Where have I been?

If I don’t know, I can’t really expect you to know, can I?

Well, its a week until Maryland Sheep & Wool. So weekends are spent down at Kid Hollow helping Pat get her yarn and rovings ready. And trying to find new ways to annoy Steve. (not really- the best part about getting ready for the festivals is that while we’re working, Steve will take care of lunch and dinner- and that man can cook!) I also get to help with goatie chores while I’m there- and they have over 50 kids this year!

So we have this last weekend to get ready. Pat was supposed to borrow a friend’s copy of Twilight for us to watch- I hope she remembered. While we were getting ready for the fall shows, they were watching an Australian show called Mcleod’s Daughters- kind of an Australian equivalent of Dallas, but instead of oil they were merino sheep farmers. Since I only saw the episodes they watched on the weekends, it’s top on my list for when I get Netflix. Anyway- lots to do down there this weekend. Then we leave Thursday evening. Friday will be setting up, Saturday will be crazy, Sunday will be slightly less crazy, then pack up and go home. I know Carol will come see me, and Laura will be with her, and if Ducky can make it, I’m hoping she’ll stop by (linking isn’t working right, but look up dragonflyducky). I’ll be at Kid Hollow’s booth- I believe they’re in barn 5- but the easiest way to find us is to look for the baby goats right outside in front of the barn.

2 weeks after Maryland, I’ll have a booth at the Sedalia Fiber Festival- in Bedford County, VA. Soooo- I just don’t know if I’m coming or going.

This week little Evan gave me a scare. Wed. morning he started limping- to the point that as he walked it looked like his rear end was trying to twist up front. There is a disease out there, Listeriosis, that is nicknamed the “circling disease” because its a neurological disease that causes the goats to walk in a circle. If you catch it quickly, and treat it aggressively, the animal has a chance. So, Dr. Melinda was here within a few hours (my hero!). His temperature was up a little, but her feeling was this was more of a result of someone butting him and causing some nerve damage- but just in case, we did the antibiotic run you would give for list., plus 2 days of pain killers. He’s much better- so we’re leaning toward the butting injury, and he’s recovering nicely.

Ok. Enough talk. Time for pictures. (especially since there is no knitting or spinning talk. we’re not going to discuss the lack of talk)

did you see this one already?

Some of you had asked about Chance’s color. We’re confused, too. He’s black, yet you can see stripes on him. He has longer white hairs mixed in with the black fur on his legs. I guess a few more weeks will show us what he will be. The other day, the kids’ wonderful bus driver who saved him got to come see him and was utterly charmed. She got to feed him his bottle- it was a really nice visit.

punk kitty

C found some hair gel. Chance survived.

Renesmee's big goatie stretch

Evan and Renesmee snoozing in the sun

Sis makes a good pillow

Have a good weekend!

We took a hike

The kids are on spring break this week. Monday, it was just novel sleeping in. Tuesday I had to rush to get a test knit out the door. Wed., I put it in the mail and took the kids down to my parents’ house for a bit. Thursday, the plan was to hike. I was hoping my sister, her husband, the twinnies and their brother could come, but Little Miss Purple (easier to type than lavender) has an ear infection (feel better, sweetie!). So I packed up my favorite monsters, a backpack of water and snacks, and we headed for White Oak Canyon Falls, part of the Shenandoah National Park system. It was about a half hour drive (perfect) and the weather was sunny and 65 (perfect). We were at it for about 3.5 hours, didn’t make it quite to the top (I was still getting winded from the plague-masquerading-as-a-cold. just the remnants, but enough). The kids had a great time, and it was just on the borderline of becoming a pain in the rear at the end- we’ll definitely do it again.

me and my guys

C had the camera most of the time, and she snapped this as we were going in.

pretty wildflowers

Only O would find a bed on a rock

After awhile I got tired of repeatedly cringing as she swung my camera by its strap and I took over.

my crazy monsters

walking along

he can fly!

daredevils

They thought the rock hopping was the best, but then we reached the falls.

