Still and forever spinning Cotswold

Up to 940 yards. Will it never end?
I plan to dye the yarn before I knit it, and I'm scared to death that I'll run out of yarn before I finish the sweater. So that means I should err on the side of Way Too Much, rather than Almost Enough. Now if I can only determine where that line is. In order to figure my necessary yardage, I could try knitting a gauge swatch from the undyed wool, but the dying process could change the gauge. Sort of a Catch 22 - can't figure the gauge till I dye, but can't dye until I have enough, and can't figure how much is enough without a gauge swatch.
Just shoot me now.

*sniff* They grow up so fast...

I mentioned our new Rhode Island Red chicks a while back, but haven't posted any photos of them. Here they are at the age of 2 to 3 weeks. We kept them in big plastic tubs in the living room, with lamps to keep them warm.
You'll notice here, a week later, that they're starting to get that Klingon Chick look - their combs are starting to grow.


They kept us entertained with their constant busy-ness, always running and scratching and trying to fly - just polishing up the new skillz. They fell asleep with their faces in the feeder, and jumped up onto the waterer, then overbalanced and fell off again. And they made the most amazing sounds - little peeps and chirps and warbles.
But now they're 5 weeks old, all feathered out, and ready for the big coop.


Looks like he's saying "What?!?"

Velociraptors? Or is it just me?
I miss their little noises, though I must admit I don't miss the smell...

And last, here's Madman with one of the chicks just before the big move outside. One of them (at least, we think it's the same one. It's a little hard to tell...) thinks he's a parrot. Every time Madman extends his hand to this chicken, it jumps up, then starts sidling up to his shoulder.


I'll have to get the man an eyepatch and a pegleg - he's already got a sword and a "parrot".

Arrrrrrrr.

Still spinning Cotswold

I'm being very very strong. Very. The alpaca fleece is still sitting in bags. I'm not washing it, because that would tempt me to card it. And all that lovely carded alpaca would tempt me to spin it. And then I wouldn't be finishing the Cotswold. Argh.
Must be strong.
Deep breath.
*sigh*
600 yards of 3-ply Cotswold and counting....