Wednesday Yarn Along

Hi Everyone :)

I hope you are enjoying summer (or winter for those Australian followers) I know that typically, knitting slows down in the hotter months. But around here, we haven't slowed down a bit.

The girls met up last night for knitting group and a lot of knitting took place! Everyone had something going and it was another great night. Even the kids had fun swimming in the pool while the girls knitted and laughed. Tara started a great cowl, Quinn started a hat using our hand dyed alpaca yarn. It's going to look great. Andee had something new going...I think another bear, Lizzie started crocheting her very first sweater.

Here's what we are working on (and reading) this week:

Leanne's Needles:

It's all about knitting for the baby this week. I'm expecting his debut in the next few weeks, so trying to finish up some goodies for him.

Baby Booties (so cute and quick!!!)
Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/saartjes-bootees

Bubbles Sweater (just need to put on the button band in front)
Ravelry Link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/little-bubbles-baby-set-pattern


Bunny Blanket
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/bunny-blanket-buddy---knit
Just started this book:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I have gestational diabetes with this pregnancy. The only upside to that is you get amazing ultrasounds of your little one. I went today and here's a picture of the little boy that will be getting all these knitted treasures. If you look closely, you'll see his nose, lips and fingers over his cheeks. I can't wait to hold him!!!

Happy Knitting!

Howdy from the farm

Just wanted to say hi from the alpacas.

Have a great summer day!
-Leanne, baby bump and some of the herd

Booties for the Baby

Just wanted to share these little booties I knitted up for my little boy. He should be making his debut within the new few weeks. Although it is summer, I just felt the need for something to be on his feet when he comes home.

It's a hot one here today. I think I'm going to head over to sit on the swing in the shade and watch the baby alpacas play for a bit. I'll take some new pictures to share.

Have a good weekend!
-Leanne

Wednesday Yarn Along

I'm late on this today, but better late than never right???
My boys had their last day of school today so from now until September, life will be a bit upside down for me. Oh yeah, and I'm throwing a new baby into the mix. So I'm going to do my best at keeping up with the Wednesday Yarn Alongs! Every knitter's yarn along that I follow also include the book that they are reading for the week. I read like a lunatic. How I have managed to not include the book I am reading with my knitting is beyond me! So from now on, I will include the book that I'm reading this week.

On Leanne's Needles:

Clapotis Shawl

I'm not sure how to pronounce the name of this project...BUT I do know that it is beautiful when complete. I bought this yarn at the Four Brooks Farm booth at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I was looking for that last special purchase and this was it. When it is complete, it will have rows of dropped stitches that create a beautiful open light design. I can see myself wearing it while I nurse my new little man.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leannecoppola/clapotis

The book is Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson
I inhaled this book. I read it in less than two days and couldn't put it down.

Off Andee's Needles:

Another Teddy Bear!

Meghan's Teddy Bear

Ravelry Public Link
http://ravel.me/AndeeKF/tb2

Made with Plymouth Suri Merino
For 3 year old Meghan
I made the eyes with yarn instead of plastic eyes. This was a birthday present for our friend Meghan who is three years old. She has twin brothers who will soon be turning one. I wanted this bear to be able to survive the wrath of toddler boys.


And I have to share the sad state of my knitting bag. I really need to get organized. This bag was given to me by Lizzie as a diaper bag for the new baby. Hmmmm funny how every bag I own eventually ends up holding yarn.

(This picture was taken the other night from my front yard. I love the clouds.)

Happy Knitting to All!
-Leanne

Boys Will Be Boys

I live next door to my parents house and when I look out my living room window, I am lucky enough to have a view of the alpacas. Right now, I have a view of the moms and their babies. If I go upstairs into my boy's bedroom, I have a view of the little boy's field.
Being a mom of two boys (with one on the way), I spend most of my time with them warning them to please be careful...stop wrestling...I don't feel like going to the hospital...you could break your brother's arm if you keep doing that...stop touching each other...please don't sit on your brother...is that a good idea?...you get the point. Oh, and my boys like each other! They're not trying to be mean to the other one.

Well guess what?
Boy alpacas are the same way!!!! From the view of my boy's room, I often see Sanda and Ox wrestling with their necks... jumping on each other...chasing each other...wearing each other...sticking their heads between their legs to lift the other one up...bumping into one another...hmmmm sound familiar?

