Happy Easter, Happy Spring + More

Good Morning Colorful Friends:

Today’s newsletter will be shorter than usual. I want to wish you and yours a happy Easter and happy Spring. It’s such a time of renewal. I hope you feel hopeful for the upcoming spring and summer season wherever you live.

Spring is slowly rolling into western Massachusetts. The snow is melting and has mostly disappeared except in the recesses of the woods where the sun doesn’t hit. We have had a cold and windy week but they say next week it will be in the high 70’s. Sugaring season is over. The daffodils are just beginning to bloom. All are sure signs of the coming spring and summer seasons.

Speaking of spring, here is a throwback photo of Olympia the Lamb dressed in a floral handknit and felted necklace. Nothing like a lamb and flowers to welcome spring. The pattern for the felted flowers is available on my website here and on Ravelry here.

The last time I wrote to you, I shared my trip to Hamilton, Missouri where I filmed a series of crochet videos for One Big Happy Yarn Company. I’m really happy to share the Preview of the Upcoming Hexagon Crochet Video Crochet-Along (40 seconds).

Lambs are still arriving. The yearling ewe lambs are starting to lamb. It’s always a little dicey as they are not experienced moms and frequently don’t know what to do. I’m starting to think about gardening season and all that needs to be done outside. In two weeks, the Amherst Farmers Market begins. I’ve been making ceramics to sell in our lamb/pottery/tea towel booth. I’m looking forward to seeing friends and customers I haven’t seen since last November.

Here are today’s links I want to share……

• From the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, here is a video of the hanging of the nasturtiums in the courtyard (55 seconds). I would love to see this one day.

• I would love to visit the David Parr House in London one day.

• I enjoy this Substack newsletter about the Bloomsbury group of artists. She also has an excellent Instagram feed here.

• Here’s an interesting article about celebrating spring at Stonehenge.

• Evidently there are crocheters on the staff of the National Park Service. Here’s a post about the fish they are making.

• J Crew is celebrating their 40th year in business. Maggie Bullock has written a book about the company which sounds interesting.

• I enjoyed this podcast interview with Alison Roman, former food columnist for the NY Times. She has a new cook book out called Sweet Enough.

I’m going to cut this newsletter short today because I have some holiday cooking to do to bring to my sister’s house for an Easter dinner. I’m making my “usual” Easter contribution of Deviled Eggs, Coconut Macaroons from Nigella, and Lamb Rib Chops from our farm.

Happy Spring!

Colorfully yours,

Kristin Nicholas