Filbert nut trees

I received my filbert nut (aka hazelnut) seedlings from Arbor Day earlier this week and planted them yesterday. The trees are just babies. Two of the three still have a half nut attached. But, from past experience with Arbor Day, the trees will do just fine. (I got some lilacs last year.)

I'm getting caught up on some old knitting. After deciding that Estes Park (SotS3) wouldn't work as a curtain in wool (Though, I may try it in cotton.), I restarted the shawl and added beads. And since I was restarting the stole, I decided to make it more even (a la Monk). So, this is the result so far. It has size 8 beads with it (which are difficult to find around here.) I'm now using Knit Picks lace-weight bare (with size 4 needles). White just goes better with snowflakes and drifts. The first try at the shawl was in a brown heather.

I'm still also working on the kitchen curtain and the placemat/kitchen towel/runner. (I can't decided what to make.) My latest thought is to make a short runner and placemats to match. I'm almost done with the first of 2 panels for the curtain and now just have to figure out how to attach the curtain to a rod.

Another project is another shawl -- this one knit with size 6 needles and Noro Kureyon Sock (S95). I bought one skein of the yarn while visiting London. Then I started the shawl and discovered that I needed another skein (which I then ordered on ebay). It's hard to believe that the 2 skeins are the same color, but they are. I just haven't gotten to the bright part of the skein from England. The brighter-looking skein is the one I got from ebay in the US.