Saturday sky

(between snowfalls)

tot playing in today's snow...
about 4 inches of the stuff.
Holly wants to play too....
Hugo wants to play w/Holly.
(he plays so hard in the snow!)

no eggs... wondering if Holly isn't eating them.
The goose is limping again.

Now for the finished knitted items from January

Drop Stitch Moebius cowl
yarn used: lion brand trellis
this is an ick!

a Coffee corset
(free Ravelry download)
knitted with Malabrigo
(wonderful stuff)
Fire in the Head fingerless gloves
(erratas in the pattern)
yarn used: was some previously dyed w/Kool Aid
used US 6 dpns and got a child's large size
My grandmothers slippers
yarn: 2 strands of Dusty Rose Red Heart
size made: child shoe size 9

To Russia With Love....
Pattern: Scrappy Hat (archived)
yarn: 1 strand of fun fur and 2 of grey/black boucle
has been donated and already snatched up as a
chemo cap.

Sunday Quotes

I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies,

they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime.
~Will Rogers
though this link will take you to winter nudist attire.
(link is rated M)


Saturday sky last Saturday...


and my dead ice field.
i dump the ice just outside the door.
(there is a few more blocks now).
have lost 2 water dishes and a bucket this year already.
another bucket is frozen deep in the ice.



Hugo relaxing in the hallway.

Tweedledum scratching Holly's back.

sometime in this next week i will be
posting images of all projects started and
finished in January.

this blog was supposed to be
updated on Sunday
but the comp crashed in the middle.

So Thing 2 doesn't live here anymore.
therefor his bedroom is in dire need
of being mucked out.
There is some serious funk odor
emanating from the room.

First step: Remove all shoes- esp. 2 pairs of wrestling shoes. Nope.
Second step: wash all laundry- 4 pillows, 2 comforters and sleeping bag. Nope.
Third step: clean mattress- wasn't the bed blue and white? now it is brown.
Steps to cleaning mattress:
first: lightly spray with vinegar and cold water mixture,
blot with paper towels.
Open window to air out room- vinegar is powerful smelly.
Second: stand up on end to dry both sides of mattress.
Third: after airing put bed back together and liberally sprinkle with baking soda.
Allow soda to sit
then vacuum.

While mattress is airing,
vacuum up debris under bed.
what is that burning smell?
oh well continue cleaning.
put bed back together and generously apply baking soda.
(did you know that with enough baking soda in the air
it can be tasted?)
now to vacuum the closet...
what is burning?
uh oh bad sound from vacuum.
black stuff underneath vacuum.
take apart... nope not the belt.
how in the world did i burn up the beater bar?
now to replace bar, 7 to 10 days shipping.
Cool. but i still have soda all over the mattress.
now what?
hmm...
shop vac.
plug it in and turn it on.
aw bugger it!
whoever used it last did not remove water.
it smells like mildew.
oh well can't be to bad.
proceeded to remove soda from mattress,
then finished the room,
behind bookcases, dressers and door.
then looked down hallway.
I will just get the hay while i have this out.
oh lookie at all the black dog hair.
finally stop cleaning.
DH comes in and says:
"What is that smell? it stinks in here".
now to air out the whole house.
thankfully it is about 30 F outside.

So to get funk smell out of one room,
we went to vinegar,
burning plastic,
mildew.
best one of all of those was the vinegar.
yes there were little melted bits of plastic in my carpet
they were removed w/scissors.

Summer Solstice

Our Solstice Sky...
much of the day was spent
with rain showers.
we did have fun.
the first Tomato of the year...
Bumpkins took some convincing to eat it though.
then thought it was delish.

We got some new pets a couple of weeks ago....
here they are just brought home.

African Geese

and here they are today....

Tweedledee and Tweedledum.


and last weeks sky.

sorry forgot to take weekly pics of rabbits and chickens.
planted broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
(hoping all goes well as my garden is in 20 days late).

Knitting: started a pair of fingerless gloves for me. was hoping to finish up one tonight. but have a bad headache and no motivation.

DH is busy gigging today and last night. Yesterday his Christian band Savant opened for KDLL radio station annual Solstice Party. Big event, parking and booths were in the pasture (yes step out of car into pile of horse poo). Then last night and tonight his Rock Band Danger Pig played out at a bar called Moosequitos. On top of that this evening there was a gig at St. Elias Brewery, best pizza in town.

so hope everyone is doing well.

