Jacque Goose-Tou, Claudette, & Babette wabbled a bit at first on the soft newly mowed grass but then went right into grazing.

The geese had been pretty nervous in their brooder and often freaked out over anyone coming toward them, but out in the yard they were changed birds.  They wandered around happily then Tank burst through the sliding glass door.  Apparently he’s figured out how to let himself outside whenever he would like.  Tank is well…for lack of better terms…a Tank.  He’s a large dog who has no idea how big he is or how powerful he is.  He’s not allowed with any of the livestock but here he was, running at top speed toward the Mr and I and our geese.  The Mr leapt to his feet and tackled the pup so successfully I’m still amazed.

After the initial charge he settled down and made me so proud.  Not only were the geese not afraid of him, they were so unafraid they decided they would nibble him and then even crawl on top of him.  Tank was honestly a little worried and didn’t understand why they could bite him but he couldn’t nibble back.  He was so calm and wonderful that I was floored!

I can’t tell you how far this dog has come since the first day we brought him home from the shelter.  He has turned a corner and is finally more an adult than a pup though he still has terrible puppy bouts

In other news something else is new that will get it’s own post…

Then the business took off and it was finally ready to leave behind California and it’s madness (along with in-laws I sorely miss) and stake a claim in the south-western Washington.  The first few weeks were chaotic at best but we have settled into live in our semi-rural home nestled in acres of pasture, trees, birds, and all sorts of wonderful wildlife.  The Mr had picked out the most wonderful house and property.  Since I was still living in California and packing I saw only a few poorly chosen pictures captured by the real estate agent so I wasn’t prepared.  The house is lovely, it’s set up well, not to large, has plenty of storage (with a second unattached garage), 5 acres of enclosed pasture and a wonderful barn that makes me all sorts of happy.

Still, something seemed to be missing.  I spent my first few months knitting ferociously, reading, cooking, cleaning, unpacking, exploring, and spending copious amounts of time with Tank on walks.  We added chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks to the property giving it a sense of purpose and giving us a sense of satisfaction in growing something that was meant to nourish our bodies as well as our spirits.  We had been lost in the fold of Californian greed, and frankly, it hurts.  Raising our livestock fills a need to create and harvest that is intensely satisfying in a way that is hard to explain.  It’s hard to put into words that this chicken has lived a good, well cared for life and now will nourish the family that raised it.  That the vegetables will grow and their harvest will be reaped and enjoyed more than any store-bought lettuce ever has.  Wool shorn from my sheep and spun into yarn and knit into a sweater will be a better sweater than any ever offered by a designer.

We are returning to the land as my Father in Law puts it.  The odd bit is that he seems to say it with pride.  We never expect anyone else to understand why we have chosen the life we are living – and of course this is only the tip of the iceberg - but we certainly don’t expect understanding and such acceptance.  We love it, but most people would rather not raise chickens and turkeys for the dinner table, though many do it for eggs.  Raising livestock isn’t hard but it isn’t as easy as dropping by the store after work and grabbing some chicken breasts.  What it lacks in ease it more than makes up for in environmental impact, sustainability, and wholesomeness.  I know where my birds come from, I know they are healthy and what they eat.  I know they have no extra hormones and that they have never suffered (except when they are slow to get into the coop at night and I pick them up, and they will tell you this is suffering in the worst sort!).

I finally have realized in the last couple of weeks what was missing.  I was missing my stress, my worry, my anxiety.  I wasn’t taking any anti depressant (which I had been doing every other 6 months or so for the last couple of years).  I’m happier than I have been in years and frankly, after that long, it’s a little odd.  Yes, I’ve been always pretty happy, I have an amazing husband, an amazing family, amazing friends, and an amazing dog, but there was always a tinge of misery I hid from the world.  Now though, even on the worst days, even on days when no chicken wants to go into the coop at night and I have to pull them out from under the coop, kneeling in chicken poop in the process, or when Tank finds coyote musk and rolls in it happy as can be I am happier that I could imagine.  I am happiest now when I am the dirtiest, most tired, and most sore because it means I am doing something meaningful, something with purpose.  I didn’t realize before how much I needed this but now that I have it I don’t think I could give it up.  It might not be the life for everyone but I think I have finally found my best life.

