Swirls & Blooms

Finally, a finished project to share! These are the March Loopy Ewe Sock Club socks. The pattern is called "Swirls" by Monica Jines (of Monica Knits). Unfortunately (for anyone not in the club), this pattern won't be up for sale for another 6 months or so. I absolutely LOVE the pattern because it's very simple, yet looks complicated. It works up fast. Looks fab on. AND...actually fits me without any adjustments (with my big feet, most sock patterns need to be upsized). The yarn is the sock club yarn - a special dye lot from Cherry Tree Hill called Wind in the Willows. I don't know if the yarn will ever be available or not so I have to treat this as a one-off and not wear them out too soon.

One of these days I should spring for a new digital camera with a macro lens because I have a hard time getting good close-ups and trying to show you the pattern of green socks on a green sock blocker...well...I've done my best! I love the pattern so much that I've already cast on another pair of socks in the same pattern.

Just as I took this second picture, the rain started to fall - perfect timing!

I've also decided to trust that the hail and snow is pretty much behind us (finally! it's almost May for goodness' sake) and I got some flowers. Since I live in a condo and we have no yards, my "gardening" is pretty darn limited. For the first 3 years I lived here I tried to do vegetable container gardening but was unsuccessful. Since I've had great success with that in other places, I finally had to concede that for this particular location, I just don't get enough sun to pull it off. So...flowers it is. Two of the hanging baskets are for the back balcony and one basket is going on the front porch (see Kleenex hiding behind them?). The Gerbera daisies are for the big clay pot and I got a couple geraniums to fill in a small planter because not all of mine wintered over successfully. Turns out I need to get one more geranium and probably a couple herbs for the funky "wishing well" planter.