It is hot again, not mid summer hot, but warmer than I prefer when out walking or working in the yard. It is delightfully cool at night though and sleep with a window open above the bed is routine. Often in the late night, we hear coyotes (coywolves, coydogs) or whatever roams the woods and fields at night. About a week ago, I was awakened by one calling to distant ones, but it was right under our window, It must have been close up to the house, which was a bit unnerving. This morning, after it had dawned and the sky was already lit with morning sun, we heard them again, closer to the house than the woods beyond our fields.
With 13 hens in a coop designed for about 9, even with being free range hens all day from morning til dusk, they foul the straw so quickly. We purchased 2 new bales a few days ago and after a convenience center (trash) run and our daily brisk walk, I donned the “go to do dirty work, jeans” and rolled the wheelbarrow over to the coop. The dirty straw that will make hot compost was forked out and spread on one of the beds that were weeded last weekend. It will break down over the winter, the hot fertilizer will feed the soil, the straw will add compost and help keep the weeds from coming back up before frost. Since the coop is requiring more frequent mucking out, there will be plenty more to add to the other beds. The hens are so nosy. As soon as I begin doing anything over there, they all gather to see what is going on.
I noticed that the comfrey plant that is outside the fence has again gone under the fence. It will have to be dug out again. The leaves dried for salve and soap making. The bed in the top right corner of the photo is the fall greens bed and there are 3 rows of seedlings up. The Spinach Mustard has not come up there or in the hydroponic garden. So much for free seed samples.
Last night I finished the second pair of mitts that I was test knitting. I used my handspun yarn and went down a needle size, knit an extra inch on the cuff on this pair.
And as the month is closing on the September spindle challenges, I did a Breed Blanket assessment. I have spun 20 different breeds of wool and knit 37 squares for the blanket. Though not all of them are attached. The next 3 months will be dedicated to darker wools to provide some balance to the whites and light grays that have accumulated and layed out around the already joined squares to get a pleasing appearance.
Tomorrow, I will assess what was spun and knit for the month for the 15 minutes a day challenge. I have fulfilled that one so far with today and tomorrow to go.
October will be here and some knitting must be done if there is going to be any stock for fall and winter markets. I really want to get my loom warped and weave a scarf from yarn spun the past couple of months.
I always enjoy your posts, particularly the pictures which accompany them:-) You have beautiful chickens & I enjoyed seeing your raised beds as we just built ours this Summer & am hopeful that what we planted this year, will flourish next Spring/Summer. Your spinning & knitting items are gorgeous! As you know, I love my Jenkins turkish spindles as well! Your blanket squares are not only very pretty but they’re also very unique looking. I hope you don’t mind me asking if it’s a pattern which I can acquire or if it’s a personal pattern which isn’t for sharing? Thank-you. I got about 2/3 of the way through spinning yarn for last year’s breed blanket & have the yarn all marked & carefully stored & would love to make a blanket with it. Anyway, I smile whenever I visit here & need to remember to visit more often! Thanks Fran! XO Kat “WhiteWillow”
Kat, the pattern is Vivid by Tin Can Knits, https://tincanknits.com/pattern/vivid?g=2. It is knit from the center out, each square only takes about two hours to knit (I’m a slow knitter). I adjust my needle size to the weight of the yarn I manage with each breed and sometimes have to aggressively block the square. They come out 8″ each. Thank you for the compliment. I love my Jenkins spindles too and it has taken me back to my spinning roots as I started on top whorl spindles.