Look at What I've Been Up To

I just finished up another MKAL with Romi. I love how my shawl turned out! I of course went against the rules and instead of making it in two colors like the pattern called for I made it in one. The yarn I used was from the Sheep Shed. I purchased the yarn last Fall at Rhinebeck. I had seen their yarn the year before and didn't buy any. I didn't make that mistake again this year and I was so excited to get two skeins of their Silk Merino blend. I had wanted to make a large white shawl......but..... I had no idea what pattern to make. I casted on several of my own patterns, but nothing stuck. So when I saw Romi was having her KMAL I said there was no way I was missing out on it, but I didn't have enough stash yarn to make it! So the white yarn it was even if it was going to be one color instead of two. Well I am more than happy with it in solid white!!! It was so fun to get one clue every 5 weeks. It was NOT so fun not being able to share what I was knitting with the rest of the knitting world. But as of today I can share it and it has been so much fun getting such a HUGE response from Ravelry. I feel like I am back in the loop!!! I have quite a few patterns of my own to release in the next few weeks :) All this secretive knitting is no fun!

And just for fun I had used my chicken Bonnie in the picture for my Ravelry project page... since it was supposed to be kept secret. In the picture below is Bonnie on the far left 

(how freaking cute is Harley's face in the back, she is special).

Here is Bonnie (going back I wanted to name all my chickens after the people on Alaska the Last Frontier. I wanted my own Kilcher Homestead. Somehow we only ended up with Bonnie from the show. If you haven't watch the show and know who I'm talking about... shame on you, you should really watch it.)

Here is Bonnie after a few weeks of the MKAL.

And Bonnie today! She is huge. My babies are growing up so fast.

Hopefully I'll be back to making regular posts soon! If not I'm studying up on all the vendors I'm going to visit next weekend at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!!!!!!

Joining Ginny's Knit Along

Lucca

A while ago I finished my Lucca Shawl but I never shared it on the Yarn Along.  I was hoping to get a few pictures of me wearing it with Treasure & Lily the two alpacas who's fleeces I used to make this pi shawl. But that hasn't happened yet.

This is a Brooklyn Tweed pattern and I really enjoyed every second of knitting it. It knitted up very quickly. I made it using heavier weight yarn than the pattern called for but I wanted to use it as blanket. Since it has been finished it has been living at my spot on our brown leather couch draped over the back. I love getting to see it shown off in our Family Room everyday. I love that the yarn is from of two of my most favorite alpacas! 

I think what helped me knit it so quickly was that I listened to "The Martian" while I was working on it. I really LOVED the book. My husband also listened to the book. I would tell my kids (ages 8 & 6) about things that happened in the book and they loved hearing about it. Finally after we had both finished listening to the book we all watched the movie together as a family and we all really enjoyed it. 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Lucca

I casted on a Lucca Pi Shawl by Jared Flood and I haven't been able to put it down! The  pattern calls for lace weight yarn, but I am using more of a sport weight yarn. The yarn is from one of my alpacas, Treasure, and my parents alpaca Lily. Their fleeces were combined to make this wonderful yarn and it has been a joy to work with. Good yarn, good pattern, Happy Knitter! 

I started listening to the audio book "The Martian". I love it. Between the pi shawl and the book I am staying up too late at night! I can't put the shawl down and I can't stop listening to the book. I am looking forward to watching the movie after I finish the book.

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

To the Alpacas

I am pretty sure this will be my last yarn along for 2013! I wish I had more fun things to share, but some of my projects are gifts and I have to keep them quiet for now.

 

Also I haven't had much time to knit because December is for the alpacas.  My parents open their farm and farm store during the weekends in the month of December. They sell lots of wonderful alpaca items in their showroom like hand knits, yarn, socks, coats, sweaters, toys and everything alpaca related. The sales for the items help support the herd.  I help them out as much as I can.  The only down side of all the time in the store is less time for my knitting. But this is the last weekend the farm is open and I can get back on track with some fun large projects I have planned for 2014.

 

I made a few Ganomy hats. They are an Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern and so easy to knit.

The one below still needs a pom-pom, but I am afraid I might gift it before I get any finished pictures of it so here it is pre-pompom. I used Cascade Eco Duo yarn.

 

 

I also made one out of some prime alpaca I had in my stash. I really love how it turned out.

Tiny modeled it for me, but it is better for a two year old. On a two year old it slouches in the

back and in my opinion much cuter.

 

I love how the shape covers ears so well.

 

In 2014 I am planning on doing a lot more spinning.

I am making a simple bennie hat out of some handspun merino yarn I made. I Navajo plied it and I'm finding the Navajo plying a little tricky on my traditional wheel since I have to spin it to get it started, but I'm sure with some practice I'll have it all worked out. I've been doing a lot of spinning lately so I'll have lots to practice with soon.

