I love them so and I will enjoy their moments (from now on) with the same slow paced anticipation I practice with Ngaio. I think I'll plan a little celebration for us and the chickens after school!

Another one!

Another post and another Ishbel!

I believe this is my 5th Ishbel shawlette I've made. The pattern is like mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie. It just feels so right down deep in my soul.
I'm not the only one who feels this way. Over 12,000 of these suckers have been made (Ravelry numbers alone!) and I know I'm not the only one who has made more than one! The entire time I was knitting I was planning what color the next shawl would be. Seriously- it's my knitting crack!
I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Byrne. I got it at The Stitching Post here in town and I know for a fact she has more! And other colors as well. I decided on the large stockinette portion and the smaller lace. It worked out really well because I only had 14 grams of yarn left so I might not have gotten any more full repeats. I'm kinda chicken that way. I started with my Knitpicks nickel plated interchangables in 5's and then did the bind off with an Addi Turbo size 8. I really don't like the Addi needles anymore. They are very blunt. But it was handy. And it was expensive. So they all get used. I just bitch about them a ton.

Right after I took this photo I went inside and wound some handspun into a ball. This one, in fact!

It is Two if by Hand Rambouillet in 'Bumbershoot' that I spun as a single ply lace. It's not my best work. I'm striping it with a natural colored single ply that I got to sample for the shop. I'm using them in a stripy shawl and they are playing together nicely! The sample skein is turning out awesome and I'm thinking it will be a good addition to the Younger Yarn family someday. I'll let you know more about that later though!

I'm staying monogamous- sorta. I still have that sweater on the needles from last week- and it even has a few more inches added to it. But let's face it- it's freaking way too hot to have a sweater on your lap. I only ever knit the bastards during summer, it seems.

So that's about it! I'll end with some awesome things. And a not awesome one.

Not: Ngaio's fish died and she is taking it really hard.

Awesome:
Ngaio and Mark dug holes together for the fence. It was cute. She's not quite 'Winchester brothers' great at digging holes, but she really had fun with her neon green shovel tonight!

I found a pattern to make a hat for an old friend. She asked me if I could FOREVER ago and I put it off. I showed it to her today and she was really excited. It will feel good to knit for someone who really appreciates it!

Two teenage boys played tag with their dad at the park. And screamed and giggled. It was awesome. And I'm sure it made the dad's day/month/year to play with his not-so-little boys again. They just grow up too fast!

I made chocolate chip cookies and rhubarb bars today. YAY!

OH! And I made this hat but it doesn't fit my big ass head. Does it need to come live with you?

Leave a comment if you would like it!

No posting does not equal a bored life

nor does it mean an overly exciting life.

Yes, it has been busy. Yes, it's been boring at times too. It's not that there isn't stuff to write about or stuff that I don't want to write about... but the writing/sharing has been the last thing on my mind.

We have chickens now!
6 became 5. And now we have a bear issue to deal with. And a fence that is currently taking over my usual photo taking spot. As I went out to take photos today I caught a squirrel in the coop. Even with a camera in my hand I was ill-prepared. Ngaio fell down inside the house while running for her rain boots to come and see... and then the squirrel was too damn fast anyway. The chickens didn't seem to notice their visitor but were quite excited to see the camera.

I could flood this post with all the projects I've done in the past few months- but that ain't gonna happen. So here is what is on the needles right now (well, it is one of the projects. I'm not monogamous!) We can just take it from here and see what comes.

Speaking of monogamous knitting, I've actually become WAY more prudish. Everything seems to be slowing down for me. I prefer to focus. Hell, I NEED to focus. I like enjoying every little stitch. I've been really concentrating on making useful things that fit well or serve a purpose. Or, that's what I keep telling myself. Stripper tea cozy aside, I want to make things that are not a waste of my time. Did I lose you at stripper tea cozy? Yeah, that happened, but I don't want to post it. Go look on Ravelry if you really need to.

What's next? Well, I'd like to finish that tweedy pullover thing pictured above. I have a colorwork hat soaking and another on the needles that may get frogged due to color choice issues. I have another Ishbel shawl as my travelling knitting but I'm at the lace section now so that's gotta change! I have NO socks on the needles. What?? Yeah. None. My last pair was a sport weight exercise of improper fit and eye rolling. And I have a lot of socks anyway. Ng just got a new pair this month and will likely be the only one getting them in the near future. That could all be a lie. It would not surprise me in the least if I logged off and cast on 5 new pairs all for MEEE!!! Or- God, forbid- I cast on another pair of handspun for Mark. Actually, I can safely say that will not happen.

What's really next is me trying to clean out my knitting basket, making some tough decisions (1st world problems- ARGH! This green yarn is not the exact shade that matches the other green yarn in this hat that nobody needs or wants...)

Oh well. The garden is green. Rain is falling. Chickens will soon be egging unless a hungry bear needs them more than we do. We are all healthy and fairly happy most of the time. I really have no complaints. Other than I need an iced tea.

Life is good.

We can all do well to remember that.