It is hard to believe that February is almost gone. Spring is around the corner (or that is what I keep telling myself). I have been busy with my knitting. I started the Irish Hiking Scarf, out of some yarn I had in my stash. I also started a felted vest for my sister for Christmas. It is progressing well. I finally finished my daughters poncho. I did not think that I would ever get that done. Now I will have to get a pic of her wearing it.
The 3 fleeces that I sent to Wooly Knob are done and in the mail. I am hoping that they come today. I am anxious to see how they turned out. I already have plans for the Mohair. I hope I can get it spun in time to make a Christmas present with it. My DH thinks I have lost my mind. I am excited about getting the fiber and making plans for it and he is thinking " Where the hell is she going to put that!" That was after I told him that we needed a companion for the horse, when she comes home. I am still trying to decide what it is that I want. Sheep or Angora goat. It is a hard choice. I don't think that I can get away with getting both. Seeing that I already told him that we are getting 25 pheasants to raise and release from 4H and I am getting Turkeys to raise.
Two weeks ago I tried to teach the girls in my 4H club how to knit. They all attempted to knit. Some had better luck than others. It was hard for me to teach them. I knit contennital style. That is the way my grandmother taught me. I have tried the English style and was unable. I hope that they went home and practiced. Tonight we are going to make knitting needles. I think that will be alot of fun. I have some great ideas for them. It might even make a great secret pal gift. It is funny how many things can be used for knitting needles when you start looking around.
Winter vacation starts next week for my kids. My DH and I are taking the kids snowmobiling for the week. Each of us has snowmobiles, it is about the only family thing that we do. My DH is a carpentar and works all summer so winter is our time to have fun. We are going to the Tughill Plateau. Just off of Lake Onterio. They get lots of lake effect snow. Hopefully I will remember to pack my camera and have pics for you to see. I am off to pack. Talk to you next week.

Knitting like crazy

Since my last note, my needles have been very busy. My first felting project was a sucess to some extent. The pattern was from Knit One, Felt Two. I used grey Patons classic wool yarn and stripes in maroon. I even used needles larger than the pattern called for. Finished the knitting and threw it in the washer 'just like the directions said". If any one knows of someone with a head the size of a large grapefruit let me know, I have a beautiful grey felted hat for them. LOL. My kids were very supportive and laughed there fool heads off. DH asked if I was going to give that to the cat to wear. My thoughts are atleast it looks like a hat.
My other project that I started was a Christmas present for my sister. I found a felted vest pattern in Felted Knits book. Made a big order to Elanns for the yarn. Decided that I am going to make them for my mother and sister in law as well as one for myself. 45 skeins of Highland yarn came the other day. I have the vest started. Sometimes you are apprehensive about trying something that you order online. I am one of those people who really likes to feel what they are buying, but I had heard so many good things about this yarn on the blogs that I tried. It is wonderful yarn. I am very pleased.
Still plugging away on my daughters poncho. It is not all that exciting and I am having a hard time working on it. Pictures to come in a day or 2 of my projects.

Never Rains ...........
DH went snowmobiling last weekend. I was looking forward to a quite weekend. I knew that Saturday was going to be crazy but not Sunday. I was hoping Sunday just loungeing around in my pj's drinking coffee, watching movies with the kids and knitting. NOT. I returned from taking my oldest to work to discover the dog chain in the middle of the road and the ducks gone.
Dog was in the shed were he was hiding. He had been injured, I believe by a car, and the ducks after looking for them half the day finally came around late morning. The dog is much improved but he had me worried Sunday morning. Hopeful he has learned his lesson that those ducks are not to be messed with. I also lost 2 of my rabbits because something scared them. DH came home earlier because his riding buddy was sick. My point to all of this is NO knitting was accomplished.

Today it is snowing like crazy, I keep expecting to see the school bus come down the road,but not yet. Well I am off to make a cup of tea and do some spinning.

WOW.... it's February!!!!

Were did January go? I am glad that it is gone. The weather has warmed up. In the mid 30's yesterday and the same for the rest of the week. The sun was shinning. I was getting alittle bit of spring fever. I am hoping to open some windows and let the house air out alittle today. Everyone was sick last month and maybe some fresh air will help clean the bugs out. LOL.
Joshuas socks are done. He wanted them for school today. He is having standardize testing and they can wear slippers, he took his socks. I am still working on my pi shawl. It is progressing slowly. Some frogging will have to take place later. My pattern is just not matching up. In the mail last week I received a ROAK from Maggie. 2 knitting magazines with some cool patterns in them. Thank you Maggie. Yesterdays mail brought my "Love Ewe" exchange. Some beautiful red Romney and Alpaca blend fiber and two heart shaped sachets from Rita in Maine. I not sure what it wants to be yet I will have to think on it.
SP4 starts today. I received my pal on Sunday. My thoughts all weekend have been on the list of questions. Here it goes.
1. Are you a yarn snob. Not really. I prefer to use wool or a blend, but if I need to use acrylic I will.
2. Do you spin? Yes I do and I love it. I am always looking for new fibers to try. My favorites are Blue Faced Liecester, Alpaca and Mohair. I don't ccochet.
3. Do you have allergies. No allergies.
4. How long have you been knitting? My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 8 and I have been knitting ever since.
5. Do you have an Amazon wish list? No I don't.
6. What's your favorite scent? Hydrangea is my favorite, but I like them all.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Yes, Dark chocolate is my favorite.
8. What other crafts do you like to do? I also do some decorative painting, sewing and gardening.
9. What kind of music do you like? My favorite is Celtic, next is baroque ( Classical) , as well as classic rock and country. My computer can play CD's. I am not sure about MP3's.
10. What's your favorite color? I like almost any color. I am not fond of neon or really bright colors.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have pets? I am married, and have 3 kids. 2 boys and a girl. We have lots of pets, a horse, dog, cat, 25 rabbits, 15 ducks and 2 pheasants at the present time anyway.
12. What are your life dreams? This is the question that gave me alittle trouble. What I would like most I think is to have a fiber shop. Selling fiber, wheels, yarn and have classes. I want it also to be a place where people can come and spend the morning, afternoon, or evening working on a knitting project or spinning and just having a good time.
13. What is your favorite yarn to work with? One of my favorites is Alpaca, the other is Merino, but I like most.
14. What fibers do you absolutely not like? The new designer yarns. The eyelash especially.
15. What is your current knitting obsession? I quess that would be socks. The work up quickly and they are easy to take with you.
16. What is you favorite item to knit? I enjoy knitting most anything. Smaller items are nice because they go faster.
17. What are you knitting right now? Currently I am working on a baby blanket, Pi shawl and a poncho for my daughter.
18. What do you think about ponchos? They are ok. I am not overly fond of them.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I am comfortable with both.
20. Bamboo, aluminum or plastic? I really like the wood needles, I have a set of DP Brittany's that I love. Aluminum is next.
21. Are you a sock knitter? Most definitly!
22. How did you learn to knit? My grandmother taught me. I knit continnetial.
23. How old is your oldest UFO? 3 months. Only because I need to spin more fiber for it.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? My favorite bird is a Bluebird.
25. What is your favorite holiday? I quess that would be Christmas. I really go all out for it.
26. Is there anything that you collect? Santas, blue and white dishes and drop spindles.
Now I am off to start my frogging on my shawl. Keep knitting.