We rented a tiller from the Home Depot and expanded the existing garden at the house.  Thankfully the guy recommended the self propelling tiller for the work we had to do and it made it much easier for the Mr.

It is really only about 3′ wider now but that gives us so much more room.  So far I have planted cucumbers, green beans, garlic, corn, and brussle sprouts.  We still have yet to put in carrots, 3 kinds of raddishes, and lettuce. 

Tank of course was a serious help! lol

I’m very happy with the finished product.  The earth here is just so wonderful and I can’t wait to see how things grow.  I’m reallly looking forward to canning and eating all the tasty veggies that come out of our very own garden.

It’s oddly satisfying to work this hard and get this dirty in order to grow something yourself.  It’s the same satisfaction I feel about the chickens.

Of course no post would be complete with out a cutie pie Tank picture.

This is something I have a great respect for.  I don’t have the building gene as such.  Odd you’d think because my mom is an amazing carpenter (and was until she retired 8 years ago) in the a Minnesota Union.  That means she wasn’t just like a fnish carpenter working on houses, she built parking ramps and the federal reserve.  Serious stuff.  She’s the person I go to ask about tools because I don’t know anyone else who knows more.  When it wasn’t obvious how the skill saw blade was supposed to go on she knew you had to punch out the middle (to the Mr’s credit he figured it out just as I was asking her).

The coop is crazy.  Seriously the Mr built this building to last.  I can walk on and jump on just about every piece of lumber in there with out anything giving. 

I tell you, there was a lot of work that went into this coop but honestly it will easily fit many more chickens in case I decide I need more.

There are a few extra features that the Mr added just for me such as extra handles so that if I get all clumsy I can catch myself before I fall on my face.  That’s a larger drop than it looks, it’s a foot to the bottom of the wood.  He’s incredibly thoughtful that way.  It’s nice when the man you married and love knows you so well that he knows at one point his wife will trip and almost eat it out of the coop.

The ceiling is high enough that I can walk around with my head up and not hunched over which is really nice since I’ll be the primary chicken feeder and coop cleaner.

The roosts are all set up and there is even a chicken ladder so they can reach them. apparently big fat Cornish chickens are huge on roosting.  I guess they are honestly kind of lazy creatures.  I bought a large feeder today so that I don’t have to haul feed twice a day.  My laying chickens and turkeys don’t eat as much, but then again I’m not intending to eat them so they can eat less as long as they are healthy and eventually start producing eggs.

All we need now is siding and the chicken residence is pretty much done.

I can’t tell you how happy I am.  My girls have a place to live, it’s robust, and dependable, warm and free of leaks.  Also there’s a huge chicken run for them to peck and look for tasty bugs.  Some husbands buy their wives jewelry or cars, mine builds awesome things.

The ladies approve.  They seem to dig the space and are thus far giving me pretty good attitude.  A couple more pounds and they will be moving on.

In another week or two I’ll be moving the Marans and the Jersey Giants to the coop too.  Soon my garage will be a garage again and not a brooder.  I can’t tell you how much I’ve really enjoyed raising my chickens this far.  They are easy, funny, and interesting creatures.

I designed this cowl and am writing down a free pattern for it. Totally easy in every way and I love the way it worked up in this transitioning Noro.

(why yes that is my super fabulous barn behind me! Why yes I DO love it!)

I have also finished my Plain & Simple Pullover.  It really is plain & simple except for the crazy “Only Preita would choose this color” Orange.

(notice my wet shoes? It was later that day I got some proper Washington worthy waterproof Keens & LOVE THEM)

I knit this out of Madeline Tosh Merino (the colorway is Tomato though I’ve never seen a tomato this color). Lovely yarn, lovely color, fun buttons. Moving on!

