G

Kathleen-
Continuing in my attempts to catch up with the ABCalong, G is for Garden.

I've had gardens all my life, and one of my favorite things about our townhouse is that I have 2 garden beds. The front bed is full of hostas and lilies planted by a previous occupant, and the clematis planted by me. The back are is all edibles, including a huge pot of basil:

a bunch or herbs for cooking, a cucumber plant:
And two tomato plants in containers.



Both of which produced their first riped fruit this week:


There's really nothing like a sun warmed tomato, picked fresh off the vine!

F

Kathleen-
F is for flowers, whether the daffodils, clematis and lilies in my garden.....



\Or the flowers in public spaces.....




Or tulips that brighten up the depths of Minnesota winter......


Or Farmer's Market flowers in July.
F is for flowers, indeed.

E

Kathleen-
I really struggled with E. And then inspiration hit.

So E is for Elm trees, like the ones that grace the campus of our alma mater (and my current employer). I love these giant elms, that survived the Dutch Elm epidemic, and tower over the lawns.



They even have a stark beauty in the winter.

So Sorry

Kathleen-
I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandma, she was a truly wonderful woman. We're thinking about you here, and as Friends say, holding you and your family in the light.

To continue your tradition of randomness today, I've written the following post.

I've been spinning quite a bit: I joined Carole's 10 minutes a day of spinning, as well as the Tour de Fleece. This week I finished this:

About 200 yards of Shetland fingering weight yarn in blues, greens, and purples from my long ago Spinning/Roving Swap.

And I've been working diligently on turning this 8oz of Frabjous Fibers BFL Top in the Purple People Eater colorway:

I'm spinning very fine in the hopes of a light fingering weight yarn at the end. It's unbelievably soft and easy to spin. We also had a special visitor to knit night:
Yes, that would be a hedgehog!

Random Catch Up

Hey Flan,

As you know by now, I am unexpectedly in Washington. There was a death in the family and after the call went out all three of the children managed to get ourselves across the country within 24 hours of notification. Our country is definitely large, but thank goodness for modern means of transportation. I kept thinking about what would have happened if we lived in the horse and buggy days.

I haven't visited my hometown in over two years and it's kind of trippy to see what has changed and what hasn't. The world's most fabulous Cherry Lemon Sours are still at the Soda Fountain and, most important of ALL, there is a new Knitting and Tea shop! Yarn in the front half and tea in the back. Could it be more wonderful?! Actually, it could have been open when I was there (was the 4th of July...), but thankfully, I have a few more days in town.

The Parents have a new puppy. She's a lot to handle and has an affinity for ankles. I named her "Attila". The Father can't remember the name he gave her so keeps calling her by the previous dog's name. We've all told him to just re-name the current dog as he can barely get our names correct.

One of the best parts about visiting my parents during the summer is the food. Not food that they make, because somehow they seem to survive on cheese and crackers, but food grown in the valley where they live. Currently, the cherries are ripe and cost a delightful $1.99/lb. Also, blueberries and raspberries are in season. I can't wait to go to the farmer's market.

Sorry this is random, turns out if you accidentally fall asleep on the couch at 8pm, you just might wake up at 4:45. Not too bad if you adjust for the change of Central to Pacific time, but a little early for coherent thoughts nonetheless. Hope you had a nice 4th.

D

Kathleen-
Want to know how far behind I am in the ABC along? I'm on D. D was supposed to be back in February. But having only recently found the necessary photos, I'm plowing ahead.

I was lucky enough to grow up with a series of really wonderful dogs. All Airedale Terriers, all strong-willed, funny, affectionate, and protective. I think you met one when you visited my mom's house in college.

Last year, mom got a new airedale puppy, and just like the others, I think he's wonderful (though more of a handful than any previous dog I've met). So D is for Dogs, and particularly for Coltrane.




Next post: Updates, spinning, knitting, visitors to knit night, and more! And soon to come: ABCalong E-J