There's sun between storms!

We had 7/10 inch of rain yesterday, drizzle last night and more rain within the next hour. This morning we were fortunate to have a bit of sunshine. Just perfect weather it was for me to take these pictures of new plants and a contest entry! First a coleus "El Brighto" that Russ chose. He loves to have a coleus by the pond each summer. (All pictures are clickable to embiggen!)


Just to share one of the many purple violets that grow as weeds here and a flowering ground cover that is from one that my Aunt Elsa brought back from a trip to England decades ago. It reseeds well.


Look at the colors in this cinnamon fern grouping! The ferns are now two and a half feet tall! I love how the sun plays on the fern as it unfurls.


When we were at the nursery last weekend, Russ restated how he hates geraniums from childhood of visits to the cemetery bearing red geraniums with his granny. But he saw "Jewel", a purple and white geranium and wanted to bring it home. So, Jewel is now planted by the pond.


A new herb garden has been begun between the peonies and rose of sharons. Planted so far are asparagus, tarragon, lemon balm, fennel, a nicotiana, armeria and several herbs that reseeded from last year. Part of the garden wasn't weeded last weekend when I planted the new herbs and such....borage will be seeded there, too.


Before the rain ruins the rhododendron, this beauty just has to be shared. It has started to sprinkle now. Rain tonight and thunderstorms the next two days just do not thrill me. I'd be happy to share this rain with the parched areas of the country.

And now on to a peek at some knitting!





These last two photos are of the Contest Entry for 2.75 this summer. I won't show much more of this until after camp because it's a secret until the Big Camp Reveal. But look how well the pansies made it through the winter! These are the very same pansies I bought when casting on the pansy shawl!This year's topic we voted on last year is "Recycled Knits".





Is it July yet?

May Day

The calendar continues to get away from me. May Day has come and gone. I've taken some pictures, but they are a couple days old so progress continues beyond what is here.

Lilacs are almost fully out now with 60-70 degree days. Last night there was a breeze from the north and lilac scent wafted through the back porch. Love that!



The 3-variety apple tree has been totally full of blooms this year. Last year I was concerned for this tree as it didn't have nearly this many blooms. The apples were bigger, granted, but we were concerned that the apple had seen better days. Guess it was a combination of weather conditions and bloom cycling, though, for this year the tree is back in its glory. Each Spring we've had an orchard oriole visit for a few days. He visited this week. The last two days he was here he brought his lady friend. They paid no attention to the young cherry tree in full blossom, only the apple tree. The peach tree is just starting to bloom.


It was raining when RTB, McNeil and I ventured onto the porch for an update. McNeil is a Boyd's Bear sheep I found at a Shipshewana, Indiana, shop about ten years ago.I apologize if this doesn't show up too well. As of last night, though, RTB has its shoulder seam and sleeve seam finished. I fought a bit with it. When the whole back section was knit one row short, it creates a different set of conditions upon which to base seaming. My next step is to weave in the ends. They're getting a bit out of control. Then the plan is to connect the two halves and block. My thought is that it is better to block before knitting the icord around the edges because the icord before blocking could pull the garter stitch and bulge it with the icord curling. The swatch grew with blocking; so, if the jacket does the same, then the icord finishing could create an unexpected edge. I'm really hoping the jacket does grow the expected amount with blocking since that's what I based the calculations and needle size upon.

Lastly, the rhododendron is blooming...both the lilacs and the rhododendrons are two weeks early this year. They've been in bloom for Mother's Day in the past, but it seems unlikely they will still be in bloom for it this year.

Saturday drive

It has been just too lovely a day not to go for a drive.


Temperatures are record-tying mid-80's and the trees are just gorgeous.




This beautiful cranberry-fuschia tree is along Longfellow Street in Vandergrift. One of the very best things Vandergrift has ever done is to plant flowering trees along the streets. The Magnolias bloomed early and are just about petal-free. But now some fruit trees are blooming. Our apple tree is filled as is our young cherry tree. The peach tree shown last year with a sock, hasn't started to bloom yet.

The pastoral scene is along Melwood Road.

First 80 Degree Day

this year!

WOO HOO!!!

A week already?

It's hard to believe it's been a week since the last blog post!