So, boys will be boys. No matter what species they are.

I do have to make a note:
The little girl alpaca is the one that usually starts the trouble with Little Bing. But just give him time, and he'll be starting the trouble too. And as my mom would like to point out, she had all girls and we were nuts around the house, but it was more flipping and cartwheels in the living room rather than sitting on each other.)

(The photos of Sanda and Ox are from last fall. But they still do this all the time!)

(And this is a picture of my boys. And believe it or not, they really do like each other.)

-Leanne

Friday's Picture

Have a great weekend!
Happy Knitting, Farming, Gardening, Alpaca Admiring, Relaxing and Living.

Wednesday Yarn Along

Is this the cutest picture you have ever seen?
This is Andee's oldest boy, Brady and his new teddy bear.
Andee knitted this little guy last week and Brady helped stuff him.
This lucky little bear will be a gift to Mrs. L, Brady's wonderful teacher.

Ravelry Link to free pattern:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AndeeKF/teddy-bear



Happy Knitting!
-Leanne

Pumpkins Are Planted & Fingers Are Crossed

For the past few years we have planted a field of pumpkins. Our first few years were amazing. We had huge crops with so many pumpkins we didn't know what to do with them! However, the last two years have not been successful. We're not sure why. Was it weather? Too wet? Too dry? Bugs? Deer? Groundhogs? Not sure. But once again, we planted the pumpkins.

(The crew in the pumpkin patch)

(The little boys playing in the dirt)

Row by row, my boys, husband, Andee and her boys helped my parents plant the seeds. I just watched with my camera in tow. I'm too big to bend over these days. Along the way, we found lots of golf balls growing...my two year old nephew thought this was very funny.

(My Dad and Brady getting the rows ready)

(Winding the string in...shortly after this picture, my dad got out
the power tools to wind it up. Smart man.)

(The reason I can't bend over to plant this year)

(Andee and Shea...notice his dirty feet..I always say a little kid with dirty feet is a happy kid)

(Shea's reaction to the tractor today.
A half hour later he was fine with the tractor.
Who knows....Two year olds are weird)

(Cousins having fun in the dirt)

There is a little patch of dirt down in the meadow. At one time, it was a row of huge weeping willow trees. Over the years, they were falling down and eventually had to be cut down. In this part of the meadow, the ashes of the two people that lived here are sprinkled. Mayo and Jeanne Dupayage (known to me as Uncle Mayo and Aunt Jeanne) lived in the house where I live now. Growing up next door, they were like grandparents to us. Never blood related, but as close as can be. This year we decided to plant a few pumpkins in that patch of dirt.

To get it ready, my dad hopped on the tractor and tilled. It scared the you know what out of little Shea for some reason, but after the tilling, an old horse shoe came up to the surface of the dirt. Maybe Uncle Mayo sent us some good luck this year. So, horse shoe is hung up and fingers are crossed. Let's hope for some awesome pumpkins :)

(Dalton and the good luck horseshoe)

Hope you all had a good weekend!
-Leanne

Knitting, Alpacas and Baseball

Knitting

My sister, Andee, has been knitting for years. She was always good at it. She attempted to teach me 10 years ago when I was on bedrest with my oldest son. I tried my best, but I was terrible. I mean, really terrible. I never had the right amount of stitches and usually ended up with a "scarf" that looked more like swiss cheese. I have always been good with my hands and was a quilter. I just couldn't understand what was wrong with me! Why was knitting so hard for me?

(Liz is spinning, Tara is working on her blanket..also realize it was 100 degrees here last night! Good thing the air conditioner was on!)

Fast forward to two years ago. I was determined to learn how to knit. I knew I could do it if I put my mind to it. I started watching YouTube videos and slowly I began to understand how to do it. A friend of mine sat down with me for two hours and showed me the basics. I went home and spent 10 hours practicing. Not sure my family ate that day. But I learned how to knit!!!!

