Green Thumb

I'm loving my green thumb this season. I wish I could take all the credit but I think our ice-free winter and low frost spring has had a huge impact on allowing the plants and flowers to prosper. Combine that with Miracle Grow feedings and I'm going to have a lot of fresh cut flowers to enjoy this year. My hanging asparagus ferns (from Dillons) on the patio are huge, my peonies are tall at thigh-high, the roses are full with new growth and clematis vines are in full bloom. This is my most favorite time of the year.

McGuinness Branch Socks

I've gotta say a pair of socks is my most favorite knitting project and just the perfect sized project to keep in a bag for a "Girl on the Go". I started these socks by Figheadh Yarnworks in Texas last weekend. They went with me on bike rides and even came in handy while babysitting a sleepy toddler. Now they're done and I'm contemplating what to knit up next.

2010 DFW Fiber Fest

The DFW Fiber Fest was one of the smaller shows I've been to with two standout vendors: Brooks Farm and Shabby Sheep. At Brooks Farm I got to meet KnittingFairy and purchase another one of her patterns, the Counterspell (beaded) Shawl, to be made from two skeins of Acero. Shabby Sheep had a sample Dixie Cardigan that I'll be making from Ellyn Cooper's spongy wool yarn. We went to several yarn shops in the area and I met another celebrity at Desert Design Knitz, Barry Klein. He's the owner of Trendsetter yarns and was having a trunk show. You may have seen him on the Knitting Daily t.v. show. Laurie and Pattie were very bad in this shop :) Then there was the wall of Noro at one my favorite shops, Woolie Ewe, in Plano. It was a very good day filled with yarn, mexican food, knitting by the pool and some beers with good friends. Just love Texas!

Indian Creek Golf Club

Laurie, Pattie and I are here in a Dallas suburb, Addison, for a girls getaway weekend of golf and fiber. We had an early tee time at Indian Creek Golf Club. The air was cool and the greens were very fast. We had a big laugh when Laurie drove her ball into a rough that was littered with white range balls just like hers...that was a fun adventure. Another high point was a stop later at a PGA Superstore filled with women's golf apparel and accessories. We were in golf heaven!

Exercise Before Knitting

This morning I found a 9 mile sidewalk route to ride my bicycle to Twist. (Actually I made a small detour to meet up with my KIP group at Panera first thing in the morning to grab a bagel and coffee). It was a crisp morning but soon turned off sunny and warm. The gang was all at the shop and I even saw an old friend, Tami, there learning to knit.

Jackie's on a crochet kick infatuated with granny squares and it was good to see our crochet master, Tamara, make an appearance in a doily shrug.

By the time I made it home, I figure I rode a total of 20 miles burning some extra calories before Easter brunch tomorrow.

Bicycle Thursday

I've been working to get my coworkers to bring their bicycles to work and Alisha brought her bike (Stella)
today so we could ride to lunch. Wouldn't you know we were under a wind advisory but that only added to the calorie burn factor as we climbed up and down the Arkansas River.

After work, Laurie, and I met up to ride around downtown and went to dinner. It's such a good way to get exercise and have fun with friends.

Greater Love for Stuff

How many times does this happen to you? You make a retail purchase and in return you get an actual handwritten thank you note from the shop a few days later. This is a first for me and it's such a simple act of appreciation and kindness that just blows me away. In fact, the last time I visited Stuff, the owner went out of her way to customize my purchase. I want to tell everyone I know while in Kansas City, you must visit this shop and invest in local, handmade talent.

Lunch Hour in Riverside

On days that I don't have appointments out of the office I'm able to ride Hoolie around on my lunch hour. It's a nice break in my day. Sometimes it's to Riverside Cafe for lunch or on a day like today, I just rode around the river and park.

Knitting in the Heartland

Becca, Judy, Jackie (my KIPer peeps) and I met up early this morning for a day trip to Kansas City for the 2010 Sunflower Knitter's Guild expo, Knitting in the Heartland. There were several alpaca fiber, yarns and spinning batt vendors. I came away with an ArtClub assorted batt and another Tracie Bunker felted dread ponytail holder. Our next destination was a stop at Stuff where I found the pretty Amy Labbe pearl cross necklace that caught my eye several months ago. It was just meant to be mine afterall.

