The Volunteer

So, the flower that turned up in my side flowerbed last year has bloomed again- giving me lovely flowers in both pink and purple.  And I'm not sure what it is, except pretty.  Anyone recognize it?  I had originally thought it might be columbine, but now that compare the blooms with information online, I don't think it is.   

In the NOT volunteer category we have Jake- who is giving me that look that says, 'whyfor you flash bright lights at me when I'm trying to sleep here?'.

And Biscuit, who draped himself artistically off the end of the coffee table and peered at me wistfully, wondering if it was time for dinner yet.  Cookie was too busy keeping the food dish under close surveillance to have his photo taken.

Me?  Oh, still knitting socks, and having vague thoughts about working on a sweater WIP...I have two, both of which are currently in need of me to do some math for the neckline.    Any bets on whether I actually finish one of them, or if I cast on something new first?

Making Hay- or at Least Flowers

This week was gorgeous and sunny and warm, contrasting very favorably with the prior ten days of rain, cold, drizzle and occasional downpours for variety.   Despite being very busy, everything seems easier when the sun is shining.

I put the zipper in the little sweater, and it's gone off to a very small new little boy.

I also found and photographed the other 3 pair of mittens that were floating around.   

That brings the knitting photography up to date.   I'm on the second blue stripy sock, but it's really only getting attention when I'm waiting somewhere, like for my order to come in a restaurant.  

Biscuit has been getting attention however.  (He kind of demands it.)  See, while he has never liked especially to be picked up, he would tolerate it.  And really- a cat that fluffy and cute should expect to be picked up and snuggled a lot.   But then we finally learned the way he wants to be held- right-side up and supported on the cradle of our arms.  He'll stay like this for quite some time.  Certainly long enough to put your arm to sleep.  (He likes wool sweaters, too.  The one my husband is wearing in this picture is possibly my favorite sweater that I have made, ever.)

So now, when Biscuit is bored, he'll come and complain.  And he will be picked up and walked around the library, or just held and patted.  While he purrs, and occasionally flexes a fluffy paw in contentment.  And we go, "aww...."  and try to restore circulation in our arm.  

In other news, I got out in the yard this week to see what was going on.  Quite a lot of bulbs haven't bloomed and the lone hyacinth has gone by, but the miniature daffodils are adorable as always.  

I have to wonder about the bulbs- last year a lot of them barely put up leaves after the harsh winter- I'm hoping they'll eventually come back.  

There's a positive riot of violets all over the place, from white to violet and everything in between:

The forget-me-nots are unforgettable. 

The candytuft iberis is soldiering on.  It doesn't seem overly happy.  It may need some fertilizer.  

The lupines aren't blooming yet, but they are spreading like crazy.  And the volunteer columbine from last year is back with more buds.  

And last but not least, the lilies of the valley are putting on a lovely show as always.  

Sprung

Remember last post when I talked about how gorgeous the weather was and how I climbed a mountain?  I found the photos- here's the view from the summit of Long Mountain in western Massachusetts. 

And that was the last we saw of the sun.  The whole week has been wet and chilly. However, although the cold rain and gray skies make it hard to tell, the apples know that it is spring.  

Various plants around the yard have been putting up greenery and even a few buds.  Though the very first tulip wasn't open a day when someone nipped off the blossom and left it lying on the ground beside the plant. I suspect the squirrels.

Biscuit's response to the rain (as well as many other situations) is to have a nice lie down until something interesting happens.

Biscuit in the castle

Biscuit's method doesn't work for me, (for one thing, the cat castle is a tight fit for a human), so I've been cuddled up with a stack of books and my knitting.  After a certain amount of counting, recounting and cursing of seams, the little Tomten jacket is finally (almost) done.  Which is to say that the knitting is done, ends woven in, and it's blocking, so I'll just have to add the zipper once it's dry.  

Surprisingly, Biscuit left the jacket completely alone right up until I started trying to take a picture, at which point he sat on it.  Because why on earth would I be taking a picture without a cat in it?  

Happy Mother's Day, to all the moms out there.