I finished my second Channel Islands shawl. I have managed to stump all my testers but one. I don’t know if it’s because my directions don’t make sense or what. The tester that has gotten far was the only one from my knitting group, a fellow Minnesotan and able to see my shawl in progress. I’m not sure which of these had the desired effect but she is the one who understood it the most. Hopefully after getting some of her notes I’ll be able to make a better written pattern that is understandable across all languages.

It’s a fun and easy pattern once you understand it but I don’t want to release it and still have remaining issues with how to proceed after the set up (which is something people seem to be having the same trouble with). After it’s perfect I’ll release it to you all.

The other day Tank dug this 2″ hole and pulled out a vole. we have always laughed about his good nose but now I’m seriously impressed.

This is the view from my new favorite place to knit (my patio). It’s covered so I can knit in rain or shine and has a nice view of the back of our property.

This is my barn that I’m completely in love with!

This is the Yarn I bought at Twisted in Portland (Yes it’s LOCAL!)

This is what I’m working on right now (totally weird how I ran into the designer at Twisted!)

There is a Llama/Alpaca Ranch down the road (of course).

This is when I finally made it to Twisted in Portland after getting totally lost and seeing cops handcuff lots of people at the train/ bus station. I’m much happier than I look but I think I was trying not to look like a freak on the street taking pictures of myself.

(This store is like Anacapa Fine Yarns in Ventura + Loop & Leaf in Santa Barbara + Wild Fibers in Santa Monica. It was THAT great).

This is the Mr and his buddies golfing in the rain.

This is when Bishop found a Coors Ball and did a happy dance back to the cart.

And this is the random spectator we saw all over the course.

It was very anti-climatic though still very satisfying.  I can’t wait to be done for reasons I won’t post.  Lets just say that I am on way more mood stabilizers than I should be because of work.

So what will I do once I’m done with work?  I will be PACKING PACKING PACKING!!!  Yes, the Salyer’s are on the move again.  Once more in to the breach dear friend.  We are hopping states.  The Mr and I are going to Vancouver Washington (well, the Mr is already there working but I am still here in California). 

I hope also that in between packing I will be able to finish some knitting projects work on some designs that have been rolling around in my head begging to be wonders of knitting handiwork & spend time with my pup.

I have had serious knitting ADD this summer (I can’t believe it’s 1/2 way through July already because it surely doesn’t feel like it.  Maybe because no one was here for my birthday which always marks my mid-way point of the summer?)  I have started and have almost finished the uber cute Goodale by the fabulous and prolific Cecily Glowik MacDonald who I have a serious knit crush on.

I have a few knits that I need to get finished up because they are making me feel so guilty about how long they have languished with out completion.  I have never been this kind of knitter before.  I always used to finish a project before I moved on, lately I want to cast on 4 different things every night.

So life is moving along, different than what I expected but still just as fabulous.  The most exciting thing is that the Mr and I are moving to handknit heaven! I can’t wait!  The only thing that one of  us is going to have to adjust to is the rain.  Tank is not a fan of water and I think he’ll be sadder than sad to discover it falls freely from the sky.

Property of WhereIWrite.org

Not only does it have my favorite color green he’s surrounded by books, something which I strive for (well not necessarily strive because it actually happens whether I want it to or not).  Actually, looking at this picture again I can’t figure out how he gets out of the room because it looks like the doorway behind him is surrounded in books too. :/ I also love this one (note the green again).

Property of WhereIWrite.org

These are all Sci Fi & Fantasy writers in this project apparently.  I think it’s fantastic.  The minds of people who create their own universes (and sometimes prefer them to real life) are like trying to travel a hedge maze in a tornado.  Brilliant, confusing, scary, and ultimately beautiful.   I see that a few of my favorites are missing though, hopefully they will be added soon.

