Brrr...what a way to welcome spring!

I've always wanted a shot from Anthony's school. These kids have the best view of the whole valley. It was a much more dramatic sight this morning at 7 a.m. when I dropped him off at school as it was still snowing pretty hard up in the mountains. We usually don't get snow on the side of town where we live. On the left of the photo is the Las Vegas Strip and on the right is Downtown Las Vegas, though you can't see it. The Stratosphere tower is that tall thing. From this shot you can see the newest addition to The Strip - the Wynn Hotel & Casino. Isn't it huge? It's beautiful on a clear sunny day as the glass is a deep bronze color.


Funny thing, spring. We get more snow in the spring than in the winter here in Las Vegas it seems. I'm not complaining. I'd rather have this little bit than have to shovel my way out of my front door every day. This photo above is the view from our driveway.


Above is the view from our backyard balcony.


What's this dark thing at the bottom of our pool, you ask? Bernie and I were upstairs and heard the rain coming down. He loves the rain so he looked out the window, which happens to be right over our pool. He said, is that a squirrel at the bottom of the pool or one of the kids' toys? I don't think we have squirrels here in Las Vegas but I think we do have either prairie dogs or chipmunks. Poor thing must not have seen the sign telling him not to run in the pool area because it's slippery when wet. I told Bernie to give him mouth to mouth rescucitation but he refused. He's off duty.

Here are the vine lace socks I just completed. I don't have a pattern for them. I got the vine lace pattern out of one of my old pattern books and just adapted them to my generic toe up sock pattern that I normally use. They're a bit loose as I had to go up a few stitches for accomodate the lace pattern, but since I plan to wear them as house socks I don't really mind all that much. Not enough to frog them and reknit.

The pattern is worked over 9 stitches + 4 and over 4 rows. Here are the instructions for knitting flat:
Row 1: k3, *yo, k2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2, yo, k1*. Repeat from *to* to end, k1.
Rows 2 & 4: Purl
Row 3: k2, *yo, k2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2, yo, k1*. Repeat from *to* to end, k2.

If you're working in the round, don't add the "+4" stitches. I didn't know this and found out the hard way. You'll be left with a 4 st column of stockinette stitch going up the length of your sock.








I think I have enough of this yarn left for a pair in the Blueberry Waffle pattern. I'm working on one right now and just turned the heel. Pictures to come.