Izzy Loves the Snow

Izzy just loves the snow. He is heavier and chubbier than when I first got him so I didn't put a sweater on him this winter. Izzy HATES to have a sweater on anyway. He thinks the sweater makes him look like a sissy in front of the other dogs. Izzy just keeps moving around and keeps warm. It is pitiful to see him holding up his paws when it's really really cold, and that's when I say fun's over and we go inside. Izzy is my favorite bed doggie. He gets so excited when he sees me getting ready for night-night. Sometimes I play a trick on him. I let him get all settled in under the covers by my feet, or up against the small of my back, then I say, "Izzy - Kiss!" He loves me so much he gets up and does his doggie Army crawl up to my face to give me a little kiss.

Friday Night Frolic

I picked up a very special package on the way home from work today - the hand-made tote bag Carol of Crayon Box Designs made for me to trade for wool. I will get a picture as soon as I can, because words can't describe this gorgeous bag. It is made of lots of multicolor patches, knitted from handspun yarn and sewn together, then felted. The lining is made from lots of patterns of heavy cotton fabric pieced together like a quilt. The handles are hand made from suede cloth. I'm going to try to get over to Freeville where Carol lives when I have mid winter vacation week after next. She wants to take me to Jo-Lee's discount fabric warehouse, where we can see which one of us is the more rabid fabric junkie. The competition will be very stiff.

I completely ran out of dog and cat food. Should have called Matt to bring some home but was so excited about my bag I forgot. Took me an hour to cook enough pasta and sauce for all of them, and they loved it. Cold and clear tonight with the waxing moon lighting up the snow. Venus was right up there shining like the Star of Bethlehem, then moved north and shrank to normal size. I love the winter sky. Last year this time we were waiting for the lunar eclipse, which took place on the 21st - Mia and AJ's birthday. Mia and I watched it, sitting outside in chairs, shivering under a blanket. It was spectacular and worth braving the cold. Mia has to work on her ward, Jefferson 5, on her birthday this year. The thrill of the Birthday Eclipse will have to last two years. I have a feeling her new boyfriend, Andrew, will make her birthday extra special this year, too.

Lilly Escaped

When I was going down the line of bunny cages tonight, Lilly couldn't wait. I save a little bit of rabbit pellets for her snack (she already has corn but Lilly LOVES rabbit pellets) when I'm done. Tonight, I was dawdling a little 'cause I was tired and toting warm water all over the barn was making me more tired, so I took a little longer to get to the bunnies. As I was going past her pen where she lives with Larry and Lester, she leaped over the boundary and chased after me for her rabbit pellets. I could hardly get finished with the rabbits for her pestering me. Finally I put the bucket down and got out of the way while the stampede came. Larry and Lester were yelling like crazy for their mother, who was no longer with them in the pen. I was bushed, and decided that if Lilly jumped out, then she could jump back in. I adore Lilly. She and Baby Thunder have VIS (very important sheep) status...but I wanted to get back inside the apt., which was now about a hundred degrees. Going from real cold to real hot makes me very sleepy. It's not good for getting things done, let me tell you. I am headed for night-night land.

Very Cold

Woke up at 3 and built the fire back up before heading back to the safety of the down comforter. The doggies earned their keep and kept the bed warm 'til my return. I keep candles burning on my bedside table. I love the glow they give the room. When I got up for good and got the dogs outside I saw the thermometer - minus 12 F. Continued on and saw the outside thermometer on the milk room wall - minus TWENTY!! Could that be right? I looked at the crystalized ice designs on the windows and figured, yes, it could be right. Even the dogs were anxious to do their business and get back inside. Good thing I put the drip on last night. The Jeep turned over and I got to work. The temp soared to 9 F. in Brookfield today. Better rush home and check for frozen pipes, etc.

Bitter Again

The temps are going down again. I knew the 30's couldn't last. My hands hurt when I did chores tonight. It's hard to wear gloves while watering and dishing out rabbit feed. Must be single digits. Spring is on the way, but we've got a while to wait. The crescent moon is waxing and Venus is blazing in all her glory, all by herself in the western sky. It's too cold to do any planet watching tonight. I had a nice call from Jane Porter, the textile artist with the studio in Hamilton. She wanted to tell me about the spinning gathering on Saturday, which I already planned on attending, and compliment me on my online Etsy store. Etsy is a site specifically designed to sell hand-made things. Much to my surprise, she is hosting a Central New York Etsy artists meeting on Sunday. She gave me some hints on displaying my wares, and thinks I would do better selling internationally as the dollar is stronger abroad. Sounds good to me.

So Sublime...

