Episode 24: No More King Sized

Thanks for coming back to watch My High Plains Life!  Welcome viewers! 
I am DaniGirlCO on Instagram, Periscope and Ravelry.
Here are the show notes for Episode 24:  

On the Needles: 
Knitting Projects - 
FO's: n/a

WIPs: 

Celtic Myths shawl by Asita Krebs, ran out of yarn, waiting on another skein.  About 65% done.
Linum Tee by Bristol Ivy, using Classic Elite Bella Lino yarn, sz 3 needles.  Loving the fabric.
Blueberry waffle socks out of MadTosh Sock in Cobbler color way, little more length then on to the toe!
Blueberry waffle socks out of Opal in summer colors because I needed another pair to tote around.  Good for the Colors of the Season KAL, too.

Stalking - Bond Street by Kirsten Kapur, saw an example in person and it was gorgeous.  My LYS Ewe and Me has some great samples that make me want to knit it all.

Acquisitions - fabrics

Spinning Projects -

none

Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - 
Nicole's wedding quilt top is all complete, borders and all, and off to the quilters.  Will get it back just in time to bind it before the wedding.

In the Garden: Perennials are blooming and growing.  Somehow I have a random corn stalk growing in my front yard.  Go figure.  Hops are about 10 ft tall now.

In the Beeyard - 
Looks like one of the swarms I caught was good.  I got the queen!  They've been coming and robbing out the frames left from the honey extraction.  REALLY need to add another honey super to them ASAP.

Off Topic:  
Watching: I've been sucked into Legacy Knitz podcast with Chelsea and Sue.  
Want to play in the Colors of the Season KAL? Started June 1, thru Aug 31.  Make something in the colors of the season that inspire you.  Are you playing in any other KALs?  What are they?
Mr. HPL did a 1000 mile in 24 hr motorcycle ride to earn his Iron Butt certification.  Crazy.

Thanks for watching!

Episode 20: The Fate of the Bees

Thanks for coming back to watch My High Plains Life!  I'd like to welcome any new viewers we have. 
I am DaniGirlCO on Instagram and Ravelry.
Here are the show notes for Episode 20:  

On the Needles: 
Knitting Projects - 
FO's: 

Eileen Tee, by Coralee Meslin, out of Tahkli Yarns Sedona in kiwi, Ends woven in.  So it's finished finished finished.

WIPs: 
Blueberry waffle socks out of MadTosh Sock in Cobbler color way, no nylon so doing heels out of diff yarn

Celtic Myths shawl, doing the fingering weight pattern and turning out much better on the edging.

Stalking - nothing, trying to finish up WIPS

Acquisitions - fabric, I've been very bad

Spinning Projects -

none

Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - 
Nicole's wedding quilt, some new blocks, about half done point.
Jo Morton reproduction prints and patterns club called Jo's Little Women, paper pieced pineapple block table runner, and little baskets wall hanging

In the Garden: landscaper hired, now I just need to plan the perennials.  Yes I'm an engineer and have it graphed out with existing plants to determine where I want things to go.
Rhubarb is up and I've already divided three splits off it leaving plenty behind.

In the Beeyard - And the bees are . . . 
Swarm season isn't generally until May, but need to act now to prevent losing any bees.

Off Topic:  
Watching:  Grocery Girls with Jodi and Tracie.  They've only been podcasting a few months and already have almost 8000 followers!  What's up with all the Canadian podcasters?
Went to a new doctor for an independent diagnosis for disability paperwork, and left with an optimistic feeling.  Playing with my meds right now and I can tell.
Went for first motorcycle ride of the season, it was nice to get out and blow the dust off.
First fire of the year, even smoked some cigars.  Nice to hang out and talk with the hubby.

Thanks for watching!

