Stand back while I complain
Mood:  irritated
I"m feeling a bit cranky this afternoon. Lately, I seem to be taking care of everyone else except me, and I'm feeling the effects of it. And yet, some family members (not my husband; he's pretty much blame free in this right now) still aren't satisfied and ask for more. But when I ask them for a return favor, I get 101 reasons why they can't help me. So I can either shell out $75 so that I can go out tonight, or I stay home. Guess I'm staying home.

I think I'll start going through and decluttering. I'm in the mood to start tossing stuff.

I'll be back later when I'm in a better mood.

Is this cool or what?
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: John Parr "St. Elmo's Fire"

Yesterday, Deanna, Nathaniel and I took a trip up to True North Farm to visit Stef and see the sheep. Before we left, Deanna gave me my Christmas presents and this was one of them. How cool is this? Bunny shaped pasta! Who would have guessed? Now I'm going to store this in a Tupperware container, and save it until we have our IAGARB National Meeting in April. I'll make up some sort of pasta salad, using the bunny shaped pasta.
Of course my other gift was very cool too; a Christmas ornament with a sheep on it saying "Fleece Navidad!". How appropriate is that? :)

And here are the beautiful sheep. I love these creatures so much; just watching them makes all the stupid stuff in life really seem very stupid. Aren't they peaceful munching on their hay, in the fog?

And here is Nathaniel, who absolutely adores Pecan the dog. They rode home from the farm like this for most of the way. This is the perfect "Boy and his Dog" photo. Pecan is probably the only dog my kids aren't immediately afraid of.

How to deal with frozen water for rabbits in the cold
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: The Bangles "Hazy Shade of Winter"

One of the reasons I hate winter so much is that I have to deal with frozen water bottles for the rabbits. I have two sets of water bottles for each rabbit; one is out in the barn with the rabbits, while I thaw out the other set by the woodstove.

Doing water detail like this involves several trips to the house to change water bottles. Watering takes up to an hour each day during the winter. And when it's really cold, they need to have the bottles changed more often. What I use for water bottles is called a soda bottle converter kit. I usually buy these from Klubertanz, but have been unable to find them in the most recent catalog. They work well, because you use a plastic soda bottle (32 oz. bottles work best) which can be replaced easily. I like to buy bottled seltzer water when it's on sale and use these bottles for the rabbits (after I've drunk the water, thank you). This set up works quite well in the summer, but for winter weather, it leaves a lot to be desired.

So, finally on the advice of Leslie Samson, I changed over to crocks for their water. Last Saturday, I went down to the local farmer's supply, and bought 2 dozen plastic crocks. I was able to get a good deal on the plastic crocks because I bought so many of them (never be afraid to ask for a discount when you are buying in bulk; if the store where you are doing this knows you well enough, most of the time they are happy to oblige). Anyway, for the past 5 days I've been using these crocks. It is working out well. I carry a plastic milk jug out to the barn filled with water, and fill up the crocks. If the water is completely frozen, all I have to do is bang two of the crocks together, and the ice falls out. The real bonus to this is that because we haven't had really severe weather this week, the rabbits are able to break any ice on the top of the crock and still drink. This makes for happy rabbits, and a happy owner. I've also been able to cut my watering time by half, which is nice when it is really cold outside.

Tonight, since it is completely miserable outside due to the snow/freezing rain/rain storm we've been having since last night, I plan to start swatching that sweater I showed on the blog last night.

Stay warm! :)

Pictures! Finally
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: "Kiss You All Over" by Exile

I've finally taken some new pictures to put up on the blog.

First; pictures of the storm we had on Saturday. The first is the view from my windows and the second is my boys enjoying their playtime outside.

I was supposed to be at Webs when these were taken, but decided to stay home. I'd feel too guilty going out and making our wonderful babysitter come out in weather like this. We had a nice day at home anyway, and the boys really enjoyed their hour outside.