Saturday Sky....

Our Saturday Sky.....

kind of cloudy.




The inside of the new chicken tractor
specifics: 1 old rabbit hutch
removed legs and wire bottom.
very happy birds.



a portion of the garden.
(wondering how many rhubarb plants is enough,
i have around 12 and still have to seperate one).



More rabbits from the thrift store......
now to hope that at least two are female and one is male.
(Lily is the one in the middle).



recommended summer reading:
Watership Down
Hit by a Farm, very interesting read about supporting your partners ideas.

have an awesome Memorial Day weekend.

New Contest and Saturday night sky

Saturday sky
(8:30 pm and yes it really was that blue)

New Contest:
(as Jane was the only one interested
in the chickies contest).

Here is the new one:
Please leave a comment or email me,
with a name for my garden.
I will then attempt to put suggestions in
the sidebar for voting.
deadline for entries is
May 16.
with deadline for voting
May 22.

(kind of need a name for this website)
One Million Gardens
and another site (no name required this time)
Gardener's Supply
where you pledge to grow 10 lbs of food this year.



Nana's Mother day present....
milk jugs cut in half,
morning glories,
and topped w/soda bottles as mini greenhouses.

Finished raking garden today,
let the chickies play out there.
(so cute)
still have to rototiller it/ prep it for planting.
buds on tomato plants soon will have tomatoes.

eta: told Bumpkins that we would probably be eating the nice chickie Celia (yes she named another animal). She was very sad.

Saturday Sky....

Here is our Saturday Sky.

Nice and sunny
71 F.
(summer? this morn was 39 F)


Bumpkins swinging on her swingset.
(it dried up FAST!
the ground is still "squishy" though)


The chickies are getting big.

The turkey is the biggest.

Athena is doing very well leaving these guys alone.
Hugo wants to eat them.
(he went on Point today,
while watching a Robin).


I have a really long weekend this week.
which i need to recharge.

been playing with Bumpkins outside.
DH's car is still down, so we have
been tag teaming using my car.

Accidentally unplugged the deep freeze so
many things thawed.
tonight must cook 7 bone roast.

The new term for the Harry Potter House Cup has started.
Now to come up with items to go after points.
Looking to see if the bubbly pi shawl will be allowed.

Swimming lessons are over until June.
well that's all......

Saturday Sky.... not....

Sorry no pics
left the camera in
the van.
(and if i went to go
get it, the computer would
be used by someone
else by the time I got back).

Got a beautiful shot of the sky last
night with Redoubt's steam plume.

today got a wonderful shot
of my back tail light broken out.
(got backed into while at the track meet).
also today got a Geography lesson in Alaska.
There were teams from all over
participating in the meet.
Kenny Lake, Juneau- Douglas,
(just to name a couple).
And it snowed this morning.

Our driveway is just about bare of snow.
My garden has snow from when it slid off of
the roof.

This week have passed up the
opportunity to buy baby geese,
Baby rabbits, baby chicks, and baby turkeys.
maybe next week.


Work has been extremely busy.
DH is now employed at the census borough.


and because i haven't done one of these for a bit
somethings are just wrong.
Woman makes clothes out of her own hair.

Saturday Sky....

Saturday evening sky.

taken at 7 pm.
(here is take 2 of Saturday pictures.
somehow my card needed to be reformatted.
lost everything.
but almost everything was uploaded already.)

The view of our drive


Well guess we finally have
a water dog.

this year we needed to put
up sawhorses to prevent people
from going into the lake
beside the house.
(it was deep slush)

Hugo wading in the "lake"
over by the apple tree.

this week has been extremely busy for us. DH's car has a cracked head, and i am working a lot of hours.

Knitting: redoing January's BOM. had it 1/2 done and realized that it was to big. Also have discovered a cool website with Pern shawl patterns. Princess said she didn't want one. Kazul... do you want a Pern inspired shawl? choices are Ruatha, Benden Weyr, Healer, Harperhold, Bubbly pi, shipfish, 1/2 circle, to name just a few.

the weather finally has turned warm. around 48 F most days this week. Today started out with snow but later we had rain.

have discovered that we wont be doing a pig this year. As the shoats are ready to go home and we are nowhere near being set up yet. Also pigs come in 2 and they are running 125 USD ea.
So chicken tractors are our best bet. have plans for 2. Princess has suggested goats, we do have the acreage but i don't have the time come winter. Also i will want fiber goats, rabbits wont' be to bad either. But they have a downside also, need to buy a bred doe and then raise the meat from there. really want to do free range animals.

no new interesting recipes.
Mt Redoubt is building another dome.

