Almost Spring Sunday

I actually took this photo of my front window Friday afternoon; it was still daylight when I got home around 5 p.m., which means spring is on her way! And it was warm enough to open the front and back door for some much needed fresh air.

Okay, so I've got two posts started from earlier in the week and neither one seems relevant now, so I'll just start from today. It was a lovely birthday this year, made special by my husband, friends (including the blogging kind), family, and students. Although we usually go out of town for a combo Valentine/birthday weekend, this year it just wasn't going to happen. Steve's oldest daughter is getting married next month and I've had quite a few dates with the dentist, so we stayed in town and Steve treated me to dinner(s) out and many lovely gifts, including earrings, knitting books, and this Lantern Moon double point needle case. He definitely spoils me.

Yesterday, Steve and I drove up to Richmond, picked up Stef, and went to the Virginia Fine Arts Museum to view the Picasso exhibit that's on loan from the Musee' National Picasso. It was a beautiful day, so we walked outside a bit afterwards,

then drove to the Carytown district, where we just happened to end up in front of The Yarn Lounge; I picked up a couple of skeins (three) of yarn and Ysolda's second book. I also worked on the baby blanket a lot, so I'm about one third of the way through it. I had started it with a finer gauge yarn, but when I messed up the pattern, I decided to go for a more durable and faster gauge.

After Steve and I got home from having coffee this morning, I worked in the yard a bit. It's quite springlike, sunny and warm. I cleared out some dead brush and trash and noticed that the forsythia bush has buds and is almost ready to bloom. I love the cheery yellow-ness of forsythia, don't you?