Snow Day

They started warning us about the snow storm a couple days ago, but all it did last night was rain (which is always nervous-making in winter). Even when I got up this morning, it was just rain. But as I was checking on the sheep, it turned to sleet, then ice, and by 9am, it was snowsville, and it’s been coming down all day.

Naturally, the warm weather for the rest of March lulled me into a little early planting. I’m doin a hay bale garden this year–making lemonade out of all my spoiled hay. Except for a little covered drawer I planted with radishes and mesclun, it was was still too cold to bother with seeds, but I couldn’t resist some brussles sprout and broccoli starts, and I even planted two wildly experimental tomatoes. (I honestly know better, but I thought what the hell?. Unfortunately, the wall-o-waters are too big for the bales, so I popped a plastic jar over each one when it got chilly & put some pots over those when word came up about the snow storm. But an icy stare practically kills tomatoes, so I don’t have any hope there.) Yesterday,I covered everything, but I expect it all to die. I knew when I planted them I was provoking Mother Nature, but I couldn’t help myself.

The snow’s pretty, and certainly more friendly than the ice, but before it started snowing, all of the tree branches and power lines (which are much too cozy on our property) were already encased in ice, so I’m nervous the snow will stick to them and something will break and we’ll be without power. It doesn’t help that the temperature keeps wiggling between a few degrees above and below freezing, so the snow an keep melting and refreezing. Ron & I started up the generator (yay!), lamented the fact that we never did get Ed to hook up the big monster generator meant to fire the boiler (boo!), got gas, gathered up all the extension cords, charged the big flashlight, stocked up drinking water, and made sure the critters were all set. At least if we lose power, we’ll be ready for it.

Anyway, something about the snow day has made me totally peevish and procrastinatey. My resistance to doing the work I had planned for today is fearsome.

I’ve decided I’m going to try halter-training all of the sheep next week. The only real troublemaker is Mister Shivers, but he’s been a complete asshole lately, so I think he needs a little schooling (for my part, I know zilch about handling livestock, but don’t tell him that). If I can get in a few sessions with each of them before shearing day, I think things will go much easier. But I imagine that no matter what, they’re a lot more compliant than animals from a large herd, especially for a pro (Dan the shearer).

In other news, I think Mister Shivers has passed his wart to Uncle Honeybuch. Apparently sheep aren’t supposed to get warts–the ruminants specialist at K State wants his wart for a paper–but that’s not stopping them, which makes me worry they’re under the weather. They’re eating plenty, and they’re frisky, and they don’t feel too bony under all that wool, but I’m not confident in my scoring skills. What do I know. Oh, that’s easy: almost nothing.

They’re extending the Little Yarn Shop Hop on the Prairie to next weekend as well, because the whole region is snowbound. We’re supposed to have Spinsters Club at Settlers Farm tomorrow–I hope the roads are okay for that. The storm warning ends at 7pm tonight, but there’s always the chance for more ice overnight.

Speaking of the Yarn Hop, I completed the hat pattern I was working on & it will be free with yarn purchase at Settlers Farm during the Yarn Hop. It uses either Mountain Meadow Merino (my new favorite yarn–I’ll put it in my etsy shop this week–one of the many of today’s tasks I’ve blown off) or Blossom, a natural colored corriedale made from Jennifer’s sheep of the same name. It’s a warm hat meant for the cold spring days when you’re itching to plant, but you know that last frost date is still looming. (Obviously, the at wasn’t enough to keep me out of the garden, so I’ll be composting a bunch of dead herbs & vegetables tomorrow.)

Here it is in Blossom, and the white ones are Mountain Meadow Merino. It will be free w/  yarn purchase or for sale separately.

Oh! Last week I got an eCard from Vickie Howell that featured a pattern I wrote almost 3 years ago!

Originally, I wrote 2 designs for a project with the working name of Catwalk Crochet, but I guess they went a different way, because this book is all crochet patterns inspired by pop culture. The book’s called  Pop Goes Crochet!: 36 Projects Inspired by Icons of Popular Culture. I think my pattern’s called Clint in the book, but being a big Clint Eastwood spaghetti western nerd, the name I had given it was The Man(cho) with No Name.

I really loved writing the pattern, because it gave me an excuse to watch The Good, the Bad & the Ugly like a hundred times. Most of the pattern is crocheted in, then it’s felted, then some optional detail work is added by needlefelting. Colorwork crochet is also so much easier than knit colorwork. Oh! And I’m pretty sure I haven’t actually been paid yet, so publication means a little bit of cash, too.