Sun and showers

This darling annual called "Flirtation" came home with me from the Friends School of Minnesota Plant Sale.

The sun stayed out one more day for my Saturday trip to Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival. This is one of our family's favorite Mother's Day trips. I went out on Saturday to work at the Minnesota Knitters' Guild Knitting Help table but I got to visit again on Sunday with the rest of the family. No sunshine but there still was a lot to see . . .

I've been coveting Angora Rabbits for a while but Mr. Daisy is not so keen on the idea.

Youngest Child is absolutely sure he could take care of one. He even offered to help clean up the poop! 

Oldest Daughter was admiring the spinning wheels for sale.

Although we mostly did "window shopping", I picked up two lovely skeins of Opulence sock yarn from All for Love of Yarn. 

Perhaps a little hipster scarf (as Oldest Daughter calls them) from this lovely 80% Superwash Merino Wool 10% Cashmere 10% Nylon in the Freesia colorway.

I also hunted down the Ewetopia Fiber Shop booth and bought a skein of hand dyed brushed mohair in the conifer colorway.

I'd seen this yarn at Yarnover last week and loved it. There is also a very cute "Fern" shrug pattern that came with the yarn. 

I had a little time this week to clean out my own closet. I have to admit this is the Saturday Seven of failure for me. Seven items that I bought over the years and kept - hoping against hope that I would want to wear them or that they would someday look better on me - until admitting defeat.

Four pairs of pants, two pullovers and a cardigan - except for one I gave to Oldest Daughter - are all going to a rummage sale. Sigh.

Rain or shine - there will be wool!

It's time for the 13th Annual

 SHEPHERD'S HARVEST

Sheep and Wool Festival

May 8 and 9,  2010 

9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Saturday 

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday

Cold and rainy it may be but GF Melissa and I will brave the weather. This is always a busy weekend - it's Spring Formal weekend at my daughter's school so that means a panty hose and hair product run to Target, a quick trip out to Shepherd's Harvest and then back for photographs. 

Friday, we'll be standing in line here again.

The Friends School Plant Sale

State Fair’s Grandstand Building

Friday, May 7, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, May 9, from 12 noon-4 pm. Sunday is half price.

They have great plants at very good prices but be prepared to bring your own cart and stand in line.

Just like last year's haul, I'll probably be hanging around the herbs and dye plants. Maybe a few tomatos as well.

As for Sunday's Mothers Day - think I could get one of these as a present?

Yes, it's back to Shepherd's Harvest with the family. Youngest Daughter may be sleeping in, though!

See you there!

Okay, okay, I'm back

I've been pretty lazy about blogging this week. First, Mr. Daisy and I went to the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Hard Hat & Black Tie Gala on Saturday night. It was lots of fun and the dinner was delicious but, whew, I just don't stay up late anymore! Then, on Sunday, Mr. Daisy and I hit the Gateway Bike Trail again. Even better than dinner out!

Then gardening, swimming, concert going, etc. You know the spring routine!

But there are even more great things happening this week -

First off, Dear Mr. Daisy and I are going to see the new Star Trek movie tomorrow night - bought the tickets already! I used to absolutely love this television show although I've been a little bored with the newer incarnations. This one looks great!

Second of all - the Friends School Plant Sale. Great plants, nice chance to donate money.

Third - Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival. All weekend, lots of fibers, yarns, spinners, weavers, classes - fun, fun, fun! I'll be there early on Saturday to scoop up a few deals and then back on Sunday for a spinning class Hmm, yarn.

In real life knitting - it's still the Swallowtail Shawl. I'm almost going to be sad to see it go - I feel like it's my buddy shawl!

And finally, what is probably the best part of the weekend according to Mr. Daisy, we're going to see Bruce Springsteen in concert on Monday. Not crazy about all of his music but I haven't ever seen him so it should be a lot of fun.

I love this contest - Lorna's Laces are some of my favorite yarns - so I thought I'd pass on the info:



(This was first posted by Jocelynn Brown (The Detroit News) on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 1:46 PM)

Be part of "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting" book giveaway

Like many crafts, knitting can be done either alone in the comfort of ones home, or with a group of fellow yarn enthusiasts where lots of warm memories are shared and created.
Knitwear designer Lorna Miser, founder of Lorna's Laces, specializing in hand-dyed yarns, has put together an inspiring book of knitted projects that weaves together precious moments of comraderie between knitters.
The book, titled "Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting: Celebrating the Gift of Knitting with 24 Beautiful Patterns (The Crown Publishing Group/$24.95), features a variety of projects, each with its own story. Among patterns to choose from are scarves, a child's hoodie and poncho, socks, a heart-shaped pillow, a lace vest, adult-size suede-soled slippers, a bunny rabbit, and a woman's sweater. Skill levels range from easy to intermediate, and the items are designed with yarns that are just as varied as the projects themselves.
One of the more fun projects, that doesn't require a single stitch, are the "homemade knitting needles," made using a wooden dowel and Polymer clay.
If you'd like a chance at winning a copy of this book, just email me at jbrown@detnews.com and tell me a STORY about one of your most memorable group-knitting experiences. Please put the word "knitting" in the subject line, and remember to include your name and address.
Good Luck and Happy Knitting!!!

Getting ready for May Madness!

Since we've established that I like to sit on ideas for awhile, I thought I should point out some wonderful events going on in Minnesota this May.

And since they are both on Mother's Day Weekend, perhaps you can turn them into family outings!

First off, plant lovers shouldn't miss

The 2009 Friends School Plant Sale
May 8, 9 and 10 at the
State Fair’s Grandstand Building
Midway Parkway & Snelling Avenue, Saint Paul

Friday, May 8, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, May 10, from 12 noon-4 pm. Sunday is half price.

This really cool plant sale is a fundraiser for the scholarship fund at the Friends School Minnesota. They say that this year there will be 2,200 varieties of plants are offered for sale! There is no admission fee and the plant costs are similar to what you'd pay elsewhere.

GF Melissa turned me on this sale and we've been meeting there since Youngest Child was a baby. It's a "bring-your-own-wagon" kind of event which is why I still have my double Burley stroller! I recommend their herbs and their heirloom tomatoes. Oh, and the tye-dye teeshirt guy is great, too.


Fiber fans should check out the . . .

2009 SHEPHERD'S HARVEST
Sheep and Wool Festival

May 9 and 10, 2009
9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Saturday
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday

The 12th annual Shepherd's Harvest is at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN. Admission is free. Fiber vendors and vendors of fiber related products as well as animal demos, live entertainment and classes makes for a really fun weekend.

I'm taking a specialty spinning class on Sunday afternoon and I'll also helping out at the Minnesota Knitters' Guild's Knitting Help table on Saturday. Dress warmly and in layers - sometimes it's warm and sometimes it's nearly snowing!

This week's Saturday Seven was assembled item by item:



Three turtlenecks (I know I'll regret giving these away next fall but change is a good thing!), two child-sized aprons, a window curtain topper and a book. I did learn a lesson about keeping things in my laundry room when we had the "water event" this week - but I can't drop things off until Monday. Ah well, they'll be dry by then.