Look, Darlea, a new post!

I get harassed by certain friends for not keeping the blog up. I'll admit that after dad passed it has been hard. One of the reasons I started the thing in the first place was to let him know what I was up to.

So on to happier news. The ducks have bred again. Now I'm up to about 60 of the things. They really multiplied around Halloween when I began to "store" some for the programs department. It has been almost a year since they started with the reindeer duck.

I've begun picking out my fleeces for next year. First there is Hildegard.

Then there is Onyx Velour, a spotted gulmoget.

Then there are Justinian and Snowy who I don't have pictures of, yet.

From Crosswind Farms, I'm getting Rock Star's fleece and one of the offspring. I'm hoping for Isabella.

And of course I have to get Marilyn.

Lots of Cotton

I just got a bag of cotton from my friend Lisa in Georgia. She said she would send some. Some equals almost 2.5 pounds. I was expecting a few ounces, not pounds. Lisa is one of the people I knocked off in Death by Socks in the beginning part of the year. She is the only one of my many slain that I have been keep in touch with. I think that I'm going to ply her cotton with some naturally colored Cotton and make myself a summer sweater. It is spinning up fine. I don't think that I'll have to send it to the mill for further processing. I'm all done for shows for this year. Next year is already starting to fill up. Shearing will be the last Saturday in February. That will probably be my first big event of the year. I'm trying to decide what I might want to work on if there is a Knitting Summer Olympics next year. A lace shawl is definitely out. I want to pick something that is challenging, but I won't do any more injury to myself. I've decided not to tell the doctor that I'm going to be doing Christmas knitting. It is going to be a sock year, plus people that I work with want hats, mittens, socks, scarves, and sweaters to give for their families. At least, I will be adding to next year's fiber fund.

I think I have the picture thing figured out. No the camera fairy hasn't cooperated yet. I'll just use pictures other people send me. I'll be hopefully posting pictures of the fleeces still on the sheep that I'm considering.

Happy Birthday Daddy. I miss you

Today would have been my dad's 75th birthday. Below is a poem from sheep friend's service by his kids. I had to read it at the service and thought it would be good at my dad's. I never thought I would be needing it so soon. Too soon.


Dad
A Poem From His Children

Dad, So many things come to mind, whenever I speak your name.
It seems without you in my life, things will never be the same.
Dad, If I could turn back time and you could once more hear my voice.
I'd tell you that out of all the other dad's you'd still be my choice.
Dad, Please always know that I love you and nobody can take your place.
Years will come and go but your memory will never erase.
Dad, Your life has been full and rich with love; friends have been many warm and kind.
Enriched by the example you have left behind.
Dad, Go with joy to a better place and a new beginning.
Dad, Go in peace and know that you've made a difference along the way.
Dad, Go in comfort, for all you've been will always stay.

It's Duck Season

My rubber duckies have been breeding. I now have about 16 two inch high rubber duckies. The duck fairy has left me a full set of fairy tale ducks, a full set of pirate ducks, and a full setof rock and roll ducks. They have also left me one shuck (sheep duck). I'm going on vacation soon. Who knows how many ducks and where they will be hiding when I get back. There is even a Queen Elizabeth I Celebriduck out there that I have dropped hints that it would be a nice addition. I have also suggested the biker ducks, a few devil ducks, an I-duck, a full set of reindeer ducks, and basically any duck that is made. The messengers of the duck fairy have also been told that the over the hill ducks won't be appreciated until next year. I haven't ever actively collect ducks. Pigs, sheep, and llamas yes, ducks no. I always wanted a real duck, but I lived in the city.

The wars went badly. I lived a lot longer than I thought I would. But I'm dead in both wars. I have put up my needles for a week to rest up for the International Knit Off. It is from the same person that started Sock Wars and is guaranteed hurricane/blizzard proof. I'm not sure how well I will be doing. It is going to be done in rounds. The winner is determined by posting a picture to the yahoo group.

Between Battles

Head Games hat knitting war started on Wednesday. I was able to get the hat finished and in the mail today. That will give me a day to rest before Death by Socks start up on Monday. Both of my targets live in Georgia this time. Sometimes I get a twinge bit of guilt for knocking them off so quickly, but that quickly fades. I was actually giddy leaving the post office. Target #1 will be DOA by Monday at 3:00 pm or so I'm told. It took about 5 to 10 minutes to explain to the nice postal worker what a knitting war was. The easiest way is to say that it is Highlander for knitters. There can be only one. As I'm of the MacLeod clan, it should be me. Both Head Games and Death by Socks are far smaller than Sock wars, only about 30 in each group. It should be over quicker. I'm in it more for bragging right than anything else. One of the few things I overachieve on. I'll have to stop warring until fall when these are done. Sheep and embroidery season will be starting soon.

The farm where I claim sheep will be shearing the last weekend in February. If you are near Allegan, Michigan, you are welcome to come. Then I get to skirt or pick off the nasty bits off of 100ish fleeces to get ready for Fleece Event in April. There isn't much on their website yet. I'll be selling raw fleeces, roving, and hand spun yarn. Most of all the stuff will be natural colored Shetland. I'm getting spoiled. I only want to work with Shetland. Not to mention that there are 33 ewes due to lamb and I said I would help with the lambing.

As for embroidery, I'm working on my EGA Master Craftsman in Counted Thread and need to get the first step done. It is going to be a sampler with parts of Proverbs 31 on a virtious woman. I pilot stitch for the Posy Collection. She sells kits at historical and natural landmarks. The only one I really ended up not liking was the one for Crater Lake Lodge. Too much detail in a small space. She only uses 18 count Aida fabric. I'm getting to be embroidery snob. I prefer linen. She seems to send me kits to work on this time of year. I'm done stitching for Williamsburg, Jamestown, Mount Vernon, and the Grand Tetons.

Since it is a new year, I have made some resolutions.
1. Spin or felt what I the wool I currently have before the end of the year. Some say that this is impossible.
2. Lose weight. I've entered a weight management program at work. If nothing else it will help the insurance go down.
3. Clean the house.