F is for

A glorious spring day finally here on the square and I took my camera out at lunch to see what I could find for 'F'.

Follow along with me, won't you?


You can see that the warm weather and sunshine has made all our trees suddenly, overnight, explode with flowers.
It was such fun to stand under this tree and look up at the blue, blue sky.


As it is a just few days before Easter, every door of the Baptist Church had floral crosses. So lovely.


The next building north of the church is a florist. This hasn't always been a florist.

An older photo of this building will pop up again when we get to 'L'.




And the next building north of that is the funeral home, established in 1923. The grass is little brown now and the flowers are still pansies to withstand cooler weather, but Mayes Ward-Dobbins always has the most beautiful landscaping.

But all of this was not my main destination. Instead I turned back and went a block south and east to Fire Station No. 1 home to the Fire MuseumThis is the 1879 Silsby Steamer, manufactured up Mary's way in Seneca, NY, completely functional, fully restored in 1992, and one of only five still in existence. [Oh, and what is that in the lower right? Brumby rockers.]

What a fabulous spring day to walk about the square!

Next

The red shawl knitting is finished. Can I get an Amen? I haven't grafted the edge on yet and I don't even want to contemplate blocking. I'm calling it good for right now.

I have a basic sock on the dpns for my travel project, but the season for wool socks is past for now (even though it continues to be a cool spring so far). If I finished them up right away I'd just have to scramble around for another travel project.

So with my feet propped up and a cup of hot coffee in my hand, I cast my eye to the bookshelf and ponder what to do next. Next! Next is always exciting isn't it? Next always holds the possibility for happiness and a fun adventure.

Stitches South is coming to Atlanta at the end of next month. I had a grand time last year and Kay has agreed to be my partner-in-crime again this year. So I don't want to start a long, involved project just in case I see something at the market that I'd want to jump right into as soon as I see it.

Slow Boat to Estonia

I thought the slow boats went to China, but I seem to be on a very SLOW boat to Estonia on this remake of the Lilac Leaf Shawl.

I can't fathom WHY it is taking me this long. But the good news is, now that I have brought it back out, I have only 2 more repeats of the center body to do before I head down the home stretch to the end, so, even at this snail pace, I should have it finished before too much longer.

It is a very nice pattern and strangely enough, as I knit it I have been pondering how much I'd like to knit it again but next time in a heavier weight yarn. (And maybe not red. )

I only have 12 more rows to go! Twelve rows that involve some nupps, but those are just fluffy speed bumps on the way to the finish line. Whooeee!

My Peeps

I've spent a few hours of the past two days with my friend, Kay.

Hours could seldom ever be better spent. Yesterday was a perfect spring day and, although it was overcast and rather dreary weather today, both days were sunshiny in Kay's presence.

Today's stringplay is adapted from the free design at The Prairie Schooler.



"A cheerful friend is like a sunny day, which sheds its brightness on all around."
Sir John Lubbock

Bag spotting

I almost forgot to show you my little felted entrelac bag once I got it felted.

It's a sweet little thing. I have no idea what I could use it for, but that matters not to me. I didn't have a fabulous handmade bead for the closure like the original and my Noro yarn was a leftover bit and not in such a bright, happy colorway.

The happy spring daffodils brighten it up a bit. These are the only things to ever bloom in our yard. I am not a gardener and these lovelies are only thanks to my Mother who, years ago when we first moved here, dug up some of her own and planted for me. Thanks, Mother!

Speaking of bags, here's a cheerful patchwork one, inspired by the Norwegian Olympic Curling team.

Spring?

Spring?
Really?

39 degrees here as I type and another very chilly, wet, drizzly gray day.

Luckily I had my little OttLite to help me out and I finished another band on the band sampler. [reusing old photo there]

I stopped to check Flickr to see if anyone else had posted a picture of this particular design, but found none. I did, however, find a truly lovely one here and with a close-up photo of the drawn thread section here. Oh, my. Lovely.

And then, somehow, as I was wandering around looking at blogs and thinking of something else I could share with you, I discovered this blog and her amazing pictures of needlelace from Argentina that she calls Randa. How lovely! I didn't find many other references to it using Google. If you've heard of it (Pat? Barbara? Kay?) , let me know.

