WWKIP and snow in same week!

Did I say spring? Well, on Tuesday, June 10, I was up early enough to see it start snowing! We have had snow in Moscow every month so far in 2008! This is not normal! Usually, after the first week of May, we head into lovely weather, and by June, there is hardly a day without bright, blue skies! This is a closeup of my allium in the snow!

The snow didn't last long--the advantage of spring snow--but it did snow enough for someone to take some great pictures of the University of Idaho campus and post them on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Y0RoMykk8

But yesterday--Saturday, World Wide Knit in Public Day, it was beautiful and sunny and lots of folks showed up at the Moscow Farmer's Market to knit in public. I had learned about it on Ravelry and suggested to our Woolgatherer's group that we participate. Cathy, a real go-getter, got permission from the Farmer's Market folks, made some signs; I posted the information on the WWKIP main website and on our Palousefibers.org. But it was still surprising to find a variety of folks show up. Some came and went; some stayed almost all four hours. Folks showed up from the Woolgatherers. from Stitch-n-Bitch groups in Moscow and Pullman, WA, a few men showed up, and we even had a grandmother from Spokane! It was great fun!

Gardening and Knitting

Now that spring has finally come to the Palouse and I can get outside in the dirt, it becomes a challenge to decide what to do in my free time--knit or play in the dirt? Notice, one of my choices is not "clean house"!

So, it's, stay inside when it's dark--raining--too hot, and spend the rest of the time weeding, pruning, planting, etc.

I do enjoy working in my yard. Last year, I had my entire "front yard" plowed up so I don't have to cut grass and I'm turning it in a big flower garden. Already had quite a few things planted here and there, but I splurged and bought more perennials that I have had before at a single time.

When I bought the house, the previous owner had already planted quite a few irises on the front edge of the yard. Luckily, her choices were mostly shades of purple. I planted a few allium last fall, and they have come up just beautifully. I love to cut flowers to have on my desk at work, at the few allium that I've taken in draw much appreciation.

I'm aiming for a yard that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds and other flying creatures (although I have to say that I've seen too many mosquitoes already this year!).

Two years ago, I already turned the part of my front yard on the narrow side of my driveway into a miniature rose garden. Last weekend, I fed them and did a little pruning left from the fall, and the roses will soon be in bloom.

I have a small area to the side of my house set aside for veggies--have tomatoes, lettuce, kale, beans, zucchini, peppers and a few other miscellaneous things planted there. Seeds are just beginning to come up.

It's been a slow, cool spring--and rainy all this week--which makes it excellent to dig out the insistent grass that keeps trying to come up where I don't want it!

But I finished my entrelac shawl last week, put on a fringe, and blocked it. I really enjoy the entrelac knitting, and the colors of the shawl are just fabulous.

I have so many knitting projects in mind--and so much yarn--so little time! I tend to have many projects going at once: at least one that takes concentration that I have to do when home alone; something easier that I can take with me when I join other people knitting; usually at least one sock on the needles; and a couple of projects just waiting to be finished.