White Oak Canyon Falls

We climbed out to some rocks and sat awhile and just listened to the beautiful sound of the falls. The kids did some more rock hopping, and I kept my cringing to a minimum. I did knit a bit (I tried, really tried, to leave the knitting in the car, but I started having a panic attack and figured it didn’t weigh enough to justify not putting it in the backpack). After a bit, we headed back down. That’s the nice thing about trails that take you up to the falls, the trip back down isn’t so bad. You would think.

it was inevitable

We did have a fantastic time. (they totally think that i will take them in the summer so they can swim in the pool at the bottom of the falls. got news for them- mommy absolutely hates exertion in the summer).

I think I need to answer some comments. You all are so kind telling us how wonderful we are with the cats. Little Chance is totally C’s cat. When he first came, I was really sick, and she did the middle of the night feedings until he was strong enough to go from bedtime to morning. I’ll do what he needs while she is in school, but other than that it is all her, and its obvious from the way he loves her. We’ll let him crawl around on the bed or grass, and he always climbs back on her.

Chance

CJ overseeing the bottle

Bridget had commented that it will be fun when Chance is big enough to give CJ a run for her money. Which led Carol to worry what we would get if CJ weren’t spayed- what a combination! Not to worry, that was taken care of in January (whew). Ali P told how her cat Newman (who is utterly adorable, go look at him) wreaked havoc on Easter Egg arrangement. Yea, I’ve fished several plastic egg halves out from under the stove for Miss Itteh Bitteh CJ.  Carol had also mentioned that with all my adorable animals, people must be slowing down as they drive by to ogle them. Well- we are at the end of the road of our so-called subdivision (all 5 to 7 acre lots- not really a subdivision, yet still w/ a hoa). We live down, then back up a very, very steep hill, so noone really can just drive by. If anyone sees my babies, its from walking up the hill on the  neighboring property. Too bad- cuz they are irresistably cute.

And here is Izzy being cute- mooching coffee-

May I pretty please have a little gulp? Please...

Can’t you just see the question in her face? What do you think I did?

Thanks, Mom

You guys have a great weekend. I’ll be working down at Kid Hollow- just 2 more weeks til MD!!!!!!!!

Well, Carol asked…

Carol asked, “What?  No sunhats for the goats???” So guess what we have?

Elphie looks pretty in lavender

Goats in sunhats!Yesterday I sent my daughter down to the field with my camera and one of the sunhats that will go in my shop. I love giving her assignments.

Does this hat give me a big head?

Evan just looks irresistable no matter what, doesn’t he?

Ok, I’ve promised you a stash enhancement. This installment all comes from Black Bunny Fibers. First we have a lovely merino/silk lace weight in beautiful spring greens:

Tam O'Shanter

I got 2 more cormo/corriedale cross rovings- since I love the way Mud Puddle is spinning up.

Mud Puddle cormo/corriedale

First there is this lovely combination:

Paisley in a tree

Paisley- reds, deep purples, maroons, and blues. The other of this blend is:

Happy Blues on a see-saw

Mountain Pool (see, she knew I would have to get this one, so she named it for where I live). Gorgeous shades of blues, lavenders, and purple.

I also got a merino/bamboo roving in soft shades of sage, lavenders, soft blues, and a hint of cream:

Yorkshire Moors Meriboo on the sit 'n' spin

Oh- what to put on the wheel when I get one free????? Dilemmas…

I also got a sock flat, and it is my very favorite sock flat that I have ever seen- I know she dyed this for me- as a matter of fact she was emailing me to tell me I would like this, when the email came in telling her I had bought it.

Sock Flat on a swing

It’s named “Pasteltopia: and it is just that. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this- if it becomes socks, really, only all that will be seen is the bit around the ankle- that’s not right. I could get clear shoes, then do one cuff down and the other toe up so all colors could be seen. I could do a scarf- grafting the middle together so each side is equal. Or, I could just frame it and hang it on my bedroom wall- these colors make me that happy.

(note on photos- my daughter was in her “swingset” mood”)

My sister called me yesterday to tell me Little Miss Pink was running around in nothing but her diaper and her hat. Woohoo.  You know- that has just guarenteed that that child will have hand knits from Auntie Min for the rest of her life.

Today I mailed one test knit out, and will start the next tonight or tomorrow.  I wonder if there is a way that I could make test-knitting my job? Hmmmm.

I have a CJ shot for you from Easter morning- here she was in the middle of it all when we came downstairs:

I could have sworn they said Easter Kitty...

I bet I know what you would like to see.

