If you build it.....

......they will hatch.

The Internet is a wonderful place. It's full of all kinds of information. So when DH got it into his head to build an incubator, he went straight for the triple W. And much to his own surprise, it worked. On Friday night I was at the computer and heard a chirping.

This is the little guy starting to escape.



Using a few purchased items and some things we had around the house, this is what he built. While I'm not surprised that something he built worked, I am surprised that something this simple worked.

1. a cheap Styrofoam cooler $3
2. a candy thermometer $3
3. the plastic from a picture frame $1
4. a dimmer switch $6.49
5. fan (already had)
6. light bulb and socket (already had)
7. container for water (already had)

You've got to like a DH with an unusual stash of gadgets.



This is chicken #1, we've had two more hatch since. The eggs were added at regular intervals so hopefully there will be more throughout the week. Cross your fingers because hopefully by next week end we should see a couple of ducklings emerge from their shell.

These little ones are almost 24 hours old and with any luck will go to replace my aging hens.

****Lesson on chickens****

Chickens will slow down on the egg production, due to age, and eventually stop laying eggs. While I like my chickens and treat them very well, there comes a point where you've got to let go and cull the flock. We're passed the sentimentality of feeding chickens that don't do anything. It's kind of like forced retirement for the baby boomers and hiring a batch of college graduates.



Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

My Cheatin' Heart

It's sad really, a grown woman with so little will power. Here I was, ready to commit to this yarn diet. I was going to be good. I was only going to knit from my stash. I was not going to buy anything. I need to make room in my storage area. I have a suitcase filled with yarn that I need to find a spot for so that I can fill it up once again on an upcoming trip.

I was doing so well. Since the yarn diet had begun, I had bought only 2-50g balls of sock wool. I have been told by some very wise knitters that sock yarn doesn't count, so I'm in the clear on that count.

So here I was, minding my own business, not even thinking about buying any more yarn when WHAM!!!!! It hit me like a tonne of bricks.



How could I resist? I'm only human after all. Malabrigo merino has got to be the softest thing on the planet right now. Eight skeins calling my name as if I were a sailor to be lured to my death.

However the word sale can be a powerful force and make me succumb to my weaknesses. I won't tell you how little I paid for this wool. Let's just say that if I didn't buy this yarn, I would have had a stern reprimand by the knitting police for passing up such a good deal.

That being said, my conscience is clear. Especially since I have actually started knitting something with it. If my calculations are correct, I have enough to make the Must Have Cardigan. This time it is working out beautifully.



Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

The Red Coats are Coming!

Because I just can't get enough of horses or guys in uniform, DH and I took the kids to see the RCMP Musical Ride on Friday night. The evening started off with a demonstration of The Ottawa Police K-9 division.



I think that the dog really enjoys his work. The guy in the Michelin Man suit just happened to be an off duty officer who came to watch the Ride and was volun-told to help out with the demo.

Here comes the the highlight of the evening!



At the end of the performance, all the riders brought their horses along the fence and gave the audience a chance to pet the horses and talk with a member of the ride.

This is DD#2. She lives, eats, breaths and sleeps anything to do with horses. So out of all three kids, she was the most impressed. Here she is petting, Sheriff a 10 year old stallion.



This is Regan Douglas, Sheriff's rider. She is on the last year of her three year stint with the musical ride. I would have thought that after three years with the Musical Ride anything you did afterwards would be a let down. But no, next year Regan will learn how to dispose of bombs and blow things up, because there is not enough excitement in her life.



And last but not least, the sock. The sock enjoyed the performance so much that it didn't even mind when DS went on and on.....and on about horse poop and the ability of a horse to poop anywhere he felt like it.

Myself however: "enough about the horse poop already!"

The sock would also like to let you know that if you ever get to see the Musical Ride, be sure to see it from high up. You'll get an awesome view of the formations that is not possible from the regular bleachers.



Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Tales from the Farm

There are many benefits to living next door to a working farm. You just never know who is going to drop by.



This is Pooper. I didn't name him so if he has a complex and self esteem issues, he can't blame me. Pooper is less than a week old and is very affectionate.

