Projects, big and small, progressing

Knitting news:  I currently have 4 "real" WIPs (works-in-progress):

• Jeff's "Christmas" vest.  It needs one side seamed and the button band and armhole bands knit on.  This has been on hold for several months.  It will probably only take a couple of hours to finish up, but I've been putting it off.  I didn't do a very good job seaming the first side.  I need to take it out and do it again, but I really hate seaming, so I've been procrastinating.  I think I'll work on this in the next week so I can check it off my my WIP list.
• A pair of plain (ribbed) socks...I like to have a pair of socks on my needles all of the time.  They are my "waiting" project.  When I'm waiting for an appointment, I work on them.  I used to have lots of "waiting" when my children were younger.  I can tell I don't have to wait very often now because my socks are going very slowly.
• A large, navy blue blanket for my daughter and son-in-law.  It's quite lovely and very warm (not fun to work on in the summer.)  I am so, so, so ready to be done with it.  It is now 5 feet long.  I think I'll knit another 6 inches or so, and it'll be DONE.  I hope to not knit any more blankets or afghans for a long, long time.  Part of the reason this has taken sooooo long is because it's not portable.  I only work on it at home.  Also, it is definitely NOT a good summer project.  (I did work on it and use it as a blanket in the winter, that's why I know how super-warm it is!)
• Lastly, I have picked up my Miette sweater again.  I started it last September, did 30 rows or so, and set it aside.  Now that I've picked it up again, I'm a bit mad at myself for letting it languish.  It is really cute and I'll probably wear it a lot in the late summer and fall.  
• I started a Cecilia last year when I was suffering from a severe case of start-itis.  After I finish my Miette and Jeff's vest, I'm going to start back on it again.  I was looking for something in my craft closet earlier today and came across the swatch I made for it.  It should be gorgeous when it's done, so hi-ho, hi-ho, it's back to knitting work I go!
• When I get a few of these projects done, I want to start a couple of shawl / scarfs for the fall.  I have a couple of skeins of sock yarn that I bought in Rhinebeck last year, and they are calling me.

Chicken news: The "little girls" are getting big!  They've been in the coop with the big girls for about 3 weeks.  The big girls still bully them a bit.  I hope the little ones start defending themselves soon and stop kowtowing to the big girls.  They are all so beautiful; each in her own way.  I did (believe it or not) get the breeds right in my last post.

Life news:  I have been volunteering at the Jesus House Prayer and Renewal Center for about a month now...and I absolutely LOVE it!  Jeff and I are trying to discern if this is the place for us to be.  Angie and Chris Malmgren (friends, prayer group buddies, and living Saints) started the Jesus House in 1975.  They would like to retire and are looking for someone to start taking over the administration and day-to-day activities.  I have SO MUCH to learn, both temporally and spiritually, before I'm ready to take the reins there.  Fortunately for us, Angie and Chris aren't going anywhere and will still be there to guide us.  Plus, Angie will continue her spiritual direction practice.  We will probably put our house on the market some time in the next month or 2 so we can move closer.  We can't really afford our house if I'm not working at UD (or earning about the same amount of money), so whether God wants us at Jesus House or not, it's probably still a good idea for us to sell our house and downsize.

The LORD is good to all and compassionate to every creature.       
-Psalm 148:9 (NAB)

New babies

Chicken news:  Our four "big girls", Ada, Grace, Annie, and Dora are doing well and laying almost daily (we average 2-4 eggs per day).  Last Wednesday, we got 5 new little beauties:  Luna (who we think is a blue splash maran), Hermione (a silver-laced wyandotte), Minerva (a golden-laced wyandotte), Hedwig (an ameraucana), and Myrtle (a welsummer).  It's so hard to tell when they're little fluff balls which one is which!  After just a week, we can see Hedwig getting the traditional "chubby cheeks" of ameraucanas, but Ada is an ameraucana and she doesn't have them, so who knows.  As they start to feather in, I'm sure it will get easier.  I do know that Hermione is the smallest, but the top of the pecking order, while sweet little Luna (who's feathers are coming in a lovely light gray so far) is at the bottom.  All of them will take grapes and freeze-dried meal worms from my hand except Luna.  I've had them out in the grass a couple of days this week for a few minutes and they seem to like it.  It's still a bit too chilly to leave them out too long.


Family news: we are officially empty nesters (ironic, eh?) ourselves.  Our younger DS is now in Vancouver in Art school.  He seems to be loving it so far (hooray!)

Work news: I did not get a five-year contract renewal at UD, so I will be leaving in August of 2012 after 16 years.  Thus a new chapter of life will unfold for my DH and I.  We're feeling very open to new possibilities as far as where we live and where we work.  We're praying for God to make his plan known to us.

We are joyfully awaiting the start of Holy Week tomorrow!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to school I go

The spring semester at UD starts on Monday, so my January "vacation" is over.  I will miss my days at home with my knitting and with the chickens.

Knitting news: I have completed my oldest project, the Birds Nest Shawl for my BFF, Beth. 

I have also finished a pair of felted clogs for my DH and 3 valentines themed dishcloths as gifts for my kids (You can click the links on the side bar if you want to see what they look like.)
Chicken news:  The girls are doing well through all of this snow.  They seem to have a little cabin fever, but I can't really blame them.  They can get outside every day, but we haven't been able to move the run or the coop for about a month because of the snow, so there's not much to go out for.  Our yard is still completely covered with snow.  About 2/3 of the run is covered, so there's snow in about 1/2 of the run.  There's not much left to scrounge for in the half that doesn't have snow.  They've eaten all of the grass they can find there.
Family news:  My younger DS will be moving to Vancouver in April to attend school.  We FINALLY got all of the finances worked out for him to go.  A big thanks to my BIL for co-signing a loan for him.  My older DS loves his new job and his new co-workers.  The planning for his wedding is starting to kick into gear.  He and his beloved will be married next May.  My DD is also loving her new job. 
Personal news:  I got to go to Brussels to visit my BFF a couple of weeks ago and had (as usual) a fantastic time.  I got to go to Antwerp, Lille (France), and Leuven while I was there.  Mostly, it was just great to spend some time with my BFF, her husband, and my godson.  Got some yarn for mittens while I was there and just started them earlier this evening.

A 2010 knitting wrap-up and a look forward to this wonderful, new year

Here are my finished projects this year. I am very, very happy with how much I accomplished this year and look forward to completing even more next year: