For YEARS I’ve wanted to join in the Yarn Along hosted by Ginny Sheller over on her blog, Small Things, but lacking a space to share (or just being too busy/lazy to figure it out) I never joined in. Then she decided to go on hiatus with the yarn along and I started a blog which equals to the stars aligning in 2018 for this to be the perfect time for me to share what I’m reading and what’s on my needles!!
I have been reading a lot on my tablet lately (it’s my preferred method for reading unless the book is a resource book, such as the Seasonal Planner pictured above). I joined a homesteading book group on Facebook that I’ll talk more about in a different post. For now, I’m reading The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner trying to catch up with the book group and for fun I’m reading The Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb.
As for what I’m knitting, I’ve been working on Cranford Mitts using Knit Picks Andean Treasure and Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Both of these yarns were in my stash already and the Knit Picks yarn has been for years. It was time to do something with that yarn.
I’m so excited to finally be able to join in the Yarn Along. I will have to figure out some technicalities with it, such as how to add a button to my blog and taking better photos of my knitting/reading, but for today I’m happy to be able to share this glimpse of what I’ve been reading and knitting!
Emily
I haven’t used Andean Treasure yarn before, but I’ve been eyeing it up. I love your pattern! Those will be gorgeous mitts.
Chicken Librarian
The Andean treasure knits up beautifully! I especially love it with the Rowan Kidsilk!! The pattern is super easy and quick to knit up as well. Happy knitting!
Winwick Mum
Your mitts are a gorgeous colour, they’re going to be lovely to wear! xx
Chicken Librarian
Thank you!! I’m excited to finish them so they can be worn. I love the pattern….makes me feel like they are fancy!
Cheryl TimeToCraft (@CherylInTheUK)
Beautiful colour. I like the way you are combining the two yarns. I might have to follow suite. I have a couple of balls of Rowan Kidsilk that I’m longing to knit with but isn’t quite enough. I like your solution. Thanks! Found you via the Yarn Along.
Chicken Librarian
I love the kidsilk mixed with another yarn (in this case the knit picks andean treasure, but I bet it would knit up nicely with any yarn you picked). It just gives it a softer look and feel. I’m glad you visited via the Yarn Along. I’ve clearly wanted to join in for a very long time and am so glad I did! I love this knitting/reading community! Happy New Year.
Jeannie Gray Wiant (@JGKnits)
Great mitts! Love those purple cables.
Chicken Librarian
Thank you! The pattern is super easy!
Rob Wilkinson
Thank you very much for including knitting in your blog. I enjoyed seeing your knitting when I could see your instagram account. Sadly, I get a “link is broken” screen when I try now.
I spent my summers on a farm when I was a kid. I loved the chickens and they loved me…….or maybe it was the chicken feed that I had in my pockets!!!!!
To this day when I garden, the smell of chicken manure takes me back to those great memories.
My wife was a CITY girl. When she passed in 2009 I immediately moved to the country………..deep in the mountains of north Georgia……..on a hill side.
So the hill side and the predators make keeeping chickens very difficult. I would need a variety that had one leg longer than the other (for the hillside) and also be armored against the eagles, owls, hawks, coyotes, foxes and bears.
So I am grateful to live a “chicken” life via your blog and several intagram accounts. Two that I like particularly are: @lilfarmchic and @hen_and_hive. Both are “homesteading” leaning and I think you might enjoy them.
All the BEST to you!!!!!
Rob W
Chicken Librarian
Hi Rob! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. I can’t wait to get more focused and really start blogging. I don’t think i’ve actually started….just scratching the surface so far.
We have lots of predators here too. Mainly the bald eagles are our biggest concern although we do have loads of other predators. The winter and cold temps are our main concern at the moment though!
I’m sorry you’re wife passed. My condolences.
I’m happy you’re following along. Andrea from @lilfarmchic is fabulous! I discovered her feed a bit ago but I don’t know @hen_and_hive. I’ll definitely check them out. What’s your insta? I’d love to follow along!
PS I checked the links and they seem to be working. Weird that they appear broken?!?
Thanks for stopping by!!
Rob
Finally figured out to delete the old Instagram account and start a new one. Now everything works great.
Speaking of GREAT………I read a number of blogs and you are doing an excellent job. Your photography is also terrific!!!!!
I don’t post on Instagram. My account (at this late stage of my life) is just to read about wonderful people, places and especially animals.
Keep up the GREAT work……….looking forward to more posts.
ALL the BEST!!!!!!
Rob
Chicken Librarian
Awww….you are too kind! Thank you for your encouraging words. And I’m glad we resolved the Instagram issue. I’m, admittedly, not the most tech savvy person so I’m happy to know everything worked out!
I’ll have more posts coming very soon!
Have a great day!
Kristin
Deborah
I hope to have a garden this year and it’s a good time to start planning. My neighbor gave me tomatoes last summer and it made me want to raise my own again. Your mitts are pretty. I like the color of the yarn.
Chicken Librarian
I can’t wait to get my hands dirty this year!! I love the planning process which helps get me thru the winter. That and knitting! Thanks for stopping by!
curlycuecreates
I love that planner! I will have to check that out. The mitts are nice too. Need those this time of year for sure.
Chicken Librarian
I’m combining the planner with a homestead binder so I hope to be super organized and keep really good notes this year. And knitting always helps get thru the cold months when you can’t really get your hands dirty! Thanks for stopping by!
Ravenna
OOOhh. I almost bought myself that planner as a Christmas gift to myself (I’m so bad about that). I was able to refrain. It was a good thing, really, but I see it in my future!
Chicken Librarian
It is so totally worth it!! And I, too, like to buy myself presents….but can get myself into some trouble with those presents 😉 thank you for stopping by!!!