Bluebirdbaby

Hers and a Heavenly Day

Well, I started the little one's cowl yesterday and finished it at the breakfast table this morning. I used leftovers from her sweaters. It came off the needles and she exclaimed, "Mama! It only took you two days to knit me this!" And she put it right on. She was very excited about the idea of having warm cheeks on our walks. So we headed right out to put it to good use.

Perhaps this wasn't the best day for cowl wearing because it warmed up to a marvelous 48 degrees! I was outside in my t-shirt shoveling snow for the chickens (who went on vacation and hopefully will be back really soon!) and cleaning up the back porch. It was amazing. Regardless of this warming trend, I'm still starting my cowl tomorrow...

We found a bird's next on our walk home. A teensy tiny one that I placed on our window sill looking out into the backyard. I like to think of it as a reminder that spring is on its way. Our seed order has been placed, our garden will expand slightly to accomodate more winter storage veggies, I'm looking into my bees (!!!!!! So excited and just wanted to thank you all again for the marvelous links you sent me last summer after my bee lust post. I really hope it happens this year!), and we're about ready to tap the trees. I can't wait to taste the cool, clear sap again. Spring tonic. This full moon (Friday!) will start the Sap Moon, which means spring is definitely on its way! (Check out this book...I adore it.)

I hung my first line of laundry in about four months. I'm pretty sure this is one of the first day in months above 30 degrees. And 30 degrees was a rarity this winter. We were mostly dealing with subzero temps. Killer. I can take the snow, but the cold I would rather leave behind.

The little one played outside all day. We went on bike rides, stomped in puddles, let Mr. Pickles (who decided today was much too nice to sleep away) explore the barn a little, and tried to teach Pepper to fetch. Then it was more walks, a little acupuncture, more soaking in the sunshine, and a lovely dinner full of greens.

And it looks like tomorrow might be a repeat which makes me very, very happy indeed.

What are you loving about late February??

A Cowl and a Cozy Cat

My friend's birthday was last week and I had the urge to make her something. She spends a lot of time outdoors with her goats and chickens and dogs, and I knew I had to knit her a little gift to help her stay warm. So I dropped my cowl to start hers! I used a brown super soft wool (I think it's alpaca) that a reader sent me long ago and it knit up so sweetly.

Basically I just cast on about 140 stitches and knit in the round until I had it at the desired width. I want it to curl at the top and bottom to add a bit of contrast. I decreased halfway up to make the top closer fitting.

I really love the end result and can't wait to get working on mine. Except now the little one is begging me for a cowl, so tomorrow I cast on with purple (she wants stripes too). Oh, and a big thanks to her for taking these pictures. She's really been loving my camera lately...

The cowl is up on Ravelry!

And I leave you with some cozy cat pictures. I kid you not, Mr. Pickles sleeps all day and all night curled up on the little one's bed. I'm currently trying to figure out how to write the laziest cat in the world into our "Super Cat" books. But he's a Super Cat in his own special way...mostly his cuddling and his beloved tummy rubs. He's the cutest!

Action Shots

Don't let that face fool you, she was so happy to be in this sweater. (Not so much about the posing.) Thanks for all your super sweet comments on my beginning knitting skills! I am so thankful for knitting. For the first time in my life I can actually sit down for longer than a second or two. Let's just say I have trouble staying still for too long...

The little one is so excited to learn how to knit. She keeps asking and asking. A good compromise for right now was learning how to braid (she's also working on whistling and spelling). So that's just what we did! She braided herself a little necklace to wear to match her sweater. So super cute!

Today was a mellow day. We were expecting a big storm, but it passed us by. We were planning on hosting our homeschooling playgroup this morning, but I canceled in antipication of the weather. But one sweet family still showed up and the day became filled with fun, good food, and lots of play. Follow it up with an awesome acupuncture session, and that's one good day.

I started knitting an infinity scarf. I figured I would wear something like that more than a long scarf. Problem is, after 241 cast ons and four rows into it I'm desperately trying to keep it from twisting, I think it has anyway. How do you keep all those stitches from twisting?!

Be well, my friends! I'll be back soon enough. Happy weekend!

hello.

I'm not really here. Or, at least, I shouldn't be. My t0-do list today is insanely long, which always happens on Sundays (my only full work day). I'm always optimistic it will all be finished, but usually two or three things get crossed off a list of a dozen or more. And blogging here? Yea...not even on the list. (Neither is sneaking into the kitchen every ten minutes for more chocolate chips...oh well.)

But I finished my hat. And I had to show y'all. It was fun. I love the yarn I chose. A perfect color. I had eight rows left when the puppy got a hold of it and ripped it out. So I got behind. But I finished it yesterday in the midst of kids running and "galloping" all over the house. It felt good. All info on Ravelry here. Now I need to finish that sweater I started a few weeks ago...And this is all to show you that if I can knit, anyone can knit! Seriously...I am a beginner and I was baffled by it my entire life. Didn't get it. Never thought I would. Thanks to an awesome friend (Ann!), I got over that fear and now I have three hats, two scarves, two sweaters, and a Milo vest to show for it! Yay!

Oh, and yea...the hardwood floors in the living room rocked even more than the playroom. They are wide pine boards, just like our kitchen. Can't wait till they are refinished and all shiny! But for now, we are enjoying their aged look immensly. Anything is better than that carpet!

And want to know what the little one has been up to for the last six months?! Horse play. And pretty much nothing else. Horses horses horses horses horses horses. My head is spinning from all the horses. These are on loan to us from a friend and the little one adores them. We had to braid their hair this morning to get them ready for a show.

What are you all up to this weekend?!

Milo Vest for My Girl

Well, I'm finally getting around to writing about the sweet little vest I knit the little one for her 4th birthday. AND...I signed up for Ravelry. You can find me here.

The vest? It's way too big. I knit the size 6, hoping it would fit for a few years, but low and behold it actually won't fit until she's six! But that's okay. I have another wee vest in mind for the meantime.

But I loved this pattern. I loved this yarn. It was a fun knit for a beginner! Find all details here!

So...what shall I knit next? I've got a hat for my man on the needles now, and one for me next, but then what?!