Fairy Stocking!

Well, even though we have been in the death grip of the "killer blizzard" of 2010, we still managed to not only get our daughter Emily's miniature Fairy Stocking completed, but we also managed to get out in the snow and use it as a backdrop to take pictures of it! I will never cease to be amazed at Susie's patience (AND her eyesight!) when working on small projects like this. She took embroidery floss and unraveled it so she could use just 2 STRANDS of green and 1 of silver, then knitted the stocking with #0000 needles. The picture doesn't really show the small size but the overall length from the angora trim...which Susie spun from our angora rabbit Buttons.....to the toe is just 2.375"! The length from heel to toe is a little under 1". What can I say? Susie's talent with fiber and knitting always humbles my attempts on the wheel or with needles!

Winter With An Attitude!

Now I will be the first to admit that in comparison to the weather that our family has been subjected to "up North", what we have been dealing with can't really compare! BUT....for us folks in Tennessee, this cold snap is rather out of the norm, especially after the past few winters that we've had. I mean, I kinda liked not wearing a coat all winter! But not this year! We have been in the freezer now since before Christmas and it's taking it's toll on me. We have worked on our "interesting" water system 3 of the past 4 weekends and haven't been able to get out into the woods to cut firewood yet. So far, the water is running very well....hasn't frozen (well....just once but that was MY fault!)....and even though the wood pile is getting rather sparse, the stove has kept us warm. In my own defense, I know that I've gotten rather "soft" after 21 years down here, but I do remember being the one that walked everywhere in Champaign regardless of the weather or the temperature. Shoot, I can remember sitting in a snowbank outside Baskin Robbins eating a banana split and enjoying an ice cold Mountain Dew while watching the "cold people" walk by at the mall. Sometimes I wonder if I was tougher back in those days, or just not as bright as I am now!

Happy New Year and Good Ridance to 2009!

As the new year starts, I for one PRAY that 2010 turns out to be a more "peaceful" year than 2009. We seemed to run from one catastrophe to another the whole year with the past couple months being the "icing on the cake". As we start the new year, we are dealing with a car that has a bad engine due to "routine maintenance" and wondering where the money is going to come from to either rebuild a car that's technically not worth rebuilding or purchasing another vehicle. Several years ago we got turned on to Dave Ramsey and after following his advise, we are living completely debt free other than the farm....which will be paid off in less than 4 years. Getting out of debt is a wonderful feeling so even the THOUGHT of going back INTO debt stinks and ISN'T going to happen! Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the KIA!

On a fiber note, Susie finished a pair of socks for our daughter that we have owed her for a long time. They are handspun out of Finn wool in both white and gray. (Trust me, it is gray even though my photography makes them look brown!) We gave them to Emily on New Years Day when we had the family out to celebrate our Christmas. Emily took them from Susie's hands and put them on and LEFT them on! She said it was nice to FINALLY have warm feet! Now that this project is off the needles, I need to make sure Susie finishes a miniature Tinker Bell stocking that's also for Emily. I'm looking forward to posting that project.....it was knit using embroidery thread that she unplied so it could be knit with just 2 strands! (I'm always amazed at her patience!)


We also recently purchased another spinning wheel for our "arsenal"! I took my Christmas bonus from one of my jobs and bought an Ashford Country Spinner....which we have been after for a number of years! It is being shipped from Alaska so we are waiting with baited breath for a call from our local post office telling us it's there and ready to be picked up. I can hardly wait!


I guess in retrospect, the last few weeks have been "tolerable" but I kid you not when I say I'm praying for a year without some of the issues we have had to walk through in the past year! Here's to a Blessed 2010 and Susie and I pray that your barns are full and your animals warm and happy and may your drive band never break and you never drop a stitch!