Awesome Swap

I just received an awesome package from my swap partner in Arizona. We participated in the "Sock Yarn from Your Stash" swap on Ravelry. Essentially you send your partner a skein or two of sock yarn in your stash along with other goodies according to their questionaire. I got sooo very lucky, check it out-Lots and lots of chocolate (yum), chai tea, a ladybug tape measure, Zen Yarn Garden yarn in the colorway Almond Branches (too pretty to part with, don't know how she did), and a lovely bracelet with a ladybug in the center. My partner just outdid herself! Round two is under way, I didn't sign up but I will for round three. Such fun!

My knitting is all over the place, not working on the things I should be doing and starting new projects. Par for the course for me. Buying yarn and more yarn, I need to get myself under control (right). Well let's see what happens!

What I've Been Doing When I Could Have Been Knitting

Well, I've been enjoying nature. The lilacs in my yard are finally starting to bloom. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy the lovely aroma if it doesn't rain all week!

Today I planted the window boxes and various pots around the yard and on the deck. Here's my new favorite pot, can you see why?I just love ladybugs!

And we planted a tree! A few years our neighbor put up a fence. I decided it was a great backdrop for a new tree. Due to circumstances it waited. This weekend we were looking at what was out there in one of the big nurseries near us. I loved this Pagoda Dogwood but at $150.00 it was a bit much. Cool leaves though and a flower about now with fruit later for the birds. Oh well. Then I saw a River Birch that I also liked. More reasonable and I almost liked it better, almost! So we passed and decided to keep looking. Today we went to another nursery. Just to poke around, no intention of buying. There, off in a little corner was a Pagoda Dogwood. Now it wasn't as big as the original one but it was a good size. We looked at it and then my husbamd looked at the price....$30.00!!! Yup. I stood guard and off he went for a cart, lickety split. We made sure to talk to one of the nursery guys though. We wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with our little tree. Nope, it was just, are you ready, last year's tree! Overall healthy but an old model. Our lucky day. We gently put her in the car and off we drove to her new home. She was so thankful, I just know it. Since it will rain tonight we (by that I mean my husband) dug her a nice hole. Isn't she pretty?Grow little tree, grow

I also spent some time with K this week watching him ride and jump. Have to admit it was a little scary for me but he looked great and did a good job. I can't believe this is the same kid who used to be so afraid of horses. Now he wants to make them his career. Tomorrow he turns 20, no more teenagers in my house. I can't believe my boys are all men, and if I do say so myself, decent, wonderful ones at that. Happy birthday K!

Keith and his buddy Quill sharing a laugh

Back to some knitting now that most of the plants are in the ground. A new baby sweater is on the needles and then all those languishing projects that I keep plugging along on. Hopefully knitting pictures in the next post.

Day in NH

We didn't need the boat after all. Today turned out to be a beautiful spring day just right for a drive to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. What a great day. Cute animals, unbelievable yarn, and yummy food. Honestly it can't get much better than that.

Aren't these guys too cute? They were friendly and so curious. Some of them had had their coats shorn and they looked like they were wearing cordorouy suits. I could have taken them all home but they just wouldn't have fit in the car. It would have been fun though cruising down 93 with their little heads sticking up through the sun roof!!

This poor guy looked like he just got out of bed! Don't know why he was having such a bad hair day but I think he got the most attention because of it. He (or she) reminded me of K on an early morning!

There was yarn everywhere. It always makes me a little crazy because I get overwhelmed fast. Should I buy this now or do I wait and maybe see something else I like better? Will I be able to find it again if I don't buy it now but want it later? Oh, the pressure. I was so busy looking I forgot to take too many pictures but it looked like this everywhere.

I managed to find some really pretty yarn from some places I hadn't seen before. Sock yarn, some lucious alpaca, and a sweater worth of organic cotton that feels like butter.

