Loot!

My Caffeine Swap Partner, Susan, sent me ALL this! Look, Panda cotton, POSH yarn, Online, TWO mugs, and Trader Joe decaf. plus CANDY--WOOT! I love Swaps. Never know how much you are going to get spoiled. and it sure is a way to try new yarn you just might not have tried. Thanks girl!

Spring took a left turn and headed out of central IA. we're watching temps and looking out for frost advisories now. WTF? And my husband just doesn't want to watch his tulips take the beating they took last year, so he is cringing as they are all budding out. We're looking for a cloudy night tonight, and hoping this wind will stop bringing in more cold air. Good grief. Isn't there enough damage between last year's freeze, this year's cold winter --NO more I say, NO more!!!

Hard to believe in global warming this year......

Another finished pair off the needles

I finally finished my pair of SKP (sock knitter's pentathalon) socks for March/April. (SKP2008 is closed for this year, but stay tuned for next year!) It was a nice pattern to follow. I will probably do it again. Please do not enlarge pattern to view mistakes. I used Sandness Garn Lanett for the yarn which I bought at my friend Amber's shop MisKnits in Kansas City. I really really liked this yarn for socks! On the gardening front, it is SPRING. I'm calling it it my yard. I have tons of green pushing its way to the sun. and blooms galore and blooms teasing me. I do have some daffodils not blooming that should be that I'm wondering didn't take a harder hit in last years' freeze than I thought. Some need to be divided so I will be doing that also this year. Always a to do list, isn't there? The peas we planted about 10 days ago are poking their heads through, grateful to see the sun and feel the warmth. We do see some problem areas we need to address, last year's freeze thaw did hurt some grass areas that see heavy traffic from the dogs, as much as we are iffy on grass, we don't want "dirt" so we'll be fixing that, today, as a matter of fact. Also, we found garlic mustard last year, along the creek, and in one spot in the garden we have along the bike trail. It is back. So, I hit it hard with foam roundup, and we'll need to keep it on our weekly watch list. Garlic mustard is very invasive and can take over an area fast! I'll leave you today with some images of a new crocus in our garden. The crocus is crocusma "remembrance". I bought with some birthday money I received last year. O course, I bought it from one of my favorite place... White Flower Farms. pictures were taken by my husband, video made by me and picasa2. we're still learning but I think it turned out great!

look what the postman delivered today

 

another little package from the loopy ewe. I LOVE the LOOPY EWE. Sheri has the most amazing selection and she's always ready and willing to answer questions when I want to make pattern substitutions.

and this little treat I received today? just one more thoughtful package Sheri put together. Its called don't be blue. its for those of us that didn't make it into the 2008 sock club this year. I ordered on sat, recd today. ROCK on. smooshy yarn and a pattern called ankle biters. right into the queue it went.

last week I ordered my yarn for the loopy swap. I can't wait to spoil my partner. and with that order, I became a loopy groupie. we'll see what happens next.

ssshhhh. don't tell anyone, but spring may have arrived. temperature forecasts indicate no more freakin' snow. we'll see, last year we sure we're surprised! but my yard is yearning for the sun, ME too. I'm trying to stay positive and am just grateful for the sun today.

I'm also grateful that I'm 97% done with taxes, and that once again, I managed our money well enough to only owe the govt $200. This is my goal every year. I refuse to use the feds as a savings acct (uhhmm, interest free, duh!)so I strive for no refund, and yet, who wants a big tax bill? its been a little bit more interesting since I've become self employed but its worked out ok both years.

Dead, again

Look what arrived today!!!

 

Aren't these beautiful? new socks from a knitting partner in a game called sockquest. and little treats too, aren't I lucky?

 

and aren't they smashing on me?

and now, I send, my socks back to her... I learned a new technique working on these socks. Two socks at one time on magic loop. WOOT! It was a little fiddly at first, but then it flowed well.

 

hmm, I wonder what my next project is... oh, yeah, that's right, sock pentathalon socks.. dean's socks.. Jess's projects, a new quilt, my garden and that pesky thing called work!

catch up

Hey look!! I'm done with the scrap quilt I was making for my friend called "pie chart.". once I figured out that you really do need to follow the pattern directions, it moved right along. I've actually been done for awhile, just needed to post pix. This is what I was working on during my 10 minutes per day quilting time inspired by http://quilting-diva.blogspot.com/2008/02/quilt-every-day.html. I will use this pattern again, I did like how the pattern turned out--and it worked out great with scrap fabrics!

 

 

In other news, I didn't make it through round 2 of sock madness... bummer! the pattern for round 2 really slowed me down. I did however learn how to make a garter stitch short row heel! this was cool. I will definitely try again next year.

I'm in another sock game. just started last week and I've already been notified my socks are on their way. this is ok, I'll just keep knitting until they arrive, the pattern is fun.

I'm not sure spring is ever going to seriously arrive here in central IA. my crocuses are up, tulips are pushing their way, other plants are budding, yet snow/rain mix predicted for the rest of the week. blech. I need some seriously sunny days. We did get some good yard clean up done (without the sun) on sunday, and our peas are planted!