Sheep Shearing Sunday

Freckles


Isabella

This was the week end to Shear the Sheep. Wow what a job. We got three out of the four done. We simply got too tired to finish. I'm sure the sheep felt the same way. We will do the last one on Thursday night. We had lots of help, but it was still very hard. I might get a shearer to do it next year. I'm getting too old to work this hard.


They were very woolly and really didn't want to be sheared. I have a hard time with that. It's like if you don't want me to shear you, do you want to be "lamb chops?" You are no good to me if I can't shear you. Anyway, it's like a horse you can't ride????? what's with that? That is one Useless horse. So we got them done and will finish up later this week. I already have all the wool packed up in a box to send off to the processor.



These are the after pictures. Lost your wool? They were so happy to get back out to the pasture. They look really funny and kept sniffing each other because they didn't recognise each other.


It was really cute. They have on their new coats, ready for next time. I will have lots of wonderful wool to spin this next year. I plan on learning more about dyeing.



I did some dyeing of fleece in a black trash bag last week and it turned out pretty good. I am in the process of spinning some really fun novelty yarn. We did some blending at class last week and that was fun. I haven't had much time since then to mess with it.





We went to my friend Amy's last week for Wednesday, Thursday and came home Friday. We had a lot of fun and of course Amy and I knitted and talked not stop. She has a group of ladies that come to her house and knit on Thursdays so I got to meet them and that was neat.

We started a scart that I got off of Knitty.com called Edger and we had a good time with that. Amy is a really good knitter and makes lots of beautiful things. Sweaters for her grandkids and for herself too. She can really knit. This is one of the scarfs I made. I think it will be a mother's day present.

I will have more about our trip next time.

Spin on....................................Sheena

Train trip, fun fun fun!

This is my Mom at the train station. We were a few minutes early so I took some pictures.

Back again. What a fun trip. Riding on the train was very fun. I love that you can sit and talk and knit and read and all that jazz while going somewhere. It is not as tiring as driving and certainly more fun for everyone. I love the sound of the train going clickity clack and when the whistle blew it was very cool. I finished my socks on the trip up there.

We had a good time visiting and my sister and I always talk our heads off when we get together. We went out for Mexican food on Friday night and that was really good. She lives in Atascadero and works for the Sheriff's Department. It is kind of rural there and she is learning all kinds of new things. Like, reading brands, comparing steers to their paper work. She is actually a crime prevention officer in San Luis Obispo. Everything was green and lots of rolling hills. I wish I would have taken more pictures.

On Saturday we drove up past Fresno somewhere for a birthday party for two of my sister's grandchildren. I'm still not sure where I was, but they had deer walking around in every one's yard. That was great. They eat all the shrubbery and grasses. All the yards are kind of natural, with very little landscaping. No yard work! I hadn't seen my sis's kids in three years. It was great to see everyone and all the grand kids (she has 8) and of course all the little ones had grown a lot since I saw them last. My sister is a red head and has two red headed grandchildren. That is so special. This is Sienna age 18 mo. She is a strawberry blond. The boy is Matthew he is a red head too. (he is also my very favorite)

Marsha with Sienna Matthew

On Monday we went to Morrow bay and spent the day shopping and eating and just plain having fun. These pictures were taken in front of a bit Rock shaped like a whale. Very cool.

Mom and Marsha Me and Marsha

We really did have a fun time and I can't wait to do it again. The train ride was so fun and it was great to spend some time with my sister.

Back to work! I need to spin more Freckles if I am going to have enough yarn for a sweater by the time I go to work. April 28Th. Boy that came around fast!

Spin on.................................Sheena

Finished Socks, Working on Shawl, Trip coming up.

Well, I finished the socks I was working on and they turned out great. I went to Newton's this last weekend and bought a bunch of really great sock yarn. I don't know why, but I love knitting socks. Probably because they are fast and fun to take along.

I have started the Shawl from Mystinclight KAL and have had nothing but trouble. I really don't have any experience knitting lace, but really want to learn how. I have started and ripped it out three times now. I am determined to get this right . The second clue comes out Wednesday and I will just have to catch up.

My mom and I leave for my sisters on Thursday morning. We are taking the train to somewhere around Monterrey. Hope it is as fun as it sounds. I can't wait to see my sister's new house. We will be going to one of her Grand children's birthdays. I forget which one. We will be back on Tuesday. This is a short trip, but it will be fun.

I have six full bobbins of "Freckles" spun. I hope to make a sweater. I have about 15 ounces left to spin. It will be time to shear them in a couple of weeks. Then I will have more wool than I know what to do with. Maybe I should be planting cotton instead.

Spin on..............................Sheena

New Car, Happy Easter, Socks almost done!

I have been looking for a new car. We found something that met all our needs. It is a Dodge Caravan. It has all the things my other Van didn't or doesn't have. Tinted windows, electric windows, electric locks, and cruise control. I am keeping my other van so Ron will have a car when he needs it for his folks, instead of the gas guzzling truck. My car was delivered on Wednesday night and it is so cool.

