SQUEE ALERT!

They are so cute, you will get sick of the pics but oh well, my blog. 

Rub My Belly

Mom is trying to give D22 some sushi but he is laying on his back waiting for a belly rub.  Meanwhile D21 is right up when it is feeding time.  They are squeeeee cute!

D22

Dad got up to let mom on the nest and D22 is out with the eggshell on his butt.   Tried to get a picture but mom hopped on the nest bowl too soon. Welcome little one. 

Mother's Day Socks

the yarn is Lion Brand Sock Ease and the pattern in Swirl E. Socks

SQUEEEEE

D22 is on the way, notice the pip on the top of the egg.  How cute is D21? 

Mom feeding D21

They are so cute when they are bobbleheads with the raccoon eyes.  Won't be long til the clown feet come and they have trouble standing on them. 

D21 is Here

D21 arrived at 6:52pm nest time.  Good luck 21 we will be watching your growth.  Now in a couple of days 22 will be here and in week 23 and mom and dad will be busy busy busy. 

Happy Birthday Groucho Marx

My middle daughter is 11 today.  How time flies.  Yes her name is Groucho Marx, what else would you call her?

Tell Iowa it is Spring

It started snowing/sleeting at the nest yesterday around noon, this morning poor dad can barely get in to cover the eggs. D21 could start hatch on Wednesday.  I hope all will be ok.

Yarn Weights

Yarn weights translated

As we stock yarns from around the world, they’re not all manufactured to the same standard weights. Elizabeth Bagwell explains the different terms.
Yarn weights are confusing enough when you stick to one system. With the plethora of beautiful yarns crossing the oceans every day, more knitters are getting in a tangle, particularly when substituting yarns. Using the American Standard Yarn Weight System as a backdrop, my goal is to outline the types of yarn, from thinnest to thickest. If any are missing, please mention where they would fit in the comments.
What does ‘yarn weight’ mean?
The term ‘yarn weight’ refers to the thickness of the thread, not the weight of the ball or even of the thread itself. As different fibres have different densities, a metre of a fluffy aran wool may weigh less than a metre of 4ply cotton, even though the aran is the ‘heavier’ yarn.
What’s a ply?
Spinners pull fibres from a disordered mass into a single, long thread. This thread is usually plied with one or more others to make up a yarn of the desired weight. This way, the spinner or spinning machine can make one type of thread but multiple weights of yarn.
Historically, this was a good way to describe weight, as plies were fairly uniform. Today, a single ply yarn can be a very fine laceweight or a bulk sweater yarn like Icelandic Lopi, and a DK can have 10 or 20 plies in it. Plies have remained as yarn weight names, particularly in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, even though the meaning is no longer as clear.
0: Lace
Approximately 32-40 stitches per 4in/10cm on 1.5-2.25mm needles.
Starting with the thinnest yarns, this category covers:
Thread which is approximately the same thickness as sewing thread or 10 count crochet cotton.
Cobweb yarn also known as 1ply in the UK and Australia/New Zealand.
Laceweight which is most commonly 2ply (UK/AU/NZ) thickness. However, the term ‘laceweight’ can be used for any light yarn used for lace.
Light fingering (US) which is approximately 3ply (UK/AU/NZ). Some UK manufacturers call 3ply yarns ‘baby weight’.
Lace yarns are often knit on larger needles to create a more airy effect so its important to find the right weight of yarn as well as getting gauge.
1: Super Fine
Approximately 27-32 stitches per 4in/10cm on 2.25-3.25mm needles.
Fingering (US) is approximately equivalent to 4ply (UK/AU/NZ) and sock weight.
Sock weight is a very useful term but not a fixed standard. As an example, German sock yarn manufacturers may issue their colourways in ‘4-fach’ and ‘6-fach’ weights. 4-fach is approximately 4ply, while 6-fach is thicker, more like sport or DK.
In the UK, 3ply and 4ply are commonly sold as ‘baby’ yarns. Like sock yarns, baby yarns can vary enormously in thickness and you’ll commonly find them in categories 0 through 3.
2: Fine
Approximately 24-27 stitches per 4in/10cm on 3.25-3.75mm needles.
Sport or sportweight (US) is approximately equivalent to 5ply (AU/NZ). There is no direct UK equivalent.
3: Light
Approximately 21-24 stitches per 4in/10cm on 3.75-4.5mm needles.
DK or double knitting (UK) is the same thickness as 8ply (AU/NZ). There is no direct equivalent in the USA, although imports may be described as a ‘light worsted’.
4: Medium
Approximately 16-20 stitches per 4in/10cm on 4.5-5.5mm needles.
Worsted (US) is slightly thinner than aran (UK). Both are approximately equal to 10ply (AU/NZ).
The term ‘worsted’ comes from a particular spinning method so it is possible to find worsted-spun DK yarn although this is relatively rare unless you’re buying hand spun yarn.
5: Bulky
Approximately 12-16 stitches per 4in/10cm on 5.5-8mm needles.
Bulky (US) is known as chunky (UK) and 12ply (AU/NZ). Icelandic Lopi is a bulky yarn.
Bulky and chunky yarns can vary a lot in thickness. Frequently, yarn companies will lump all yarns thicker than aran or worsted into this one category. As a result, finding successful substitutions can be difficult.
6: Super Bulky
Anything thicker than bulky.
Super bulky (USA) yarns are usually put in together with super chunky in the UK.
Novelty yarns, art yarns and other off-the-charts fibres
Yarn weights were developed when yarn meant wool and (perhaps) cotton. As more and more creative yarns appear, from fluffy acrylic ‘eyelash’ yarns to ones made from recycled fabric, the categories become less helpful. As novelty yarns are often knit at odd tensions, finding substitutes can be like doing a frustrating (but hopefully rewarding) puzzle.