I have been knitting though nothing is really photographable right now.  The La La Shawl is about 3/4 done which means it’s a big yellow blob not really worthy of the bother.  I’m doing a second Baktus scarf out of malabrigo sock but that’s not really that interesting either.  The last thing I’m doing currently is the Felicity Hat.

I have done a few things to already ensure that this hat won’t be  like the pattern. 1, all the yarns are fingering weight not DK. I just don’t stash DK weight yarn for some reason so I dug into my fat sock left overs. 2, I also decreased the amount of colors because I couldn’t find a combination that I liked.  I’m alternating the navy middle stripe for a dark grey stripe.  I’m about 1/2 way done and I really like the effect so far.

A note though, this hat doesn’t have great instructions.  The cast on should have been Provincial because you are going to graft the live stitches to the cast on stitches in the end.  Had I read through the ENTIRE pattern before casting on I would have done this. My fault and not disastrous but I would recommend anyone doing this to cast on provincially, it will look nicer and have NO SEAMS.

I’m hoping that this will be a nice cute light weight hat I can wear in the winter at the beach.  It probably won’t fit so it will either linger or become a gift. Either way it’s a challenging pattern.  Hell is purling in fair isle.

Also!

aprox. 1400 yds of shetland handspun

I finished spinning the Shetland! Finally! God it seems like I’ve been doing this for freaking ever.  So I’m done and that means that I get to spin the same weight and yardage of Icelandic. Yay?  Actually it’s going to be great, I’m buying 16 ounces of Icelandic from my friend Mette to dye into stripes for a vest similar to Hello Yarn’s.  (for those of you not in the know, Mette & Tom – from Ranch Of the Oaks- have the nicest icelandic roving EVER.  It’s soft, amazingly soft for lopi.) 

Spin you bastard! Spin!

And just when I think I have a break today I am going to spin in a modified sheep to shawl at the fair.  (Modified because we are not shearing the sheep, just spinning & weaving). 

And because I don’t know if I’ve put it up on the blog but my friend Cassie sent me a bag (I’m going to in turn knit her a sweater).  It’s a fantastic bag of awesomeness.  This is an old picture (I’ve since then finished the book though not the knitting lol).

Seriously, it’s huge and green and fits strait needles and has a beautiful lining and a billion pockets, and fits perfectly over my shoulder, and zips closed.  It’s a bowl full of awesome topped generously with ‘rock on’.   It’s become my new favorite bag.  I’m trying to get her to sew up some more bags for sale.

Also, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not on the blog but we had a water heater melt down at the house.  It died a vicious and violent and watery death.  So the Mr and I ripped that bad boy out, popped the new one in, soddered the pipes and now we won’t be paying full rent to the landlord until January.  Yup, it pays to be handy.  Many people wouldn’t have done this, but we charged her 1/2 of what the plumber wanted.  When’s the last time you made $600 bucks in 3 hours?

I can’t tell you how awesome it is being married to a man who not only can sodder but knows why I would have a ratchet set in both mm & inches.   

First off, I’ve hit 27000 some odd words for the month of January so far. Kind of crazy, considering I am a person who had incredible trouble writing a short story in high school and college.

Also, the Mr came home last weekend with Rock Band 2, the complete set. This made for the most unproductive weekend on the face of the earth. He’s gotten pretty good at the guitar though, and I’m singing along (the horror I know) to the songs on hard & getting a 98% efficacy rating, who knew I could carry a tune. I blame all those years of violin lessons & orchestra. I can definitely hear it, but who knew I could reproduce it.

I came home the other day from work and was asulted by the sweetest smelling flowers on the face of the earth. Since we do not have potent flowers in our yard I went to investigate. I found that the roses were in bloom (again) but that’s not where it was coming from.

So I walked around my back yard sniffing this way and that (Yes, I’m sure I looked like a complete lunatic, but for those of you who know me personally you know I couldn’t care less) and finally found what was producing this amazing sweet smell.

Orange Blossom

My orange trees bloomed. And they smell amazing!  There were even ripe oranges (though they are, um, mini).