Last week was DH's Spring break. After Tuesday, I decided that since it was Spring Break and we were running all over the place on errands and appointments (and buying a new clothes dryer) with the regular schedule of life being totally skewed, I'd take the rest of Spring Break and work on RTB only...giving a break to the MHK I research I'd been working on some every day.

During last week I was able to finish the first half of Round-the-Bend (RTB). The second half was then immediately begun. Here, just a few minutes ago, I was able to take a picture between rain showers of the second side of RTB.

And look at those cinnamon ferns! We had a beautiful 73 degree day and now this rain with a high in the 50's today. Tree leaves, plants and flowers are bursting out all over! And, look! The RTB colors fit right in with the fern on this rainy day. This grey day, too, will pass as the weather prognosticators are predicting near 80 and sunshine this upcoming weekend.

Finally, on Easter,

I finished the laptop cover!


After two weeks, I would guess it's dry now. Handspun wool does take longer than it seems it would because wool holds moisture content long after it seems to be dry. This is handspun single ply Romney wool. There's a gentle glow inherent to the Romney that yields peace to the spinner and the project created.

The picture shows the laptop enclosed in its cover. (Click to embiggen!)

To finish the cover, I seamed the edges, inserted the (already created old, soft, folded pillowcase) lining I had created, secured the bone button found at Joann's Fabrics in Lower Burrell, and placed two hook and loop tape sections on the side flaps. I'm not real happy with the hook and loop tape. Even though I had lengthened the flap about an inch over the pattern, it really could have been longer. I knit an I-cord loop for the button closure.

RTB continues

Yesterday morning the Round-The-Bend had reached this point.


I spread her out beneath some daffodils on the pond's edge.

At this point, RTB was just turning the last bend. Throughout yesterday, that bend was traveled as was the shoulder 'seamed' and the sleeve grafted.

I just could not stop here before working on another project;so, the second sleeve, and therefore second half, of the RTB has begun. RTB will not suffer SSS, Second Sleeve Syndrome. I am going to work on my MHK I a bit and that persistent Fire Sock, but RTB definitely has my attention now.

Grumpy

is how I feel this morning, awakening to this.

The daffodils aren't too happy, either.

Care packages are just the best!

Wouldja (sic) jes (sic) look at this?

This was what arrived on the front porch by the front door on Friday!

Six skeins of Paton's Rumor yarn, colorway "Spanish Heather"!

It's made in Turkey and finished in Canada. (What does that mean? It's what the label 'says'....) Made of 84% alpaca, 15% alpaca and 1% polyester, this should make up into a really warm vest or maybe vest and hat and scarf, or all kinds of possibilities!

And, yes, the "Piecework" magazine was in the box, too.

That's some kind of Yarn Elf, I tell you!

Thank-you, kind sir.

Just beginning

the TKGA Master Handknitter Level I, I've taken to doing some prep work.
These swatches I'm calling mini-swatches. They aren't the size for Swatch I at all. I've knit them for three reasons, choosing yarn and choosing needle size plus improving on edge stitches. The Basics, Basics, Basics swatches were all knit with Lion Brand FISHERMEN'S WOOL and Boye #8 circular. The problem with the swatches were that they had absolutely no body out of the bath and onto the blocking towel. Plus, there was an occasional slub or knot in the yarn.


This is the third mini-swatch which is Lion Brand FISHERMEN'S WOOL, Boye circular #7.




Here is Swatch #2 with Cascade 220 in Natural, Boye circular #7.




The final swatch is Cascade 220 in Natural, Boye circular #9.












All together, they look like this while blocking.


I also tried 16", #8 straights, all frogged.

The edge stitches may not be looked at closely, but I was uncomfortable with how mine had started to appear. I had to discover why it seemed they were twisted as they were. It appears the weight of the needles either by the end of the straights or the weight of the yarn on the one end of the circular needle was causing the strangeness.

After the blocking and the swatches drying overnight, they were ready to be checked for gauge. Yesterday I measured and ran the calculations. The swatches appear to me to be of good gauge for my purposes (but I have been wrong before). They do not match the ball bands.

Speaking of ball bands, the Lion Brand says it is made in China. Cascade 220 does not have a country other than it is Peruvian Highland Wool, which could be anything.

