TGIF.

seen in our front yard on Tuesday morning

I've been a long-time fan of #blueskyblooms ... I think I'm going to start #rainwashedblooms (which apparently is not a thing already ... how can that be given the "spring" we've had?!)

But this post is really about Friday - which came super fast this week!

Thinking about ... June, and what I'd like to say "yes!" to this month.

Grateful for ... generous friends who have offered me help, support and suggestions about so many different things this past week - working around Blogger's comment notification fail, thinking bigger about my blog, balancing our women's ministry financial reports, making copies, punching holes, and simply listening.

Inspired by ... this crazy stormy wet weather to re-think my workout routine. I love getting outside for a walk/run, followed by a little Pilates or yoga, pretty much seven days a week (I tend to skip the extra stuff on Sundays). But maybe a little time on the treadmill mixed in with some other stuff (weights, Pilates, yoga) would be good. (and weatherproof). Oh my - I might even end up with completely different workouts on different days of the week. That was certainly my routine when I worked, mostly because I couldn't work out every day. but non-working me has gradually evolved to more or less the same thing seven days a week. Curious - do you mix up your workouts?

Fun ... Katie and I have made plans to meet back at the Beltline tomorrow morning with the boys. playground. picnic. coffee. ice cream. I can't imagine we won't have a blast!

Here's to a wonderful weekend!

FO Friday | Edie.

Happy Friday, y'all! It feels like it's been the longest week, and I still have things left to-do on my list, but one thing I do get to cross off is five days of blog posts ... and finished Edie photos!

I'm really pleased with the length now (and so happy I spent the eight-ish hours to fix it).

Ravelry details here 

Isabell Kraemer is one of my favorite designers - great shapes, fun details and well-written patterns - and Edie delivers all of these. Isabell wrote the pattern to use a 100% linen yarn (the lovely Quince & Co. Sparrow). She says she added the slip-stitch stripe detail - barely visible in this photo - to combat linen's tendency to bias. I used a 90% merino/10% linen blend (Madelinetosh Dandelion); and while my swatch biased like crazy, the finished piece looks ... fine! Go figure.

The only modifications I made to Isabell's instructions were to work Sunday Short Rows (this is my go-to short row method and while Carol says she doesn't recommend them when the short rows are worked just one stitch apart, I did it anyway and it worked fine) and to bind off with a size up needle. If I'd paid closer attention to my row gauge, which was a lot bigger than the pattern suggested, I would've known to knit a lot fewer rounds the first time around. (you'd think I'd know better!)

When I chose this spot for the photos, I had hoped you'd be able to see the beautiful irises blooming behind me. Sorry about that! Here's a photo I took yesterday afternoon and there are even more blooms today.

I'm so glad it's #blueskybloom season again!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ... that's not nearly as stormy as the weather folks are predicting 😀.

Eye Candy Friday.

An unexpected thunderstorm blew through our neighborhood yesterday evening. It left behind a most-welcome sign of hope,

rain-washed blooms

and bright blue skies.

Happy Friday, y'all! and to you mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day!

FO Friday | Comfort Fade Cardi.

When I cast on (way back on March 4), I thought this might be just the project to convince Spring to come ... and stay. Turns out she wasn't that easily tempted. I bound off the stitches while we were in North Carolina and finished it up late last week. I've already had two chances to wear it - and thankfully, Sara was around for one of them take photos.

Raveled here 

I'm a newbie to the whole "fade" thing, and it was only when Tanis (from my favorite indie dyer TanisFiberArts) released kits that I succumbed. The pattern itself is a very (very) basic topdown seamless raglan - easy to knit ... and easy to fit. The fade works because the body of the piece is reverse stockinette - the purl bumps really blend the colors.

The cuffs and collar are knit in garter stitch ... time-consuming, but effective. The bulk of the tight row gauge helps the edges lay flat - way more than reverse stockinette would.

I think the dark to light fade on the collar is my favorite design detail.

Not that Holly appreciates it!

and in keeping with tradition - a favorite outtake - it was really windy!

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend - and a Happy Easter or Passover if you're celebrating.

TGIF

borrowing this Friday post idea from Kym, with thanks!

more of the lovely landscape outside our North Carolina cottage

Thinking About ... solitude. I've been reading Holy Solitude this Lenten season. As an introvert, I've always felt comfortable being alone (I need time by myself to recharge). Haverkamp is introducing me to a whole new-to-me cast of folks through the ages who practiced solitude with purpose.

"Being alone sounds sad, aimless, or lonely, to hear ads or memes describe it. Solitude, however, is chosen and purposeful." (from the Introduction)

I'm looking forward to incorporating some of her ideas into my morning solitude time ... after Easter.

Grateful For ... a slow day at home. Marc's playing golf and it's just me and the dog. quiet. peaceful.

Inspired By ... the longer days and other signs of Spring to lighten up. my wardrobe. my diet. my house.

Fun ... Sara arrives this evening! we have plans for lunch with mom, a wine tasting, Homeland "live" (the only time I watch it in real time on Sunday evening is when I'm with her) and dinner with Katie.

Here's to the weekend! Have a good one, my friends!

Happy Weekend!

It's not often that I get to 5 o'clock on Friday and have all the items on my list checked off. Today, those items included getting our taxes ready for the accountant, a trip to Costco and dropping off last week's consignment pieces.

Opening up the first pinot grigio of the season (because it was supposed to be 73 degrees and full-on sunny today ... weather folks lie!) and a new book, along with my first knitting of the day seems like the perfect way to celebrate.

Happy Weekend - hope y'all have a good one!

Fridaying Alone.

Thank y'all so much for your kind words and encouragement on yesterday's post (and yikes all the email on the iPad! I'm a qwerrty girl but I can't manage more than pointer fingers on the iPad "keyboard" ... first world problems 😉) - here's hoping it's a short learning curve!

So, day two of the Madison Project (as I've now named this crazy iPad thing). I knew I'd have the day to myself. Sara is working today but she's off on Monday. When we were at dinner last night I was telling her how excited I was about a "day off"; she didn't get it. Yes, I'm retired, but I have "obligations".  (It was hard to explain.) I was thinking about no alarm, knitting, a walk, lunch out by myself, cooking dinner, ... and no other plans ...

Here's a bit of what transpired. Dark early. Oh boy, I love the view from Sara's sofa (where I sleep). Her apartment faces south, looking over Lake Wingra.

 

I had, as Honoré would say, "an extended MSQT". I got up off that sofa at 9am, did a 20 minute yoga routine, dressed and got out the door just after 10 to visit the yarn shop across the street (my home away from LYS). I did buy yarn and I promise to share. soon.

Lunch out, by myself, was a real treat. I went back to the restaurant Sara took me to last night (and had the same waitress we had...if she recognized me she did a great job of not showing it). I ordered a glass of wine and artichoke toast. And started a new book (Study in Charlotte). I read almost 60 pages while I ate ... wonderful!

 

Back at Sara's I got down to the real business of the day: catching up on Homeland. Sara is a fan. She hosts a blog and a podcast about the show. and she told me in no uncertain terms when we talked about plans for this weekend that she would "not be stopping to explain stuff to me."  Ok. I watched one episode at home and the last two today.

 

And I'm glad I'm through the short rows on the sweater because I even boo-boo'd the increase round while I was watching. I need plain old stockinette for this show!

Which brings me to dinner. With a cocktail to start. That's a raspberry simple syrup going on in the back and roasted vegetables on the front. I've got a plan...we'll see how it turns out!