Good Morning!
Once again (thanks to Mabel and the LOUD birds this morning) I got up early. Actually, I like doing that. As long as I feel fairly rested the early morning hours are some of my favorite. It's quiet (except for bird song) and peaceful. I consider it found time!
Speaking of found time...I did wind a skein of sock yarn and started another sock last night!
This is one of the skeins I recently bought from Lisa (Fibernymph Dyeworks). It is Mountain House - Winter. The yarn base is "Heavenly" and it is lovely - an 80-10-10 blend of SW Merino, Cashmere and Nylon. It does feel heavenly!
Yesterday ended up being a longer day with Iris which is not a bad thing. Colin had a conference call that went later than normal, so I was late getting home. I was beginning to feel a bit rushed trying to get dinner going and doing a few other things, so I decided to skip yoga. My shoulders were bothering me anyway. So, instead, after dinner and listening for 20 minutes to "The Long Ships" with Fletch I cleaned up the kitchen and then pulled out the skein of yarn and caked it up. I've only done about half the cuff so far, but it's a nice start. Then Fletch and I started Season 2 of "Drops of God" - if you have Apple TV, I highly recommend this. I don't knit while watching TV (we usually turn out the lights) and this show has subtitles anyway (it's in English, French and Japanese). But so good! About wine!
Does anyone know what this flower is?
It's blooming in one of Colin's front beds and I love it. He doesn't know what it is - it was already there when he and Mailing bought the house.
Finally, I mentioned that I had picked up a few poetry books from the library. These are two of them:
"The Beauty" by Jane Hirshfield and "The Unswept Room" by Sharon Olds. After reading a volume of Ada Limon's poetry and not being won over, I mentioned that to both Leslie and Connie - two published poetry writers who are friends of mine. Leslie said that one of her favorite poets is Sharon Olds. Connie recommended Jane Hirshfield...and recommended staying away from Sharon Olds. Ha! Of course, I needed to get books by both. I've only read a few poems from both books so far, but am enjoying each of them. I know that some of you are familiar with Jane Hirshfield. Has anyone read Sharon Olds?
The other poetry volume I checked out at my library is The Essential Haiku Versions of Basho, Buson & Issa. This is great! I love Haiku and am familiar with Basho and Issa, but not Buson. Fun to explore. Along with these 3 poetry books I have 8 (!!) other books checked out from my library. I guess I'm set with reading for a little while.
Today is my last day of watching Iris for a bit. They head to China tomorrow. They will only be in China for 4 days or so (seeing some family, going to The Great Wall and the Panda House at the Beijing Zoo among other things) and then they fly to Taiwan for the balance of the two weeks they will be gone. Iris has been such a love this week and I am going to miss being with her so much. I will still be heading over to their house twice a day (starting tomorrow afternoon) to feed Talbot and show him a bit of love. He will be missing his family. That will give me more found time! I plan to take a book (or two) and some knitting with me when I go over and that way I will have something to do while spending a bit of time keeping Talbot company.
This is the last Friday in April! Let's make it a good one.
Sorry about your yoga class -- I hope you can get in some extra classes while the kids are gone. I have read Sharon Olds and really love her poetry. Get in all the Iris snuggles you can today!
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother had flowers that looked like that and she called them Indian hyacinths. My grandfather called them wild hyacinths because I think they grew on the farm that he grew up on and they dug them up and planted them at their in-town house. Hers had a scent but it was different from the "regular" hyacinths we have.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could see Iris seeing the pandas! I hope they have a great time and you don't miss Iris too much. I've read some of Sharon Olds' poetry and have liked much of it. She had a less than ideal upbringing and some of her poems are fairly emotional.
I like to get up early, too - by 6 or 6:30 is my preference. I feel like I've wasted the day if I sleep past 7:30! I'm sure it was something ingrained in me when I was a child. I hope Iris (and her parents!) have a wonderful trip. You should treat yourself to something special while they are away and you have this found time.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels to the family on their big adventure. My Grands loved their trip to China.
ReplyDeleteThe flower looks to be a Camassia.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see how that sock is going to turn out.
Safe travels to all. I think we'll start that show on Sunday.
ReplyDeletePretty yarn for the new socks. I'll be praying for safety for your little family. I know how you'll miss little Iris and you're such a good cat grandma to Talbot too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I did a Google search on the picture and it is indeed a Camassia, the link is here https://thenunheadgardener.com/product/garden-plants/perennials/camassia-leitchlinii-maybelle/ The unopened buds remind me of our English Bluebells which are just opening in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both of those poets although I've read much more of Hirshfield's work. Funny, I am currently reading a few poems from The Beauty each night before bed. It's a reread for me but any time I reread poetry it strikes me differently. Safe travels for your family. I hope they have a wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I have a free plant ID app on my phone called Flora Incognita that works fairly well.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the plant but I do like it a lot. Lol with Mabel and birds waking you up. Holly never ever wakes us up! She is sly.
ReplyDeleteUse the google camera to find out any plant (or bug, etc)--I use it all the time on my walks! lol The new socks look like they are off to a good start! You will miss Iris and parents but a break will be good for you, too.
ReplyDelete