Mini Orange!

Of course for every orange that turns out perfectly there is it’s lesser red neck cousin lower on the tree who wasn’t as fortunate.

And yes, I may have only taken a picture of this orange because it reminded me of a butt, yes I am juvinile, what of it?

In other news Bob the cat has taken up water scrying.  He will sit at this bowl for hours just staring into it.   I bet you feel pretty inferior right now as you realize that you yourself do not posses a future seeing cat, but rest assured, it’s worth nothing because his grasp of the English language sucks.

"I sees your future"

This weekend I’m going to finish at least one damn knit. And Monday I will show you something more in line with the knit aspect of this blog.  I need to get my butt in gear because I really want to knit Sylvi (non ravelry users can see it here)  for my Minnesota trip (I would make mine shorter as bigger girls like me have no reason to be in a long sweater coat and minus the hood). I also think that I’m going to try to whip this out pre-trip too, but that might be pushing it.  First off I have to finish the Mr’s sweater which hopefully I can do this weekend!

And just in case you think my knitting chart obsession only revolves around humping reindeer I bring you humping elephants.

Humping Elephants knit chart

This is obviously the property of the creator and not me. It is a free chart but I in no way represent this as my own. Here is the ravelry link.

So Christmas knitting, is, as was reported in the last 10 billion posts, chugging along. I’m actually 3/4 done with a major project, and about 60% done with my FIL’s big red cotton sweater. You know I love that man if I’m knitting a man sized cotton sweater. But it’s beautiful and if he doesn’t wear it I’m going to poke him right in the eye!

So what have I been up to that I can show you? How about my mad reupholstery skills?

"Hi! I'm now covered in beautiful non-80's fabric!"

 This picture is with out flash & more color accurate. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this chair & the fabric I chose. The green fabric was a remnant & was a grand total of $3.75 for my 4yds. I really did do a happy dance.

Amazing what a little batting can do to perk things up!

 Even my MIL who is not a “green person” (meaning while I love green and would cover every square inch in it, she would prefer if green did not exist at all) really loves this fabric & the chair. So that has to say something right? Oh, and I didn’t have enough fabric for the seat so I got some different fabric. And while I was really all about this color when I first bought it, I’m questioning myself right now. I will have to see it all set up.

What? You want to see the before of this chair?

In all it's 80's glory.

 A big difference no? I have to say that my MIL is freaking awesome with the reupholstering. I left off the welting details because I thought it looked way more modern with out it. I think I made a good choice.

Cost of the Chairs = $50.00
       Cost of Fabric = $25.00
       New Cushions = $25.00
                        ———
                   Total = $100.00

How awesome is that? Two really super comfortable chairs, with really good bones repurposed in to two pretty happening pieces. Makes me want to find more pieces to save & refinish!

Also, I took a quiz, anyone who knows me already knows this is pretty accurate. I wouldn’t say “ruin” but my ideas are constantly changing & my views of life are always on the move. How I relate to everyone is in constant flux and it’s mostly because I’m ridiculously ambitious (most days!).

You are The Tower

Ambition, fighting, war, courage. Destruction, danger, fall, ruin.

The Tower represents war, destruction, but also spiritual renewal. Plans are disrupted. Your views and ideas will change as a result.

The Tower is a card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. The Tower stands for “false concepts and institutions that we take for real.” You have been shaken up; blinded by a shocking revelation. It sometimes takes that to see a truth that one refuses to see. Or to bring down beliefs that are so well constructed. What’s most important to remember is that the tearing down of this structure, however painful, makes room for something new to be built.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Not the best of pictures, but sorta close to the color. Yup, dark, dark red. I really love it.  See, I’m naturally blond, a color of blond that has progressively started to get darker as I’ve gotten older. Not that it will ever go into a lovely brunette but just a dark, dirty blond. A color that I was not happy with.  I have gone lighter but as my husband states “You have the soul of a red head babe, no offence but it’s nice to have a warning system ofr your fire”. HA! Thanks hun! My bangs really aren’t uneven, but my stylist likes to push them the oppiset direction of me. WHY do they always do that?! (Again, a picture with no makeup, one day I will learn.

