For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a big batch of scarves, and they are finally ready! I’m planning to list them in my shop today at 11 a.m. ET. My shop will be closed Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, so be sure and get your orders in this week! Just for fun, I also dyed up a few shawl kits for Gudrun Johnston’s Hansel shawl pattern. When I first came across it last year, I knew I wanted to dye yarn in colors similar to the ones in the shawl on the pattern page. I created the kits using single-ply fingering weight yarn that I think is perfect for this pattern. I’ll also be listing a fresh batch of lavender patchouli soap. That soap seems to be a favorite, so I am making it a little more frequently than others.
Spring is firmly here in our area, and I am trying to take walks every day to keep an eye on everything that is happening. Some years, I miss the liverleaf’s tiny pale lavender blooms, but this year I didn’t! Tiarella that I planted our first year here between the roots of a beech tree sent out runners last year just as I hoped and will be blooming soon as well. Over the weekend, as I searched the bank of the creek for little Virginia bluebell leaves, I heard approaching footsteps. Then I watched as a red fox crossed the creek less than 20 yards away. That was really neat to see, though given that it was headed towards our backyard and our chickens, I wrapped up my nature walk and hurried home myself. I’ve been hearing male turkeys gobbling in the woods, and hope that I’ll see baby turkeys later this spring. Of course, my biggest hope is always to see a little spotted fawn. Last year I didn’t see one on our property, but Seth had one cross the path right in front of him.
I pulled weeds for an hour yesterday after arriving home from our homeschool co op, and we watched as a swarm of bees moved into one of our empty hives! Spring is so exciting! Of course, with spring comes a million things to do, many of them tasks that I wasn’t planning on. I was possessed by the urge to clean the tops of our kitchen cabinets yesterday, so I dropped everything and did it. I guess it’s time for spring cleaning. The important thing for me is to enjoy each task as I am doing it, and not allow myself to look at the big picture and get overwhelmed by the neverending nature of all the work to be done.
Is it spring at your house yet?
Heather says
It is very much spring here in East Tennessee. I hung clothes on the line yesterday, and was watched by horses leaning over the fence to beg apples while five of my children took our newest ducklings for a walk in the grass. After a long, hard winter (my mother passed away and one of my youngest sons was gravely ill at the same time), spring is God’s gift of warmth and promise to my weary bones.
Rita Moeller says
I’m in northern California and my daffodils are past their peak but the leaves are just unfolding on the trees. We’ve had LOTS of rain storms and a pretty cold winter [32 and colder] which I know everyone else in the nation laughs at. We are so green right now, but soon we will be the Golden State again as summer comes. And we must water a lot to save our flowers in the summer. I love the green of summer and the 70 degree days and cool nights.
Jennifer says
Daffodils just beginning to burst and Scilla popping up in lawns here in West Michigan. We are thrilled! I’m a little baffled at how your little one is caked with mud to her elbows, but clean everywhere else! How did that happen?
Linda says
Hi Ginny, I was also interested in the perpetual calendar. It’s so beautiful. I wondered where you purchased this from? Thank you for your lovely writing 🙂 ~ Linda
Astoria says
That’s a great book. My favorite of his is Buried Giant. It’s about an older couple’s marriage grappling with their past, their losses, and how to face death alone and together. Very lovely. It’s very realistic in terms of marriage, but its set in more of a storybook/fable kind of land. Like all his books the writing is very quiet and beautiful.
GretchenJoanna says
Those are the greatest pictures! I especially love the mud nearly up to the elbows 🙂
Here, **finally** we have a break from the rain, and possibly no more rain this season. We are accustomed to rainless summers here in California, which has not been as sunny as usual this spring so far. But everything is popping up and popping out now. I have to pick asparagus every day!
Shelley Knoll-Miller says
Reading from Australia so we are in Autumn (Fall) here. l’m enjoying red leaves, and a welcome break from our summer heat, but am also aware of the fading light. I’m wondering how long I’ll long I’ll be able to harvest the last of the summer vegies before the frost claims them. Haven’t written earlier Ginny, but I wanted to say how much I appreciated your thoughts and vulnerability from earlier posts about turning 40, babies etc. I’m in a really different position (only 3 kids but was hoping for a fourth which probably won’t happen) but I still found your honesty to be refreshing and your insights to be useful.
Anne Weber-Falk says
This was a throughly delightful read today. Thank you very much for sharing. This made me so happy.
Sandra says
Snow in Maine too! It’s cold and I don’t think there will be a spring this year.
Emily says
“To enjoy each task as I’m doing it…” is my goal this spring, too. It’s my way of living out my faith that joy is there waiting if I turn away from the anxious thoughts and temptation to grasp for control. Thanks for the encouragement today!
Joan says
Spring is here in New York. The Crocus’ are up. This year a white one bloomed that never was visible any other year. Last week Marilyn and I had bags of weeds,growth and everything else from the back yard. Much more to do.
Wishing you and yours a BLESSED,HAPPY EASTER.
Joan
Marilyn says
Love reading your posts. The photos of Larkspur and Mabel cuddled together in bed are precious.
Have a BLESSED HOLY WEEK and a HAPPY EASTER
Marilyn
Marion says
Hi Ginny;
I noticed the Tiarella flowers . They are lovely. Happy that Spring is there for you.
HAPPY EASTER
Marion
Lisa says
spring here in north carolina too! we’re busy getting outside work done before it gets too hot, and I’ve got freeze pops on my shopping list now 🙂
Jeannie Gray says
It’s definitely spring here in Virginia. We had our first thunderstorm of the year yesterday and we’re sleeping with the windows wide open. I don’t trust the weather enough yet to put the houseplants out on the deck quite yet but… As for spring cleaning, I get to escape it this year. My husband is (slowly) painting the interior of our house and there’s misplaced furniture, tarps and paint cans sitting everywhere. It’s impossible and pointless to try to clean around the painting mess.
Cassidy says
Yes! I’m in TN and spring is definitely here now. We added bird feeders outside, and I couldn’t resist the ferns for the front porch any longer. I also put some petunias out on my back deck. The other morning, I had coffee on my porch and read a novel while my kids were finishing up their chores. It was pure bliss. This winter was hard on our family. The illness seemed constant. We had two stomach viruses back to back. It was horrible. I am loving spring a little more than usual this year.
Dawn Harris says
I think you have identified the maker and source of your perpetual calendar before but I can’t remember. Would you mind doing so again? It is lovely!
Lou says
Sort of Spring here…nearly 80 degrees yesterday and today but then snow on the way. We will drop 60 degrees in 24 hours! The weather is very dramatic here in the Rockies of Colorado. Thank you for this wonderful blog. I love the calm, peaceful way you write—especially in the midst of our tumultuous weather. And your yarn is such a dream to knit with.
Eileen says
Under ‘Blizzard warnings” starting tomorrow morning! Oh yeah, spring time in the Rockies! These crazy fun storms come through till mid May where I live, 79 degrees today, tomorrow the bottom drops out. I call these Spring storms,”poor man’s fertilizer”, (it’s an old saying and I love it).
Sure wish I would get into the spring clean thing, though I did clean and re-organized my sewing room. Have a great day and your scarfs look wonderful!
Kate says
Yes! I’m in central Ohio and the weather has been lovely. I lived in California for many years and I don’t think the west coast can truly appreciate spring the way the east and midwest does. I bought pansies yesterday and enjoyed strolling around the nursery.
Cristina Reintjes says
No! It snowed up here in Vermont yesterday. We’re closing on a house in Smithfield Virginia this week though so I’ve been fantasizing about all the things I want to plant in our very shady wooded property once we get there ?