Don't I wish I could pick flowers with Hannah and Luke on the beach. Winter still has a grip on us while the weather gets better and better in northern California. I like the snow, but I just love the beach.

Baby Jane

She's so tiny and so beautiful. I reach in and sneak her out for a cuddle once in a while when mom is not looking. Goat kids love to be held. It's getting real cold again tonight, but Baby Jane's angora/wool sweater will keep her snug and warm.

Kitty Hotel

I filled this shelf with mohair and put it on the landing of the milk room steps. It makes a nice kitty hotel, out of the wind and sheltered from the rain.

Box of Goodies

I finally made it to the PO before the window closed to get my packages from Carol of Crayon Box Designs. Oh, the fabric is goooorrrrgeous. I am going to have a LOT of fun making bags with this stuff. This is a GREAT arrangement and I so appreciate her taking the time to shop for me. Jo-Lee is near her house in Freeville and Carol likes any excuse to go play with the textiles. It's good to have a textile artist's perspective on what people will like. I stopped to see Mary the Lone Long Distance Rider and trade soap for eggs. She has some BIG beautiful birds and the eggs are fantastic. Mary has a big batch of new lambs in her barn and it was just lovely to visit with them. Some of the bottle babies butted the back of my legs wanting to be picked up. It was such a sweet visit and nice to talk to another shepherd. The prettiest 300 plus acre farm in Brookfield (next to mine) was purchased by the same land development company that got my land and is dividing it up into parcels. It is right next to Mary's and such a perfect spot, with beautiful hay fields all around and a big historic barn. Too bad to see yet another farm divided, but taxes are high and lots of acreage means big tax bills.

Jungle Bags

I made two more Jungle Bags to sell this spring. Mia gave one to a nurse friend who married a surgical resident and gave birth to twin boys. It's a perfect diaper bag. I cut them narrower and longer to show off the animals better. I got the beautiful caramel boucle lining fabric on fabricguru.com. What a find that site was.

Living Dangerously

Izzie likes to tease the piggies. I keep telling him this is not a good idea. The piggies seem to enjoy Izzie's attention, but I'm afraid he will get his little nose bitten off one of these days.

Lovely Weather

The weather the last couple of days has been positively balmy - in the 30's F. The bunny water bowls don't freeze solid, requiring soaking in warm water to thaw, making my job a bit easier. The sheep wander out of the barn to take in the sunshine. This warming trend won't last for long. We get snow and frozen rain into May up here in the North Land. I wanted to lie on the picnic table and get some sun on my face this past Sunday, but there was a foot of snow on it.

More Pink Slips?

Yikes, 7,000 pink slips given to Macy's employees. I'm going to be even nicer to my students. I keep telling the other teachers the kids are our job security, no matter how the cherubs drive us nuts. I'll continue to work on my farm business, in hopes that the ladies who come to the wool festivals will still want their handmade one-of-a-kind knitting bags...You know what I always say - when life gives you a heavy load, make tote bags to carry it in.

Bright and Clear

The temp soared to 50 out of the wind today. No coat needed. The big snow cone already on the ground kept it from feeling warm, but it was still lovely. I mopped the pine floor in the apartment with Murphy's oil soap. It was dirty enough to make a remarkable difference with any attention at all. I love this floor with all it's natural knots and knicks. It's new but looks old like the barn. Tracking in from the area where the animals are is impossible to keep up with, but every once in a while I try. There are just so many other things to do besides clean. With my fuzzy logic I thought if I earned a Master's Degree I would never have to clean again - no deal. I got two bags finished this weekend - oh, are they cute. I borrowed a camera from school and had a wonderful time running around taking pictures of the farm and critters, along with the bags. Ofcourse they won't upload to the computer with the cord the graphic arts teacher gave me. The computer doesn't recognize the hardware. Okay...I will ask her for help tomorrow. Some of the sheep wandered out into the sunshine and I got some good shots. Outdoor pics are so much nicer. I wonder if the ground hog will see his shadow tomorrow. Won't matter, there will be six more weeks of winter here I guarantee it. Super Bowl is on but Matt doesn't want to watch it. Bad mood. Have to go get chores done so I can watch the next installment of Big Love and see what the wives are up to. Staff development tomorrow - easy day. We're learning about a literacy program. Works for me. Anything that will help kids read is fine with me.

Gretchen's Spinning

Gretchen has been spinning some of my fiber to knit into mittens and use as samples of what customers can make. She spins on an Ashford Kiwi and gives my fiber just the right touch. I tend to overspin everything. Either I am tense about something or I'm watching something scary or upsetting on TV when I spin. I can't relax. The black mohair in this blend gives it such a nice sheen. The purple angora is sooo cool. The yellow yarn is from a roving I blended two years ago. I'm working on another yellow roving run now. Don't see too much yellow roving around. Thanks, Gretchen! (This is very gratifying for me 'cause I introduced her to spinning!) Gretchen teaches knitting for our BOCES adult school and is able to follow complex patterns. She thinks cables are fun...okay, if you say so.

