I will master this.....I will!!!

SOCK KNITTING!

ok....seriously...how difficult is this? I need opinions.


I have a stash and a half a ton of sock yarn...why...no idea, I like the colors...it calls to me at the yarn shop.


I must do something with it!

2012....what shall you bring?

Good Morning to you 2012! So last night we had a splendid time hanging out at home in our pajamas, playing games and eating snackies. I managed to stay awake until 11 and the family thoughtfully woke me up at 11:59 to say "happy new year". As far as resolutions...well I've been thinking very hard about them as this is my big 40 year...and there were so many things I wanted to do but didn't. so here is my list.

1. Be true to myself. it's time I be me for me and not for anyone else. it's time i really didn't give a fat rat's patootie about what people think of me and my life. They don't live it, they do not get the right to judge it.

2. excersize EVERY day. yup..there it is. I'm not saying "loosing 50 lbs" or anything radical like that. I'm talking a 30 min walk or playing Just Dance on the wii...something to get my butt moving. I would like to join a yoga class....however that would depend on #3....which is....

3. be more selective on what I spend my money on. now i'm pretty frugal to begin with. but i'm going to adopt the idea more this year of "using what I got" instead of just replacing what I don't need. I am going to try to cut down on the impulse shopping trip to Target and make lists!

4. Fall back in love with my husband. Oh boy, this is a biggee. There is a reason the divorce rate among couples with special needs children are so high...it ain't easy. it's a strain unlike anything I could have imagined. and somewhere along the way...we just stopped caring so much about each other. bad choices were made, hearts were broken, words were said, wedding rings were put away. I miss being in love, I miss it a lot. I'm not looking to go back to "the way things were" but to start new. I'd like to be proposed to again....but, one step at a time.

ok...enough mushy stuff. and last

5. to do 1-4 successfully.

that's it. Happy New Year!!!

These are a few of my favorite things

presents have been unwrapped, Gavin is napping, coffee has been consumed, house is a wrapping paper mess.

I love Christmas!

oh and I got a snazzy new laptop. yeah me!

Merry Christmas to you all!

We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas!

from all of us here on Hoppin Hill Farms we say Happy Christmas and Merry New Year :)

Swap Joy!

Oh the joy of a good knitting swap! I signed up for a Christmas swap during the summer..seems so long ago! I got paired with lovely Eva from Germany, and these are the goodies she sent to me.

gorgeous, hand dyed yarn that she made. the pictures do not show the true fabulousness of the yarn..especially the purple, and it's so soft. It is just amazing, I cannot decide what to make with it!
Oh and the yummy yummy goodies, almonds in chocolate...more chocolate..and more chocolate (she stalked me well!) my favorite gummy candy..saving those for upcoming dance competitions while watching Emily I shall have something to snack on! Delicious tea, a calander of her region..the pictures are breathtaking, another location on my bucket list to visit someday, lucious hand cream, and so much more!

Look at this cowl she made for me! and it matches my coat perfect!

thank you Eva, I feel so spoiled!!

Holly Jolly

It's the most wonderful time of the year! ok well it's certainly my favorite anyway..here in our little town we kick off the holiday season with our traditional Santa Parade through downtown. This year Emily was dancing down the street with her dance studio and Cody marched with the cub scouts. The weather was perfect! Gavin is ready to see Santa!
The Scouts had a

Santa at the beach theme for their float..Cody is in the middle with the shades Emily dancing along with the holiday music


And then it's time to decorate! First out...The Holy Cow.

Hyacinth felt like she doesn't get represented often enough in my blog..so here she is supervising the decortaing.

I think all my children should start out their Santa letters with the saying on the sign.

My Dickens Christmas Carol display

a gentle reminder to the kids....

Thanksgiving Day Do Over...

yah...pass the kid giblets please!

Not us!

Not even close!

So, Thanksgiving...you know the day you give thanks for all you have...and the only thing I could be thankful for yesterday was that the day finally ENDED! My 3 eldest children decided today would be a swell day to pick on each other to the point where one of them cried off and on all day. Super, all through the morning I heard them arguing, during dinner the bickering continued, and sure enough..even when writing Santa letters they could not stop.

