keep on knitting keep on knitting

ooooh aaaaaahhh cable knitting! aren't I just the coolest?
Today I was snowed in...well iced in, it was the pits. The kids have just about had enough of this snow days off from school...and I agree. BUT I did manage to get some knitting done! I made the gloves the other day while sick on the couch watching bad bad bad daytime TV (yes, i was a slave to watching Maury...and i have to wonder if you are on the show for the 5th time and your still not sure who the father of your baby is after DNA testing 15 guys do you think you may have too much free time on your hands...just sayin) aaaaaaaaaaaaaanywaaaaaaaaaaaayyy I made the gloves, and still had tons of yarn left over....so the hat was born! I think they came out rather nice. But I should have added a bit more to the middle as I do have a rather large sized head. to hold my big brain.....ok I just have a big head.

Dear Snow: It's not you, it's me, I just don't think this relationship is working out. I despise shoveling you.

This is me! I'm going to turn into a penguin soon if this snow doesn't stop! We have had 8 major snow storms since Christmas! Over 40 inches of snow has fallen from the sky onto my area. I'm done with it. Of course I am still sick (sinus infection) but that didn't stop me from going out to shovel the snow off the roof of the chicken coop for fear that the freezing rain we ae getting tonight will cause it to cave in...which would be bad.

So depending on what news station you watch will depend on how much snow they say we are getting, it seems very inconsistant as one will tell you 5 inches while another is claiming 12 is coming our way. Regardless it looks like I'll be home with the kids tomorrow yet again.

My nobe is stubbed ub....sniff sniff aaaaaahhh choo!

I've been sick all weekend. My head feels like a bowling ball is inside of it and my body aches. No bloggy bloggy for me because I'm too icky.

oh and we are getting yet more snow this week....super.

Cabin Fever....it ain't pretty

It was -7 degrees fairnheit this morning when I woke up
it got up to 9 degrees during the day but the windchill
made it feel like -14. I've been stuck in the house with the cats. Today I decided they were looking a little plain and I made our cat Teddy a cat cowl. He feels very dashing in it and won't let anyone take it off.

please spring come soon!

cluck cluck brrrrrrrr cluck cluck brrrrrrrrrr

Baby it's cold out there! This morning it was a balmy 0 degrees outside, tomorrow is not supposed to be much better, I think it might have hit 19 degrees at lunch time! It's even too cold to play outside and this have given way to some big time cabin fever, I don't think any of the children are speaking to each other right now (which is a nice change from them screaming at each other). Cody and I managed to sneak outside and put some vaseline on the hens combs so they don't get frostbite...the seemed to enjoy the attention and now they are "slick chicks". Another snow storm heading our way next week...ugh!

More Snow?? Whhyyyyyyy!!????

Ah yes, another snow storm on it's way for Friday...oh joy, oh rapture because I don't have enough of the white stuff on the ground as is!!! Here on the Hill we officially have cabin fever, it's getting rather ugly 'round these parts. The kids are very sassy and the youngest has been a bit on the destructive side. I can't keep up with the mess the make, the floors need a good scrubbing and rumor has it that the children may have to go to school naked tomorrow or fashion their own clothing out of garbage bags if I don't do some laundry.

Just to make me even more nuts, the seed catalog and farm supply catalogs keep rolling in. I hate them. So pass the chocolate, I'm throwing in some laundry and making sure nobody gets carred away in the night by the dust bunnies living under the sofa (they are making plans to overthrow the house, I can hear them plotting now.)

Tilda Swap! Time to "stalk" my partner!!!

I will NOT be sending my swap partner the above! oooh boy talk about a knitting project go wrong! I have named it Zombie Hen....because it's freaky looking!!

I signed up for a really cool swap and have been officially partnered with lovely Jodi in Colorado! I can't wait to get started on my project!!

Snow Day Home Day!!

and the snow is still coming down! looks like we should get in total another 15+ inches on the ground, the kids and I have already been out and we are looking forward to some hot chocolate to warm us up!

My son Cody decided to become the human bird feeder and gave our fine feathered friends a little snackie poo. mmmmm hello little bird!

another project....DONE!

Behold the twirly scarf! super easy pattern....i think it came out rather nice! I feel so ruffly in it :) on to the next project which actually has a purpose, it's time to get back into my monthly dishcloth swap....so I'm hitting the cotton thread for the February swap, then I really must get my Tilda swap done as well, I'll no sooner get my swap partner for that and I'll be shipping it out the door!