I'd appreciate comments on the various swatches as to one that looks best.

Yesterday wsas also the day to check the cabinet downstairs where I have some books and magazines stored. There's a blocking report due in Level I along with other reports in the other levels. I got out one book and several magazines, starting notes for the blocking report last night.

Yard update

is here, as promised!

The 'volunteer' honeysuckle that is wrapped into the rose bush because the honeysuckle emerged from a root that remained from a honeysuckle taken out decades ago is leafing well. The rose bush is coming along, too.

I really don't know what this wildflower is. Any ideas? It reminds me of pepper weed that was so prevalent out west; I can't bear to dig it out since it's the first spring flower along with the dandylion. It's mixed into sections of this side lawn.


A white daffodil with pale yellow center has survived the Winter and is gradually lifting skyward to soak in yesterday's 70 degrees.

Isn't it a glorious sky? Not a cloud. And, look at those apple tree leaves and flower buds.




White daffodils with medium yellow centers and hyacinths are doing particularly well this year.

I took all these pictures yesterday, knowing today's rain would be arriving overnight. It's 56 degrees...warmer than many places to our west. This front is bringing cold, freezes in the South and possible snow (only flurries, I hope)here. A wind advisory is posted for the rest of today.

Coming up: Level I mini-swatches and today's arrival of a Yarn Elf care package!!!

It's blocking

NASCAR watching is just excellent for knitting.



The knitting part of the laptop cover was a fait accompli during NASCAR yesterday. It's been washed and is blocking on the back bed.

Light for photo taking is bad this morning with the total overcast and snow/sleet glare off the tin roof. About 11 last night we had a period of rain/snow/sleet which did accumulate on roofs and a skiff in the yard. DH says that halfway up the Blair Farm hill there is solid snow, beneath that is just skiffs....certainly tells one where the snow level is! We used to see that all the time on the San Juan Mountains in Colorado and on the Chiricahua Mountains and Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona. It doesn't happen very often here in our part of southwestern Pennsylvania. Roads were just wet early this morning, dry now. It's 37; so, frozen precipitation is melting.

Later last night I picked up the second sock of the Fire Sox pair that I had finished the first one of during our vacation. Knit about 18 rows on the leg. It is being knit cuff down on size 0 double points.

Other projects are whispering in loud stage whispers that they've been on the needles longer and it's their turns, not Fire Sox' turn. Projects ready to cast on are talking. Yarn in cedar chests and containers are talking. It's a veritable cacophony.

Emerging

from Winter hibernation after .8" rain yesterday,



the cinnamon fern is just beginning to poke fronds into daylight.



These are not daffodils! They are the pink miracle mystery lilies. These leaves will die back, as some of them are starting to do, and in the summer flower stalks will emerge.





Here are just some of the purple coneflowers emerging from their clumps. Being fond of daisies and their cousins as I am, I'm pleased that coneflowers are prolific.

Thank you

Today's Postal Person brought a very welcome packet.



I really didn't expect this until at least tomorrow...but here it is...
the certificate that I passed the Basics, Basics, Basics course through TKGA, taught by Arenda Holladay. Along with my swatches and answers to questions and extra credit cable swatch with self-written pattern to go with it, came this certificate.

This course is really helpful as a preliminary to the Masters Levels. Arenda gives such helpful comments on the work submitted.

This afternoon I ordered Level I.

I love research. I enjoy the technical aspects of knitting. Now to receive the materials from TKGA, which I am receiving both by email and snail to continue the process.

Springing

in the wonderful but cool sunshine, we're making progress.

The laptop cover from Michael delVecchio (via Ravelry and "Canadian Living"

for me rather than Michael's book) is now back to the forefront.

Last Friday Lesson 3 of the TKGA Basics course was posted to Lexington, KY, so Arenda should have received it today. (...and, I should have results by about this coming Saturday. I can hardly wait!) I really enjoyed working on the course. Russ is encouraging me to go ahead with the Master's program.
Enabling DH, he is. I want to wait until I get Lesson 3 back. (But, will I be able to wait? Will I? Will I?)







We have flowers blooming!
First up are a few of the giant white crocus.




Rock Iris!




