Please come to Boston in the springtime...

(Extra points to anyone who remembers that Loggins & Messina song.)

I'm off to Boston tomorrow for training. It's the first work travel I've ever done. There are three of us going.

I'm excited. I don't know the other gals very well. They work in other departments and we're only acquaintances. I am looking forward to getting to know them better.

Luckily, we each have our own hotel room. :0)

I'll return home on Friday evening.

So, what do you pack when you'll be gone most of a week?

A sweater, socks, the beginnings of a lace scarf, and a spindle, of course!!






Oh, and some clothing and my computer...



Out in the arb today for a run.

The greenery is beginning to spring from the burned area.












The wooded areas are full of wildflowers.









Friday movie night pic of the frecklegirl and her little dog. (So I can look at it when I'm away.)

Friday night movie - "The Golden Compass".

Excellent flick. We saw it in the theater with Ben. Of course, he let us know that the movie ending is NOT the book ending. Good flick, nonetheless.



Best song on the iPod while running - 'Real Good Looking Boy" by the Who.
5.4 miles today/ 12.3 this month.

Spring?

Perhaps, after the snow last week, spring has finally arrived.

Wednesday, it hit 65 degrees. Hurray!


I even took the big dog out into the Carleton Arboretum for a run.

They've done a burn on a few of the prairie areas.

This is the day after the burn.

I love watching the prairie recover. It's good motivation to get out for a run.





Here's the unburned prairie on the other side of the trail.

company for the weekend

Ben was home from college this past weekend.

He brought someone for us to meet.

Here's Becky!



She passed all the tests: Homemade pizza eating, movie watching, being human furniture for the pets (both cats sat upon her - quite unusual), card game playing, and most of all - geocaching when it's 40 degrees and sleeting out! YAY Becky!





I managed some sewing this weekend.

Five more box bags.

I had to send for more zippers from ebay. Love that ebay - 100 random zippers for $10. Makes these little bags so much more affordable!





Not much knitting lately.

I have begun working on the collar for Osterdalen, finally.









Rogue has a few more rows. (After I ripped out the biased hemming)






Little dog didn't want Girl of the House to leave for school this morning.

The 20th of April in southern Minnesota.



Ice on the lakes.
















Spring wildflowers.







The ice, floating on the waves, tinkled like wind chimes.

Steeking Osterdalen

On Saturday, Paul had to work.

I finally went to my sewing table and steeked Osterdalen.


Because I continued knitting in the round, rather than back and forth at the top, I needed to cut a neckline.

I used a bright red yarn to mark where I wanted the neckline.







I placed the sleeves to determine the depth needed for the steek.










I marked the location and length of the steek with the contrasting yarn.











Off to the sewing machine.

I stitched on both sides of the marking yarn.

I prefer to use short, narrow zigzag stitches. (Maximum placement of stitch fixation!)





There are two rows of stitches on both sides of the sleeve steeks.

Be brave, take a deep breath - and CUT!








Once I finished all the knit sewing and cutting, I was inspired to do some additional sewing.


I finished three denim box bags and one pretty little checked bag.

I cut out pieces for eight more bags.
Now, I need to return to the sewing room!