Spring flowers on the west coast

I love the vibrant colors... a picture taken in San Francisco.

And I am amazed at all the flowering trees...in this photo, the beautiful magnolia blossoms.

Yarn on the run...

A gal just has to have a knitting project she can take on the road, on the plane, on a knitting date with the gals.  I didn't have one on the needles...so I pulled out a sock pattern I wanted to try: Spring Forward.  (Thanks to Dee)  And I looked through the stash and found a spring-colored yarn that would do just fine. (Thanks to a hot sale on Opal cotton yarn that Nancy S. alerted me to a couple years ago.)  So, gals, you've kept me clicking on some sock projects, and the new patterns keep it interesting.

My little bunny buddy has found a new shady spot to rest after a full morning of nibbling at the wild grasses.  Evidently the little pine tree which struggles to get enough water, is big enough to give my bunny just the right amount of cool shade. That little barrier was supposed to discourage bunnies from getting to the tree.  Hmmmm.... not so effective.   This is the second day I've seen him there. 

Heart Mt.

I was driving south from Cody; the time was about 8:00 p.m. and the sun was giving the entire landscape a beautiful aspen glow. I looked back at Heart Mountain, and I decided it was worth the stop on the side of the road to take a picture with my iPhone. 

You might remember reading just a few words about the Japanese Camp created during WW II, located at the base of Heart Mt. which I blogged about in May.  They must have felt they were taken to the most remote area they could imagine!

Stalled...no longer

Thanks for the encouragement!  I picked up the needles and finished the front side of the shell.  Wahoo!  And, I think it will be OK. 
 

Knitting on hold...

That's right, I haven't picked up the sticks for 3 days!!  That rarely happens.  But, I've had several irons in the fire... and I'm putting off a decision concerning the pattern.  Do I make the armholes a little bigger than called for?  That's what my intuition tells me to do.  But how much is too much?  Would one inch do it?  What if one inch isn't quite enough? I've compared it to other garments.
 I'm pondering the decision.  I have only inches to go before the bind-off...and I'm stalling. 

A bigger opening is certainly better than one that is too small/tight!  Bigger would be OK, as I'll have to wear a cameo under this anyway; I know you can't see the holes/ loose weave in this photo...but trust me.  So, I need to commit to a decision.  However, there's no anxious feeling just looking at this unfinished section, because I haven't made the critical ("oh-oh, too late now") decision... yet.

It's retirement season...

Graduations and retirements in education... yes, it's that time of the year.

Renee, honored guest, is seated at the left.

Renee retired...and of all of us who were hired the same year, she has stayed with it the longest (41 years!!).  Don't know how she did it.  But, I say, you know when it's time.  And this spring she's throwing in the towel.  However, the event didn't go by without a surprise party -- a surprise that worked out really well.  And of course, her friends and cohorts told funny stories about events in her career, and our music teacher wrote a song (sung with a back up group) that highlighted many funny/embarrassing moments.  It was good fun. 

What a great day...

What a great day to sit in the shade ...

And to enjoy the beauty of spring blossoms.