Two months ago

 It's been two months now....

We went to the doctor today....

he is happy with the better movement and feeling

he can almost make a fist
needs to work on loosening them up at bit now

Cloth # 12

     











Unblocked in photo
 
 7 ½ by 9 inches              
Size 8 US needles
Exact gauge is not essential to this project
All yarns are 100% cotton in worsted weight
14 yards rose wood
16 yards white
16 yards vanilla

k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
p = purl
tbl = through the back loop
yo = yarn over needle


With rose wood colored yard cast on 36 stitches
Knit 2 rows
3) knit
4) k4,  p28,  k4
5) knit
6) k4,  p28,  k4
7) knit
8) knit
9) k4,  ( yo,  k2tog )x 7,  k2tog tbl,  ( yo,  k2tog tbl )x 6,  yo,  k4
10) knit
Change to white yarn
11 - 18) repeat  rows 3 - 10
Change to vanilla
19 - 26) repeat rows 3 - 10
27 - 29) repeat rows 3 - 6
Change to white yarn
30 - 33) repeat rows 7 - 10
34 - 37) repeat rows 3 - 6
Change to rose wood
38 - 42) repeat rows 7 - 10
43 - 47) repeat rows 3 - 7
48 - 49) knit
Bind off. Weave in ends.

Seed bead Skull necklace

  
 Playing with seed beads again :D planning on selling a few...wish me luck 

update now at Pi Pilates

Shoulder Cape

I wanted to make a cape that was warm, but left ones arms free to move so one could still do crafts.....

I made this pattern a while ago, I forgot to get a yardage count on the edging....I've been meaning to remake it, to get the count and do a test knit......don't see having the time to do it anytime soon.....I did use less than half of a skein of Red Heart's super saver yarn......if that helps
It just turned out so comfy I still wanted to share it :D

 

                                                       

Shoulder Cape

Size 10 US circular needles 

Gauge 4 rows by 3 stitches per 1 inch approximately 

278 yards bulky weight yarn

Half skein of Red heart’s worsted yarn  

I used size 11 seed beads strung along the bottom, and a few antique beads sewn on to the trim ( see photo ) this is optional 

one button and size you like

K = knit

Kf/b = knit into the front and back of the next stitch

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Pm = place a stitch marker 

Psso = pass slid stitch over

P = purl

P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

Sl 1 = slide one stitch  purl wise

Tbl = through the back loop 

Yo = yarn over needle

*  * = repeat instructions between as many times as indicated 

Notes

It is very helpful to use a different color or type of marker for the center stitch as well as for each side of the cape. It makes the increasing much easier to not only spot, but also to know if you should be increasing  “before or after” the marker. Always be sure to slide your markers along as you work until indicated. You can use small pieces of scrap yarn as markers, just tie them into a loop. You need 4 on each side and 1 for the center.

Cast on 60 stitches with main color

1 - 5) knit to end

6) k4,  pm,  kf/b,  k12,  pm,  kf/b,  k2,  pm,  kf/b,  k8,  pm,  kf/b,  pm using different color( center stitch ),  kf/b,  pm,  k8,  kf/b,  pm,  k2,  kf/b,  pm,  k12,  kf/b,  pm,  k4

7) k4,  purl to the last 4 stitches,  k4

8) * knit to first marker slide marker, kf/b * repeat 3 more times, knit to center stitch marker ( there are no increases around the center stitch marker ) knit to one stitch before marker,  kf/b,  continue in this manner until last four stitches, k4

9) k4,  purl to the last 4 stitches,  k4

Repeat rows 8 and 9 until you have 156 stitches on your needles ( 12 repeats )

Remove stitches markers # 2 and 3 on the first half and # 7 and 8.

Continue in the same manner as before ( doing 4 increases instead of 8 per repeat ) until you have 212 stitches ( 14 repeats )

Lace Trim

Change to trim color

Knit the lace section on the loose side, you might want to go up a needle size if having trouble with tension. 

