May Projects

Hello Gentle Readers. These spring days are warmer. My garden blooms are mostly periwinkle. Lavender iris, flax, a few phlox, and campanula. Once years ago, I bought a pot of campanula with small blooms to use as a centerpiece. After the gathering, I stuck it in the corner of my herb garden. I had no idea if it would grow but it continues blooms. Did I just jinx myself by writing about it? I hope not. Last weekend I planted tomatoes, flower seeds, and herbs. Whether the bachelor buttons and calendula grow remains to be seen. Gardening hope springs eternal. 

Last  Thursday, while ferrying plants and a watering can in and out of the patio door, I was thinking about the rest of the day and promptly walked into the screen. My sandaled left (bare) foot struck the screen head on and water splashed inside and out. The watering can, the plants, and the screen were fine but my big toe was not. It didn't fracture but bruised royally and loosened the nail. So dumb! I can walk comfortably with sandals and a bandage for padding but it's going to be a while before I can put on walking shoes. All I can say is beware of a wandering mind and screen doors. It also doesn't hurt to have Epsom Salts at the ready. 

Today I link to Kat and the Unravlers to enjoy the comradery with other makers. Monday I finished the baby blanket as a gift for an extended family member. Simple garter stitch knit with love isn't fancy but it is soft and sweet. The white yarn is lightly speckled with yellow and lime green. It's hard to photograph. After I wash it, I'll tuck it away until the baby arrives or perhaps I am invited to a summer baby shower.

While I worked on the blanket and propped up my foot, I conjured up knitting projects with stash. I settled on a vest and last year's birthday yarn. After looking at vest patterns and knitting two swatches, I chose "Avenue Vest" by Tori Yu. I've barely begun the upper back and am undecided about which neckline to knit. Any thoughts? I continue to work on the shawl but no new photos.  

I read Afterlife by Julia Alvarez. This novel, published in 2020, was the author's return to adult fiction after fifteen years away. In the afterword, she writes this is her first book as an "elder." The novel is a compact volume with a big story. Themes of family, literature, immigration, hope, and personal responsibility are skillfully woven together. While the main character deals with the unexpected death of her beloved husband and her younger sister's mental health crisis, a stranger, a young undocumented pregnant teenager, shows up on her doorstep. This plot could easily have become a dramatic soap opera but it did not. Literary references scattered throughout the novel were used to develop the main character and also show how she moved from well intentioned thought into reluctant but effective action. The cover is also beautiful and worth the price of admission. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Heads up as you come and go from the great outdoors. Have a good week.

Ravelry Links (Not including links did not allow me to reply to comments. If I have an email address for you, I'm using it to reply. Eventually I will sort this out.)

Baby Blanket

Avenue Vest