L is for Lace, Someday

More Spring pictures. The colors are totally welcome after the dreary winter. I am tired of looking at dormant grass and bare branches. And the wind... it's been 40+ mph since Saturday. Maybe we will get a break today.

This cheerful thing is my flowering plum that sits outside my dining room window. I stepped out into the wind to snap a picture and had a hard time getting a clear shot. In the summer, squirrels will come and eat all the fruit off the tree. I don't think the fruit is edible for humans, so they can have it. 

Close.

Closer.

Closest. Ok, so maybe I am just playing with the camera!

I might not have buried my tulip bulbs deep enough, or maybe this is just an early blooming variety. Either way, I enjoy them! It amazes me that fragile flowers can stand up to the brutal wind. Mr Robin from the last post carries on in the wind as though it is a calm day. 

Knitting, yes! I finished the cardigan and even steamed it. DD gave her seal of approval and I asked if she would like to model it for me. She grumbled something unitelligible back. I'll corner her later.

And I started a new project... it's the 'L' word, as in Lace. It's not fine weight, but it's very intricate with YOs on right and wrong side rows. It takes total concentration, so it will not be a portable project. I am just far enough along that I can see the pattern taking shape and I keep finger blocking it against my leg to admire the pattern. I am working this from a chart - I think that will be easier for me than getting lost in words. The stitch and row repeat are both quite long. The yarn I am using is yummy, as in Yummy, in Lagoon colorway. It has all the greens of early spring and new leaves that I see out my window.  I think the pattern I chose will be a good match for the yarn. Did I mention that I have ripped back twice? So far, I am not deterred!

I am going to test myself and start a second project that will be portable, likely something in thread crochet. I need something to pass time between track meet events and for soccer road trips. The arrival of spring means I will be the spectator Mom again. The first track meet is this afternoon and DS is one of a handful of sophomores who made the varsity squad. He modeled his uniform for us last night -- too funny, and the HS girls varsity soccer kickoff is Thursday (she modeled her uniform last week), followed by DS's club soccer tournament this weekend, followed by DD's HS preseason tournament next week.... and so it goes.

Happy spring and happy knitting... now I need to get to work!

Rockin' Robin

There sure has been a spring theme to the blogs I follow, and I suppose this one is no different. I snapped a picture of this chubby robin through my window. I can't imagine that there are any worms left in the grass -- she's been plucking away out there for days. She's standing in a bed of sad-looking tulips that also seems to be a favorite place for one of our dogs to nap (thus the crushed tulips!).

This week is spring break for my kiddos, so they took a trip to the town we used to live in to visit old friends. They are heading back today, tired out, I'm sure. They have soccer and track practice for school, despite the break, and I am hoping that they will fulfill some service hour commitments, too. 

As for me, I have done some spring cleaning -- necessary stuff for this time of year. I took time out to make a really yummy cake to share with our neighbors (read: share the calories). Mostly, I have been working away on patterns galore, and there's plenty more waiting in the wings. When my brain gets tired from that, I've worked/ripped/reworked a little on my cardigan.

Here, the cardigan is resting. One sleeve to go... what will be next?!

Last week I worked the Kansas section of the Traveling Shawl, then sent it on to Oklahoma. I should have taken a picture... it will be lovely when it's done. You should check it out!

Hope you are having a good week!

That Back Porch Again!

Once again, it's pictures taken from the back porch. I'm not too crazy about heights, but I enjoy watching hot-air balloons float across the sky. I zoomed way in so I could see the colors. 

My guess is that they were headed for the civil aviation airport that's a couple of miles from here. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon to be outside.

Where did the weekend go? I managed to knit, though not nearly as much as I would have liked to. We survived the first tornado warning of the season and actually got some much needed rain without too terribly violent wind. Indoor soccer season is officially over and I am ready for outdoor season for the HS girls to begin. I will be juggling duties as soccer mom and track mom. I know about soccer knitting, but track is something new for me... I can knit while waiting on events, right? I hope that's the way it works. 

I am at a decision point on my top-down raglan cardi... the bottom edge. I don't want to do plain old ribbing. I'm thinking scallops, but time will tell. I need to make my decision before I take the kids to the dentist in a couple of days. LOL, I know I'll be sitting there a while - prime knitting time! 

Otherwise, it's going to be a busy week of tech editing. 

It's March Already!

How did it get to be March already and on the brink of another weekend? I've seen a whirlwind of projects cross my desk, and all I can say is that there is so much talent and creativity in the yarn world... all you have to do is search and you will be able to find a pattern for whatever you would like to make. There have been clothes for men, women, and children, afghans, wraps, baby items, toys and accessories. It's amazing.

 

The down side is that I have spent less time on my own projects, and I am even at the point of endless Stockinette on my cardigan, but the project is still on the needles with the body to finish and the sleeves yet to be started. And to make matters worse, I have a crazy notion that I would like to begin a crochet project in thread. It must be spring! Blame it on the blooming bulbs!

The view from my desk window has had a dramatic overnight change. The prairie grasses grow tall all summer long and sway in our constant breeze/wind. A quick glance at the grass lets me know how windy it is outside. 

Then the tractors roll through and it's all gone in a single pass. DH even trimmed our garden grasses down to the ground. Maybe it won't be too long until it's all green again. In the meantime, I think I need a wind sock.

I'm thinking spring, are you?