Sunday

What gives you hope...


... that it will soon be Spring?

Winter will not end here. I swear a record has been broken this season.... we have had over ten, dix, diez consecutive weeks with snow on the ground!!!
Most years it snows... then melts... then snows... then melts. This year? Arggghhhhhhhhhhh.

Just so you know, it is very Canadian to complain about the weather...
I AM CANADIAN!!!

Anyhoo, to make life a little bit more bearable I am having another giveaway. I really enjoyed the first one and all the stories and memories of buttons.
This time I am asking you all a question....

What gives you hope that it will soon be Spring?


For me it is when the morning sun begins working her way through the kitchen door window sending strands of sunlight leading me to the coffee pot.
And, for you? Please share and keep it short... say, 25 words!
On March 20th--- the first day of Spring-- a winner will be randomly drawn!!!
Please make certain that I can contact you by email. Include a link to your blog or site or leave you email address with your comment!
Oh.... what will be the winnings?
Hmmmmmmm.....
...how about 2 skeins of Knitpicks Shimmer Hand Dyed Lace Yarn in the very hopeful colourway.....
...Happy Dance!

ps--- we have another Kiva recipient, Maria! Thank you Ebay shoppers!!!

82 comments:

MiA said...

Oh! I just finished my first pair of socks ever. I have been knitting all my life - but never socks. This giveaway-yarn would be wonderful to make really "springish" socks of :D

We swedes must be quite like you canadians, as we also always always complain about the weather. Me too. And I'm soooo tired of winter now, and what made me beleive the other day that spring must be near is that

I found a ladybird in my kitchen! It must have been some rays of sun that found their way to it's winter hiding place and woke it up!

Wish you a nice day!
MiA

Anonymous said...

for me it is the smell of spring....fresh! crisp! and clean!I love the smell of spring it brings the hope of the lazy daisy days of summer! Nicki

Sarah said...

I too would say the sunlight, but I am wary of his fickle rays, so my true sign of hope that spring will again be gracing me with her graceful presence is, the smell of the dirt. That first slight and hidden smell, then growing strong with the thaws. The birds returning to the feeder in greater numbers, singing their songs of joy and hope that they too may see another spring.

This is my hopeful sign that spring this way comes.

Sarah

i think i know said...

Just the word March! Coming in like a lion, going out lke a lamb.This gives me hope that spring is right around the corner.
Cindy

Sarah said...

Over here on the far south corner of the 'wet' coast... it's already feeling like early spring. The birds are talk talk talking! The bulbs are popping up and the early crocuses are just starting to bloom. Spring!

Annie said...

the sound of ice melting, and the water running along the sidewalk... the crisp yet gentle air...the joy of wearing a lime green coat, because you can: spring has arrived!! oh yeah, I'm tired of winter as well...can't wait for spring to arrive!
Annie

Anonymous said...

I know spring is coming when I wake to the joyful chorus of birds in our trees; when I see the cat basking in the sun streaming through the window; when I can drive home from work in daylight.

Anonymous said...

I just moved from Texas to Missouri. I've never seen so much snow in my life! So I have no idea what spring looks like here. In Texas, it's spring already, with a pale green mist on all the trees. Here, it snowed three inches yesterday. But today the sky was blue blue blue, and the snow sparkled like sugar in the sunlight, and a mockingbird sang in the leafless maple tree outside my window. Maybe it's spring, maybe it's winter's last gasp. I'm happy either way.

Anonymous said...

Whoops, forgot my email. I'm skiffyknitter on Ravelry! Mind if I friend you?

Melissa Morgan-Oakes said...

I must be Canadian.

knittinggranny54 said...

what pretty yarn. for me it is going outside with the grandkids and looking at and listening to the birds.
grandma steph

Portlandia said...

Evenings with sunlight enough to go walking.

Miss Ripley said...

Spring is coming- the crocuses and snowdrops are up, and the first inches of the daffodils are pushing their up from dark, rain-dampened soil.

EmmaMae said...

The pussy willow tree outside my house is just starting to sprout its little velvet buds...that and it has been warm enough on occasion that miniskirts have made their way back into my wardrobe :) Lol show off those legs girls!

