Knitting has slowed almost to a stand still here at Chez Extravayarnza due to an accident washing dishes where my fingertip made a good bid (but thankfully unsuccessful) at leaving my hand. Not bad enough for stitches, but since this was my right pointer finger it's quite necessary for knitting and in a great deal of pain at the moment.
So, I'm instead reveling in the joys of dog ownership in the spring. I do love the ease in taking walks with the pups in the spring/summer/fall. (I love walking in the winter too, but my winter boots need a rest).
Right now at the dog park (which has earned a bit of a reprieve) the ground is coated in wild Bleeding Hearts (aka squirrel corn), May Apples, and Trillium.
Trillium are my favorite Michigan wildflower. Last year I had to hike through a 1/4 mile of poison ivy to view their fleeting blooms. This year the North West corner of the park I visit almost daily is carpeted with them. I can't tell you how happy this makes me!
Soon the canopy will fill out and all we'll be able to see is green skies and brown ground. I try to really enjoy this early spring carpet of life in our forests.
We've enjoyed 7 days straight of 70 degree (20 C) plus weather.
The downside to all this warmth for those who own Shelties is that this is the big time of coat blowing. Robin has built up this thick fluffy undercoat from a long winter & has decided that it simply must go. I brushed out an entire grocery bag of fur off of him alone tonight & he looks about 6 inches less wide. I think there is still plenty more undercoat where that all came from too. Luckily he doesn't shed much on his own, it all sits there until I brush it out.
So, I suppose I'll close this out with some photos...
