What's Up?

This is the latest project to keep my hands busy during season finales of my favorite shows. I used this yarn (Caron Simply Soft) to knit Emma a little cardigan hoodie quite a few years ago. It was striped so I ended up with a lot of left over yarn in these fabulously bright, cheerful colors. You may remember this post from last fall and the large granny blanket I was making out of this yarn. It sat in a bag since then, never finished. But then I started seeing the gorgeous Hexagon Blankets on Ravelry and inspiration hit and once again I was frogging an almost completed project. Even though this is inexpensive (read: cheap as hell) acrylic yarn I'm loving this project and know the finished object will be lovely. I think it will end up either in a hope chest awaiting a grandbaby someday (or maybe just another grand-niece from one of our many nieces and nephews) or it may just grace our guest bedroom where the walls are painted that bright green.


Speaking of FINISHED crochet projects here is the Ripple Blanket in its natural environment. (In truth, its more natural environment is in a heap on the floor in front of the sofa because it is always being used by someone in the family and they don't remember to fold it just so and put it back on the back of the couch.)


I have some other things I have been working on around here too. I have a back and one front done on the Nantucket Cardigan but it seems to be in a little time out right now. I love it and it is coming together quickly but I've just been enraptured with the crochet again.

We also spent a good long weekend working on the yard and I'm really happy with how it is looking again. All the hard work I put in last fall has paid off this spring. I finished up a few last little tasks and ordered 15 yards of hardwood mulch. The four of us spent three days edging, mulching and trimming about 2 weeks ago. Then it was warm and then rained a lot and now everything is up and green and gorgeous.

These purple clematis are right outside my den window and I just adore them. They are my favorite shade of purple and are blooming like never before. I have white and dark red clematis elsewhere in the yard that should burst into bloom this week.

The last and maybe most important bit of news to share is that I finally found a job! Back in the fall when I realized I needed some outside help to pay off my debt from the store I stopped at the new Bernina dealership in town and dropped off a resume. The owner was very nice and interested in having me teach some kids/teens sewing classes. We finally got around to talking seriously about scheduling some classes and then she called to ask if I was also interested in working part-time on the sales floor. I jumped at the chance! I've been there just about two weeks and I'm enjoying it very much. It's nice being "just an employee" again.