SPINNING, SPINNING, SPINNING

"Always desire to learn
 something useful."

~Sophocles

I have the desire
to spin my own yarn--
just not the talent
and You Tube is
not really helping.

Earth Mama  was
right about it not
being as easy as it
looks.

I found a little
spinning wheel
that might make
the process easier--
what do you think? xx

YARN ALONG

I am still very slowly
working on my raglan cardi.
Since the yarn is so tedious
I decided it really was ok
to have more than one
knit project at a time.
[I have learned that I am
a Type-A knitter: something
I am working on].
I decided to work a very
simple string produce bag
for the new season. I
cast on a few dozen stitches,
joined and am just knitting
around. Very simple and very
relaxing. When I think it's long
enough, I'll decrease to make
a bottom, make two handles,
and have a new bag for vegetables.

I enjoyed The Yarn Harlot so much
that I ordered Free-Range Knitter
when I placed my last book order.
 Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has become
one of my new favorite authors.
I love her style of casual writing
and how she can make me  
 laugh out loud. I have plans to
read everything that she has or ever
will write. xx

Linking with Ginny

GRATITUDE

"Silent gratitude isn't
 much use to anyone."

~G.B.Stern

Not long ago I was the fortunate
winner of a giveaway hosted by
Maya. She has a wonderful
blog, maya*made, that I enjoy
visiting. Maya is a very talented
women who always inspires me.
 
I won a copy of The Write Start
written by Jennifer Hallissy.

I have since read the book from cover
to cover and have found a lot of
inspiring ideas to use.

The first part of the book explains
the importance of writing, which
tools to use, and how to use them.

The second part is broken down
into 52 classic writing activites,
each with variations for the four
stages of writers:
Scribblers
Spellers
Storytellers
Scholars.

We are enjoying the ideas that
I learned for my little scribbler
and I am looking forward to using
this book for all of her writing
stages.

Thank you Maya for the
wonderful giveaway.xx

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?

"What is your hobby? Every woman
 ought to have some pet interest in
 life, outside of the everyday routine
 which composes her regular occupations.
 What is yours?"

~The Mother's Magazine, January 1915

This past year I learned a new hobby:
to knit

Before that I use to:
to paint

I received a gift:
an easel

A woman can have
more than one hobby,
right?

What is your hobby? xx

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

She just ate a bumble bee:

not her first:

she does it often:

no matter what I do

to try and stop her.

xx

Edit: She isn't hurt:

she is happy with

her snack!

MARBLES

"It's a brand new ball game.
 All the marbles are out there
 on the table and anybody
 can win."

~Norman Black

They have been around
for thousands of years and
now they have become very
popular in my home.
Ringer is the game of
choice...
would you like to
play? xx

YARN ALONG

"Have patience with all things,
 but chiefly have patience with
 yourself. Do not lose courage
 in considering your own imperfections,
 but instantly set about remedying
 them every day begin the task anew."

~Saint Francis de Sales

I am wondering if it is only me,
or do other knitters rip out
their knitting as often as I do?

Sometimes it feels like I begin
knitting the same stitches each
day [think Groundhog Day ].

I am only two inches in from the
ribbing on my raglan cardi since
I ripped it all out and started again.
I knew with the mistakes that it
contained I would never wear it.
I really had no choice.
The bamboo yarn has no give and
I am having such a hard time with it.
I am going extermely slow this time to
make sure every strand of the yarn
is completed in each stitch. We'll
see.

On a happier note, I am reading
Yarn Harlot and loving it. I nearly
choked  when I read the chapter
'Stash'. I recommend this to all
knitters or just to anyone who
loves yarn. xx

Linking with Ginny

LADY BANKS ROSES

"Everything is blooming most
 recklessly; if it were voices
 instead of colors, there
 would be an unbelievable
 shrieking into the heart of
 the night."

~Rainer Maria Rilke

I pruned them way back
and now they have become
so reckless in their blooming
that I can no longer use my
front door.

Lady Banks Roses, while they
do not give off a scent, do make
a yard look lovely.