Episode 10: Fall Came Too Fast

Thanks for coming back to watch My High Plains Life!
Here are the show notes for Episode 10:  

On The Road: missed the September ride with the gang to Pagosa Springs

On the Needles: 
Knitting Projects - 
FO's: none
WIPs: 
Atlantic Current Socks, working up the leg, 
Vanilla socks in Zitron Trekking XXL color way 156, need to start the heel
Tivoli Eileen Tee by Coralie Meslin of Tahki Stacy Charles, my swatch lied! Using Tahki yarns Sedona, 90/10 wool/silk, in the Kiwi color way.
Plain garter stitch shawl in some TLC Heathers acrylic
I am ready for the DCS Pigskin Party 2015!

Spinning Projects -
WIP: some unknown white fiber, lots of neps but VERY bouncy

Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - 
no sewing because my room was in use by the niece!

Gone to the Dogs: n/a

In the Garden: 
starting the fall cleanup already.  Hubby trimmed the hedges and family cleaned up the front yard.

In the Beeyard - time to pull the honey supers and rent the extractor for the weekend

Off Topic:  will be volunteering for Habitat for Humanity build this weekend

Thanks for watching!

Episode 9: Hops for Everyone!

Thanks for coming back to watch My High Plains Life!
Here are the show notes for Episode 9:  

In the Mug: n/a

On The Road: planning a September ride with the gang

On the Needles: 
Knitting Projects - starting at 
FO's: none

WIPs: 
Atlantic Current Socks, working up the leg, increased.
Vanilla socks in Zitron Trekking XXL color way 156
Tivoli Eileen Tee by Coralie Meslin of Tahki Stacy Charles, had to do math based on my gauge swatch.  Using Tahki yarns Sedona, 90/10 wool/silk, in the Kiwi color way.

I have caked up all the yarn in prep for cast-ons for the DCS Pigskin Party 2015!

Spinning Projects -
WIP: some unknown white fiber, lots of neps but VERY bouncy

Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - starting at 
Currently sewing my kaleidoscope quilt borders, set on point with sashing is done

Gone to the Dogs: n/a

In the Garden: starting at 
Harvested my Centennial hops! Dried and bagged.

In the Beeyard - starting at 
How I got into beekeeping.

Off Topic:  My yarn acquisitions.  Yarn along the Rockies 2015.  
Thanks to everyone who introduced themselves in the Ravelry group!

Thanks for watching!

Episode 5: The Queens are Laying

Here are the show notes for Episode 5:  The Queens are Laying

In the Mug: Duncan Donuts coffee with LOTS of creamer, just like my Dad!

On The Road:
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb was this weekend.  Cool to watch the Victory stunt team, but unfortunately the Victory Project 156 bike was a DNF due to crash damage.

Victory Project 156 Racing

On the Needles:
Knitting Projects - starting at 7:40
WIPs: The Crossover Top by Patons, using Universal Yarn Inc. Cotton Supreme Splash in Calm Waters'; I've attached the shoulder seams using mattress stitch (my first time!)
Atlantic Current Socks, I'm ready to turn the heel
Started a new pair of toe-up socks in Zitron Trekking XXL color way 156

Spinning Projects -
FO: Spanish Sunrise singles, dyed by me, BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) 

From this hand-dyed braid of fiber . . .

To this beautiful hand-spun single yarn

WIP: still spinning singles from my Loop bump




Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - starting at 13:30
Waves of Glory quilt top is all pieced, just need to top stitch the curves down

Gone to the Dogs: n/a

In the Garden: starting at 15:15
What's blooming - penstemon, penstemon, penstemon.  And catmint.

In the Beeyard - starting at 18:45

Queen Fiona's hive is doing good.  She's not only alive, but I saw her!  There were eggs and larva.
S&J hive is also good.  Didn't see the queen, but I did see larva, which means the queen didn't get hurt during the move.

REALLY need to cut the weeds down again!

Two hive cutouts that didn't work out. In one, the bees had left, in the next I think they hired an exterminator.  I'm doing another cutout today though, hopefully with a new beekeeping friend.
Beeyard visit with the local group.  Walked through hive inspections, powdered sugar roll for mite check, and created a nucleus hive.

