This is such a beautiful color that I almost don't want to finish knitting it. I love to watch the sun play across the yarn as I'm working. But finish it I must. I WILL have a FO before year's end and I've only got 4 days.
No, the universe doesn't operate at a different speed for me, but that would be nice. Especially since I've not quite finished wrapping either. I'm not exactly orderly in my approach, but it gets under the tree somehow.
Guess that time shifting dream is almost universal - from Adam Sandler's remote control to Hermione's Time-Turner. Anyway, the day after Christmas I'm having a little cyst cut off my middle finger, so there will be no typing or knitting for me for a bit (hence Birch deadline and the astounding two posts in two days). It's on the palm side of my left hand at the base of the finger. Doc says it could be left there, but it starts to hurt when I grip things like the broom and garden tools, so my DH demanded it out (very much joking here). Easy peasy except that I'm left handed. For all my back stuff, I've never actually had my body cut except wisdom teeth and the 9 1/2 pound baby with the bowling ball head (there's a reason Emily's adopted). Hope I get to watch.
This morning the working dude left at the crack of dawn so he could take off early. The dentist worked me it today so I can have new temporaries for Christmas (better than coal in my stocking I guess). The kids were sleeping soundly, visions of sugar plums and Nintindo DS's dancing in their heads. All was well and I was in dreamland when the phone rang. The mulch was being delivered in 45 minutes. All thirty yards of it! A very nice man in a very large truck managed to fit this on our short drive. Sure beats hauling it one bag at a time from Home Depot, but now it has to be spread. Know what my darling man is doing this weekend!
I know I've not shown pictures of the yard, mainly because it's not completely done. Also, so many of these 1' tall plants will eventually be 6' tall or more - it's more of a vision than reality at this point. These photos were taken about a month ago. We've since planted the pomegranate and plum trees in the black pots here and added San Diego red bougainvillea behind the fountain which will totally fill that space and spill over the walls. Both the Tipu and the Jacaranda trees will eventually grow to 40'x40'. Give me two years and it'll look good. Five years an you won't recognize it.
A questionably healthy passion has developed for David Austin roses around here. My only one so far, bought at an end of season sale, is a bit punky right now, but the blooms I've gotten please me to no end and smell like heaven. I'd never given it much thought, but in my mind I would have always said I love roses, yet whenever I saw tea roses they just didn't sing for me. The plants don't appeal and the individual planting style seemed to sterile for my cottage gardening tastes. Then I discovered old roses and David Austin and it all feel into place. These were the roses of my Art History classes. Of museums. I've got ten on order for Jan delivery.
Next summer the house will have large, overflowing arrangements. Until then, the one-offs bring their singular beauty to the hallway.
To end on a completely silly note, here's me as a South Park character. Notice the crazed eyes and half-gloves. My hands are cold as I type this and I need more coffee. I look like the new teacher who ... I'm afraid to think what they would do with me. Reminds me that I'll have to show you my new glasses soon.
Thanks to Carole (via Be*mused, who always has the best links!)for pointing me to this little diversion. I don't always watch it, but when I'm in the mood those boys can certainly make me laugh. I owe Trey, Matt, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for lots of out-loud laughs this past year.
We're pretty darned ecumenical around here, so please accept my good wishes for whatever celebrations you and your family enjoy. Good Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and and a very Happy New Year!
Your Birch is going to be gorgeous! Nothing quite as motivating as impending surgery, eh?
That mulch might have thrown me over the edge...especially a couple of days before Christmas.
Thanks for the kind mention. I have an idea that when I'm telling people about my new passion for roses, I'll be saying it all started over at the Knitting Wench. ;-)
Nice to see you back this week! Happy holidays to you and your family, Nancy.
Posted by: Jan | December 22, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Your birch is beautiful! and so is your house! Your yard is going to be so incredible! It already is.
Posted by: moni | December 22, 2006 at 05:21 PM
Oh, and I forgot to say Happy Holidays! :)
Posted by: moni | December 22, 2006 at 05:22 PM
Nothing smells as heavenly or is quite as beautiful as an old rose. I could almost smell them when I clicked on the link to David Austin! Happy holidays from Kentucky.
Posted by: Susan | December 23, 2006 at 04:27 AM
Dropping by to say hi, hope the Birch turns out beautifully as wanted :) and your finger heals quickly. Hmm, the before pic of the newly arrived mound of mulch will be a nice reminder of one of those quirks (many?) during your garden re-do. Happy holidays!
Posted by: Terry | December 23, 2006 at 07:23 AM
David Austin roses are among my favorites. They are as gorgeous in the garden as cut and in a vase. (This can not be said of most tea roses!) I have found the David Austins to be very hardy and trouble free as well.
Your Birch is gorgeous. I can see where you are so addicted to the color that you don't want the knit to end. But think of how much you will enjoy the finished shawl!
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Kirsten | December 24, 2006 at 06:00 AM
Wonderful its blog is pretty!BRASIL
Posted by: Art & Disorder | December 24, 2006 at 07:35 AM
Your Birch is indeed a thing of beauty. You are practically there,you'll find that the short rows to the point just fly!
Beautiful roses too. I have three David Austin rosebushes, in pots, on my deck. I never get enough of the fragrance, colors and shapes.
Happy holidays!
Posted by: Laura | December 24, 2006 at 06:04 PM
Hey Missus, I have just bought some KSH in exactly the same colour as your gorgeous Birch (my Lord, I must be finally developing some good taste). I love David Austin roses - we have a "Sweet Juliet" by the front door that sulks but every now and then brings forth the most perfect round bloom to tease us (well it is being squashed by a thuggish Weigelia and is in a slightly too shadey spot). Hope your hand heals quick - I'm a leftie too and the thought of anyone going near my hands scares me - there are these people in the local town centre that try and sell manicure kits by grabbing peoples hands and buffing their nails. They did that once with me and I had a panic wobbly of epic proportions (they're nice kids on holiday from Israel I think, shame its just they got the crazy Kiwi woman with a phobia about people going near her nails), the daughter eventually hauled me away in the direction of the John Lewis Yarn Department. Your garden looks exquisite by the way - it all looks so warm and inviting and dry, sighhh everything our poor little Scottish patch isn't at the moment.
Happy Hogmanay and all the best for 2007
Posted by: juliet | December 29, 2006 at 06:13 PM
Happy New Year! and I look forward to seeing more photos of your garden this summer. Jacarandas are incredibly messy but so utterly lovely that one can forgive them anything. And almost nothing about Austin roses needs forgiving -- your Ambridge is lovely.
Posted by: Jeanne | January 03, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Hey - good to see you posting. The house looks fab. "Moods" are funny, aren't they? :)
Posted by: Anne-Caroline | January 05, 2007 at 09:21 PM