sunny afternoon

This week it's been absolutely beautiful around here. I took at walk on Tuesday night and visited a stand of tulips that have been shouting out to me (alongside the road) on my drive in to work. I'm glad I "got them" before they dropped their petals.

Last night Garrett and I went to meet a dog. We're thinking about adopting a sheltie/collie mix from an sheltie rescue group in our area. It's taken me a long time to get Garrett to come around to the idea of having a dog, he is a "cat person." Now that we've started to reach out and meet perspective puppies I can see him coming around - we're both coming around. It feels like I'm coming back to myself in a lot of ways. I don't know how I lived so long with out a dog. It's been three years since my Siberian Husky - Cree - passed. I can't believe I've gone that long without a walking buddy.

I'm already thinking about meals for this holiday weekend. There's going to be a lot of grilling and maybe it's time to whip up a batch of my favorite deviled eggs.

I finished my socks, just in time for summer! (Isn't that the way it always goes? Oh well.) I'm re-reading "A Room With a View." I forgot how wonderful that book is. (Almost on par with Jane Austen, almost.)


Hope you all have a fantastic Friday.

Cheers!

Jillian

shepherd's harvest

It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend here in Minnesota. We hope to see you in Stillwater at the Washington County Fairgrounds for Shepherd's Harvest. Crosby Hill Farm will have a stand, please stop by and say hello and check out our fleeces, natural and dyed combed top, hand-painted yarns and mohair.

Happy knitting and spinning everyone!

XOXO

Jillian

north shore

This past weekend Garrett and I took a surprise trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior. We decided to go late Friday night and booked the reservation then. I had no expectations - just the desire to get away. The trip turned out to be a wonderful experience.

It was 70 degrees on the shore. We couldn't believe it. There I was dressed in layers and flannel and we had to start shedding layers - we both got a little sun. We stayed at Pine Cove Lodge in Beaver Bay, MN, which is just south of Silver Bay. (I love that name.) The only other people at the resort seemed to be a wedding party - other than that Garrett and I had the entire cove (and what felt like the lake) to ourselves. I needed this trip. I lived for seven years in Duluth, MN. For seven years I had the lake on my back doorstep - that wonderful view that you can lose yourself in. And the sound of the water . . .

This was not the way Garrett and I hoped to spend Mother's Day this year - we'd hoped for a little one squalling in the backseat. It was hard and bittersweet for me. A day I can't celebrate . . . yet. The lake and those old, old stones comforted me.

Garrett and I will come back to this place and walk along the shore with our child someday.

That's a promise.

yarn rainbow

 

I made it up to the farm this weekend to help my mom and sister with some fiber painting. We're trying to get a full spectrum of colors for Shepherd's Harvest. Lots of busy work to do! Everything still needs to be labeled and then packed up for the big show.

Even the little ones love hugging and carrying around the fiber - as you can see. Good old Jack was exhausted by all the hustle-bustle and slept in the sun for most of the day.

sunrise

 

There was a beautiful sunrise one morning this past week and I popped outside to snap a quick picture as I was drinking coffee and getting ready for work. I finished reading Sense and Sensibility (again). I'm currently making my way through the stack of books I showed in my last post.

I was playing around in my studio today. I re-did my inspiration board. The new collection of images calls to mind the approaching summer and all the fun I'm going to have running barefoot through the grass.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

happy easter

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope you had a lovely day! Garrett and I colored some Easter Eggs yesterday. Doing that always makes me feel like a kid again.

Cheers:

Jillian

out the door

My wanderings around the neighborhood have turned up some happy photos. The greenhouse up the block has pansies set out - that's hopeful! Maybe the weather will start to warm up and I'll gather enough confidence to set some of their cheerful faces out on our front step.

I've been on an embroidery marathon. These dish towels are already finished and out the door. A gift for my friend at her bridal shower. They were a lot of fun to make - just the iron on patterns that you can get at a craft store. They always make me think of my grandma for some reason.

Hope your week is going well - the weekend is very near.

Hang in there!

Jillian