The three large cakes are the cotton from Decadent Fibers, the dark brown in front is alpaca from Sweet Maple Alpacas (Lydia donated her coat for the yarn) and the multi cakes are sock yarn from ellens half pint farm.

All in all it was a great day. Good company, beautiful animals and fiber, celebrity sightings (Grumperina and Guido), and food, lamb(sorry guys) and the best apple crisp!

Just one picture of a finished object, the garter shawl for M. The picture doesn't show how pretty the yarn is but you can see a little of the sparkle. The sparkle comes from a strand of KidSilk Night and it's held with one skein of another yarn but I can't find the ball band. Trust me, it's pretty. I've been looking for a horse or greyhound shawl pin but so far no luck. If anyone knows of a source let me know.

What Can I Say

The Harlot I'm not. I keep meaning to post but the words just don't find their way here. I'm going to aim for a post per week and see how that goes. A goal is always a good thing.

Knitting progress has been slow. I did finish the Garter Shawl for M. I started her Summer Shawlette but I'm taking that extremely slow. I want it to be perfect. It's been tinked a few times but so far so good. A lifeline is a shawl's best friend! Socks almost done. No pictures, soon though!

Went to WEBS last week. It was, as always, a wonderful experience. I bought some Shibui, some Northampton, Lorna's Laces, and Cascade. But ohhh, the temptation to buy so much more. Honestly it's a good thing I don't live close enough to be there all the time.

Tomorrow is the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. I can't wait. So much fun and friends to share it with. I'm really looking forward to the day. I hope the weather behaves, calls for rain in the morning. I'm going to get the boat ready.....just in case. Stand by for pictures and a report soon.

What Makes You Happy?

Finally getting some time to get out a post! Sorry, it's been a while. But many happy things and FO's follow so cruise on down the list of things that make me happy!

Spring!
I think it's finally here or at least very close. The grass is getting greener, leaves are starting to bud out and the weather has a hint of warmth to it. Yippee!



Minnie
Love tea and anything to do with it. So when out visiting in Minnesota what do I spy but a beautiful orange (be still my heart) beehive tea pot. Lovingly hand carried all the way back to Boston. Aptly named because she was found in Minnesota.



Finished Objects (FO's)
Finally some finished projects. The unfinished ones and ones waiting to be cast on baffle my brain but at least there are a few finally done.


The Meghan Shawl Collared Cardigan, A WEB's pattern


Clapotis in Noro Silk Garden Lite


Nutkin Socks in Koigu

Still working on the Bubbly Curtain, a plain shawl for M, the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty and some socks which I think will be frogged. Waiting to be cast on are M's wedding shawl (she LOVED the yarn) and a sweater for S (who moves to Chicago next month, condo finally sold).

Achieving Dreams
This past weekend we went out to Minnesota to visit with B and M as well as attend B's White Coat ceremony. This signifies the "end" of actual school and the beginning of clinical rotations. The students are "coated" with their short white official lab coats for use in their intern and externships over the next year. It is a big step and I am so proud of B. He has from the time he was born wanted to become a veterinarian. He is so happy and I am thrilled to see him able to achieve his dream. It's hard to believe in a year he will graduate and begin practicing as well as get married.



We had a great visit despite the nasty aborted landing into Minnesota, the snow and missing the Harlot (I checked the airport for her) and Franklin. It was great to meet some of B and M's friends, see where they hang out, spend some time with them and we got to meet Dory their horse and watch M ride her. M's dad also came out and we had a good time traipsing around. I even got to visit a yarn store out there, the Yarnery, which was a lovely shop. A great trip.

So just a few of the things that make me happy, what about you?

This and That

Somehow we have moved on to the month of April. I'm not sure how we got here but it is April. Even the weather hasn't caught up to the calendar yet. Hopefully we'll all be on the same page soon.

