We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming...

to bring you this

and this


I was going to write about my new project, and my languishing projects, you know, the usual, but then not half an hour ago the sky went black, thunder ripped across the lake and, well, it hailed...



Ben offered to "model" the hail for me, but quickly realized, it's cold

hence the face...

so I am off to make my confession or something because I have NEVER seen weather like this in all my born days... we've had more thunder and weirdness in the past month than in my whole life... I think something bigger may be afoot...

and now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

Sandra.....

oh, Saaaaaaannnnnnnnddddraaaaaaaaa...


I hope you got into as much trouble as I did...

but I digress...

when last we spoke, we had suffered much at the hands of Mother Nature, and I was rescuing baby birds and righting tossed nests...

well, the robins had a 66% survival rate, for which we were very thankful. We found one of the little guys hopping around the yard - well, actually, Charlie found him - I saw Charlie sitting erect and completely still, paws outstretched. When I called him, he turned his head very, very slowly - like horror film slowly - and then turned back just as slowly - something moved, and he got up, tiptoed (I kid you not - my 100 pound dog was tiptoeing) and stretched his paws out on either side of whatever it was.

I couldn't get a picture of him protecting it, but this is what it was:


It eventually flew away, leaving poor Charlie bereft (empty nest syndrome for a male dog - go figure) - we think he needs a kitten.

The cardinals have, I believe, flown the coop as well, but I did get in there for a little peek


and in spite of the HUGE thunderstorms and hail we've been experiencing recently uh huh, hail - , Buddha is much happier with the weather these days


In knitting news, there has been some stash enhancing going on... just a bit, really...

Jenn of Woolgirl fame makes everything seem like a present, like a special occasion - it almost seems wrong to unwrap something so thoughtfully, so artfully put together. But then you do and you find this

samplings from the Unique Sheep, including another set of graduated colours to make more of these .

There has been the Art Walk Sock Yarn Club to enjoy (really, I see this as culturally enhancing more than stash enhancing - it's like going to a museum in the comfort of your own home)


There have been other interesting things going on - attempts at resuscitation followed by reckless abandonment and new loves...

but that can wait till next time...

CARNAGE

I woke up this morning to this:


Our robin's nest turned asunder, and initially, no babies to be found
.

I did eventually find two of the three babies, and thinking they were dead, tried to scoop them up very gently. Turns out, they were both still alive, barely, so I righted the nest and (never touching them, because I don't know if it's a myth or not) tucked them both back in, hoping beyond hope that their mom would show up.

She has. She's been in the nest with them since I put them back in.

Fingers crossed and good vibes...

Look who's moved in to the neighborhood...

We found them because Charlie was making every effort to climb up and into the shrub where the nest is - not sure if he wanted to eat them or snuggle them (he caught a bird a while back and we found it nestled between his HUGE paws, trembling, while he licked and nuzzled it), but there they were, with their mom in a nearby tree.

They grow fast

and like typical babies, all they seem to want to do is eat

and eat...

and as if that's not enough, we also found this last night, in a lilac bush right beside our dining table:


Mama cardinal sitting on, I think, eggs, with the dad always lurking nearby...

Gosh, and we were feeling sad that the mourning doves hadn't made their usual nest over the front door this year - now it's like a nature show in our own backyard...


We have finally been able to start eating outside, and the flowers? Oh, the flowers...


I love spring...

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Maggie turned 7 yesterday, making her (technically) a senior.






Somehow, I doubt that very much...

A moment of silence, please...

as seen in our local newspaper...



Fare thee well, Mr. Squishy...

Wow

I mean, really, WOW!!!

My Loopy Ewe sock club installment arrived today, and well,

WOW!

Live, in person, Wollmeise sock yarn (people, do you have any idea how hard it is to find this stuff??!)

And a new (to me) gadget - Lord, how I does love a good gadget....


So, WOW...

I was looking at the socks I have on the go right now, and have finally come to realize that I like small - small needles - 2.25 or smaller -
I currently have three pairs in action, and I got to comparing the yarn and needles...