3 week old Chance

He is so almost asleep in C’s lap, with a little bit of kitty formula still on his mouth. We will get more shots, I promise.

Now to find the parting goatie shot…

Pikachu eating sweet potatoes

Oops, where did that hamster come from?

Evan shows the proper way to be cute

Twinnies are 2

Over the last 2 days, my daughter and I have taken enough pictures to fill several posts, but for this one, we’ll concentrate on my nieces (and maybe throw in a goat or 2 at the end).

My twin nieces turned 2 the end of March, but between people being sick, me working weekends, and their Dad working 3 on/2 off or something like that, we couldn’t pull a party together until Saturday.

Little Miss Lavender

They’re identical, so Manda and David’s trick is to dress one in purple and one in pink.

So of course, Auntie Min made their sunhats accordingly.

Little Miss Lavender

Little Miss Pink

Some family friends were there with their fantastic thirteenish son, and their adorable just over 1 year old son. I forgot to ask if they minded pictures being here, so I won’t show them. It was great seeing them and getting to chat with David’s parents, too. Our parents were there (mine and Manda’s, that is) and my kids scarfed down so many of my mom’s deviled eggs that the air may not be safe here for a few days. Manda made each twinnie a cake (in their color, of course).

Look, even Auntie Min matches...

(I was in charge of the cakes for the rest of us unimportant people- I think buttercream frosting should be included in the food pyramid).

Little Miss Lavender and Grandma

Now, since Little Miss Pink was in modeling mode, she had another hat to show off. (we are now at the knitting portion of the blog).

Pat (Kid Hollow) saw the sun hats when I was working on them, and when she found out I was thinking them up as I went, asked me to do one in her Silk ‘n’ Kid yarn (kid mohair, silk, merino) and write up the pattern. So here is the Curly Hat.

Little Miss Pink in Kid Hollow hat

This pattern will be at Kid Hollow’s booth by MD (just a few short weeks away- yippee!!)

Some twinnie perspective- here we are 2 years ago

Little Miss Pink with my hand

Amazing.

Ok, you need goats. Lemme look…

Handsome Fluff

He’s such a sweetie.

Evan at this morning's coffee

Look at that goatie face!

Hi!

Renesmee says have a great day!

Why yes, I can post more goatie pix

You only have to ask (and Carol did) and you will get more goatie cuteness than you possibly need. Here we go:

low maintenance, self-mulching mowers

Until I get my new fence up I’m only letting them out for a few hours in the evening, and only if I can be out there with them. This and the next picture were taken Sunday evening, and there was a front coming in bringing rain on Monday- and something about coming changes of weather make them extra squirelly.

goaties on the move

I wish I could have gotten you better shots of them running all over the place- its hysterical.

Slight interruption here for some CJ nonsense.

forget cheezburgerz- i haz peez

Peas, corn, brocolli, chex mix. She really is a cat. At least she’s quit hissing at Chance. (hard to get pictures of him- he’s just black. promise I will try over next few days)

Back to goaties.

Rosie and Evan (just ignore the shoe)(NO- they won't eat it!)

Renesmee

Look at little Renesmee- isn’t she the cutest? I love those teeny tiny horns- they look like itty bitty devil horns. The very first time I saw Rosie I think what I melted over the most were her teeny little horns. I’ll get you some Jonesy and Justine shots next time.

My daughter took most of these pictures, and she was getting into special shots- I think her eye is fantastic.

peaceful

Tomorrow we are having my twin nieces’ 2nd birthday party in the morning, so I’ll have some cute baby shots to show you. Then I’ll head down to Kid Hollow- its time to start getting ready for MD Sheep & Wool. I still have stash enhancement and other goodies coming.

I need your help. My friend in CA lost her father this week. I know you all can help me send good, soothing thoughts her way and her family’s way. They were very close and he was quite a character. He will be very, very missed.

Also, another friend lost a special, very loved pet. So let’s send some peace her way, too. Thanks!

Of course, no post of goatie shots would be complete without Stuff closing it out. He says to have a great weekend!

Stuff

Back online- finally

This is a quick update- my internet has been down for a week. It came back up for an hour Tues., then went away again. Just in case I’m gonna give you a quick update for now.

