Tis' the Season

tree, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

3 more days of work!
Then I'm off until January 3rd. I have some plans for the week.

Knitting/Spinning on 26th with some girls.
Ply some singles that are on my bobbins.
Finish these pink socks!
Clean the upstairs and reorganize

In the meantime, I still need to make some holiday goodies. Dicky-Dicardo said he would help me tonight! I need someone to hold the pan while I dump molten hot sugar at him!

I'm almost done knitting dishcloths, I have a few more days to go! I can bust out at least 4 more by Xmas!

Tomorrow, there will be a 2 week Bunny update. Wow, I cannot believe how big they are now!

Happy Holidays
Merry Solstice
Merry Xmas!!!

I am such a winter holiday dork!

Puree

Garden Pumpkins, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

I put out all my Xmas stuff in the living room.Somehow, it looks weird with 3 pumpkins still displayed on my television. Time to make Puree!!

I roasted them in a little water at 400° for 30 minutes. I had a heck of a time getting them smooth in my food processor. After it was pureed (8 Cups), I drained the excess water away (5 Cups Left).

Roasted Seeds
Froze Pumpkin Puree.

No to shabby for planting one pumpkin seed back in the spring!

1 week old Kits

1 week old Kits, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Update!

So I brought the buns inside this week. Temps were cold enough to freeze water bottles.
Everyone is doing good! Freckles looks great, she's done a great job so far. As you can see these kits are getting their fur. They are all broken in color.Sunday, one peed on my sister's leg.

Tonight, I'm cleaning out the nest box and putting them all back into the garage. We are having a heat wave here. Its going to be 50 tomorrow and mild the rest of the week.

Yarntastic!

yarn, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

208 yrds.
2ply lt. dk. weight

Thank you Nephnie for destashing these two batts. These spin up so nice! I have no more info for these, I lost it.

Four Popples

freckles baby, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Wow. What a Wednesday.
Freckles had 4 baby bunnies some time that night. I ended up taking the day off. I still had one vacation day left to use up before the end of the year.
We went to Men's Warehouse, Mr. Peak received a $50 gift certificate in the mail. He bought two hats & two belts for free! Then to the mall, I bought a brown v-neck sweater (jcp 10$ off $10).

I got my eye checked finally. Yep, I feel old; I am now nearsighted. I'm supposed to wear them, just not in front of the computer. I am so glad I have eye coverage now! The total before insurance was almost $400.
This morning I checked on the babies, everyone had a full belly. I am so proud of my first time mommy rabbit. She had done such a great job so far. This weekend I'll post pictures of the whole group. I'm not sure who is the dad. I breed her with both boys that day. 2 are spotty and 2 a almost solid.
I noticed Boris is launching himself thru the top of the dog crate. He gets his head out of the crate and then falls down. He doesn't get stuck or anything. Maybe he's playing a game? I caught him one time and bopped him on the nose. He's so silly. Boykin is outside now, He sprays way to much.

32 days

I just checked on Freckles and she had 5 patchy colored popples! They are all warm and in their nest box. Good Job Freck!! They seem so big!

More updates later on!

Freck's First Nest

freck's First Nest, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Day 27th.

I went to check on Freckle's after we got back from the market this morning. She was just standing there with hay in her mouth. Ok, that is sign. I put her nest box in her cage with some pine shavings on the bottom. I filled her cage with hay and went back inside. I went back out to feed everyone like 15 mins ago and she had built this awesome nest!
Good Job, Freck!
First time mom bunny!
31 days will be Wednesday.

4 DAY Holiday

Bridge, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

I love the weekend after thanksgiving.

Dinner at my sisters on Thursday. I was in charge of potatoes, green beans & rolls. She made a lovely turkey. Very Moist! Next year deep fried cajun turkey from Lazy Bones!

Friday: Thrift store shopped. Woke up at 9ish, grabbed a coffee and took off to the new Salvation army. 5 for $5 tan tags. I did pretty good. My sister called and wanted to go to another one. Score! I got clips for Xmas lites 100ct. So far the day come out to be : 3 pairs of jeans, 3 sweaters, jello jiggler holiday cutters, 3 tanks tops, & 2 work shirt for D-man. Later that night, hung xmas lights on the house with my brothers help. YAY!

