Joining Ginny for this week's Yarn Along:

It is hard to believe an entire month has gone by since I last posted! My little blogging break was completely unintentional--I've just been so busy enjoying my gardens, our pool, the woods, the flea market, Book Talk at the library, knitting, singing at church, and being with my children that there hasn't been much time for the internet. 

These socks just came off the needles this morning. They remind me of a spring garden:  lilacs, rhododendron, bluets, violets, phlox, and azaleas. The yarn is Prism Merino Mia, color 'glacier'. The pattern is Diane Mulholland's free toe-up sock pattern, modified slightly (I used Judy's Magic Cast-on for the toe and Wendy Johnson's gusset heel). They fit great and are wicked comfy. I've been thinking that it might be a fun challenge to knit a pair of socks a month. I know that a lot of other knitters have done this, but I wonder if I could do it. 

I am reading a really wonderful book called Driftways, by Sarah Elwell. This author is a true artist. Her latest offering is a collection of eighteen short stories, each accompanied by one of Sarah's stunning photographs. There is even a suggested soundtrack included. If you've never read one of Sarah's books, you are in for a treat. Her writing is rich, lyrical, and layered with meaning. Her stories will haunt you long after you've read them. 'Beautiful' seems too common a word to describe the experience she has created with Driftways, but in its truest, fullest sense, this book is, indeed, that. You can learn more about Driftways here, preview it here and purchase it here. 

 

My garden has exploded in the last few weeks. We've had so much rain, that I rarely have to water it-- the plants think they are living in a rainforest. It really is beginning to look a bit like a jungle out there. The peas are over six feet tall, and the broccoli is the very best I've ever grown. In another week it should be ready to harvest. I just pulled up the last of the radishes yesterday.

All of my rose bushes suffered damage during the very cold winter, but my favorite rose, the 'Brandy' hybrid tea, couldn't be saved. I've replaced it with a hardier grandiflora, a deep orange prize winner called 'Strike It Rich' (which, to me, sounds more like a racehorse than a rosebush). I love June because the roses come into their first flush of blooms. I took the photos below right after a rainstorm yesterday afternoon. The white rose is 'Moon Dance' and the pink is 'Tiffany'.

I've got lots more to share, but I'll be back on Friday to show you some of my flea market finds, yarn I've purchased, and things I've seen in the woods. : )