Goaties are all fine. Itteh Bitteh Kitteh II- Chance- is wonderful. His eyes opened earlier this week. My daughter turned 11 (the usual picture thing will come soon). I will have stash enhancement from Black Bunny Fibers to show you soon (all gorgeous, as always). I think I’m finally seeing the tail-end of the plague-masquerading-as-a-cold. I think that’s all the highlights. I’ll try to get you some pictures tonight or tomorrow. (provided AT&T can keep it together…)

Itteh Bitteh Kitteh II, the sequel

Do you all remember CJ’s ( the Itteh Bitteh Kitteh) beginnings? Briefly- she was abandoned at a pet store too young to leave her mother. When she was what they thought was 6 weeks old I took her, only to find out she was probably only 3 or 4 weeks old, with coccidiosis, so I made her a makeshift incubator and nursed her back to health. Well, here we go again.

beyond itteh bitteh

My kids’ wonderful bus driver found him yesterday. Actually, her dog found him- she saw him playing with this black lump. (she took the dog in and left the baby out for a while in case the mom came back- she didn’t)  She called me yesterday evening, I told her what I had done with CJ, and met her back at the busstop with the rest of the powdered milk replacer I had left. Then this morning she called me before she started the bus run, saying she just couldn’t do it with her schedule- could I please take care of him. So here he is. His name is Chance. (get it- we’re giving him a chance- she picked a great name for him). He weighs about 6.5 ounces, and his eyes haven’t opened yet.- so the vet’s office is guessing he’s about a week old. R., the busdriver, has asked me to take him permanently- as if giving him back were an option once the kids have seen him.

He’s so small, the Itteh Bitteh Kitteh Sweateh won’t even fit him. (Carol already asked- maybe she should make him one in blue…)

I’ve never had one this young, and I have to admit I’m afraid. He’s nowhere near out of the woods yet- so wish him luck.

Ok, I’ve still got this plague-masguerading-as-a-cold, so its back to the couch with cough drops and tissues til Chance’s next feeding.

Looks like Jonesy took hay-eating-101 from Izzy.

This is how you eat hay!

I was eating hay this way long before you were.

Just pictures…again

Last week my daughter was home from school most of the week with a wicked cold of some sort. It had that child flat on her back for a few days- and if you knew her- you’d know that it was some virus. I felt it wanting to catch me this weekend, so I’ve been pumping Airbourne and Emergen-C left and right (thanks, Heidi!) but I think the cold won. Bleh. I know I owe you some spinning, and some stuff that will be going on the website (soon as I figure out how to list it) but for tonight its just (once again) cute goaties. And one mutant tadpole.

radioactive tadpole

All the eggs have disappeared, and there are only a few of these guys floating around in there. The other day I saw some long worm/eel-like thing in there. I dunno- Loch Barrel Monster maybe?

Puff had his follow-up appointment, and the vet pronounced him “amazing.” He’s made quite a recovery for a 9 year old bun. He’ll still get eye ointment and immune system boosters, and go back in 2 months for another follow up- but he’s great.

Now back to the goats.

Renesmee takes on the towel

We had several days of lots of rain (I know, we need it. but still.) So when I took my coffee outside I also took a towel to put on the wet chair. Renesmee had great fun with that.

Evan looking cute

Look- we made momma muddy!

Stuff strolling in the yard

I still need to order my fencing equipment- but I also still don’t want them out in the woods for another month or so. However, I can occasionally let one or 2 in the yard- they won’t wander to the woods unless the whole herd is together. Here’s Stuff checking things out.

Justine and Renesmee sunbathing

The sun came out today and the goats (and their field) are very happy.

See Evan's teeny little horns?

Renesmee likes to be scratched right there

Look how big Jonesy has gotten!

I dyed some mohair today with hopes of taking it to the mill and making something else to put on the site. So you’ll get to see that in a couple of days.

Good night. Be good- remember-

Stuff's watching you...

Stash enhancement, a teaser, and sweet goaties

Still working on a test knitting project- and the whole while there is extreme cuteness trying to distract me every chance they can.

Pretty Rosie and her babies

The kids will chase their mommas around relentlessly. Neither Mom will nurse just one- they wait until they call their twins over- then they get maybe 30 seconds to suck down all the milk they can.

Can someone wipe my chin

Little Renesmee with milk on her whiskers.

