i swear, ociffer, it’s not a garden blog

Posted on annePosted in designing, lace/shawls, projects

growing by the hour . . . .
i know. it’s just been a torrent of garden pictures this week and last. i can’t help it—so much is happening out there. and it’s so inspiring.
for those of you who stop by just for the knitting, i’m sorry; truly, there is no plan to turn this into a garden blog. i really do make an effort to keep it related, however loosely.

for instance, today. i’m so excited—there is startitis in so many places. all sorts of little unfoldings are going on here.

the fritillaria have finally come out. and my beloved may apple (just since yesterday morning—i checked). look, the one on the right even has the start of the apple (they don’t all end up with apples—only some).

we are very lucky to have this plant grow happily in our back garden. and there are these . . . surprisingly, a little earlier than last year’s fiddleheads.

i hope i’m still here when they unfold a little more; i want to photograph them again (i got some great shots last year).

and how this relates to what i’m knitting, or thinking about knitting is

i see the same unfurling shapes in this lace, and i’m going to knit the next little nothing in it.
with kim’s whisper merino lace yarn. i love this sweet pea colorway . . . i’ve been dying to put this stitch with this yarn for a while, and finally it’s time.

this is an easy pattern—no lace knitting on the wrong side, nothing tricky—a sweet little motif.

(our pear tree bloomed today; the scent is out of this world, which makes for better knitting)

i switched the new shawl (did i tell you the name is star of evening?) to the longer needle so i could use my shorter needle for the new scarf, and because it’s time . . . it’s getting bigger. but while it is still able to be spread out a bit, i had david snap a photo of it on my shoulders

it’s more than half as long as it will be eventually; i think i have 6 out of 10 total repeats done.

and i am barreling along on my new sock too. i’m making the cuff a tad shorter than i normally would (about half an inch) because i know the yardage on the STR skeins often comes up short, and i have only one.

that said, i think knitting on 64 sts in medium weight makes a good size for david, and, not having long legs he doesn’t need the extra length in his cuff. he will like the thicker fabric of these (if he were really an accountant, and had to wear dress shoes, he might not, but that’s what the 72- and 80-stitch sizes are for—smoother, thinner yarns).

this photo is nice because it shows the true colorway, which is the deepest blue-black sprinkled with a few dashes of a gray-blue and a good dose also of deep ultramarine blue. love.

(ok, that photo was sneaky . . it doesn’t have anything at all to do with the knitting, i just like it)

i think that’s all i have for today, actually. i have to go out and shop for a swimsuit tonight to take on my trip. arrrrgghh. why can’t stuff like that just appear in my drawer without any participation from me?
i’m having trouble finding little lightweight summer sweaters—not handknit ones, but those very thin ones; the kind we definitely do NOT want to knit. i did find pants though, lucky me.

ok, bye for now.

make of this one whatever you will.

36 thoughts on “i swear, ociffer, it’s not a garden blog”

  1. I love the plant photos. I don’t think I miss cold winters, but I miss new things bursting out in the spring. (but not willing to leave the smell of dry coastal hills)

    How can you sit inside and knit? Maybe it’s chilly out…

  2. Oh, keep the plant photos coming! They’re great, and I love seeing where you get your inspiration from! (Besides, I find it amusing to picture your classy self bending down eye-level with a hosta to get a beautiful photo, ha ha!)

  3. Yay for Spring!!

    Very wise to cut the cuff short for David’s socks; I had to buy another skein of STR to finish off Josh’s socks. Boys just have big feet…

  4. I love the garden photos too, just what I need after this long winter!
    Your new swatch looks great, I am loving the color, I can’t wait to see the finished scarf! 🙂

  5. ALL the photos are fantastic… May Apple? I’ll be watching… and no, is that Lily of the Valley?
    To tell you the truth I enjoy the plants every bit as much as the knits :^)

  6. OMG, I always say “But, Occifer…” 🙂 What a hoot!! Love the flora! After winters in Michigan, we all love to see little green things blooming! (and I don’t mean ET) Your love of (and creation of) beautiful things is ever-inspiring. Please do share your garden pics with us!! but, occifer…

  7. Your garden is just going nuts! I love seeing where you get your inspiration from. The new scarf looks like such fun, and I’m loving those socks (another pair to put on my list of socks to knit for Rick for next winter). A bathing suit? Are you actually going to be brave enough to get in the ocean? 🙂

  8. Wow are things ever growing fast there!

    I LOVE that lace stitch in the swatch. I definitely see where you’re going there. I bet that stitch would look nice combined with that lily of the valley looking stitch…

  9. As someone who lives in an apartment and doesn’t have a spot for their own garden I love seeing the garden photos they are absolutely stunning. Also the new lace pattern you are working on in the Sweet Pea colorway is amazing looking especially in that colorway.