 

 

And since so much of my time these days has been dedicated to the alpacas I thought I'd share some pictures I took of them today while I was doing chores at the farm.

 

Bo with a milk mustache.

 

 

Ono has decided it is okay if I take his picture with my cell phone. He isn't too sure

about my big camera yet. Usually he runs behind his momma.

We had to give some of the alpacas shots today. I get to hold them as my mom gives them there

meds. I always enjoy getting my hands on them. They are so incredibly soft. My mom's hand was in Mr. Bates' fleece and I had to snap a quick picture of his awesome gray fleece.  That is going to be some pretty yarn.

 

Speaking of Mr. Bates only 2-1/2 weeks until Downton Abbey!!!!

Yeah it's cold here at the Jersey Shore.

 

For reading I just finished the audiobook "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I really liked it.

 I hear there is going to be a movie made and I can't wait to see it.

 

I hope everyone on the Yarn Along has a wonderful Christmas! I hope Santa brings you lots of yarn I'll see you next year!

 

~Andee

 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

 

Links-

Ganomy Hat- white, gray, black

Ganomy Hat- brown and tan

Handspun Merino Hat

Arrow Acres Farm

Navajo Plying on YouTube

All Rested Up

I have been desperately missing Downton Abbey. I went on Masterpiece Classic's website the other day and watched a quick video of Season 4 Preview. Oh to hear Lady Mary's voice made me so happy.  I am working on some very involved knitting projects. I like to have a show to watch to help keep me motivated and get through challenging knits. I think Downton Abbey is the best for that. January 5th cannot come soon enough. 

Last night Masterpiece started a show The Paradise.  It was very similar to Selfridge, but I think they are trying to make it more like Downton Abbey.  But it is not the same. I want my Downton Abbey.  But the thing I did like about The Paradise were all the hand knits. There were lots of pretty shawls and one of the women was wearing a shirt that looks just like the scarf pattern I am knitting. So the show gets points for that.

 

 

 

I am planning on downloading some audio books onto my Kindle so I can listen to them and knit at the same time.  Hopefully that will hold my attention and get me through some knitted on edging.

 

 

 

Over the weekend we celebrated Brady's birthday. This year we didn't plan a party for him. I have found that having a birthday in the beginning of October is difficult because it always seems that we are sick. Those darn back to school germs. So this year we played it by ear. Tiny and myself are on antibiotics with upper respiratory infections and I'm glad I didn't plan a big party. Instead we did a last minute "does anyone want to join us for a hour for pizza and cake thing." The bonus of my sisters and parents all living within walking distance from each other usually means we can pull something together at the last minute. So at 4 pm I went to the store and picked up some pumpkins then called to order pizza and at 5:30 we were eating pizza and painting pumpkins at the farm. We sang happy birthday and then we were back home in time for a movie and bed. Simple. Just they way Brady likes it.

 

 

 

 

We got him Minecraft heads. The boys are obsessed with the game.  All they want to do is play it. It works out well like this weekend we were on doctors orders to stay in and rest.  Tiny was on the verge of having asthma and walking pneumonia so a weekend of playing the game worked out great for me because I was able to reset up too and get a lot of knitting done.    

Thankfully we are all feeling better now and Rudee is still the cutest thing ever.

 



Lake George

We just got home from an amazing camping trip in Lake George NY.  We camped out at Lake George Escape. Our friends the "G" family stayed at the campground too. So our boys were very happy to have their friends to play with.  We also visited friends of ours at their cabin on Brant Lake.  I took hundreds of pictures and I have many posts to make about our trip, but I couldn't help but upload a little taste of what we have been up to the past week.  All these photos are straight out of my camera and no editing. So you might see them appear in later posts after editing. We had so much fun and I just couldn't wait to share them. Enjoy (sorry this is a long one).

 

Can you see the tubes in the picture above? Our campground was alongside the Scroon River.  There were lots of lazy river tube rides.

 

 

 

A night out at Lake George Village. 

Eating ice cream in the Adirondacks in Adirondack chairs. What could be better than that?!

Starry nights over our campsite. We were lucky to be there during a meteor shower!!!

 

We went hiking on lots of rocks, caves and waterfalls.

The Rodeo my favorite!

It was our friend's first time at the rodeo I am so glad they loved it. Since I was the one that really wanted to go. We all enjoyed it so much.

Bareback riding

Chilling at the cabin.



 

Isn't the view fantastic! 

 

Back at Lake George for more fun.

 

 

The sunset from our campground.

Back to Brant Lake.



 

I got to spend hours rocking on this porch swing knitting my Quill. It was heavenly.  

 

Kayaking at our campground. It is so nice camping on a river!

 

We rented a pontoon boat and headed out on Lake George for the day.

 

Everyone took a dip in the Lake (except me). Someone had to stay with the boat right? Also that water was cold. 

 

So there is a little taste of our trip. We had such an amazing time.