Hippie Housewife said...

The smell. That wonderful, glorious spring smell, accompanied by a warmer sun and melting snow. I spend all winter dreaming of that lovely smell.

Anonymous said...

Okay, don't throw anything at me, but those pictures are absolutely beautiful!
Though, I agree.. enough with the winter.. I'm also Canadian.. *cheers with her roll up the rim!*
On to hope.. What brings me hope of Spring is: Firstly, forgetting the time in early evening and having to scramble to make dinner as it's already after 5 and I'm thinking it's earlier! Secondly. It rained today and I SWEAR I could smell a familiar scent in the air, maybe I'm just crazy, but it smelled like Spring to me! Thirdly. I can see across the street to my neighbour's house. That's a sure sign of spring around here!
Thank you for the contest, hope that morning sun melts all your snow soon!
sharbie on ravelry

Bullwinkle said...

I start work early, so the first sign of spring is when I get out of the metro, on my way into the office, and the sun is coming up. (I said it was early!)

Then there are crocus. (Of which there is not a one in current yard (I moved last autumn - didn't get a chance to plant any last year.) and I am just in a funk about lack of crocus.)

Then the stink cabbage near the creek in the woods.

Your pix are gorgeous, may the sun melt your snow soon (although my samoyed is bit jealous).

ax174 said...

The first sign of spring is... seeing new colourways in the yarn store! It's true - even before the birds start chirping the morning, or the buds poke out of the frosty ground, the first indication that winter will surely end are the bright, light, pastels at the LYS.

Anonymous said...

For me spring means getting to take my 13 month old out for wagon rides and seeing his face light up when we walk to the lake seeing the "duckies"!

Anonymous said...

DH always likes to see the "first legs" of spring, when it starts to get warm enough that some fearless female (sometimes me) will wear a skirt or shorts. So for me, spring is coming when he starts talking about looking forward to those "first legs."

ssc said...

I know spring is coming for two reasons 1) the snowpile from digging out our drive, which is always taller than me and I'm 5'10, is now about ankle high. and 2) when I get up for my 8:30am class at 5:30am the darkness doesn't last as long.
Thank goodness for spring!

Seema Persaud said...

For me I know Spring is near when I come home from a long day at school and work and it's not yet completely dark out. :)

Seema

seema.persaud@gmail.com

Christine said...

In my lesson planning, I now have to keep in mind when spring break is! (Spring break means it has to be nice and warm and spring-like, right?)

Anonymous said...

For me spring is when the snow starts melting and the sap starts running! My dad says that he might have his first boil of maple syrup this week! It may still feel like winter when we tap the trees, but it is most definitely spring by the end of the season!

Bravely Barefoot said...

I think that my sign that spring is just around the corner is that I only finally finished a winter hat for myself.

Sure enough the day I finished it, it was balmy, and melty to the extreme! When I finish my cowl, it will certainly be summer!

Ali P said...

I know that spring is coming because my shaggy 12 1/2 year old calico Miss Kitty has started going outside more often, and when I cook supper, its not dark anymore. Like wise for getting up to shoo the kids off to school, but mostly it is my old lady, Miss Kitty.
Her roomie Flash, however, mostly refuses to be coaxed out unless the temps are in the + range. Then again Flash is short haired...

Tarri said...

Where I live there are fields and fields of tulips and daffodils. The stems and leaves are poking their heads out of the ground, so Spring is right around the corner.

Anonymous said...

Ahh, spring! Yes, I remember spring. Here, in the inland northwest there is still deep frozen snow on the ground...but, my chickens are starting to lay every day and the seed catalogs are arriving in my mailbox...bringing the promise of sunlight and warmth and longer days! I just finished the Modern Quilt Wrap - it will be beautiful throughout our chilly spring weather. What an enjoyable knit!
Annie
adayinthegarden@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Groundhog Day always gives me hope for Spring.

Anonymous said...

Spring means getting off the couch and into my garden and getting dirt under my nails. This year, Spring falls on my youngest son's 2nd birthday -- Yea, cake!

