Scarf, Scarf, Sandwich, Pup

A handful of photos for today.

Just one more week to donate to Girls on the Run, and maybe win this scarf. We're collecting donations (to Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run) through next Friday; donors will be entered in a drawing for this scarf.

This is the latest photo of my sky scarf. After two months, it's just over 12"long, and looking - well, like Michigan winter slowly turning into spring.

We had dinner with friends tonight, at the Oakwood Bistro. I had an Asparagus Cheese Melt: melted provolone & smoked cheddar cheese, grilled asparagus, tomato, & red onion on our multi-grain bread. It was delicious!

Finally, I offer a beagle, relaxing while I work:

Enjoy your weekend!

General Conference Weekend

This was conference weekend for our church. I was able to watch all the sessions of conference - two on Saturday, two on Sunday.

When my family was baptized (back in '67), the only conference we could watch was one session, carried on Pittsburgh's PBS station. (I remember that when I was in college, the only session that was carried on TV was at 5 in the morning - yikes.) We would have to wait for the conference issue of the church magazine to read all the talks (and I think that was months later - maybe June for the April conference?). Later (maybe in the 80's?), I remember going to the church building, where the talks were carried on some radio band that we could listen to. Still later, we were finally able to watch all of conference, again at church.

Now, we can watch here at home, via satellite TV or the Internet. Video of the talks is available for viewing almost as soon as each session finishes, on the church's website here. I've already downloaded many of the talks to my iPod. The text will be available in just a couple days, on the website.

It's really quite remarkable. But I like best watching it live, and am always happiest when I can do that. I sit down with my knitting and my notebook, and take in as much as I can. I used to take copious notes, but now, knowing that everything will be available to read and study within days, I try to jot down feelings and impressions that are specific to me and to my family - changes I should make, particular talks I should study, specific principles I should focus on, things like that.

So now, Sunday evening, I'm feeling rather overwhelmed. I just read through my jottings, and there's a lot there! Plenty to keep me busy for the next six months, until October's general conference. The challenge, for me at least, is to keep the messages in mind, to study and ponder them in the weeks and months to come. I'll try to share some thoughts as I go along.

Here are remarks from President Monson, from his closing message.

As this conference now concludes, I invoke the blessings of heaven upon each of you. May your homes be filled with peace, harmony, courtesy and love. May they be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. May you nurture and nourish your testimonies of the gospel, that they will be a protection to you against the buffetings of Satan.

Until we meet again in six months, I pray that the Lord will bless and keep you, my brothers and sisters. May His promised peace be with you now and always.

And, of course, a few photos from our conference weekend.

Bonnie and I had lots of time for walks (that's what Bonnie likes about conference weekend, I think). We saw signs of spring, with new growth appearing. I saw lots of daffodils-to-be; can't wait for those to start blooming!

Not sure what these are - but they are green and lovely!

Bonnie mostly slept through conference.

I knit. (Jim just watched; I think he should learn to knit, too.) This is the sweater I'm knitting for afghans for Afghans. I didn't quite finish the front this weekend - I am a slow knitter, and I did keep stopping to make conference notes - but I'm pleased with how it's coming along. It needs to be finished by early summer - which is also when a certain baby blanket needs to be finished - so I need to focus on these two projects, and probably let my shawl sit in time out for a bit.

This color, by the way, is not accurate - the blue is really much deeper, and there are flecks of green throughout. It is a beautiful color, much nicer than this would make you think...

Heart-Deep in Winter

One of the blogs I read is Keepapitchinin, The Mormon History Blog. Among other things, Ardis shares content from old publications, such as this poem in today's blog:

Heart-deep in Winter
By Eva Willes Wangsgaard

With you so lately gone it seemed untrue
That winter had relaxed and spring was near.
Half-heartedly the northern ranks withdrew
Relinquishing to spring the infant year;
And spring came blithely, undisturbed by death.
The soil had quickened; I could feel it stir,
Perfumed by hyacinths; the morning’s breath
Was stroking cheek and throat like rabbit fur.
The autumn bulbs erupted wells of gold;
The lilacs leafed, for day was April warm;
But night kept lagging back with icy cold
And threatened lily fringe with frost and storm.
Heart-deep in winter, unprepared, alone,
The night and I and newly lettered stone!

