On the needles

OK, I really should be reporting knitting progress.  And there has been SOME.

I think I might have about 6-8 more rows on the lacy shawl.  Talk about slow progress; that's me on this project.  But, I'm still working at it.  The yarn eventually changes colors...and it will be good when that happens.

A traveling project is a must.  So, I've cast on a pair of socks with Opal cotton sock yarn.  Hey, Dee, I'm using the Dragonfly pattern again.  I really liked the first pair I knitted; it's worth a repeat.  Now I've got a project I can pick up any 'ol time...and the lacy don't-get-distracted project. 

It's a stretch

I think Peter Cottontail has been huddled in a ball all winter, and it must feel really good to finally stretch out in the warmth of a little sunshine. 

More leaves are stretching upward toward the warmth of the sun's spring rays.  These leaves are early.  By nearly a month.  So far they are surviving the very cool evenings.  The weather forecasts predict that we may not be dipping below 30 degrees as we move through April; I hope that's true.  Leaves on a branch of one of my aspens also leaved out in APRIL.  Seems like a stretch...

The mountains are still covered in snow.  Makes for a beautiful sight, as it helps define the foothills from the highest, rugged mountain peaks.   Will we get more spring storms to help fill the reservoirs?  Hope so.  Might be a stretch.

Open and Closed

A gal in Laramie who has the Cowgirl Yarn Shop asked me to consider making an open/closed door sign for her; the request came last fall at our Yarn Fest.  It has taken me some time to come up with just the right concept for the design.  I finally felt like I had the right idea and started the project. 

I chatted with my woodworking neighbor, and he suggested we work up a piece of distressed wood to which we could attach the felted pieces.  The wood was cut, burned with a blow-torch, brushed with a wire brush to remove the charcoal and further distress the wood.  Then, I gave it about 5 coats of polyurethane, and it's nearly ready to go.  I finished the "Open" felt first.  And then I got the idea for the "Closed" felt.  The Cowgirl and sheep are the images from the logo for Cowgirl Yarn. 

I'm hoping to have it all finished and put together in the next couple days.  I've got turquoise and brown suede leather laces to braid a length for hanging the sign.  I plan to deliver it this weekend, so the pressure is on to finish it.

A Sunday drive

I like to make a trek to The Sinks when the spring run-off is in full swing, but I made the drive with a friend over the weekend, and we saw that the melting snow was just beginning to rush down the river.

In the above photo, you are looking up river, and the water flows around to the left and makes a big curve, as it flows into a cavern. 

From deep in the cavern, it is actually a mystery as to what happens to the flow, but the best guess that researchers have made is that the water goes underground into quite a large reservoir before rising above ground about a mile down the hill, at the "Rise of the Sinks." 

When the spring run-off is at its peak, most all of these rocks are covered in roaring, foaming water, and the top of the cavern is barely visible.  See the "white" around the pine trees?  Yes, that's snow.

Making good on a promise

I got a text about a month ago from a fiber friend; she was wondering if I had forgotten that I was going to make a needle-felted Santa for her - in turquoise.  Oh wow...yes, I had forgotten.  Darn it.  Since I had been doing some other needle-felting projects and had all the wool out, I knew I needed to get that Santa finished.  Seems odd to be working on Santa when I'm relishing the return of Spring...  On the other hand,  I probably spent a little extra time on the details, as I wasn't in a  "holiday hurry."  So, he's now ready to go. I'm not particularly thrilled with this picture, but you get the idea.

Monday's Musings...

My little Peter Cottontail spent some quality time resting and soaking up some warm sunshine.  I suspect he had a busy night delivering eggs around the community. 

In the past couple weeks, very near sunset, I have been sighting the bunnies, usually three to five of them, playing... frolicking...around the yard area.  Oh, it has been absolutely delightful to watch them chase each other, jump, and dart.  I had not seen a rabbit jump straight up (like I have watched kitties do) and then start the chase.  It is funny and so entertaining. 

I have admired a lot of beautiful cross-stitch work, but have done very little myself.  Probably sometime in the late 70's I made this piece for my Mom.  It hung in her bedroom for years, and now it's hanging in mine.  

Springtime in the Rockies continues to be a roller-coaster ride...some warm days ... some cool days... I hope these leaves make it through the cold nights ahead.

Thursday's Thoughts

It's good to have a day with nothing on the calendar.

It's good to have the neighbor stop by for coffee and a chat 

before going in to town.

It's good to watch some cloudy, cold weather move in... and OUT.

It's good to watch the bunny taking an afternoon siesta...and two yellow finches hanging on to a twirling, windblown sock of seed.  It  must be quite a ride!

It's good to see that the cottonwoods feel confident it's spring and a few light green leaves bare themselves to the elements, despite the grey skies...