Promise of spring...

The roller coaster of late winter's changing weather is upon us.  The pattern repeats:  a string of unseasonably warm days followed by frigid temps in the teens.  

It snowed a bit yesterday as we left a funeral service.  It seemed fitting. 

Today I see 70°F in the 10-day forecast!  That seems impossible.

But there are signs of spring. Garlic planted late last autumn, is popping through  saturated soil, teasing me to start thinking about the garden.  

Though, as of yet, no asparagus is coming through the leaf mulch we put down in November of last year.  

 

And while strawberry plants are starting to stretch from their winter's nap, I'm not sure I want to uncover them just yet.

In this late winter season when it's too wet (and most days, too cold) to be working in the soil, I try to content myself with inside business. 

My friend, Lynne, who brought her own sourdough bread for our dinner and a movie night recently, inspired me to consider that I should really learn how to make this delicious bread.  A few down-to-earth bakers on YouTube have just about convinced me it doesn't need to be as complicated as it often looks to be.  I bought rye and spelt flour for making a quick starter.  Now, I just need to commit to trying.

And in between half-hearted cleaning and decluttering, I'm pretending that crocheting another blanket is something productive to do.

Indeed, there is no need for another blanket, but it is undoubtedly satisfying to move yarn between fingers, while a crochet hook twists colorful strands into a playful pattern of granny stitches.

While this large granny square blanket is more than half-way finished, the rounds go slower and slower the bigger it gets.  No promises or predictions on when it will be finished.  Just pleasure in the making of it.