March brings breezes loud and shrill,
Stirs the dancing daffodil.
Sara Coleridge

My blue heaven

Pattern: Sand Dollar Shawl
"Knitting Lace Triangles" by Evelyn A. Clark

Yarn: KnitPicks Bare 100% merino wool
440 yds/ 100 gr.
dyed with 3 packs of Berry Blast Kool-Aid

Needles: KnitPicks Options size 6; 32" cable

Since Evelyn lives in the Pacific Northwest and I live in the Southeast (and travel very little), I may never get to meet her in person. Perhaps it is just as well as I would no doubt gush and make a fool of myself telling her how much I enjoy her designs, possibly even scaring her in the bargain.
But oh my! How much fun! I love to knit her designs. They never fail to please and entertain.

This was a such a fun project from start to finish. I was frustrated with the red shawl when I remembered I had this hank of wool waiting to be dyed. Someday I'd like to get some chemical dyes and try it for real, but in the meantime the Kool-Aid worked and the bright color certainly helped brighten up the dull, drizzly days we've had this March.

I went with her instructions and added three beads to each point, mixing both shiny and matte. They are a subtle embellishment and I think add just the right touch. In fact, without enlarging this picture, you don't really even notice them.

Kinda sad to see the finish of this one. I'm not yet ready to grant amnesty to the red shawl so I'll return instead to the sampler for a change.

Good news.....the Easter M&Ms are out.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the smiles
of the people you love.


[isn't that some lovely green string? sure wish I knew where I put it!!]

I'd blog but.....

I'm too busy kicking myself.

I was knitting happily along - purling back that last row of pattern before the edging, when one of the voices in my head piped up,

"hey, isn't there a transition chart between the pattern and the edging?".

I should be grateful for the reminder, but it would have been nicer to have been reminded a little earlier!

Now I need to tink back a bit and work the transition rows instead.

This is no deal-breaker. This shawl has been so pleasant to knit. I really don't mind spending a little extra time with it.

While I was out today I picked up some beads. I'm thinking of incorporating beads on the very edge. Evelyn shows options for adding either one or three beads at each point.

I'm not sure about the beads. I have a bit MORE time to think it over!

Doesn't that top picture look bright? We actually had SUNSHINE here today.

E. A. C.

Evelyn A. Clark

Easy and calming
Explained and charted
Entertaining and captivating
Exciting and colorful
Elegant and charming

I love Evelyn!

E is for

Eddie's Trick Shop

An enduring fixture on the Square since the early 70s, Eddie's is the go-to place for costumes (not that I really ever need a costume). Children, especially, love to wander in and see all the masks, puppets, and magic tricks.

I had to lift this picture from the www because today was an especially busy day for the construction crews.

I encountered a few obstacles on my way across like this
crosswalk they were excavating.








Here's what it looked like when I got there.


I managed to make it across and inside where, as usual, I found the wall of eerie masks









and the requisite Elvis costumes!

Did you notice that the awning above also says Center Stage II Dance Wear? This is one part of the store that I have always found curious. At the very back of the building is the store that caters to the needs of all the local ballet and dance students and it is only entered by first walking all the way through Eddie's!

So those preschool ballerinas purchase their little pink tutus only after viewing all those strange masks and costumes!

Sunny and 69 , it was an exciting day on the Square; pedestrian-wise!

Time Out

This one is going in the box for awhile.

I don't expect you can tell, but it is a bit further along than the last post; the last time I was complaining.

I don't know WHY I'm having such troubles with this one. The leaf lace is a very nice, regular pattern, but somehow I keep screwing up and I'm quite tired of making things right.

So I think (do you know I just typed 'tink'; Freudian slip, I suppose) I'm just going to close it up in this nice tin and just ignore it.

My Kool-Aid yarn is wound up and ready.

I haven't yet made it out to look for beads. Hopefully I can do that soon, even though I won't really need them soon.

In the meantime, I've been enjoying seeing some truly spectacular Knitting Olympics knits.
The Yarn Harlot's sweater is great and Lene's
mittens are just about the most fabulous things I've ever seen.

No doubt you've seen both already. What was the most amazing knit you've seen lately?