The camo sweater is finally done.  It has been years in the making.  First I purchased a Bernat Urban Camouflage pattern book in June 2008.  I then asked Tom what he would like me to make from it.  He chose the hooded sweater- the biggest project in the book.  I did not like the way their yarn looked in the sweater because it was not a true camo pattern.  So I started to hunt for yarn to use.  I could use our wool for the natural colors but I needed olive green.  I purchased an olive green dye at Black Sheep Gathering in 2008 for this purpose but when I used it, the yarn came out an orangey brown.  So back to the drawing board.  Then when we in the Shetland Islands at Jamieson’s spinning mill there was a package of yarns called Leafy Trails that had quite a bit of olive green but also other colors.  This was in May 2009.  I then decided to use an intarsia technique for the first time to make the camo pattern and pixelated a photo of our camo sheets to make the pattern.  So then I was off.

I had the vest portion completed by hunting season 2010.  I thought he might want a hunting vest but he said no, he would wait for the whole sweater.  I was trying to get it done by the hunting season of 2011 but did not make it.  The finishing took a lot longer than I thought it would.  So today I finally sewed the zipper on it and it is done!

Tom likes it which is the most important thing.  It is going to be warm for him to wear but will be nice for cold nights out hunting.  What do you guys think?

It is hard to imagine that spring will come.  Here’s the flooding at our place after all the snow melted.  We have had ravaging winds and serious rain here, and the flood waters come down from the development above us.  In the background of this photo you can see a government worker’s car (on a Saturday!).  The flooding was so bad the rams are actually using their shelter.  They were thrilled to move into the barn where they wait for the rains to slow down.

But there is one sign of spring coming.  My shearing day is scheduled!  It is Monday, March 5th.  Anyone who would like to help out please let me know.  There is free wool for those who help.  Also anyone who would like to reserve a fleece, please let me know.

Here’s the Mica hat I finished last night.  It is made out of fur from my dog who was a mutt but had the nicest golden fiber.  I carded, spun, washed and then knit the Odessa hat with it.  Now I am going to make mittens, Feathercrest by Jared Flood.  The pattern is in my Christmas present book, Knit Real Shetland.  It will not be Shetland fiber this time but should match the hat well.

Here’s our forecast (I could use a warm hat):

Currently 50 °F Mostly Cloudy Humidity: 85% Wind: 8 mph from the South Visibility: 10.0 miles Dew Point: 46 °F Precipitation: 100% chance of rain Air Quality: Good Pressure: 29.67 in UV: 0 Today 43° | 36° Thursday 41° | 29° Friday 40° | 27° Saturday 43° | 31° Sunday 45° | 34°   Updated: 7:42 PM PST on January 24, 2012

This cold weather (20 degrees this morning) is hard on the skinny old animals.  One of our older ringneck pheasant hens died.  Cody (our old skinny buck) on the first day of this nonsense became so weak he couldn’t walk.  I had to load him into our hay cart and move him to the barn.  Fortunately in a way since there is no way to use a cart now.  Plus I moved the other bucks and their guard llamas closer to barn so feeding and watering them is a lot easier now.  Here’s all three guard llamas together for the first time, waiting for Tom to feed them.

And here’s Cody.  He initially perked up with some feed and supplements in the relative warmth of the barn but this morning was shivering and not interested in eating.  So now he has a cashmere sweater (that no longer fits me).  I figured he would prefer cashmere to sheep’s wool.  Now he is not longer shivering and eating hay again.

This is Tom sweeping off the lower portions of the barn roof.  Notice the peacock on the top of the pole over the pheasant pen.  Not sure why he is choosing to hang out up there as opposed to in the barn.

So now we are done slogging through our animal and snow chores.  It is hard work carrying feed and buckets of water through through this nasty white stuff.  We are now tired and sore.  Fortunately the snow has stopped for now, and the predicted windstorm has not affected us yet.  So we will take it easy until the next storm hits.  I will make mulled wine from our homemade wine supply.  Tom brought home this used dutch oven the other day.  I have already made a great batch of Provencal Beef Stew with it.  Maybe another batch of stew is in order.