Seasonal Signs

Spring is still teasing us New Englanders.  Lovely warm weather last week, rainy and now cold this week.  So, there's a little mix of three seasons in this post. . . the winter that hasn't quite left, the spring that hasn't seem to made up its mind to sick around, and the summer whose arrival is already eagerly anticipated.

Winterwise, I'm still knitting My So Called Scarf.  It's slow going, though, because there is little likelihood of anyone wearing it any time soon.  However, you might want to read this post over at Stuff White People Like about scarves.  I wonder if we'll see a rise in men seeking to date knitting white women as a result of that post.  That would be interesting, though, a man looking to date one of us knitters solely to get a scarf.  And there is no superstition or lore about the boyfriend scarf being bad luck in the same way that they boyfriend sweater is.  That's probably because one could always strangle the boyfriend with the scarf, I think.

I tend to think of turkeys as fall animals because of Thanksgiving, but the truth is we see them most of the year, and spring is a great time to see them because they seem to like to come out after the rain.  I found a lone turkey in my backyard this afternoon.  I know she's a bit difficult to see, but she started heading off into the woods as soon as I came outside, so I didn't move too fast when stalking her with my camera. 

The dog was dying to get out and see the turkey, but I managed to keep him in and also not let him get a glimpse of her so he didn't bark and scare her.  Loco has gotten much more vocal since Beast died, and he has taken to howling a couple of times a day.  Strangely, the kids and I are the only ones who have heard him howl.  He never howls when DH is home. 

Another sign of spring in New England:

Town Meeting!  I actually have never been. . . one of the pluses of being married to a man who works nights is that I don't get out much at night because I have to take care of the kids.  Usually, I find that to be a negative, but in this case it is a plus.  If I had my nights free, I'd feel obligated to go to town meeting, and I really don't think I'd enjoy it.  For those of you who aren't in the know about town meeting, which seems to be a very New England thing, but not popular elsewhere, I will explain.  Towns that have town meeting do not have an elected body of officials running the town (but most do have a town manager, who is an employee of the town), so once or twice a year they have town meeting where the people of the town can come and discuss matters of public interest and vote on items in the town warrant.  In my town, those items have mostly been related to expansion of public works projects and zoning.  Town meeting would probably be an excellent place to knit.

I've been knitting in the privacy of my own home, though not much knitting has occurred lately.  I've been really, really busy.  I have no idea how I used to get all these things done *and* work full time, but I'm finding myself just wiped out at the end of the day and in no condition to knit.  That will be rectified this week, I am sure.  I'm at the mindless part of the leg on the second Conwy II sock, so now it's just a slow trip to the point where I can start knitting the heel flap.  For some reason, for me getting to the heel flap of a top down sock is the best part of knitting the sock, because the turning of the heel is literally around the corner.  Guess what else is around the corner?

Yes, it's Summer of Socks!  I didn't do this last year because I was overwhelmed with work crap, but I'm going to be doing it this year.  I might as well, because I know I will be knitting socks this summer anyway and now I can join in on all the fun that everyone else had last summer.  Signups are open now and they close May 15th, so get your butt over there and sign up.  Knitting does not officially commence until June 21st, giving everyone plenty of time to get settled for a project.  I have no idea what I'll be knitting for socks this summer.  I've got so much lovely sock yarn and so many nice patterns to choose from, so I know I'll find my happiness once I marry the right yarn and pattern.

I'm off to knit more Conwy II!  Enjoy your May Day tomorrow!

Comments

[Alarming Female]

It's snowing in Salt Lake City right this damn minute. Big, fat goose feathers.

It was 79 degrees on Monday. WTF?

[monica]

Buddy howls once in a while so I was wondering if he had some hound genes too. But maybe it's the lab. Thanks for the link to the Summer of Socks. I just joined but I probably won't win any contests.

[Danielle]

We got our warrant for our town's Town Meeting a few days ago. Since it falls btwn semesters, and hubby is interested in experiencing a town meeting, we'll be attending. (Note to self: cast on for a Town Meeting sock before May 13...) In our town, all 8th graders do a unit on town meetings in the spring, complete with elections, creating items for the warrant, etc. I think it's just a clever ploy to keep them from zoning out entirely at the end of the year, but it seems to work.

[Cookie]

Thank you for that link. I've spent a good part of my life trying to figure out the white folk. Now I'm wondering if what's his name loves me because I always knit him a scarf or two in the fall. o.0

Go Team Socks!

[Karen]

I wonder if the dog feels the need to protect his family now.
The sock looks great.
I too have never been to a Town Meeting. My husband has gone a few times. Our meetings go on for hours and hours because everyone gets up to talk. They have even had to continue the meeting to the next night. It's tough when the warrant you are most interested in is scheduled towards the end of the meeting.

[CindyCindy]

Loco is probably still mourning the Beast, too. As for the turkey? I've seen more this year than every before. Don't understand it. And, spring? Comes and goes everywhere from what I hear;) I signed up for Summer of Socks, too.

[Sharon]

My knowledge of town meetings is based solely on watching The Gilmore Girls. Those meetings were a hoot, but it helps when Hollywood scriptwriters are putting the words in a politician's mouth.