Please scratch my cheek

Sirius Black. Those eyes of his are irresistable- and he’s so sweet about it. When he wants you to pet him, he comes and stands by you. Then he moves forward a step. If you stop petting him, he just moves forward another step. And looks at you with those eyes…

Miss Izzy is not only a coffee moocher extraordinaire- she’ll hit you up for wine, too.

no- that's not wine on my chin

I’ve been doing some mucking in their field. I need to get all the hay they fling on the ground up so I can overseed the field. Next, I’ll start fencing my property so they can roam around the woods- I’ve got about a month before everything leafs out properly- I don’t want to let them out of their field before then- they’d be tempted to eat Mt. Laurel which is poisonous to them. By the time I get all that done, the lawn will be ready for its first mowing (by my sweet self-mulching, self-fertilizing mowers).

There’s been some stash enhancement- I got some rovings from Chimera. First we have

Miss Havisham

Beautiful pinks, grays, and dusty mauves. Very soft Falklands. Next is

Turtle Pond

A pretty merino named Turtle Pond. Finally,

Lolita

Brightly dyed Lolita is another Falklands- all beautiful stuff, Ducky- thank you!

I’m also expecting a stash enhancement package any day from Black Bunny Fibers. In the meantime, I have plied the first half of the Electric Rainbow roving.

Electric Rainbow

I’ll get it skeined off tomorrow, and get you a better shot then.

Puff is still doing amazingly well- I’m so happy. He has a follow-up appt. next week and I’ll let you know how it goes. Speaking of bunnies, can you all help send some good energy to Mr B- Subliminal Rabbit’s sweet bunny- he’s been a bit under the weather but is hopefully perking up.

Did some dyeing the other day- I had found a huge pot at a friend’s yardsale, and I was able to dye a whole shetland fleece in it (it was a small fleece, but still).

big dye pot

So I dyed a shetland fleece, and when it was dry I took it to the mill with me last night, along with sweet Sirius’ fleece. Here’s your teaser-

teaser

So now its time to head down to the field and kiss all the little goaties good night. I’m sure they’d sleep just fine if I didn’t, but I’m not sure I would…

Renesmee

Just goaties…and one bunny

Puff is so much better- my amazing little bunny.

Sweet Puff

Oh- (sorry, Mequet) I took the camera to the other farm Thursday, and the radioactive frog eggs seem to be getting ready to hatch- you can see the shapes emerging.

mutant tadpoles to be

Baby goaties are growing (and growing sweeter- they are so much fun!)

Jonesy and Justine

Jonesy is the biggest, his horns broke through first, and he’s pretty full of himself.

Jonesy practicing his king pose

Evan and Renesmee are cute as can be.

Baby Evan

See how dirty his little legs are? Rosie is so short that when they nurse, they have to kneel (I’ve even seen Evan lay down) so their legs are filthy.

On Friday, A-the-hay-god lent me his workers (his son and his friends- school was out Friday) to eartag put earrings in the babies’ ears. (it needed to be done, but I am far too much of a sissy to do it myself). (it was pretty sweet watching these big teenage boys holding baby goats and telling them how cute they were- and A’s son did a great job with the tagging- I’m very grateful they came and did that for me, and they even promised not to laugh too hard if I cried).

look at Renesmee's pretty earring

I didn’t get a whole lot of good pictures this morning over coffee, mostly because Izzy has decided she really likes coffee, so I’m having to fend her off until its cool enough for her to drink- and since she’s still small enough to fit on my lap, that keeps me very busy (and I usually wind up wearing some of my coffee). I was able to catch Justine shortly after she climbed out of the hay feeder (they like to sleep in there). She’s covered in little bits of hay- looks like she’s decorated herself for spring- but mostly I think she’s just found a way to take snacks with her.

spring decoration, or food?

Ok. Test knitting is keeping me busy (and not getting done fast enough- yikes). I worked at the mill yesterday, and brought home a shetland fleece I washed there- today I will dye it green, then hopefully Tues. night I can make roving from that and Sirius Black’s fleece. Today I’m off to Kid Hollow to help her with ear tagging. (funny, I have no problem helping her with hers, its just different when its my babies).

One last shot of Baby Evan being impossibly cute.

Evan says have a great weekend!