  11. I agree with Keatyn – your photos allow us apartment dwellers vicarious garden experiences.

    I am surprised you have not knit yourself a swimsuit!

  12. so many exciting things going on! of course, your knitting keeps going full speed ahead (lovely blue, lovely shawl, lovely swatch), but it’s so fun to see all the garden action. i keep wandering into my mom’s garden to find the picture of the day – even the same plant varies from day to day. one of my favorites, the bleeding heart, is in bloom right now…if i’m not careful it’ll lead to my next lace project!

  13. Another collection of oh-so-sweet photos of Spring coming into its’ own. And that one you “snuck” in was just the best – with that little viola(?) sneaking it’s face around to say hi! And compliments on such a smooth (think Santana’s song) segue into your new little nothing project.

  15. Oooh, I want to see what the springy little nothing grows up to be.

    And you should continue to post lots of garden pictures–my neighbors have lovely gardens, but there aren’t enough around here.

  16. I love the garden content as much as the knitting — and they really do tie in to each other beautifully. I can’t believe how fast everything is growing this year. Do keep us posted. All that’s missing is some of your wonderful food.

  17. Your pictures of the garden are fantastic & I enjoy them as much as your knitting. Please carrying on taking such lovely pictures.

  21. I also love seeing where you get your inspiration from, please don’t apologize for the garden shots! The shawl is coming along beautifully and that prospective little nothing is going to be something (and what a perfect color). Don’t sweat the bathing suit; you could always shop for it when you get there. (Assuming it’s safe to go in the water.)

  22. Thanks for sharing your spring photos, its nice to see that it has arrived somewhere in the world :0)
    I love your new little nothing, its gorgeous, perfect for spring.

  23. The garden photos are lovely, it’s so nice to see how everything bursts out of the ground so suddenly. Everything goes much slower here. I am very curious how the May apple will be, never seen one before 🙂

  24. Love that unfurling lace! Whoo hoo! Can’t wait for this one. My sister just had cervical surgery and wants some scarves to cover up the scar – this would be perfect!

    And love the garden pics too. Very renewing!

  25. Well it least I get to look at a garden — it is SNOWING here in Mn this am. Glad I didn’t rush to wash and put away my woolies.

  26. The garden shots are so, well, springy! I appreciate them. Some of them are almost pornographic! HA! You are a knitting wizard, I swear. You must knit every waking moment of the day and night. You know, you could knit a swimsuit really fast!! Then, you wouldn’t have to leave the house, and you’d be the hit of the beach! You can’t go in the water, anyway, there’s sharks out there!!!!

  27. The garden pics are delightful and uplifting! There’s nothing happier than watching Spring pop up and unfurl in the garden. That yummy green little nothing scarf is going to be fabulous!

  28. I have May Apples growing in my Massachusetts back yard (from nursery plants bought long ago). I came to know and love them growing up in Ohio, and I was surprised to find you don’t find them in the woods around here. These have been moved several times, as well has being “lawn mowed” many times (neither my husband nor my father-in-law knows much about plants!). I am still trying to figure out the flower/no flower thing, as well as the two leaves/one leaf thing. What a curious plant it is!

    And by the way, the garden photos are every bit as enjoyable and inspirational as the knitting photos!

  29. *sigh*

    How I envy you and your not living with a strict HOA. I have the desire right now to punch someone in ours, who just came to my door to tell me I couldn’t plant flowers in my front yard.

    LOVE the socks. Another pattern I’m going to have to get.

  30. When I was little, I had trouble with consonants. Apparently, I said “occifer,” and “mazagine,” two words which are still “familyisms.” Imagine my surprise when I opened your blog!

  31. Anne – there are no sharks in my pool or jacuzzi…. you’ll be safe. but 7 miles of beaches are closed…. just till monday. And then on tuesday it’s surf’s up girl!!! ha ha ha

  32. I love your garden tours…please don’t stop them. You have such interesting and beautiful things springing up in your yard!

    Good luck with the swimsuit; those are my least favorite things to shop for, I think. But to have a need for a swimsuit might not be so bad…

  33. Anne- Kim’s Sweetpea is my all-time favorite yarn and color- I need some more.

    I see she has a Fiddlehead color as well.

    P.S. I saw the SweetSheep and she was wearing THE Snow Shawl- so I guess we have met through your shawl. It’s fab, Anne.

  34. Oh, your pictures are fabulous as always. I can’t wait to see your “Star of Evening” shawl…I just have to have this one….even though I can’t knit lace very well, I can at least admire the pattern and the wool, right? Have a safe trip!! 🙂

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