Saturday Sky.... not....

Did take pictures...
not of the sky.
(which started out snowing this morn,
then mostly blue/cloudy).

but of Bumpkins dyeing
Easter Eggs, then
we dyed yarn,
and then the snowbank.
(will post piccies
hopefully in the am.)


Friday after work,
Bumpkins and I went with
friends swimming.
Finally Bumpkins will go into the
deeper section of the kiddie pool
and is willing to jump in.
now to work on arms, legs and floating.

went out knitting this morn.
was talking to one lady who also is on Ravelry.
And found out that she listens to Destiknit's podcast.
(she talks about knitting and spinning a fair amount).

i am off to bed now.
Princess is staying in Anchorage for Easter.

Sunday Quotes

"Let sleeping dogs lie".
-American quote
(Hugo was a little tired after spending
much of the day outside).
Saturday sky......

And this is how Alaskan chilluns swing on the
swings.
(there isn't much room for swinging!
the snow is a tad bit deep).

Knitting: have knitted aprox 12 yards of i-cord. now to knit it into something else. Am involved in the Harry Potter House Cup and am researching for my patronus. Kazul says that a jackalope suits me whereas DH says a Narwhal. What do you think?Bumpkins starts preschool tomorrow, will attempt to let folks know what is going on. I have been a little depressed lately, but hopefully that is ending or getting better. It now stays light until around 5:30 pm and the temps are nice to be outside in. DH, Bumpkins, Hugo and I all went sledding over in the gravel pit today. It was fun. Everyone is already asleep.

Last night DH and I went out. Ate out at the Brewhouse, wasn't as good as last time. Then we came home and watched the movie "Two Weeks Notice". Very funny movie. DM watched Bumpkins, they had fun.

Dinner: Corned beef and Cabbage w/ buttermilk biscuits.

Sunday Quotes

Saturday Sky
(no Mt. Redoubt pic as the clouds rolled in)

"I'm smiling because your my sister,
and laughing because there is nothing
you can do about it."
author unknown


Happy birthday Kazul!

Knitting: During the Super Bowl I cast on and knitted a pygmy puff. Now to sew it together and stuff it. Used up some of my yellow fun fur. It is on the small side..... you'll see soon.

Sewing: tomorrow must cut out and sew some dog booties together.

Not much else is going on, except the whole house now has my cold. Hopefully DH and Thing 2 don't get this bad. I doubt they will as Thing 2 has been taking vitamin C's and fish oil 2X a day. And DH hasn't been stressing his body out.

Saturday Sky and yard

Saturday evening sky...

not sure why my late evening shots are always blue.

the road in front of my house
sunset 4:40 pm

and blogger lost my next picture!

Knitting: finally finished DH's mushroom hat. It was supposed to have been a fast knit, but didn't have much time to knit this last week. Was surprised that it fit him.
specifics:
Cast on November 14 using the Norwegian Cast on (which I really like! best tutorial is over in Youtube).
US 8 DPN's and Paton's Merino Wool.
Did 88 stitches and forgot the stockingnette row between the color change.

finished November 22 2008

this is for my House cup Herbology homework- make something in plant pattern. Now to finish find the item I am making for Transfiguration.

Been busy this last week, work and attempting to clean the house ie.. wash laundry mountain.

Supposed to snow tomorrow but today was chilly 7 F.

ETA: a chicken tractor will only be used during the summer. Raise the poor critters for fall butchering, will way to difficult to attempt to overwinter chickens.

Update on a Wednesday

A picture of the sky on Saturday.

Knitting: Nothing new really am attempting to crochet something for the Ravelry House Cup. Doesn't like it will get finished though.

Sewing: have several items to make to send out on Monday. They will be small enough to fit in an envelope.

Bumpkin's is sick and is in quarantine for a week. She has hand foot mouth and can't go to daycare or any place out in public. So no Trick or Treating for her.

Weather here is cold! running about 0F to 5 F at night. Makes for some cold starting cars.

Take care folks.

Saturday Sky and Sunday Quote

"Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to Spring."
- Anonymous

Saturday Sky....

(if you click on it you may see snow on the Mountains).

Yarn......

Currant dye bath
using this link
Used salt as a fixative

Final product....
to light so I overdyed w/strawberry Kool Aid.
and it felted.

