Waiting

Mar. 31, 2010.  Mr. Bunny waits for Easter:

Also, for those who asked about the pattern name for the lace sweater I am knitting, it is the Gardenia cardigan, which I ordered from Patternworks.  I am using Rowan Kidsilk Haze and the recommended needle sizes in the pattern.  So far it looks like I'll be using around 5 or so balls of the yarn for a size medium.  Your mileage may vary.

Think I'll finish?

Here's a progress picture on my sweater (also the picture of the day):

I cast on the sleeves last night--I'm knitting them both at the same time.  The first 7 rows of the 14 row lace edging pattern is halfway done.  Then it's just stockinette from there on.  The buttonbands and neckband are only two rows of garter stitch.  I'm trying to get it done for Easter.  We'll see what happens.

Palm Sunday

Today's picture is of the palms in church:

Photo op

Mar. 23, 2010.  Couldn't resist this photo op at our local Starbucks:

More pictures.....

Got a some yard work done this weekend.  No more snow is left in our yard.  The pussy willow bush in the backyard is now cut down to size.  I also had time to trim down the stuff from last year in the front.  Here's a picture for Mar. 18-19 of the daffodils that are starting to bloom:

I am really in pain today because I was out there for 3 hours yesterday cleaning up.  And I'm not done yet.  We have a lot of gardens.

The picture for Mar 20 is:

My niece, Beth when she was a baby.  Happy 25th birthday, Beth!

The picture for yesterday and today is:

Progress on my sweater.  Think I'll get it done by Easter?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I'll start with the picture for today and work my way back:

Help, there's a leprechaun in my dining room!!

The picture for Monday is:

The crocuses are going to bloom soon in our yard.

And, Tuesday's picture is:

St. Francis is back in the yard to watch over the garden I planted in Jeffy's honor.  So far I only have tulips and daffodils, etc. there.  We will get some perennials when the weather gets warmer.  He liked butterflies, so we will be planting stuff that attracts them.

I'm knitting as fast as I can

I picked up the Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn I ordered at Iris Fine Yarns on Saturday.  It's a pale periwinkle blue color.  I had a couple of gift certificates and a store card that was filled and worth $20.  In the end, I only had to pay $27.00 for $97.50 worth of yarn and buttons.  Woo hoo!

I decided that I would start this sweater for Easter:

Isn't it pretty?  The pattern is written for Louet sport weight linen yarn.  There is an identical pattern named Valenciennes on Ravelry and in the French magazine "Elle Tricot" that is made with Kidsilk Haze.  It's written by the same woman who wrote the Gardenia pattern.  I was really excited when I found the pattern in the Patternworks catalog.  It was only $2.00, but shipping was $2.50.  I didn't care.  I wanted that pattern! 

Anyhow, Your picture for Mar. 13-14 is the start of the lace bottom border:

In the pattern, they have you putting the reverse side of the lace as the right side.  I don't like how that looks.  Wish me luck in finishing this on time.  I have 3 weeks, right?

 

It's finally Friday once again

Yippee, I survived another week!  I am loving this warm weather (it's in the 40s here), even though it's been foggy for days.  It's nice to not have to wear boots and a heavy down coat.  The snow is almost gone in the yard, as the picture of the day from yesterday clearly shows:

I love it that the grass is already getting green.  My perennials are all starting to grow.  I have plants to divide in the front garden before they get too big.  Guess I'll be busy outside soon.  Woo hoo!

Here's the picture for today.  The pussy willows in the backyard are starting to pop.  Hey, Donna, I'll cut you a big bunch this year, I promise!

Churchill says he is officially bored.  He can't wait until the windows are open.  He's being such a good boy these days.

I finished one of the gloves.  It turned out a little big, but others have had the same experience.  I washed it in hot water last night, so perhaps it will fit a little better then.  We'll see what happens when it's dry.

My next project is a lace sweater made with Kidsilk Haze.  I pick up the yarn at Iris tomorrow.  It's a periwinkle blue color.  Can't wait to start it, but I need to finish the other glove first, or it will never get done.  Hmm, maybe I can work on both at the same time.

I still have to do my taxes, which is on the agenda for this weekend.  Keep your fingers crossed that I don't end up paying.  It's happened before.  Should I get a refund, I want to use that money to perhaps order a Bohus sweater kit from Sweden. 

Well, that's all for now.  Have a good weekend, everyone!

Spring is on the way!

Mar. 10, 2010.  Look what I found coming up all over the garden in front of our house--it's daffodils!

2 fingers down....

Today's picture is of the progress I am making on the Selbu gloves I am knitting:

So pretty.  I love the yarn.  It's so soft.  While it's fun knitting these, they probably won't fit as well in the finger area as the other gloves I have knit.  Will I care, though? 

Monday once again

I guess I have some picture catching up to do here.


Last week Wednesday (03/03), I went on a bus down to Madison for our union, AFSCME, lobby day.  It's always fun and I get to visit with my friends when I'm there.  I never have enough time to see them all.  :(

Here are pictures:

Me in front of the State Capital.  It was a little chilly and I still had a cold. 

As you can see, there was a large crowd!  I got lots of bus knitting done.

My next picture is of lilacs I took last year.  I love this picture.  I am just waiting for spring!

The picture for today is:

I finished the socks I was knitting (they seemed to take forever) and I cast on these gloves Saturday evening.  The picture isn't really good with the colors.  The background is a pale peachy pink color.  The yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk.  I am using size 2 needles. 

You are the search engine

Mar. 2, 2010.  Card catalogs made their first appearance in American libraries around 1876.  The Music Library still uses one.  I still type cards, but not by my own choice.  It's tedious work.  Some day we will leave the 19th century "technology" behind and join the 21st century. 

Unwelcome friends

Mar. 1, 2010.  Here are my friends for the day, whether I want them to be or not: