the blue blog archives: orange days ahead

A brief lull in our otherwise brutal winter has gotten all us Bostonians hoping for Spring, saying ridiculous things like "Spring's got to be just around the corner" even though we know we'll be punished for such displays of weakness by not seeing a nice, warm day until May. But we do it all the same. I, too, found myself dreaming of better weather this week and was inspired to pull out the fabulous orange yarn that Dani (of Sunshine Yarns) dyed for me last year. Mmmmmm.... so bright and pretty and spring-y. Can't you just feel the sunshine and hear the birds singing? I can. And I can totally see wee one finally wearing the bright orange Buttercup Baby jacket (from Interweave Crochet Fall 2006) that I'd planned to make for her so long ago. I've finished the knitted skirt section on the back and so far I love it. It reminds me of the line in Love Actually (which I caught on cable last weekend on Valentine's Day) when Emma Thompson greets her child after he was a lobster in the school Christmas show: "Oh, you were sooo... what's that word... ORANGE!"

Mother Nature punished me soundly for all these happy thoughts of brighter days by making it snow last night. Grrrrrr.

posted by alison at 5:53 pm | in buttercup baby

Comments

That will be gorgeous in orange! And brava for you in starting a project in a yarn that's so bright and optimistic. Your daughter will look pretty as a picture.

Posted by: toni in florida at February 19, 2009 6:43 PM

Ha! So true. A few weeks ago when we went above freezing I was thinking I'd be so grateful if we could just hover around 30--but a few days at 40 and 50 and it was so hard to go back

Posted by: Sara at February 19, 2009 9:25 PM

"There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?"
"Duh."

One of my favorite films. :)

Posted by: Jena (the yarn harpy) at February 19, 2009 10:32 PM

I LOVE the color! It will be a beautiful knitting!!!!!

Posted by: Patricia Fontes at February 19, 2009 11:22 PM

Yep - Chicagoans & Bostonians have a lot in common as far as the weather goes (although I think you generally get a bit more snow but rarely get the real bone chilling cold we can get in the Midwest). The Saturday before Valentine's Day it was warmer here than in Palo Alto (where my one daughter & grands now live). But then, of course, 2 days later it was in the 20°'s during the day & below 10° at night - with a little more snow. Valentine's Day was fairly nice (above freezing - the breeze felt positively balmy). But now it's cold again & they're predicting 6-8" of snow tomorrow night. When I was a kid, I always thought that the whole Groundhog Day thing was a joke - Chicago always has 6 more weeks of winter after Feb 2 & we're happy if it's only 6. I remember wearing down coats in April. That orange is very appealing looking. I have some Classic Elite Star in a very similar color & Baby M loves orange - maybe I'll find a pattern for a summer sweater (or even a dress) forher.

Posted by: Donna at February 20, 2009 1:10 AM

I haven't seen that pattern yet. It's completely adorable!

Posted by: Wendi at February 20, 2009 9:06 AM

It's not Spring in the North until mid April...seems along ways to go yet as I look out the window to knee deep snow...

That sweater pattern is beautiful. What a great use for that orange yarn. Looking forward to seeing the completed project.

Posted by: Marcia at February 20, 2009 9:12 AM

Yeah, Donna, let's delusionally knit Spring stuff together! Heaven knows it's the only Spring either of us will be seeing for a while! ;0)

Posted by: ALISON at February 20, 2009 11:30 AM

Hey That reminds me, what happened with YOUR orange sweater Rebecca. Did you finish it? I'd like to see how it turned out.

Posted by: Alexia at February 20, 2009 12:02 PM

We are also going to be out of the Chicago area for the 2nd half of March - taking the train to California to visit the grands - spending the entire week of spring break with them (& my daughter too of course - I really miss her). I've always said "next year, I'm going somewhere warm in late March." By that time of year, even though I don't really hate winter the way some folks do, I'm sick of the piles of black snow & the cold. I'm looking forward to it for many reasons.

Posted by: Donna at February 20, 2009 3:35 PM

I have been using the word balmy every time it is above freezing. It's been just cold enough that I've scrapped more street runs than I want to think about even though I know I'll get warmed up a bit in the process. It feels so wonderful to see a bright summery color in the midst of all of the grey (though less grey than a week or two ago) in Boston.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at February 20, 2009 5:38 PM

LOL...it's finally raining here...
isn't that a fab movie!!!

Posted by: Orli at February 21, 2009 4:30 AM

Orange is my favorite color. Unfortunately, I can't wear it without looking like the living dead, but it really does brighten up a room . . . or a blog. I can't wait to see the finished project.

Posted by: Jane at February 21, 2009 9:00 AM

Am totally in love with that color. It really makes the stitch pattern stand out nicely.

Posted by: Steph at February 22, 2009 2:27 PM

when you get a chance, DO go find the podcast for this weeks Prairie Home Companion. The good folks in St. Paul (not to mention Duluth) are hoping for Spring, too. Since I'm here in Texas, I won't tell you our temperature today. But if it's any comfort, I pulled weeds and am SORE!

Posted by: PainterWoman at February 23, 2009 3:11 AM