Spring has Sprung

There is a green that only occurs once a year,  When the trees and flowers wake up from their long winter naps and come to life.   The green that nature presents starts out almost yellow and gradually turns into a lush and prefect green as it soaks up the rain and sunshine that spring provides.

Aside from suffering from allergies, I love spring.  I love the renewal of the season and anticipatory feelings that anything is possible.  Dreams and wishes seem real and all you have to do is fulfill them.

This past weekend, I got a chance to take some pictures of the flowers around my dad's house.  I still need to do some massive weeding but the bulbs and lilacs are coming into bloom.

I love the smell of Lilacs

 I am afraid the weather got to our lilacs this year.  We have had quite a bit of warm weather earlier than usual and then a few hard frosts in between.  Our lilac bushes are usually bursting with color and smell but not this year.

I had to hang off the side of the deck to get this shot.

Another thing about spring is all of the bulb flowers that just pop out of the winter ground like little zombies and then bloom into lovely daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, and crocuses.  I may have said in the past that at some point in my life, I want to go to Holland for their tulip festival.  Riots of color and patterns that bloom in the spring.

The sun created really pretty shadows while I was taking pictures.

 
My mom loved Tulips and there are various blubs planted around the house that are so cheerful and colorful.  I think I may have to get some more bulbs this fall and pollute the front garden so next spring is just a riot of color.

I loved the inside of this tulip

Really isn't that the magic of spring, these beautiful flowers are popping out of no where but the days are warm but there is a crispness and coolness that reminds you that winter was just in the air.

What are you doing?

But then again, to Zoey it just means more birds to chase and more sun spots to snooze in.

What do you love about Spring?

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - And the Scarves Have It!

Hello again, it has been a busy week this week but I did manage to get some work done on my WIPs. Here is the compilation picture.

Progress Picture for 4/4/2012

In the picture above are the projects that I worked on last week.  Falling Water Scarf , Gryffindor Scarf, and the Hummingbird Socks.

I am really pleased with what I got accomplished this week but with Easter coming up and finals (test and paper) for my grad class coming up.  I think my crafting will have to go on hiatus, but we shall see.

This scarf has faux cables through the magic of SSK and K2tog!

I have been epically frustrated with the falling water scarf because it just didn't seem to be turning out the way I expect.  I am using Space Cadet Creations fingering yarn I got at the Knit and Crochet festival and I just wanted to show the tonal color and the sparkle to the best of it's ability.

Well, this guy went into time out and when I picked it back up this week everything just seemed to click and I was able to see the pattern emerge from the yarn.  So happy that I stuck with it, as this is going to be a beautiful scarf.

About another inch or so to go until the heel flap.

I have added a couple inches to the Hummingbird sock and can't wait to get to the heel flap but am comfortable with the pace I am keeping on this sock.

The Gryffindor scarf really is my go to project right now, particularly when watching the Penguins or any TV program.  The Pens won last night against the Boston Bruins, but I had to switch over to another program because I felt like I was jinxing the game.  I did get about 9 rows done on the scarf.

I am going to the next game on Thursday.  It's against the Rangers and I am so excited.  Not only am I going to the game, but I am volunteering through work to sell raffle tickets for the Flight 93 Memorial before the start of the game and through the first period of play.

You will also notice that I have some stitch markers in the compilation picture.  After receiving and purchasing some awesome markers, I thought that I could make some.  Really I just love how they hang from your work and are more attractive that the plain old plastic ones.

Aren't the Bumblebees and Lady Bugs adorable?

I still have some finishing work left to do on many of them but the above is just a sampling of what I was able to create. Really I know they look complicated but after about 15 minutes of work I end up with a handful of these colorful gems.

I do want to plug my own handy-work a bit, my good friend Samie at Not Your Gram's Afghan is doing a giveaway for her blog-aversary.  Not only do you win 2 skeins of King Cole Riot and a pattern for the Spring Ripple Scarf, but you get 5 stitch markers that I made!

Stitch Markers for Samie's Giveaway!

Go check it out and register to win!  *And may the odds be ever in your favor!*

Check out other WIPs at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

* First person who comments below with the source material of the starred text above will get a set of stitch markers in their color of choice!  Good Luck!

2012 - March Recap

I feel as though I just worked on getting the February mosaic done but I am really pleased with everything I got done this month.  The weather had been finicky but in general spring has come in full bloom.  I can't wait to show you pictures of flowers and spring here in Pittsburgh.

  <3 Heather

PS Check out my good friend Samie's blog for her blog-aversery giveaway!