June is the Happiest Month

The lilacs and irises are blooming.

The strawberries are ripening.

The roses and the peonies are about to bud and open up.

A person feels most in love in June, don't you think?

In love with each other, the air, the earth, the stars, the moon.

I'm so glad we got married in June, as it makes this time of year even more magical. We celebrate not only our anniversary but the longest day of the year, Midsummer Night's Eve and St. John's Day all at the same time.

I'm so glad we have a daughter named Rose, too. Even though she was born in February (the other 'love' month, with Valentine's Day), June is a special time for us too. It's the month of her namesake flower and the month of both of my Grandma's and my favorite Aunt's birthdays. (And BTW, my third grandma was born on Valentine's Day! I just think that's cool.)

Ready for the roller derby, Rose and friends on the first of June.

I was feeling very poetic yesterday, on the first day of June, thinking of these things and relaxing outside in the perfect 75 degree sunny weather. I'm knitting my first pair of socks (well, the first that I'll complete). They're 100% wool, for George, but the color is "Blueberry" so they too are summery enough.

Some iced tea, a homemade-by-George chocolate chip scone, and my knitting out on the back stoop.

I got a tiny little book at the library, Socks & Circs by Dara J. Tatum, and I'm learning how to knit socks on two circular needles. (Sorry I can't find this book anywhere online; it appears my library is the only link to it. It was published in 2003 by Montat Publishing, http://www.montat.com/. There are other books on this, though, like Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles.)

This style of sock knitting is so easy! So, so easy! Anyone could do this...And it's fun, too. I have tried and tried to knit socks the traditional way with 4 double-pointed needles but I'm a nervous wreck with all those pokey needles sticking out. Stitches get dropped, needles get lost, and I just don't enjoy it at all. Well, with two circular needles there's no losing stitches off the end of a needle, there's nothing poking at me, and it's just so much less awkward. But you should wait to see the finished photo of two socks, then we'll know if I actually finished this project. Ooh, now I've dared myself...