Baby News-Fiber News

Again, its been ages since I posted. I dont know whats up with me, but its been really hard to make myself sit and write. Once I get going, I enjoy it, but dang, its so hard to sit here and DO it!

We're having a girl!! A wee girl... and her name is Madelyn. I adore my Granny (maternal) and her name is Madelyn and Shane and I love the name and love the nickname Mad, sooo, its perfect! Little Mad is growing like mad. Shes about 1 1/2 pounds now and 14 inches long! I feel like shes twice that big. My belly is enormous. Or at least it seems like it to me! Shes squashing everything. Its hard to breathe sometimes, depending on how Im sitting/laying and I cant eat much at a time. But its nothing bad. The awful part of it all is the hip pain that Im having. I swear, its some of the worst pain Ive ever felt in my life. It makes most movements incredibly painful. Even putting socks on is an ordeal. But its all good! Makes me stronger, gives me character. I know now that when Im old (or young!), if I have bad, chronic pain, I can take it. I can still do what I need to do, even if it hurst so much I cry.

Yesterday Shane and I went out and took some pictures. We both wish we could see what our mothers looked like while they were pregnant with us so we want to make sure Mad has plenty to pictures to see later. Heres a couple of my favorites -

Ive been doing a bit of spinning and knitting/crocheting. I bought some loverly sage green roving from Copperpot Woolies, spun it in to a worsted weight ad am knitting it in to some mittens for my mother. They were supposed to be done for her bday last month, but I got sick and was only able to get one done. So Im finishing up the second now (just got a thumb to do!). She seems to like them, at least she loves the color. Ill post a pic when Im all done.

As for spinning, Ive spun alot! Heres a pic of just some of the yarn Ive made -

Theres more than just these, but I got tired of taking pics of them all. On my wheel I have some misc roving ends from The Sheep Shed. Its a beautiful mix of caramel, dark chocolate and white. I think there is some mohair in it, but Im not sure. Its very pretty!

Sheep are Naked!

Im very very very happy to say that my sheep have been shorn! They were done on Mothers Day by a nice fellow whos father has sheep down the road (he also has sheep there, but lives somewhere else now). I was a nervous wreck, but Joe was wicked cool with my babies. He could tell right off that I love them to bits and was afraid they would be hurt or scared or something. But he was patient and kind with them and now theyre naked!!

They did some wiggling and I told Joe that I didnt care one bit what they looked like when he was done. I cared more that they were ok. Boy are they all bumpy! Its cute :) Im getting much closer to haltering Nasvitch, so Im thinking that I might get my scissors out and do some trimming. Lymric, now, hes not as lumpy as his brother and hes more timid, so I might leave him the way he is. We shall see!

So now I have two huuuge fleeces to process. I havent even skirted them yet. I dont have a drum carder so Im a little disscouraged. Im terrible with hand cards and they take ages anyway so even if I get the fleeces all skirted, picked, and washed, I still cant spin them. So Im just sort of looking at them for now. But they will get done eventually!

Ive been knitting a bit but dont have any photos yet of what Im doing. But, finally, I have learned to crochet granny squares! Yay me! Ive been making them for a friend and also for a little sweater for my moms chihuahua. Plus Im thinking I would like a big blanket for our bed. Something washable... though I cant see me knitting or crocheting something that huge. So Im sort of fooling myself with granny squares. Theyre quick and sooner or later they will add up to a very colorful, nifty blanket!