Saturday:
Went to breakfast at friendly's.
Chores...
Later Turkey Club sammies & movies!
I still have one more day left!

Hunting 2011

Hunting 2011, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Had a pretty good time at the property, this past weekend. Unseasonable warm is how the boy's described it. Next year, I will have a gun of my own. I felt so silly sitting out in the blind with my 22 rifle. I didn't see a darn thing out there, just some birds. I did hear the coyotes making all kinds of noise before dawn and the goose. That goose was so noisy.

Small Update

It's cold!

I took a class at Glass Academy. Made a Percolla Rod. Will talk about later.

Going up north this weekend with Dick & my brother while they are hunting. My sis is watching the mutts & bunns. My plan is to bundle up in front of the wood burning stove and knit/spin/sleep/cook while the boys get me some venison.

boneyard shawl

boneyard shawl, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Boneyard shawl. So easy & Free!

I saw Wiley's Boneyard shawl & I went home and started one for myself.

So perfect for handspun!

I've been saving up these little hand spun samples for a while. I spin them on my spindle and stash them away in a bag. They are finally being used! I'm using 8 US needle. The yarn ranges from lace weight 2ply to dk. (soy silk, silk, tencel & angora mixes)

Should have it finished before it gets cold out!

I heard rumors we may be snow showers on Thursday. Ut-oh!

Happy Halloween

I caved

House temp 58 degrees

Tonight Low 34.

I was holding out until November 1st.

The one thing I've taken away from all of this:

My body was conditioned to 62 degrees. I wasn't that cold. Yeah, I was snuggled up on the couch with my blanket. I was still running around in a tee & no socks. At work... wasn't cold (for once)!

However, my dog shakes like he's been put in a walk-in cooler. What a pus!

I'll miss you Fluffy

Fluffy takes a bath, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

My bearded dragon Fluffy died on Monday. She was 6 years old. I came home from work and she was upside down in her cage. I went from rage (at DH for not noticing) to crying. We buried her in a shoe back in the back yard.

We were still at the apartment when I got her. My kitty & Fluffy were our first pets together. It sucks to have a pet die. It doesn't get any easier. I will always remember my bearded dragon.
We moved her cage to the garage, so I didn't have to look at it in the office.



Fluffy RIP 2006-2011

Spirit of the Wild

UPDATE 9-14-11, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

I had a nice weekend.

Fiber Festival & Halloween Party on Saturday.

Sunday: Cleaned house.

I bought some pretty fiber to spin (I didn't need). I carpooled with some of my favorite girls. We arrived at the Saline Fairgrounds and before we got into the sheds, we saw some other spinning girls. I love the fiber community!! I learned how to needle felt. I picked up an old textile spindle (I collect them), 4oz white wool, 4oz of brown alpaca, a organic hemp change purse & an awesome bump of alpaca, copper gliz, wool & angora. I also saw a camel & and bought 1oz of his/her fiber!
Later that night was my sister's Halloween party. It was interested..... That's all I can say...... Interesting

Sunday:
Vacuumed
Washed the Curtains
Dick fixed the Rod in the living room.
Cooked Lemon, honey, garlic soy chicken legs in the crockpot. It was yummy.



Via Flickr:
September update.
Wow, I am so excited these are still alive! I love pumpkins.

Dodge

Dodge, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

I lost my phone. One week exact! It was in my winter hoodie behind my bedroom door. Doh! I didn't miss it one bit! I'm terrible with my phone.

Not much going on lately...

I made Bison chili for the first time on Sunday. We took a bike ride at Dodge Park. It was so pretty! I veered off the path a few times looking up into the trees (not paying attention)

We went to Baseline Feed to pick up hay for the Rabbits. Oooo It's nice & fresh for being in the city area. The owner was very excited about his hay. We will be shopping there again.

Dick had a show Saturday night at Skippers. I had a good time. What a great turn out! One band had a 4-string banjo. I was like YAY! BANJO!!!!

Garden Front:
Clean up!
More Green Beans
Rabbit's had an afternoon of playing in the garden (Saturday)

Weekend

Took my car into the shop on Saturday. It's leaking radiator fluid and has no heat.
Early Saturday afternoon: My brother threw our bikes into his truck and we headed to Metro Beach. We parked at the strip mall and rode the 3 miles to the park. What a perfect afternoon!

Dick salvaged a cookbook holder from the job.
They were going to toss it along with 8 spice rack holders.

Sunday:
Dick worked most of the day.
I worked in the yard. Cleaned cages & pulled veg.
I cooked pork chops ,mashed redskins (with strained yogurt) & green beans (bacon & almonds)

Here are some shots from my phone



I love these purple radishes from a pack of mixed radish needs.

Ravioli Soup

Photo0702.jpg, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

I made soup last night for dinner. The weather is changing here in Michigan. No more 80+ days, we are lucky to even break 75 right now. Don't get me wrong, I am loving this weather. Hoodie Weather

Back to the soup.

I threw stock, onion, 1 chicken boob (cut into cubes), green beans, carrots & celery into the pot.
Seasoned with Salt, pepper, thyme & red pepper flakes
Bring to a boil
Add frozen cheese ravioli (costco) and turned the stove back down to low.
When they float, it is done!

I topped off my bowl with some pesto with a side of garlic bread.

Wow, why haven't I made this before. There is something about that big stuffed noodle that makes everything great!

Sally Ann or Sail Away Ladies

I am trying to learn this song. I saw this video and had to share.

Drip Drip Drip

I called in yesterday. I felt like utter crap. I curled up and slept most of the day.



I did edit some picture from my camera. Did you know that GIMP has a LOMO filter script! I used it on the above photo. I miss my LOMO camera. The contacts for the batteries don't work anymore. I used to always have my little russian spy camera in my bag. I have boxes of photos that need to be scanned.


So, here is the picture of my New Doe. Her name is Freckles and she is a Mini Rex. What a little meat brick! She is such a sweetheart. I hope she is a good mom! The breeder said she is a harlequin lynx? Is there such a kind?


Pumpkins are turning orange! Count is 4

Over the weekend I tore out the last of the cucumbers. I planted lettuce, carrots & radishes.

Wips

Weekend in pictures? or Work in Progress?

Both, I guess

Sock season

Socks, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

September 7th

Weather High 66, low 62 & showers

It's official, I can wear hand knit socks!

Pull out those clogs & cute maryjanes!!!!

This week, I need to go through my sock inventory and find the heavily "loved" socks from the past year(s). Toss em or mend em.

I could only find the above socks, clean and in my drawer. I knit these over the summer.

Specs:

#1 needles (2 socks on 1 needle)
toe up (Turkish cast-on)
short row heel
2x2 ribbing on the cuff

Bastrop Fire

We got the call this weekend. Everyone where my mom lives has been evacuated due to the wildfires in Texas. The rest of the family are staying out with my cousin in Giddings. My mom & dad are up here with us, but have left to go back on the road (trucking) today. Wow, talk about living in limbo. I don't know anything else. My mom said she will text me when she hears any news.

Eggs

I love my co-workers. One is egg sitting for the neighbors 20 chickens. On top of those & her 5 hens....I have 2.1/2 dozen chicken eggs. I also received the usual dozen duck eggs I normally get.
Holy Smokes!

Glad I can dump them off on to my sister!

Going to see if the neighbors needs some eggs.

Beans

Beans, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Pole Beans slowly taken over the fence line. I planted 10 more bush beans & salad greens which are popping up now!

Last night I drove to TSC and bought rabbit food, hay and a new water bottle for Boykin. Big 64oz bottle with the hole big enough to stick ice cubes into it!

Tonight, I stop up in Utica to get a Rex Doe. Gosh I hope it really is a girl. The lady said she lynx color. I have no idea.

Boris

Boris, a photo by Pixiefarts on Flickr.

Fuck. Boris is a male.

Covered in Straw

Friday: I bought my new Stud Bunny. His name is Boykin. I drove up to Lake Orion to get him. I answered an ad from Craigslist. I grabbed my friend who lives in the area, so I didn't have to go alone. He's not pedigreed, but I don't care. I'm just doing this for my own use.

