Chicken Fixing Finale

My Dad came today to help me with the final part of the chicken fixing job.

He cut a chicken-sized hole in the back of their house and fashioned a cute chicken-sized hinged door that doubles as a porch roof when open.

I was the helper – holding, lifting, passing, moving either tools, bits of wood, hinges and/or screws. While we worked we had company, all of whom were very interested in what was happening.

Their wings have been clipped and finally they are contained in one large area. Plenty of space for everyone!!

It’s all finished now and I hope they’ll be happy in their new space. It’s going to be so nice not having to go hunting for eggs.

I think that’s what I’m looking forward to most!

We are off to Sock Club tonight. I haven’t managed to finish that last sleeve but am only rows away from the end however I’m pulling something out of the WIP’s basket to take instead. I’ll sort the last bit of the jersey tomorrow.

Warm Hugs

We are enjoying the most stunning autumn days at the moment and today was no exception. Sunshine, blue sky and not a breath of wind meant just one thing. W-A-L-K.

The grass is lush along the path and almost too long for short-dog legs but there is so much to sniff at along the way, I don’t think their damp tummies bothered them one little bit!!

A fabulous time was had by all. I got to enjoy the countryside and make lots of to-do lists in my head and those two got to explore their favourite walking route yet again.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day for those of us below the equator (I think). I was treated with presents and dinner out plus . . . . . . .

a most special card made by the very lovely Miss Kate.

In other news, I have restocked the shop shelves a teeny bit.

and I’m celebrating the start of the second (and last) sleeve of the most-dreary-man-jersey-ever-knitted. Hallelujah!!

There’s nothing quite like a goal to keep a gal motivated so I’m giving myself until Thursday night to have the stupid thing finished. I do not want to will not be taking it to James’s for Sock Club on Friday. Simple as that.

I hope all the Southern Hemisphere mums had a lovely day yesterday. Did you all get just a little bit spoilt?

Lovely, jubbly!

I always thought it was lovely jovely but apparently it is in fact lovely jubbly.

Anyhoo – I’m all ready for tomorrow’s market despite some (out of my control) setbacks this week and looking forward to a lovely day!!

Skeins are labelled, patterns priced, bags are packed.

There always seems to be a large amount of extraneous stuff needed to get us through the day and this time I’m also toting large bags of lemons and figs for my mum!

Most important though is something to knit. I’m thinking I might cast on something new – perhaps Paulie which I have been meaning to do for absolutely ages.

If you are in Wellington tomorrow then come on down and say hi!

I have some signed copies of

Colours of Shetland for sale along with lots of other lovely stuff…..

See you there!

Preparing

I’m busy preparing for Saturday.

The yarn stocks are low so there is a bit to be done.

I have spent much of the last few days winding, dyeing,

skeining, labeling, organising and sorting.

It’s good to be busy.

Our not-so-little-anymore girl is in the city for a few days and the house is too quiet.

I miss her.

Yesterday I read a post from one of my most favourite bloggy people on passion. She wrote of how she and her hubby had been talking a lot recently about passion and she shared what she felt passionate about -

“I keep coming back to the same answer. Growing food, preparing food and preserving food for our family is my passion. Living in the season and preparing for the next. Having a minimal impact on the earth. Living a creative life. Family. Home.”

- it struck a chord and really made me think about our life here and what I felt truly passionate about. I think I’m more passionate about our life now than I’ve ever been before. For me it’s to do with living in a rural environment, having a greater awareness of and being in sync with seasonal changes, producing food, caring for animals, living simply and more lightly on the earth, creativity, and as Kate said – family, home.

It’s a lovely way to live.

Forethought

There are plans afoot to change the hen’s living arrangements.

Currently they free range over an area that incorporates two paddocks and a woodland patch and I am more than tired of searching for or stumbling upon hidden nests of eggs.

There is a huge area behind their coop which was once (before our time) a rather fancy pig enclosure.

It’s perfect for the hens – fenced and more than big enough for them all.

There are shady spots plus a  large sunny area for the mandatory afternoon sunbathing and dust baths.

Needless to say a bit of work is required to bring it up to speed as it is very overgrown and had an old rotten pig shelter that needed to go.

Stage one was started today and great progress was made.

The girls will love hanging out there once it’s finished.

I have plans for the ducks to join them so will have to source some type of swimming pool/pond for the daily dips.

A new chicken enclosure should also put a stop to chicken food and scraps being eaten by those for whom it was never intended……….

Adjusting

Night duty gives me the wobbles.

Each time I work those shifts, I spend the duration in a fug of tiredness – lacking sleep and feeling out-of-sorts.

It’s the shift I work most often as its suits our family life so much of the time I’m adjusting and trying to get myself back in the moment. It’s tricky and sometimes challenging to manage.

The garden is also busy adjusting. Soon the hydrangeas and the roses will finish and the camelias will be stepping up to the plate.

The ever-changing face of Mother Nature keeps me enthralled with our garden,

but I’ve decided there might be too much pink.

Note to self – some colour adjustment is needed. Planning more reds and blues and creams and yellows for next year……

Round and Round and Round

I’m trying hard to finish something.

It’s very boring to knit and is starting to feel a bit like a noose around my neck however I’m on a roll now and determined to not give up until I’m done.

Plain and simple as requested – a jersey for my brother. Yes, a birthday present and yes, outrageously overdue. I am hard at it, trying to get it finished but the dreariness of the endless rounds of stocking stitch are mind-numbingly boring.

The yarn is Stansborough Mythral Royal Lambs and a complete pleasure to knit with.

The ball band tells me that “Stansborough Greys produce one of the rarest fibres in the world! This unique, lustrous, silky grey sheep dates back to the vikings and can only be found  on the picturesque pastures of Stansborough Estate in New Zealand.”

Aren’t they lovely?

The Mythral is overdyed as the Stansborough Greys produce naturally grey wool and I’m using the blue (Royal Takahe).  The overdyeing lends the yarn a wonderful heathery, smokey hue but for the life of me I can’t seem to capture the true colour with my camera. It’s deeper and richer than my photos suggest and I apologise that I can’t replicate the depth of colour realistically.

The jersey I’m knitting is from a pattern that I think I may have owned for almost 30 years.

It’s tried and true and has produced many garments for my father, brother and even a few errant boyfriends.

They really like it’s simpleness and even though it’s boring to recreate, I appreciate that finding something that fits so well is worth repeating.

And so I plod on with the endless rounds. Only one and a half sleeves to go, a simple bit of neck ribbing, minimal sewing up and we’ll be crossing the finish line – not a moment too soon in my book!

I hope you’ve had a lovely restful weekend wherever you are. Have you been knitting or creating and is it raining in your little corner of the world?