Action shot! The Mr says that the red is better to bring out my eyes. lol who knows. I like it better though.  Does everyone have one perfect eye brow and one that refuses to look anything like the other? I’ve tried growing it completely in and re-starting the shape. Nada. I’m wondering what it’s problem is, get with the program eyebrow!

Then we have this red. Initally I was IN LOVE with this sweater. Now, um, you know what? That romance has faded. (Also score one for me for putting my arms right in front of my waist so I look like a square, THAT takes talent!)  This is supposed to be the EZ saddle shoulder sweater. Ok, the one for the hubby went so damn well, but this one? Yeah the lines don’t line up nicely. I’ve got all my decreases running wild. Instead of looking neat & tidy they are running off my shoulders. Also, the amount of boobage I carry around with me (because you never want to leave your boobage at home) completely hides the lovely lines. This is a great pattern, but on me? I don’t think so.

I still LOVE the idea of all the random garter stitch along the arms, under the arms & up the sides. This may have been a poor yarn choice though for this sweater. I’m thinking that’s mainly the case. I came off such a high from my FLS that I was expecting this to be much the same. Uh, no.  I just don’t know yet. It’s going on the back of the couch for a time out. My plan was to steek it & add garter stitch button bands along with a tall collar. I don’t know.

What do YOU think? I really need opinions. Because this yarn would make a lovely hemlock ring blanket.

OK and I have to share this last part because I’m a complete dork (as already established).  Is there one thing that makes you feel like a really accomplished adult? Beyond careers & kids.  One thing that happens and you are like, “DAMN! I rule this adult thing!!!”  This would be my moment.

(Yeah it says Pat, but that’s my MIL I use her card at the grocery because I’ve never given them my phone number)
So yeah, you see that? $66.01 in SAVINGS! And people, I didn’t buy over priced pre-packaged bs either.  This was a meat & veggie run. See, I like to buy mass quantities of meat at a time. Whatever is on sale I buy two packages, then I individually wrap them in baggies of two items, label them, and shove them in the freezer.  Did you know that 1 giant pack of chicken breasts costing you roughly $6.50 on sale can feed you and your Mr for 4 complete days?  That means that you have spent $1.63 for the both of you for 1 meal. Add in veggies and I can feed two or three people for under $7.00. A large tender loin for $13 can easily make 6 days worth of meals.

I started doing this when the Mr and I were living and working in Ohio. Since we were still keeping the California office hours that means that we didn’t get home till 7pm every night.  I became queen of the crock pot because it was SO nice to have dinner ready when we got home.  I started to individually wrap the meat in the freezer so that I could pull out one baggie the night before, put it in the fridge to defrost & voila! Dinner for 2.
(These are 1 pork chop per bag because I only use one if I’m doing them in the crock pot)

One thing the Mr and I don’t do is pre-packaged food. Beyond bread (because it’s cheaper to buy than bake every damn day for his sandwiches) and cheese, we don’t buy things pre-made.  It’s just so much cheaper this way with out cereals, frozen pizzas, and any other frozen microwavable foods.  Also, since we found out about my PCOS and that I’m genetically inclined to store any and all fat (no, I’m not fat because of genetics, I’m fat because of bad food & I know it) I can’t eat pre-processed foods and get away with it.  The only way I will NOT gain weight is if we cook everything.  This means more work, but I have also lost 40 pounds just by eating normal food with no preservatives.

Cooking has also been a bonding time for the Mr and I. He used to do all the cooking in the house but since I get home almost a full hour & 1/2 before him these days I usually take charge.  It’s quite pleasant to be able to be stirring, grilling, or simmering something while sharing a glass of wine or mojito with him and chat about our days.  Sometimes it’s the smallest changes that really mean the most.