1 & 2) Repeat rows 8 and 9 from main body of pattern

3) k4,  *yo,  k1 tbl,  yo,  sl 1,  k1,  psso,  k5 * repeat to last 4 stitches,   k4

4) k4, * p4,  p2tog tbl,  p3 * repeat to last 4 stitches,   k4

5) k4, * yo,  k1 tbl,  yo,  k2,  sl 1,  k1,  psso,  k3 * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

6) k4, * p2,  p2tog tbl,  p5 * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

7) k4,  * k1 tbl,  yo,  k4,  sl 1,  k1,  psso,  k1,  yo * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

8) k4,  *p1,  p2tog,  p6 * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

9) k4,  * k5,  k2tog,  yo,  k1 tbl,  yo * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4 

10) k4,  * p3,  p2tog tbl,  p4 * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4    

11) k4,  * k3,  k2tog,  k2,  yo,  k1 tbl,  yo  * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

12) k4,  * p5,  p2tog,  p2  * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4 

13) k4,  * yo,  k1,  k2tog,  k4,  yo,  k1 tbl * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

14) k4,  * p6, p2tog,  p1  * repeat to last 4 stitches,  k4

15) knit 

16) knit 

bind off, weave in ends and sew on beads if you like

I placed the button a bit low, instead of at the collar.....I made a simple crochet  chain stitch loop to slip over the button.

Butterfly

This butterfly come by every morning and flies all around us almost landed on me today :D

our flock

 one chick saw me taking pictures and wanted in ..........as did one of our buffs.....

so she hopped up for her shot.....as did the next one lol

 the reds are always up for photos :D

not to be out done ........one of the Cornish/Rocks wanted in

 they are getting pretty big.....but moving around good... running even a bit of flying :D

One month ago tonight

..........we were out by our fire pit, when André went to stick the knife he was using into the ground beside him.....it hit a rock or something stopping the knife but not his hand...two of his fingers slid across the blade cutting to the bone......
since then we have been asked by a few how he could cut it so deeply....it was not a dull blade, nor small....

I'd like to add here André has owned knifes for many years without incident...he is not what one would call normally careless with tools. This was the first time he's needed stitches at all....being André he had to do it up big lol


We started Reiki on the spot.....


After the ER took a look we were told he needed to have surgery....as soon as we could if he wanted to feel or move them again.....


We kept the Reiki going and asked for help from other energy workers, after getting home from the the ER......you could see his hand light up, by this time we had stopped the bleeding and were working to keep the tendons in place...




About 12 hours after it happened we met up with the Doctor who we picked to do the surgery....he said it was as bad as it could get.....without taking the fingers off....in cases like this he would need to open up his palm and most likely part of his wrist.....he was worried that us using Reiki would make the tendons retreat even more because he could feel André's hand twitching from the Reiki.....


André on the other hand could feel it helping, so he wanted to stick with Reiki....he was able to go through this whole thing without pain meds. He did try half of one...said it didn't help like Reiki... the meds were kind of blocking Reiki a bit.....


Surgery took more than 3 hours.....the doc didn't need to cut open even his palm.....the tendons stayed in his fingers.....he did cut two nerves and two tendons in each finger....the doc put those back together, he did say he was surprised where he found the tendons though lol and told us to keep doing what we were doing, as it was working :D
So we go back the next week.....this time the doc was surprised that André could move his fingers more already ( was able to right away )

Today we go back and he is way more that surprised that André has feeling on both sides of his fingers.....didn't know how that could be....said by all rights he shouldn't be able to feel anything on the left side of his fingers.....those nerves had been split....
He was very happy how André's healing is going...they are a bit stiff but doing great....


