The Big Reveal

Almost all of the soaps are labeled and ready to go for this weekend's craft show. It's their big debut and I'm excited and nervous! What if they don't sell? What if I don't have enough? Only time will tell! I think they look cute on that little shelf. I scored that shelf for $2 at an auction, but I'll do another post for it because it didn't look like this when I bought it!

Whatever soap doesn't sell on Saturday will be listed in my Etsy shop, hopefully by Sunday!

Stock Sunday

Sunday I made stock. The pot on the left is poultry stock (chicken and turkey) and the pot on the right is lamb stock. I roasted the lamb bones first and boy, the house smelled so good! I let it simmer on low overnight and Monday morning I canned 7 quarts before I went in to work (a few hours late). I would have canned another batch, but I ran out of time so some went for that night's dinner, some went into the freezer, and some is in the fridge for tomorrow's (or Friday's) dinner.

Knitting 101

Kylee has been wanting to learn how to knit for a little while now, so while I had some time this weekend I taught her. My sister posted about my niece learning to knit, and I used the same catchy rhyme Becky used to teach Charlotte. She's now working on her very own scarf! It's great to have a knitting buddy!

Feeling Froggy?

Tonight I could not find my size 8 double pointed knitting needles, so I searched and searched and finally found them....in a hat I had yet to cast off. I knit this hat twice. I started it in August, and knit the hat on the size needles called for in the pattern (I think 10s?). The hat just didn't turn out like I wanted it to. The stitches were too open. I have been wanting the perfect hat for a while now, and I was hoping it would be this hat.


It's knit out of baby alpaca yarn, which is so so soft. I re-knit it on size 8 needles, and I still am not very happy with it. Perhaps it's just not the right yarn for this pattern. I'm thinking I need to frog it again and maybe make a cowl out of the yarn. After all, I can't really feel the super soft yarn through my hair, but I'm thinking my neck would appreciate a nice soft cowl come winter.


I do love the cables though. My first second cables (since I knit the hat twice!). I'll keep looking for the perfect yarn for the pattern.

It's Crafting Time

The "big" craft show is less than a month away, so I've been busy felting things! Here are some mini sheep that may or may not get turned into Christmas tree ornaments.

And here is a little Christmas scene I just love. It will probably be sold as a set. I sort of want to keep it. I know I can make another one for myself, but I have ADD when it comes to making things. It's super hard for me to make multiples of the same thing because I get bored and want to move on to something different.

I think that little scene would look great on a mantel!

Wordless Wednesday

Someone feels left out.

Barley

I asked David to snap this picture of Barley and me yesterday. I wish she was standing a little more naturally instead of being kind of hunched up, because it makes her look slightly smaller. The little girls, Bean and Barley, have been staying in the barn pen since the ram is out in the pasture. I have never bred a ewe lamb, I've always waited to breed them as yearlings, and I was debating breeding Barley as a lamb this year. I'm leaning towards no, since I'm nervous she'll have complications and I really don't *need* her to lamb this coming spring. I'd rather wait one more year and not have any issues from her being too small.

Barley and Bean have been going outside to graze for a few hours every day. I'll put a halter on Barley and let Bean follow us. To go back in the barn, I just call the girls and they both follow right on my heels (even stepping on my heels!) and go right back in their pen. Sheep definitely go better when they're led, instead of being "pushed" from behind, like cattle.

I just love Bean and Barley and can't wait until next fall to breed them.

Soap Labels!

Check out my new soap labels! My friend Jen from Home Sweet made them for me, because I can't work am not familiar with Photoshop. This week I'll be labeling the soap and hope to have it in the Etsy shop by the weekend!

Ida Mae

Ida is almost 8 months old now and is growing up to be quite a pretty goat. I just love her and can't wait until next fall so I can breed her!




She's quite spunky too! She's figured out if she gets up on the milking stand that she'll get grain, and now she runs to the barn any chance she gets so she can hop up on the stand for a snack. I fed her up there last week so I could trim her hooves. She's a smart girl when there's food involved!



Thanks to Verde Farm for hosting Farm Friend Friday!