It is silver, and a 2005. Very nice with grey interior. I think I love it.

This Easter will be strange for me. I have always had most of my Grandchildren here to do the big Easter Egg Hunt. This year will be kind of quiet as all of the little kids in my life have moved away. I am planning a "Big Kid Easter Egg Hunt" so I can still have my fun. After all it is for me, the kids just get to join in. I boiled my eggs tonight and am ready to color them tomorrow. That is also for me. I am making a big Ham dinner and have plenty of grown ups to enjoy that. Hope you all have a Happy Easter and enjoy the peace and salvation that this holiday represents.

I am working on the ribbing of my socks. They will be done soon. Depending how much time I put in on them this weekend, they should be done before Monday.

I got to see my new babies on Thursday. A little black Lincoln and a white Lincoln/Columbia cross. They are so sweet and I can't wait. I love baby everything.

Spin on...................................Sheena

Women's Retreat, Snow again!

This week end was the best. I went to a women's retreat with the church Journey. I was invited by my middle daughter and her SIL. I have been to many retreats, but this one was so different. For one thing it was in the mountains in cabins. Very fun! It was so spirit filled. This is how I always imagined a retreat to be. Not only that, but the food was great, (how did they do that?) The other retreats I have attended were in fancy hotels, and the food was not that good, such a disappointment.



There were a bunch of us in one cabin and we had a blast. The speaker was Debbie Alsdorf, and she was so inspiring and has a book. DEEPER living in the reality of God's love. Her main message for me is "You are HIS" wow, that alone is so profound. It kind of makes everything else fall away. If you are "HIS", what to worry? Everything else becomes so unimportant by comparison. In the picture, from left to right, Dawn Stewart, Me, Denise Lungulow, Theresa, Rhonda, Stephanie. I was the "Mom", and really enjoyed being one of the girls



When we woke up Sunday morning there was snow! It was so beautiful and magical. There were a lot of woman there who had prayed for snow (go figure) so they were thrilled. I thought it was pretty, but I am not a big fan. I did take a lot of my wool things so it was a chance to really use them. I was pretty comfy and it was gone by lunch time.

Now that I am back home, I feel so refreshed. It was a great getaway. I can't wait until the next trip. I just got my tickets for the train trip my Mom and I are planning to take to my sisters up the coast. She moved to Atascadero or something like that and I haven't seen her new house yet. Really have wanted to do this for a long time. It is getting harder and harder for Ron and I both to get a way because of his folks. If I don't go now I will be working soon and then will have to wait until after September. That makes it another year since I've seen my sister. We plan to go the first week in April.

I really need to get spinning or knitting or something. Working on what else? Socks!

Spin on ........................................Sheena

Try that again!

Today I did the swatch for Mysticlight KAL over again. This time I used a size 8 needle and I like it alot better. The first one was done on size 7 (the size suggested by the designer), but my yarn must be finer so it came out too small. I really like this one better. Can't wait until we get the pattern. March 24Th or something like that.

The shades of grey look funny in this picture. It really is full of silver sparkles that don't show either. I know I will love this shawl.

Today was so beautiful. It was warm and sunny all day. Everything is blooming and it really does feel like spring. I took this picture for my grand kids. They love to eat sour grass. They say it tastes like dill pickles. ( I have agree with them)

It is so full and loving the sunshine.

Today after church my daughter and her husband came over and helped me put new coats on our sheep. We still have a month before we are going to shear them. Man their wool is so gorgeous I can't wait. It was great to get a close up peek at it.

My granddaughter is going to 6Th grade camp this week. It wasn't that long ago that I was trying to send her mother. Time sure has a way of slipping away.

Spin on................................Sheena

My Swatch for Mysticlight KAL

I finished my swatch for the Mysticlight KAL. It took me three tries, but I finally did it. I'm still not sure if it is right, but close enough. It looks like the picture I saw. I'm sure there are mistakes in it, but I have a couple of weeks to practise and that is just what I will do.

Mine is smaller than the sample, but I guess it doesn't matter. My shawl will be smaller. Maybe I will try a bigger needle. I love the yarn and know I will use this shawl.

Today I spent the entire day in the car. We went to recycle tires in Campo. It was a long hard drive in the truck with a trailer behind full of tires. We got rid of about 60+ tires. Don't ask. why would someone have that many tires. Long story. Anyway it took all day, but I took my knitting with me and got a good start on the BSJ (Elizabeth Zimmermans Baby Surprise Jacket.) I am knitting it with worsted weight yarn on size 9 needles so it will come out big. So the day wasn't a total loss.

Ron's Mom's eye is doing well. She had a procedure done on Tuesday to try to stop the damage to her left eye that is being caused by a vessel that is leaking. Anyway, we went back for a recheck on Friday and all is well. Now we just wait for 5 weeks to go back and see if it is working. We are still doing drops every four hours until tomorrow. (Sunday)

Can you believe it. It is already time to turn the clocks forward. It stays light late enough for me, but I know everyone likes more daylight. I just get more tired, everyone expects to get more done because there is more time. Right!

Spin on........................................Sheena