And then, Mommy snapped.

I un-invited them all to the Christmas dinner table, they can eat at a card table in the garage..or in the goat pen, I'm sure Baxter and Skippy would love the attention. I took away the texting..because I"m pretty sure in the Decleration of Independence our fore-fathers did not write "Life, Liberty and the ablility to communicate with ones friends by use of our thumbs" texting is a PRIVILEDGE that can easily be taken away.

Now normally I let them settle their own arguments, it's a good life skill and it keeps me from having to get off the couch and put my bon bons down. Even when the boys are beating on each other I give it a few moments to see if anyone is bleeding (like loss of limb bleeding) or loss of conciousness before I head in to referee. But yesterday was just too much. I was dissapointed in all 3 of them, I should have brought the chickens in for dinner as they have better manners.

so of course they are all sullen and apologetic this morning, having gone nearly 12 hours without even so much as a "K" or "g2g" from friends..and are being forced into manual labor (raking the leaves off the yard) without getting any money as compensation for the use of their valuable time (i expect child services will be knocking on my door any moment now.)

But, I am willing to try again, maybe pizza and a Christmas movie. maybe.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

No Turkeys were harmed in the making of our Thanksgiving dinner.As a time honored Hoppin Hill Farm tradition...we do not go with tradition. I know...we are such rebels. See the problem is, we don't like to eat turkey. Plus the one person that does is not going to get a 25lb bird cooked just for him. So when the kiddos were little we started our "not so turkey filled turkey day" where we make what we like to eat, hang out in pajamas, watch movies and just relax. I know! Crazy talk! A holiday where you aren't dressed up, cooking all day, running back and forth to Grandma's house or watching Uncle So and So pass out on the couch in a full snore! No whiney kids or huge mess to clean up? I'm serious! It's awesome!

Everyone have a great day, enjoy being with your families, we will be resting up and maybe decorating a little for Christmas...oh..and you will NOT find us at any Black Friday sales either. Just thinking about it makes my skin itch :) but good luck to those who love it (and I know there are some out there that do!)

blog aggrivation

ok...not sure what happened here..but i can't sign into my blog to leave posts on other blogs..i want to comment..I want to tell people how neat-o keen their projects are and stuff..but it says I'm not signed in..unless im' on my own blog page. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

let the panic begin

I'm in a knitting frenzy!!!!

I do this every year, I have all kinds of projects planned out, yarn bought, ready to go...then I loose track of time and BAM...no time!! no time!!!

Christmas is just coming way to soon this year..seems like we are on fast forward! So sorry poor arthritic hands, I'll pop a couple of Aleve and have the warming pad on stand by but you are going to have to bear with me the next few weeks so I can get my s*&t done!

ps. this is my offical first day off/farm girl day. I think I shall shovel a little poo.

poke me with a fork I'm done!

I made a very grown up decision.


I've decided to do something for myself...not the kids...not the husband...not anyone else but little old me.


I'm leaving my job...and becoming a full time "farm girl"

yeah me!

Keep on knitting, keep on knitting...

So I may have mentioned before my pal Zoe..pictured here and looking stunning in a knitted hat from Hoppin Hill Farms.

Zoe has a rare form of brain cancer and is currently undergoing chemo. She is rockin' the hat look due to her hair falling out fast and furious. She looks good in hats...ok she looks adorable in anything!

In true Zoe style, the first thing she asked me today was "how was the goats" despite the fact the kid has been through Hell the last few days getting a G tube put in and having a radiation treatment and probably feeling like complete crud.

Kids, they are super amazing sometimes.

oh and yes, I am now her exclusive hat maker...I've found 2 new patterns and will be knitting the night away :)

Nothing says "I love you" like a faux mustache

It doesn't take a whole lot to make a bunch of teenage girls happy.
$2.00 worth of yarn and some knitting skills.

viola! faux mustaches!

Meet Baxter and Skippy...our new farm friends!