Off Topic:
Been a busy, tiring week.  Sleeping a lot.

Thanks for watching!

Episode 2: More of my Hobbies

A big thank you to everyone who watched my first episode and to those who gave feedback.  I'm enjoying myself, and hopefully you'll enjoy it too.

Here are the show notes for Episode 2:

My other hobbies -  yes, I'm a schizophrenic hobbyist.  I do a little bit of a lot of things.

In the Glass: Diet Dr Pepper.  I'm addicted!

On The Road:
Motorcycling!  started on a Kawasaki vulcan 900, now onto my Victory Kingpin Low
Definitely take the MSF Beginner's Safety Course.  
Learn how to pick up a dropped bike 

On the Needles:
Knitting Projects - starting at 9:06
The Sunburst shawl by Helen Stewart
The Crossover Top by Patons, using Universal Yarn Inc. Cotton Supreme Splash in Calm Waters'

Spinning Projects -
FO my pretty blue 3 ply, spun on my Tiger's Eye drop spindle from KSInspirations
currently spinning singles from my Loop bump

Under the Needle:
Sewing Projects - starting at 13:10
Quilted placemats

Gone to the Dogs: starting at 17:12
Dog park etiquette
     - vaccinated
     - preferably fixed
     - pick up your poop!
     - manners - no jumping, biting, growling, etc.
     - let dogs meet off leash so they don't feel trapped

In the Garden: starting at 21:06
Trellising my hops and Jackmanjii clematis (Centennial hops for home brewing!)
Rhubarb out my ears!  Some of my favorite things to do with my "pie plant" is to make buttermilk rhubarb cake, and rhubarb compote

In the Beeyard - starting at 26:00

Queen Elena's hive has swarmed!  This is what the queen swarm cells look like.  I found them on the bottom of the frames, and several showed that they had already been released.  Hoping it recovers.

Taking care of hive equipment is A LOT of work!
Cleaning, painting, going through the frames, cutting weeds down around the hives.

Thanks for watching!

It's Time to Ride

May in Colorado can be a tricky bitch.  (For that matter, so can March, April, June, . . .)  One minute it's blue skies and sunshine, luring you to sit outside with a cool beer, the next minute you have golf ball sized hail trying to brain you.  I love spring days in the Rocky Mountain foothills.  Really.  

I also love riding my motorcycle.  The combination of the two involves close monitoring of at least three different weather forecasting sites, sacrifices to minor deities, and keeping rain gear stowed in my saddle bags at all times.  Usually my hyper-vigilance pays off, and I enjoy the ride out to work and back.  Sometimes I have to decide whether to leave early/stay late to avoid the rain, or suck it up, gear up, and ride.  I like to think I'm not a wimp.  I don't leave the bike at home at the slightest chance of rain (I'd never ride at all).  I try not to do stupid, unsafe things on my motorcycle, but if it's not inherently stupid dangerous I like to think I suck it up and give it a try.  (Even though there was the whole "Hey, it's Danielle and I'm at the emergency room with Brian!  I just layed my bike down, but I'm alright.  They're telling me I can't ride for a few weeks until my ankle heals, but I need time to find a new bike anyway" incident.)  This means that if the likelihood of precipitation is under my threshold of 30%, I'm probably riding my bike to work.  

I could say it's because I'm trying to reduce my consumption of foreign oil and my bike gets 40 mpg, and that's part of it, but really I just love to ride.  I love straddling 680 lbs of steel.  I love the way I'm in control of all that power.  I love the way I can lean into the curves and feel the tires gripping the asphalt.  I love the way it requires me to be ENGAGED in the experience.  It's only a 15 minute ride to work, but I get to live a little more in the present for those 15 minutes.  Hopefully, I'm living dry.

2009 Victory Kingpin Low