Signs of Spring

Sure enough, I saw it as I was pulling in after work this afternoon; the first peony blossom of the year!

 

They're a little bit earlier this year than last (check out 2011 and the first blossom ever in 2010) but it's really no surprise considering the weather we've had this year. Also, the bushes have definitely increased in height since last year. I would say they're pretty close to 4' tall.

Anyway, I had plans of being productive this afternoon but was feeling a lot like Hazel.

I did manage to spend a couple hours seaming the first couple rows of squares on my Mitered Squares Blanket (insert fist pump here!). It took me about 3 hours to get just two rows all seamed up, with three rows left to go still. It's definitely exciting now to see it coming together.

This weekend is the Great Lakes Fiber Festival in Wooster, Ohio. My knitting group has planned a fun afternoon outing and I'm hoping to find some incredible goodies (yarn, mostly). I'm especially looking for yarn dyed similarly to the yarn used for this cat.  I'd like to knit a stuffed dog for the baby and I'd really like a brown colored dog. If anyone has suggestions where to find this I'd love to know!

Spring

I don't think I've ever been so happy as I am this year to see spring arrive. Yes, spring. Some of you (especially those living in warmer climates) may find this odd. Perhaps it's been spring where you live for months already (don't be a show off. I used to be like that too). Here in northeast Ohio our weather has been so wishy washy for far too long. A warm day surrounded by eight days of rain and chilly weather has not been uncommon. I've been talking to my plants, encouraging them to keep at it and low and behold, I finally noticed this weekend that the lavender in my yard (which is also way big this year) is finally blooming!

And do you remember my lone peony that bloomed this time last year? Well this year it looks like I'm going to have four bushes full!

This is the second year that my flowers have been planted. My dad and I put in the brick and plants in 2009. It's funny because all the plants looked so puny then.

And now look at them!

In knitting news, I do have a project on the needles but it's a secret (of course, right?). I also started a baby blanket for some friends of ours that are expecting a little boy in June. So as much as I want to cast on for something else (another pair of socks maybe?) I really think I should finish my sample knitting and make some headway on the baby blanket. It doesn't look like much right now, I've only done one pattern repeat. The free pattern is the Baby Chalice Blanket. I'm using two skeins of Cascade 220 in a lovely heathered blue color. 

Hopefully there will be some progress soon!

Long Weekend

I hope everyone was able to enjoy their long holiday weekend. It was definitely nice to have an extra day off. 

Having finished my baby bibs on Friday I found myself with only one WIP on my needles. That's right! Just one. That is a rare occasion, my friends, when I only have one project in progress. I was pretty surprised myself and thought for sure I would be able to plow through it over the long weekend and come out with a finished camisole. 

Close, but no cigar. I have about another 2 inches of stockinette to do before I poke my eyes out -I mean, before I can bind off. I think that's what really kept me from finishing. Miles of stockinette can start to feel a bit tedious. I kept stopping to read (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) or to go outside or just to do anything. I'm going to work on it some more tonight and I'll let you know how it goes. 

Yesterday was a very big day at our house as well. My first peony bloomed! I've been watching this bud for some time now, waiting and holding my breath. When I looked outside first thing in the morning, there it was.

I'm glad I got the picture when I did too because it stormed that afternoon and the the bloom is a bit droopy now. Isn't it great?

It was also Timber's birthday yesterday. He's two years old. We also call it Hazel's birthday since she was born sometime the first week of June but we don't have the exact date.

Every year Adam asks me why I torture them with those birthday hats. It's because I love them.