I'm pkrsmom on Rav.

Anonymous said...

I live in New Brunswick, and as I write this we are in the grips of another major snowstorm....however, yesterday I saw a definite sign of spring - a robin!! On Ravelry, I'm orbit29 and I love knitting socks.

emmacole1979 said...

For me, the first sign of spring is the birds that come and sit on our balcony to taunt our two cats, who growl and jump at the glass trying to get them. It's very amusing...Thanks for the giveaway, what fun!

I'm emmaknits1979 on ravelry.

Anonymous said...

What gives me hope are the daffodils and jonquils that are blooming as well as the trees that are budding out. And getting seed/gardening catalogs!

SCole on ravelry

Anonymous said...

I know spring is coming because the snow has finally gone. The ground's frozen again today but we've already had several days of our special mud - the part of spring around here I could definitely live without!

I'm ckartist on Ravelry and my blog is at
:
http://ckartist.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/im-bored/

Julie said...

It's the change in scents that does it for me. I know it's spring by that earthy, clean, almost honey like smell. As soon as I smell that scent, I become instantly happier.

I'm lovecontagious on ravelry.

Anonymous said...

arghh! more snow! I feel your pain! I live in southern New England. We spent most of December under snow. It melted for a day or so over New Years then we were buried again for the month of January. February gave us some relief and we were able to see the brown grass again. But here is March and we just got 6 or so more inches of that white stuff!! which I usually love, but I'm over it this year.

so anyway.... what gives me hope for spring? THE ROBINS!! when the robins start coming back then I know Spring will be here real soon.
My daughter has seen her first robin already, but I have not. But there is hope!

I am Negal on ravelry

kshotz said...

OMGoodness! This entry reminds my of my recent post titled "Bleh..."

Love the yarn! Would love to try knitting it up!

I've had a lot of birds singing at my feeders....cardinals, chickadees, even some robins have returned. Hearing their song brings me hope!

Kim in IA

on Ravelry I'm bzmomof2

http://kshotz.blogspot.com

Dotty said...

Normally, I'd answer "when the sun comes out" but this season has been particularly sunny in Vancouver. So I'll have to say, "when I don't have to turn on the lamp when I wake up in the mornings".

Anonymous said...

I know spring is coming when the dog (Samwise) won't stay in the house. Every five minutes he MUST GO OUT! RIGHT.NOW.

He lays on the grass or basks on the sunny deck but he can't stay in the house any longer.

Sue
(OhSusannah on Ravelry)

Knit-O-Matic said...

The fickle weather in Oklahoma gives us warm hopeful days before the temperature plummets again, as the warmer days get more plentiful I get more hopeful!

Kim said...

I'm originally from Canada (Vancouver, to be exact) but I live in California now. Here, Spring lasts from November through March, then Summer hits by the middle of April. The seasons here are downright weird, compared to what I'm used to.

Back home, I'd say spring arrived when I could stop using my electronic sunshine (I get Seasonal Affective Disorder) and be able to function without it. Here, I don't need it since we get a lot of sun even through the "winter" months. I'd say that spring has sprung when my kids start chasing ladybugs and picking daisies on the playground, which is what they did last week :)

Kim (kimberlily on Ravelry)
http://shesacraftywitch.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

I'm in ND and can relate to the numerous weeks in a row of snow. Let's see.... nope I'm not going to count.... too depressing. Especially since we just moved back here after years in AZ.

Patches of grass on the hilltops with little wisps of purple crocus give me hope for spring!

I'm akm on ravelry.

Rachel said...

Well It's a sign of spring here since my girls are waking up at 6:00 and it's light by 6:30 now.

Unknown said...

The sound of running water from the snow melting and draining in to the culverts.
Little green buds popping up on tree branches
Hearing kids starting to play outside more.

Marn Casts On

Anonymous said...

I am from the Kitchener-Waterloo area and I too am heartily sick of winter. We've been lucky and had a warm spell a couple of weeks ago so not much snow, but verrrry cold today. I have a clump of snowdrops by my front steps. They are up and in bud! That is a sure sign of Spring. Maybe the flowers will open when it warms up later this week. (wendy.boose@sympatico.ca)

Anonymous said...