Tonight while I was doing rabbit duty, it started to snow again. We are expecting snow until sometime late tonight, then it will switch over to freezing rain according to the weather forecasters. If it is anything like the customer service rep from the farm supply store out in Iowa was telling me about today (they were really getting it bad, and only her and her friend had made it into work; everyone else couldn't due to the ice storm), we are really in for it.

Not much knitting or spinning going on. I do have a lovely pattern that I picked out at Michael's Craft Store, that is destined now for the copy-cat Cashmerino yarn from Webs. It's another Melissa Leapman pattern. I really do love her styles, and she is a fabulous teacher. She'll be here teaching in September; 4 half day classes the weekend of September 17-18th. I'll post more about that next month, when we finalize everything.

Don't you think this yarn and pattern were meant for each other?

The Great Destashing Begins
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams
Today begins the Great Destashing that Rosemary and I are doing together. We are planning to do this in the same spirit that Kate and Carolyn are doing theirs in, perhaps without the amendments. ;-) But seriously, it is time for me to take account of all the yarn I have, and all the fibers I have. The only amendment I asked for was that I was able to buy fleeces for the business, and if I buy it, I MUST sell it. I have bins in the rafters of my bunny barn, loaded with rovings and fleeces that have yet to be processed, that I've purchased for me in the past 6 years. Now I admit, I get an absolute feeling of euphoria when I go on a fleece buying spree, especially with my fleeces from Dick and Gretchen at Whitefish Bay Farm. They raise some of the most exquisite corriedale fleeces I've ever had the pleasure to fondle and spin. And I'm not the only one that thinks that, as each year, Dick usually sells out of his fleeces in about 24 hours, with a long waiting list of people that pre-reserve fleeces from sheep that they've purchased in the past. But, this year, I have to process, dye and sell everything that I buy from them. Perhaps this will allow me some freedom in letting go of things. Who knows?

Tonight I'm hoping that DH and I head down to Lowe's to purchase a sink and vanity that were on order. Our downstairs bath is finally being finished, and I actually have DRYWALL WALLS up in there. It's been a year or two since I've had actual walls, so this is quite exciting!

Wish me luck and the wisdom to follow through on the Great Destashing!

Snow Day!
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs

The local school system must have been thinking that sending small children to school in a snow storm that is supposed to turn to freezing rain and ice would be a bad idea, so we have a snow day today! I love snow days as much as my kids do, as it is an excuse to get a fire going in the woodstove (which I do anyway, every day), watch cartoons, and be somewhat lazy. Although my day today will be filled with writing reports (hey, when you work at home, you really can't take a day off with the excuse "I couldn't get out of my driveway!"), I'll still find some time to do something fun with my boys.

Tuesday night was spinning guild. While I was excited about the prospect of getting out, I wasn't too keen on spinning the lovely corriedale roving that I've been spinning for months now. Although I've hardly been spinning at home, the lovely Luna fleece from True North Farm that I bought several years ago is calling out to me. I have to dig that out of the barn, and start on that. I need to do it justice, in Jimmie's name.
But it was nice getting out, and seeing old friends and new ones. Webs is having a spinning day at the shop on Saturday to promote spinning. Marcy, Deanna and I will be there for at least 4 hours, so feel free to stop by and join us.

Tuesday also found me clipping down my favorite little buck, Chunky Monkey. CM was a joy to clip; once he figured out that he WAS staying on my lap, he settled in, and relaxed for the duration. This is a very good thing, as new bunnies that learn that shearing is not to be fear go on to be docile adults at shearing time. CM joined his siblings back in the cage, looking no worse for ware. His litter mates will join me in the house within the next week for their own shearings.

