Yesterday was my birthday and I had a lovely day – which
included knitting on the deck in the sunshine. 
I did not, after all, begin the lily-of-the-valley lace shawl – as I
have so many projects going at the moment!  Starting something new does not even seem
appealing right now.  So, I will wait
until I can cast on joyfully.

I did, however, work on the Gold Leaf Shrug which I am
enjoying very much.  Sarah says I am
never happier than when I have at least three balls of yarn hanging off my
needles (and she is not really off-base there!).  But I found myself knitting away
enthusiastically with a single ball of yarn and 4 double-pointed needles, a 26”
circular needle, and my set of working (straight) needles all stuck into the
piece! 

The circular is holding the whole perimeter of the shrug
while I do the sleeve – which is actually on the 4 double-pointeds, as I am
picking those (live) stitches up while working the lace cuff perpendicular to
the sleeve, as one might do when attaching an edging to a shawl.  I will be doing the same thing with the
perimeter of the shrug – which is why I am keeping those stitches live. This is
my idea of a good time!  Although I also
thoroughly enjoyed the classy dinner out with my husband followed by cake,
Mumms champagne, and gifts at Sarah’s house afterward – I told you it was a
lovely day!

There was a ridiculously harrowing incident on the deck that
afternoon, however, when Sarah and noticed that little bits of fluff were
falling – apparently from the fir tree overhead.  Lots of fluffy feathery bits.  And larger feathery chunks too!  We looked up and saw a crow on a high branch
busily picking at something large and feathery (a Steller’s Jay, by the look of
things) while the feathery gobs rained down upon us!  By this time, Sarah and I were huddled under
the deck umbrella squealing in a manner unbecoming a former member of the
Tahoma Audubon Education committee!  I am
usually pretty cool with nature and am fond of crows, but this was purely revolting
– and it went on for quite a while, too! 

Other than the Feather Fall-Out Incident, it was a
delightful day – in the middle of a week full of family celebrations:  Mother’s Day, Gwen’s 1^st Birthday
(and her big party tomorrow), the bridal shower I am hosting here on Sunday
(hopefully without any bird feasts going on in the fir branches overhead!), and
Geoff’s homecoming (from college – with his girlfriend, Teri, who just
graduated).  We are pretty much living on
cake here this week!