Friday, March 29, 2013

Spring is Here! (even though it doesn't really seem like it)

Despite the still-frozen pond....
I can feel it.  Spring is in the air.   This week, the days were a little warmer and I got outside with the doodlebugs for some great walks.  Busses!  Cars!  More Cars!  Planes!  and, wait for it....Even. More. Cars!  The gasps of delight at everything that passed by was hilarious.  And who knew watching furniture guys unload a chair at some random house could be so riveting?  Even though we've still got snow on the ground up here on the hill, and we're still waiting to see buds on the trees, the warm air is encouraging and we just know more is coming.

And Spring also means Easter.  Today and tomorrow are bread-baking marathon days.  Some for the baked french toast I'll be making for Easter brunch, and some for giving away.  My sample loaf last week went over well with my taste testers, so I'm using the same recipe.  Stay tuned for an update on all this yummy goodness!

Spring, however, does not mean I stop knitting with wool!....

In Knitting News:
My Meadowlark is done!

Picture with me in it to come when I have a photographer...
I re-read the directions, which said that the i-cord down the front edges was optional (yay!) so, of course, I opted out.  I actually really didn't think the i-cord would look as good on the fronts since it is supposed to be drapey/wavey.  Like this:
The i-cord would make it sturdy and not-as-drapey.  But it's great to give the arm holes some shape:
Before i-cord
After i-cord.  See?  Neater.
Also, lots of progress on my Bloody Mary Cardigan... the back is done:
I'm excited, although I'm slighty concerned about my yarn amounts.  I should have 100 extra yards.  However, I've used almost a whole skein (of my three skeins) on the back.  I still have the two fronts, two sleeves, button bands and collar to do.  I think I'm worrying too early.

I also finished Square #10 from the Great American Afghan book:
This makes 5 sqaures completed, one in each color. This gives you an idea of my color scheme:
I'm a little not sure about it now.  I don't know why.  I'm trying to imagine it done, and I feel like it will be really busy.  I'm thinking that I will use the darker color for the border to reign in the other lighter colors.  Ha!  Can you see how I'm already thinking about the border when I still have 20 (twenty) more squares to knit and that could take ages?

I also became obsessed with the Lightspeed shawl/scarf-y thing:
Sample picture from Ravelry.com
So here are my colors:
(That's navy blue on the right.)
I'm starting it today when I run out of my Bloody Mary yarn -- I have to go to The Spinning Room yarn shop to wind the next skein on their ball winder since it is a jumbo skein!

In Book News:
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve:  I suffered through this one. 
The Amazon description is:
"From the last time Linda and Thomas meet, at a charmless hotel in a distant city, to the moment, thirty-five years earlier, when a chance encounter on a rocky beach binds them fatefully together, this hypnotically compelling novel unfolds a tale of intense passion, drama, and suspense. "  My take on it:  It was non-hypnotic, depressing and blah.  I just didn't enjoy the story line. 

I have had mixed personal reviews of Anita Shreve's books.  Some I have liked, some I have not.  I loved Light on Snow (see my blog review here).

In Other News:
I am going to participate in the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) in April, which means I will be posting every day for the whole month.  That's the goal anyway! The idea of this is to get writing and re-juvenate my ideas for the blog. The theme for April is "Fresh" since spring gives us a fresh start etc.  My posts may or may not have to do with the theme (they don't have to), and I'll just see where it takes me.  So, just warning you (or delightfully informing you, if that's the case) that there will be a lot of posting going on.  After that, I'll go back to my regular programming.  If you are not signed up to receive email notifications when there is a new post, you can do so by going to the sidebar on the right! 

5 comments:

  1. I LOVE LOVE YOUR MEADOWLARK!!!!!! I AM SITTING HERE WISHING I HAD JUST FINISHED ONE TO WEAR! NOW I JUST HAVE TO MAKE ONE......
    Lv K

    ps. I have also been enjoying the website where you got your bread recipe on the last post.

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    1. Thanks K! I love it too! Let me know if you try some bread...

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  2. Your sweater/vest is beautiful!
    Love your squares and that new pattern for the shawl is very interesting and the colors you picked are perfect it will be gorgeous. Posting everyday will be something to look forward to, love when you post.
    Annette

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  3. Meadowlark - very pretty! I enjoy it when you chronicle the seasons, views, and doings on your property. Beautiful views. Daily posts in April is a good thing!
    I would like to try my hand at that Easter Bread - very impressive. Looks delicious!
    Is that Phoebe in her bed in the background of a photo - I see two little ears - or is it my imagination - I am looking at this on my phone.

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    1. Yes, that is Phoebe! I noticed her back there in the picture and wondered if anyone would see her. :)

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