Aaah, February

Well, I had a "Happy Valentine's Day" post ready to go yesterday.  As I finished it up I heard from a friend who had a death in her family.  I just didn't feel like clicking on "publish post" after that, and my thoughts will continue to be with her and her family this week.

I wanted to still tell you about a contest I wrote about in yesterday's post.  There is a  "Winter's Waning Giveaway" from my favorite sheep farm blogger, Sheep Gal.  She is giving away white yarn along with a copy of the book Teach Yourself Visually Hand-Dyeing.  Nice giveaway, don't you think?  For a chance to win you can leave her a comment about something you like about this time of year.  I thought I would share that here too.  This message is coming to you a little late now, so be sure to share your thoughts about February with Sheep Gal soon.

The arrival of mid-February means . . .

 . . .  a new orchid to brighten the kitchen:

My traditional Valentine's gift from the boys.

. . . the asparagus has started to come up:

My favorite harbinger of spring.

 . . . the hens are revved up by the warmer weather:

The girls are earning their keep.

 . . . it's high time to cast on for my second pair of socks for 2011 using this lovely skein:

What would February be without knitting?

. . .  the garden seeds have started to arrive in the mail:

This year, mixed in with the vegetables, I am
planting flowers that will be used for yarn dyeing:
hollyhocks, dahlias, coreopsis, lady's bedstraw, and madder. 

Best of all is Stitches West where I will be heading in a couple of days.  Family obligations will keep my friend from attending so I will be keeping an eye out for some nice yarn in her favorite color.