Happy Monday news from the farm

Monday morning with the sun out and most of the snow melted! Today has been a great morning so far. The snow is gone from the paddocks and the water is draining nicely. With only a few bad muddy spots the critters seem quite pleased with things. Fed and cleaned early today and came in to get some things ready to go into the shop. I took a skein of soft beautiful medium gray Babydoll Southdown of the wheel, skeined up an absolutely gorgeously cloud soft rose gray alpaca and finished the second handpun yarn, hand dyed Babydoll neckwarmer which is just the right touch for early spring. SO all in all we're having a good day here on the farm. Next on the agenda is more knitting (finishing up a spring shoulder shawl) and more spinning. The sun has given me a new out look! Im pondering what the warmer months will be like, what I'll be doing, planting in the cold frame maybe, seeding bare grass spots, cleaning out the gardens, and how lambs will be romping around on many farms that I know. I think its finally here! And if not quite yet, well it's just around the corner! Ahhhhh Spring. Clocks will spring ahead this coming weekend making days a bit longer and happier with more light. Happy Monday and Happy sunny days!

Im Ready And Dreaming.....

Remember when you looked out the window and saw all this? Im dreaming of those days now. Its been a long winter and Im ready for a change. Im ready to be outside digging in the dirt getting my cold frame ready. Im ready to hang with the animals for hours at a time and feed carrots slowly. Im ready to sit on the deck and look out at the animals wandering around their paddocks. Im ready to open the doors of my shop and let the fresh spring air swirl around inside, and sit and knit with friends. Im ready for some cold lemonade. Im ready to open my windows wide! Im ready to pick some wild flowers. Im ready to watch the birds fly in and out of the bird houses building nest. Im ready to shear the animals. Im ready to sit in the rocking chairs on the front porch and do nothing but listen. Im sure dreaming of these days.....What are you ready and dreaming for for?????

Wednesday January 26th, 2011

Well, today we had more snow, with more expected tonight. Most likely a total of possibly another 14 inches! I must admit I'm getting quite use to it. Its very pretty, with mounds of snow and paths shoveled all over the farm. In the first picture I'm sharing my winter arrangement scene of snow covered pine trees that sits on my mantel. I just love this little arrangement. Its Wednesday and Luke my grandson was here sharing in a very productive day! We had a fire in the wood stove which kept things warm and toasty. I made a big pot of chicken soup, worked on some crochet jewelry, spun and completed some yarn and spent some time out with the animals. I just love their snowy little faces, they eat the snow like it was a treat! They have heated water buckets but they enjoy shoving their little faces in the snow! This evening Mike went out to plow the driveway to get a head start on the pile up that is predicted. The barnyard is quiet and peaceful with no signs of the animals, but with all that straw to lay in and hay to eat why would they come out into the cold night? As I look at my little shop in this snow I wonder when I will be able to open it again. The driveway is just to dangerous to have folks up. But when I do re-open be assured it will be filled with lots of new items. I'm planning a crochet jewelry party at my daughters house this winter with some of her friends to see how they like the new jewelry. I have lots of fun choosing glass and stone beads for making this jewelry, there are such beautiful beads to choose from. I'm spinning lots of alpaca up for the shop. I have not done much dyeing lately but will get to it soon. So today, January 26th was quite a wonderful day. It ended with me toasty warm and relaxed in my fleece snowflake slipper socks! Happy sledding, snowshoeing or skiing to you, whatever your winter pleasure may be.....
















THE END TO A WONDERFUL DAY!

Winter Class Crochet And Bead A Necklace

I have decided to offer the crochet and the beading as a mini session. I have had a few request and thought the winter would be a good time to meet and make necklaces. So my idea is Wed. evening of your choice 6:00-7:30. We will meet here in the kithen because the shop is just to cold and the heater cannot do its job with these temps. You will learn to crochet the chain and add the beads as you go along. You will make a crochet single strand choker necklace, add beads, and learn how to attach the closure. We will use cotton for our chain which is the beading 101 class. I also use wire which is great fun and changes up the look of the jewelry. That can be jewelry making 102! I will supply everything you need for the evening. You will also learn exactly the supplies needed to go home and start adding to your crochet beaded jewelry.

Below is a picture of some of my favorite items, some in wire and some in cotton. I use glass beads and natural rocks such as volcanic rock, quartz or maybe turquoise (which is my next project) Mix and match your beads to go elaborate or use all the same for simpler look. There are endless possibilities. Lighter colors with glass for the hot summer months, go darker with a heavier look for the winter. I know you would enjoy this. No crochet or knitting experience necessary.......

The cost of the class is 25.00 Wed. eve. 6:00-7:30
Call to choose your class spot 203-736-2630

Storm 2011!

Well, here we go again. This is the first storm of 2011! We had at least 12 inches if not 14! And that was on to of a foot we had from last week! I have to say while it was snowing and now this morning, it is beautiful out here on the farm. The animals are all out eating snow as if its some kind of great treat! Mike shoveled all the path ways so that my poor short legged babydoll Southdowns can get around (poor Mike) Not all husbands would shoves paths all over the paddocks so that the sheep can get around! He is a good guy....I had to share ALL of these pics and of course there is about 20 more, but Ill spare you..Everyone is happily eating or playing in the snow as I leave to go inside. Now that I know everyone is taken care of I can go in and knit by the wood stove. Hmmmmm ? what shall I make for a snowy night diner? I hope you all made out A OK if you had snow. Oh believe it or not we are to have more snow tonight with an accumulation! Ill let you know how we make out...Stay warm, Pam

Newest silk and merino handspun

I have completed two more or the silk alpaca blends(3 color blends in all) The shades of pink with purple, some gold and natural silk is my favorite. Well then again I love the ocean colors too! Oh heck, I love them all. I also completed a sweater for my water bottle. My New Years resolution is to drink more water daily. So I though a sweater for my bottle to sport would be nice. So this is made on a knitting loom that was hand made for me, it represents my first lambing season, years ago. It was made by Noreen Crone-Findlay. I love the little loom it makes the most wonderful bags that you can really jazz up with buttons beads or just use some wild yarn like I spun for this bag.
The yarns That I completed this week will be added to the shop, they have been washed and are setting while they dry over the wood stove. I have started another water bottle sweated to put up for sale in the shop as well. I guess Im still on a roll!
I hope everyone's New Year has started out nicely and all is well.

Happy New Year! Projects, projects, projects!

I back in the groove of things here on the farm. Lots of ideas floating around in my head. I started spinning over the weekend and completed this absolutely gorgeous bulky handspun in merino wool and 40% silk! Its really to die for. Its got to weigh 8 oz! I have not weighed it as of yet but it will be up for sale this week. I'm working on another combination in alpaca, merino and silk in natural colors a and a heavy worsted weight. A caplet kit is completed as well as a caplet. All ready to be put into the shop. A little reminder: to the left are the winter shop hours....


Gorgeous ever so soft 40% silk, merino bulky handspun yarn, ocean colors, this is just the greatest blend to work with. This will work up great into a wonderful garment.


Turquoise caplet kit available, yarn, pattern, button and needles 38.00






Completed caplet in olive green 55.00 I had so many request for the caplet that I made for myself that I decided to make another for the shop. Its a great size, just enough to warm you, not to much as to be in the way. The Dream Come True Yarn Caplet. Or you can knit your own I have a kit in handspun, hand dyed turquoise available.