In case you were wondering. a lamb licking your bare feet...VERY ticklish.



Here is the teen with Pooper, she is not trying to strangle him, just hold his head steady for the photo. Before I forget, let's not get excited about Pooper and have delusions of grandeur about his potential. He is a hair type sheep......means no fleece to shear and spin. But he has such a loveable nature, that I decided to overlook his failings.



It's feeding time and that boy is hungry. The teen was more than willing to help out.

I think now is the time to tell you about Pooper's sad story. Poor little guy, he was rejected and beat up by his mother which is why he needs to be bottle fed. And if that weren't enough, the poor little guy is blind.

It's like starting out in life with three strikes against you.

As hard hearted as DH likes to pretend to be, he really is a softy. When the next bottle was ready, he was more than willing to take feeding duty.



Something very good came out of this whole DH/Pooper bonding moment.

DH: I think that we should get Baby Doll Sheep.

I'll keep you posted.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Top Secret Knitting

.........Or the arrival of Cone head. This is Moro, my Great White Pyrenees. She is not happy for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the cone around her head. I doubt that she could care less about the loss of her ovaries and uterus. The cone is to keep her from licking herself and removing the stitches. Doesn't she look PATHETIC? Actually I haven't seen a dog that didn't look depressed while wearing a cone.

I just can't come to terms with the fact that dogs are somewhat vane.

Hmmmm actually she looks kind of stoned in this picture, doesn't she?



Now for the knitting. I really wish that I could show pictures. I really don't have a problem showing off my skill but these are presents for people who read my blog and I want to keep the pressies a surprise. But let's just say that I have 1 1/2 more FO's under my belt at the last count.

I suppose that a 1/2 FO is really more a UFO. However since I am actively working on it, it is a WIP. Really...Honest....I am constantly working on it.......I wouldn't lie about something like this...too much.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Birdie BBQ

It looks like an ordinary BBQ doesn't it? ...... HAH.....nothing can be so simple in my world. It took a 6 year old boy to find out its secret. This is what transpired last Friday afternoon.




DS: Mom, there's something in the BBQ.

Me: What is it?

DS: Just come look.







Okay, there's a bird's nest in our BBQ. I can understand that. "How ingenious," I think to myself. "What a clever bird, picking a great spot like that"

HOWEVER

BBQ season is upon us and I have needs. I have a need for DH to do most of the cooking. Since he gladly takes on the mantle of chef during this time of year, I look forward to the respite. So with the kids help, we removed all traces of the nest.

I know what you are thinking. I am not an uncaring kind of person. We took the nest portion and put in securely in our cedar hedge.

HOWEVER

Mother Nature has her own agenda. "Get back into that kitchen and cook your kids a meal"

Well I guess that the BBQ is prime real estate and the bird has squatter's rights. Last night.....

DS: Mom there's another bird's nest in the BBQ.

Me: Okay, let's get rid of it.

This time there is more than just a nest.




I guess that I can wait a little longer for BBQ season.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

One Year Ago Today......

......I started an adventure.

I just couldn't let this day go by without writing something about it.

I said goodbye to my kids as I put them on the school bus. I had my dad drive me to the airport and there I waited in the first of many queues.

I was in the air for about 23 hours, but it was worth every single minute. At the end of my trip I landed in a place that felt like home.

I miss everything about the place. I miss the accents, I miss being the one with a foreign accent. I miss the new foods I got to try. I miss getting pronunciation lessons from the guy at the front desk. I miss figuring out the bus schedules and just jumping on a bus to see what is at the end of the line. I miss the freedom of being able to explore a new place on my own, without having to worry about someone else's time table.

Maybe I just miss being on vacation.

I miss the atmosphere of the city. I miss the museums and galleries that I got to visit and I really miss all the ones I didn't. I miss all the one-on-one time I got to spend with DH. I miss all the artwork throughout the city. I miss the great prices on the locally made wool. I miss all the friendly people I met. I miss the local lingo and being confused as to what people were talking about. I miss seeing the sights of the local wildlife. I miss all the new experiences I encountered.

But most of all, I miss the friends I made.

Would I go to OZ again.....in a heartbeat!

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic