Is it Farch yet?

While I'm not exactly whining, I am getting a leeeetle tired of winter.  Ever so.  Leeetle.  The novelty of having to spend twenty minutes putting on layers to walk the dogs in the morning has worn thin.  The chickens, having had spent way too many hours in close contact with their incessantly, chattering African relatives, have a glassy look to their eyes.  Things are breaking down, freezing, sticking.  Everyone's got cabin fever.

The upside of this winter seems to be a lack of rodent activity (not counting the squirrels, who are in a PIA class of their own).  I am hoping that they were all frozen out, died a horrible death, and those that survived went looking for a kinder, gentler place to pillage.  It is gradually getting lighter, the days are longer, so I have unplugged one of my multiple timers.  A little less cha-ching! on the monthly electric bill.  I am finally getting more than four eggs a day.  This means, in a month or three, the chickens will once again be earning most of their keep.

The 2013 Garden Plan has been started.  Slightly.  Ever so slightly.  I got the notebook out and sharpened my pencil.  Which involved finding my pencil sharpener.  Which was buried in the craft/knitting closet.  It's a wonder I can find clean socks.  Actually, I am knitting some clean socks.

Speaking of knitting, I realized this morning that I have six projects in some level of started-ness.  I have one and one-quarter socks knitted.  One quarter (or less) of a cotton cardigan on the needles.  One cotton hand towel cast on.  I've got my 32nd hexi-puff on the needles for my beekeeper quilt.  Only 400 more to go!  I have started yet another cabled ear warmer.  I discovered I did not finish the other iPod sweater I started.  And I have the needles, yarn and pattern all ready for a very lovely lacy cowl that I want very badly to make NOW.  Oy.

Another fun thing to do while you're waiting for Farch, is to go through the Murray McMurray catalog.  And make two lists:  the Wish List, where you list all 500 of the various breeds of chicken, ducks, goose, and turkey youngsters that you wish you could order.  Please notice there was no mention of Guinea fowl.  Then you sigh deeply and forlornly and make out the very much shorter practical list.  Okay.  Maybe practical is not the correct word.  How about 'realistic'?  Unrealistically necessary list?  Whatever.  It's the list that you've talked yourself into believing that you MUST have.  So far, after much stops, starts, erasures and additions, I am looking at four black Silkies, two Aracaunas, two Marans, two Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (how could you NOT order these?), and a partridge.  Kidding on the partridge.  This list also means that there are some of the existing group that will have to go.  I have most of my Barnevelders listed on craigslist, although it is a little early for the seasonal chicken frenzy.

Since the weather forecast for tomorrow involves a range of a few inches of snow to a few feet (I believe this is called "covering your ass bases"), I made a quick trip to the feed mill so I wouldn't be caught without chicken feed.  The mere thought makes my blood run cold - as cold as their glassy little eyes....

How are you all faring on your way to Farch?  Any tips to keep the rest of us sane?

Please help me support my habit...

That should draw an interesting crowd...

As the weather cools, my habit becomes more intense.  The cravings, the yearnings, the obsessing...oy!  My focus, already on shaky ground, becomes as fragmented as light through a prism.  Or like trying to herd cats, or push string....

I sidle about, small bags of it hidden in my work satchel, scattered on the coffee table, on the dining room table, on my dresser.  I indulge whenever I can - squeezing in a quick fix while in the doctor's office, waiting in line, waiting for 5:30, sitting while covered with sleeping cats....

I'm a knitting junkie and I need your help.  In my defense, as someone who has the focus of a fruit fly, knitting something small and fast is just indescribably alluring.  Just look at some of my WIPs, if you don't believe me:

Tribbles - (this is all your fault, Jaime!)

Beekeepers Quilt - I got sucked right into the vortex and it will only take me three or four years to complete a lap-size quilt...I blame it on the tribbles...

Socks - Must. Knit. Socks.  I discovered I had an entire storage tub filled with sock yarn. OY.

Cotton Cardigan - Cast on in early June as a neck-down sweater.  I am closing in on two inches.

Black Cotton Sleeveless Shell - Cast on in the distant past - so distant, I don't remember exactly what I was thinking or when I was thinking it.  Left to lie fallow after five inches of booooring stocking knit.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  Anything that entails more than 20 minutes of covert knitting is tossed to the side to lie woefully unappreciated and ignored.

Various Holiday Gifts - Which cannot be described for obvious reasons...

Toddler's Cotton Vest - THIS is why I need your help!  As you know, I don't have children.  Ergo, I don't have grandchildren.  Nor do I interact with children on any regular basis.  Yet, I persist in knitting children's garments.  They are small.  They are fast.  They are cute.  Need I say more?



The colors are a little different than pictured - the blue is
closer to the green in color and the green is more
of a celery-meets-sage green.

 How can you help?  By entering my giveaway to win this little vest so I can justify knitting another child-sized garment!  Now, before you get all excited (if any of you are getting excited, that is), a few disclaimers:

• This is not knit by one of Martha's minions.  This is knit by me.  So it is bound to be imperfect.
• This is NOT a cat-free home.  They own it and I just live here.
• This is knit out of dreamy, organic, hand spun cotton.  You cannot toss this into the machine.  You will have to hand wash it and block it flat to dry it. 
• Although I followed the pattern for a 1 Y/O, I have no idea if this will fit a 1 Y/O so you'll have to go by the measurements, which are:  12 inches across the chest; 11 inches from top of shoulder to bottom of ruffle; 4 inches at arm hole.

Will you help me?  If you love me you will...  Have mercy on me and leave a comment of any size, shape or color below.  I will choose a winner by random on Saturday, November 17.  Deadline for entry is midnight, Friday, November 16.  I can only ship to the continental U.S. - sorry - overseas postal rates are too steep!  I've spent all my money on yarn (and dog food), you see...

Stress busters.

There are as many ways to deal with stress as there are stressed people.  I have tried many methods over the years, from the not-quite-legal (I grew up in the 60s and 70s - need I say more?), to the ethereal (meditation, yoga, breathing), to the physical - jogging (70s version of running), walking, mad-girl volleyball.  These days, my favorite method of dealing with stress, besides the occasional vodka and tonic, is knitting.  I can and do knit all year long.  As the temperatures rise, I move from wool to cotton or linen.  As the temperatures fall, I move from lace weight to worsted.  I love to knit.  I am a fairly skilled knitter, although I pale in the company of my friends Kayten and Melanie.  My mother knits socks and taught me.  I learn best by watching and doing, rather than by reading.  I usually have at least three projects on the needles - one is a new, more complicated (for me) pattern; one is not quite as complicated and familiar to me; and one is always a dishcloth.

This is a representative set - winners will be surprised!

Since it has been a fairly stressful summer so far, I have a plethora of dishcloths.  In honor of my Summer of Stress (;o), I have decided to hold a drawing for two sets of two dishcloths.  Two lucky readers will each win a pair of dishcloths.  All four dishcloths were knit with 100% cotton/recycled cotton by yours truly.  This should be fun - unless you view dishcloths as some view zucchini.  "Oh my god, not more dishcloths!"  In order to enter the drawing, just leave a comment with your favorite stress-busting method.  The cut-off date is this Thursday.  Scrappy the Super Dog will be selecting the winners, and those winners will be announced on Friday.  Don't worry - he's completely impartial!  Good luck!