According to the nursery page,
 they only bloom once,
 but someone forgot
to tell to my plant;
my Lady Banks rose will
continue to bloom until
fall. xx

THE NEWEST MEMBERS

"I don't ask for the
 meaning of the song
 of a bird or the rising
 of the sun on a misty
 morning. There they
 are, and they are
 beautiful."

~Pete Hamil

Here are a few (blurry) photos
of the newest members of the
family. I had to take their
picture thru the pen as they
can really fly and they are fast!

On Friday we adopted fourteen
Bobwhite quail. There are six
boys and eight girls.

I have been enjoying listening
to them sing to each other.
Perhaps in the future we will
collect the eggs, but as for now
there are no plans.

Aren't they beautiful?! xx

Edited: These birds were hatched in a factory for a hunting plantation that is close by. Quail season is over and these birds could not survive in the wild. I rescued them so they wouldn't come to any harm. They are an extermly skittish bird , but they have a beautiful voice. The females coo and the males say 'bob-white, bob-white'. I read that a lot of people who can not have chickens are keeping quail as they are smaller and quieter. They lay little eggs that are speckled blue.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. xx

WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

"I don't like gourmet cooking
 or "this cooking or "that"
 cooking. I like good cooking."

~James Beard

I spent a wonderful Saturday
at the 26th Annual Wine &
Food Festival at Honey Horn
Plantation.

The weather was perfect,
it wasn't too crowded,
and I was able to watch
some of the area chef's
demonstrate their cooking
skills and sample some amazing
food. [I am not a wine drinker].

My favorite dish was prepared
by Eric Sayer from CQ's Restaurant.
He prepared a Beet, Blue Cheese
and Apple Salad. I do like good
cooking. Yum! xx

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beet, Blue Cheese and Apple Salad

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1beet, roasted and diced
1 granny smith apple, peeled and diced
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup toasted pecans
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 fennel bulb, sliced thin
1 head baby lettuce

Head olive oil and add beet, toss, add pecans, apple and honey, toss again. When the liquid bubbles, add cider vinegar and shaved fennel, coat. Add baby lettuce and balsamic for 30 seconds and place on plate.

YARN ALONG

I just cast on Cosmicpluto's raglan cardi.
I belong to the Ravelry group New Techniques 2011 KAL
and my challenge for March is to learn button holes.
I am using Naturally Caron bamboo blend yarn and
while it feels very soft, I am not liking how it knits
or handles on the needles.  I have just started
so I am going to keep my fingers crossed that it
gets better the further along I knit.

I am reading The Spirit of Food and loving it.
I think I first saw it on Ann's blog as she
is one of the 34 writers who contributed to
the book. xx

Linking with Ginny

THANK YOU FOR SHARING

"Not what we give,
 But what we share,
 For the gift
 Without the giver
 Is bare."

~James Russel Lowell

I want to say a big

thank you to Stacy

from Golden Bird Knits

for sharing this knitting

pattern. It is a lovely

pattern and  has turned out

to be my favorite gift

giving item.

I finished my scarf, added

fringe and am now ready

to wrap it in pretty paper.

I am already planning

my next scarf; this time

in recommended bamboo

yarn. xx

A POST OF SILENCE

How about a silent post in respect to all the many people in Japan who have lost their lives. What a humbling reminder to live each day as if it's our last.

My heart pours out love.

Joining with Farmama

xx

SPRING FLOWERS

"God has sown his name on
 the heavens in glittering stars,
 but on earth he planteth his
 name by tender flowers."

~Jean Paul Richter

     [wild plums]

   [wild purple flower]

    [white peach tree]

    [Red Maple]

   [White Wild Flowers]

   [Double Delight Rose]

   [Turkey Pear]

[Yellow Jasmine: South Carolina State Flower]

[Lady Bank Rose]

[Tea Olives]

[Camellia flower]

The thermometer reads 81 degrees.
Day light savings time has begun.
Our bodies are still on 'normal' time
so I had time to stroll around
the yard before cooking dinner.
Spring flowers are everywhere I look.
And...
so is the pollen! xx