Work has kept me busy and I have been knitting. The Clapotis is done. I LOVE this pattern, I don't know why I am so late to the game. I'm not in love with the yarn however so I'm not sure how much this guy will get out. Someday I will learn that Noro and I just don't see eye to eye. This shawl is cozy though and I have been wearing it around the house. I never thought of myself as a shawl person but I'm finding myself drawn more and more to them. I'm planning on making another Clapotis but this time in something a little less scratchy and a little more tonal in color. I'll be hitting WEBS again in May when I am out there for a conference and I think, no I'm sure, I will find something there :) I also bought the yarn and pattern for this shawl and I just bought this pattern.

I also finished a cardigan that I had started last year. All it needed was some weaving in of ends, I don't know what took so long, but it's done now. This is the Megan (Meghan) Shawl Collar Cardigan from Valley Yarn (WEBS). I made it in their Sugarloaf yarn in a burnt orange color (suprised?) instead of the Florence that was called for. I don't like the fuzzy yarns so I made the switch. I'm quite happy with it. I love the button, it just makes the sweater.

So I'm moving along on the project list. I finished one of the Nutkin socks with just enough yarn. I am about 1/3 of the way done with the second sock. The Bubbly curtain is progressing, s l o w l y, that's all I'll say! New projects are Meghan's wedding shawl, a sweater for the oldest boy (who is moving to Chicago soon and it looks like he'll need a sweater or two), and a "jacket" that I impulsively bought the yarn ($$$$) for today. It's Blue Heron yarn, beautiful cotton rayon yarn in gorgeous colors. I hope it turns out nicely otherwise it was an expensive mistake. Here's a picture of the jacket.

In other news we head out to Minnesota next week to visit with vet2b and fiancee. B will be getting his "white coat" which means he goes from being in the classroom to doing his clinical rotations. He's just a little over a year from graduating and becoming the veterinarian he always dreamed he'd be. He'll be doing many rotations this year, all hands on now. One rotation will be spent with us, others out in MN and then one out at the U Penn equine facility where Barboro (?) was taken after the accident. It looks like he's interested in a mixed practice, small animal/equine. I can't believe graduation is a year away. It will be fun to spend some time with B and M.

Off to walk the dog and get back to the knitting!

PS I tried and tried to get pictures on but no luck. I'll post hopefully with pictures of the FO's next time, promise.

Before I Was Interrupted

Finally, back among the almost recovered. The horrible sore throat is gone, the nasal congestion and cough are almost gone, and the exhaustion has departed. Time to knit.




Despite the nasties I did manage to go to WEB's (any idea of what would stop a knitter from a planned trip there?). I bought some Felted Tweed in a blue for a sweater for myself, some Buckingham (alpaca and silk, yummy) in a teal color for a Silk Smoke neckwarmer and some patterns. There was so much more to buy, glad I'm heading back that way in May for a conference.


Not much progress on any of my started objects. In one of the last posts I mentioned that the Bubbly Curtain was ready to come out and about with me as I was beyond the "have to read every line as I do it" stage. Wrong! I took it to Monday night group and knit away. Came home from Monday night group and ripped it all back. OK, back to a house project.


The one thing I have been working on fairly regularly is the Clapotis. I've been sucked in. I LOVE this pattern. I do have to admit that I don't love the yarn, Noro Silk Garden Lite. Someday I will learn. It is pretty and I am going to make another one but in more tonal colors, something more "me". Trying to decide what exactly that is :)






I'm hoping for another yarn field trip soon. Off to the north this time with specifics in mind. I'm hoping for this week but we'll see.

Spring is here, so they say, but you'd never know it from the cold and wind today. But looking in the yard I see little sprouts valiantly poking up their heads. I've seen some robins so it must be so. Somebody tell the weather to move along (well with all the wind maybe the weather is trying. But it threw a big branch down which cracked one of our car's windshield. That's not playing nice).

In non knitting items, if you love food go check out this blog. Everytime I read it and the list of recipes I drool. Tonight I made the Upside Down Shepherd's Pie and it was fabulous. I could have licked the pan. I'm trying to decide what to make next!