(1949)

I was touched by this poem, and immediately wanted to share it, but worried that perhaps it was too sentimental. I sought Jim's opinion (not necessarily a good idea, since he is rather sentimental himself). He also liked it, deemed it not overly sentimental, and pointed out that it is a sonnet.

A sonnet? Who knew?!? I did a Google search, and found this article, which explained that the English, or Shakespearean, sonnet has the form:

a b a b
c d c d
e f e f
g g

As Jim observed, this poem follows the described form quite nicely. (Another article about Shakespearean sonnets, is here.)

The article also discussed the idea of a volta, a turn, which introduces another idea. In this case, it seems to me that the volta occurs in the final couplet. Here, after discussing the weather, the poem suddenly brings up the unexpected loneliness of the poet, thinking of that new grave, somewhere out in the night. The poet's despair and loneliness washed over me, and I felt that I understood perfectly what they were feeling.

Making that connection, that link with the poet, always leaves me satisfied - and I walk away thinking, "I like that poem."

Spring Crocus

It's a beautiful, warm spring day. I took this photo while walking Bonnie and Tonks (no, we haven't adopted another furry friend; we're dog-sitting).  Let me assure you: you haven't lived until you try to take a close-up photo while two dogs try to persuade you to move along so they can find something more interesting (i.e., something stinky).

I've seen snowdrops this year, but these are the first crocuses I've come across. They reminded me of a haiku I read recently (even though my crocuses aren't white):

Urban detritus
Heaped in a small garden plot
Still – white crocuses.

This is from the blog A Haiku Each Day (this year's March 28 entry), by  Abigail M. Parker.

While trying to remember where I saw the haiku, I came across this poem, also about crocuses. (And I just did some googling to determine that the plural of crocus is crocuses or croci, but also can simply be crocus...). 

First Crocus
by Christine Klocek-Lim

This morning, flowers cracked open
the earth’s brown shell. Spring
leaves spilled everywhere
though winter’s stern hand
could come down again at any moment
to break the delicate yolk
of a new bloom.

The crocus don’t see this as they chatter
beneath a cheerful petal of spring sky.
They ignore the air’s brisk arm
as they peer at their fresh stems, step
on the leftover fragments
of old leaves.

When the night wind twists them to pieces,
they will die like this: laughing,
tossing their brilliant heads
in the bitter air.

This poem speaks rightly about the risk of winter's return, but leaves me smiling at the image of crocuses "laughing, tossing their brilliant heads in the bitter air."

Baby Blanket of Many Colors

The other day, I finished another Lilly blanket.

Entrelac Knitting - so magical

Jess' friend Jeanna, collects "Angel Blankets" in memory of her (Jeanna's) little boy who was born, and stayed on this earth just long enough to meet his parents. She gives them to our local hospital, so that mothers in similar circumstances will have a memory of their child to take home with them.

My grand-niece Lilly made a similarly brief appearance, on April 9, 2009, and this blanket is in her memory. In this Easter season, I'm reminded that we will see her again, one day, thanks to the blessing of Christ's resurrection. Hallelujah!

I am happy with this blanket. The cotton knit up nicely; I learned to knit in reverse (which is not as hard as you would imagine, and yet makes the entrelac knit up much more easily); and the crochet edging (my first) gives it a nice finish.

Tonight I will swatch for a child's sweater, for afghans for Afghans, using this yarn:

Supposedly this color is teal heather;
I think this photo is misleading

I'm looking forward to working with this yarn (Cascade is a nice, workhorse sort of yarn), and the pattern has a simple cable, which I'll enjoy. It will, on the other hand, require seaming, which just goes to prove, we can't have everything. And I'm not entirely sure where the yarn is - somewhere in my office, I think ... I'm curious to find it, and see what color it really is!

