Crazy Good Weather

We're having crazy good weather these days.

The world feels upside down, as though we must be living in Australia!

St. Patrick's Day is always a day for merriment, but it was an odd sight indeed to see college revelers running about in Spartan Green T-shirts and leprechaun hats without the benefit of a jacket to warm them from the cold! Fraternities were having lawn parties, and the streets were full of lovely young things in spandex-tight neon green shiny pants (belly buttons showing, of course!) and cropped tops, making their way down the streets to the next party.

I was in art workshops all day (all weekend, actually). You'll hear more about that in another post -- it's going to take me a bit to synthesize it all! On St. Paddy's day, we got out and I headed to Rick's. I was amazed that even at 7 p.m., it was in the 70s -- it had been in the 80s earlier.

Rick, of course, did his ride, getting in plenty of early miles! When I got to his house after dinner with my art pals, I found him and his Detroit buddy on the patio where they had grilled out. I had a glass of wine with them, and it was impossible to believe we were sitting on the patio in mid-March in short sleeves and sandals!

It probably means bad things for the Earth, but I have to admit I'm loving our early spring and hope it lasts! You can see signs all over -- bulbs beginning to pop up...

...time for long walks at the Ditch!

The forsythia is coming into full bloom, making the walk there all the prettier!

(no Harry yet, but it's lovely!


I've been enjoying seeing the other walkers, their pets, and yes, my duck friends!

The geese are out in full splendor...

...and so are the daffodills!

...My neighbor's Easter tree is a sure sign of spring...

...and so is Rick, hard at work outside!

All this plus garlic scapes! Last fall, Anno gave me a bulb of her home grown garlic and instructions. I carefully planted the individual cloves in a large pot, mulched it (which blew away) and now am waiting for the best garlic in the world!

Gypsy Update

Some of you have asked me how Gypsy is doing. Well, I think the Gyp is a miracle boy!

He's not only eating like a pig but playing like a crazy boy! I smile all the time when I think about his miraculous recovery! He's not much in the posing mood below, but I daresay if I brought out the treats, he would have smiled!

Happy Spring -- maybe not officially, but at least in my part of the world it is, and I'm happy!

Enjoy it while it lasts -- there was a huge blizzard in Flagstaff over the weekend!

Art Update!

A number of you have been kind enough to ask me how I was doing on knitting my first pair of socks -- and would I please post a photo! Well, I'm halfway through the task! Here is my first completed sock!

I have barely started sock-two and its safe to say that folks on my Christmas list can plan not to get socks this year! (And if you are lucky enough to be given socks by someone, you thank them PROFUSELY because they love you a lot!)

That said, I am enjoying it, although my eyes aren't what they used to be and those size-two needles are a killer!

I do better with bigger needles so felting is my thing! Here are two recently completed purses. The other two are "in production" -- knit, but not yet felted or needing iCord or some sort of handle.

This one is my variation of the easier-than-anything Booga Bag pattern. Actually, I make enough changes, it probably really isn't the Booga Bag anymore, but since I never write anything down, it makes it pretty hard to duplicate! In fact, it's not even close!

I took the pattern, made it wider at the bottom, decreased more at the top and changed the ties so rather than looking like a tote, it has a gathered drawstring tie.


And I'll never be able to sell this one -- the button itself was five dollars! People don't really appreciate that sort of thing. But its very small, sort of dressy. Big enough for a wallet or camera or phone or maybe a combo of the two, but not a lot more!

(Truth be told, I really don't sell much knitting. Too many people do it and if you break down the hourly, you make zip. Some patterns have restrictions on that and others just not worth it. I tend to knit with good yarn, and people don't always "get" that, either. So for the most part, I give it away.)

I have to say, fall is a wonderful time to knit. Winter, too. The garden is wrapped up; it feels like a time to cozy in! So, there's more on the needles! After all, Christmas is coming!

Look for more, coming soon!

(Now on Chopsticks and String: My take on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.")

Art Every Day, Part Two: Knitting!

This post should be considered a work in progress, like its subject -- socks!

So many of my friends knit socks and swear it's the most addicting thing in the world, more fun than any other project. "You must try it," they say. "You'll love it."

Never mind that I'm used to working on VERY large needles with wool to felt things and the thought of working on needles smaller than a rat-tail comb curdles my blood.

But when my friend Nancy made me socks for Christmas, I discovered -- there is no sock better or more comfy than a hand knit one.

So, it was off to Imagiknit for a sock class!

