Life Happens~

Autumn has arrived! 

The plants around the pond are turning gold and the Japanese maple is red.

My girls are now ladies.
So pretty and tall and smart as whips!

A new baby arrived in our circle/community and he needed a sweater.

Ruby is still rotten. And SMART. She pulls the gate over. brat.

Always knitting.

Always scheming and planning.

Beautiful organs from a pig harvest. We always marvel at the miracle and cycles of the life of our animals we raise to feed our family. So very appreciated.

Ruby and the turkey farts (as I called them).

The largest came is at a whopping 23 pounds!
Tucked into the freezer for Thanksgiving.

An our little Eve-ooo getting her SENIOR pictures taken!

sheesh.

AND, after some unfortunate kitty-peeing/territorial issues in the house, the cats are now having a daily playtime OUTside. Here is Ezmaralda on her first day out.

On her second day out she communed with the ranging hens.

She chased them once.  I told her if she catches one she can eat it.

I love how they match. It was my personal goal to have ALL black animals. 

But I so love the green eggs those brown Ameracaunas lay. So we compromise.

xo

reenie out.

Gabriel's Snake Sweater~ 2013

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Here is my latest commission, an adorable snake sweater for (almost 3 year old!) Gabriel.

Yarn is Cascade 128 superwash merino in Lichen.

Pattern is a one-of designed as I went along.

Knit from the bottom up.

With a cabled snake panel in the front.

(eyes are embroidered on with yarn)

Ribbed cuffs allow for growth spurts...

...and the gnomey hood? Is my favorite part.

I think he likes it.

Thanks to mom, Char for letting me take Gabriel's photos and posting them.

Life Happens~ Absorbing Summer

We love summer.

Love love love.

Here are some recent shots of life around here lately~

~~~~~~~

Paul has been working with the hives. 

We had a swarm move into the empty hive boxes in our barnand they built their comb under the lid.
He had to move the brood into frames. The bees will fill in the gaps with more comb.

It's dahlia madness in the garden. 

Eve planted a kajillion of them. Want some?

Mrs. William's hydrangea bush bloomed for the first time this year 

(since we moved here three years ago!). It's amazing. 

Mrs. Williams lived here for 65 years before us.

I created a cocktail, (and promise to post the recipe). 

It's called a" Goosey Lucy" and it is SO yummy.

There has been a LOT of swimming in the pond.

Gathering of friends...  

 Family visits (our entire family lives in PA)...

And my quiet practice. 

Being still and quiet is not something that I do enough, but is so good for me.

Be still and listen. It's something I need to cultivate and work on every day.

We planted flowers in memory of all my grandmothers. The gladiolus are for my Gram Kopp.

Planted in her favorite colors, lavender purple and a peachy pink.

 View of the orchard from the tractor.

Our young flock of hens.

The news ladies' tiny eggs are on the right.

The giant egg in the center is our old, over-achieving Ameracauna hen (Connie). 

She lays a big one every week-ish. It usually has a double or triple yolk!

And of course, there is a lot of knitting happening. And planning. 

The planning never stops. 

Back to absorbing this last month of summer!

See you soon!

xo

reenie

Teo's Tomten Sweater~ 2013

 

 My little buddy Teo is growing so very fast. 

He is just 5 months old, yet is a big boy!

This sweater is a 4T~! Of course he has a lot of room to grow in it.

Yet another sweater by the amazing Elizabeth Zimmerman, this customized Tomten Sweater is perfect for a growing boy. (Ravelry Pattern Link)

    

Yarn is Northampton by Valley Yarns, color is Fawn.

5 st/in. on sz. 7  needles.

The custom button band is inspired by and knit from

the Latte Baby Coat pattern (Ravelry Link) by Lisa Chemery.

I decided to make an icord edge, I love how it cleans up the edges of the garter stitch 

and it completed the woven pattern nicely.

Buttons are from my Gram's button tin.

As he grows, we can move the buttons closer to the left edge, to give him 2 more inches around.

The garter stitch will stretch as he grows, and will give the needed length.

Sleeves are rolled up for now.

Back view~ 

My favorite part of this sweater? The hood!

I love the decreases at the back of the neck and the gnomey peak.

Love to see how this sweater will grow with Teo.

xo

reenie