Meanwhile, I can always share another beagle photo:

Bonnie, saving her energy,
so she can bark while I swatch

Knitting Update

First of all, a reminder - we are still raising funds for Girls on the Run. Every $5 contribution buys an entry to win this scarf:

We've nearly reached our goal, so if you were thinking about making a contribution, now's the time! At this point, we can only accept checks (made out to Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run) or cash; contact me to work out the details: RobinVanderRoest @ gmail dot com. Thanks!

My entrelac Lilly blanket is nearly finished:

That top row of blue needs one more triangle, there on the right. I'll add a final row of purple triangles to fill in the gaps, and then I'm planning to edge it with single crochet all around. That sounds like I know what I'm doing. I don't - the crochet bit will be a new adventure - but I'm optimistic that I can figure it out.

The baby blanket is slowly growing, and is about half finished:

I still think it's a bit wonky. When I started this pattern, I envisioned columns of smooth, even stitches, which don't seem to be happening. I'm hoping it will relax when I get it finished and washed.

And my woodland shawl is looking good:

I've finished 44 out of 112 rows. That sounds like it's 39% complete, but not so: each pair of rows increases by 4 stitches, so they get longer and longer as I knit. The row I just finished has 81 stitches; by the time I reach the ruffle edge, there will be 189 stitches, and that ruffle increases the stitch count to 300+. I had an early set-back - the "knit 4 rows / rip back 8 rows" variety - but it's been behaving since then (and I've been paying more attention).

My sky scarf is progressing as well, a day at a time, but I'll wait til my monthly checkpoint to post another photo.

I listen to all sorts of podcasts while walking Bonnie. One of my favorites is  the Knitmore Girls Podcast. Mother-daughter team Gigi and Jasmin talk about all things knitting, and it is delightful. I recently won a drawing on their show, and received Jane Slicer-Smith's book Swing, Swagger, Drape: Knit the Colors of Australia.

When I learned I'd won this book, I looked up the patterns on Ravelry. My initial impression was "Eh. It's nice I won, but none of these patterns excite me."

Then the book showed up in my mailbox. It is gorgeous - the photography is by Alexis Xenakis, and includes so many wonderful images and colors, buildings and nature and Australian scenery. There are design sketches, and lots of good photos of the knitwear.

The book itself was a bit confusing, at least for me. I struggled to match patterns with modeled knitwear, and to understand how the patterns themselves were written.

Notwithstanding that challenge, and notwithstanding my initial reaction, I fell in love with the mitered patterns (and some of the others as well). The Miter Vee Capelet is rated 'easy+,' and I'm pretty sure I want to knit this. I've even found where I can order a kit with the yarn (a dozen different colors) online. I wonder how much the shipping costs from Australia would be.... And which colourway would be best... Decisions, decisions...

Nothing Says Spring Like Potatoes

Last night, Jim and I were walking downtown, and saw something unusual in a tree:

Do you see it there? Take a closer look:

Yes, friends, that is a potato nestled in those branches. Why, you ask, is there a potato in that tree? I will tell you: I have no idea.

Is this some sort of ritual I missed out on? Maybe someone's lunch, waiting to be microwaved? The stash of a confused squirrel? Perhaps it is Kalamazoo's answer to Punxsutawney Phil: "When potatoes appear in the trees, it means spring is around the corner."

No doubt about it, we are slowly sneaking up on spring. On Thursday, our yard looked like this:

When Bonnie and I were out yesterday, it was a balmy 36 degrees, with sunshine and blue sky:

Granted, underneath that sky, there was still snow on the ground. And today it's a chilly 31 degrees, with cloudy grey skies. But that is how spring works here in Michigan. We bounce back and forth, gradually working our way along that continuum of warmer temps and bluer skies, until one day, spring is here to stay.

I don't think it has anything to do with potatoes.