I have been checking on my hens regularly, because the weather has been extremely hot. It has been 105 degrees here in Southern California. Yesterday it was 115 in Newport! I've been giving my chickens frozen watermelon, and putting ice cubes in their water. It seems to help. Unfortunately, the ants LOVE watermelon, too. Oh well. Today I received two eggs! I was thrilled. When I used to keep chickens, they always stopped laying in the hot weather. I thought that it was natural. My neighbor, (who sells eggs,) taught me that if you keep feeding your chickens lots of fresh fruits and vegetables over the summer, and change the water daily, they will keep laying. She is right, and I am so pleased. The fresh eggs are wonderful and nutritious.
Snow White has been sitting on her nest constantly. She makes a purring sound, and seems very content. She still lays regularly, though. Silkies are very good mothers. I think she is trying to hatch that golf ball that I put in the nest as a dummy egg. I love that honking sound that they make after laying. I join in the chorus with them, and they look at me like, "Did you just lay an egg, too?" I've read that it's their signal to the rooster that they are fertile. The whole process fascinates me. It's so healthy and productive. They inspire me to grow more food.
I did a lot of work on my sock today. Unfortunately, I misunderstood the pattern, and the heel is facing the wrong way. That's okay, I'll fix it. Knitting is like life. You have to correct your mistakes. I went down to a size zero needle for the heel, because these socks were looking so big to me. I tried them on, and they fit. I'm used to ribbed socks, which have a more elasticized leg. It's a pretty pattern, though. I'm enjoying it. I forced myself to try this heel pattern, which is a new one for me. If I had listened to my intuition, I would have fixed the mistake right away. I felt disoriented. Oh well. Ravelry is great for asking knitting questions. I received several helpful answers. What a fantastic resource it is. How is your weekend going?
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such a beautiful sock,, I love your attitude, very easy going,, I'm new to your bog and will enjoy following your journey,
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie, Welcome, and thanks for commenting. I'm so glad you like the sock. It will look much better once I get the heel knit on straight...
DeleteFrozen watermelon sounds wonderful in 115*! Wowza! I love that sock pattern. That was the first thing I noticed was that it wasn't ribbed. I hope you show them finished.
ReplyDeleteHi Lady Locust, I am freezing them other melons, too. I will definitely show them finished. Hope all's well with you...
ReplyDeleteFrozen watermelon. Yum! We had a beautiful old dog once who absolutely loved watermelon of all things. I find correcting my knitting mistakes a bit tricky sometimes but I am learning. I know when I do manage to fix something, to nut it out myself, I feel quite chuffed! Meg:)
ReplyDeleteHow funny, Meg. I've had a lot of practice fixing my knitting mistakes. This heel starts on the wrong side. I should have listened to my intuition.
DeleteI like the texture on this of this sock pattern, especially in this yarn. The colorways that you chose seems to show it off to it's best advantage, too.
ReplyDeleteGlad the chickens are faring well in this hideous heat and hope that you and Lula are doing the same.
Thanks Jill. I like these colors together, too. I hope I have enough of the contrasting color? Hope that you are staying cool, too. Am enjoying the cool morning air on the patio right now.
DeleteThank you so much for visiting and liking my Virus shawl. I am loving looking around this wonderful space. How fun to have danced and had such incredible adventures. My BIL was just on Broadway in Escape to Margaritaville, it closed last week for so many reasons, too big of theater, a bad review form the NYT. It is so sad because it was a wonderful production. Good luck with the heat.
ReplyDeleteHi Mereknits, I love your version of the Virus shawl. I have been planning to make one. That's too bad about your BIL's sho closing. I read about it on your blog. Thanks for reading the blog and commenting.
DeleteHi Stephenie,
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your hens, as you know I have Silkies myself, they are adorable little balls of fluff,
My new blog is up and running, if you click on the name on this comment you will find me.
Marlene.
Hi Marlene,
ReplyDeleteYes, Silkies are darling. I love their little eggs. I am now following you on your new blog.
Thankyou, in about a fortnight we hope to get a few more hens, I will post about it.
DeleteI just saw this comment, Simple Living. I look forward to reading about your hens.
DeleteI feel your pain about the heel. One of my first socks had the toe going the wrong direction. It is all a learning experience. What are you doing with the eggs? We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Mendocino many years ago that served soft boiled eggs from their hens for breakfast. It was amazing. It does seem the heat is dissipating right now.
ReplyDeleteHi Anita, I ripped out the heel while knitting with a friend today. I will make a fresh start on it tomorrow. I have been eating the eggs. Some of them I hard boil, cut into quarters, and give back to the hens. They love them, and the protein seems to help them lay. Yes, it's nice and cool now. Such a relief!
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