My teacher was Deby Lake, who designs patterns for -- I think -- Universal knits. She was a talented woman (who was working on these dolls, which cracked me up!)

She calls the boy Pierre, the girl Tina.

Very jaunty!

Well, after a couple hours of knitting, I had about three inches of sock. Now I have about 8 inches, and it's time to turn the heel. A tad terrifying -- we'll see!

For a little extra inspiration, I trotted down the street to an exhibit at the Gaylord Arts Center of fiber works.

Lots of sock inspiration.

This wedding dress was gorgeous, but over the top (and a little heavy). The knitter was selling it used for $2,000. I don't think I could have parted with it after all that.

There were some other fun fiber bits.

I've also been plugging away on a scarf with some gorgeous yarn I bought last month in Cleveland and bought enough wool for two new purses -- on BIG needles! And yes, I did knit every day after that -- and I still am!

(Now on Chopsticks and String: "BackStage with Julia" -- I absolutely loved this book -- but it's about Julia Child so what's not to love?!)

Three Whole Days...

Three whole days off -- and what to do?

I started it off by having dinner with my friends Mark and Jan, as Rick was away till Saturday.

While we enjoyed outdoor dining, one of my favorite moments was seeing all the nature popping out in their yard.

My favorites? The irises, which remind me of my dear Aunt Iris, mom's oldest sister.

I did my share of planting, too -- getting in annuals and tending to my "farm" in the front yard!

I did planting at the cemetery, too. Red geraniums, white begonias for mom, dad and the relatives.

The Gyp had fun salivating over the guest at Gypsy Rose's Birdbath Bar and Grill.

He also has a second neighbor to taunt him when Jasper takes a break! (He looks a bit like a bully to me!)

And of course there was time for reading (look for a new Chopsticks and String post in a couple of days!) and projects. I finished this purse, and another is done, save for the felting.

(The button on this is by Joanne!)

And this recipe tag book is a gift for a friend. I did a tutorial on this long ago, which you can see here.

All this, plus lots more. And yet still time to cook, to relax, to enjoy. I love three day weekends!

Bags!

I haven't posted photos of any of the knitting I finished before Christmas.

So here are a few of the bags! I died the yarn for this one last year -- it's one of my favorites!

You'll note some have polymer clay buttons -- those are by Joanne.

I swear, there isn't anything this wonderful woman can't do.

This one is just a little fun fling kind of bag. Furry, cute, and not very large!

I hate putting on clasps -- on this one, the button is for show; the flap just folds over.

Can't remember if I ever posted this one -- maybe. I love the button on this one too, which came from Williamsburg.

And then, there is always a job for the executive assistant.

Note to cat fans: six or eight inches of i-cord, tied in a knot, make for one of Mr. Gyps' favorite toys!

'Tis (Almost) the Season...

'Tis almost the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly!

And, while I'm not quite ready to bid farewell to pumpkins and mums, I am stocking up on the greens!

It was greens market day in the charming small Michigan town of Northville, not too far from Ann Arbor for you Michigan folk. And quite the wonderful place it is!

So, my buddy Jan and her mom, aunt and I headed that way for their annual greens market.

Now, we weren't seeing snow flakes -- in fact, after our chill October, November has been remarkably warm if not always sunny. But it was lots better than last year's pouring rain! In fact, it was downright perfect -- sunny, 50s, festive.

Here's Jan -- picking a great wreath. I ended up with a centerpiece, wreath, some holly and a beautiful kissing ball for the hall.

And this gourd woman's work was just amazing.

You can bet I left with something from this stall. A little too much from that stall!

And after, a visit to a wonderful garden/home decorating spot. But the photos for that? That's another post!

Then late lunch/early dinner at a nearby restaurant, and eventually home. I've got to say, with my bruised (broken?) rib(s) and only five hours of sleep, home was good.

Holidays are nearly here -- which leads me to the holiday crazies. Buying the greens is easy; figuring out all the rest of it -- that gets tough!

I've lots of UFOs to finish for an upcoming show, and I'll share some of those soon. Here's one I don't remember posting. Meanwhile, we're just taking it one day at a time!

Rick continues to improve and is appreciating all the good wishes you passed along his way! I'm grateful to finally get back to creativity and for all the inspiration I draw from you! Now if I can get that badly needed dose of energy and rest and a little less discomfort, I'll be a mighty happy camper. That might take a few...

(Now at Chopsticks and String -- a fun new book meme!)