Twins

• Kaya Peppers new lambs out of Fletcher Crescendo. The one that is mostly white is a ram and our black one with a white face is an ewe.

This little guy loves attention and follows a person around.
She is equally as friendly, not yet as mobile as her brother. I was surprised to see two and how they are marked.

Lambs on the Way

Kaya is going to be our first to lamb. She is definitely in labor today,so hopefully we'll have a lamb before evening.

Our weather had been interesting. A 70 degree day and then this. Snow.
This past Saturday it snowed, and snowed. By the time it was through, we had over 9 inches on the ground.
It was really amazing.

As of today, it's pretty much all gone. Everything is green and it looks like spring.

Short Update

Lot's of snow-since Christmas, we've had snow on the ground constnantly. Usually we have a snowfall, and it melts right away. Not this year. It's been nice and we've enjoyed our snowy winter.
It's been busy since the last post. School, lessons and appointments. The dry cows and heifers have started calving in. Over the last few weeks, 20+ have calved in. Lots of calves. Several of the Angus cows are close. Hopefully it'll warm up for them. The sheep are looking pregnant. Soon it'll be time to vaccinate and shear off the growth since fall. I decided to lamb later this year.
My Hello Yarn Fiber Club roving arrived last week. It's a Mohair blend, mohair, some nylon and 2%merino. I'm almost done with the last batch of fiber. The swirl shawl is coming along. I have 8 swirls finished.
Made a change to leaving comments-had comments that weren't really comments, I'd say and not needed- so I am screening them for now.

Error

Yesterday I went back over the breeding group posts from last fall- double checking lambing dates- and there was an error with Three Ring Henry's data. I had mistyped in the AFD at 36.6. That was wrong- His AFD is 23.6. SD 7.9 CV 33.5 Garrett posted a comment bringing it to my attention and I somehow missed that comment.

New Project for the New Year

I spied a knitted scarf in this pattern at One City Market some time ago. I couldn't resist picking up the pattern in hopes I'd make on too. Today I cast on...........

I'm knitting mine using Jojoland Melody 100% superwash wool-Dye Lot 005, Color# MS27. I finished the first octagon. It was a little bit of a challange getting started. It called for a Knit On Cast On. I'd never cast on with that before and I still tend to be a little awkward with the DPN's. I ripped back a few times until I became comfortable with the pattern. Once I got it, it went quickly and was really easy. It's a pretty neat pattern and I enjoyed getting the first octagone done. I'll pick up 10 stitches along one edge and cast on another 50 and do the same thing over and over...for row A. When I get to row B, I'll pick up 10 on one edge, 10 on another and cast on....

More winter weather on the way. We are forecasted to see another 1-3 inches by tomorrow afternoon. It's cold enough that it'll stick. We have to bring a heifer in, she's due to calve and she can't do that out in the frigid temperatures we are seeing. The horses had to be moved around. They can be a pain sometimes. You've always got someone wanting to fight. Glory and Misty are no exception. We thought we put the two timid ones together- Glory kicked and bit Misty- leaving her with a pretty sore and swollen leg. We thought we were doing a favor for Glory. She is at the bottom of the herd with the other horses and they'd tend to keep her out of the barn. That's why we put her in with Misty. Now, she will just have to cope with the others. Last night something got one of our chickens. Ripped it to pieces. Could be a coyote-they've been getting close. We also have seen stray dogs around.

Fair Isle Hat Finished

Finished my Fair Isle hat today. It was a quick knit and I think I'd like to make more for Christmas gifts for next year.

Outside of Knitting -

Yesterday we went into Springfield. I had my appointment with the Perineonatologist for my genetic counselling and work-up. They drew 15 tubes of blood and a finger stick. What are we looking for? Good question- I've done alot of research on my own so I was somewhat familiar with what was being discussed. I think the main tests are for clotting disorders- V Factor Leiden being one of these, an Balanced Translocation (in me) - meaning I have 2 chromosomes- Chrom. A and Chrom. B. Chrom A has some of Chrom. B in it, Chrom. B has some of Chrom. A, in equal amounts. If the baby gets one of these chromosomes- dad's wouldn't match because his are normal and the baby will die at some point- in womb or out. If mine come back okay- he'll be tested. The results should be back in 1-2 weeks. I need to know what is going on. Can this be prevented by simple measure- i.e. an aspirin a day for a clotting disorder ( or warfarin), hormones or is this something that just is (Balanced Translocation) and nothing can be done. I'm not into the weird things they are doing with invitro. fert. and the other stuff. With the things that can't be helped with medicine, hormones..... it is simply in God's hands and I am okay knowing there is nothing else that I can do. Now we wait and see. We may not find any answer with these tests, but it's a start.

I sure am not asking for sympathy. It's amazing to me the things that happen to us in our lifetimes. When we lost our 1st son, it all was a blur and my husband had to take pictures of cemeteries to bring for me to look at and choose in the hospital. There was no time, no warning. A few years later, we were there, burying another son. Painful, oh yes. But, if I can spread awareness and share what I am doing. Perhaps someone can be helped, maybe it'll be a friend or relative of someone who reads this blog post.

Blocked and Ready for Wrapping

I managed to get my scarf blocked this morning. I used the wires and pins for this and it went quickly. It's a beautiful scarf and the photo does not do it justice. I used a wool/silk blend in an eggshell color. I cast on for the second one already.
This afternoon we ran out to rephotograph the bulls. They've put on alot of weight and thickness. Spent some time visiting before it was time to head home for chores and milking.