for the crochet folk

I know many of my readers crochet,

so here's one especially for you:

© Galit Grosz Cabot

Galit Grosz Cabot's pattern for this crocheted bellflower

is free until 1 April on ravelry.

Right here.

Go get it, for goodness' sake.

© Galit Grosz Cabot

And while you are there,

take a look at the designer's other patterns.

I love the Yin Yang Paisley Dish:

© Galit Grosz Cabot

Love.It.

From the designer's rav profile:

"I live with my husband and two daughters in northern Israeli country side. Beautiful old oak and olive trees surround our little settlement. My family produce excellent olive oil from our grove near our house."

I love that image, too.

~~~~~

wordless wednesday

~~~~~

tulip tuesday

Many weeks ago,

a friend and I arranged to visit

the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College.

Picked a day.

Put it on our calendars.

We rejoiced at the prospect:

stepping into warm glasshouses

being immersed in the glorious aroma of hyacinths

and filling our eyes with color.

After all these months of snow and ice...

color.

On the day: freezing rain, icy roads.

We peered at our respective morning skies,

phones in hands,

hemmed and hawed and dithered,

then reluctantly postponed.

Very reluctantly.

We rescheduled to Saturday, the 21st.

Which was also the final day of the Show.

Much crossing of fingers last week.

Saturday, there was snow.

Falling.

We went anyway.

(The eagle picture was taken en route.)

Color.

 

 Color, color, color!

Also, colour!

Ahhhh.

(I shall stop talking now.)

 

Ahhhhhh.

~~~~~

snowy saturday snapshot

~~~~~

sleety saturday

Every day for the past week, I've been combing goats for at least an hour and a half in the morning, and usually another hour or more in the afternoon. The weather has been ideal - the exact opposite of last year! - so I have to strike while the iron is hot. Or make hay while the sun shines. I'd do more every day if my back and hands could take it. As it is, I just have to be patient and do as much as I can, as often as I can. I break it up into a few sessions. It's slow, but it's coming along nicely.

Today was an unplanned day off from combing, due to a change in the weather. It was alternating freezing rain and sleet all day - even goats who chose to spend the whole day in the barn felt slightly damp. Just on their outer coats, that is; they are perfectly warm and cozy! But they can't be combed when they are damp. Just fed and watered and visited.

Piper helped with chores tonight, as usual.

She's a trouper!

We were both soaked to the skin when we came in.

Piper was toweled off right away and has since been napping,

but soon she'll be yawning and stretching

and wondering what happened to supper.

Must be my turn to cook?

Guess I'd better get to it.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

~~~~~

hey, kids! what time is it?

"Daylight Savings Time"?

Pffffft.

That's just a concept.

Guess what time it really is?

That's right...it's harvest time!

"Let the combing begin!"

Eleven goats, each to be combed

very gently and multiple times - 

though not two days in a row - 

over a period of a few weeks.

It's a process!

And we're off to a nice start.

~~~~~

right now

~~~~~

wordless wednesday

~~~~~

because summer will come

One day recently I came across a picture of a sewing pattern

for a garment that is just about exactly what I've been imagining

for several years.

Imagine that!

It took a couple of hours to figure out how to order it online.

 

And now it's here.

Time to dust off Auntie Ruby's Singer Featherweight!

With very good luck,

by Summertime (no rush, no pressure)

I shall have a functional yet stylish,

rugged yet comfortable,

smock/dress garment

suitable for gardening, and throwing hay,

and feeding hens and stirring dyepots

and lounging with a glass of iced tea.

The sort of garment I hope I'll reach for every day.

The search is on for appropriate fabric.

I'm thinking something the color

of goat hoofprints would be good.

Really? Why would you think that?

Disclaimer/Disclosure: I'm not much of a seamstress

(Sew-er? Sewperson?)

but I'm quite excited about this project.

And when a simple dress pattern arrives

packaged like this:

 I feel tremendously encouraged.

I shall do my best!

And after all, it's just one foot in front of the other, right?

(Right?)

Wish me luck!

~~~~~