Liz is back! And a visit to the museum

We welcomed back our snowbird Liz today (she's the one in the center). It was good to see her again after our long, cold winter. She jumped right in there with her Mistake Stitch Scarf.

 Kathleen is already on our next project, making adult mittens to go with a scarf she made earlier.

 Here is a close up of Liz's scarf. The navy blue will go with anything and can be gender neutral.

 Barbara is stash busting a scarf with lovely pink yarns. Two rows of each color will make a nice pattern.

 Kathleen wasn't exactly infatuated with the scarf she made but I think the self patterning yarn made an interesting design.

 Cinzia needed to sew up some seams....

 and add the ties and her little sweater is done! We were spellbound by the way the same yarn turned out looking so different on the sleeves. It made for a nice combination.

 Beth added the finishing rows to the sleeves on her baby sweater...

 as did Carole. Her Peanut Warmer is now finished except for the buttons.

 Maureen's second week back had her adding some inches to her cowl.

 I finished a pair of baby socks and ...

 now I'm making a hat to match. The edge is curling while it's on the needle but once I knit a 1X1 ribbing it will lay nice and flat.

 These cute little booties are the Crocodile Stitch Baby Booties. They used about 150 yards of fingering weight yarn to complete both booties. Luckily, I had 6 pearl buttons in my stash so I didn't have to drive far and wide to find some.

 Dorah knitted the I-cord ties and attached them to her jacket so now it's ready for inventory.

 This past weekend DH and I went to visit the grands in Pennsylvania and on the way we stopped in Lahaska, PA at a yarn store I hadn't been to yet. Can you imagine? There was actually a yarn store I haven't shopped yet! Anyway, during the course of my visit it came up that I have this knitting group and the owner of Twist Knitting and Spinning was kind enough to offer us some yarn. Thank you Debbie Brady for your generosity! These yarns will be put to good use! If you find yourself on Route 202 in Lahaska look for this lovely little shop. The ladies there are so kind and the yarns are yummy!

Once in Philadelphia we met up with my daughter, her husband, and the boys. Someone finally took a photo of me! Amazing! I used to joke with the kids when they were little that since I always took the pictures in the family, they wouldn't remember what I looked like when I was long gone. LOL! Isn't she pretty?!!!

At the Museum of Natural Science the boys had fun climbing everywhere. Leo used to be afraid of the tortoise but now looks forward to posing with him whenever he visits the museum.

There was an orchid show during our visit. It wasn't as extensive as the one Karin and I attended at the NY Botanical Gardens, but then this was in a museum.

They were still very delicate and lovely.

There were little islands of flowers here and there.

Then while my son-in-law was watching the boys in one of the other exhibits my daughter and husband invited me to join them in the butterfly conservatory. Now let me explain the expression on my face. When I was only 5 years old I had a nightmare about moths and butterflies and ever since I've had an irrational fear of them. I know it sounds crazy but that's why it's irrational! Well, I decided it was time to put on my big girl panties and conquer my fears.

I wanted to close my eyes but then I wouldn't be able to tell if one landed on me and they were flitting and flying everywhere! EEEKKK!

I actually made it through without fainting. Hey! Nobody said I had to like it!

Isn't it odd that I'm terrified of butterflies and moths but I'm not afraid to pet a snake?! Check out the expression on that guy's face. Ha! He must think I'm nuts!

                     It was a glorious day in Philly and Moose was enjoying the spring weather.

He tried his darndest to "accidentally" fall in the fountain. But I kept a close eye on him. I'm no amateur at this little game!

Such a beautiful fountain!

The visit was all too short but I just don't have the energy to keep up with those two little boys anymore, at least when they together. One at a time might be a little easier. But the minute I leave I miss them terribly. They'll be visiting me in a few weeks up here. I can't wait!

Karin's and Jody's Excellent Adventure Among the Orchids

Every spring my knitter friend Karin and I make the two and a half hour drive down from Albany to "da Bronx" to take in the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens. As soon as I see this view of the conservatory my heart races a bit with anticipation knowing what beautiful blossoms are inside.

 The main arrangement set the theme "Chandeliers". It was breathtaking!

 Karin and I started our tour saying that this year we were not going to take 483 pictures of flowers. Yeah, right!

 Even the moss covered baskets were beautiful. And some of the orchids were chocolate scented. What a perfume!!!

 The bromeliads were blooming too.

 I grow purple phaleonopsis in my kitchen window but they aren't this plentiful!

 The pink cymbidiums were so graceful.

 I don't remember the variety of this orchid but this is the view from underneath the blossom.

This is what you see from above. Still beautiful!

The anthuriums stood out among the greens in all their waxy glory.

 Our ride down was a bit rainy and cloudy but once we arrived the sun shone on us a warm welcome.

 In the distance we saw a blue haze on the lawn. Up close and personal were these little blue beauties.

 Karin and I loved the delicate yellow blossoms of this Veitch Winter Hazel.

 During the tram ride we passed the azaleas in full bloom.

 We hopped off the tram to catch the magnificent magnolias at a slower pace.

She's like a graceful ballerina. 

 And look at that beautiful blue sky!

 We stopped at the newly renovated cafe for a tasty, but pricey lunch. I guess you pay for the pretty!

 This spot always brings me peace. Maybe I'll have my ashes scattered here!

 Those blossoms take my breath away.

We couldn't leave without taking a selfie! 

Thanks Karin for another memorable visit to the orchids!

Everything is white outside but inside....

 I love these frigid cold days when the sun shines so brightly that it casts sharp shadows of the bare trees against the pure white snow-covered hills. I love to wrap myself in my hand knitted scarves and hats and venture out to see the beauty in the cold.

But I know not everyone shares my sentiments. This is for all my friends who are sick of winter. My orchids brighten the inside just as the sun brightens the outside.

I hope this helped to brighten your day.

Carole and I had a few finished pieces to show you this week. I completed the fingering weight scarf with the keyhole. It is knitted with The Great Adirondack Yarn Company (the multi-colored) sock weight yarn and my friend's hand dyed yarn, Periwinkle Sheep- Mallards by the Boathouse (the dark green). The pattern is my own.

I was inspired by two different patterns to make this ear warmer. I adapted a headband pattern and then googled a crochet flower tutorial on YouTube for the adornment. It's a great way to use up those leftover balls of yarn in your stash.

My linen stitch cowl is finished too. I knitted this flat with I-cord edges and then grafted the live ends together to make it seamless. I have some of this yarn left so I'm going to have to find a solid yarn to work with it to make another scarf.

Here is my go-to pattern for a very quick knit. It's called Totally Biased and it's free on Ravelry.com. It calls for a bulky weight yarn and I think looks great if the colors are variegated. This is also knitted flat and grafted together to make it seamless. This was such a quick knit that I finished it in two days of knitting.

Carole's headband-ear warmer looks so warm and cozy! Her stitch definition is beautiful and really shows off that big cable nicely. Turban'd is a free pattern on Ravelry.com too. It doesn't take a lot of yarn so here is another use for those leftover bits of yarn that you don't know what to make.

Her next project is this lovely cowl called The Bridger Cowl, another free pattern.

The front has a pointy bandana style contour.

You can see it better from the back. I can't wait to try this one too.

But first I have to finish this Reversible Stripes Scarf, using the leftover yarn from the keyhole scarf I showed you earlier in this post.

Whether you are snowed under or enjoying warm weather, I hope my orchids helped to lift your spirits. I'm going to sneak out for another brisk walk before I settle down to finish this scarf.