what happened to being caught up??

it’s back to cold weather for us this past week; but even with temps in the 20s and 30s, i’m stalking the daffodils—looks like they could burst open the moment it gets warmer than 32 degrees. this patch is just across the yard from my office window and i look for it eagerly every year. david is so thoughtful to plant bulbs and flowers where i can see them when they bloom.

a heap of spare compost got left by the garage last fall when a sudden snowstorm caught us unawares (david had been using it to spread over the garden beds). somehow, a bunch of tulips bulbs ended up in it (now, i wonder what furry little meddler could have done that??). now the compost pile has a carpet of tulips coming up on it, which means we probably won’t be able to move it back where it belongs til much later in the spring.

the tulips are coming up thick and fast in other parts of the yard as well—much thicker than last year. which makes me think it’s not just the compost that’s helping them along. i wouldn’t know if this is a cyclic or weather-related thing, or if it’s due to slightly different treatment. last year david read that after dying back, tulip bulbs left in the ground love to be kept very dry. so he was careful not to water them after they bloomed, and we didn’t have an excessively rainy summer. maybe it worked—they are literally tripping all over each other for space.

i feel so discombobulated today—i have a million ideas in my head and a long list of actual organizational tasks i need to get done. how does my workload transform itself from even-keel to out-of-control in just a few days? it’s not like i was sitting on my laurels, not working all week . . . but i was mainly working at the computer and not knitting too much; that’s how i got behind on knitting, anyway.

so i’m hoping to do a lot of knitting this weekend to get some of the projects under control.

the boxleaf wrap is growing—i started the second half and everything went swimmingly with the join. i’d love to finish this piece off so i can block it on monday or tuesday. look at that fiber glow—the josephine yarn from briar rose really has beautiful, rich color depth and nice sheen.

hahaha, it really looks a bit forlorn and ragged right now—it’s going to be completely transformed when it’s blocked—can’t wait.

speaking of blocking, have you seen jocelyn’s maplewing, which she finished the other day? you should take a look at her blog photos—it’s stunning in the cream sweet lace yarn she used, from the sweet sheep wool shoppe (ooh, and i see michelle is having a sale til march 31 . . .).

i started the second rimefrost sock

i would love to get this second one done in time for the pattern release (hopefully the middle of next week), but i’m not sure i can. i sorta started too many socks last month and full pairs are in short supply right now (ooops). i’ll just keep working at it for late-night knitting and see what happens.
meanwhile, gail is working away on hers and we’re both lovin’ the fearles fibers tight twist yarn (gail is new to FF, but i think she’s about to become a big fan, hehehe).

i also started my fernfrost cashmere scarf but it’s so pathetically small that i’m ashamed to show it to you. that’s the second thing i’d like to make gains on this weekend.

i do have some selfish knitting planned for the weekend as well; my third goal is to get my gray sweater knit to the underarms at least. i am determined to get that sweater done this spring—it’s just the weight i like to wear in april and may (looks heavy but it’s fingering weight). i even have a carrot which i’ll tell you about later to keep me incentivised (seriously, that is a word they used to use at the consulting firm i worked for some years ago, hahaha . . . i don’t miss that place at all.).

the first bricker sock is off the needles and is awaiting its mate—it might be a few days before i even start that one. david is already eyeing it and drooling a little without realizing it, ahem.

now, here’s something that doesn’t require me to do anything but rave about it . . .

i got a special package from romi in the mail today with two of her new pin designs. the penannular pin above is actually one that i’ve had my eye on ever since i first saw it; i just think it’s such a clever design and i adore spirals. i think there is a scarf on the needles that needs that pin, in fact . . .

and i love this one from her elements collection too—a copper swirl with a beautiful pin through it—like a little poof of wind (or magic). and it totally appeals to my geeky math side as well (hey, math and magic go together . . ).

you can find these and many other gorgeous pin designs at romi’s website (don’t get lost!).

i really need to do some cooking this weekend too—i bought ingredients yesterday to make baked ziti that won’t keep long, and it’s the perfect weather to make a warm, comfort-food meal like that (AND it’ll use up some of the tomatoes i have in the freezer—i love how we’re still eating from the garden right now). so before i even start knitting today, i want to get the sauce going.

and i’d love to make a big pot of vegetable soup, maybe tomorrow—i’ve gotten sort-of addicted to soup for lunch and snacking this winter. if i make big batches and keep them in the fridge, i can grab a little bowl of it any time during the day, all week long—it’s just the kind of thing i crave and it’s so easy to fix (and i’m so lazy about fixing lunch).

i have new knitting projects planned but i think i’ll save that for another day—it kinda leaves me with a head buzz when i talk about them and right now, i need to work through my list.