Lake Effect

The snow machine over the lake is cranking up and sending that horizontal white mist out of the Northwest. Sometimes is comes floating down and I can see one tiny flake at a time and follow it all the way down. Other times the wind drives it through and I can't see where it's landing. The paddock where the sheep relax in good weather is drifted over and they stay in the barn all the time. I just listed Wooster, my purebred registered Bluefaced Leicester ram on Craigslist, a first for me. Libby mentioned she saw a flock of Cashmere goats on it and I thought, why not check it out. I know Mia found Monika, her roommate, on CL. Why not give it a try? He is bred out and I don't plan on using him in the near future. He comes from Kathy Davidson's Potosi Farm in Glen Rock, Pa. I want to find him a good home, but once you let an animal go there's no telling what's going to happen to him, something that always plagues my mind. I'm no good in the animal business. They are all children and totally dependent on me for everything they need. I stayed up late last night sorting through a fleece to put in the dye pot. Have to get the bottles out to the lambs. I'm cutting Larry and Lester down to two bottles a day. They are a month old and growing like crazy. I want them to eat more hay and corn. I still have mom and boys in the pen so I can feed Lilly without her having to compete with other sheep. She's losing her wool so I'll get a coat on her. I had hoped to have three Lilly fleeces to have yarn made for a sweater someday. She has the softest, prettiest variegated brown wool. Her mom, Blue Tag, is still with me. Blue Tag is one of my founding ewes from Ohio, a BFL Romney cross, and must be 11 years old now. She can't have many more years on this earth. I'm headed to the feed mill in Waterville this morning, my Saturday ritual. I have to get to the B'field PO before 11 am. Carol sent a package of fabric from her local discount store. Great to have a personal shopper in the fiber arts business. She knows what people will like. She's finished my bag and I will send her 5 pounds of wool for it. Love that underground barter economy. Nobody I know has any money to spend these days, and things are slated to get worse. Thank God for our jobs.

It's A Conspiracy

When events conspire against my getting work sometimes I have to give in. Granted there were drifts blocking the driveway, but the plows had gone by and I knew route 8 must be cleared. A half hour with a shovel would do it. But Matt had decided to "work from home" today and didn't get up to do his chores. By the time I got up and out to the barn to do both our chores and got back in I knew I didn't have it in me to get dressed for work and shovel too. Waking the bear when he's not ready to be awakened can be problematic. I also had to move Finn and Knut back outside after bringing them in out of the ferocious weather last night, jumping through the drifts on the north side of the barn with the big white boys in tow and connecting their lines. Okay, I said to myself, maybe it's the right time for a mental health day. Then the guilt set in. I spent the day making up for the fact that I didn't go to work today. Matt dictated some weatherization correspondence to me for typing so he could email it into the office. I got the 96 pounds of soap cut and set up for curing on the drying rack. I finished three bags (okay, they were cut out already) and oh, are they cute. Tomorrow I'll ask our graphic arts teacher if I can borrow a camera for the weekend to take pictures. I got a few bags up on Etsy and I see they are getting quite a few peeks (they keep count!) I'm hopeful. I priced them all $25 lower than show prices, so we'll see what happens. I always do better when people can see the bags in person and can walk away with them. Little Baby Jane is doing great and growing I think. Mom loves her and stands very patiently while that tiny thing finds the teats under that forrest of mohair. I've never known a goat that didn't want her baby, unlike sheep who can be flighty, nervous mothers. I've been giving the sheep 300 pounds of corn a week and some skinny minnies seem to be gaining. Sounds like alot but its really not with my size flock. I give a few yearlings a wink and open the door to the milk room so they can slip in and eat without the big girls knocking them out of the way. My Dinah bangs on the door when she's done. Runty Ruthie is back out with the flock. She wasn't happy in the milk room where I thought she might be able to eat and relax (and not freeze). Ruthie was lonely, even with some kitties and occasional hungry lambs to keep her company. I guess she's rather get trampled than be without her posse. She's so cute I hope I don't lose her.

