Today was simply beautiful. About 70 degrees, sunny, with some fluffy clouds rolling in this afternoon. Really, just gorgeous.

Dad spent most of the day out on the golf course.

Mom spent the day down the shore* with a friend, seeing her new beach house.

I, of course, was at work. Sure, I got Chappy out for a walk at lunchtime, but still–I spent most of my day sitting at my desk while Mom and Dad gallivanted. And poor Chappy was home all alone for most of the day.

I did tell him that a lot of dogs have to put up with being alone for most of every day. Not just once in a while. I told him he was lucky that he’s got grandparents who are in and out of the house while I’m at work. Somehow, he still felt aggrieved.

But, once I was home from work, we braved the massive amounts of pollen and sat on the deck for a while. It was really lovely, and I decided that, since I don’t have any real, photographically visible progress on my knits, that I would show you some Spring pictures, taken from the backyard.

Bad though it is right now for tree-allergies, it is a beautiful time. Just about all the flowering trees in the neighborhood are in bloom, or just barely past bloom. Even the dogwoods are in bloom, about two weeks earlier than usual.

The other trees are at the stage where they have little, round clumps of baby leaves at the ends of their branches, like they’re covered in fluffy green pompoms. The vista over the hills is starting to gain some color, some texture–it’s not all high, bare branches anymore. It really is such a nice time of year. The two “transitional” seasons–Autumn and Spring–are by far my favorites, even if they are also the most fleeting.

Speaking of allergies, Chappy’s been scratching more than usual since all the Spring stuff started blowing through the air. Most dog allergies show up through the skin, so I’m wondering if there may be something going on there. Either way, he’s getting a nice, thorough oatmeal-shampoo tomorrow. If it is allergies, it will wash the allergens out of his fur, and even if it’s not, it will help soothe the skin.

My own allergies are starting to act up, too. There’s a little bit of a cough, a tiny touch of asthma the other day, some small amount of sniffling. It must nearly be the month of May! I do, though, still have the asthma inhaler from my illness in February. It’s not something I want to use, but it’s kind of nice to know that it’s here in the house if I really need it. But, why dwell on it?

I HAVE been knitting. I’m about halfway through the third pattern repeat of my Celtic Dreams, and have added another inch or so to my Peacock Stole. I did just do the heels on my socks, too, and will show pictures in another day or two. My left hand is sore tonight, though. Trying to control the tighter gauge of the Celtic Dreams is obviously more of a strain than I’m willing to admit. In fact, while working on the socks tonight, I noticed that my gauge got tighter on those at just about the time I started the cables. Coincidence? I think not!

Hey–this last picture. Don’t you think the clouds look rather like Great Britain? Scotland kind of detached, but there, and even a hint of Cornwall off the southwest . . .

* The phrase “down the shore” is a uniquely New Jersey usage. Most normal people say things like “down at the beach.” In fact, I usually do, too, but I figured you’d like some local color….

• Tags: General, Sky • Permalink:Skying //