Spring approaching?

With the early "spring forward" of the clocks and the near 70s today I celebrated the anticipation of spring...I uncovered and watered the pots of spring bulbs I planted late last fall hoping for early spring color... I pulled fresh spring onions from my little garden...
I cleaned up and watered three geraniums I overwintered .... they're now perched in my kitchen garden window...
I bought a cute pair of nonleather flats for my spring wardrobe. I've decided to buy nonleather products as I replace my leather items. I'm pleased to see the fashionable, well made nonleather items available. I tried to go nonleather ~10 years ago but just couldn't live in Converse All Stars and frumpy shoes....not a problem now...
Last but certainly not least of my joys today, I received a box of beautiful afghan squares for my Bookcrossing afghan project!

Good..

Long weekend at Marco Island Florida was good for my soul…rest, sunshine, knitting…what more do you need? Flights down were right on schedule; flights back were delayed due to snow in the north but when we landed in Charlotte, NC at 5p the temperature was 66 F – not bad at this time of year. Flowers were beautiful …
beach was a little breezy and cool … Two trips to Knitting with Nancy in Naples so of course I now have two more projects but NO MORE SOCKS! Had an energetic 3 mile walk round trip to the local library so I have not completely forsaken my exercise. A highlight of the time was a delicious Italian dinner at Capriccio of Naples followed by a Merce Cunningham Dance Company performance at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts I attended with my sister in law and two of her friends.The dance was challenging but I've gained a greater appreciation after reading about Cunningham's philosophy of the independence of music and dance. I'm also familiar with the work of John Cage,his long time music director who died in 1992, so I knew I was in for an unusual experience.Well...it was...I'ved continued to put together the squares for the Bookcrossing afghan today ….here’s the latest along with my lazy helper, Virginia the cat!

stuff

Trial layout for the Bookcrossing afghan... Two socks same weight yarn and same size needles - only difference is that the blue sock only has ~1inch of ribbing and the entire leg of the green sock is ribbed..oh, well...

In the last week....

I occasionally do a little thrift store shopping - I'm always on the lookout for books, vintage linens and vintage wool suit jackets. Yesterday I hit the thrift store jackpot. First, I found this brand new REDfish design straw tote that will be perfect to take along on my vacation/holiday to Marco Island, Florida next week.


I found several dishes to coordinate with my dishes that belonged to my husband's mother. I love the retro orange, yellow and green flowers and my husband is happy I rescued his mom's dishes from the basement.



I also found several books to add to my collection I'm toting with me to the Bookcrossing Convention in Charleston, SC in April. All this great stuff for $5.50 -my kind of shopping!

Last Thursday, I tried a pasta dish I adapted from a recipe I saw on the Rachael Ray show. I'm not a huge fan of hers but when you're knitting ....well, you just can't control the TV. The sauteed onions, beets, swiss chard, and beet greens were tasty but a little too earthy for my palate. I'll make it again adding a wider variety of root vegetables and reduce the amount of beets and greens. Slowly sauteed beets do have a wonderfully sweet favor....the dish also had a gorgeous post Valentine's Day color!



Yes, I'm knitting another pair of socks! I'm using Austermann Step - what a soft yarn. I'll post a pic of the finished product.

I've been riding my exercise bike and plan to join my running partner tomorrow. Big changes coming up that will free up my time - more about that once it's done!

Random thoughts on a cold, rainy day

The other day I saw an ad in the local newspaper for ear stapling as an aid in losing weight. Based on acupressure(according to their web info),you're guaranteed to lose weight effortlessly! Hummm....don't think I'm falling for that one!

Well, the response to my requests for afghan squares for my Bookcrossing project has been so tremendous that I won't have to make up the difference so I can start on another pair of socks!

The cold weather and my persistent cough and stuffiness have me down.....so today I ordered a beautiful sun hat for my holiday in Marco Island Florida in a couple of weeks. Thanks kimberlinewyork!

Snow finally AND no more socks for awhile!!!

Woke up yesterday morning to ~4 inches of snow and frigid temps! We usually have some snow here every year but not huge amounts like in the higher elevations west of Roanoke.

That said,every couple of years we are surprised with a foot or more of snow..... So what did I do in this snowy weather? I knitted yet another pair of socks - that makes 5 pairs since Christmas!

No more until I go on vacation/holiday the first weekend of March to Marco Island, Florida. I have other knitting projects that need attention until then. I'm organizing an afghan project for Bookcrossing to be raffled off at the Convention in Charleston, SC in April. Donations of wonderfully colorful, creative squares are arriving almost every day
...... so that is my promise - no more sock knitting until Florida.
P.S. I love this story ..... I haven't given up on running - plan on running to the best of my ability for a long time!
Jack Kirk, the Dipsea Demon, dies at 100

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....................

Near record frigid temperatures and wind chills and I'm nursing a cold ....seems like I have one good day followed by one not so good....schools in the higher elevations already delaying opening tomorrow due to the predicted record breaking cold temperatures tonight. Stealing an idea from a fabulous blogger Urban Vegan, I put a great pot of veggie soup on today. Canned seitan, limas, onion, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, celery and corn all mixed together and simmering all day. I added the rest of a bag of Israeli couscous for a yummy pasta taste.


Finished yet another pair of socks...


Now to snuggle up with a blanket and hot tea. Hopefully, I'll be feeling better tomorrow!