The Spirit of Christmas
Mood:  lyrical
Now Playing: "The Christmas Song" by Perry Como
Carolyn writes how it is true to form that she is getting sick just before Christmas. Well, the same thing is happening here at our place. My boys missed the last three days of school, and now DH is showing signs of illness. I'm way behind on my Christmas shopping, and hope to finish it up this morning, wrap everything this afternoon and then go to my MIL's for dinner tonight, and my parents house tomorrow. But above all, I'm keeping in mind that my children are young and Santa is very much alive in their minds and hearts. This time is so short, and I love the look in the eyes of one of my boys when they see Santa somewhere, or "hear" him on the radio or in a song. Just the other night, while playing a Chipmunks Christmas CD (it isn't as bad as you might think, and the kids love it), Rudolph sings on the CD, and Nate, my youngest got so excited about it. It just makes your heart melt to see such excitment in their faces.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May we all remember the important things in life, and not get caught up in the stuff that isn't important, but tends to drag us down.

A holiday season with mixed feelings
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: "O Christmas Tree" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
I had a perfectly wonderful blog entry almost completed yesterday, and I hit a button on the computer and it *poof!*, disappeared. And it was a nice long entry too.

Christmas this year has seen a few ups and downs. The worst thing that has happened is that my friend Jimmie Londagin from True North Farm was killed in a farm accident a week ago Tuesday. It was such a shock to us all, as Jimmie was so filled with life, laughter and love for his friends and animals. Many people from the Sheep Thrills list came out to say goodbye to Jimmie. The funeral was held at the farm, in the fields that Jimmie so loved. While his time on that particular farm was so short, you could tell by just how many of the locals were there that Jimmie had touched with his friendship. While we all shed tears, we also laughed at some of the "new" lyrics we sang to "I'll Fly Away" and to the stories that people shared about Jimmie.

The funeral on Saturday reminded me of what wonderful friends I have though. Seeing Thrillers from far away, like Carolyn, ClaudiaLB, Catherine, Stef, Nancy and Shelley, and those that live closer, like Marcy, Deanna and Robin helped to put things into perspective. The lesson for the week, which unfortunately, had to be given by the Clue Fairy with her Clue-by-Four was "Don't sweat the small stuff....and it's all small stuff!"

Goodbye Jimmie. We'll miss you.

An unwelcome visitor
Mood:  vegas lucky
Now Playing: "A Christmas Festival" Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops
One thing about having animals is that they do require the regular trips to the barn for feeding, watering and general checks. On Thursday night, I made a trip out to the barn to give all the rabbits a treat of some carrots. Having made my way all the way around the barn, and was at the cage with Annie's kids in it, I'm giving them each a carrot, and I hear a rustling noise to my left. I look over (knowing that something is in the barn with me), and see a skunk trundling past me, less than 6 feet away! This little critter walked in through the door behind me, and out the northeast corner of the barn. Want to have a heart attack early? Watch a skunk walk right past you! As soon as he exited the barn, so did I! No more trips to the barn that night, and Winter (one of my bucks) missed out on a carrot break.

Last night I wasn't able to do barn chores until after 6 (again), and this time, my entire chant while outside was "Go away little skunkies, Go away little skunkies". The unnamed bunnies of Annie's are going to start responding to that if I don't start getting all of barn chores done in the daylight.

How cool is this???
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: "Silent Running" by Mike + the Mechanics
Today I'm out in Northampton on Pleasant Street, and crusing past, I see a new shop which has (drum roll please), FABRIC! Valley Fabrics opened their doors in July, and have a gorgeous selection of fabric! Everything from brilliant batiks, to crushed velvet, and handdyed Japanese silks. I was just about drooling while in there. When I was a kid and a teenager, I had quite the fabric stash, as I used to sew many of my own clothes in high school.
So, I had to stop in and check everything out. The owner seems to be striving to be different from the other quilt shops in the area, by offering classes that aren't your normal "lets make a queen sized quilt in 3 days" classes, but are offering classes on things like "Make a Japanese Kimono" or make a quilted handbag. She's even offering classes on making skirts and shirts!
My small purchase was this:
I'll show you later how my fabric knitted handbag is coming along. :) Oh, and that is Trina, Cal's cat. She just had to get into the picture.