Looky, looky!

Here is the 2-ply yarn I spun from the merino roving Allena gave me, all washed and soft. I got around 247 yards out of 2 1/2 ounces, which should make a gorgeous scarf.

And what's that charming embellishment, you ask? I'm on a Yahoo spinning list, and there are sometimes advertisements for shawl pins designed by Romi. Recently she offered $5 off any purchase in honor of a new design release. I followed her link and took a look around. All her designs are lovely, but when I saw her ram pin, I was a goner. "Copper" arrived today, and will hopefully grace my handknits for many years to come! Doesn't he look like a Shetland?

This evening the ewes and lambs dined on fresh garden peas. A neighbor was ready to tear out his plants and thought (rightly) that the sheep might like them. There's more on the menu for tomorrow; they will be happy to hear that!

I made a good contact for selling my roving and maybe even my little wether boys today. I've also located a poll-carrier ewe that sounds a nice addition to my flock. I'm trying not to get too excited about either possibility before they pan out, but the future looks so bright, I'm gonna need shades. :-) On top of that, I found out this morning that we will be flying to Texas in October for a wedding - my sister's getting married! Whee!

That's enough excitement for now from . . .

Beating the heat, and maybe the odds

That's it for now on a hot day at . . .

More and less

More:
Less:
Making me wish for more (time):I recently rediscovered the link for Talia in my pattern folder. I think its time has come - just as soon as I spin up the black roving for it! It looks like a more challenging knit than I've ever tackled, but I like its one-piece construction. I hope it is as flattering on me as it is on its designer!

Soon to be less: The person who fell in love with Bella at BSG is buying both Bevin and Bella's dam Rechel as well! They will be moving to their new home on Aug. 24. That just leaves the two extra wethers to place. In the meantime, I am keeping my eye open for just the right ewe to add to my little flock. I am holding out for a friendly girl with wonderful fleece (preferably not grey or musket) and all the ideal Shetland characteristics that carries polled genetics. If I don't find her, I may just wait and see if I get a promising daughter of Braveheart's next spring.

That's it for now at . . .

Flowers

On July 1st, my one volunteer dahlia and the first of my daylilies bloomed. This morning, I noticed a second variety of daylily sporting flowers, despite the ravages of the "meadow rats." Deer aren't supposed to like daylilies....
Today we went to Lowe's to try and find parts to fix our electric gate opener and our great room ceiling fan. While Rick looked for those (in vain), I scouted out the discount plant racks. I scored a "Goldmound Spirea" to plant on the west side of my daphne odora to give it a bit of afternoon shade, and a begonia and two impatiens to put in the empty pot on my deck. Much better:

And who is this beautiful little flower? That would be Hannah, my friend Pam's youngest adopted daughter. She just came from Fiji two weeks ago, although she has lived with Pam and/or her husband since birth. I was delighted by her instant acceptance of me, thanks to Pam showing her my photos and telling her all about "Auntie Michelle." Hannah is such a petite little person - her birth mother was only 4'10" - but full of energy and attitude. I ended up giving her the "raspberry sorbet" Baby Surprise Jacket as a belated birthday present (she was born two years ago in May) because it turned out pretty big (I hope to have a photo of her modeling it soon). I'm already busily working on another, smaller BSJ for the baby girl our pastoral family is expecting next month.

That's it for now at . . .