If a tree blooms in the forest . . .

. . . and no one sees it, is it any less beautiful?

I guess it's a moot question, because I DID see it, and its simple beauty made my heart sing. I don't know what this little native tree is, but it always surprises and charms me in early spring.

The way the front of our island looks right now makes me pretty happy, too!

And then there is the deep satisfaction of watching my first project with beads and lace grow on my needles. Last night I finished the E charts, which are the main body of the shoulderette; now it's on to the final edging! Like I told Laura, I feel like I'm attending "knitting university," and graduation is in sight. The best part is, I get to wear my diploma!

I'm headed outside to skirt a couple more fleeces while the sun shines. Another wet front is supposed to move in tonight.

That's it for now from . . .

Irons -

- my fire is full of 'em!

I've been pecking away at weeding my island bed for awhile now. We have a terribly invasive little evil that I call "pop weed" that's thick out there, and I am trying to get it (and all other weeds) pulled before they go to seed. On Sunday I got an added incentive for getting this job done. After taking my MIL to the airport I stopped by Costco, and saw a big display of bagged landscaping plants/bulbs. Some of the shade collections had the words "Deer resistant" or "Slug resistant" on them, which drew me like a moth to the flame. I have areas under the two trees in my island bed that are very shady, but I haven't come across a not-too-tall, deer-resistant solution to plant there. Enter these!
I had noticed that one of the bagged collections labeled "Deer resistant" had both hosta and astilbe in it, so I decided to get one bag containing three varieties of hosta, and one bag containing mixed astilbe. I've always loved hostas but have no experience with astilbe; the photos on the bag are sure pretty!

As if the above-mentioned (and all the additional unmentioned) weeding wasn't enough pressure, yesterday I decided to advertise my fleeces. Within hours I had inquiries on most of them, which means skirting needs to happen NOW. I got Browning's done this afternoon (below).

And of course, more lambs could arrive any day now - which means I've got to get busy on that sheepy wall hanging for whoever wins my lambing contest!

Paddling just as fast as I can at . . .

It's true! I do believe it's blue!

Yesterday when I picked up CLEAN eggs, thanks to my guys cleaning out the henhouse and adding a layer of gravel to the chicken yard, I could tell for the first time that there is a distinct difference between Muffy's and Buffy's eggs:I was so excited! One is green, and one is definitely more blue! WooHoo!

Here is today's haul:I picked up the two on the left from under Muffy, the darker of the two new Easter Eggers. After she left the nestbox, I found the two on the right. So Buffy, the nearly white EE, is the exalted layer of blue eggs.

And now, a short video for your viewing pleasure. Being the only lamb so far at Boulderneigh isn't keeping Barrister from the races:


That's all the excitement for today from . . .

Too perfect for words

My heart is full of Sabbath peace at . . .