Just today, the very first daffodils have opened. I love daffodils and will be happy to share the various narcissus I have planted here over the next few weeks.




Yesterday this hummingbird feeder went up on the back porch. It's the one that is on the lamppost in the summer; but, with the current weather, I look out the kitchen door more than toward the lamppost, so want to see the hummers as soon as they arrive! There's a migration map that is updated daily on a great hummingbird site. The hummers are up to the Virginia border, so it probably won't be long until the first scout arrives. The ancient wisdom is that the hummingbirds arrive with the forsythia, wild currents and daffodils blooming.

7:44 AM Spring has Sprung!

Get ready for Sweater Day

which is tomorrow.

In commemoration of Mr. Rogers' birthday, tomorrow is officially Sweater Day. Mr. McFeeley even presented the KDKA noon news crew with sweaters yesterday on air so they would be prepared! (And so we would be prepared, too!)

OKC

has always been a friendly place for me, all the trips through it and a visit over 30 years ago to attend a wedding and the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Wow, has the museum ever grown since that early visit!

This sculpture, "The End of the Trail" is probably the most well known sculpture in the museum. Taken from this angle, it isn't quite as familiar as the next shot --


here is a more familiar angle to most everyone.


And the Puma!

The puma always amazes me. It defines sleek power and grace.

Of all the paintings in the museum being on exhibit right now, I loved the 1993 prizewinner...unfortunately they had no more of the 1993 booklets, nor was I permitted to take a picture of it as it is in one of the areas photos are prohibited.

A beautiful day we had with Linda and Jim. I just had to take a picture of them by the bronze outside the entrance. And do you see who else is peeking through the bronze vignette? It's the Russelluphagus!!



Right by the statue is another vignette...another of my favorites.

After continuing on to GYC (Gourmet Yarn Co.) --Hi, Margaret and David and Katy!-- we had a wonderful dinner at Leticia's Mexican restaurant. From there we brought home chorizo and tamales which are fabulous. The chorizo is even better than Sonny's, which we thought we'd never say!


Ah, we were tired getting back to Linda and Jim's (spending all day from breakfast through dinner seeing some of the best OK has to give, yes, including Shepler's), but the gang was so happy to see us, particularly their Momma! Linda was attempting to perform her therapy exercises, but all 'that vicious pit bull' Brandi and Rhett wanted to do was to help her and to be loved.

Thank you for the wonderful time and for the cold pack/container for the food and the laptop fan and the ferrying and fun and most of all, your friendship. See you at 2.75!

Food and Museums and knitting

Back to Austin where Beth made breaded catfish strips and a gigantic salad one night that led us to bringing home a ziplock of the yummy coating. You can bet that the very next catfish we get will be fileted and cut into strips then coated with this breading before being lightly fried.

After leaving Austin on a day that was to be around 80, we headed north. Not to Alaska, but to Oklahoma City. There we were met by Jim and Squeek, shortly thereafter greeting Rhett and Brandi, who were really hoping their Momma would be following shortly.



Linda had to work late this particular day. As she said, she'd been on this job since July 1 and this was her first late day. But, you can't help what equipment does when it takes a mind to.

Here is Linda knitting on her BPT with help from 'the viscious pit bull' Brandi. Look carefully....Brandi fades right into the upholstery!




Rhett was very comfortable with all his people home and dog-loving company. So comfortable was he that he took a good long nap on his pillow cushion. A flash doesn't bother sweet boy at all...he likes to star in blogs.


And Squeek...who could be a sibling to our Nikki....really doesn't care to be photogenic. But Squeek loves to investigate whatever is going on and who is doing what where and when!

Linda surely was glad she had gotten the white chili chicken ready the night before and only had to get the Orange Tapioca Delight ready when she got home. I did say food, right? {We didn't even have to Wii for our supper (groan!)}

The next day would see us at the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum of Western Heritage, Sheplers (we'd thought about the Cherokee Trading Post in El Reno), Gourmet Yarn Company and Leticia's Mexican food. (There it is again!) Pictures on most of this next post, but just a little yarn pron (sic) before we go...

GYC meant more Cascade 220 that will complement the Cascade 220 from The Knitting Nest and the cutest button that reads "Will knit for coffee."

How appropriate is that for this coffee-loving Swede?