The February Lace Scarf....In January

Project #1....complete...I have one less skein of yarn in the house as of 15 mintues ago...this is me, looking stunning, wearing my super soft scarf.....while in my pajamas. :) on to project #2

The Great Yarn Project of 2011

So here it is, January 2011..time to put my first resolution to work, I will use ALL of my existing yarn in the house and NOT purchase any until it is gone (see i said purchase..if the yarn fairy shows in the night and leaves or gifts me some yarn who am I to argue!)

I decided that I will dedicate a portion of my blog to whatever finished project I come up with...hopefully to inspire me to keep on going for fear of boring everyone to death :)

At the moment I am putting the finishing few inches onto a lovely scarf that I am knitting for me! The pattern is called The February Scarf and yes I am aware that I am knitting it in January...actually I started it in December but I don't think that will take anything away from it.

more to come.....I hope....this is going to require a lot of chocolate to keep me going.

Happy New Year y'all!

My New Year's resolutions are simple this year: 1. use up all (and I do mean all) the yarn I have before buying anymore! 2. Slow down and have a nice cup of tea each day (this means I am sitting, not mutli tasking and enjoying it. 3. become more aware of our spending money and save save save. We have a lot planned for this year, and we are going to need $$$ to make it all happen!

My New Year's Eve was typical...boring by most standards. The evening started out nicely with a movie with the family, I spent all day cooking up a storm, then after tucking in the youngest we started playing some board games...unfortunatly, he figured something was up and decided not to sleep...and was a nudge the rest of the evening until Mommy agreed to lie down with him in his bed where as we both fell asleep. Oh well. :)

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh stress free that's for me!

Emily doing her Buddy the Elf impression.
Well Christmas is over, the tree is coming down, wrapping paper has been cleaned up and I was able to snap another cute picture of my children in their Christmas pajamas...although the boys have asked that next year they NOT wear matching ones. Signs of growing up my friends :) Today I ran to the store for a few things (non holiday related, cat food, toliet paper...boring stuff) and what did my eyes behold but VALENTINE DAY STUFF!!! we are just rolling right into the next holiday with guns a blazin'

Merry Christmas!

Happiest of Holidays to all from us here on Da Hill :) Now go eat something fudgy and yummy and damn the calories.

Merry Chick-mas!

I've got to get a life.

Ha-Cha-Cha it's time to make Bakalavah!

We are ready to roll here on Da Hill!! It's the yearly making of the Bakalavah...it's such a time consuming delicious pain in the butt! Kids have their assignments, one will butter while the others sprinkle and mom will layer! We will also be making peppermint bark and tins of Russian Tea as presents for teachers, bus drivers and the like.

Eggs! we have a surplus of eggs! I've been busy selling to various people who have been begging me to try a "real egg" and of course they are hooked.

It's only supposed to be in the teen temperatures next week...i'm thinking we will be seeing some snow very soon!

I suspect somethings up....the teenagers are being nice.

It's easy to tell what time of the year it is in my house as suddenly my children all morph into perfect angels who clear the dinner table, bring down their dirty laundry and offer to read to their little brother without Mom screaming like a banshee or threatening to move them out into the unheated/no plumbing goat shed. :) Yup, Christmas is coming up fast and furious and just like every other year the budget is stretched tight, so I'm dipping into my giant collection of "crafts I though were really cool" box that I have saved all year. This weekend my darling daughter Emily and I will be undertaking the tedious job of making Baklavah...which is a royal pain to make but comes out so wonderful. I make it once a year...and if you miss out you miss out! My Dad has already put his order in...he's no fool.

ho ho ho....

I love presents...no really I do I do!

And the Swap Joy keeps on coming! Ohhh and Ahhh here is my soap and cloth swap package...check out the cloth...it's a rooster! a little shout out to my hens from Knitterofhats from Arlington, VA! I wish I had smell-o-rama on my computer because I've been sniffing the soap all day, it smells divine! The big tree bar sparkles too...and anyone who knows me knows I luvs me some glitter! The little notebook is going right in my bag for my "mad mom" notes that I need to scribble down or else I forget everything! Now everyone go out there and join a crafty swap!

I love a good swap!

Look what I got in the mail today!!!!! ooooohhhhh ahhhhhhhh!!!! drool drool drool!!! Today my goodie box of joy and wonder arrived from GoMonkeyDesign (aka Leah!) from my Ravelry Secret Santa Swap! I was totally spoiled and am just in love with everything I received...check her out on Etsy as well...gorgeous stuff!

Eggs Eggs Eggs Everywhere!

So I was under the impression that when cold weather hits, hens slow down their egg production...mine seem to have it backwards and are laying like there is no tomorrow! It's great, trust me I'm not complaining but even my children who adore scrambled eggs are getting overwhelmed! Luckily I have lots of friends willing to take some off my hands! I thank the hens everyday and give them yummy treats! They are so funny with their big fluffy chicky butts!