There's a special little boy coming into my extended family. My nephew, Kris and his partner, Kate are expecting a baby boy to arrive in April. I'm going to be a great-Auntie! I am the world's slowest knitter, but I did manage to get the blanket done in time for the shower. I hope the little guy feels all the "Auntie" love when he gets wrapped up in it.
I don't think there will be any more baby blanket knitting done in this house. This was knit on 3.25mm needles. That's a lot of knitting by hand.
However, I did sign up for a machine knitting workshop in May. Yes, I have a knitting machine..supposedly a quality one...bought used...still in the box under my bed. It's been a "One day..." project on my list for a few years.
By the calendar, spring has arrived. There is not much evidence of it here yet. March has been blustery and cold. I still have my studded snow tires on. April is always a gamble, we are sure to get one last blizzard. Hubby did drag his motorcycle out of the shed in a wishful moment. I think his optimism will be dealt a blow when it's sitting out in the driveway in a blizzard.
I am excitedly waiting my first mill order shipment of the year to arrive next week from Wilton Road Mill. This order is all white yarns and rovings, so I'll be starting to dye as soon as my sunroom warms up enough.
My shop is looking a little bare and I'll be happy to get some new stock in.
Spring will be busy here. Dyeing yarn, halter training the weanlings from last year, shearing alpacas, scheduled breedings and waiting for two cria to be born.
Something else that I am planning to do this year is grow vegetables. You heard it right. This farmer is going to grow vegetables. I grow primarily alpaca fibre here. I do sell registered breeding stock. I also raise chickens and produce eggs for farmgate. I've typically had a half-baked garden (usually at the prodding of my daughter and her grandmother) that I've planted, neglected and then taken a few beans and zucchinis out of. I say, quite ashamedly, I have a farm and don't know how to grow vegetables. I thought gardening was something that you either knew how to do instinctively or didn't. I also used to live too fast to appreciate good, slow food for what it was and only now have begun to appreciate how growing my own food can help the planet.
This year will be different. I have the desire, I have the start of a plan and I have two secret weapons.
More on that later...
