Alpine Twins

twins
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Here are the twins born Feb. 23, 2008 weighing in about 8 to 8.5 lbs. The one on the left with the white eyebrow is Venus and the full frontal shot is Casseopia (Cassie). Shannon (the mom) had them about 3 PM without help. I was on my way out to the barn to check on everything when about halfway there I heard baby cries, newborns. I knew it wasn't Lacy. When I got there mom was cleaning off the first one (Venus) and Cassie was still covered with amniotic fluid. I grabbed a towel and cleaned her off some and gave her to mom to finish getting her clean and dried off. It right around freezing outside but the barn was about 40 degrees F.

Lacy 3qtr shot

Lacy 3qtr shot
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Here's the newest addition to the Bella Vita Farm. She's a little Alpine doe that I named Lacy. I just started a new group on Ravelry "A Gathering of Lace" the same that Lacy was born, Feb. 21, 2008. Mom and baby are doing great!

First Fair Isle Sweater

Well, this year I'm really sttttrechinnng my horizons with knitting. I've decided to do my first Fair Isle sweater this year. I've gotten a pretty good start on it, now if those socks would stop jumping on my needles in the meantime...
I'm working the Luna Jumper pattern from The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. I'm using a fingering weight merino that I dyed to match the colors that were used in the pattern. There was a bit of a learning curve dyeing this wool compared to the superwash merino I'd done before. The superwash really grabs the color a lot more than the regular wool does.

I'm also working on a pair of Monkey socks by Cookie A. for the January KAL going on at Sock Knitters Anonymous on Ravelry. I have to have them finished before the end of February to qualify for the drawing. I'm starting on the toe of the first sock, so I have some real knitting to do!

Do you plan projects way in advance, or is it just me? I'm hankering to do some lace this year too. I've already picked out a beautiful pattern I like and I'm working on figuring out the errata and how to get started with a shawl pattern.

I've also planned an Aran sweater sometime in the near future for my husband. Then there's my lovely Shetland lamb's wool yarn that I just back from Spinderella's that is queued for an Oregon Fair Isle cardigan pattern by Alice Starmore. Geesh....so much knitting and to little time! Until next time, keep the needles clicking!