WIP or frog pond dweller?

(Note to non-knitters: WIP="work in progress;" the frog pond is where unraveled projects end up - as in "rip-it, rip-it, rip-it." Note to knitters: I'd love your advice before ripping!)

This is how far I got on my mobius shawl over the weekend. It's the cat's paw pattern; the plan is to twist and seam it to make the mobius part when it's long enough. The yarn is a fine black chenille I got off eBay with some other chenille (only to discover that I truly hate to knit with the stuff); I would have loved to make it out of something like a fine kid mohair blend, but opted to knit from my stash instead. This pattern is extremely tedious to knit with this yarn, and it doesn't really show up as anything special. I'm thinking I should rip out the whole thing and start over with the simple Lacy Shawl pattern in order to finish this in time for my sister's wedding. Whatever I decide to do will have to wait until after OFFF, though; remember those fleeces? I am not making the progress there that I need to, thanks to camping, homeschool, graphics work for clients, henhouse drama (next post) and the rest of life's demands. There has also been some sheep wheeling and dealing going on which is taking some of my time and a LOT of my thoughts; it remains to be seen what will happen there.

That's it for now at . . .

Sweet summer send-off

Our last horse-camping trip of the year was held the last weekend of summer, but it sure felt like fall up in the Cascades! We went to Joe Graham Horse Camp at Timothy Lake, a great site we have been to once before.

Getting away later than planned (as usual), we pulled in well after dark and set up camp at the site reserved for us by friends. In the morning, we discovered an incredible view right out our camper door. Russell had the same view, although I doubt he appreciated it as much as we did. :-)

At the foot of the bank was this little cabin. And those structures on the other side of the slough? We saw bright lights over there as we set up camp; the next day the camp host told us that's a movie set where a film crew is working on a horror flick called "The Presence." It would be kind of neat to see the end product, knowing where it was filmed, but I don't do horror movies.

We had a nice trail ride on Saturday with 11 equines and a whole bunch of people; our friends had invited their kids' church youth group to come up for worship, lunch and the trail ride/hike. The turn-around point was at a beautiful lake, and the vine maples coming and going were showing off their fall finery.
The cool, cloudy weather made us all mighty thankful that campfires were allowed. Some of the best times are had around a campfire - day and night!
Campfires warm the outside, while horses warm the heart. As the saying goes, "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man (or woman)." Here is Big Ben, begging his man Greg for some M&Ms:
That's it for now at . . .

Our egg-holder overfloweth

This morning there was a green egg in the new hens' cage - thanks, Ebony! I put out some overripe prunes and tomatoes as distractions and let everyone out together. The tomatoes were a big hit, and everyone is getting along just fine - although Ebony does seem to be the boss. Before Rick left for work (we're getting ready for our last horse-camping trip of the year so he stayed home for awhile to help) he brought in three more eggs, making a total of 15 in our egg container!With three Rhode Island Reds, two Easter Eggers and a Gold-laced Wyandotte (thanks for your help with her breed), and a Welsummer coming soon, I think I'd better start asking the neighbors to save their egg cartons. We may be able to offer farm-fresh eggs from happy hens to a few select "customers" in the near future. :-)

Here are our two newest pieces of eye-candy - er, pullets stretching their legs in the chicken yard for the first time:
I finished the coin lace and cable "wrap" (scarf) this morning while Brian practiced reading; I just need to weave in ends and block it. Did I have just the right amount of yarn or what? (Thanks again for the gorgeous yarn, Becky!) Now I have to get crackin' on a black lace mobius shawl to wear to my sister's wedding. I'll take the yarn, pattern, and my needle case on our camp-out and hopefully get a good start this weekend. Next week, all my spare time will have to be spent on teasing fleece. Last night I spent over an hour on Dinah's. Remember that shiny white "Angel-hair" stuff you could get for decorating? (Maybe you still can; I'm no Martha Stewart.) I think it's fiberglass. Dinah's fleece reminds me of that; it is stunning! With many hours of fleece-teasing ahead of me, it's a good thing I enjoy the work.

That's it for now at . . .

And then there were six!

Meet Ebony (peeking in on the left) and Tawny, young hens hatched this spring who joined our little flock today. Well, not quite joined, as they are in an enclosure within the chicken quarters to get acquainted with the other girls without the risk of getting attacked by the "home crowd." I am just thrilled to have my own frosted black Easter Egger, after falling in love with those at Rick's aunt and uncle's in Missouri! And she lays blue eggs. :-)Tawny is beautiful, too, with the same kind of comb. Can someone tell me what kind of chicken she is?
Last Sabbath someone at our church told me someone else at our church was trying to give away a few of her hens. I called this week and got a little more information, then broached the subject with Rick. Lo and behold, the practical man who is holding the line strong on "no more sheep" said I could get the three hens the lady was offering! (Turns out she only wanted to give away two.) This after already agreeing to let me buy a Welsummer hen from Tammy at Wrensong (who is delivering our very own dark-egg layer to me at OFFF). That will make seven hens - a baker's half-dozen? What fun!

Apparently the squirrels have heard about the economic crisis our country is in, and are gorging themselves while the eating is good. Instead of English walnuts in and out of their green husks littering the ground under our tree, there's this:I've never seen anything like it. I can only assume that they are saving some for winter as well; they certainly aren't leaving any for us! At least we'll have eggs....

Off to tease fleeces at . . .