Still Snowing

It's still snowing hard here, big heavy wet flakes, as it gets dark. How wonderful not to have to get dressed all day. I got several bags up on my Etsy store - www.bundaflicka.etsy.com. Wish I had a better camera but they look okay. Have to get my hand creme and soap on there next. Speaking of cameras, I had it in my pocket as I did chores last night and a milk bottle leaked all over it. Won't turn on now! Matt came home from Syracuse early and wanted to go to the little local diner, The Beaver Den. We drove 3 miles through the winter wonderland that is Beaver Creek Valley to Brookfield and found the restaurant open. We were the only patrons there and watched the owners decorate for Valentines' Day while we ate. The one year old grandson played with his toys. It was a tender, tasty scene. Back home in time for Larry and Lester's bottles at 4. I had a lovely conversation with Mia today. Caught her as she and Andrew were shopping for his tuxedo for the Rotary Club Ball at the Parsippany Hilton on Saturday. Mia found her dress at Bloomingdales after purchasing and returning one from our old standby, Lord and Taylor. She's such a Jersey Girl! Wish I could see them dressed up and ready to go. She tells me Andrew is taking her skiing for her birthday in February. There was a time when my twins spending their birthdays apart was unthinkable, but they are grown up now, boo-hoo! Time flies by way too fast. It's been ten years since they left home and I still miss them like crazy. That's why I keep so ridiculously busy.

Debbie Called

Debbie Zahn called, my friend from the Hamilton Market. Debbie is a farmer and terrific community organizer. She's very supportive of farmers and the arts. Debbie is starting a winter farmer's market at the Earlville Opera House, starting on February 14!! I'm so excited. It's a great way to see people and get energized for the upcoming season. It may be dark and cold in the barn, but the EOH will be bright and filled with colorful, fibery things. There are SO many talented people around here and Debbie will bring them out. Something else to look forward to...Jane Porter of Porter Studios is opening her Tangled Lair for an informal spinning/knitting/needle felting day on February 7. I'll bring my old Louet and leave Matt in charge of the farm for the day. Jane is a dress designer and textile artist. I've purchased some of her dress remnants for bag fabric and it's real classy stuff. I was thrilled to see someone open a fiber studio not 20 miles from me, complete with drum carders and wheels. I'm hoping to sneak over to Hamilton Whole Foods for lunch while I'm there and visit Candace, if she's not at the studio herself. So much to look forward to!

Lamb/Kid Sweaters

Jane asked for my sweater pattern. Libby is over in the Fingerlakes whipping up some lamb sweaters right now. Some companies sell cloth drapes for lambs but they are nothing like this cozy sweater. It hugs the baby around the neck and chest while draping over the back. The opening underneath allows mom to nuzzle the babe without restriction and the sweater doesn't get soiled. Here is the pattern:

Materials: Bulky wool (please don't even think about using acrylic!!)yarn, or combination of wool and other exotic fibers. I use two ply handspun yarn when I have it - one ply wool/mohair and one ply angora. Alpaca/wool is good too. You want the extra warmth of a hollow exotic fiber and the strength of wool or mohair. This is a great way to use up all the little balls of leftover yarn you have around the house.

Needles: I have used 10's through 15's, whatever the yarn calls for. You don't want to knit too tightly or the sweater won't "grow" with the lamb.

Cast on enough stitches to cover the lamb from behind the ears to the base of the tail. With my "fuzzy logic" I cast on enough to fill a 12 inch knitting needle - or hold it up to the lamb. You don't want the cape falling off the back of the lamb. Ideally it will cover most of the back.

Knit back and forth with garter stitch for 2-3 inches. A Shetland lamb will be smaller than a Cotswold. Use your own judgement for girth of the lamb.

Knit 3-4 four inches, then cast OFF about 15 stitches. This is the leg hole for the lamb. You want him to have freedom of movement so don't make the hole too small.
Knit to end. Knit until you come to the place where you cast off the stitches. Cast ON 15 stitches. This is the top of the leg hole. Knit to end.

Knit back and forth for approximately 6 inches. This is the back/body part of the sweater. Knit 3-4 inches and cast off 15 stitches to correspond with the other leg hole. Knit to end. Turn and knit until you come to the place where you cast off. Cast ON 15 stitches for the bottom of the leg hole. Knit to end.

Knit back and forth for another 2-3 inches. Cast off entire row. Cut yarn leaving a foot of yarn. Sew or crochet sweater together, half way across, beginning on the end closest to the leg hole.

Put sweater on the lamb just as you would dressing a baby - head first then each leg through the holes. You can turn down the collar for a turtle neck for extra warmth. Pull cape over baby's back. Give lamb back to the mother. Happy, warm lamb and happy mother!

I have crocheted lamb sweaters using double crochets up and down - works great.
These sweaters save lives!! A warm lamb will nurse better and thrive. These sweaters pull off easily if the lamb is caught on a fence or nail. Wash them gently and hang by the wood stove for future generations. Felted or shrunken sweaters can be saved for multiples or preemies. Good luck and get in touch with any questions!!