Brendan and Emily eagerly waiting for their goats to come out!

Goats in a mini van.....I've had stranger things happen

Emmie and Skippy...love at first sight

Brendan and Baxter

So Here are the newest additions to our farm! 2 Nubian goat boys, they seem to have settled right in..what a funny ride home in the van it was! Both are very well behaved and just cute as can be! Brendan is already asking if he can sleep out in the goat pen with them tonight!

When the Divas get together...all kinds of mischeif occurs

The Diva's spent the day on Federal Hill in Providence Rhode Island!
This is where we had lunch!

When shopping it's very important to keep hydrated! Here Dawn demonstrates how to do it properly.

Here is Dawn striking a stunning pose in De Pasquale Square!

My turn! My turn!!!

oh and yes, it's me and the giant metal chicken!

Time Flies when your havng fun!

Phew! It's been a busy month! So pictured above is Skippy and Baxter
our two newest additions to Hoppin Hill Farm, nubian goats.

Both are males, and just the cutest little guys with friendly little dispositions.
yes, we were going to get females at first..but the prospect of milking twice a day in the
middle of February and freezing my fingers off kind of changed my mind
it's all good that the children were going to "do the milking"
but after realizing they were neglecting their cat's litter box
I figured they were never going to milk frozen goats
I love my teenagers and their intentions are good...but let's be realistic.


so! that being said, we went with the boys :)

My Brain was hijacked by Pinterest!!

Where does the time go???

So I finally caved and joined www.pinterest.com because i couldn't stand
not being part of this "cult of cuteness" another minute.

little did I know, my time would be consumed looking for adorable teapot pictures and funny quotes to post on my boards!

wow! it gets addictive fast!!!

Plus, sorry to say, my camera has finally decided to just give up the fight and it now sitting in the "junk drawer" waiting to get tossed out. I love my little camera and it kills me to have to buy a new one...but with the holidays coming up fast and furious I'm going to want to capture all those precious moments.

like the Halloween post candy pig out meltdown
and the "I'm not eating this" Thanksgiving feast
oh my favorite, the snarling "you woke me up too early" under the Christmas tree teenager glare.

ahhhhhh those memories :)

I need a new boy toy to run away with....suggestions?

so back in the day...you know...long before children and other life distractions when you used to be able to stare into each other's eyes across the table and just eat at a lesiurly pace...and the meal did not consist of chicken nuggets..the hubby and I used to play the "people we were allowed to run away with if they came knocking on the front door" celebrity style of course. So over the years I have gone through quite a few "boy toys" and I'm feeling like it's time for a new one. My past men have been

Mr. Connery....mmmmm James Bond!

Mr. Crowe...Gladiator costume included.


Hugh Jackman...with or without the Wolverine blades.

So the verdict it out...I'm just not sure who to pick...nobody young..I am not into that vampire pale sparkly thing, and they cannot consider the 80's ancient times....I'm open to suggestion!

Oh and the husband has stood by his gal Nicole Kidman..although he does like her better with the red hair than blonde. I'm not too worried about her knocking on the front door. :)

Because you just never know...so be greatful for what you have.

Last week, my friend Jen brought her daughter in for follow up appointment with the doctor for possible Lyme disease, the doctor suggested an MRI, a large tumor was found in the right frontal portion of her brain, the next 24 hours were a blur as she was rushed in for a biopsy, and then the wait.

She is 9 years old, has a twin sister, is a dancer, cheerleader and has a silly sense of humor...and she has brain cancer.

I have had the privilege of knowing her family and also working with her and her sister in school. I can't put myself in their shoes, I have no words to express my feelings without crying, I can only be on standby (along with a fabulous group of other families) in case they need anything.

Her name is Zoe. She asks that we all remain opZOmistic about her getting well. I'm asking all my bloggy friends to pray for this little kiddo, I'll be knitting chemo caps for the darling this next week, and thinking of her and being opZOmistic.

And now....a word from Hyacinth the cat

Meow.


(what did you all expect, she is a cat!)