It gives me hope that spring is coming because I can see the outlines of gardens through the melting snow, and the faded leaves and brances from last year; (I moved in this December so I have no idea what the gardens are full of), and I'm impatiently waiting for little buds to appear!

Meg said...

It was so fun reading through the comments - lots of hope that this winter will soon go away!

My personal sign is when the sun gets up before I do instead of the other way around. :)

Anonymous said...

What gives me hope that spring is coming soon is my pre-started garden. Already my brussel sprout seedlings have pushed up, as well as some mint. We start them inside then transfer when it's warm enough. It lets us wait until it's truly warm - in michigan, sometimes it's deceptive!

Threadless on Ravelry

Maura Anderson said...

What gives me hope is the sunlight occasionally coming through the sliding glass door enough to create a "cat magnet" where my cats sun themselves.

Now if it would just be WARM sunshine.

Anonymous said...

When the spring bulbs are up and when I start to notice the Robins arriving.
Billie
dogwalker on ravelry

Anonymous said...

Lovely yarn!!! Socks are my addiction.
My son was born on the first day of spring. As spring approaches it is filled with happy memories and the reminder of life anew when I look at my little boy.
mamahoov on Rav

knittingbunnymum said...

My ray of hope for Spring is the sun!!! We have now had 3 sunny days in a row, bitter cold but sunny so to me that is promising after a very dark winter.
Here's to Spring, Sarah.
whaleyfamily@rogers.com

The Wooly Wumpus said...

I know it sounds so cliche, but for me, I have hope that Spring is coming when I start to hear birds. They get pretty busy in preparation for spring. Squirrels, too. Busy, busy.

BTW, yet another great pic of Skeeter. I don't think Skeeter can take a bad picture.

Qtap said...

Ironically for me what gives me the most hope of Spring is walking down the street on those cold winter days, when it is quite and no one is about. Empty streets, but shining sun. I just can't help but smile and see all the trees and think how very soon they will be oh so very green.

The Treadler said...

What a nifty idea! I live in northern Wisconsin and we do look forward to those 2 months of warm, snow-free weather that surprises us almost every year. I try to "embrace" winter and not allow anything to awaken any hopes of Spring.
When we first moved here I'd hear a great many more chirping birds in the morning around late February. That used to give me hope. Now it warns me that we're in for a March bizzard. (It really isn't fair to blame the birds as we always have a March blizzard.)

Yvonne in Southwest Virginia said...

Well, the low temps are still low, but they don't last as long and they are always followed by a couple of pretty days---so that's my first sign of spring, my hope of spring. With those few days, I can hang on until the real thing. lol

Minding My Own Stitches said...

My signs of spring? Water sounds ...

... icicles dripping from the eavestroughs
... pedestrians splashing through slushy ponds at the edges of the sidewalks
... melted snow streaming from a flat roof through a downspout

lynnw63 on Ravelry

Teresa said...

Walking my dog at 5pm getting back to the house at6 and it is still daylight.
ahousemadeofwool.blogspot.com
Teresa

Yarndude said...

Waking up to the sound of singing Cedar Waxwings is what gives me hope. Their sound is so peaceful and free. :)

Michelle said...

My daffodils have started to peek up through the ground. Spring is coming soon! (I hope!)

The Sexy Knitter said...

Seeing the robins hopping about, even if there is snow on the ground, reminds me it won't be cold forever!

SarahLois on Ravelry
A misplaced Texan/Floridian riding out her first winter in Mussouri. Blech!

Kathleen C. said...

The practical me says it's the fact that our bathroom pipes unfroze themselves without our having to put the heater on them (still waiting on the kitchen sink).
The more poetic part of me is watching the birds increase in variety and number and the creek rise with melt water.

Sarah said...

I know spring must be coming because it's now light out for my walk to and from work, and there are birds out tweeting!

Anonymous said...

In our house, spring is when the smelly hockey gear can finally be washed and put away and exchanged for the lacrosse gear.

Allison said...

I know it's spring when it's not getting dark at 3 p.m. anymore! And seasonal residents begin returning to my sleepy SE Alaska town.

