Getting ready

I'm not normally a believer in "retail therapy". The exception is planning the garden in February!

Wild flowers are such fun to grow. Something different pops up every day. Last year's peas did so well, we're excited to try them again this year.

We've never grown cantelope before. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Are you planning your garden, too?

Except February

I was having a conversation with a friend at work this morning. "I like all the seasons," she said, "and I'm trying not to complain that it's snowing again. But WE NEED A BREAK!"

"I like all the seasons, too," I said. "Except for February."

February is a season unto itself. We are tired of winter, tired of snow, tired of scraping ice off the car, tired of shoveling snow, tired of being cold, tired of dark evenings. March starts next week, and with March there is hope. Yes, of course it will snow in March, but we will have some of those days when it's 55 degrees and sunny, and we will know that spring is almost here.

And you know what? We had one of those days on Friday (In February!) I washed windows, and Larry and I washed the car, and we went for a really long walk, and visited my mom, and just had a delightful day. How lucky was that, to have the day off on such a day in February?

The year Daniel was in first grade (21 years ago!) the first week in March was extraordinary.
We walked to school in short sleeved shirts with no jackets the whole week. The next week it was back to 43 degrees and rain, but that was a week I'll never forget. The memory of it gives me hope every year!

Have you ever read "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder? Whenever I am feeling unusually sorry for myself, I get it out and read it. Yes, it's winter and it's cold, but we have everything we need and then some, and we can get to the store and to work, and to visit family. It's best to read it on a really hot day in July, otherwise you will start to shiver just from reading.

I've started knitting another pair of socks, this time for David. I have been doing a bit of sewing, but since it's for my mother-in-law's birthday and she reads my blog, it will have to remain a secret for now.

Take care, and feel free to show me some lovely sunny beach pictures, you gals from Hawaii and Australia!

News Flash!

I am so excited! I went to the knitting group at the library on Tuesday, and one very talented knitter showed me how to graft. She not only showed me, she watched while I grafted a whole big cowl another knitter was happy to have someone else graft for her. So now I can graft the toes of socks. Yay!!

Adult bibs are just another form of small quilts, and a very useful project.

We are busier than we've ever been at work, somewhat limiting my time to sew, knit, and blog. I'm actually thankful that it's not summer. I don't mind so much missing out on my playtime when it's cold and icy outside. I hope you have a wonderful week, and a happy Valentine's day!

The measure of fame.

What is the coolest way you can think of to be famous? To be mentioned on "Jeopardy" of course! In the winter we love to watch the game show "Jeopardy" on television right after dinner. For those who've never seen it, it's a quiz show in which the answers to a variety of questions are shown on a board. Players select the answer, and then they try to provide the question. Larry is excellent at it, and amazes me with his knowledge. The questions cover every topic you can imagine, and last night one whole row of questions was about Sue Grafton's books. As if she wasn't famous enough!

But something even cooler happened a few days ago. You've heard me mention Stephanie Pearl McPhee, the self proclaimed Yarn Harlot. I visit her blog all the time www.yarnharlot.com and have been inspired to finish my most recent sock in the record time (for me) of five days. The contestants all tell a little something about themselves and the champ from the previous day mentioned that she had participated in the knitting olympics, which was a fun thing the yarn harlot began during the real olympics.

So . . . that is the true measure of fame. I'm quite certain I will never be mentioned on Jeopardy!