Most Unusual

Memorial Day weekend in Southern California.

This might not look like much to my friends that live in greener places, but here, this is still very green for this time of year. (the invasive eucalyptus trees don't count) I'm thrilled. On the downside, the ticks are very bad this year.

Greener Days

I love the greens of Spring. And when its grey and drizzly, the greens seem greener to me.

Fleece Search Continues

All the white Devon top is spun into singles, waiting to be plied. But I already know it isn't the wool I'm looking for. While there were some very long fiber lengths in the top, there were also some very short fibers. And kemp. I did try combing a handful, and that did improve things. Hey, if I'm going to comb wool, I'd rather start from fleece. The Devon is also very chalky. Since the armchair project will likely need pounds of yarn, I'd rather work with something I like. The way I figure it, liking what I'm spinning greatly increases the odds that I'll actually finish the spinning for this project. I'm hoping to try some Lincoln wool soon, I have great expectations.
 

really terrible cell phone pic

It's been a week since I've had any project on my needles, so when a friend mentioned she likes the toys I knit for my cat, I snatched up some yarn and needles. One wooly mouse, coming right up. Maybe even two. Another project ready to start is the Keyhole Sand Dollar (Ravelry link) dishcloth. When I saw the one Kelie knit up, it just charmed the pants off me. I need many of these hanging around, I just do. In different, beachy colors.

Water lilies = smile

Flowers Don't Always Mean Spring

Way back in October, I noticed something new about one of the agave plants in the yard. The common name is foxtail agave (Agave attenuata), but its hard to tell why, at least for most of the plant's life. And then it starts to make a flower spike.

One week later

2 weeks after that

It started to flower right after Christmas

The bees are crazy for the pollen

A gift of rain

This morning I woke up and found the rain I thought I was hearing during the night really happened. I didn't dream it after all. What a rare treat here in arid southern California, to have a little shower in June. What a delight, that clean rain smell this morning. An unexpected gift.

Today Evan finishes the last of his spring quarter finals, and soon I'll be fetching him home. Or at least I consider "here" his home. But I'm not so sure he feels the same way. Intellectually, I know, know, know that growing up and moving away are what children do. Its what I did. But, as I'm feeling a bit blue today, I don't like to think too long about "here" no longer being Evan's home. Maybe I should just have a good cry and get it out of my system, leaving me free to enjoy the time Evan is "here".

How the ottoman cover is shaping up. A knit panel in the middle, flanked by sections of felted sweaters. I'll knit more panels for the sides, figuring on some negative ease for a stretchy-snug fit.

Pretty peony.

New roving. Natural colored Shetland roving from the Shetland Isles. I found out about this roving reading Boulderneigh's blog, and I can't wait to spin some samples.

Spring is in the Air...

And I crave fleece. It doesn't help knowing that shearing season has started either. Its not that I'm out of fleece, cause I'm not, and I don't expect to run out of fleece during the next 3 or 4 years. I just want more. Something new. Something different from what's already in the stash.

Its not that there is a shortage of fleece for sale, nooo. I've already looked around and there is plenty of fleece for the buying, and likely more on the way. But, I'm planning on going to the Black Sheep Gathering this year, and there will be lots of fleece there, all kinds and colors, not to mention lovely rovings in all shades made of all types of fibers. So I'm attempting a fiber diet between now and then. I say attempting, because I've never been very good at dieting. In fact, even thinking about dieting usually starts cravings.

I needed distraction. Yesterday was a lovely afternoon here, so I took the drum carder outside, along with this little grab bag of fiber and made batts. Creamy white alpaca batts, a lusciously soft black alpaca batt (omg, I really hope I have lots more of that) and a lofty, cushy, soft brown wool batt.  What a brilliant way to spend an afternoon (waiting for the plumber, who didn't show up, again. That's another story. Its just a little leak.)

I did say I'm on a fiber diet, right? So the set of Addi Clicks I splurged on don't count, because they are tools. Good tools are important, and so far I really like these tools. The cable is very supple, and the locking mechanism seems positive and stable. The real test will be how they hold up over time, as I use circular needs for just about every thing I knit. I used them to finish the Beret Easy beret I was working on.

Talking about the beret reminds me, the yarn I chose for this project is wonderful. It's Tahki Lana, organic according to the manufacturer's web site. I'm not really sure what that means in terms of wool, but is a lofty, soft yarn and I really enjoyed knitting with it. I think it would make a great sweater.

My cravings for fleece aren't the only indicators of spring, flowers and buds are busting out around here, and I promise to get some pictures posted soon.

edit: promise fulfilled

new pictures

This picture doesn't due justice to the beautiful colorway of this Blue Heron yarn. But at least I can give you an idea of how the Clapotis is coming along. No doubt I'll be starting another soon after this one is done.

Early this week I frogged the hideous hoodie in order to liberate the lovely yarn trapped therein. While the hideous hoodie was completely functional, it fit like a potato sack, and I felt that the lovely Malabrigio merino handspun would be better showcased elsewhere. It really is so beautiful in hanks that I might just make a yarn tree to hang it from and display it as art. The Manos del Uruguay was liberated at the same time, its nice, but not in the same league. Perhaps a felted project.

While shopping at my local Trader Joe's I found Peony blossoms in their cut flower section. I've admired pictures before, but don't think I've ever seen them up close. So now I have 5 stems in a vase here, and the flowers are fantastic. The buds started as tight pink globes, and as they open they get showier and showier, changing color and revealing the ruffled petals near the center. And they smell good, too! I'm pretty sure the shrubs won't grow around here, so I'll just have to enjoy them while I can. My favorite flower is now a Peony!