Cute as a Button

The snow is still here, after an entire week. But it is starting to recede in all but the most shady spots. I have to say, if you are going to have a good snowstorm, this one was the one to have. It was lovely to look at, lovely to play in and lovely to be able to not have to get out into it. But now, no more real snow this winter, OK?




This pic was one I got the other night as the clouds finally decided to part and let the last rays of sun peek thru for the day. What a beautiful sunset it was. I did nothing to this picture after I got it off the camera. So the colors are pretty true to what my own eyes did see.

Next, on to more important things. Cute, cute, cute baby knitting. I learned thru Facebook a few months ago that a good friend and former coworker was going to become a daddy for the first time. So I just had to make the family something. Trouble is, he told me the baby was set to arrive in February. And he is a doctor so he should have been trustworthy on the facts. But to prove everybody wrong, Ibrahaim was born in very early January. Before I even had yarn!! I had my heart set on a Baby Suprize Jacket project but found that the selection of yarn in sport weight was pretty slim pickin's. But this pattern, Baby Garter Stitch Kimono was free thru Ravelry and I was able to find some really nice yarn to make it work. The jacket was knit exactly according to the pattern. When done, I found I had very little of the grey yarn left to do anything with. So the hat was something I kinda designed myself to make the most of the yarn left. Off the head, the stripes kind of bunch up. But once the baby has it on its head, the stripes are alot more noticable. The booties are the combination of several patterns. When done I had only about 5 grams of grey yarn left over. If I ever decided to make this in a 6 month or up size, I would need to buy a second skein of the main color yarn.















So now I am finishing up with sock #2 of a set I put down to work on Christmas knitting. I am at the heel turn and I am trying out a new version of a short row heel. As I seem to be on the eternal search for the perfect short row heel. I think I am getting pretty close...........

Big Snow

Well, Christmas has come and past. Went by in a blur. But the peace and quiet of the post holiday has set in. And now winter has come a knockin at our door. So I hope you enjoy these pics as much as I have enjoyed the snow. And as much as Holly enjoyed the snow!! Daisy not so much. She took one step out the door and pee'd on the porch!! Such a woos dog..

Finished snowman

View across garden to neighbors house

Holly running with the frizbee

Not nearly as big as he looks!

Snow sculpture

No coffee here for awhile

Snow Globe snow gnome

View from our front porch

It is indeed rare for us to get this much snow. And such a nice snow it is. There must not have been any wind, because there are no real high drifts. It is great snowman snow but I have to admit it took me a little while to remember how to make a decent snowman. And then the sciatica kicked in and limited how big I could get this guy. But I may go back out after lunch and try for a bigger snow person!

I never did get a great pic of all my knitting projects that I finished up this Christmas. The tally ended up at 6 pairs of socks, 2 hats and 3 monkeys!! And everybody seemed to really appreciate and enjoy their gifts. I also gave away jars of black walnuts I had gathered, husked and shelled and those went over extremely well. And of course..biscotti. I made my usual cranberry pistachio, a decent brownie/black walnut and then I invented a double orange. I dried several cans of mandarin oranges in my food dehydrator and then snipped them up small and added them, along with orange peel to a basic vanilla biscotti. They were simply amazing. Drying oranges is a slow tedious process but was well worth the effort.

Spring is right around the corner, despite this posting being all about snow. So much going on around here at the homestead to get ready. We have our chicken coop plans all ready as well as some of the lumber on hand. We have picked Buff Orpingtons as our first breed and will buy them after the coop is in place. The seed and plant catalogs have all arrived and we are starting to place orders. So I am sure I will have plenty to post about in the next few months. Everybody take care, enjoy what ever weather God has given you. And stay warm!!