Knitting for The Coop!

 

Every year I knit up as many things as possible to sell in our farm store aka "The Coop". I use that money to buy Christmas presents for my family. Because my shoulder was hurting so much of the fall, I am WAY behind on my knitting!!!! I was able to knit up a few newborn and toddler hats over the weekend so I thought I would share them here.

The bonnets are repeats for me. I love making the Anker Bonnet, the Simple Chunky Newborn Bonnet and some simple hats that I embellish with a teddy bear face. But I wanted to make something new to me. I love the Kelbourne Woolens line of free "monthly" hat patterns. I've made a few of them over the years but this June Hat was new for me. The purple and white hat follows the pattern exactly but I don't love to purl. I knit much quicker so I decided to knit the blue and yellow version while slipping the stitch to make the row that runs up the hat. These were really fun to knit and I'll absolutely be making more. It's a perfect use of leftover yarn and that I have a lot of! 

It's Monday...start of a new work week and I'm busy this week with work. I am beyond excited to welcome my college kids home soon to celebrate Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm the happiest when all my kids are under one roof. Can't wait.

Have a great week!

November Days

I usually knit lots of things to sell in the coop. I use the money for my Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, I've had a bum shoulder for the past two months. I'm finally feeling better and I started knitting again. The farm store looks so pretty right now. It's filled with beautiful things. My mom is so good at picking the perfect things to sell. We make what we can but with busy lives, that merchandise is limited.

I made two little bonnets. The pink one is the Anker's Bonnet (I've made so many of these over the years.)

I also made the Simple Chunky Newborn Bonnet. It's a free pattern and SUPER quick to knit up.

The weather here has been so weird! We've had cool days and nights, misty mornings and right now it's almost 80 degrees! IN NOVEMBER! So odd! My chickens have finished molting and started laying eggs again. Yay! I really hate buying eggs in the grocery store when I have a flock of chickens in the yard.....

I love my library. They have so many good books and if you want something you just have to request it and voila! they get it and let you know when to pick it up. We are reading "Once There Were Wolves" for our Patreon book club. I picked it up today and got two more while I was there. I have a favorite denim shirt and it has a rip on the top shoulder. I remember my friend Allison mending her jeans using the Mending Matters book as a guide. My library had it so I grabbed it. Now to fix my shirt...

I also love cookbooks. I try to take a new one out every week just to get new ideas. Sometimes they're great, sometime's not so much. This one looked good so hoping I get a new recipe or two out of it for the dinner rotation. 

That's it for now :) Time to get back to work. Hope you're all doing well!

"Mom's Best Friend"

The saying goes, a dog is "man's best friend". I'm redoing that phrase. This Buddy is "Mom's best friend". This goofy guy is so sweet. I love spending time walking him, exploring the farm together, taking walks to Spring Lake, hanging out on the couch, his company while I work from home, he really is the best puppy for me. I know he loves everyone else in my house...BUT he's a mama's boy right now and I don't hate that! I've been working on my Jupiter Crop sweater here and there and finished up the body this week. I need to buy more yarn for the sleeves. So it's on hold for now. But I'm really enjoying knitting it. I knitted more length in the body then the pattern called for but I left it a little shorter than I usually do. I want to wear it over a dress with tights or leggings. I just have to find a dress that will look cute under it! 

I celebrated my 7th anniversary at my job yesterday. I remember being so nervous to go back to working in an office after being home as a freelancer for so many years. It was hard in the beginning but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I love my company and the people I work with. I have a boss that's one in a million and she has become a close friend. My husband and I went out last night for a drink and my favorite pizza to celebrate at my favorite local place, Massuto's. Can't beat it!

This weekend will be filled with sports....it's playoff season and it's exhausting! If they win, we keep going...........this mom is ready to be done. BUT I'll be cheering them on during the games. The competitor in me is still deep inside! I just want to eat dinner as a family again.....!!!!

I'm getting ready to cast on a few things for the farm and then two sweaters for myself. I'm hoping to get some knitting done at the games this weekend. Hope you're all enjoying your November so far!

Fall is Here

 It finally looks like fall here at the Jersey Shore! I got my sourdough starter out of hibernation and made a yummy loaf this week. I also made a big pot of turkey meatball soup. We devoured it all up.

I've been loving our puppy (who is growing like a weed!!!). He's been the best addition to our family. He loves his walks and being by our side at all time. He and Sox have quite the little friendship going too. They're very funny together. Walks always include both of them and they always make me laugh.

I am excited to look through the new cookbook I requested at the library. I really enjoy her recipes and this should be perfect for some new dinner ideas. Cooking for three instead of five is weird! But it does allow me to try some new things without investing a ton of money to feed three growing boys. 

Missing my college kids a lot. Looking forward to their Thanksgiving visits home. They're both doing well and that makes me happy but I sure do miss them.

The farm is open every weekend and we have had lots of nice visitors. Everything looks beautiful. My mom does a wonderful job of decorating and filling the store with gift items.

I should get back to work now...just wanted to say hello.

Hope you're having a nice week!

Sweater Update

 Obviously I didn't get this done for Rhinebeck. The combo of my schedule and my shoulder kept me from finishing. I thought I would get lots of knitting done on the porch in the Rhinebeck house. hah!!!! I think I knitted two rows tops! I spent too much time laughing and keeping busy doing other things (like food prep, food eating and drinking).

So here is my update! I split for the sleeves last night. I love doing color work sweaters so much. I wish I could just sit and knit all day. This is the Jupiter Crop by Caitlin Hunter.

What are you working on these days?

Rhinebeck 2022

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

 

My heart is full. My stomach hurts from laughing. 

My memories of this weekend will get me through the hard days of the daily grind. 

We were missing three of our housemates this year and they were in our thoughts the entire time. 

We'll be back together next year in our old house (although this house was wonderful!!)

Until next year....