April Skies

Light in the April skies is beautiful. As I walk these cool Spring days, I revel in the sky and the flowering trees. The Red Buds, Ornamental Pears, and others seem extra lush this year. I enjoy the little wild violets popping up in yards. This week I cleaned out the herb garden and am working on the perennial flower strip along the fence. I love 60 degree temperatures. I am pacing myself to take care of my back but it is wonderful to be scratching around in the green plants. My husband, bless his heart and knees, dug up a new space, a small oval bed that I hope to plant as a pollinator garden. 

Today is Unraveled Wednesday with Kat and other makers. It's been a finishing sort of week for me. I love the soft blush pink color with subtle tonality of this hitchhiker. I added some eyelet rows for interest. The simple classic design is so satisfying. I'm almost sorry it's finished.

I also finished this hat. I knit it to improve the tension in my colorwork. There are a few places where the red stitches are a little loose but they aren't terribly noticeable. It looks nice and is plenty warm so I plan to donate it. I am not crazy about the decreases in this pattern. Most of them are done by slipping a previous knit stitch over the two stitches slipped together. About three rounds in, I slipped the two stitches one at a time instead of together and came up with a neater decrease. Of course your mileage may differ from mine. 

I didn't use up all of the partial skeins so I cast on another child size hat. I plan to use some of colorwork pattern and my usual swirl-type decreases. 

Currently, I am rereading The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak as it is this month's selection in my local book group. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the novel so this time I have a hard copy. One member sent a link to an NPR interview with the author. She mentioned she chose a tree as a narrator because she wanted a neutral voice that would avoid the tribalism of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. I find this Romeo and Juliet story, the contrasts between the male and female main characters, and the fig tree as narrator charming. I finished Fresh Water for Flowers and loved the elegant unfolding of the main character. Violette's life is full of sorrow but with support of two friends, one male and one female, she becomes a strong gentle soul. She also has a knack for understanding the quirky people who are part of her life as a cemetery keeper. I found this to be a peaceful read. 

And here we are with only a few days left in April. I plan to visit through a local nursery or two this afternoon. I hope the rest of the week treats you well. 

Ravelry Links

Spring Hitchhiker

Slouch Colorwork Hat