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Dear Ellen,

Just thought I’d share a picture or two of my latest project on the needles.  I’m calling it my Spring Shrug, a very simple and basic shrug to go with the dress I think I’ll be wearing to Craig’s wedding.  It’s just a simple rectangle to be seamed for sleeves. I’m working in the ostrich plume feather and fan variant, a decision based on wanting some “air” and wanting a pattern that didn’t demand a provisional cast on and knitting out in both directions for symmetry.  I don’t know how far this yarn will go and didn’t want to mess with weighing it to find the half-way point.  As the great bulk of my knitting takes place in the car these days, that would have been a bit awkward.  This pattern has enough of a bi-directional  appearance that I can just knit till it looks like I will run out of yarn if I start another repeat.  I’m doing  3-stitch garter edges and 4 rows of garter stitch at each end.

As you may have guessed, those shots were taken on the latest trip to Pennsylvania where we found much progress.  All of the sealant coats are on the hickory floors.  Many of the light fixtures are up.  (The decorator says that lights are a home’s jewelry and really make it come alive.)  The front door stain is done (sealing yet to come) and it looks great with the door lights.  And we have front porch steps!  This will make it much more accommodating when you come to visit.  We are very thoughtful that way.  We spent some time with the world’s best architect and world’s best site foreman going over rough landscaping plans.  Once all of the phases are in, it will look just lovely — endemic plants, not overly-groomed, and many flowering trees — a particular weakness of mine – sweetbay magnolia, red bud, weeping cherry, dogwood and lilac.  I was very deliberate in making sure the liriope we are putting in is the clumping and not the spreading variety!  And no yews…I truly dislike them except for the spreading ground yew.  A neighbor trotted past as we were leaving.

We are celebrating Easter today in our own way…stale peeps, lots of black jelly beans for Dale, DIY landscape plants and colored eggs with a long walk with Max and Ruby to appreciate nature and our blessings.  I hope you’re having fun in New York and that you found lots of eggs too!

Love, Jan