Friday's Flowers: Wedding Flowers

From every human being

there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven.

And when two souls are destined to find each other,

their two streams of light flow together

and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.
Ba'al Shem Tov

Budding

My friend Debbi, over at Goddess Knitters, tagged me for a little me-me, and today was the perfect day to answer it. Here goes...

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
Finishing graduate school and deciding what to do for the rest of my life.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
Knit
Work
Photograph knitting (NOT while at work)
Blog
As it's Thursday, watch the 'Lost' finale (Oy!)

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Chocolate
Peanut butter
sharp cheddar cheese
ice cream
And every now and then a Hostess treat (shh...don't tell the hall monitor!)

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Pay off our mortgage
Set up a foundation to support MS research
Buy property and create a refuge for biomedical research animals
Buy another piece of property and create a refuge for orphaned cats
Buy a hybrid Highlander (in red...but since I'm a billionaire, maybe in a custom pink!)

5. Places I have lived:
Oregon, Colorado (two years while an undergrad)

6. Peeps I want to know more about:
L-B, who is blogless, but if she'd like to usurp the blog for a day, it's hers!
Linda, who is also blogless, but the same offer applies! Yes, this is a backdoor way to get you two to blog!! :) :)

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.

The skies have been grey, and the Butter Peep socks have indeed been making me happy! The first one is finished, and the second sock should be on the needles by day's end!

Our dear friend Alina married her beloved on Saturday! We are so happy and excited for her and Michael! And yes, that is knitting you see behind the wedding cupcake. This was the one wedding where knitting was allowed...encouraged even!!

Today is Memorial Day. Take a moment to remember those that only live in our hearts now.

Friday's Flowers: Snappy Snapshots

Earth laughs in flowers~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Zip code: Paula Deen

If you're a Food Network junkie like I am...you'll know what that means. Butter. ButterButterButter. In this case, Butter Peep. Garden Path Butter Peep!

And what about David Cook?! Woo hoo!!!! I have to say I'm delighted! The judges were so harsh on him last night...Perhaps there was a strategy in that...dunno. I'm just so happy he won!!

Jilly's Garden Socks

May God grant thee

Enough sun to warm the earth,

Enough rain to make things grow

A good strong back,

A wide brimmed hat,

And a good sharp goose-neck hoe,

Strength for a day of toil,

And some quiet evening hours,

With a sip of tea,

and a gentle breeze,

And may all your weeds be wildflowers ~ Ralph Emerson Purkhiser
A Gardener's Blessing

Garden Path socks in Dream in Color Smooshy 'Lipstick Lava' for my sister Jill. Her garden is amazing and was as much the subject as the socks were in this FO post!

Butter peeps

It was a scorcher this weekend in the Pacific Northwest! I let the little lace leaf scarf rest at the sidelines for a bit while I worked on these socks...The Butter Peep yarn held up well in the heat!! :)

I hope you all had a good weekend! Happy Monday!

Friday's Flower: Flowering Dogwood

Specimen: Flowering Dogwood
Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus
Species: florida
Variety: Pink!!!

Welcome to the introductory post of Friday's Flowers, spearheaded by Kim over at The Woolen Rabbit! I was over at my mom's a couple weeks ago and was totally enthralled with photographing her dogwood tree. The wind was a challenge and caused more blurred images than not. The sun was finally out yesterday and the wind not so challenging, so I went back for more photographic fodder!

I love (i.e. am obsessed with!!) the little lantern-like blossoms. You can see another version here. Our neighbor's tree volunteered to model for the first and last shots. I think it might be a different variety from my mom's.

I hope you will enjoy this little break from the usual posting! Have a great Friday everyone!

Signs of Summer

Barefeet in birkenstocks.

Condensation on an iced coffee.

Knitting outdoors...with iced coffee.

light fare...

eaten outside with Mr. NK and the Garden Path sock.

Who said three's a crowd? :)

Slow, but steady

...progress on the scarf. Oh! It's the Lace Leaf pattern from the Spring VK from 2005. The yarn is Malabrigo Lace in the 'fucsia' colorway. Yum!

The AI season is almost over. You have been so patient to bear with me. Just a little more chit-chat and it will all be over...at least until next year! ;)

The songs the judges picked and the performances that went with them were the best! David C. was hot! I had a tear, too. The songs they picked for themselves...not so stellar. Boo hiss to Simon for his comments about Longer by my man Dan Fogelberg! David A sang well, and Simon needs to show more respect. My prediction will be that Syesha will go home, and the final will be a battle between the rocker and the crooner.

More knitting will be on its way to the blog. And I'm thinking about doing Friday's Flowers...what do you think?

Color starts

Rani asked me awhile ago what inspired my color choices. I've been thinking about that. I'm a dyed in the wool autumn girl. If it's red, it's in my hands. Any combination of autumn coloring in a multicolored skein...it's in my hands. Pinks are bright and happy and a must have.

In the autumn and winter I find my self content with rich, deep and saturated colors that reflect the season. Come spring and summer, I tend to lighten and brighten it up a bit, I think.

I've been really captivated with photography of late and getting images of botanical specimens, more specifically. I think these have been having a growing influence over my color choices as my "green" stash is bulging out of control at the same rate the photos of fiddleheads and leaves with droplets are taking over the hardrive!

After capturing the California Poppy above, I had a thirst for something from the orange to yellow family. I chose to knit another pair of Garden Path socks since gardens seem to be a focus of late. I don't have alot of orange in my stash (this might have to change!) so I pulled out this yellow that has pops of melon in it. It's Smooshy 'Butter Peep'. I love it. The yarn was a gift from Mr. NK! Heart him!

I thought Rani asked a very interesting question....so I'll ask it to you, what inspires your color choices?

New beginnings...

... In the garden...

and on the needles.

A little leaf traveler was spotted!

And some leaves grew from the needles.

Happy Saturday!

Sneak peek

Cuffs

Heels

And toes.

Leaflings are done (well, almost...kitchener awaits in the wings). Glamour shots to follow shortly.

And AI...Syesha swept the floor with Jason. It should be Syesha, David A and David C in the top three. That would be in my humble opinion! :)

Back home

What happens when Science intersects with Hollywood?? Yep. Disorientation.

At the end of the scientific meeting was the annual Gala event to raise funds for MS research. The Nancy Davis Center Without Walls was founded by Nancy Davis in 1993 following her diagnosis of MS. The NDCWW supports the cutting edge MS research performed at seven centers across the U.S.

The Paparazzi were on hand to capture the stars as they walked the Orange carpet. Yes. Orange, not red. Orange is the color for MS.

There was a silent auction that filled three VERY large rooms. Could've been four. The guitar signed by all the Eagles caught my eye. As did this adorable Maltese puppy. This puppy was eventually sold at the live auction...how much do you think he went for...(the puppy people, the puppy)!!

There might have been a lot of glitter and glamour at this event...but, don't be fooled. These folks meant business. And raise money they did! In previous years they have raised upward of $2 million dollars at this event!!

And, speaking of fund raising...it's that time of year again. Claudia will be riding the MS 150 in June. The Knitters Against MS were the number one fundraisers last year by raising over $40,000! That would be us!! Let's make it happen again this year!!

Ahh, the sunlight!! LA was full of it. I seemed to have brought it home with me as today was gorgeous here in PDX! The flights were good for some focused knitting...The Leafling socks are almost finished.

Oh...the puppy....he went for somewhere around $15,000!! Oy!