June Flowers: Clematis, Columbine, and Peonies

Okay, this is the last post before we're off to Seattle! I promise...

Just took some pics of the gardens because these will all be gone-by when we return from the trip. I had more varieties of columbine this year than ever before! I would see other plants along the roadside and remember to come back when the seed heads were ready to scatter their seeds. Then I'd snip a couple of the heads. I have a double pink, double white, single white, a crimson red, and a couple different shades of purples.

I have a purplely clematis on a white light post, and a crimson red against one of our decks. The purple one always starts opening up about 2 weeks prior to the red one. Oh, I do have another huge single white--but it's just budding now. I think it is a II. Clematis are categorized into I, II, and III, according to their blooming time. Mine are all I and II's as I don't think we have a long enough summer in this part of Vermont for the III's.

Our peonies were really slow this year.

They'll be on the last leg of blooming in a week or so. One is just starting now!

And we have the Japanese Irises. I just transplanted the white one 3 years ago and already it's as large as the purple ones! I'm going to mix them up the next time I transplant.

They tend to die-out in the middle, and should be separated every 5 or 6 years or so.

Trip to Southern Vermont

As a follow-up to the Vermont Knit Camp II, I wanted to post a couple pics from my drive down and back.

As always, clickety to embiggen (the pics) --->

Vermont is a beautiful state, and I love southern Vermont too, although I don't get down to the Bennington area more than every 10 years or so!

For my many out of state friends, Jeff and I live in northwest Vermont (Jericho, 12 miles northeast of Burlington), Bennington is on the southern Vermont border with Massachusetts.

I took an alternate road down, parallel with Route 7, which is a N/S main highway.

There was less traffic and stress, and went by some beautiful lakes and lovely farm area, and through the historic area of Southern Vermont, namely Manchester, Hubbardton, and then Bennington.

The pics of the houses are in Manchester.

Enjoy the pics!

Vt. Knit Camp II

Last weekend, June 6-8, I traveled down to southern Vermont-Bennington, to be precise--for the second Vt. Knit Camp gathering for members and friends of the GLBT-Knit listserve (e-mail) group I've been a member of since January.

I have many fond memories: the wonderful, talented, and lively group of women and men (mostly women); the fabulous handknit garments/articles that they brought for show-and-tell, or were working on; and the un-for-get-able food! I'd have to say that, hands-down, Charlton's "chocolate cream pie" was THE hit of the weekend! (Sorry to all the other entries, which were fabulous too!)

Sidebar: Charlton said he was bringing a "chocolate cream pie." And, as he's in the greater Boston area (Somerville), I just assumed it would be similar to a Boston Cream Pie. But, nope. It was a chocolate cream pie. Literally. No, it was really like semi-hard chocolate fudge--with a hint of cream, and in a crunchy crust. And, did he bring just one, little, itty-bitty pie? NO! He brought TWO HUGE PIES and one small pie! (I'm getting a migraine just writing about it!) I had to take 3 migraine pills: one each day, in order to consume some each day. I even brought a piece home for Jeff, which I ate most of...

The runners-up were Melissa's Mac 'n Cheese, Carol Ann's brownies and quiche, and Ann's Granola. Sorry if I misspelled any names here, new friends for me. Also sorry if I omitted other foods, seriously, it was all wonderful!

I'm posting a couple pics of the people and the garments. Jeff and I are leaving for Seattle and Victoria on Tuesday so I have to make some quick and dirty posts now. I have lots of cleaning and packing to do! A lot of my pics came out blurry: it was in the low 90s for weather, and I don't know if my camera was miffed.

Pics: As always, clickety to embiggen (the pics)-->

Top right: Charlton, ala chocolate pie fame.
Second from top: group shot on the last day.
Third from top; Gigi from Montreal models her fabulous cabled sweater. The details were fantastic!
Middle at right: Sadia from Bennington displays her spindle-spun yarn. Very nice!
At right: Melissa S. Shows off her very nice top/shrug. Beautiful!
Next: Fudge from Ithaca warms up with MY cashmere/alpaca/merino triangle in triangle lace shawl. Soft.

I will be posting more pics after the Seattle trip. Just wanted to share some of these with ya'll.

Props to all from the knit camp! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you and hope we meet again!

It's Our Moment...It's Our Time...Happy June!

Uh....a bit late here, but happy June! A friend of mine once said (long ago), "you have to say 'Rabbit, Rabbit' the first morning of the month, right when you wake up. It'll bring you good luck!" Okay, so, belated "rabbit, rabbit" everyone!

Clickety to Embiggen (the pics)--->

I try to keep this blog politically neutral, but I am just bursting with pride and joy right now! I am huge supporter of Barack Obama. It's the first time I've ever donated to a political candidate. Last night's speech gave me hope again for this country. I won't blather on much, but I really, really hope that Americans will find it in their hearts the courage and strength to give him a chance come November. My friends come from all political stripes, so I'll just get off the political soapbox and off to fiber stuff! (Feel free to carry on any political conversation with me off blog at my comcast e-mail!) Hugs.
Back to other stuff...

The pics of the flowers are: columbine, lupines, and wiegelia--just starting. All the plants are soaking wet, and it's drizzling out! Today is rainy and cool. Temperature in the mid 60s. This weekend it's supposed to be 86-90!

I'm off to Bennington (southern Vermont) on Friday for a GLBT knit camp! Yay! I'm on a listserve with dozens of fabulous people from all over the world, and about 20 something of us are meeting Friday-Sunday for a knit camp. I've been on the list group for about six months now, and the talented and extremely funny group has enriched my life. (Remind me to post later about "JIC Melissa", and the Melissa names...) I'm not teaching a workshop this time, so I'm really psyched to just hang, and knit with folks. That was one of the drawbacks of teaching the spinning cotton workshop at Easton--I didn't get as much time to just hang with people. Although the workshop for me was extremely rewarding--both sharing, and feedback from the attendees.

BFF news! One of my new BFFs from Easton is Kenny from Houston, "The Boy Who Knits". He's a wonderful guy, and I'm honored to know him, and getting to know him online and via phone since the retreat. Kenny sent me a "pound of love" in the mail. A box of yarn! Fabulous sock yarn: a gorgeous Flat Feet blank, with browns and greens; two skeins of Panda Silk (bamboo, superwash merino, and some silk) that has the most amazing hand (feel), in browns and gold; two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock yarn in purple iris (green and purple); two skeins of Shibuiknits superwash merino in jade green; a skein of dark blue, and a skein of grey Trekking XXL sockyarn; two skeins of Plymouth Royal 100% bamboo; and the "unmentionable" Red Heart iron acrylic yarn--a joke, not in the pic--my hands are wayyyyyy too soft to deal with a petroleum based yarn.

So, a HUGE thanks to Kenny! Luv ya!

That's all folks! For now. More later if I have time. If not, after the knit camp weekend!

Hugs, Chris

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