Frog

I have finished knitting Frog!  I'm thrilled with how he turned out.  I learned a lot about shaping--although the shaping is accomplished pretty easily (increases, decreases, a few wrap-and-turn short rows), the way they are used to make him was really interesting.

I didn't cut/steek for the eyes--I just picked up stitches and then knit the eyelids.  I followed the directions for his left eye (stitching the eyelids together, then placing the eye inside & securing), but for the other eye (his right eye), I put the eye in and stitched the eyelids around it, and I like the way it came out better.

I'm really looking forward to knitting his clothes next!

Frog and Toad, the kit arrives!

To celebrate my birthday this year, I ordered a present for myself--the Frog and Toad kit from Kelson Goods. I ordered it at the end of February, and it arrived!

It's full of goodies--everything needed to make Frog and Toad with their little clothes!

The pattern by Kristina Ingrid McGowan is available in a knit and crochet version, and I'm planning on making the knitted version.

Osprey cam

My friend Maggisen told me about this amazing osprey cam in Estonia. I've been lucky enough to see her adjust the eggs, groom, and greet daddy, but today, I not only saw that a chick had hatched, but they fed the chick a fish:



I'm off to watch some more!

When Cedric hides

Cedric was with me during this lunchtime walk, when we spotted the hawk on the light pole. I think it was a red-tailed hawk, but Cedric wouldn't come out to give his opinion. All he'd say was, "Polly wants fresh meat!"



I don't blame him. I think all of Cedric is smaller than this hawk's head.

Meridian Jacobs

We had a great time at Meridian Jacobs' Meet the Sheep & Fiber Fun 2008 in Vacaville. After two really intense weeks, we didn't make any commitments or any plans for today; we decided that if we woke up feeling like going, we'd go. It was a beautiful spring morning, so after waffles, we went.

I was not only interested in meeting the lambs, but after reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and hearing Michael Shuman on Alternative Radio discuss local economics in his book The Small-mart Revolution, I've been more interested in finding local yarn. Meridian Jacobs is only 54 miles from home, and the drive up there was almost worth the entire trip; the hills are not only green from the recent rain, but they're not sprinkled, they're sprayed with colorful flowers--the deep, red-purples surrounded the brilliant orange California poppies before fields of mustard yellows.

Robin was there telling us all about the sheep and the goats, and the kids who were there got to help bottle feed the baby goat (who, I believe, is two weeks old). The goats were incredibly friendly, licking and nibbling your fingers while you pet them, and her dogs Bonnie & Rusty were lovable, too. Some of the sheep didn't mind some attention and some petting, but some were shy. Robin's sheep are all Jacob sheep, and her friend Colleen was there with incredibly fluffy Romney and CVM sheep (Mopsy and friend!). Cedric loved watching the sheep in the open field, the sheep and goats in the barn, and even the two pigs.

Near the shop spinners and weavers were patiently explaining their craft to kids and adults alike, and Colleen was there with her Fiber Confections yarn. Many folks hung out there also with their picnic or takeout lunch. Did I buy some yarn? Oh, yes, thanks to the fortuitous arrival of our tax refunds (taking the sting out of having overpaid our 2007 taxes!).