Anonymous said...

Bluebirds at the feeder by the kitchen window, even though the ground is still under deep snow.

Anonymous said...

The first cyclamen, with their delicate pink flowers.

Anonymous said...

The first water in my basement...the daffodils coming up right by the front of the house...the sun up higher in the sky during the day and still up when I come home from work...my shoes squishing in the grass when I step out of my car...the urge to go out walking and fill my lungs with "Fresh" air...cuz spring air is the real fresh air...You know, I always think I love fall the most of all the seasons, but it is spring that is the most invigorating and enervating...and after months of heavy coats and frigid temperatures, I wore my cloth spring coat on Thursday and Friday and that, too, spells hope...(wow, when I got going, I couldn't stop!) - I am knitnosh on Ravelry

Anonymous said...

the daffodils starting to burst from the soggy ground...my first sighting of red-winged blackbirds...muddy dog prints across my kitchen floor..

Anonymous said...

There's an old dogwood in our front yard framed by to two huge oaks. Seeing the buds just begin to open is my hope for spring. When its gracefully draping branches turn into a white shower, it's spring


mistresspokito @ gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Springs comes earlier in Missouri than in New York State where I used to live. The bald eagles have left their winter nests on the Mississippi River to fly back North. Now I see the small birds are back, lots of mourning doves, some mockingbirds and those robins who never really leave. Spring for me is the sound of the birds in the early morning as they greet the day. skatermom21@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I grew up in Indiana and even though I live in Florida now, I still remember how winter felt.

I'd say I knew Spring was coming: the first time I stepped outside and realized that the birds were back from their yearly migration and chirping in the trees.

I'm "stacylovesyarn" on Ravelry.

stacylynnshelton@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Blooming magnolias are the best sign that spring is here!

velosprinter on Ravelry

MelissaH said...

Spring: when the ice is melted from our rink, and I start to think about bicycling.

TripletMom said...

On the southeast coast it is very warm today - 79.

We have grass that goes all icky brown in the winter. I know spring is coming when the grass starts to turn back green.

I am TripletMom on Rav.

EAbbate said...

I live in New York City and when my subway comes above ground and it is still light out I know that it is almost spring!

I am Ernie8202 on Ravelry

Margaret said...

I find hope for Spring the first time I see seed packets on sale in the grocery store. Visions of flower beds dance in my head. Then, it snows!

Anonymous said...

I see spring arriving when the groundhog emerges from his burrow under the railoroad shack outside our office window.

I am bjobes on ravelry

Deb said...

There's a sound that makes me think spring is coming-the sound of my students skipping outside my window at recesstime. And giggling with their faces up to the sun.
debDOTseanATsympaticoDOTca

Anonymous said...

What gives me hope of the return of Spring..? Hmm..primarily faith! But for a tangible sign I would say watching the line of little boots outside my Grade 1 classroom metamorphose from snow boots to rain boots. A lopsided row of colourful rubber begins to line the hall as flakes of snow turn to droplets of rain outside our window. Rainboots of all denominations. Some with dots and some with stripes. Some with dogs and some with firemen. Some in red and some in blue or pink or yellow. Some with easy grip handles for little fingers to yank on over recalcitrant and floppy socks. Some just plain old red-soled black rubber boots that most of us remember our brothers wearing. As each day that passes brings us closer to the much anticipated date on the calendar proclaimed as "the first day of Spring", I eagerly check the row outside my door to see that true harbinger of seasonal change. Tiny boots all in a row.
Christine M. east of Toronto
dreamvoyageur@yahoo.ca

Anonymous said...

Light gives me hope. The sun blinding me from the horizon as I drive to work. The smell of wet cat after he's been sitting under the dripping eves waiting not so patiently for me to open the door. The driveway filling with puddles and the sound of the hoe as I coax the water into tiny streams that flow out into the road. The front door open, and the living room warm even though the fire went out hours ago. Drawing up the garden plans for one more year.

g.poorfarm@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I know it will be spring soon becasuse my allergies are starting to kick in! :( hang in there! it's on the way!