Spring has sprung around here!

I'm running around like a chicken without it's head lately.  I'm so sorry I haven't been  blogging or visiting regularly as Spring is just the busiest time for me.  I got  a little more landscaping done but it's a "slow boat to China" as they say.  It's hot now too and humid.....88 yesterday and 86 today and I just can't handle being out there in it that long but I made some progress...........this is where I left off the other day

Moving right along............I put in the black edging, more newspaper and more mulch.  I got the edging at a garage sale....cheap but effective.

This area runs along the side of my driveway...........there's my tub of Rosemary and Oregano

This is what I'm dealing with below.....and there's a whole lot more where that  came from!
So, you'll probably be seeing a soap opera of landscaping here all Spring and Summer as it keeps me going to take pictures and see my progress, albeit baby steps.   I am thanking you ahead of time for your patience with this project! LOL!

This is my neighbor's beautiful "established" bed of phlox.....gorgeous!  Just once I'd like to live somewhere where someone had already done the work.....

The red buds and everything else are blooming in the woods....

The oaks are popping open and spreading their pollen everywhere but thank goodness I'm not too allergic.  Many have problems this time of year. 

This is a burr oak (I think) in my front yard.  It has those round seeds that drop in the Fall that look like sputniks (if you're old enough to remember those Russian spacecraft) as opposed to acorns.

I have 3 of these trees and this one is really old and suffered a lot of damage in the ice storm a few years back so I'm always so happy when it comes back in the Spring....tough old tree!  I respect that.
Well, I had to call the lawnmower guy as it started but there was lots of black smoke and it wouldn't go anywhere...forward or reverse.  My hands are all beat up already and it's just the beginning of the warm weather!  Severe weather predicted for tomorrow afternoon and evening so if you don't hear from me you'll know what happened! LOL!  I hope you're enjoying your Spring....it sure is nice to fling open the windows and hear those songbirds!  Take care....... 

YOP Update

My last post's pictures disappeared off my blog....hmmm....don't know why but I apologize if some of you went there.  It's been a crazy week but taxes are taken care of....well, some of them.  There's a  few more throughout the year but I'm good for now!
I have some great news too....I LOVE DPN's (double pointed needles) in knitting!  My first foray into socks was with Magic Loop as I had heard DPN's were "difficult" but then I was a novice so they might have been for me at that time.  Since I've made several pair using Magic Loop I wanted to learn DPN's and to me they are much easier and do a better job and the result looks better, on mine anyway.  But again, is it because this is my 3rd pair of socks or is it the DPN's?  I don't know the answer to that but right now I am pretty certain that any future socks will be knitted using DPN"s.  AND...there will be beautiful, wild and crazy sock yarn too.....none of this solid color yarn for awhile.  Ahhh...the joyful, peaceful art of knitting!  BTW, I saw some cute socks where the cuff was one color and the sock another and also where the heel and toe were a different color....I liked it!  Something to think about and a way to use up scraps if you don't have enough for 2 socks.  "BRILLIANT I tell you"!

   Between taxes and the storms that were running across the South this past week I didn't get much more than this done in my YOP and really I only had 1 pair of socks on that list.  I am wishing for my next YOP list which I am already starting! LOL!  The project below will be on it as it is the "carrot" that I dangled in front of me to urge myself to learn to knit.  "You have learned well Grasshopper and you are ready".....

DRUMROLL....please..........

 You might have seen this over on the Purl Bee

which is Purl Soho's craft blog and it is a free pattern.  They have all kinds of wonderful photos, projects, and inspiration.  It's like a Pinterest for crafters! LOL!  It's so fun to just browse and several of my projects on this years's YOP list came from there.   So, I'm looking to make this as my first project for YOP 2013/2014....if I can wait that long!
Have any of you made this?  One gal on the Purl Bee commented that she made it for people for Christmas and it was THE present that year!  Everyone loved them!  I've seen one made and they are even prettier in person and soft and squishy.....GORGEOUS!  
I'm having a hard time looking at my "blanket" projects since it's 73 here and I have the windows open.  Plus, right now is my Summer actually since  when it gets to be the REAL Summer here it is way too hot to be outside much.  So please excuse me if I seem "spotty" out there in blog land for a bit but this is a short window of opportunity to do gardening, landscaping and painting outdoors before it gets too hot.  It's just me since I haven't been able to talk "the girls" into giving me hand, or should I say "paw"! LOL!  I know, bad, sad humor.  I hope you are all safe and well and having nice weather!  I WILL stop by later!  I have some catching up to do!