Happy May Day

Flax Sweater

Happy May Day! Once upon a time, my dear Mom helped my siblings and I assemble and deliver May Baskets. Sometimes they were paper cups with pipe cleaner handles and other times they were more elaborate construction paper creations. We filled them with popcorn and small candies - gum drops, M and M's, and/or candy corn. The custom was to set them on the front porch, ring the doorbell, and then run so the recipient wouldn't chase after you and kiss your cheek. My Mom never wanted any child to be left out so we placed May Baskets in large dress boxes on the back seat and she drove us to the homes of classmates who lived further away. When Mom was a girl, she filled May Baskets with flowers from the yard and only a little candy. My children carried their baskets to nearby neighbor children. Today my Connecticut grandsons are delivering a few to church personnel, much to the recipients' surprise. Is this a Midwest custom or did children in other parts of the country also deliver May Baskets?

Yesterday light rain fell and today is gray and damp. In between rains, I weeded two perennial flowerbeds. The iris show a few buds and the lilacs are blooming. This week has been quite chilly but that will change. I am dreaming about planting tomatoes and basil after the last frost date. In the meantime, a healthy crop of weeds grows in the vegetable patch.

Since I am linking with Kat and the Unravelers, I add knitting/sewing and reading notes. I haven't finished any projects but I haven't unraveled anything either. This past week I finished sewing together the blocks of Norah's Christmas Quilt. The next step is to shop for fabrics for a simple border and backing. Slowly but surely. No deadlines makes the process much more enjoyable. I also knit on two little sweaters. I hope this baby sweater blocks flat. I have knit this pattern previously and had no trouble with a rolling edge so I am hoping for the best. Norah's Flax Sweater begins to look like a sweater. I rarely knit with the yarn/gauge specified in a pattern so I swatched for both projects in order to choose an appropriate size. I tend to knit a little bigger size as babies always grow. This new little one, due in August, is a second cousin to Norah and all the boys.

Louise Cardigan

I am almost finished rereading The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland. As usual, I had forgotten parts of the story. Emily Carr, the heroine and main character is certainly intrepid and unconventional. I may look for a little information about her. I am always curious about how closely historical fiction follows fact. I listened to The American Agent, the latest Maisie Dobbs novel/mystery. Maisie moves into World War II in this novel. Descriptions of the Blitz bombing of London in 1940 as well as Maisie's personal life, including a romantic interest and a child she is adopting are part of the story. Returning to this series is like meeting up with a good friend. The narrator is excellent. Time and tea with Maisie Dobbs are perfect for chilly spring evenings. Both of these novels are pure escape reading but sometimes escape is just the thing.

Welcome May. May the sun shine a little brighter on all of us. I am looking forward to flip flops, capris, and tee shirts. What about you?