New Yorker Stories Podcast

Yesterday listening to Louise Erdrich read Lorrie Moore's "Dance in America," a New Yorker short story podcast, on my mp3 player, added a new dimension to my daily walk. The New Yorker website has a wealth of stories. I chose one to downloaded and put it onto the mp3 player. I thought the story was lost but then found it listed as music. Today I deleted that story and added a James Thurber story and lined up a couple more for future walks. It's a beautiful walk up and back my road, one I've enjoyed over and over, often with music playing. I look forward to more stories now from The New Yorker.

Stand Still Parade; Potato-Planting

Who ever heard of a stand still parade? The tiny town of Whalan MN held its Annual Stand Still Parade this morning. The parade-goers walk around the floats, cars, and various other parade items lined up on the town's two-block long main street. Along the adjacent bike trail, the local Lutheran Church members, sponsors of the event, and friends sell Norwegian favorites like lefse, rommegrat, and fruit soup, along with traditional lunch and desserts. Today at the microphone were Irish singers and other musical groups, interspersed with Ole and Lena jokes. The parade itself lasts just an hour, while other activities like the petting zoo, craft demonstrations, horse-driven cart rides, and music continue much of the day. This morning the weather was perfect for browsing the tables of crafts, plants, and other local interests. I bought handmade greeting cards from a woman who weekends in Whalan. Habitat for Humanity raffled a playhouse to raise funds for a house project in nearby Rushford. Actors from the Commonweal Theatre sold show posters. Several antique cars were on display, allowing many parade-goers to reminisce about the good old cheap-gas days. The Stand Still Parade is a unique and casual small-town festival with a big turnout. On the way home, I drove through the park at nearby Lanesboro and listened in to some old-time musicians from the Bluff Country Gathering.
I've waited for weeks for the perfect potato-planting day. Yesterday I set out stakes in the vegetable garden, and this afternoon I planted potatoes (more than last year, even), pole beans, and cucumbers. Ah! Garden time again.

May Project: Socks on Circular Needles

I finished a felted bag and also a pair of soft green socks in Austermann Step yarn with aloe vera. My present challenge is knitting socks on 2 circular needles. I read the Cat Bordhi book, practiced, and cast on with some brightly colored Regia Cotton yarn -- but frogged after 4". Boo hoo. The sock would be too big. I gave myself a little while to get over the disappointment, and cast on again this morning. Using English, rather than Continental style, my knitting's much tighter.
Why bother? I love the challenge, the beautiful yarns, and the finished socks. Now that it's garden season, I don't wear my knit socks all the time, but almost.
Wish me luck!