As I look through many patterns for bags, cowls, and baby sweaters, I wondered just how much yarn, needles, and hooks I had actually acquired over the years.
Garden planning is on the horizon, and I have bins filled with packets and bottles of seeds. I am trying not to buy anything new, though I may be out of some favorites and will need to order again. But I won't know for sure until I look through everything!
So, with my three day weekend in which I also enjoyed many social activities, I found time to pull boxes out of the basement. I used Ravelry's "stash" system to list all the yarn, needles, and hooks. Turns out I have many, many crochet hooks and multiples of 14" knitting needles. I am bringing all of my extras to the next Stitch'n'Bitch to give out to anyone who wants them. Yarn got stowed away in drawers, and implements into another drawer, all set for a rainy day and a new project.
(If you haven't been on Ravelry.com, check it out! Tons of free patterns, and with all the old yarn I have without a project for, I can check their database for patterns used with that same yarn.)
Then I pulled out the bins of seeds. Believe it or not, I have an excel spreadsheet with vegetable, variety, sowing depth, spacing, height, fertilizer needs, and notes of each seed I keep. It helps me decide what to order and what to plant from year to year. Seeds lose their viability over the years, but most can keep for up to three years at a good rate, while some can go for even more.
So, tell me, how do you plan and prepare?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Crochet Obsession
Today was fantastic. I made blueberry pancakes with a special "made with Maine blueberries" mix gifted to me by my brother and his new wife. They went with our "suburban-fresh" eggs and sliced banana.
They've discovered they are having a girl, and so I have started a baby blanket. The yarn is soft and machine washable, and the colors are baby blue, pale pink, and fuchsia. I'm using a pattern that is super chunky and warm. I think I'll have enough fuchsia leftover to make a baby hat and maybe even a pair of matching booties.
I love knitting, but for these projects I am bringing back crochet. I haven't done it in YEARS, so it took some finagling to get the kinesthetic memory in my hands going. Now I'm on fire!
I wish I had taken pictures of all the projects I have finished in the past and given away. I just never seem to remember to do it! I'm going to be better about it now, because I have definitely done some beautiful patterns that deserve to be highlighted.
The pattern for the above baby blanket can be found here, for anyone looking to begin crocheting (it's definitely a great project for a beginner), or to hook up a really quick and easy blanket for a new little human. I LOVE the colors she used for her blanket.
You can also take a look at my Pinterest board Needlecraft for some more ideas on yarn and sewing!
They've discovered they are having a girl, and so I have started a baby blanket. The yarn is soft and machine washable, and the colors are baby blue, pale pink, and fuchsia. I'm using a pattern that is super chunky and warm. I think I'll have enough fuchsia leftover to make a baby hat and maybe even a pair of matching booties.
I love knitting, but for these projects I am bringing back crochet. I haven't done it in YEARS, so it took some finagling to get the kinesthetic memory in my hands going. Now I'm on fire!
I wish I had taken pictures of all the projects I have finished in the past and given away. I just never seem to remember to do it! I'm going to be better about it now, because I have definitely done some beautiful patterns that deserve to be highlighted.
The pattern for the above baby blanket can be found here, for anyone looking to begin crocheting (it's definitely a great project for a beginner), or to hook up a really quick and easy blanket for a new little human. I LOVE the colors she used for her blanket.
You can also take a look at my Pinterest board Needlecraft for some more ideas on yarn and sewing!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
New England Poultry Expo
Lover and I have OCD. By which I mean that we have "Obsessive Chicken Disorder."
So when I found out about the big time Poultry Expo, I told Lover and we immediately decided we would go.
Come Saturday morning, we took the hour and a half trip to Massachusetts. I spent part of the trip reading "This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of the Long Island Sound" for my Long Island Sound class. We listened to a Spotify playlist of recent emerging artists. It was sunny and chilly, and a perfect day for a drive through Northern CT.
When we walked inside the doors of the Expo, I don't think either of us were prepared for the cacophony that assaulted our ears. Roosters crowed in the distance, but just feet away from the doors were the squalling shrieks and squawks of many, many geese, and the rolling gargles of turkeys.
Lover was ecstatic. He ran around taking photos, a big grin on his face. I never realized what a poultry fanatic he could be once I introduced him to the antics of chicken-keeping. Someday, we'll have ducks, too.
I also saw the cutest little quail! I love quail eggs. I am seriously considering quail.I don't have a photo though! Lover saw Serama chickens for the first time, which are the tiniest breed of chickens. They are super cute, and Lover now wants, get this, a Serama rooster. Check out the photo I found online:
Ridiculous, right!
Anyway, we went on looking at all kinds of birds.
We picked up a pair of silkies for a friend. They stayed overnight out our house. Once they were comfortable, the rooster started up his crowing. It was a fun morning!
This has made me all the more excited about getting our chicks in May. I want to create a new brooder for indoors out of a big storage tub. We have a brooder for outdoors. A couple of our big hens are going to Kentucky to live with Lover's parents. So, we're making room for our new lovelies!
So when I found out about the big time Poultry Expo, I told Lover and we immediately decided we would go.
Come Saturday morning, we took the hour and a half trip to Massachusetts. I spent part of the trip reading "This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of the Long Island Sound" for my Long Island Sound class. We listened to a Spotify playlist of recent emerging artists. It was sunny and chilly, and a perfect day for a drive through Northern CT.
When we walked inside the doors of the Expo, I don't think either of us were prepared for the cacophony that assaulted our ears. Roosters crowed in the distance, but just feet away from the doors were the squalling shrieks and squawks of many, many geese, and the rolling gargles of turkeys.
Lover was ecstatic. He ran around taking photos, a big grin on his face. I never realized what a poultry fanatic he could be once I introduced him to the antics of chicken-keeping. Someday, we'll have ducks, too.
I also saw the cutest little quail! I love quail eggs. I am seriously considering quail.I don't have a photo though! Lover saw Serama chickens for the first time, which are the tiniest breed of chickens. They are super cute, and Lover now wants, get this, a Serama rooster. Check out the photo I found online:
Ridiculous, right!
Anyway, we went on looking at all kinds of birds.
We picked up a pair of silkies for a friend. They stayed overnight out our house. Once they were comfortable, the rooster started up his crowing. It was a fun morning!
This has made me all the more excited about getting our chicks in May. I want to create a new brooder for indoors out of a big storage tub. We have a brooder for outdoors. A couple of our big hens are going to Kentucky to live with Lover's parents. So, we're making room for our new lovelies!
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