(Quinn)

All three sisters enjoy yarn and knitting/crocheting. We're old souls...that's what people tell us. Well, we decided to suck some of our friends in to our "old soul" world and we started a knitting group. It is a very casual get-together that we attempt to have once a month. We meet at one of our houses, order take-out food, open some wine and beer and just hang out around a table or living room and knit away. We have a group of 7 girls now. All under the age of 33. 3 of them had never knit before and we have taught them how. Some are crocheters and you should see how well they're doing! We all help each other out when we make a mistake and try to figure out how to tackle new projects.

(Tara's blanket! I'm so proud of her!!!)

We met last night at my house. A huge storm came through and we ALMOST got hit by lightning! It was crazy! It hit the tree right outside the living room. Thankfully, no major damage was done. Quinn just started her first lace project last night. Tara is almost done with her huge beautiful blanket, Andee was working on a teddy bear, Liz was spinning and I was working on my cardigan while I tried to get comfortable. I'm getting huge and having trouble breathing, moving, sitting, sleeping...you know. Our other girls were missed. See you next time!

Alpacas

The babies are doing wonderful! Our vet was here this morning and everyone looked good. Baby Bing had a little hard time learning to nurse, but he's doing well now. Baby Wea loves to run around. She's very funny. Here are some pictures from the field this morning.

(Bubinga and Melody)

(Kigo, Ox and Sanda saying hello)

(Wea, Bubinga and Melody)

(Kigo)

Baseball

Completely unrelated to anything to do with the farm, but I just wanted to give a shout out to our oldest son. His little league team has made it to the finals! Dalton has been playing so well the last few games and I'm very proud of him. Good luck on Monday, buddy!


Have a great weekend!

-Leanne

Baby Bubinga is Here!

Arrow Acres proudly announces the arrival of our new little boy!

Arrow Acres Bubinga Crosby

was born June 8th at 10:00 am

17 lbs.
Dam: Melody
Sire: Abenaki Wski

He came into this world on a hot, steamy day at the shore!
Melody was very restless this morning and was showing all the classic signs
that today was the day. My mom, dad, Liz and Andee were all there to witness this birth.
We do have a video. I'll post that tomorrow for those that are interested.

Trying to get up.


Mom and baby are doing well. He had a little trouble nursing, but with some help he is getting the hang of it. Melody has been wonderful and actually let us help her. I wasn't there for the birth, but I heard that she got a big bag of carrots today! She LOVES her carrots.

He was able to weasel his way in around the hay bin right away. Just like a boy...getting in trouble! My mom had to help him out. Look at their hair! It matches.

This is my mom sharing the good news on the phone with her best friend, Kate.
Bing was checking it all out!
He reminds me of a baby deer. We think he is a medium fawn color.

Meeting my youngest son, Garrett.

We are very happy to have our two little crias here. This entire process has been so exciting.
We will keep you up to date on our newest addition as well as the rest of the herd.

-Leanne

Wednesday Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday!
It's going to be close to 100 degrees here today. Oh boy. Feeling the need to have this baby. In other baby news, we think Melody is very close to delivery. Signs are there. Fingers crossed!!!
My mom just told me that Mel is acting very restless. I told her to run in the house and brush her teeth. That's what worked last time. Hey, it's worth a shot, right?

On to Knitting....
Off Liz's Spindle and Crochet Hook this week:

"Wrap Me In Ruffles"
Personal pattern
Crocheted with her handspun alpaca yarn (featured in our spinning post a few weeks ago)
The main part of the cowl is spinners weight yarn and the edge ruffle is bulky.
It's beautiful on!

On Leanne's Needles:

My neighboors had a baby boy on Monday so I started a fun little knit toy for him.
The dad is a vet and they also have a huge snake that lives with them, so I thought a fun colored squishy snake would be a perfect gift for the new little man.

Still working on my Bluebells Cardigan
(Ravelry pattern is the Peasy Cardigan)
And that bump is my baby boy who NEVER stops moving.

Off Andee's Needles this week:
She finished the gorgeous sea shell scarf.
It's done in baby alpaca
Personal pattern
It is the softest, lightest, prettiest scarf!!!!

Headband
Knitted with alpaca yarn

Have a wonderful day and Happy Knitting!

I will be sure to post any new baby alpaca news if we have some.

Oh...and just because I don't think you can EVER see too many baby alpaca pictures,
here's one for you to enjoy.

-Leanne