It feels like spring

The temperature hit a high of 88 today so the Chicks were busy as bees

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 I finished the second Zoe hat. It's a great, quick knit if you substitute right twist and left twist for the cabling stitches. Sometimes using a cable needle to twist the stitches is a bit fussy and wastes time.

 Barbara brought in the hat she made for herself which goes well with her winter coat. Her cables are beautiful and for these you would definitely need a cable needle!

 Then she started another hat for our inventory.

 Elaine was so inspired, she started a hat too and was casting on at top speed until she hit a little knot. Drat! Those knots!

 Cinzia is just about finished with her little sweater. She'll go diving into her button stash to finish it off.

 She did finish her Workday Scarf for this project. Not sure what the yarn is but it is soft and warm!

 By 3PM Barbara and Elaine had knitted quite a bit of their 2X2 ribbed hats.

 My evening Chicks started off with Beth's Show and Tell of the Close to You Scarf that she made for herself while she was wintering down south. The yarn is called Squishy and it surely is!

 Last week I showed you the mitten she made and here is its mate, along with a shortie sock.

Carole's Rambled hat has grown quite a bit since last week but she was afraid it was too large. We assured her that the ribbed section looks fine so it might be a slouchy hat. Sometimes you can never tell from a photo how the finished item is supposed to fit. That's why the dreaded gauge swatch is so important.

Margaret has started a tote bag which she will felt when it's finished. The gray yarn is Lopi and the green is Cascade 220 both of which will felt nicely. 

 Her hat from last week went into inventory tonight. Great stitch definition!

 Last week Karin and I made our annual trek to the New York Botanical Gardens for their annual orchid show which had the theme of Thailand this year. The weather was beautiful on Wednesday.

Then on Saturday my husband and I took our son to visit before the show ended on Sunday.

The reason it was ending earlier than in years past was because the garden is preparing for a special exhibit of Dale Chihuly art glass. The pieces we saw were spectacular!

                                           

                                                                                                                        

This giant campfire will be lit up at night.

So will this huge dandelion puff.

Inside the library at the garden were more pieces. The work is breathtaking as are the colors.

This one would make a gorgeous Christmas tree!

But the real reason we visited was to see the growing things.

Even desert flowers are beautiful.

Orchids were everywhere throughout the conservatory.

There was a small replica of a spirit house where daily offerings were made to the guardian spirits to ensure good fortune and keep them in a giving mood.

The cymbidium orchids were especially beautiful this year. And to think that all the plants are grown in their greenhouses and they get them all to bloom at precisely the right time! I wish I could do that with my orchids!

Some of the cherry trees were in blossom...

As were some of the daffodils. A few weeks ago the East Coast had that freaky snowstorm so some of the flowers are a bit behind and a little worse for wear.

Not too many of the magnolias had blossomed yet and some even show frost damage,

As we approached the library there was a sign that asked tourists to stay quiet because in the eaves of the building a great horned owl was sitting on her nest of eggs. Can you see her dark eyes staring down at me? Look slightly right of center and there she is peeking down.

Another Chihuly piece floated in the fountain.

One last look at the orchids and...

Then it was time to go.

We spent at least 5 hours at the garden. I hope it was enough to carry us over until next year!