Thank you to....
 the doctors and nurses who did a great job....and on the whole have been very good to all of us, not just André 


 The Doctor who did his surgery and his staff were so very nice and good at their jobs....I mean really sweet people who truly care....


  and to all of you who said a prayer, held him in your thoughts, sent good energies, lit candles, did spell work and Reiki..... we send our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude         Thank you 

Update time

 Check out these cool hats Kath made for us. We love them, they are so comfy and well made. Really good knitting. Thank you from all of us Kath :D

  

André cut the last two fingers on his right hand pretty deep.....3 hours of surgery to put them back together

 

The chickens are doing well :D Brent added to the yard size of their run, it's well protected from all sides and top. They are having a lot of fun running and flying around. It's not fully done yet, we plan on adding more for them to play with, but we are close :D
The Cornish/Rocks are already out sizing the Reds. They seem to be doing well, moving around good and are happy to be in a bigger area.

To broiler or not to broiler.....

We moved our buff Orpingtons and silver Ameraucanas 

out to the coop yard, in a large pen

they are quite happy in their new but temporary home :D 

had to bring them in for a bit yesterday 

when we got a sudden hail storm and I thought it was a bit cold for them…..

Wow did that tick them off lol

We decided it was time to put our Reds and Barred on pullet feed as they are getting to be pretty big now…….

that meant a trip to feed store

We took a look at the chicks while there

 a couple of white chickens, egg layers either Leghorns or Rocks are what we had in mind

 okay at this point I’ll say I have no clue where else in town to get chicks and was leaning away from mail order…..

We haven't been dealt real straight up at this store, it was clear we were new to this whole chicken thing....

 things like not telling us if the Ameraucanas or Orpingtons were bantams or not, after they thought I would rather have full sized birds……

 I was going to get them either way

 I just wanted to know what we had lol

The guy said to us……I can give you a great deal on the older ones…..

I say we were really looking for younger ones as we want them to be people friendly 

at least to us ;)

We know the younger ones stand a better chance...

I say I really wanted Leghorns, not fast growing chicks, as I have heard they have issues with health….

he tells us they are Leghorns just a little bit faster growing not too much though…..

I ask what kind of deal..... I'll give you a dollar off of each, is his reply

I ask why they have broiler in the name…..

didn't sound like an egg layer to me…..

he reassured me they were Leghorns, something like the tag wasn't right…….

okay I’m new to keeping chickens and haven’t read much about raising “meat” chickens…..

we wanted eggs….

a few feathers here and there…..

  what Jorden calls shoulder chickens…..

I really didn’t want to read up on meat chickens…..I love a good chicken taco and wanted to keep it that way ;)

I did know they are a hybrid of Cornish and Rocks...poor health, I assumed from poor care..... but not much more than that..

These poor chicks couldn’t even walk across a cardboard box…….

 I wasn't sure they would make it home…….

Even though I HATE being "played" 

we had to help them

 when ringing up our sale I heard him tell the girl that they were indeed fast growing broilers.....

     After some reading…..

ugh if they are lucky we might only loose a few before “harvest” time …..

6 to 8 weeks….

after that their fate is not much better…

worn though feet…heart attacks…broken legs

with good care

So what now, we got them knowing full well we had no clue about the breed…..

eat them, nope can’t eat someone I pet 

 besides we promised…… 

I’m not against raising chickens to eat …..

I am against raising them poorly 

as well as creating hybrids where their health 

or lack of health is of no issue…..

I waited until the next day after them coming home with us to attune them to Reiki….

we were doing hands on and distant…..

I wanted them to get used to the feel of the energy…..

it was really cool…. 

I've done a few attunements by now lol  a lot of animals….

but it was like a light went on…..

Almost two full days after bringing them home… 

when we go to by them, they let us pet them 

they are taking food from our hands……

walking, jumping and even small busts of flying :D 

They are getting big fast…..too fast…

However we are going to go with free feeding,

adding a bit of scratch around to get them foraging and moving more....

the fresh lettuce from the garden was a hit 

 I can't see a chicken being withheld feed....

that's their whole life....eating 

or looking for something to eat lol

Chickens

 I'm still having a hard time believing that we have CHICKENS

They are so cute 

Our Reds are very friendly love to be pet 

our new little ones are still a bit jumpy but getting better every day 

 Sam doesn't seem to mind at all