This article was copied off the Love of Knitting blog.

D20 Update

SOAR has an update on "Decorah" [D20/male]
Per SOAR: "3/8/15 Update - Tail feathers... January through March is not the time of year that birds should be molting feathers. In February, Decorah had five new tail feathers growing. The feathers grew about half-way in and then the blood supply to the feather dried up and the feather dropped out of the follicle. A blood supply to the feather is necessary for feather growth. This has happened more than once. A consult with Dr. Dirk...s tells us to be patient. Dr. Dirks is hopeful that once the photo-period is correct and that stimulates hormone production that signals molting, that Decorah's tail feathers will grow in as we all hope. Doctor also said there could be follicle damage. At some point, Decorah will go visit Dr. Dirks for another consult regarding those tail feather follicles. Getting jesses on Decorah is back on the "to do list" for us. Once he has jesses, then training activities can begin."

If you would like to see all of "Decorah's" history/summary at SOAR, you can always check in on the latest news for him at:
http://www.soarraptors.org/index.html#MarchUpdate
And scroll down to his area smile emoticon

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In Honor of D19

Last year the eagles were given many names, we all got lost in the various names for various reasons.  I saw this on facebook and so in honor of D19 and all the others soaring high and free now:

Evelyn Wings Pignataro

Our Eagles, the Decorah Eagles

https://vimeo.com/120253831

Happy Birthday Mom

Knit and Crochet Emergency Kit

I found this on facebook

D20 Update

~ Sitting on the shelf ~
Latest photo of Ambassador-in-Training Decorah... for an update on the tail feathers saga, click over to the website: http://www.soarraptors.org/index.html#MarchUpdate
Long story short is that we are still waiting to see if Decorah can grow tail feathers. Now is not the normal time for feathers to molt and re-grow. We're hopeful that when the correct photo period comes that signals to birds to begin their feather molt, that Decorah will then be able to grow his tail feathers.

 

RIP D19

We are sorry to announce that Four, the single remaining bird from the 2014 Decorah alumni to remain in the wild, was electrocuted on Tuesday, March 2nd. This is the fourth eaglet from Decorah that we know of to die from electrocution. Bob and a good friend picked her carcass up on Thursday after the Eagle Valley team notified us that they received a mortality ping. Bob and Brett examined her on Saturday and verified the cause of death.
Bob found her lying underneath a utilit...y pole. He took photographs and sent them to a consultant, who told us the pole was unsafe and made suggestions to improve the safety of this pole and other poles in the area. We brought them forward to Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light and are waiting for a response from them.

Why do the eaglets keep perching on power poles? Bob theorizes there is a behavior difference between urban and rural eagles. Rural eagles are programmed to perch in trees because that is what they have available. But urban eagles, including our beloved Decorah family, are exposed to power poles and other man-made structures from the beginning. There are vast amounts of power poles serving our needs. With eagles beginning to nest in close proximity to man - something new for both species - he believes electrocution will be an increasing concern for urban-fledged eagles and utility companies.
What can you do?
- Find out whether your utility has an avian protection plan. If they don't, they should consider adopting one. An APP helps keep animals, equipment, and people safe. http://www.aplic.org/APPs.php
- Report electrocuted birds and other animals to your power company. Electrocutions are deadly to animals, harmful to equipment, and potentially dangerous to human beings.
- Report collisions to your power company. While our eagles have been electrocuted perching on poles, collisions are also deadly. Swan diverters and other deterrents can be installed.
- If you are a member of an electric cooperative, make your concerns known to the board. I know of at least one electric cooperative in the process of retrofitting all of their poles. Electrocutions destroy equipment, require unscheduled repair time, and are expensive.
We will continue our work with the electric distribution industry to address this issue and are researching deterrents for the poles near the nest and elsewhere.

 

Mrs. Wilson's Knitting Circle

It was a beautiful day yesterday.  The sky was clear and blue and it is early March.  I learned about a new knitting group starting at the WW1 museum.  One of my friends and I went and had a very enjoyable time.  This lecture was on the music of WW1.  Did you know there were about a dozen songs related to knitting.  Neither did I.  We were given a pattern of wristlets, a pattern made at the time for the soldiers.  It appears this is going to be a monthly event and I plan on going when I can.  There were almost 100 knitters in attendance.  They wanted to see if this would take off and I say it did.  I have never been to the museum but I need to take the time to spend a day here and see what it offers. 

Is that a Bloom?

It is March so that means my aloe vera must be blooming again.  Crazy thing they aren't supposed to bloom in the house and it does not really get any sun either but it does grow like crazy.  This was given to me by a friend and it was one stalk about 4" high, I think it likes my house.

Nothing To Eat Here

The ladies were up again last night, 9 does. Aren't they pretty and oh so tasty as well.  I feel bad for them cos they are hungry but I don't have anything to feed them.  They finally meandered up the street in search of who knows what.