APRICOTS!

Apricots growing and ripening in the orchard near my home in Sunnyvale, CA

The Consolation of Apricots - by Diane Ackerman

Especially in early spring, when the sun offers a thin treacle of warmth, I love to sit outdoors and eat sense-ravishing apricots.

Born on sun-drenched trees in Morocco, the apricots have flown the Atlantic like small comets, and I can taste broiling North Africa in their flesh.

Somewhere between a peach and a prayer, they taste of well water and butterscotch and dried apples and desert simooms and lust.

Sweet with a twang of spice, a ripe apricot is small enough to devour as two hemispheres Ambiguity is its hallmark.

How to eat an apricot: first warm its continous curve in cupped hands, holding it as you might a brandy snifter, then caress the velvety sheen with one thumb, and run your fingertips over its nap, which is shorter than peach fuzz, closer to chamois.

Tawny gold with a blush on its cheeks, an apricot is the color of shame and dawn. One should not expect to drink wine at mid-winter, Boethius warned.

What could be more thrilling than ripe apricots out of season, a gush of taboo sweetness to offset the savage wistfulness of early spring?

Always eat apricots at twilight, preferably while sitting in a sunset park, with valley lights starting to flicker on and the lake spangled like a shield.

From I Praise My Destroyer (Random House, 1998) http://www.dianeackerman.com/

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What's to see in my neighborhood?

My Neighborhood - Sunnyvale

Elder statesman palm around the corner from my home.

Beautiful finger-leafed tree

Agapantha, blooming

So now go out in your neighborhood and see the beauty all around you!

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New Projects for Spring!

Project Linus

Knit or crochet a square for our GREEN BLANKET project. Here is the first blanket coming together:

Green squares blanket project for Project Linus (almost done - stay tuned for the finished photo)

Make an 8"x8" square (or two or three) in any color green Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic yarn (Project Linus blankets have to be made with synthetic yarn) practicing your favorite knit or crochet stitches, and bring it to the April Knitalong at my home on Saturday, April 23rd (1-4PM).

I will have ideas for summer blanket projects for Project Linus in May.

Knitting a Spring-Summer Capelet

Knit this adorable capelet with Caron Simply Soft yarns - Plain colors and/or Shadows. You'll have fun making it and want to make several in different colors. You can make them all in one color, or you can make the ruffled edging in a different color - your choice. Email me (chaninca@aol.com) for the pattern - $7.50. Once you pay for it through PayPal, or by mailing me a check I will send it to you by email.

Crocheting a Spring-Summer Artful Blanket

Crochet this wonderful and cozy light cotton blanket using Sugar and Cream yarn. All you need to know for this pattern is the chain and single crochet stitch - so easy. You'll love the results and use it year-round! Email me (chaninc@aol.com) for the pattern $7.50. Once you pay for it through PayPal, or by mailing me a check I will send it to you by email.

Well, that's it for my blog in April! Hope you have enjoyed my posts. If so, send me a comment,, and sign up to follow the blog so you won't miss out on any of them. Be back in May.

Celebrate each day!

Channing

April's Away!

A beautiful poem for APRIL by Fay Slimm

All too soon the countryside, now freshed green and sprouting more than spring, looks out for wider room, shakes its newborn blossoms then ushers April to the door. And April's away.

No longer teenage, Flora's grown maturer now, slightly deeper hued, flowers adorning every late spring bough, while April, already pale, turns white. Then April's away.

Heated by more ardent sun, hedgerows must have stronger feed. Palid from work early done April leaves, and makes way for May to ensure Flora has her needs. Now April's away.

The Beauty and Inspiration of Poetry

The beauty of poetry reminds us of all that life is full of joy and sorrow. It picks us up when we are struggling, and enables us to express our deepest joy when we feel it - it inspires us throughout. Start your day with a poem - see how inspiring this can be. I will be posting poetry I love throughout the month of April, so check in and read inspiring poems to celebrate the season and the month.

Celebrate life however you can - each moment of each day!

April Project

Make a blanket for Project Linus (http://www.projectlinus.com/) who donates their blankets through multiple local organizations to children in need right here in the San Jose area. They are also sending blankets to Japan to help children in need there. So get busy, have fun and learn new stitches all at the same time.

Squares Blanket

Here's a photo of the collaborate blanket coming together that the CHANNING DESIGN Knitalong group is making in April. We chose green as our color, and cream as our edging. Everyone is making squares in either knit or crochet, trying new stitch patterns, or sticking to the basic garter or single crochet stitches. They are all beautiful!

Step 1: Knit or crochet 8"x8"squares using fun stitch patterns in color combinations of your choice. Good yarn choices are LionBrand Vanna's Choice, or Caron Simply Soft.

Step 2: Crochet and edge around each square in a single color - white, cream, or any other color that compliments your color scheme.

Step 3: Sew the squares together in the same color as the edging

Step 4: With the same color, crochet an edge around the full blanket - 2or3 rows of edging.

Or make any blanket pattern of your choice for a child or teenager. Just have fun and donate it to Project Linus. You'll have fun, learn and feel terrific about contributing!

Contact Sharon at sjlinus@comcast.net to find out drop-off information.

Beauty all around: flowers and plants in my neighborhood The rains have now lifted and have left their lush touch on Spring. The flowers are blooming, and we can shed those winter layers. Breathe deeply the light, warm air, and think of fun new projects for the warm-weather months. Be thankful and see the beauty around us every day. Be inspired! Along with poetry watch for project ideas throughout the month.