Week 47 of 2025

This week was all about cross stitch - 

I finished my cross stitch project for this year. I hadn't worked on it much recently but once I got going again I really enjoyed it. The pattern is Mighty Acorns by Blackbird Designs, from the book Winds of Autumn. I stitched it on 40ct linen that I dyed, using floss that I had over-dyed, stitched one strand over two fabric threads. It is about 6"x9".

Photos from Around-

Best friends playing their favourite game.

The three youngest hens are so curious about everything - here they all followed Molly.

We are so pleased that the Miss Maggie is tolerating GingerSnap! more these days.

Sunrise.

All the best!♥︎

 

Week 46 of 2025

This week I have been knitting a new sweater-

The pattern is the Hanstholm Sweater by PetiteKnit. 

I am knitting it with some wool that I spun years ago.

Photos from Around -

The chickens now have a roof on their run - the roof is permanent but the side panels are just for the winter (made from off-cuts of tinted greenhouse panels that were destined for the garbage).

Egg production is going well because all the young hens have started laying! First time we had 6 eggs in a day in quite a while. The three small, dark red/brown eggs are from the young ones.

Here is Miss Maggie keeping an eye on the young ones - they still stick together and like to stay close.

Molly was a bit worried about GingerSnap! up in the tree (especially when he almost fell down!).

We were treated to another amazing few evenings of northern lights this week (a huge solar storm early in the week).

All the best!♥︎

Week 45 of 2025

This week I finished crocheting a cardigan -

I am so happy with how it turned out (my first crochet garment!).

In the end I can't really say I followed a pattern, but it was supposed to be the Good Vintage Cardigan pattern by Fran Morgan (I learned I can't follow a crochet pattern, but it didn't matter).

The yarn is all handspun from fibre I dyed - different yarn weights, different fibres, scraps, reclaimed yarn....

Photos from Around -

The chicken run has been winterized (remnant tinted green house panels), and it is getting a permanent roof.

The youngest hens have started laying - darker, reddish brown eggs (the smaller one on the bottom).

Waiting for a treat (and why they are so close without Miss Maggie complaining).

Molly is happy to play with GingerSnap!.

We had an amazing display of northern lights this week (full moon too).

Finished preserving the last of the bounty of the garden - garlic! Lots to have fresh in the winter, but lots more freeze dried (some of it roasted before, then powdered after freeze drying), some dehydrated, and some still fermenting.

All the best!♥︎

Week 44 of 2025

This week I have been working on the sleeves of the crochet cardigan -

I am crocheting them concurrently with the same colours.

Since I am no longer following a pattern I am using a sewing pattern to shape the sleeves.

This is an idea from Lutterloh patterns.

Photos from Around -

Some of the older hens have started moulting (they are about 18 months old now), and egg production has dropped (12 chickens and only 2 or 3 eggs a day - we don't think the young ones have started laying yet).

Frosty morning.

GingerSnap! found something new to try out.

Last week he got a cut in the cornea of his left eye (we think from Miss Maggie, he couldn't open his eye for a day), now the cut casts a shadow on his iris (near the outer edge of the eye on the right in the above photo), hopefully it will heal.

Molly and Miss Maggie.

All the best!♥︎