Knitting: have been doing Lots! As I am in a Ravelry Harry Potter House Cup. And am enrolled in 3 classes each month. This month is Herbology (hence the dyeing). Charms - knitting a scarf for someone. History of Magic- a brief quiz that is online. And am not sure if I am going to do Astronomy again or if I will try Potions. So folks Christmas gifts may be odd.......
Also frogged DM's sock it wasn't working out.

Quilting: am working on the Round Robin Quilt. It is very challenging. Need to get sewing on other projects though.

Have been pretty busy w/work. Hugo seems to be settling down- though today he ate DH's earbud piece while DH was working on a Resume'. It snowed here on Friday (just enough to make everyone groan). Have been picking berries, have a bucket that needs to be tended to tonight. Still need to get the last bit of rhubarb and lingonberries in. Decided to make a rhubarb and lingonberry sauce for Christmas dinner. Also the best way to pick currants is to take scissors and clip the chains into a bucket. Super easy! Just make sure the bucket is centered under the chain.

Thing 2 is finished w/Football. Last game was played on a field that was covered in ice (recently plowed) they lost 40- 14. So now it is wrestling season, great here comes the anorexia/starvation. He hopes to only have to lose 10 lbs to make weight.



Weather: sunny, cloudy and temps are running in the low 20's F (am) and daytime rising to 50 F.

Dinner: last night Cornish Pasties! Delish, dessert was heavy cake.

Saturday Sky and Sunday Quote

Saturday Evening sky....
around 8:30pm

Don't you just love the stuff some folks toss out?
Bumpkins now has a little bike.
(perfectly good)

Bad photo job........

"The dog was created specially for children.
He is the god of frolic."
~Henry Ward Beecher

Knitting: lots - that is pretty much all that I have been doing lately. Started a Norwegian Earflap hat for Bumpkins. Also cast on for a pair of wristlets Super easy. In bulky yarn Cast on 30 knit for 8 inches. Sew up ends about 2/3 then leave space for thumb then sew up the rest. It is a lion brand pattern. I am using Twister and US 13 needles. This last week also finished up a washcloth. hope to post pics this next week.


Have been kind of busy around here, what w/Hugo training, work, home schooling preschool, and Thing 2 having Homecoming this week. The pool finally opened on Thursday am. On Wednesday I was sick so I stayed home and vegged. Friday night was spent out at the Church Camp for a Ladies Evening Out. That was a lot of fun.

Bumpkins has been having a rough time....Monday she was eating a gummie fruit in the car, when she pulled a portion of her tooth out of her mouth. Needless to say emergency trip to the dentist. And the Kenai area has no Ped. dentist full time. The tooth that was broken is a portion of a composite front tooth. Saturday afternoon she decided to climb up some shelves. Well she fell on a Fisher Price little people house and barn, she was hurt. (but didn't stop her from climbing though). Tonight while getting ready to go for our evening walk, she got her fingers shut in the screen door. So no walk and we had to ice her fingers.

Well I better wrap this up before she falls asleep.

If I don't get back this week hope everyone has an awesome week.

Saturday Sky

Saturday night sky 10:00 pm
Bumpkins kept asking why is the sky orange....

This is DM's sock.
Not wanting to knit w/small needles right now.

Knitting: finally cast on something new. Sure I have lots on the needles: the baby sweater, DM's sock, trying to make a granny square out of crochet. But this is something new that called to me using the big ol cone of peach acrylic. Twitterpated purse (free pattern out there on the net). It is just a 9" X12" rectangle. Should satisfy something.......

Quilting: haven't been doing that this week.

Friday at work I somehow tweaked my back and that has disabled me for a time. Getting up out of bed is interesting, somehow roll over and slide out onto my knees then get to cedar chest and hoist myself up. Getting up off of the toilet has me wanting to grab the bars that are in the handicap baths. Absolutely no bending over, reaching is minimal, sitting hurts, laying down gets to me to. Can't stand forever. Bumpkins has been really good through all of this, helping put laundry in the wash and dryer, sliding the laundry basket across the floor. Picking things up for me and not really asking to be picked up and carried. Haven't been blogging because I have been taking Flexiril's and prescription Ibuprofen's and life here is relatively boring.

Well that's all folks.
oh sad part of today was I ran over a squirrel with the mini van. Poor thing, I looked at it through the rear view mirror and its little tail was going up and down. I felt awful!