Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Glorious Icarus!

I finally got it on the needles! I've been drooling over this pattern now ever since I learned how to knit, a little over two years ago. Well I finally CO for it this past Friday and it's going famously. I love how boring the spines are, and how I can take the pattern anywhere and know where I am when I pick it up.



My funny co-worker Bill DiLuigi likes to leave notes on my knitting when I walk away from my desk. They're hilarious! Things like, "We're your friends, we can help you through this" and "This is the Devil's handiwork". Well, attached to my knitting ziploc in the picture is the most recent one from yesterday. If you can't see it, it says "This should have been quarantined in Mexico".

Bill is the extra-special musician in my department, who modified the song "Psycho Killer" into "Psycho Knitter" just for me. I requested he make it more generic so all my knitting friends could enjoy it and he's in the process of recording it for us now. I'll be sure to share it when he finally gives me a copy.

In gardening news, I transplanted my egg-carton seedlings into pots of wonderful potting soil last night after work. Yes, in lieu of knitting I gardened. Sometimes it's a tough call, and the knitting doesn't always win. I've got pictures of my pots to share, but right now my knitting is calling my name and it's winning over blogging. Tomorrow will be rainy, I'm interested to see how the transplants do in their new (temporary) homes.

Next, I start my Charentais melons! Three for my Mum and three for me. In exchange she's giving me seedless grape suckers she started off her established vines and some yellow (crookneck & straightneck) squash. Only problem is - I have no place whatsoever for any of these plants... and thanks to the beautiful motorcycle-riding weather I am way behind in my garden construction. Here's a pic of my youngest son & my best friend Scott getting ready to ride. We stopped in Dickson at the Perfect Pig BBQ joint for lunch Sunday. Great BBQ! My bike is the one with the flames.



And here are three pictures of what's preexisting in my garden. My rhododendron which I would have SWORN was going to be pink but instead is the most gorgeous purple I have ever seen.



And my two azaleas that I was considering killing because I didn't like where they were growing until they bloomed and now it's not even an option. The white one has a carpenter bee feeding in it (I love those guys!) and the coral one is tiny but really packs a punch with those beautiful flowers!



I'm glad I waited to see what was already here before doing anything drastic. I love my yard, now I can plant all the flower seeds I ordered with a happy heart. I don't have to remove any azaleas!

Coming soon, pics of my pruned crape myrtles. I really chopped these guys and was worried they wouldn't survive it, but they've got leaves! Next year I'll have to prune the one on the side of the house. I was scared to do it lest the pruning be too much for the others to survive. I didn't want them all to die.

1 comment:

Lette said...

I can't wait to see the Icarus all done up. It is for you, right? I love lace shawls! The notes are hilarious! You should leave some on his desk. From your knitting/yarn. Things like: "Watch your back!" and "If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open......" or "At night, when you are away, we pee on your desk." heheheheh You can have so much fun with this. ;-P