Saturday morning was a bit hazy, but as I drove past the school parking lot I saw white blossoming trees framing Mt. Olympus. I thought you'd like to see it, too.
click
The wind is oft a precursor of a pending storm and this time of year it causes the flower petals to float from the trees like snowflakes. This little egg was sitting in the dirt near my front door and it is proof the wind also causes havoc for the newly nesting birds. From what information I could gather, the egg is from a house finch nest...poor little thing. They sing so beautifully and frequently from nearby trees, but yesterday morning they were loudly protesting the new snow.
Yes, new snow fell overnight. Snowbird had 14" in 24 hours which necessitated the closing of Little Cottonwood Canyon for avalanche control. Spring in Utah is crazy and this isn't unusual, but it is rather cruel of Mother Nature to send us this May Day "gift". We can only hope this storm was daweena, the last snow of the year. The weekend ahead looks drrrreearrry (that's me grimacing as I type) and yes, I did say I wouldn't complain about the weather, but I didn't realize it would be this cold again.
Since the Sock Mojo has not seen fit to return (and why should it when it's likely in a warm and sunny place) I'm knitting scarves. This is the Japanese Vines in Artyarn Ultra Merino 4 and I love both the pattern and the yarn. The scarf is destined to be a gift which means it will now be my main knitting, side by side with the Tinkerbell Blue.
Cookie has been blamed by many for roping them into the Summer of Socks. How crazy is it that I joined too and I'm not even knitting socks, don't want to knit socks? The hope is that warmer weather (if we ever have any) will bring the Mojo home in time for the start of summer sock knitting, June 21st.
Last but not least, I have the honor of wishing CherylS a very Happy Birthday!
Grrl. I so understand about spring. I'm pretty sure now we're going to scream right into the 80's in about a week. Of course, I've been wrong for about a month now;) Oh, and the sock thing? If you don't want to knit socks you can knit something else (like mitts) and just call them socks. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: CindyCindy | May 02, 2008 at 05:51 AM
Oh my that traveling Japanese vine scarf is incredibly beautiful! That has jumped high on my list of to do's.
Bummer about the snow and cold. This is one spring that is taking it's time. :(
Posted by: Kim | May 02, 2008 at 05:56 AM
I also bought the JV pattern. I haven't figured out which yarn to use. Do you think the Arbori would work in this pattern?
Posted by: Judy | May 02, 2008 at 06:02 AM
The ups and downs are driving me a touch batty and we don't have SNOW! I'm still in awe of that mountain photo, tho'. How fascinating to see the extremes so beautifully represented!!!
LOVE the scarf..such pretty colors.
And you knew you'd influence me into joining SOS '08, right? lol
I just hope my sock knitting mojo doesn't vacate the premises for the summer! I'm on a roll right now.
((((hugs))))
Posted by: Knitnana | May 02, 2008 at 06:11 AM
I would be whining non-stop about the weather if I were you. Heck, I have been whining about it pretty close to non-stop!! We may or may not have a "wintry mix" tonight...
Posted by: Chris | May 02, 2008 at 06:13 AM
You have it worse than New England this year.
Posted by: Laurie | May 02, 2008 at 06:21 AM
Love the starts of your scarf! It's gorgeous- off to put it my queue!
Poor wee egg- great photo of it nestled in the roving! Though you don't get cardinals in your area the egg above looks suspiciously like one. Here's a link I found:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Cardinal.html
Hope your weather warms up soon.
Posted by: Manise | May 02, 2008 at 06:33 AM
I love the egg photo! I remember well a trip to Utah several years ago that ended with three inches of snow the day we were leaving in late May, so May 1 is maybe not so bad?
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | May 02, 2008 at 07:29 AM
May Day, or Beltane, is the traditional end of the Winter season, really, despite the Spring Equinox happening .. well, 6 weeks ago. So .. maybe there's hope?
Beautiful pictures. And beautiful knitting too!
Posted by: Tygher Knits | May 02, 2008 at 07:44 AM
Do you need me to post more pictures of Santa Monica? Would it help or would you hate me? :D
Cookie does have a way of leading people down the path of ruin.
Posted by: Stacey aka The Loom Whisperer | May 02, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Great photos, Margene. Those blossoms are just magnificent! And the poor, lovely egg... sigh.
I'm doing socks, too. What the heck!
Posted by: Nora | May 02, 2008 at 07:48 AM
Maybe you just need to hop in the car and head south until you find some nice spring for the weekend.
Posted by: Carrie | May 02, 2008 at 07:58 AM
More snow?! That's crazy. Old man winter should have packed his bags and left by now! Please don't let it get you down... think of this as one last weekend to cocoon yourself indoors with warm wool. Then you can look back on this day when it's August and we're all miserable and sweltering. ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. | May 02, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Thanks Margene! I'm close to finishing my Austermann socks, and am about to cast on for a pair for Larry. I think your mojo has become a valley girl!
Posted by: Cheryl S. | May 02, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Snow ?!? Let's hope it's the last!
Posted by: jillian | May 02, 2008 at 08:35 AM
All the signs of spring are there, except for the snow. Things will have to turn around eventually.
Posted by: Wool Winder | May 02, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I couldn't resist the Summer of Socks this year. I have so much sock yarn and so many patterns I'd like to try. Thanks for the heads up that the "along" was registering for sign-ups. (you enabler, you)
Posted by: Kim D. | May 02, 2008 at 09:06 AM
It -poured- snow here yesterday morning, but most of it melted by the time sunset rolled around. Yay for living in/near the mountains!
Posted by: Imbrium | May 02, 2008 at 09:38 AM
That JV pattern is lovely!!
Posted by: kathleen | May 02, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Don't worry Margene, The little rascal will run back home the minute our temperatures will go over the hundred and this is going to happen soon (unfortunately)!
Posted by: Rachel | May 02, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Wow. I'm not even going to tell you our forecast for the weekend!
Posted by: elizabeth | May 02, 2008 at 10:01 AM
mwahahah - what a laugh that you joined the summer of socks. too funny. Maybe the sock mojo will return?
Ack - snow? I hope that it's gone now.
That Japanese Vines scarf is divine.
Posted by: Teyani | May 02, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I am a random bit. Not really news, but still kinda cool.
I hope the sock mojo returns soon. Although, I think that scarf is too pretty a combination of pattern and yarn to put down.
Happy Weekend, Margene!
Posted by: Cookie | May 02, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Thank you for sharing the lovely view of the mountains and flowering trees. Beautiful.
Posted by: Angie | May 02, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Mmm. The JV scarf is so nice. I saw it in your projects on Rav yesterday - it would be nice in some ... oh what is that yarn that you Made Me Love...? Plain and Fancy. That's the one.
Have a beautiful warm springy free-toe kind of weekend Margene! :D XOXOXOXOX
Posted by: Laura | May 02, 2008 at 12:56 PM