The 74 Days Of January

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It wasn't really that bad, but it does seem like a long time ago since we had green grass!

[Blogging]

Nineteen years ago today was a snow day.  I know that because I was out taking pictures of the sheep for my very first blog post.  The two pictures I shared that day remain two of my very favorite pictures ever, but I've shared them many times over the anniversaries so this year I'm going to share another old favorite instead.  I believe I only have these beloved pictures because I started blogging...nineteen years ago.

So many old friends in this picture from February, 2015.  I wish Hank was mixed in there too, but I'm thinking that might be what Elizabeth, in the front, is looking at.  Don't miss Comby sitting on the fence.  It's all part of the puzzle.

Praying

 

It doesn't have to be 

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try to make it elaborate, this isn't

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which

another voice may speak.

Mary Oliver

Thank you for still being here and being my other voices.

 

Making Tracks

No, those are not Pinot's tracks...but not for the lack of trying.  He doesn't mind the snow at all and I've been letting him out for short runs in the mornings, but just in his fenced run, not all the way to the barn.  Crazy rabbit.

More rabbit tracks.

And some tiny bird tracks.

These "tracks" are actually nose prints.  I mentioned this in my IG live post yesterday.  This is where the sheep are eating mouthfuls of snow.  They have plenty of warm water to drink, but some seem to prefer hydrating with snow.

Snow ice cream!

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Snow Day Snooze

I love to watch my friends napping in the sun.  It's been brutally cold, but we've been lucky with the wind and sun so it's been pleasant during the days.  I'm sure the nights are cold, but plenty of hay helps.  And Lancelot has been happy to have a warm blanket (his calendar story ;-).

Lancelot is also a new puzzle.  

Sometimes...

 ...a nap in the sun on a cold winter day using your ear as a pillow is the best idea.  

Liddy

Renny's Henny

I've been coveting an Emotional Support Chicken for quite awhile, but other than purchasing the pattern, hadn't gotten any further.  When I finished the...what did I end up naming the walnut dyed sweater/vest?...checks blog...it's not on the blog?...are you kidding me!?! 

Okay, start over.  When I finished the fall sweater/vest I decided the leftover yarn would be perfect to use for chicken colors...so I finally cast on...a couple of times I think, but who can say since I never wrote any of that down either?  

Once I was pretty much committed, I ventured into the garage for something and found the leftover yarn from my Renny sweater.  At least that one is on the blog...finally.  The naturally dyed yarn from the vest would have been nice, but the Renny yarn would be perfect!  I grabbed that bag of yarn and started over once again.

There were the usual fits and starts and starts and starts, but I finally have my chicken.  And I do think having a knitting project to work on did provide a little respite from the awfulness of everything going on right now, so this was a great first project for 2026 on a couple of levels.  

I thought it would be fun to take a picture with her out in the coop with the other hens that night so before it got super dark I set it up.  She looks enough like a real chicken that the other chickens hated her!  Chickens are like that.

Air Fryer (the gray chicken) took a couple of swipes at her and then split.  Zelda got a couple licks in too, but stopped to think...a little.

"Why are you trying to sneak in another chicken?!?"

Zelda was actually more afraid of her than it looks like here.  I only snapped a couple of pictures and then removed the intruder.  When I came back a few minutes later to finish evening chores, I found Zelda hiding in a laying box.  I put her back on the roost and she was okay.

I wasn't completely surprised that they acted that way because a few days earlier, "the other Sarah" had come to visit and brought her hen and three chicks and they received the same negative attention from another hen.  

Chickens are complicated...but if you actually read the pattern, they are pretty easy to knit :-).

Some Sheep Shots

 ...and a new puzzle :-).

December

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December...much like the whole year.  Plough on and focus on what went right...