Simple Things Shawlette

I found a simple pattern on Ravelry, Simple Things Shawlette, that's perfect for the denim colorway yarn I purchased during my last trip to Columbus.

The yarn hand dyed merino goodness by Neigborhood Fiber Co. at Wonder Knits. The pattern a basic stockinette design with garter eyelet ridges.

This scarf goes well with my vintage, denim Levi's duster. Yes, I've had it since the late 80's. It can also be snapped up the front for a dress and I like to think of it as retro-cool (NOT stuck in the 80s!) But then again, the 80's were the best...

St. Patrick Parade in Delano

I had some high hopes of riding my bicycle from home to downtown for the parade at high noon in Delano but it was too cold. So, instead, I loaded Hoolie up in the truck and unloaded at the stadium. Rode to the Vagabond for some coffee then over to Twist to find my spot facing Douglas Avenue. Jill and Shelly's kids kept me company as the parade passed by us throwing candy and beaded necklaces at the crowd. My favorite was the salon girls crazy, green balloon hair and hats. Then I rode down to Bicycle Xchange to take care of legal matters: a bicycle license, head/tail LED lights and a bell. Now I'm in full compliance with the city's bicycle laws.

Maiden Voyage

The temperature rose to 54 degrees today so I threw on some knitted mitts and scarf and took "Hoolie" out for her first ride over to Harrison Park. I made several passes around the park and discovered I need to get a bicycle bell. Pedistrians just don't have a clue when you say, "Passing on your left". I stumbled a couple times taking off after walking her across busy intersections, but come on, I haven't rode a bicycle since junior high. Then when I came upon a slight hill coming home I was thanking my lucky stars I have more than one gear. I'm in love with a bicycle...

February Disappointment

I was supposed to be wrapping up my February Lady Sweater (KAL) project tomorrow but instead I frogged it all today. I just wasn't feeling this project from the very start. Turns out, I don't care for the square neckline nor the way the yoke increases puckered. Just not something I would wear so I'll save the yarn for another day. Goodbye February, I'm looking forward to March and a new project.

Country Music Tour of 2010

Country music royalty came to town tonight for a sold out show. That's George Strait and Reba McEntire along with the beautiful, LeAnn Womack. Having the stage in the middle of the Arena made for a more intimate feeling concert. Also, this time, I wasn't in the nose-bleed section which made it all the more enjoyable. With over 50 #1 singles, it was hard to imagine which songs George would perform but it seems like the King (& Queen) covered all my favorites.

Schwinn Homecoming

I was soooo happy to get the call that my (new-to-me) bicycle was ready for pick up. Big Al at Hooligan Hot Rods did an amazing job on the rebuild complete with flat black powder coating, custom pinstriping, new red cables, stainless steel spokes, new tires, new pedals and new seat all the while keeping true to the original design of my 1968 Schwinn Breeze. She's a beauty and I can't wait for warmer weather to do some cruz'n around town.

Back to Portland

How exciting to get a call from my Aunt Janine saying that's she getting hitched to Dave. That means I'll get to make another trip to Portland, Oregon for the wedding in September. Such a great occasion and wonderful place to visit. Congrats, Aunt J!

Lady February Progress

I'm making slow knitting progress on my February Lady sweater. So far, I've used 3 skeins of Cascade 220 in this yummy chocolate brown color. The body is complete and now I'm starting on the quarter length sleeves.

Columbus, Ohio

I had an overnight trip with a coworker to meet with a client in Columbus, Ohio. Out of town meetings present opportunities to catch some good meals and do a little sight-seeing along the way. This time we drove dowtown past the Ohio State University north on High Street and came upon a yarn shop, Wonder Knit. Just the kind of hip knit shop you'd expect to find close to a college campus. The knitted art behind me is a master thesis project and I met Karida who dyes yarn at the shop. I selected a skein of her dyed merino in the color: Columbus Circle.

Cast-On Party

We called it a cast-on party for our February Lady Sweater knit-a-long. About 12 of us met today at Twist to cast on together and I've never experienced so much angst in starting a project. What yarn, what color, which buttons, which increase stitch, which button hole technique, oh, and if you need more inspiration or choices, check out the 7,982 February Lady Sweaters that have already been completed currently posted on Ravelry. A girl can have a meltdown from making so many decisions.