Dig, Knit, Sew.

People in Washington are bitter. Bitter about the lack of spring-like weather. Bitter about the cold, gray days. Bitter about having to burn next fall's firewood to stay warm in May. I hear it all day long on my checkstand at work. I've decided to think of this as the "Dead of Spring". It makes it seem less miserable. I mean if this is Spring, then the weather pretty much stinks. But if it's the Dead of Spring, perhaps 49-degrees isn't so cold after all, right?

The cold has kept me staying busy, if nothing else, just to stay warm. If you sit still for too long you'll atrophy from the chill. I've put in pots of flowers in riotous colors. I used to be a mellow gardener, but lately I like orange flowers mixed with purples and fuschias. It's fiery and alive. I bought a six-pack of stocks in assorted colors only to have them bloom creamy light yellow. Hmm. I guess cream is a color, but how assorted is it when all six turn out that mundane? These beauties are African Daisies. They're so stylized and interesting I had to include them in my garden.

I'm also sewing. I'd given away most of my fabrics to a local church that does quilts for those in need, but I saved a few bundles that still piqued my interest. I was looking through all my pattern books trying to decide what to make from them, and finally had an epiphany that all quilt fabric does not need to be made into quilts! So, I made them into napkins and placemats instead. Very easy and I still get to enjoy the fabrics every bit as much, if not more. These wild fabrics are reversable napkins. The fabrics are crazy, but I liked them! They are perfectly wonderful in my cheery cherry kitchen.

I finished knitting a little blue sweater for my nephew Elliott. It was supposed to be done back at Christmas but my life had been a bit undone for a while and the little sweater suffered for it. He's darling in it... I hope to get a picture of him, but since his mother offered not so much as a Thank You for it, I'm not holding my breath on the photo coming anytime soon. People are funny. The last sweater I made him was found in the garbage... so this little blue sweater's fate is perilous, and yet it was intended for him and it can only go to him. Knitting is like that. I think of the person I'm knitting for while I'm working on the garment. In that way, all good thoughts, prayers, and memories are knit right into it. That's what makes it precious.

Currently I'm working on two new projects. The photos on the pattern don't do it justice, but these Broadripple socks in butter yellow for a certain sweet mom in my life who loves butter yellow are turning out very darling indeed. I will post my own photo when they look more like socks and less like spaghetti on four needles. The other project is one I started two springs ago with some yarn from that snobby-chic Tricoter in Seattle. The owner actually fashioned me a pattern from a photo of a sweater in a catalogue. I'm knitting on Blue Moon yarns, one with a slub, one with shimmer, alternating four rows to two to create a lovely drapey fabric. When I ran across it last month it was only a back and one sleeve. I've since finished the other sleeve and one front piece. I'm looking forward to getting it finished, especially since it's the perfect summer weight... if summer actually comes, that is.

So that's about it from this side of the lagoon. I'm looking forward to having Jordan, Dianna, Micaiah, and Emily home for a week in July! We haven't all been together since Christmas of 2006. Haven't seen that little grandbaby since he was a wee one, and now he's crawling and has a mouthful of teeth!

Hope this finds you all well too.