Blooregard

Bloo (prounounced Blue) is the newest member of our family! Isn't he cute? He's a black and white 2 month old rescue from the SPCA of Richmond. We went to the SPCA prepared to adopt 2 adolescent cats; however, we saw Bloo couldn't resist. He was so lively and sweet. Right now, he's pure kitten and running around as fast as possible with a milk carton plastic lid. He's having a blast. I'm already trying to teach him that my leg is not a jungle gym! Last night, he wore himself out so much that he just slept on Ben's lap all night. He's such a sweet boy!

Visual DNA

Very fun, interactive site!

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SoXperience 2007

I'm there! Let me know if you're going to Standardsville to SoXperience 2007 and perhaps we can carpool! Right now, I'm signed up for the following workshops:

Saturday:
Magic Loop Socks
Techniques for Socks

Sunday:
Yarn Tasting Workshop

Chocolate!

Ben sent me 6 pounds of Ghirardelli squares for Easter! What a good hubby! There's caramel, dark chocolate and peppermint! Yummy chocolate for knitting.

I knitted more on the hubby sweater yesterday. Sorry, no pix. It's coming along. I am working on the first sleeve as I didn't want to finish the body while Ben was away. I need to continually measure his torso. While working on the sleeve, I watched The Age of Innocence. I didn't know until yesterday that this was Scorsese film. I now need to reread the novel by Edith Wharton. I love historical drama, but am always astounded at how cruel society could be in the late 19th century. The Age of Innocence was an interesting and really beautiful movie with a bit of a disappointing ending. Despite this, it was well worth the 2 1/2 hours.

I Lied

I'm sympathetic to those poor gardeners in the Midwest and Northeast right now.

I'm not planting today because it's freakin' snowing here! This is probably the first time in my life that I'm not excited about snow. Instead, I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut-off trying to find sheets to cover up my plants. My poor 9' rose was covered in snow when I awoke this morning. All of its arms were bent to the ground! I'm not sure if I can save it now, but I'm going to try. I covered the tomato plants and peony last night. I didn't cover the roses unfortunately. The temperature dipped to 32 last night, which may not kill the roses and hydrangea. However, it's going to be 28 tonight! so I'd better try to cover them. Does anyone know how I should cover a 9' rose?

Urgh! This is not the weekend I was expecting. I guess Ms. Mother Nature is punishing us for something!


Note: Just added because I had to write it down - has nothing to do with plants or knitting. You won't believe what a staffer had the nerve to say to me yesterday. I was moving my office as we recently had someone leave and I wanted to move to a quieter, bigger office. So...I'm moving my things and this guy comes over and tells me that he was planning on moving my things for me because I am a woman! I said, 'I'm perfectly capable of moving my own things thank you.' He said, " Oh, you women who believe in 'women's lib'!" Can you believe it?! I wanted to smack him right then and there. Instead, I didn't even respond to this ridiculous, asinine statement. What century are we living in? What state am I living in is probably the real question!?

Plantorama

I'm planting this weekend snow or no snow!

You'll have to use your imagination on this post since I'm sans camera, but I bought some really awesome plants this past weekend! This happens every year to me. I tell myself that I have enough plants in the perennial bed, yet every year I get talked into going to the garden center and buying more. Purchasing flowers and plants is as addictive as buying yarn. I think I need to invest in Lowes and Home Depot stock. At least I could feel a little better about spending so much money there. Alas.

Last Sunday I was fully prepared to work on the class all day, but my friend Julie called and wanted to do brunch and a plant excursion. Of course I had to go. Julie and I had a scrumptious brunch at Avenue 805 before heading out to Stranges, a local garden center. The top of the menu at Avenue 805 was a great preview to our day: 'Overweight white woman wins the Monument Avenue 10K.' Not that we're overweight or anything, but we were definitely not running the 10K Sunday morning. After a yummy brunch, we started out on our day of leisure.

At Stranges, I found a lovely thyme that smells like caraway. The English thyme was really nice as well and I bought a couple of plants to replace some really old thyme in my garden (I didn't realize thyme dies out?). Other purchases included some ground covers and a few more lavender plants (you can never have enough lavender, right?). Needless to say, this weekend will be busy. Not only do I have these new babies to plant, but I recently bought a lady banks rose that has already started blooming in the pot. And, I have 2 kiwi vines (didn't know those would grow in Virginia either) that need a home in the vegetable garden. So...snow or no snow, I will be knitting and gardening this Easter!

Happy Easter everyone.

It's here! It's here!

13 skeins of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in green and 13 skeins of King Tut Cotton in blue! Yay! I'm planning on making the Pullover Flair by Ann Budd

and the Sienna Cardigan by Ann Smith.


All this new yarn and I can't even show you how beautiful it is! Ben has the camera and is in California. So...I guess you'll have to wait! Off to swatching!!