Saturday: I moved Boris to her new Digs. Ma & Dick bought this for me from Craigslist a couple weeks ago. I busted my ass cleaning and removing the wire floor.

It's hard to find straw in the metro area. I saw a sign off the freeway service drive on my way to work one morning. I grabbed my mom and we headed over there Saturday afternoon. 2 for $10.
I came home and covered everything is straw.

Sunday: Very lazy day. I bought a new electric lawnmower! Ours finally bit the dust. I have a glorified vacuum cleaner. It has a bag & mulching option! We grilled Chicken, Beef & Lamb Kabobs for dinner.My mom bought them at Eastern Market on Saturday with my Aunt. I made whole wheat couscous for our side from "How to Cook everything". Dinner was so good.
My brother, Dick & I took a 6 mile bike ride after diner. We rode all the way to Lake St. Clair. It was a beautiful ride. The hurricane sucked all the moisture out of the air.

Early Pie Pumpkins

I love pumpkins!


I have a total 5 pumpkins as of Sunday!


One surviving seedling has exploded and spread across the back privacy fence. I didn't know pumpkins sent off vines and replanted themselves into the ground! At first the seedling was only sending off male flowers. Then one day, two vines from the mother plant rooted themselves into my potato bed and the back grass. Their flowers were female! I was in shock. I almost ripped the lone pumpkin out of the ground, figuring it was only a male. I am so glad I didn't!

Weekend in Pictures

I'm stealing Weekend in Pictures idea.
I had to use my cell phone at the show and it takes terrible shots in the dim lighting.
What a great little bar, I hope they play there again! You could smell Slow's BBQ wafting down Michigan Ave.

These suckers actually grew! I am not a watermelon virgin anymore. I planted sugar baby melons memorial weekend. I checked on the vines and the smallest one split open. I checked each melon and pulled the largest ones. I didn't want to lose all of them from splitting. One melon is still left on the vine.

Pickles

I used the recipe "My favorite Pickles" from Small Batch Canning book.
I subbed pickling spice for the mustard seed.
I also put 1 clove of my garlic in each pint.

Rabbit Tractor

A month ago,I bought a bunny off Craigslist. We made her a temporary tractor to drag around my yard. It is made of pvc, chicken wire & those metal coated cubes. I saw that people were making indoor cages from those cubes. I figured I have some leftovers upstairs and it would work for the bottom and lid. Well, the wholes are a tad too small. So I clipped one section so i can pull it up so she can graze.


Her name is boris. She is an 8 week old mutt Mini Lop mix. I love her tri-colors. She is a doll and very friendly. I think, she thinks, she is a dog. We are two dogs and she is in their domain. She sniffs them thru the fence and bounces around the tractor . She doesn't seem stressed. She lays out next to the fence next to my dog Iggy who is laying down also. In a couple weeks, I am going to pick up a Stud Bunny to start my breeding pair.

We are dispatching my 3 quail hens this weekend. We've been eating more duck eggs than quail lately. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the quail. I'm sure this fall my incubator will be filled with hatching eggs again, but only for meat. My co-workers chickens are starting to lay and I'm still getting free Muscovy duck eggs from another co-worker. I am covered in the egg department. HAHAha covered in egg.

My pumpkin plant has exploded out of its patch and is taking over the back fence line. Wow, these suckers are huge! I love the flowers. I've never cooked fried blossom, so I'd like to try.
I pulled the remaining carrots out last night and two were mushy. Time to plant more lettuce radish & carrots! Two weeks my melons should be ready.

Oooo Ahhhhh... New spinning project!
I couldn't help but stop everything I was working on and start this batt. I purchased above fiber from Wonder Why Alpaca Farm booth from the Wine & Wool festival. It about 3 oz. of Suri Alpaca, Silk, firestar and merino. I've spun almost all of it. I split the batt in half, then drafted the roving alternating light & dark strips of wool. I have spun the single pretty thin. I should have finished yarn by the weekend!

I looked over at my ravelry stash. Wow, I need to take some photo's of my finished yarn. I'm such a slacker!