Monday 9 April 2012

The shock of the cold

This is why I end up posting once in the bluest of moons. I wrote most of this  last week, fell asleep on Thursday and have been in my bed ever since. Sleeping Beauty has nothing on me.

It has been the weirdest spring. Last Wednesday I was wearing shorts and wondering about suncream, today I am resplendent in long-johns and a jumper. There were record breaking temperatures in Scotland a week ago,  now the cat and I are watching the snow plough ( or in our case, a wee tractor with a ploughing bit stuck on the front ) clear the road outside. If it wasn't a day or two late I'd think that the weather was playing an April Fool. No such luck, it might be the Easter holidays but I can hear the scrape of sledges as the children drag them to the park for an afternoon's chilly fun.

Tulips - didn't stand a chance.
 
The air is bitter and the snow has knocked seven bells out of my early tulips. I'm thankful that we have central heating and soup and supplies of birdfood, not to mention the swanky new Starling box that we put up to cover the hole in the house near the roof that the birds have been using as home for the last few years. Even if they don't yet have enough twigs organised for a nest at least they can shelter from the whatever the weather decides to throw at them.

Hellebores after the snow.


Hellebores in the sunshine, little knowing what would happen next.



Luckily the jumper I was knitting in the sunshine was finished in time for the snows. Mostly handspun, most of that being Blue Faced Leicester from my learn to spin aran weight experiments. The other skein ( the cool grey ) is Artisano Aran that was hanging around aimlessly and just happened to go with my colour scheme a whole lot better than the handspun Shetland that I'd planned to use. The Shetland is too crisp and too glaringly white for this project, I suspect it will turn into a cowl later on. After knitting laceweight for the last wee while, the aran yarn knitted up at the speed of light. The pattern is Vogue's Relaxed Pullover but I changed the neckline by picking up and knitting a 2x2 rib. I love it and Magnus appears to approve as well. Claws off,  fur face!

Dangerous pursuits.


5 comments:

Cassandra said...

What a great sweater! Beautiful. We didn't have snow here, but it does feel like November has swept in uninvited.

zippiknits...sometimes said...

Brrr! Truly sorry about your beautiful flowers in the garden. The sweater is lovely, though, and Magnus seems to be very happy enjoying time with you.

Annie @ knitsofacto said...

A belated comment to say ... that is one neat sweater ... gorgeous colour palette :D

Jane said...

The weather here has done the same to my flowers. They look so sad. Hope you are feeling better! Love your sweater.

mary jane said...

love thine sweater