First are these Toe-Up Monkeys, for which I have either totally buggered up the pattern, or made up my own design. I am using red Darn Pretty Needles made by Grafton Fibers (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these needles), 2.25mm, and Sock Pixie yarn in the "Toni Morrison" colourway. I love this sock - I love the needles, which are very firm, very smooth, and look awfully pretty with the yarn. I don't think I've really appreciated the aesthetics of yarn and needle together till now, and I have to say, this one pleases my eye. Both eyes.


This is the first sock for the first installment of Woolgirl's Seven Deadly Spins club. 4 colours of Verve by The Unique Sheep put together to make rainbow socks. Again, I love the yarn, and LOVE the needles - more of Grafton's DPN's, size 2.25mm.


My second pair of socks from Flat Feet by Conjoined Creations, made with 2.5mm Brittany birch dpn's. These needles have been my stand-by for years, but now, compared to the others, I am finding them rougher on the surface, and, well, a little large. The yarn actually calls for 3mm needles, but I just couldn't... and the yarn... well, it's totally fun watching the pattern unfold beneath your hands, not knowing what exactly you'll end up with. But the yarn itself is almost plastic-like, not nearly as soft, or firmly spun, as the others I'm using.

So, I guess what I've learned about myself is that I like small knitting. Very small knitting. I like fine, tightly spun fingering weight yarn and 2 - 2.25mm needles, preferably needles which are made from hard, smooth wood. And looking good with the yarn is a bonus.

I have also learned that I belong to several sock clubs. And that I like to knit socks.

Wow.

Well...

well, where to begin?

We are recently returned from two (uh-huh, TWO) weeks of this

and this
and this
,
where I was also able to to this
,
and to read all this .

I have never, in my life, read 5 books on vacation - and that doesn't count the two audiobooks I listened to ("Tweak" by Nik, Sheff, and "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult).

Why, yes, I am a little more relaxed, actually... thank you for noticing.

And then we came home to this

,
and these


Lord, how I love vacation... and as glad as I am to be home, I want to know where the guy is who just knows that, by 3 or so in the afternoon, I am in need of a dose of mango daquiri... we don't seem to have those here...

sigh

on the plus side, we have a long weekend coming, so a little more recovery time is planned...

He's a Tween!

Today Ben is 12 - I cannot believe I am saying that about my baby, but there you go - he's 12!! Twelve years ago today I felt my water break at 4 in the morning, dropped Tanner off at my mom's and rushed to the hospital, thinking that this time I might get to deliver naturally. We waited... and walked... I had some labour pains and decided that another c-section might actually not be so bad... and waited... and walked... and finally around 7pm, they brought me in for surgery.



They inserted the needle for the epidural, which prompty snapped off in my spine - I remember a lovely, kind nurse holding her forehead to mine, speaking calmly and soothingly, assuring me everything was fine. The doctors tried again, successfully this time, and they went to work. I remember the surgeon howling with glee at the size of Ben, 10LB 1OZ, after having just delivered two 5 LB twins. I saw the size of his head and said a HUGE thank you to the powers above for the c-section. He was actually holding his head up in the recovery room, which frightened another nurse to bits.

It was kind of weird, but I knew he was a boy, and I knew his name was Ben, the instant I figured out I was pregnant. His father was worried that I hadn't even considered other names, but I just knew. Never argue with a pregnant woman.

Now, at 12, Ben is almost as tall as me (5'7"). He has a wild sense of humour, which keeps his brother and I in stitches. He has a huge heart, and is very sensitive to the needs and thoughts of others, sometimes to his own detriment. Ben will try almost anything once, and as his teacher told me, marches to his own drum while maintaining a close-knit group of "peeps". He loves hockey, playing and watching, performs magic, can knit, likes reading, and will still give me a hug and a kiss even if his friends are around. What a blessing this guy has been - I am so proud of him, and love him with all my heart...

Happy Birthday, Ben!